Review of Strike the Blood
Strike the Blood is not the typical vampire anime, its not the apocalyptic universe of Hellsing and neither a unity like in vampire knight - it is another mixed approach on the almost untouched franchise. My Name is Ryoki and Welcome to my Review of the Anime Strike the Blood. This Review may contain minor, not plot relevant spoilers. If you dont like spoilers at all, then please scroll away. The Story has you follow the young highschooler Akatsuki Kojou, in the first minutes it appears like everything is normal right? wrong. Akatsuki lives on an island where magical beings from werewolf over vampires towitches exist. In this World there exist 3 uber-vampires which are called Progenitors, naturally as you can take from it - those are incredibly strong and warlords for the vampires. Akatsuki, though still denying it, is the fourth of them and thus also seen a threat for the human world. The Lion-Organisation, a council of specialiced magician, then decides to send her Disciple Yukina to watch him and is allowed to take actions against him should he try something stupid or become a too big threat. The story has an extremely good premise , unfortunately it is very predictible and doesnt have much clever twists - it shines though in emotional situations and fights - so it is very much up to your self to decide if you like it or not. I personally feel that Strike the Blood has about 5 main plotpoints that repeat in each arc:
-Kojou goes to school
-Kojou gets scolded by his teacher/friend
-Yukina tells him that she will always oversee him
-Kojou gets beaten down and drinks blood from a woman beside him and awakens a new familiar
-Kojou says his touching speach and Yukina her catchphrase in harmony with him and they defeat the enemy
Akatsuki Kojou personally is the typical failing highschooler that you know from other animes like Tokyo Ravens' Harutora for example. Beside his powers, that he had mysteriously obtained by the last progenitor - he is one that protects his friends.
Yukina on the other hand is our tsundere lead, sent by the lion organisation to observe Kojou. She keeps trail on him , searches for him when he's in danger and she is a sword shaman. A sword shaman is a shaman that not really supports many spirits but one and naturally she or he uses a bladed weapon like for Yukinas case ,,Schneewalzer'' the magical spear that cuts through all magic. You unfortunately dont get much background in the whole 24 episodes, there are really just a few scenes of kojous and yukinas past while much more things are explained about his friend Aiba and others. If you want to know more about them, you will certainly have to read the wiki.
The Art in Strike the blood gives you a wild ride, certainly. I loved the amazing fights and also the use of magic.My most favorite part is the angel transformation itself it is scary and also impressive - just as it would need to be. While I'd wish that the sound would be as good as the artstyle, it unfortunately lacked a lot behind , there was just a few times where there was real tension while the others just seemed to be simplistic.The first opening did its job well but the second one didnt seem a good choice to me, i wished it would have been a much more epic one.
Based on my opinion on story, art , sound , character and overall enjoyment -i issue Strike the blood a solid 7.
Better Stream it and wait before buying it , until you know that you really like the anime.I hope this review could you help with your choice a little.