Stratos 4: Return to Base OVA Anime Review

Stratos 4: Return to Base
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 1 disc
65 mins. - 2 episodes
$29.98 (2005)
ISBN 669198254109
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Takeshi Mori
Studio - Studio Fantasia/Bandai Visual

Synopsis: Giant meteors have been falling to Earth and endangering the population.  The organization CEMA (Comet Emergency Management Agency) was set up with the mission to stop the meteors. They put in place two levels of deterrent - the Comet Blasters intercept meteors in space by launching from orbital space stations while the Meteor Sweepers intercept any meteors which break through to the atmosphere.  The job is tough and Mikaze is one of the Meteor Sweepers based on Shimoji Island in Japan.  Her dream is to one day work in space as a Comet Blaster.

The meteor strikes are part of a covert alien invasion and the aliens can take over the bodies of humans.  Orbital Station 7 was taken over by aliens, but were stopped by Mikaze and her team.  CEMA has hushed up the alien invasion and quarantined all of the infected personnel on Earth.  The space station is undergoing repairs when it is struck by stray space debris and enters a terminal orbit.

The Meteor Sweeper crew from Shimoji Island

Impossible to repair and restore orbital status, the station will crash land on Earth with devastating effect.  It has been decided the station must be blown apart in the upper atmosphere to mitigate its potential for collateral damage to the surface.  Too bad the repair crew is trapped on the station.  Now a pair of Comet Blasters must stage a daring rescue while Mikaze and her team prepare to blow apart the station.  It's a race against the clock - will they make it in time?

Pros: Lots of fan-service and an extended swimming scene, CG planes were well done, Admiral the cat remains a funny part of the show, hilarious parody episode where the Stratos 4 planes become a combiner mecha

Mikaze has a deep moment underwater

Cons: Expensive for only two episodes, side cover says 'Retern to Base' - nice job production team, not much additional story progression, story is pretty silly, no more episodes released in North America after these two (although more episodes were made in Japan to continue/conclude the story)

Mike Tells It Straight: Stratos 4 (reviewed here) continues with two OVA (original video animation) episodes entitled Return to Base.  We get to see Mikaze and the Meteor Sweepers back in action.  The story continues directly after the events in the original series ending.  The director and animation team are the same.  These two episodes are pretty good when taken in the context of the previous 13 episodes.

Mikaze gets serious to get the job done

By themselves however, these two episodes don't stand on their own very well.  They progress the story only the slightest bit and leave it unresolved.  Another six episodes were produced in Japan entitled Stratos 4: Advance along with two final episodes called Stratos 4: Advance Final to end the series.  These episodes will presumably never see an official North America release (with dub).

It's always a shame to see an unfinished series, but I can't say this series was ever truly compelling.  Just a bit of cheesecake featuring pretty girls and a paper thin plot.  I'm just going to assume the ending was super-happy with the alien invasion stopped and Mikaze's dreams fulfilled.  Go check out Divergence EVE if you want cheesecake with a better story.

Yeah, that's how I felt about this series too

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye Anime Review

Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye
Anime Works/Media Blasters
Complete Collection - 2 discs
300 mins. - 12 episodes
$49.98 (2012)
$53.98 (2011) Blu-Ray
$24.98 (2011) Parts 1-2/ea.
ISBN 631595111378
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Kinji Yoshimoto
Studio - ARMS

Synopsis: Every four years on the Continent there is held a tournament to determine the next Queen.  The city of Gynos, the Queen's capital, is the venue for the deadly battle between formidable female warriors from across the land.  Following up on events in Queen's Blade: The Exiled Virgin the beautiful warriors have breached the city and are settling in for the final rounds of the tournament.  Each combatant wishes to vanquish the tyrannical Aldra, the Bewitched Queen, said to possess an evil nature and supernatural powers.

Tomoe, Leina and Suzuka share a meal on their first night in Gynos

Within the participants are several groups with close-knit ties:

