Ah, Rosario+Vampire... In the wake of the Twilight movies, I've found an anime about vampires actually worth enjoying. It is another romantic harem comedy, but it has it's action moments as well.
Tsukune Aono just failed his entrance exams for high school once again, much to his dismay. With others moving onward ahead of him, things aren't looking up for our protagonists. That changes drastically, however, when his father happens to come across an enrollment form to this private school called Youkai Academy. What they don't know until Tsukune arrives is that Youkai exist in a world different from his own, and is a school built by monsters for monsters to attend. Any human discovered will be killed mercilessly without hesitation. Before then, he is hit by the bike of a female student. Moka Akashiya, also a freshman, reveals herself to him as a vampire, though she fails to look the part of one. This all changes when he is put in danger, and aside from her biting him, this is where her claims are proven. When the rosary on Moka's chest is removed, not only does her true strength awakens, but she shows drastic changes in personality, as well as form. The innocent pink-haired Outer Moka turns into a strong silver-haired, crimson-eyed threat to other monsters: the Class-S Vampire Inner Moka! The battles against other monsters after his life aside, Tsukune is the center of another: between Moka and other female monsters! As if being out of place isn't bad enough for him, now he has to deal with those after his life (and his heart), while keeping his human identity under wraps. It will not be an normal, easy school life for Tsukune Aono, THAT'S for sure.
Rosario + Vampire has 2 anime, the original series and the second season, known as Rosario + Vampire Capu2. Both run for 13 episodes each, made under the Gonzo Studio, and licensed by Funimation. I have long watched this subbed, so I can't vouch how the series is in English, but there are voices for the US Localization. Nana Mizuki, who I spoke of before in my post reviewing Seven of Seven, is the singer for all openings and endings as well as the seiyuu of Moka. In English, she is voiced by Alexis Tipton, while Tsukune is voiced by Todd Haberkorn. In addition, as with most media, it is censored for the broadcast version, shown by the narrative bat Nazo Komori covering areas, while it features much less of that in the DVD version. Insert songs are sung in English in the Funi dub, while the title and ending themes retain their Japanese vocals.
Not to spoil anything, but a few things. First, a common gag in the anime is that Nazo, called Batty in the manga, usually keeps time for how long a battle lasts whenever Inner Moka is involved. Second, Inner Moka sometimes tells her foes to "know their place" when she beats them (to which they comically respond), but this is more prominent in Capu2. Also, as it is different from the manga, some elements aren't included, and some are pretty much rushed or pushed back in terms of sequence (Mizore's introduction and the battle against Kuyou, to name a few respectively.) To add, another gag is between Moka and Tsukune. You can hear her saying "capu-chu" as she bites/kisses Tsukune in the subbed version, while dubbed features a sound that's romantic-like. It's not seen much, but the other girls involved does that as well at least once in the anime. Lastly, in the anime, Tsukune is seen put in danger a lot, as he is a human. In the manga, this is also true, but it's in there that we also see a totally different side of Tsukune, though this side is also featured in the concluding episodes of both seasons. Even so, in addition to featuring more plot and circumstances, perhaps to prevent a long-ran series (ala One Piece and Bleach), it made a completely different closure compared to its manga counterpart, which omits a good number of characters overall.
Rosario + Vampire has that 'human x vampire' concept that isn't new (titles like Chibi Vampire also feature this), but it got my approval. I'd say an 8.0 of 10 should suffice, and gains a fave spot in my titles to watch.
Sounds like another one I need to check out!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete