If you are wondering about the title, it’s Impz trying to be smart by using my girlfriend and my nickname to an abbreviation of IT. Thirteensugars has privately remarked that no one wants to know her response when she is watching an anime. I believe that it will be fun to have a chronological review by two random people on the Internet. Honestly, I think it will be a refreshing experience for anyone who usually watches anime by yourself. Watching an anime with the opposite sex is always a very interesting proposition, and I highly recommend you to try it out.

No, I do not transcribe to the myth that anime viewers have an inability to socialize and communicate with the opposite sex. If Thirteensugars and me can watch anime together despite being two continents apart (and chatting at the same time), I see no reason for any of you to have any valid excuse. Anyway, viewing anime with a girl who has interest in anime is just a very refreshing experience. If you do not believe me, just read our chronological experience into the world of viewing anime together.

For this week, we will be talking about Special A Episode 15. Viewer discretion is not required, as we hope to brainwash you to our level of intelligence. Both of us are rather noisy when we watch our anime, which is why you will see the amount of rubbish we sprout out. The dialogue is heavily edited since I am remembering from memory. Nonetheless, the essence is there, and it allows me to make fun of her (a little). Her many nicknames (and mine) are censored out in this script to protect whatever is left of our reputation online.

Hikari is worried over the date on Sunday, as Kei seems so stressed. She does not know what she should do to help…

Impz: Seems like Kei is stressed over the date on Sunday?
Thirteensugars: It is saying that Hikari is the one who is stressed, you dumb dumb *****. Hikari does not know how to relieve Kei’s stress, which is why she is feeling vented.

“Are you scared of going on a date with me, Nii-san?”

Thirteensugars: Hikari always treats everything proposed by Kei as a challenge, including this date.
Impz: That is why she is so dumb. Honestly, she is so thick in the head that it’s amazing. I kind of pity Kei a little, having to love such a retard.
Thirteensugars: Hikari is NOT a retard! She’s just a bit dense.
Impz: Same thing.
Thirteensugars: Go DIE.

“I need to find Kei for the Goukon!”

Impz: I really am sick of seeing this dumb voice and face of Kei’s father. I am surprised Kei has not tried to kill this bastard of a father.

Kei is already waiting for Hikari on the Sunday date.

Thirteensugars: Kyaaaaaaaaaaa! Kei-sama!
Impz: …

Hikari, with her intense training on shoujo manga, tries to pull off the stunts learned to make sure that she wins the challenge for this date.

Impz: She is so dumb. Seriously, you know…
Thirteensugars: Shut up! I cannot hear what she is saying.
Impz: …Anyway, she is trying too hard with the lame efforts.
Thirteensugars: …

Kei, on the other hand, does not seem affected (probably a little shocked and disgusted) over her clearly strained efforts.

Impz: It’s time for Scream!
Thirteensugars: Hmmm?
Impz: Never mind, it is just this art painting.
Thirteensugars: Oh, that inaudible scream art painting that depicts agony, pain and an indescribable pain of sadness?
Impz: Let’s just continue watching before I make an insult on you.

Kei simply smiles at Hikari’s last effort, and tells her to enjoy herself. He also tells her that he will take the lead in this date.

Thirteensugars: Kei is so cute!
Impz: Yea, he is. I cannot believe I am sympathizing Hikari. What’s wrong with me?! She is the one making him suffer!

Kei realizes that his father has planted some MIB around him to get him back for the Goukon with Sakura. Kei told Hikari to wait at the shopping complex, so that he can handle them by himself. Nonetheless, when Hikari realizes that Kei is going for a Goukon, Hikari says that he should go instead of running away, because it will cause trouble to his father.

Thirteensugars: Kei is so cute even when he is angry!
Impz: That is the thing about Hikari I hate the most. She is already the character I hate the most, and she always tries to make herself detestable by hurting Kei even more.

Just when Kei turns away, Hikari holds on to him.

Thirteensugars: Aww, she’s holding on to him. She’s holding on to him!
Impz: Aww.
Thirteensugars: Awww.

Hikari starts to blush when she realizes what she has done. She fumbles along, as she cannot explain the reason why she did that to stop Kei.

Impz: Hikari is so funny when she blushes… I cannot believe I just said that.

Kei is pleasantly surprised that Hikari held on to him.

Thirteensugars: Kei-sama is so handsome and cute. Kyaaaaa!!!!
Impz: You know, I am just going to make an entry in THAT Anime Blog writing about the live commentary that we have when we watch an anime.
Thirteensugars: Don’t you dare! People online already think that I am a bimbo.
Impz: You mean you are NOT a bimbo?
Thirteensugars: Screw you, *****.

The faggot Kei’s father appeared, telling Kei to go to a Goukon with Sakura.

Impz: Go choke and die, faggot.
Thirteensugars: Don’t be so mean.
Impz: Whatever.

Sakura, the Goukon partner, appears.

Thirteensugars: Oh, she’s so cute. She’s cuter than the girl that you like in this anime.
Impz: You mean Akira. Akira is awesome in her own way. Sakura isn’t too bad. I should have a harem.

Sakura does not seem to be too interested in the Gouka arrangement as well. In the forest, she simply grabbed Hikari away for a meal. It turns out that she really hates people who lie, and has a righteous heart. She hits off with Hikari very well.

Impz: She feels so much like Akira without the mole. I am loving Sakura already.
Thirteensugars: Ya, she is like a mix of Hikari’s righteous behavior and Akira’s swooning side.
Impz: Don’t you dare insult Akira or Sakura by including Hikari’s name.

Sakura says that she likes the ojii-sama type of guy, and Kei feels more like a demon. Sakura also asks Hikari to find out the type of girl Kei likes.

Impz: It seems that she likes the more princely type of man.
Thirteensugars: Kei-sama, kyaaaaa!
Impz: … What?

Akira is worried over Hikari, since Hikari has to spend a day with the evil Kei. It turns out that Kei is not here, and Hikari wonders if she is all right.

Impz: Akira-sama! I miss you so much.
Thirteensugars: Stupid fanboy. You Kyaa too much.
Impz: …

Hikari tries to find out what type of girl Kei likes, and obviously gets a very mean retort for her inconsiderate character. Kei realizes that Hikari is asked by Sakura to find out about this.

Impz: I really pity Kei now. Hikari’s retardation knows no bounds.
Thirteensugars: He’s mine!

Sakura, after knowing that Kei loves Hikari, suspects that Hikari is not finding out information for Sakura because she is in love with Kei herself. Hikari denies it but starts to have tears in her eyes.

Thirteensugars: See, Hikari already is in love with Kei, but she is so caught up in her competitive spirit that she does not know that it is love.
Impz: I DON’T CARE.

All’s well that ends well, as Sakura finds an Ojii-type character in Jun.

Impz: What is with the gay pairings in S.A. Sakura with the gay fag Jun? What is wrong with this anime!
Thirteensugars: Oh shush you.

I am sure that many of you remember my rage over the first four episodes of SA, with me reaching my limits of Rage-o-meter by episode four. I do not regret having that rage, because every single thing is stated in the bible of truth. Yet, I could not give so easily. Strangely, I found myself going back to viewing the next episode. Impz is not someone who likes to suffer from agony and pain, I assure you. I must say that most of the credit for making me a masochist to watch Episode 5 is by Garten. Garten is one of the few people on the anime blogosphere that can make me watch something that is seemingly bad, plus his taste in anime is usually quite good.

After viewing it, I feel GREAT about Episode 5. Fine, great is a gross over statement. I will say it is actually safe for viewing (no pun intended as usual). Am I acting tsundere? Is it just me but did Episode 5 suddenly turned the corner? I swear that if this is the calm before the storm, I will turn into a yandere instead and slaughter Gonzo or its supporters. Anyway, what went on with this shenanigan that makes me change from tsun to dere in 1 episode?