• From the Vance family (former ruling family before the Queen's Blade was created) comes Leina, the Wandering Warrior, eldest daughter by blood and heir to the Vance fortune, Claudette, the Thundercloud General, eldest adopted daughter, and Elina, Captain of the Guard, the youngest Vance sister who has an unhealthy infatuation with Leina.  Leina wishes to prove herself as a warrior and honor her late mother who lost her life many years ago while participating in the tournament
• Two participants have ties to the Vance family - Risty, the Benevolent Bandit of the Wild, is a powerful warrior who steals from the rich to give to the poor.  She and Leina were traveling companions on the way to Gynos.  Nyx, the Goddess of the Night, a former servant for the Vance family who suffered from mistreatment by Elina and uses (or is used by) her sentient staff Funikura to gain revenge
• Several mercenaries have entered the tournament - Echidna, the Veteran Mercenary, was the former leader of the Assassins of the Fang, and Irma, former protege of Echidna's and current leader of the Assassins of the Fang.  Echidna and Irma are former lovers and Irma still feels betrayed from the time Echidna turned her back on the Assassins of the Fang
• Journeying from the ruined Hinimoto and Masakado Shrine comes Tomoe, the Warrior Priestess, possessing legendary sword skills and her aide Shizuka, the former leader of the Kouma ninja clan (responsible for destroying Hinimoto and slaughtering all of Tomoe's friends).  Tomoe wishes to restore Hinimoto and honor her fallen comrades
• Out of the sacred forests come the elves Alleyne, the Combat Master, with her student Nowa, the Forest Keeper.  Alleyne once fought Echidna (who is a wild jungle elf) to a standstill and Nowa doesn't wear underwear.  They wish to ensure protection of the forests by winning the tournament
• The Swamp Witch has sent her evil minions to participate in the tournament - Menace, the ancient princess from Amara who uses her talking sceptre Setora and a preternatural mind-control power, Melona, the Protean Assassin, with her malleable form and ability to shapeshift, and Airi, the Infernal Temptress, a ghost maid who must siphon off vitality from the living in order to stay corporeal.  The trio are not the sharpest tools in the shed, but always seem to cause trouble for the other participants
• Coming from the mountains are Cattleya, the Giant Slayer, with her son Lana and Ymir, the Steel Princess, the diminutive Dwarf maiden out to prove her steel is better crafted.  Cattleya is searching for her lost husband the monster hunter.  She has a massive sword and even more massive breasts
• Sent from heaven is the bungling angel Nanael, the Angel of Hope, to investigate the wicked Queen Aldra, and her new worshiper Melpha, holy priestess with enormous breasts and mastery over a divine power originating from sexual poses

Cattleya with her son Lana hanging on tight battles Airi

Aldra has a deadly secret which allows her to ensnare her unwitting opponents and makes her a near-invincible adversary.  Her goal is to find her long lost sister.  The participants in the tournament must face each other in final matches arranged by the Queen.  Not everyone will survive and most of their clothing will be lost, but a winner will emerge!  What nail-biting and breast-exposing match-ups will we see?  Will new friends be forced to harm each other and old rivals finally have the chance to get even?  Can anyone hope to defeat the all-powerful and frighteningly evil Aldra?

Melona makes her move to assassinate Aldra, but little does she suspect...?

Pros: Even more fan-service than the first series (and there was a lot), tons of nudity - it seems like every battle had one or more girls losing articles of clothing, good continuation of the story from the first series, excellent animation and backgrounds, opening/ending sequences are great (the ending is particularly amusing), collection includes final six OVA episodes from Queen's Blade Beautiful Fighters side series

Elina and Claudette recover from their battles and discuss strategy

Cons: It ends :), so much fan-service and nudity it distracts from the story, Melpha's voice, Risty in the service of Aldra, Nyx's personality and creepy tentacle staff/creature (borderline hentai here), Ymir's constant sales pitch for Dwarf weapons gets old, Nanael as comedy relief gets tiresome, never explain the Swamp Witch

Leina battles her former friend Risty

Mike Tells It Straight: The second half of the first Queen's Blade anime story arc gives viewers even more fan-service and nudity (The Exiled Virgin was the first half).  It's practically all fan-service with ridiculously tiny outfits and every excuse used to show more skin.  The animation and music is top notch.  I loved the funny ending sequences featuring the Swamp Witch's ditzy trio (Menace, Melona, and Airi).  Queen's Blade is practically in a class of its own for fan-service anime and remains just short of hentai (anime porn).

Melpha gets an earful of Nanael's complaining.  Can you get drunk off of milk?

It will appeal to every horny otaku and they should immediately buy this to devour in their man-cave.  Keep the kiddies (and probably your wife) away due to the excessive nudity and sexual themes.  I thought the story progressed to a decent conclusion.  The characterization was pretty good with each fighter getting closer to their respective goals.  Airi had a particularly meaningful personality evolution which came as a surprise.  The match-ups were decent and we get a few plot twists along the way.  It was all very simple and straightforward to keep from distracting us away from all the jiggling.

