Sekirei: Season One [Funimation] - DVD Review

In creating a notion of battlegrounds melded with an Eastern motif and modernism, nothing balances the structure more than women fighting in juxtaposition to the men around them. "Sekirei" offers an interesting parallel in that the men themselves cause the women to emerge making them more powerful than before. While the obvious fantastical and pseudo-psychological basis prevails, the relationship and comedy elements obviously play lighting offering fun but whimsical interplay.Disc 1 The aspect of a gladiator-like competition where girls who have emerged fight in a city to win time with their "ashikabi" (those who have made them blossom) is, of course, a mixed metaphor with the best intentions. While the lead Minato who gets not 1 but 4 sekereis (those he has emerged) to be with him, the whole point is that all these beautiful women around manages to make him not know what to do. It is a little bit of a loser situation since they all want to "wash his back" (as it were) which creates a fun and light function. The narrative is not overtly structured but (like the earlier "My Bride Is A Mermaid") works on the possibility of Eastern traditionalism with a new modern twist. Musubi who is the first Sekerei that Minato finds is the most interesting and tempts the most while the rest have their cool points. The ease is that they all fall under the same roof where Ms. Miya, whose connection is not quite known yet, keeps the progression swift but not overwrought or too serious. The music, works exceptionally well, especially in the menu system.Disc 2 The second half of episodes begins with a problem that needs to be solved outside the structure of Minato's inner circle. A weak Sekirei and her Ashikabi want to leave the system and not have to fight. At this point, the gamemaster locks down the city and proceeds to have the Sekireis fight each other, one at a time. The bigger threat is a group called the Discipline Squad who take down others for the Gamemaster. In addition to this, Uzume who also lives at the house is taking down other Sekireis at the order on the MBI (run by the gamemaster) in order to keep her ashikabi alive who is in the hospital. The progression displays a lot of holes, especially when #3, a high ranking Sekirei who just seems to be a drunk and obsessed with love, enters in and thwarts a would-be assassination of the weak Sekirei. Ultimately, foolishly not thinking of his own safety or his girls, Minato decides to try to help these lost souls cross the border. It is here that Musubi goes up against opponents more powerful than she. The final resolution is helped along by an angelic voice and an ally that up until the last moment was divided from her compatriots. The final battle is interesting just because of the consecutive actions going on but does not resolve any of the questions asked, except that Minato indeed loves his first Sekirei.The additional extra scene is a nice bit that plays more comedy than anything else which is what gives the series, like "My Bride Is A Mermaid" its buoyancy but with a little more of an adult edge. The scene involves Shumi and Musubi helping the younger Ku participate in the shopping race by helping her. It shows a very consuming aspect of compassion. The textless opening and ending songs are both uplifting and sardonic at the same time. The trailers that stand out the most because of their melding of different animation styles are "Desert Punk" because of its fluid camera work and unusual backgrounds for an anime and "Birdy The Mighty: Decode" because its darkness and cutting style play all the more unusual.Progressive and yet retroactively traditional, "Sekirei" has fun with its motifs affecting to a tongue-in-cheek progression while still balancing both excitement and emotional tones despite some story gaps. Out of 5, I give it a 2 1/2.