No, it’s not an episodic summary post. I do not want to do it for this series, lest it decides to bite me once again into shoujo crapness.

Akira-sama crying is fine too. She’s great in every single form!

The current episode is yet another challenge (not again), with Hikari being oblivious (yes, again) and pissing Kei off (the only guy that is actually smart here). Hikari, being a thick-headed porky that somehow has a small brain despite scoring aces in her exam, pairs up with the student president trap for a challenge to make the best festival. Some emo fest about Kei being alone once again resumes, and Hikari decides that everyone should hold hands, crowd together and have a nice orgy to relieve the stress nice party organized by the SA and Student Council.

Yes, it still sounds like the challenge is still here. Nothing seems to have changed in terms of the plot. It’s still the Hikari is thick-headed, Kei gets pissed, Kei has a bit of emo-fest, the thick-headed pig finally figures out about it, let’s all have joy and put the tablecloth watermarks for harmony and end the episode with that. However, the one thing missing in the last four episodes is strangely present. I guess if you throw one thousand pennies into one small well, at least 2-3 should get in for your wish to be fulfilled. If you didn’t realize what that missing thing is, it is the jargon known as “comedy”.

Episode 5 had laughs. No, I am not kidding you. There are enough laughs, but it’s mostly caused by the infectious Akira who proves to be a trump card in SA. If Hikari is the darkness that has enshrouded the anime into agony, Akira is the beam of light that shows the way to deliverance. They should stop focusing on Kei (who is all right) and Hikari, and bother a bit more about the other SA members. I have enough of SA trying to add on fillers even before the show started.

On a different note, I also like the opening scene where Kei almost thought that Hikari will actually know his feelings toward him. I pity him a darn lot. Even retards are not that slow. My barely intelligent sense tells me that intelligent people are often quick thinking. Even those who are slow thinkers cannot be so slow. So, my deduction is that Hikari really paid for her way into the results, and the person who did it is Kei. OH, SPOILERS!!!

Some of the things that really annoyed me are not present. First, Kei’s father is not inside. I am glad somehow that he does not appear much in the manga, so please keep him out and dry. Another thing that annoys me must be the mis-match of Hikari’s voice. Hikari’s voice is not really required in this episode. She did not appear as the focus in this episode too much, which makes me very happy. Yes, I am that mean. Graphical quality improved quite a bit too in this episode, but never trust it to stay that way.

So, is Special A safe for extended viewing? No. Impz does not think so. Every single episode is like a rollercoaster, as I wait to shoot it down forever from the depth of my memory. For now, I will recommend the braves one to tread carefully, tread safely and never turn behind. You never know what is behind you.

I am pissed off.

I am bloody pissed off.

I am downright PISSED OFF.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BLOODY SPECIAL A? Instead of seeing something like Ouran, I get an Ass-ran filled with Naruto tards trying to act Japanese. I wanted to see something that resembles a decent comedy with a group of likable characters. I got more. I got a grating mixture of excellent comedy that continues to impress me. Oh, I mean impress as in “how the hell did they make an above average manga be absolute shit in anime form”. I am so impressed with the ABSOLUTE COMEDY.

I will try to keep myself from too much anger, lest I feel like tearing the ridiculous skull of the Gonzo director working on this abomination. I will want to eat my words later in the series, and oh please, let me eat my words. I will thank the gods for giving me justified deliverance for a thousand years of pain. I really cannot see it owning my ass (pun strictly not intended).

What went terribly wrong for Special A? What made it so bad that it does not EVEN become good?