The Queen sets up a pairs match with Alleyne and
Nowa vs. Irma and Echidna

By now you should know what Queen's Blade is all about.  Don't expect an overly deep or meaningful storyline (although it may surprise you).  Get ready for a heaping portion of fan-service with some nudity.  The DVD and BD sets are great, especially with the bonus OVA episodes you won't see on Netflix or Crackle.  Great follow up to the first half of the series and it delivers what you would expect (fan-service) along with a suitably dramatic finale.

The evil Queen Aldra hides a dark secret

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Junkers Come Here Anime Movie Review

Junkers Come Here
Bandai Entertainment
Movie - 100 mins. - 1 disc
$29.98 (2003)
$29.98 (2004)
ISBN 669198223594
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Junishi Sato
Studio - Bandai Visual/Triangle Staff

Synopsis: Hiromi is your typical 6th grade girl who has a crush on a boy and spends time with her friend.  She also has a talking dog named Junkers (pronounced Yoon-kers).  He only talks to her in order to keep from starting a media frenzy caused by a talking dog.  Junkers is a little Schnauzer with a big personality.  He keeps Hiromi company because both of her parents are so busy working they never have time to spend with her.

Junkers and Hiromi listen to a music box

Her father directs commercials and is always out of the country shooting on location somewhere.  Her mother is a corporate workaholic who spends every night at her office.  Hiromi lives with her housekeeper and tutor (yeah, that's kind of odd), but her parents are barely home.  She has developed a crush on her tutor (almost big enough to rival the housekeeper's) and he is engaged to be married after taking his college entrance exams.

Hiromi's parents in the same room for ten seconds.  Awkward!

Junkers and Hiromi go on adventures together and her imagination runs wild as an overcompensation for her solitary existence away from her parents.  She puts up a good front to hide her feelings, but the delicate facade is in danger of cracking when her mother drops a bombshell - she is considering a divorce from Hiromi's father.  Now Hiromi must face a looming divorce between her parents along with the departure of her tutor, Keisuke, after exams.  It may be too much for her to take.

Hiromi on the phone with her mom while her tutor Keisuke eats dinner

Hiromi's life is filled with problems a young kid shouldn't have to face.  It could be her magical dog Junkers can do more than just talk.  What other amazing things can he do?  Maybe he can help Hiromi keep the people she cares about in her life, but at what price?  Get ready for a magical Christmas!

Hiromi and Junkers in disguise

Pros: Super cute dog who talks!, Hiromi is awesome and her fantasies are pretty amusing, great message about spending time with your kids instead of working too much, very interesting slice-of-life view of a Japanese (upper) middle class family,

Hiromi's housekeeper cleans Junkers' feet

Cons: Heavier subject matter than indicated by the description on the case (i.e. divorce), animation feels a bit dated, ending had some hokey magical elements, Junkers is pronounced Yoon-kers (in the dub too)

Keisuke and his fiancee Yoko talk while Junkers spies on them for Hiromi

Mike Tells It Straight: Junkers Come Here is a feel-good moving with lots of comedy and cute misunderstandings.  Junkers is pretty adorable and has a fun personality.  The adventures he and Hiromi have are great.  The story gets more serious once Hiromi's mother drops the d-word - divorce.  Suddenly the story takes a serious turn as Hiromi is faced with a monumental crisis.

Hiromi's father reads a letter from her while in France

Her life is in utter turmoil and her parents are too busy working to notice.  It's a tough lesson for parents and kids to go through, but this movie gives a good portrayal.  Divorce is a heavy topic and might not be suitable for some children.  Definitely a judgement call by parents whether they should show this to their kids or not.

Junkers is kinda magic

This movie is kind of a cross between a Satoshi Kon (Tokyo Godfathers, Perfect Blue) and Studio Ghibli (Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away) film.  Great characterization and serious subject matter crossed with magical whimsy.  I thought the message was done well and many kids must go through this dilemma when their parents are going to split.  The animation is not up to Studio Ghibli standards and I didn't see a lot of replay value due to the serious subject matter.  I would say this movie is worth watching and it might surprise you, but wouldn't put a high priority on seeing it and can't say it's a keeper.

