PLOT: The series features Fubuki as the main character, with the storyline based on her point of view. In a world where humanity faces the threat of the abyssal fleet which has taken over the seas, special human girls who don weaponised outfits and possess the spirit of historical naval vessels known as kanmusu are the only ones capable of countering them. The kanmusu live together at a naval base, where they spend their everyday lives as they train for battle. {taken from MAL}
One of many series over the years to utilize the Japanese trope of Moe anthropomorphism. This is an anime without a doubt that uses every bit of cuteness in its characters in order to remove any sort of realism of war. The demographic here is targeted for younger teens.
Kantai Collection takes this very idea by using Fleet Girls against monstrous creatures controlled by a single gloomy-looking girl. Japan really will use anything to make an anime. I will say this, this is definitely a series that has good production values, a decent soundtrack, and as for this episode fairly solid direction from Asura Cryin’ director Keizou Kusakawa.
However, the girls here aren’t varied in personalities. As each one of them follows a trope that will probably make this show somewhat entertaining only to a certain extent. Funny how a lot of them have the same seiyu. In terms of this season, this is a prime example of marketing down right– solid previews and the basis of the story wraps around a very popular moe-filled online card game series in Japan.
Fubuki arrives as never having battled before but is noticed by the Admiral, the archer Akagi one of the top students of the fleet warms up to Fubuki and the presence that she carries as a Destroyer. However I don’t buy this whole “I’m new!” business considering how much of a klutz she is in the real battle against the Abyssal. Mahou shojo themes are definitely present here and I can clearly see a mashup of other series to cultivate this into an animated work– Strike Witches and Girls Und Panzer are about the two closest series I can think that relate to this. The CG was decent but nothing that stood out as remarkable. On a positive note this was much better than Absolute Duo!
However, there are other series out there this season that knows how to take risks, and promises stronger characterization.
No opening animation or ending animation were present for this premiere.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: 5/10
-DROPPED-