The character designs

I was initially fine with the character design. I mean, I am used to CLAMP designs with long legs and slim beautiful figures. Screw them for making Barbie-shaped dolls out of anime characters, but at least it felt right in the series. However, it just didn’t work out for me this time. The legs are not only very long, but it feels like really out of proportion. It’s like someone in Gonzo decided that it is time to combine anime with his pet, the daddy long legs. The fusion of anime character and insectarachnid just does not equate to Spiderman awesomeness.

It does not work. Serious. Mind you, I love spiders.

The voices, my god

You can say that voices complement or pull down an anime. I have complained about this since the first episode. Despite my appreciation of Yuko Goto’s efforts as Mikuru (which is not saying much), it is clear that they have casted the absolute wrong person to voice Hikari. Yes, she is definitely trying her best and Yuko Goto is a very talented seiyuu. However, her voice absolutely fails. Before you go on Goto-sama on me, think properly before you respond.

If you do not know it’s Yuko Goto, will you think that Hikari’s voice was fitted for her character. It’s like Goto does all right in normal lines but when it is time to hit spunky levels, she just does not generate that raw power that is required of Hikari. It’s like anticipating a mega orgasm at a hot chick, only to realize that you have been viewing ladyboy porn.

In fact, the last thing that broke my back was Kei father’s voice. Yes, I am a camel because I feel so abused and weighted by this anime. Yes, he is supposed to be young, but I do not remember that he has to sound like a total faggot. If Gonzo’s aim is to make him so annoying that even gays will run away from him, then they have succeeded.

What else, how about the OP and Gonzo-modifications

I know I am no musician like David Byrne. However, I can definitely tell that an OP is sang by someone who cannot bloody sing! In addition, it is so easy to blame Gonzo for adapting and screwing it up. I have resisted all attempts to do that, and in fact has fought others about the adjustments done to Bokurano before. However, Gonzo, you are on your own.

You have annoyed a nice guy who usually is too happy to lavish praise on shoujo series by screwing it up so massively with stupid changes that you think might impress the audience. Rather than doing it, I come out watching every episode feeling like “what the hell happened to the feelings of joy and happiness”. Before you hit me straight as the “manga whiner”, you can go take a look at my sparkling reviews of Vampire Knight, a SHOUJO SERIES MIND YOU, where changing the canon material made it even more awesome.

Sorry, Gonzo, Special A never truly had a plot. However, you even lost the script. You even lost the pet dog that is supposed to send the China-imitation script over. Good job, good bye and good riddance.

In the previous episode, Kei and Hikari fought against two professional fighters in a challenge by the student council president. They eventually won but not before some classic Kei punchline. However, in the previous episode, they also have a competition. Whoever uses more moves in the wrestling match will be the loser and will be ordered to do one task by the winner. As the perennial number 2, Hikari loses.

What will Kei ask as a task? Will it be demonic torture? Will it be something out of this world? For those people who fear episode summary spoilers, after the read more has an anchor tag to skip directly to thoughts. It’s a new feature for those who are too scared to see the summary and just wanting to hear thoughts and minor spoilers relating to thoughts.

[Skipping to the thoughts section]

Episode summary

Hikari pressed him for a task and Kei commanded Hikari to make him a bento. The next day, Kei is in high spirits as he left the house. Hikari tries to make bento at home, but her mother completely banned her from being in the kitchen. Her mother reminded her about the “accidents” when Hikari tries to cook. At school, Hikari asks Akira to use her kitchen, set up by the school on request of Akira. Akira is annoyed how Kei ordered her cute Hikari to do things, but asks to test the food first. Kei is clearly in a good mood due to Hikari’s bento. He even surprised Tadashi by smiling, something he does NOT do.

The student president comes to look for Hikari, but Kei told him that she quit school. After looking at Hikari’s monstrous effort (pun intended) to wash to a state of alienist proportions, Akira runs away in fear. Kakei spies on Hikari’s cooking as he starts daydreaming that Hikari is making it for him. While Kei waits, he sees two students complaining about their home-prepared food. That triggers a memory of his childhood. Hikari is finished with the cooking but the rice is extremely hard. As she brings it to Kei, it seems more like a shiny cannon. While walking to him, she falls as the rice “cannon” makes a dent on the ground. Kei says he will eat it but Hikari eats it and runs off to make another.