TO BUY and Recommendations:

X-Men Anime Review

X-Men
Sony Pictures
Complete Collection - 2 discs
287 mins. - 12 episodes
$14.99 (2012)
$14.99 (2012) Parts 1-2/ea.
ISBN 043396393295
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Fuminori Kizaki
Studio - Madhouse

Synopsis: Professor Charles Xavier founded a school to teach young mutants how to control their powers and his dream is to unite mutantkind with humanity in peaceful coexistence.  The dream is not yet a reality as humans fear and hate mutants because of their incredible powers.  Xavier created the X-Men from his first class of students as a response team to help those mutants in danger and oppose mutants who wish to harm humanity.  The team has operated for several years and the roster of active members has changed many times.  Xavier himself is the world's most powerful telepath.

The X-Men team - from left to right: Wolverine, Cyclops, Phoenix,
Professor X (seated), Storm, and Beast

The current field team is:

• Cyclops - Scott Summers can project powerful optic blasts, but they are only held in check by his special ruby-quartz visor.  The epitome of a cool-headed, tactical leader.  He and Jean Grey are sweethearts since their school days at Xavier's
• Phoenix - Jean Grey is an omega-level psychic with powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities.  She is strong-willed and kind.  She and Scott Summers are sweethearts since their school days at Xavier's
• Beast - Hank McCoy is a walking contradiction.  His mutation gives him a fearsome appearance yet he possesses a vast intellect and gentle heart.  Undergoing a secondary mutation later in life his power levels increased and his appearance became more feline
• Storm - Ororo Munroe lost her parents in tragic accident when she was young.  She grew up on the mean streets of Cairo as a thief until her mutant weather-controlling abilities manifested.  Charles Xavier found her being worshiped as a weather goddess in Africa
• Wolverine - An enigmatic brawler with adamantium-laced skeleton, six massive claws which can extend from his forearms, and a near-instantaneous healing power.  He cuts first and asks questions later.  Holds an unrequited love for Jean Grey

The two mutant lovebirds - Jean Grey and Scott Summers

We begin the story with a terrifying meltdown of Jean Grey's powers.  She has been manipulated by Mastermind, the leader of the rogue Inner Circle and she has become a danger to the world.  The X-Men try to bring her back under control, but fail utterly.  Cyclops catches a glimpse of Emma Frost, the Inner Circle's White Queen before Jean destroys herself to save the world.  Jean's death causes the X-Men to disband.

Jean Grey loses control of her Phoenix powers and becomes Dark Phoenix

Fast forward one year and a crisis in Japan centering around mutant powers rallies Professor X to bring the team back together.  He keeps seeing strange psychic visions and there exists a psychic dead zone where mutant-detecting technology cannot penetrate.  Each team member is glad to come back except Cyclops who has been living near the site of Jean Grey's death.  He grudgingly rejoins the team and puts aside his depression for the greater good. 

"Hasn't Scott been a total jerkwad since Jean died?"  "Yeah, I didn't think
the stick could go up any farther."  "Good one, Wolverine!" "Thanks,
Beast!"  "Guys.  I'm standing right here."

The X-Men journey to Japan to investigate the area and discover mutants have been disappearing.  They encounter a terrorist group called the U-Men who despise mutants and harvest their organs for research.  The team battles the cyborg U-Men and breaks into their facility.  Within they find a young mutant named Hisako Ichiki and are shocked to also find Emma Frost!  She has quit the Inner Circle and has become a mutant counselor helping young mutants with their powers.  

The X-Men discover Emma Frost protecting a young mutant.  Apparently
it's totally normal for mutant educators to wear outfits like hers.

Cyclops blames Emma for Jean's death and is instantly hostile towards her.  The rest of the team gives her the benefit of the doubt once they see Hisako's trust in Emma.  Hisako is enrolled at Xavier's and she is trained by the X-Men to use her power to project psionic-armor.  Emma stays on with the team to help.

The team heads back to Japan to reinvestigate the area

Eventually they return to Japan after uncovering a strange virus which causes mutant powers to overload.  They suspect the U-Men are behind it, but find another research facility run by Yui Sasaki, former head of the mutant school Hisako went to as a child.  Something doesn't feel right about the facility and Yui appears to be overly secretive.  What is her mysterious past with Professor X?  Can the X-Men discover the secret before the world is put in danger?  Can Hisako make it as a rookie X-Man?

