Review of High School DxD

What do you get when you combine the religious mythology of Paradise Lost with the fanservice of ecchi anime? High School DxD. Wait -- da fuq? How can a masterpiece like Paradise Lost (praise John Milton) be spoken in the same breath as Issei’s Fan Club and Friends? What the hell (pun intended) are you implying? Can an ecchi anime that features nude pics of its main characters midway through each episode even be good? Well. As flagrant as its shots of boobs, panties, butts, and what have you may be, for an ecchi it is surprisingly good. In fact, if the purpose of ecchi is precisely toappeal to the target audience that would even watch this kind of stuff, then DxD is superb, for the ecchi direction caters exactly to that. We get generous, copious, amounts of NSFW images with that soft, lustrous tint you see surrounding girls’ nipples and defining girls’ lips. Issei blushes profusely and often, the lucky bastard, and even wakes up to several naked girls all vying for his attention. What’s more, the very impetus behind Issei’s powerups that in most shounen would be nakama power is, yes indeed, lust. Not to discount the nakama power that does exist, very strong actually, but the fear of seeing Rias’s boobs halved in size being enough to spur him on? Brilliant.

Moreover, DxD has plot, and by plot I don’t mean “plot” but actual plot, the series of events providing a vehicle for character change, world exploration, etc. I’m reading Paradise Lost for my Milton class this semester and I’m legitimately getting the same vibes with DxD -- that indescribable feeling of awe in the face of untouchable, higher beings. The conflict of DxD over its three seasons concerns three primary groups, namely the divisions of God’s angels after the war in Heaven into the devils, fallen angels, and loyal angels. In the present day, much much after that war, these big names still exist and when they interact with the human (-ish) main characters… it’s crazy. Not to mention the notable voice actors chosen for certain roles which only accentuates the coolness. I mean like there’s this one scene where the leaders of each group are sitting at a table, so much power gathered in one place. Hell yeah.

The aforementioned nakama power arises vis-à-vis the Occult Research Club. Rias treats her chess pieces as family, and as the story progresses we get solid development and backstory for each one. The tantalizingly unconsummated romance between Issei and Rias always hangs in the background (poor Rias) with Issei continuing to call her President akin to Godai’s calling Kyoko Manager in Maison Ikkoku. As the Club tackles each battle, the members grow closer, and by the third season (BorN) it is genuinely precious to behold. As for Issei’s harem (who to choose?), well, his dream of becoming the Harem King is essentially realized. But more than being an all lovey-dovey harem, DxD highlights the strong bonds between Issei and his fellow club members; their anguish at seeing a nakama in danger and pain is very akin to the anguish we see in the Straw Hats for another of their crew.

In terms of music, if you like sweeping orchestrals and frolicking simple tunes, then you’re bound to enjoy the OST of DxD. Its sonorous qualities match the grand scale of the events, the seriously celestial force of individuals clashing, the power to emanate from an outstretched hand. If only the fights were better animated, but then again we can’t expect anything comparable to ufotable’s work in Unlimited Blade Works.

The OPs and EDs? The OPs present their corresponding arc events/characters as necessary, and the EDs are as mediocre as can be for an ecchi (as many nude shots as possible). I didn’t really care for the ED music but the OPs I really liked, definitely more serious than what I’d expect from an ecchi (frilly high-pitched female vocals).

I enjoyed this best on Crunchyroll (good animation). When I tried it on other sites (much worse animation) it was hard to watch. The only thing worse than plenteous oppai is badly visualized plenteous oppai. The fights were, as I noted, just OK, but seeing Issei boost and change his mecha-dragonesque appearance multiple times was pretty slick (plus having the voice of Madao/Hasegawa from Gintama pumping up the MC was quite interesting). Being a fan of fantasy and mythos, seeing the plethora of big names like Azazel and Michael was awesome, and seeing Rias fully bare in the flesh -- and caressing Issei -- and faintly coloring at the thought of Issei -- and caring for her subordinates so dearly -- and her oppai -- and her tenderly rounded derrière -- and her vivid scarlet hair -- and I digress. In terms of the bod, Rias Gremory is my #1 girl, matched only by perhaps Senjougahara Hitagi from the Monogatari universe. Issei you lucky, fortunate man.

Could DxD have not been an ecchi? Hmm. Not really. It would change the story drastically because the ecchi and plot are so intricately intertwined. DxD is good ecchi, and I say “good” in the sense that the fanservice and sensuous elements are made endemic to the plot and MC’s growth rather than being mere add-ons. Take Highschool of the Dead for example, remove the ecchi and you could have 90+% of the story intact; that’s superfluous ecchi. Heck, any show can be made ecchi simply by having the girls dress more scantily and have plenty of clothes being ripped apart, etc. And to taint the arduous fervor of DxD by removing ecchi from its name would be a blasphemy. By the gods and demons and dragons above and below, I need more oppai, more Rias, and hopefully a suitably tender moment between her and Issei to round out the show. I look forward to High School DxD Hero.

Score: 69
Review written for seasons 1-3 (DxD, New, BorN).