Akira mumbles that there are some things that cannot be done with sheer hard work. Kei goes to find Hikari at the kitchen. Kei apologizes for giving her a tough job and tries to encourage her. She says it is part of their challenge forfeit, as Kei smiles and calls her “number two” to perk her spirits up. Kei also remembers his past where he admires other children who has homemade food. Hikari realized all the rice turned to gruel from her washing, and finds the hardest rice in the world. Kei looks worried and restless, and the other SA class are worried. Kei is clearly getting hungry, but acting as though nothing has happened.

Akira goes over to check on Hikari. Akira says she can teach Hikari on how to make rice balls. However, Hikari refuses as getting help in a challenge is admitting a loss. Tadashi comes to check, and tells Hikari that anything will do for Kei. Tadashi tells Hikari that Kei has never tried a homemade bento made for him and it is not a challenge. Hikari decides to ask Akira for help as she wants to do it for Kei. Hikari finally finishes the edible rice ball. Kei is about to eat it but Kakei cuts in to take a bite before realizing it tastes horrible. Kakei runs off, but Kei eats it happily and says it’s delicious. After finishing the food, he adds that he will pay Kakei a visit to teach him a good lesson.

Thoughts

I am so happy. Considering that I am quite a fan of the manga, the first two episodes feel strangely subdued. I did not laugh at all about the antics of the SA class for the first two episodes. They feel empty. They feel forced. I felt annoyed. I felt anger. Lastly, I felt betrayed. Betrayed by Gonzo. Betrayed by every single person who made SA a below-par watch for me. My girlfriend, Thirteensugars, complained that my review for the second episode is terrible. I told her that it’s completely incoherent because I just did not have the mood to do it.

Was I suffering from burnout? No. I was suffering from righteous anger. I was angry how something that can hardly go wrong with the funny humor turns out to be only barely humorous in anime form. However, Episode 3 put it right. Sure, it might still be a tad annoying when the OP start running. It is also quite silly how they expand this whole bento thing into an entire episode. However, the magical spark that seems to be missing in the first two episodes mysteriously appeared. It is as though Gonzo suddenly decides that this anime should be awesome like the manga.

Firstly, it might be due to the lack of “number two”. I admit, it is funny for the first two or three times I see the stone graphics of “number two”. However, it got tiring, cumbersome and eventually annoying. The only appearance of it is more to cheer Hikari up, which makes some sense rather than senseless comedy taunting. I also like how Kei is completely in his own world while waiting for Hikari. It feels so amusing when he turns on his “bishie-like” sparkles in his responses. I guess I just like cheap thrills that makes you laugh a little in shoujo.

In addition, I feel that Hikari’s cooking skills or the apparent lack of it, makes for some good laughs. Even though it becomes particularly annoying when she says it’s a competition (think, woman, think), I feel that Tadashi’s welcome remainder that Kei is a rather lonely child when he is young makes up for it. It makes Special A much more interesting than all laughter and joy. It also fleshes out Kei’s personality and probably why he is interested in Hikari. It is perhaps the fact that Hikari is friendly not because he is rich and has a powerful family, but simply because he is Kei.

Of course, what is a review by Impz without a report on Akira-sama. Akira continues to be awesome and there is just one record of attack on the silly Tadashi. We need more attacks by Akira-sama to hit the quota of punishment for the episode. Nonetheless, it is approved. Lastly, I still think that Kakei’s character design makes him look like a trap. I will not be surprised to see him in meido form. My. Poor. Eyes.

The Special A class is a group of seven particularly elite students who are top of the school when it comes to studies and raw abilities. They have their own garden, their own uniform and are worshiped by most of the student population. With such elites, there are always dissenters. The current episode revolves around the student president, who seems to have a problem with the Special A class. What is the challenge this week?