Hisako and Emma Frost join the X-Men

Pros: Great character designs for the X-Men, visually slick anime rendition of old favorites, overall voice acting is decent, action is pretty intense and well-done, Emma Frost is totally hot, nice cameos of mutants around the world (Nightcrawler, Archangel to name a few)

Wolverine prepares to inflict some damage

Cons: Story pacing was too slow, ending was predictable, bad guys were pretty generic, Wolverine's battle on the Blackbird in mid-air was totally impossible, pricing for complete series is the same as each of the volumes ($14.99) - WTF!?, portrayal of Storm was off - her voice and personality show no trace of her African roots, opening/ending theme music was overly dramatic

Storm manifests lightning to protect Hisako and Emma Frost

Mike Tells It Straight: I love anime and I love the X-Men = I should love the X-Men anime, right?  I had really high hopes going into watching the anime version of the X-Men and my hopes soared even higher when I saw Warren Ellis credited as writer in the opening credits.  Ellis is a renowned comic book writer and has written the X-Men on several occasions.  I found the story in X-Men to be very typical Ellis fare in the vein of Astonishing X-Men Vol. 5: Ghost Box and Astonishing X-Men Vol. 6: Exogenetic.  These two stories are pretty good modern X-Men fare, but not particularly memorable.  Unfortunately the same thing happens to this anime version.  Ellis usually gives us forward-thinking science fiction and snarky dialogue for the protagonists, but instead we get a fairly dumbed-down plot.

Cyclops unleashes his optic blast

The character designs are a cross between the movie versions and Grant Morrison's New X-Men.  Visually the anime version is slick and the mutants have never looked better.  The action was all that I had hoped for - intense, fluid, and well-choreographed.  Voice actors were well-chosen (except for Storm).  Music was really bland and the opening/ending themes were completely lackluster (overly dramatic orchestra pieces).

Hisako powers up her psionic armor for battle

Overall I was pleased with the visuals and action, but the story was drawn out and kinda boring.  It would have been better if the Japanese creators were given free reign to re-imagine the X-Men as they saw fit.  Having Ellis as concept writer seems like a good idea yet I suspect it kept the story confined to the typical American expectations.  They could have taken the story in so many different directions and pulled in the major villains - Magneto, Sentinels, or the Dark Phoenix (instead of the teaser we get at the beginning when Jean Grey's powers overload).  Anime Sentinels could be absolutely dark and twisted!

We get a brief cameo of everyone's favorite Archangel

The ending hints at a sequel with Magneto breaking out of prison and I hope we can see this happen.  I liked seeing the X-Men in highly detailed adventures with great character designs and a somewhat interesting story.  Marvel's pricing scheme for the complete series vs. the two separate volumes is whacked - $14.99 for the complete set, but now they're offering two separate volumes at the same $14.99 price?  Why not $9.99 and they'll still make an extra $5 on people who buy both volumes?  I would recommend this series if you like the X-Men - they look good in the anime format and I absolutely love that Marvel tried this out with their characters.  Don't expect to have your mind blown.

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts Anime Review

Baka & Test: Summon the Beasts
Baka to Tesuto to Shokanju
Funimation
Complete Collection
325 mins. - 13 episodes
5 discs - 3 DVD + 2 Blu-Ray
$54.98 (2011)
$69.98 (2011) Limited Edition
ISBN 704400013119
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Shin Onuma
Studio - Silver Link

Synopsis: Fumizuki Academy is a prestigious high school which segregates its classes based on test scores.  The  highest scoring students are placed in Class A and the lowest scoring students in Class F.  Class A receives the finest educational equipment and each successive class receives lower quality equipment until the lowest Class F gets crude wooden tables.  Fumizuki is even more unique as each class is able to potentially trade their school equipment with that of another class by beating that class in a 'summoning war' based on academic strength.  The school utilizes an advanced virtual system which allows students to summon avatars (digital representations of themselves) to battle for them in summoning wars.  The power and durability of the students' avatars are based on recent test scores in specific subjects.  The school subjects for summoning wars are determined by the teachers sponsoring (triggering) the virtual system (i.e. if the math teacher sponsors the war then avatar strength is determined by math test scores). Therefore a lower class can challenge a higher class and claim better equipment for themselves if victorious.

The Class F head group and their avatars - bottom row from left: Kota,
Hideyoshi, Akihisa, Mizuki, Minami, and Yuji.  Top row (avatars) from
 left: Hideyoshi, Yuji, Akihisa, Mizuki, Kota, and Minami

The second year Class F is filled with an interesting head group:

