The show that uses and destroys stereotypes and limits at the same time · Waifora

THE SHOW THAT USES AND DESTROYS STEREOTYPES AND LIMITS AT THE SAME TIME

Name: The show that uses and destroys stereotypes and limits at the same time
Item: Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Rating: 87
Author: Sirion

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In the last few days I have had the pleasure of getting to know this "anime", if it can be defined as such. Yes, because Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt manages to bring together a large amount of graphic styles and narrative concepts, not only belonging to the world of Japanese animation.
For the first time in my review I want to try to attach an anime soundtrack that you can listen to while reading. Not being an expert in this field, I am simply attaching my favorite. Let me know if you found it a decent idea in general or if maybe it would have been better with another song.

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PLOT:__
The show immediately presents itself as a series of stand-alone episodes consisting of 2 "sub-episodes" of about 10 minutes each. Already from this detail, and from the way in which the sub-episodes are presented, we can see the first sign that denotes the particularity of this work. Beyond that, the basic storyline is very simple. Panty and Stocking are 2 angels, degraded from Heaven due to their "ill-suited" personalities, who are involved in killing ghosts that appear on Earth, in order to earn Heaven coins. Alongside them we find Garterbelt, a priest who will guide them in this task.

As for the genres, the anime focuses on 3 fundamental concepts: action (in fights with ghosts), comedy (very vulgar) and ecchi (which is logically also used as an element of comedy). The fact that the 2 angels fight using their underwear should make us understand immediately the level of vulgarity of the whole series. This anime manages to get from these genres a mix that makes the show so dumb yet so brilliant, making it a very fun and undemanding viewing that I highly recommend. Obviously, from what you have read, it is not a wholesome or family-friendly comedy, so surely you have to start with the idea of finding yourself in front of a very controversial work. It also features some more serious and touching moments done very well, and an ending which, in addition to being very good as an episode, leaves room for a sequel that we don't know if there will ever be.
Another reason why I recommend this show is the high amount of references, both to the real world (mainly to pop culture) and to the world of anime and video games (from Transformers to South Park to the Beatles and KISS).

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CHARACTERS:
The protagonists are precisely the 2 angels: Panty (the blonde girl, arrogant, grumpy but above all perpetually horny) and Stocking (a gothic lolita with an unbridled passion for sweets). Flanking them is Garterbelt, a character who unites practically all the "worst" stereotypes of today's society (homosexual and dark-skinned pedophile priest). To them 3, other secondary characters are subsequently joined that I will leave you the honor of discovering if you want to see the series.
It is precisely the protagonists and the relationship between them that make this comedy so funny but above all so different from the usual anime comedies that start to get a bit boring after seeing many similar ones.

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ART / ANIMATIONS:
Here we are at the important moment, because this paragraph is the main reason why I wanted to start this show. Although the difference from the usual comedy and the influence of the Western style are things already visible from the 2 paragraphs above, it is precisely in the graphic style that these 2 aspects are most noticeable.

In fact, Panty & Stocking manages to reflect this influence directly in the technical sector. The anime is mainly animated with a typical American style of animation but it does not limit itself to using only that, but alternates it in some cases with a typical Japanese drawing style. As if that weren't enough, when the ghosts are defeated, their death is even portrayed as a puppet being blown up. Nothing particular except that this sequence is recorded "in the real world" and simply pasted into the episode like any mp4. I'm not ashamed to say that the first time I saw this scene, I couldn't help but laugh for much of the episode.

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MUSIC:__
The musical sector is another splendid point in favor of this anime, the soundtracks are truly spectacular and always spot on. Besides these there's also D City Rock, the song of the protagonists that is sung at the end of episode 10 that I recommend everyone to listen to and see for the high amount of reference to the musical world. I leave the link here in case you don't want to see the anime, otherwise I advise you not to spoil the surprise.

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CONCLUSION:
I conclude by recommending this show to all fans of this genre but I would also recommend it to those who want to be dazzled by the way in which this series contains the entire essence of animation, which is not limited to Japanese or American but finds a point of meeting between different "graphic cultures".

P.S. I am not a native English speaker, so I apologize for any mistakes