Episode summary

We get another introduction of the special A students, as Hikari once again loses to Kei in the exam. Akira brought raspberry cake and tea for their tea session happily. However, her mode is spoiled by Tadashi, as she emphasized that it is for Hikari. Hikari is busy studying to beat Kei and she is happy that Kei is simply enjoying her tea. Kei replies that he will finish all of them quickly once he is done. After some random quarrels, they talk about the student council president, who is in 2A (the class just under Special A). Kei reminds her how Hikari is similar to the “number 2″ class.

When Hikari is going to scream that she is not “nii-san”, someone else did and it seems that it is Kakei Hajime, the sophomore genius in class 2A. Tadashi happily adds that he is the guy who is always hospitalized and uses money to buy his influence. He re-accounts that he has arrived to school in the morning, only to be shoved aside by Akira (when Akira greets Hikari) and then stomped by the fangirls/boys of Hikari. Hence, he proposes a challenge to them. Hikari gladly accepts the challenge, saying she likes people who challenge others.

That earns the eternal irk of Kei who throws a book at Kakei, who tells Kakei to be “ready”. Kakei creates a battle between two pro wrestlers (Fankyu brothers) against Kei/Hikari. It turns out after viewing Hikari/Kei’s training lessons that they have to cheat to beat the two. The two also have a bet where the loser is the one who uses the most moves in the fight. While Hikari walks, a flower pot, oil stains on the floor and bamboo poles impeded her way. Kei dispatches some men too, and he realizes that Hikari might be in danger. As he rushes to the gym, he is relieved that Hikari is fine.

Kei tells Hikari not to join the fight, and then she will only be a burden. Hikari trains hard. Kei meets up with Ryuu and Tadashi, and he ropes in Tadashi to be his partner as Hikari is out. When Tadashi rejects the offer, Kei says he will personally “train him”. After training, Kei meets Hikari, and she says she will prove to him that she will not be a burden. The day comes for the battle, with SA and Kakei as judges. In the waiting room, Kei says that he will fight first, only for a female to come with flowers.

It turns out that it is an impostor and they are handcuffed. In the battle, their movements are restricted due to the handcuff. Kei’s hand is stomped by one of the wrestlers while defending Hikari. Hikari works hard to lift the hand away. Kei carries Hikari and brings her out of the ring. The wrestlers start to stomp on Kei. Kei says it is all right as long as she is not harmed. As the wrestlers continue to stomp on Kei, Hikari is distraught, as she says that she does not want him to get hurt.

However, when Kakei shouts out that Hikari is merely a burden, Kei gets extremely agitated and says that Hikari will not lose to anyone. Kei suddenly goes berserk and breaks the handcuff. The two of them combined superbly to destroy the Fankyu brothers to oblivion. Hikari says that she will beat him one day. Hikari also shouts to Kakei that she has fun and tells him to challenge them fair and square next time. At the end, Kei reminds her that she lost their bet, and Kei says she will beat him next time.

Thoughts

Special A depends on its humor and likable characters. In that sense, the Gonzo adaptation did it some service with a clean translation from manga to anime. If you like the characters in the manga itself, you will definitely like them in the anime. However, that is also a limitation in which that it is likely to be branded as yet another shoujo school life series. It’s a good thing that it is not a harem, but future scenarios might make Special A more appealing to the masses.

This week’s episode is based on Chapter 5 on the wrestling battle between the two. Some parts are changed here and there, but the essence of the story is mostly preserved. It is during this episode that Yuko Goto’s rendition of Hikari feels more awkward than usual. I am perhaps biased toward her or something, but it just feels like she is forcing it too much. I must complain about the terrible OP by Yuko Goto. I must admit that I am never a huge fan of Yuko Goto (while earning the wrath of Calawain). However, the OP is really a whole disaster of its own, and I must say that Yuko Goto should not be allowed to sing a whole song by herself.