• Akihisa Yoshii - a true baka (translated = idiot) because of his low test scores which have earned him the status of probationary student.  He truly means well and often will put the feelings of others before his own, but doesn't take his academics seriously enough.  Due to his probationary student status his avatar is uniquely able to touch corporeal objects which is a punishment as the teachers make Akihisa use his avatar to do menial chores around the school.  He feels pain feedback from his avatar when it is damaged during battles or doing chores.  He squanders his money and thus is forced to subsist on a diet of ramen, sugar, salt and water.  His sister Akira comes to live with him and is incredibly hot.  She constantly comes onto him in order to get him to do stuff (like study).  
• Yuji Sakamoto - class representative and highly strategic despite his low test scores.  He wants to prove the school's class system is flawed by having Class F defeat Class A in a summoning war.  He is best friends with Akihisa and the love obsession of Class A representative Shoko Kirishima (who wants to marry him due to a childhood crush).
• Mizuki Himeji - actually the 2nd ranked student in the second year class, but suffered from a fever during the placement test and ended up in Class F.  Akihisa tried to help her that day and she has hidden feelings for him.  Shy and timid with an impressive bust size.  Her cooking is lethal.
• Minami Shimada - raised in Germany which led to her poor test scores and landed her in Class F.  She often lashes out violently at Akihisa, but has hidden feelings for him.  Has a small chest and is very jealous of Mizuki's bust size. 
• Hideyoshi Kinoshita - looks like a girl, but is really a guy and no one believes him.  He looks incredibly good in women's clothing and often wears them for his acting classes.  He's terrible at academics, but great at acting and drama.  Fraternal twin to Class A's Yuko Kinoshita and the two look practically identical which allows him to impersonate her at times.  
• Kota Tsuchiya - a true pervert and a lecherous photographer.  Sells the pictures to fellow students and his Hideyoshi shots are very popular.  After seeing something particularly sexy his nose will gush blood causing him to pass out.  He has compiled a tome recording the bust sizes of every girl in Fumizuki Academy.

Hideyoshi and Minami come to Kota's rescue during a
summoning war with Class E

Yuji has made it his personal mission to prove the school's class system is flawed and embarks Class F on a quest to defeat Class A!  First the group must defeat the other classes (B to E) on their journey to facing the top class.  Along the way the group from Class F encounter many obstacles and other students like: Miharu Shimizu from Class D who is in love with Minami despite them both being girls, Kyoji Nemoto the Class B representative who is an unrepentant cheater and uses dirty tactics, and Toshimitsu Kubo from Class A who has a crush on Akihisa despite them both being boys.  

Shoko squeezes Yuji's avatar while Akihisa's avatar
watches Minami and Mizuki get along

Can Class F really succeed in defeating Class A?  Will Yuji be forced to marry Class A representative Shoko?  Can anyone survive Mizuki's cooking?  Is Hideyoshi really a guy?  Will Akihisa's wallet be crushed under the weight of the attention from Minami and Mizuki?  All of these questions will be answered by the final battle!

Shoko prepares to administer the taser to keep Yuji from escaping her love

Pros: Great animation - highly stylized, but easily recognizable (the comic pop art circles on everything), catchy opening and ending theme songs, characters were funny and likable, running gags were pretty good, main theme was worthwhile as students labeled as 'losers' buck the system to prove they can succeed against the 'winners', lots of amusing fan-service, pretty good dub

Akihisa's sister Akira is hot!

Cons: Humor can be a bit repetitive, Akihisa's sister comes onto him repeatedly (i.e. incest), silly and juvenile storylines, overuses the 'guys see something sexy and gush blood from their noses' bit, too darn cute - especially the little avatars doing battle, English dub script is toned down from original Japanese

Kota suffers a hemorrhaging nosebleed after seeing something sexy

Mike Tells It Straight: Baka and Test is a wonderful example of mindless entertainment.  Part school life comedy drama and role-playing game (RPG) simulation, it's all fun and only mildly offensive.  The animation is very well done with a consistent visual style and seamless CGI (computer generated images) elements.  I found the characters to be charming and the comedy to be genuinely funny (although somewhat repetitive).  It's purposely over-the-top and had a nice message (although not for young children).  Lots of fan-service and sexual innuendo.

Mizuki has a bathing suit wardrobe malfunction at the beach

The official Japanese title is Baka to Test to Shokanju (translated Idiots, Tests, and Summoned Beasts) makes a little more sense than the official U.S. title.  The sexual innuendo (particularly from Akihisa's sister), gender bending, and same-sex love interests may be potentially offensive to some viewers, but overall a harmless bit of fun.  The comedy is intense and I couldn't watch more than one or two episodes at a time without getting overloaded.  Definitely not a deep series and recommended if you're looking for a bit of fluff. I'm planning to check out the second season to see where the story goes after the penultimate battle between Class F and Class A.  Root for the underdogs!

TO BUY and Recommendations: