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REVIEW: Strike the Blood


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Angel M Cazares



Joined: 23 Sep 2010
Posts: 5400
Location: Iscandar
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:15 am Reply with quote
The last paragraph sums up quite well the appeal of Strike the Blood. I hope it is licensed for R1 release. And I dislike to point this out, but STB's animation was done by Silver Link and Connect.
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Akuma-Soul



Joined: 07 Jan 2014
Posts: 31
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:17 am Reply with quote
This is a pretty accurate review of STB. it does share a lot in common with index, and people who like index (as far as I know), like STB.
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iCards



Joined: 20 May 2010
Posts: 78
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:27 am Reply with quote
Akuma-Soul wrote:
This is a pretty accurate review of STB. it does share a lot in common with index, and people who like index (as far as I know), like STB.


True
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khthibault



Joined: 22 Aug 2013
Posts: 11
Location: Rhode Island
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:39 am Reply with quote
Akuma-Soul wrote:
This is a pretty accurate review of STB. it does share a lot in common with index, and people who like index (as far as I know), like STB.


I like Index but STB bored me. I only got to episode 8 or so before I dropped it. Maybe if it gets licensed for R1, I'll give it another shot.
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DuskyPredator



Joined: 10 Mar 2009
Posts: 15427
Location: Brisbane, Australia
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:13 pm Reply with quote
Agreed that the last statement sums it up well, it was built on the similar formulae, but did manage to avoid peachiness. The characters were alright too. Something I might add in terms of the story being low is that it felt like there was a bit of a problem with the pacing of individual arcs despite the satisfying combat, I don't think there was always a clear build up of energy. Perhaps it was a side effect of not having the lead preach to every enemy.

Personally I find some of the vague things themselves a bit of a draw, I mean the Monogatari series has had it for some time, ironically vampire related too.
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BooktapC



Joined: 13 Apr 2011
Posts: 80
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:30 pm Reply with quote
I agree with your review entirely. Although I did enjoy the voice cast's efforts.

Strike the Blood may tread on a fine line between turning into a real fail but its character development and the way the story is slowly handled maintained it throughout.

Overall really nice series and also would be surprised if there was no other continuation through at the very least an OVA.


Last edited by BooktapC on Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:45 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Kougeru



Joined: 13 May 2008
Posts: 5516
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:50 pm Reply with quote
Akuma-Soul wrote:
This is a pretty accurate review of STB. it does share a lot in common with index, and people who like index (as far as I know), like STB.


I love Index and kind of enjoyed STB. But it was very lackluster in almost every way. I did like the very last few minutes tho
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SilverTalon01



Joined: 02 Apr 2012
Posts: 2401
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:26 pm Reply with quote
Akuma-Soul wrote:
This is a pretty accurate review of STB. it does share a lot in common with index, and people who like index (as far as I know), like STB.


I'm not really seeing it. Yeah, there are some similarities like the city itself. Both are supernatural action light novels so you can obviously draw comparisons. Honestly, STB is just as close to Highschool DxD as it is to Index. MC's go to schools with various types of supernatural beings including vampires and angels (well the younger girl with white hair was being forced to try to become one anyway). Outside magic organizations infiltrate the city. Higher up in one of such organizations helps MC's side (Vatler=Azazel). Emphasis on adding a girl to the harem and romantic moments (inc fan service) with members of the harem. Emphasis on awakening more of the MC's power.

STB is more of a harem and puts a lot of focus on the relationships and the girls (including fan service) compared to Index which puts the emphasis on world building. Of course, Touma has a harem too, but they're really just there for comedic moments or to help out with the plot occasionally.

Like the review said, a main plus for STB is Kojo's relationship with Yukina. That is a key recurring point in every arc. Index doesn't have that. Even the two main female characters are barely present / not included at all for a lot more arcs than they have reasonable 'screen' time.
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Admiral Pizzaman



Joined: 08 Apr 2014
Posts: 504
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:07 pm Reply with quote
I also agree with the writer specfically about female characters design. I wonder if there will be a second season as they did not reveal on how Kojou got vampire power in the first place. The only drawback of STB is that the arcs are so short especially the last one. (Now thinking back about the arcs; I almost forget the purpose of each arc.) Other than that, It was quite an enjoyable anime.
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Echo_City



Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Posts: 1236
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:19 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Kojo Akatsuki seems like just an ordinarily laconic high school student, once who has a middle school-aged little sister and a pair of longtime male and female friends.

In anime, a laconic high school student is anything but ordinary. Any high schooler who doesn't babble on about at least his "existential angst" is a "one in a million" freak in anime.
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zensunni



Joined: 05 Mar 2010
Posts: 1290
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:31 pm Reply with quote
I thoroughly enjoyed STB, and loved the final two episode arc that showed us a glimpse of the future that awaits the 4th progenitor and his loyal observer. The relationship that builds over the course of the 24 episodes between Yukina and Kojou was one of the best parts of the series. I'm glad that it wasn't a straight harem, because that relationship, and the tension it causes when circumstances require Kojou to take the blood of other women, made for some effective scenes. The "new vampire" character that appears in the final two episodes should get her own series! spoiler[The story of the over-powered daughter of the 4th progenitor and his sword-shaman blood partner. A yuri vampire story! (The only time she got all vampire-lusty involved Asagi. She has the same tastes as the old man! LOL]

I would also be surprised if this never saw additional anime. It seems like a good choice for either a second season, a series of OVAs, or a movie or two.

The 2nd ED was AMAZING! It is so good that my daughter, who didn't watch the series, frequently walks around the house humming it even a couple of weeks after the final episode!
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TJR



Joined: 13 Jul 2009
Posts: 223
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:05 pm Reply with quote
angelmcazares wrote:
The last paragraph sums up quite well the appeal of Strike the Blood. I hope it is licensed for R1 release. And I dislike to point this out, but STB's animation was done by Silver Link and Connect.


Corporately, that would be the case.

Nevertheless, it's interesting that J.C. Staff is mentioned (even if accidentally) since the production management team hails from that studio. It's really an ex-J.C. crew lifted wholesale (from the production producer and manager down to the junior production runners) to expand Silver Link's operations.
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Vaisaga



Joined: 07 Oct 2011
Posts: 13223
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:09 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
generally failing to make sense (see Asura Cryin')


Asura Cryin' made plenty of sense. Dunno what you're talkin' aboot.

Other than that, good review.
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kill-chan



Joined: 19 Nov 2008
Posts: 131
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:48 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Animation : B
Art : B


Shocked

oh c'mon, man. U serious?
They were both C- at the very best Razz
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Hellwarden



Joined: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 321
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:20 pm Reply with quote
Kojo's powers weren't the only powers to not be explained. In fact, the majority of powers in the show weren't. A character would bring up what a person is, and then never explain what the hell he or she is. It's frustrating, because some of the powers were interesting.

I have to disagree with the animation and art grades too. Sure the females look lovely, but the city itself and battle scenes were barely animated. A lot of fights just had panning still shots, or a shot where only a person's weapon is moving after the hit has already happened.

That said, for a fanservice show, I appreciate the fact that the main character actually got physical with his harem.
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