It just does not work out fine. Please change the OP. Immediately.

I personally like how Gonzo adapts the scene where Kei tries to protect her. There is more impact compared to the manga, and the jealously felt by Kei when Hikari says that she “likes” Kakei is so much more imaginative and explicit compared to the manga. I guess that the drama count in Special A, due to the ability to have animated graphics brings the hilarity and the anger management to a whole new other level.

On Akira-sama’s appearance, I personally like how they are dressed up all prim and proper compared to the cheerleading uniforms in the manga. Well, cheerleading uniforms for Akira will work equally fine, but as long as it is Akira-sama, everything is good. Akira-sama is fine too. The number of laughs in this episode is few, and I guess it somehow just does not seem to make me laugh enough. I do hope that it is simply because of being physically tired.

The next episode is on Hikari’s cooking. For those who reads the manga, you know the drill. Don’t spoil it for the anime readers. For those who are pure anime viewers, you will have more laughs in the next episode.

P/s: Does anyone think that Kakei looks like a trap in the last screenshot?

For those using IE, Impz did something stupid yesterday. That is why you cannot access it. Yes, blame it on me ;_;

After waiting for so long, Special A is finally released to the lovely shores of THAT Anime Blog. Being an absolute avid fan of the manga (I bought them regularly at the bookstore), I know that this is a series that has a good story in the manga. Fans of school-based romance/comedy will definitely fall in love with the manga. However, we all know the issues that can plague the transition of a manga to anime. Will Special A suffer from the same fate?

Please beware that I am a fanboy of the manga series before you read on.

Episode summary

A young Hikari has been trained by her father to fight. She felt that she is very strong, until she meets Kei, the son of her father’s friend. He easily dispatches her, resulting in her goal in life to defeat this boy. Years have past since that incident. Hikari grows up to be a beautiful high school student. Before she steps out of the house, her father tells her to win Kei for once. In the school, Hikari is known to be part of the S class, a group of the top seven elites in the school. She is worshiped like a god and she is clearly uncomfortable. Akira (the daughter of an airline tycoon, rank 6th) appears and says that it is normal that they are swooned by the other students due to their “special status”.

In their special garden, twins Jun and Megumi (music producer and singer, Ranked 3rd, 4th) are introduced. Ryuu is also introduced (son of sports car, Ranked 7th) taking care of an animal. When Hikari decides to play with the animal, she is nearly assaulted as Ryuu warns of its vicious behavior postmortem. Megumi and Jun decides to play the violin to get Ryuu’s attention, showing the hatred they have of the animal. As they are about to play, Ryuu stops them in time. Hikari clearly does not know their style of “music”. A ragged Tadashi (son of the principal, ranked 5th) appears too.

Akira brought tea and sandwiches, but she is clearly disgusted by Tadashi’s smell. Tadashi then asked Akira for seconds, only for Akira to smash him with a container. Kei also arrives, and Hikari challenges him again in gym class. He agrees, before making sure that he calls her “Number 2″ (Hikari) condescendingly. The others console Hikari who is insulted once again. Tadashi says that her battle feels futile sometimes. In gym class, Kei and Hikari compete in horse vault. Kei eventually won easily after jumping over a monstrous height with extreme grace. Kei reminds Hikari again that she will be “number 2″. Hikari then challenge him on their exam results.

After everyone left, Akira and Hikari discusses about the next challenge. Akira asks Hikari to rest a bit but Hikari says she is about to finish. November 22nd also seems to hold a meaning for Hikari. The next day, Megumi and Jun is having a recital. Hikari clearly like festivals, but it seems that some students are against the activity of Special Class. Hikari is about to argue, but Kei suddenly appears and disses the student. Kei adds that if they are displeased over the Special A class, they can try to get in. Kei also mentions their name, stating that he can remember anything with just one look. That scares the three students away.

