Rosario + Vampire

Tsukune is a normal high school teenager. Of course, in the anime world that means abnormal events are on the menu. Tsukune is unable to get into a private school because of his poor grades.  With help from his parents, he lands a spot at the Yokai Academy.

Yokai is a class of monster in Japanese folklore…if Tsukune paid attention in class this should have set off alarm bells.

The first day  of class at Yokai Academy introduces Tsukune to Moka Akashiya, who happens to be a vampire…bit of a surprise considering the title eh? Tsukune also learns one of the cardinal rules of the school:

Humans who learn about the school are killed without mercy.

Luckily the school requires students to shape shift and remain in human form at all times. Of course, teenagers being teenagers this rule isn’t followed. Tsukune’s relationship with Moka, who immediately learns he is a human, makes the hormones race in the other males. Not that Tsukune doesn’t already have problems with the women going after him.

Tsukune and Moka have throw downs throughout the season with various enemies. Many because their friends:

• Kurumu Kurono, a succubus who lays “boobie” traps for guys with her ample cleavage
• Ginei Morioka, a perverted werewolf who likes to look in on the lady’s locker room
• Yukari Sendo, an 11 year old witch who makes for many uncomfortable lolita scenes,
• Ruby Tojo, a witch from the human world,
• Mizore Shirayuki, a woman who can control snow and ice.

First and foremost Rosario + Vampire is a harem/romantic comedy. So that means ample panty shots and breast suffocation.  While not on the same level of frequency as High School of the Dead, the fanservice is distracting…not that there is much substance to this anime. It is a formulaic comedy.

Each episode follows a certain pattern up until the end of the first season. Tsukune gets in trouble and all the women rush to save him. The battle is mostly one sided. Tsukune usually falls or rushes in and grabs Moka’s rosario. This rosary happens to hide her true vampire form which happens to be one of the most powerful creatures at the school. A swift kick from this Moko, who has a cold and merciless personality, ends the problem. The episode wraps up with a comedy routine and Moka feeding on Tsukune’s blood. This is handled by fading to black and showing large pink lips coupled with a sound effect that makes you wander if feeding is all Moka is doing.

I didn’t expect much from this anime. The fan service got tired quickly, but then I don’t care for fan service anyway. There were many chuckle worthy moments, and the characters were generally likable. The battles were pathetic, but at least the animation was solid. I mostly wished they would have killed that annoying bat narrator. What is it with anime having such annoying characters anyway? There is a lot of sexual innuendo and overt sexuality, such as Tsukune unintentionally motorboating Kurumu’s enormous chest. The lolita shots of Yukari were also uncomfortable.

Rosario + Vampire has a very feminine feel to it despite being a male targeted harem anime. It has some funny moments and isn’t the worst anime out there. As anime comedies go it falls on the side of cute more than completely raunchy as most harems fall. If you don’t mind the repetitive progression of each episode and fan service, it is worthy of an occasional watch when you are in the mood for something lighthearted.