I am not one for binge watching, I think in order to get the best experience out of anything you have to enjoy it at your own pace. And for me, that’s usually three to five episodes a day, maybe a handful of chapters. I understand that this doesn’t apply to everyone. In fact I’d say most people who frequently watch shows through streaming services would strongly disagree with me. However this was a series where I broke my own rule. I could not put down the show thanks to its combination of high brow humor, low brow humor, amazing character dynamics/relationships, superb animation, spectacular visual gags and each episode having a cliffhanger ending even the sappiest of long running soap operas can only dream of having. So how can a show, so unapologetically raunchy, be one of my all time favorite series?
From the get go you’ll notice the amount of detail that went into the show’s visuals. And for that you have to thank J.C. Staff for bringing Akira Hiramoto’s extremely detailed and unique artstyle to life. And the visuals aren’t here just for the sake of being eye candy. The extravagant level of detail used on character’s expressions, reactions, and body composition enhances the joke and maximizes the impact of the punchline. Detailed characters aside, the show also has a knack for transitions between scenes. For example, if a character is about to be struck with a whip, the following shot will be someone slamming down a checker piece in sync with the character being hit. The manga also utilized this technique efficiently, though it became overbearing in one of the later arcs. But I digress, this is the anime I’m talking about. The point is, this show utilizes its visuals to heighten the impact of a joke more so than any other anime. From wicked camera shots, and over the top reactions, to even having an escape plan shown to us in the form of legos.
But why is this show having legos to demonstrate an escape plan? Because this show is about a group of highschool boys who decide to attend a formerly all girls school who only recently opened their doors to the opposite sex. One night the boys decide to go out to be peeping toms and end up getting caught in the act by the Underground Student Council. It’s here that they’re sent to an underground prison where they come up with various schemes to escape and or to lessen their sentence. And that is the most stripped down plot synopsis I can give without spoiling too much, because this is an experience with an ever unfolding plot that is constantly progressing at a fast rate. And I say that as a good thing. Because though the show’s not going at breakneck speed, you’re never dealing with the same situation for long. And I think a solid rate of progression for a story is an often overlooked aspect of anime. And trust me this show has it all: epically sacrificing yourself for your bros, heartbreak, backstabbing, lust, philosophy. Not to mention that every character is distinct and hilarious in their own unique way (minus shingo possibly) and the trajectory each of the relationships characters have with one another is surprisingly nuanced and fun to watch. The characters we follow are the epitome of modern highschool kid archetypes that’ll make you shudder once you recognize an action or thought a character is doing, reminding you of your own past.
I’ve heard many criticizing or even flat out not giving this anime/manga a chance due to its heavy use of fanservice, nudity, and over the top lewdness that teeters the line between being a straight up ecchi anime and just a raunchy comedy. But those people are only closing themselves off from a well written comedic story. Despite show’s erotic nature, I could imagine watching this with buddies or in a livestream/chat and have all sorts of fun. Rooting for the boy’s success and crying over their failures in a group, singing the OP and ED along together sounds like a great time in spirit of the show. And I think that a show, being as graphic as it is, that manages to make me encourage others to watch it in a group is a testament to how tastefully this show handles crude humor. Because I am not one to like watching anything in a group, let alone an anime I hold near and dear.
So how can a show so unapologetically raunchy be one of my all time favorite series? Much like my favorite anime of all time (Nichibros/Gintama/Cromartie), it’s funny and never fails to make me laugh for the umpteenth time. Comedy is subjective, and so this will only be as funny as each individual perceives to be, but even beyond that this show has much more going for it like its distinct visual flair and cleverly written character dynamics. So go see the show that I managed to finish in a single sitting and a quarter. (I was tired and had to go to bed but finished it following my wake up).
