Review of School Days

This review might have some spoilers so watch out. What on earth brought me to watch the infamous “School Days”? Well, let’s just say, curiosity killed the cat; however, I’m not a cat but still… curiosity got me, BIG TIME. So, let’s just say I’m an anime fan who wants to watch something that I haven’t seen before. I searched the internet, read suggestions from social media sites, scanned reviews and so on. I have to tell you, I read some spoilers about a severed head and a major playboy named Makoto. Well, the spoilers did not stop me; in fact it led me an interestto see this show. You might be saying, “But, connielas, won’t you lose interest when you see a spoiler especially if it’s the ending? Wouldn’t the thrill be lost as you watch it?”

My friend… you are absolutely right but sometimes some of us would experience what we call the “Spoiler Paradox”. It is an internet slang or theory though I do not know who coined it and who invented it (probably linguists or movie reviewers or blog users, fuck it, IRDK) which is a behavior common amongst fanatics of movies, series, or books.

Spoiler Paradox pertains to a certain behavior or moment when you know the ending of a story before you could even watch or read the whole thing which makes you more hyped about it or gives you the drive to watch the entire show.

The ending is just the tip of the iceberg, why stop there?

Any who, School Days had mixed reactions ranging from “What the fuck am I watching?” to “This show is amazing.” So, maybe, as a watcher of the show, I can give my opinions too.

Brief examination of the Plot:

First of all, the plot was definitely something unexpected even after knowing its ending, I was still shocked about how screwed up it was.

We have this typical high school setting where school festivals, lectures, part-time jobs, and many of those traditional Japanese High School sceneries, jumbled up in this show. However, as the pacing of the story develops, the light-hearted sceneries become a disguise to the real nature of the plot; sex, harem, relationship conflicts and psychology.

Second, the array of events went smoothly as things go from the normal life of high school students being all innocent to the savage life of high school students where they would undergo every possible crazy thing to get what they want.

Third, the truth behind the culture of the transition from junior high to high school was displayed naturally in the show. Some students even after being shy and timid back in junior high would grow into absolute assholes. They will be linked to uneducated patterns of unsafe sex or premarital sex which is kind of an issue even today.

Fourth, the gender roles depicted was kind of expected. Some women are being succumbed to their ideals of either being sluts and whores or having the sickness of blind idolatry. This goes to show that in this field of story, women are viewed as the weaker sex given the fact that they go through every circumstance just to get laid or to be subjected as mere sex objects.

On the other hand, men are viewed also in a negative way. In this case, men are seen as perverted creatures giving in to their (as Plato’s Philosophy would like to call) appetitive part. Their rationality to train their desire disappears and they naturally give in to their lascivious thoughts and acts, no matter what kind of women and no matter what condition. At this point, men are viewed as the prevailing sex but in a negative way.

All in all, do not be deceived by its poster. Mind you, school days have never been this enigmatic.

Analyzing of Art, Music, and Japanese Dub

The art did not blend quite well with the storyline. The plot engaged more on the dark side of the story and less on the cheerful parts but the art showed more easy colors rather than heavy, metallic, gloomy tones. The eyes of the characters were distracting as hell too but I guess it’s because the creators wanted to function a dual feel to the audience. While the story functions as deep and sinister, the background seemed monochromatic but not murky enough. It may be a technique to drive viewers at ease while watching. It is actually my first time to watch an anime that came from TNK studios so maybe I have no grasp of its strategy when it comes to animation.

The music was kind of good but sloppy. Maybe because it’s just me or does the music somehow deprived the volume of the characters’ voices or something?

The Japanese Dub Cast was soothing. No voice became too annoying for me. Sekai’s VA stood out the most. It is my first time to hear such a suitable voice for a character’s personality. Sekai’s voice was between a mother and a nagging teenager.

However, Setsuna’s voice was a bit appalling for me. Judging the fact that her personality is a laid-back leader who does not have much emotion to show, her voice did not actually fit well. Maybe because it became too apathetic for me even after her personality changed halfway through the story.

Character Development

Each character earned a gold star for me and why is that?

Because most of their personalities were dynamic.

Makoto Itou, a timid guy then after being influenced by Sekai’s drive to help him gain confidence and train him to become an ideal boyfriend for Katsura, his image definitely bolstered. He became a harem guy, then, a fuckboy, then, a manmade jerk. This cycle goes on and on and it is understandable for me. It depicted his inner Makoto. Let’s just congratulate him for being one of the most hated anime characters in anime history. Makoto, everyone! *slow claps*

Katsura Kotonoha, one of Makoto’s women who experienced most of the tragedy, became some kind of a chaotic woman. Her personality grew from an introverted girl who was powerless to a sublime psychotic woman who was imprisoned in Makoto’s world. Her development was definitely astounding in oh so many levels.

Saiionji Sekai, mainly one of the masterminds behind Makoto’s drive to become a womanizer, became a turbulent insane person. She was a simple girl who had one task; become a matchmaker for Makoto and Katsura. However, it turned out that she had an ulterior motive that she thought it would only be for her sake. She inevitably sacrificed her body as an object of “training” for Makoto. In the end, the two surrendered to their infatuation and made things “official” between them. Or so they thought.

Setsuna Kiyora, one of Makoto’s sexual affiliations, stood out the most (in my opinion). Her quiet, strict and mobilized attitude earns her a credit to be unsuspected. Her intelligence may inspire a lot of people but as the saying goes, “Smart people are dumb when it comes to love.” Setsuna wanted to help her friend Sekai in building a harmonious and stable relationship with Makoto but along the way she experiences her selfishness and surrendered to her desires as well.

Kato Otome, Makoto’s junior high classmate and Katsura’s bully, was also one of the delegates in Makoto’s lustful desires. Otome liked Makoto but her body was the only thing that kept Makoto in business with her.

Overall Opinions

This show isn’t bad and it isn’t that good either. For me, this is a cup of tea for people who would like to watch psychological thrillers meaning it is just a fine anime. While, the general impact of the animation is lacking, the story was close to becoming an enjoyable watch for people who desire a unique storyline composing of dark themes and intentions of murder.

Most people did not like School Days for its “what the fuck am I watching?” quality. It may not be their preferred genre or it may seemed too gore for them.

For me, this anime has become an adventure. Discovering new ideas on how characters can actually mobilize their feelings and transform to different behaviors. As a person, I wouldn’t say that some of the actions displayed in this anime can be put to reality, what I’m saying is there would be possibilities or chances that somehow even rational human beings can give in to their desires of killing, having sex, or having a mental picture of their own realities.