~History's Strongest Desciple: Kenichi ~ Review (sort of)

I didn't have anything special done or planned for today, so I figured I'd spend today's post talking about the anime Kenichi! I've already mentioned it in previous posts, and my current project, Niijima (who I'm happy to say is almost done) is from this anime.



The series follows Kenichi Shirahama, a high school freshman who's been bullied his whole life. He desperately wants to become strong and shake his Nick-name "Weak knees Kenichi." On his way to school he meets a very strange girl who just transferred named Miu Furinji. She's super cute, super flexible, and super strong! The two arrive to school late and while standing out in the hall she asks him to be her friend. Of course he accepts and the two talk like normal friends would....After school Kenichi decides to join his schools Karate club to become stronger, but none of the clubs members want a scrawny runt like him there.

So, this guy,

Daimonji, issues him an ultimatum. Beat him in a fight, or quit the karate club forever. Kenichi is terrified and tells Miu all about it! She realizes a guy like Daimonji will kill him, and offers to let him learn Karate at this dojo she knows.

Following a map Miu drew him, Kenichi arrives and meets an array of scary fighters that are the masters of this dojo!



Each one is an incredibly strong Wack Job, and the Master of the house is Miu's Grandfather, Hayato! After being scared out of his wits, Kenichi resolves to train at this dojo to become stronger and protect the weak, so no one will be bullied the way he was...That is, if he survives the training. And thus concludes the first episode.

Review: I'm not going to talk much about the characters separately because that could get me on a book length description section. Instead, I'm going to just review it. I honestly haven't finished the series yet, and the manga is way farther ahead of the anime (they're not sure if they'll make a season 3 yet so its 2 seasons so far). The set up is really good, and with Kenichi being played by Josh Grelle, you've got a main character that can scream like a girly man one minute, and be totally cool the next. Though this series isn't afraid of fanservice for the male fans, its still not too over the top for a girl to watch. Other voice talents are those of Vic Micnogna voicing Kensei Ma, the master of Chinese Kenpo, Michael J. Tatum plays talented boxer Takeda, and Tod Habberkorn plays information gathering, kiss up Niijima.

The martial arts portrayed in this series are all real fighting styles and fairly realistically represented. The fights are good, even when they span over a few episodes. The characters are loveable, even the villains, and it has its comedy moments that are through the roof! I love the way it plays out, though it does have some faults in its writing. For one, Kenichi's school seems to be crawling with gangs of bullies just waiting to knock his teeth out, yet the teachers seem relatively unaware, and two, kenichi's screaming does get annoying after a while, he seriously could have a future in horror movies with the way he sounds when an enemy appears. Though his fear subdues itself over time, the first few episodes you'll feel like your main character is a total wuss. I suppose he's supposed to be that way though... I can't complain much about this one, and I really do find it inspiring in that wierd anime way. It tells its viewers to stand up for the little guy and chase after what you want.

The opening theme for the frist season is a song calld Be Strong, and one of my favorite lyrics comes from it. I can't remember exactly what is said before this line, but this one coupled with the imagery of Sakaki training is really something, "They didn't become masters in just one day." How true is that, and the theme closes off with "I can become strong too!"

I think I've probaby typed a lot now so I'll post some pictures and get this one over with.



Here are the masters, From left to right: Akisame Koetsuji (Judo Master), Hayato Furinji (Master of the Dojo), Shio Sakaki (Karate Master), Kensei Ma (Master of Chinese Kenpo), There's Miu there in the pink looking trough a telescope, then there's Apachai Hopachai (Muay Thai Master), and Shigure Kosaka (Weapons Expert).



Here are Takeda and Ukita, though they start out as eneimes to Kenichi, they are good friends soon after and totally loveable~~~~



And Lastly here's Haruo Niijima, nearly always up to no good, and a total wierdo, but I love him anyway. Now this post has gone on WAAAAAYYYY too long. I hope I've convinced at least one or two people to give this show a shot, just try it, you may find you love it too!