II: "Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt"

(Updated 2012/06/05)

A while back, I checked out this rather odd anime called Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, and I must say: I've seen my share of random things, but I dunno what to say about this. For starters, the anime, in its entirety, isn't suitable for a younger audience (as if the name didn't suggest it enough.) Each episode is made of two segments (three in episode 10), and the titles of those segments are parodies on movies, TV shows, etc. I won't spoil it for you, but the anime left me speechless, more so the last episode. That said, it hints another season, perhaps, but that's still up in the air at this point. Now that it's dubbed, I've seen both sides of the matter, rethinking my verdict from before. So alas, despite my first score, I'm gonna revisit this one, though what I have to say about it mainly doesn't differ much.

Well, this is about 2 angels whose names are Panty and Stocking. One loves to have sex and is small in body size and patience, and the other is well endowed, namely her bust about as big as her love for sweets. Despite being angels, the Anarchy Sisters (yes, Anarchy appears to be their last name) are kicked out of Heaven due to their bad behavior. Because of this, they fall into Daten City, which resides between Heaven and Hell. In order to return to Heaven, they must collect enough Heaven Coins by vanquishing strange beings called Ghosts. Armed with transformable panties and stockings, and under the watchful eye of Reverend Garterbelt, Panty and Stocking have quite the task ahead, but they'll have to put up with chaos (and each other) in the process.

My reaction to this was sort of mixed. I got drawn to it on a whim, and after a couple of episodes, I doubt I was gonna go back to it, but I finished it. I won't say that it left my mind destroyed (that honor belongs to Excel Saga), but as I stated before, it did leave me at a loss for words. I wasn't going to touch this again, but the dubbing left me awfully courious, and I'm glad it did, since to me, it was worth a second look. Don't take my word for it though. If you want to, see it for yourself, and comment on this post if you feel any different about this anime. But it sure did a number on me. As I went in to how the episode format was, I can say that each episode runs for 30 minutes. Produced by Gainax, it was being simulcasted on Crunchyroll, but Funimation has licensed this series recently. Recently, it has not only seen English language, unlike what I first assumed, but the DVDs are available for Pre-Order already, with their premier 2 dubbed episodes available on their website, the rest subbed. Christopher Sabat voices Garterbelt, with the Anarchy Sisters voiced as well. For Panty, her VA is Jamie Marchi (who did others like Shizuka Nekonome of Rosario + Vampire), and Stocking is voiced by Monica Rial (who voiced Minamo "Nyamo" Kurosawa of Azumanga Daioh). Lastly, another regular, Brief, is voiced over in English by Joel McDonald, who is also known for roles like Takumi Fujiwara in the animated Initial D works.

While I graded it low originally, the dub made me warm up to it, but I should warn you like as with the subbed version, the dub, ESPECIALLY UNCENSORED, it definitely not safe for the young. Taking back my earlier rating of 3.5, I'm gonna increase it with a few personal points and call it a 6 of 10 for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. It was funny yet confusing in some areas, but all the while tolerable. Mind not the puns and the crude jokes in it, but as I said, it's not for the young, nor those sensitive about such things. In spite of all this, the anime is pretty okay. Those that are fans will most likely aim to preorder the DVDs.