It’s not like it wasn’t clear from the synopsis that Seitokai no Ichizon was going to be terrible, but I was unprepared for the soullessness with which the show is executed. There’s no wit to the way the endless references to other shows are presented, they’re just thrown out there for otaku to gather and make of them what they will. There’s definitely no subtlety in the unending barrage of fanservice and jokes about H-games. And there’s no grace in the relentless torrent of moe from the president herself, it seems like every other scene is her falling over or being an idiot or wailing piteously. Seitokai is like watching a big, animated list of shows your time would be better spent watching.
Moe Sucks 
Are you out of your mind ? Its the hit of the season !
Being the hit of the season doesn’t disqualify it from being terrible in every measurable way.
It seems some people (well, one) on the blogosphere values that meta, “throw it on the wall, see if it sticks” philosophy. I think I’ll agree with your assessment: Soulless. The best part was probably the beginning, when the show’s characters acknowledged that they’re kind of mediocre and tried to fix it.
I have a theory that as otaku culture becomes more insular this is the kind of thing that’s going to appeal to a lot of people because it will be a measure of authenticity. Like if you don’t understand x and y references you are just not otaku enough, and the people who do understand them will pat themselves on the back for being so ‘well-read’.
Speaking of which how is your Touhou thing coming? I’m hella stalled on my own at the moment because of midterms but I haven’t seen a lot of cogent discussion of the franchise from people not deeply invested in it so I am looking forward to your thoughts (spoilers: I am the biggest Touhou nerd).
It’s next in the queue (caveat: probably), so watch this space.
I agree with this entire post….but I still like the show. You know why? I’ve given up trying to find characters that have any shred of original personality other than maybe an odd quirk and I have just accepted the fact that Anime is slowly turning into a recycling plant full of raise-your-hand-if-you-care storylines and the same exact characters with different features.
Well look at anime Neville Chamberlain, appeasing the moe nazis. If everyone with any taste at all gives up then anime really is finished as a genre. Stick to your guns, if a show doesn’t meet your standards then trash it.
Well basically the reason why I’m just taking what I get this season is because, like one of you said, it’s a complete wasteland. I’m watching this one, Seiken no Blacksmith, Nyankoi, To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (just because I read the manga, I guess,) and 11eyes, (though I might not make it past another 11eyes.) If I’m able to stay interested throughout 2 episodes, I usually see if I can make it to episode 5 of a show before dropping it. Yeah, it’s time I could spend watching the older and better anime out there, but I just like to know what people are talking about, sometimes. (Though I have not seen Bleach, Naruto or One Piece….)
Apathy it just works.
I’m curious to see how far the moe trend can go. How many clubs in school are left and how many scenarios can they fit this into? My logic, when they’ve moe-fied everything then they’ll stop.
That said, I wonder if they’ll even dare to think up a Moe Slice of Life Holocaust.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
I can understand if a person isn’t familiar with the terms used in this show like H-games and all that jazz, it wouldn’t be much funny to them.
But it’s just the jokes have no substance to them. I caught the majority of the references but they fell flat to me. I wasn’t sure if I was suppose to laugh or not but I’ve seen funnier anime than this. Oh well.
I have no idea why WordPress thought this was spam.
I was deeply amused to see this sankaku article about how Seitokai “parodied” Strike Witches…by imitating it in every way and even collaborating with the original studio, Gonzo, to animate the sequence. This is what passes for intertextuality in anime, shameless ass-grabbing (sometimes literally).
/agreed.
This show catched me with all these parodies, which turned out to be just a way to catch attention to this poorly made, typical anime.
Wondering if I should complete it as I’m already at 7th episode and so far the only parodies I can consider funny were ‘USO DA!’ and ‘K-On!’ ones.
Btw. Nice wordpress, harsh opinions about anime are always useful. \o/
I found it hilarious, and I wished that there was a bigger romance factor in it, and more episodes. One of the best anime I’ve watched.
You guys hate Seitokai no Ichizon as well?
I love you guys!
Unfortunately; there’s this gigantic lie about how “America is Japan.” And another lie about how crap like Bakemonogatari and Vampire Bund Dance would be hits in America. (Yeah. Sure. Like Haruhi and Clannad was. Whatever.)
Well, I kinda like the anime though and the impact is I am trying to find english translation of its light novel, but there is none..I guess its not popular then, maybe its just me and few others, but still it got some good points, and appeal to fews, sure its not the best anime but for me its not the worst