Kei receives a letter, and finds Hikari sleeping on her book. He smiles gently. In the garden, Akira brings premium food once again and hits Tadashi when he says something dumb once again. At night, Hikari wakes up to see Kei beside her. She feels disgusted that Kei is watching her all this time, especially after Kei taunts her about sleeping when she says that she will try her best to win him. Kei asks about the letter and she is about to answer when they are interrupted by some rumbling. Hikari, thinking it’s a thief, rushed over. She finds the same three students in the teacher’s office. It is clear that the same three students are trying to find the answers for the final exam.

One of the students tries to tempt Hikari with the answers, as he adds that she finally will be able to win over Kei. However, Kei is insulted by this as she does not believe that cheating is a fair way of competition. Hikari says that she might not win Kei ever, but the future is not predetermined. Kei suddenly appears and says that they have no right to question Hikari. He tells them Hikari works much harder than anyone to beat him and is a wonderful person. The students decide that they have to defeat Hikari and Kei, if not they will be suspended. However, Hikari and Kei dispatches them easily.

We also realize that Kei clearly likes Hikari. The letter is an invitation for a date, a secret “date” with everyone for a Megumi + Jun recital. Hikari has never heard Megumi sing before and is anticipating it. However, the others are preparing and before Kei can stop Megumi, she sings as the school is surrounded with a bright light. The next day, it turns out that Hikari got full marks, but Kei gets 105 points as he pointed out a mistake in the exam question. As such, Kei reminds Hikari that she is still “number 2″.

Audio

Perhaps it is my bias, perhaps it is my anticipation for the series or perhaps it is the fact that I do not like the Mikuru of Suzumiya fame. The voice of Hikari took me a long while before I can accept it. Maybe it is the lack of spunk that I associate with Hikari in the manga, but Yuko’s sweet voice (that is transformed into something more spunky) does not seem to be the perfect fit for the character. Akira-sama’s voice seems a bit too youthful for my liking, where I am expecting a tsundere feel voice. Nonetheless, by mid-way of the show, I forgot all about it and was busy fanboying.

One more thing, the OP and ED is atrocious, and what’s with all the insert songs that feel like a total promotion of Yuko Goto. I still love the insert songs for the fun of it.

Animation

Hinano didn’t like the long legs too much, while Garten is not too crazy over the character design too. However, I am fine with it and feels that it brings a bit of the shoujo flair that I enjoy so much. It might be strange but I always like such a character design with long legs and slim bodies. It’s not done too excessively, so I am generally fine with it. The animations i generally crisp for a shoujo-orientated series, and the characters are well transformed from the manga to the anime.

Vibes

Everything that I like about Special A is gladly into exhibition. Firstly, Hikari’s energetic outlook over life is fully exhibited, with her strong challenges with Kei a classic joke in itself. I like the “number 2″ response, because it is a joke that will be constantly used throughout the series (for the first few episodes at least). I also like the character dynamics betwen Akira and Tadashi. Akira is my favorite character due to her tsundere behavior toward Tadashi in particular. The two of them are just so cute together, much more than Kei and Hikari.

I honestly have not remembered a season why I deliberately wake up early to catch a show. This is perhaps a great time where both Vampire Knight and Special A comes out about the same day. If you are wondering, that will be my next entry too. Other than that, I also like how the jokes are scattered around. Some are rather weak, but it’s like typical Ouran/School Rumble style of humor. I am fine with that. I also like how they change it slightly to show clearly that Kei really likes Hikari. It is not that obvious in the manga, and the effect is hilarious.

Final thoughts

If you are a fan of Ouran, or school-style comedy, this is for you. If you are a Code Grease fanatic that wants action, this is not for you (I cannot resist making a dig at Code Gease). So, watch it now, and hopefully for Akira-sama.

P/s: Any fellow Akira fans? Let’s worship her together!