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IshtarLamarain's Toshokan Sensou Tv Review

Toshokan Sensou

Toshokan Sensou tv Review

Story & Characters

The anime is loosely inspired by the 1950s fight in Japan about Intellectual Property (a 'revised' edition of the legislation appears in Library Wars).

The premised of this story revolves the 'Media Betterment Act' which is a highly censorial piece of legislation that automatically destroys any materials that are deemed 'morally questionable' or detrimental to Japanese society- this is enforced by the Media Betterment Committee.

However, local libraries and communities have established groups that combat the Media Betterment Committee.

It's already a unique and interesting storyline. Whilst the storyline is not particularly realistic in this day and age, (librarian's wielding guns?) one can't help but think that this could be the future as more and more censorship and laws get passed in regards to what we do in our private time. In that sense, Library Wars is rather thought provoking. Unfortunately the plot has be constrained into 13 episodes, which creates a rushed feeling with no conclusion in sight.

What really makes this anime though is the characters. Iku Kasahara joins the Kanto Library Base as a recruit- it's wonderful to see her doing some mundane things such as shelving or kicking some serious butt when she's engaged in military combat. She is strong but naive- her character development (especially as she is in a mostly male field), her strength and her sense of humor steers her away from the stereotypical female characters. Whilst she has her flaws, she works hard to overcome them, making her an incredibly likable character.

Her boss Atsushi Dojo, hilariously enough, is 5 cm shorter than- a fact that is a running gag throughout the series and it makes for some humorous moments. Other supporting characters are also very likable and add to the anime (in fact this must be one of those rare animes where there is not a single stereotype or annoying character) and their addition to the cast is definitely a bonus.

Overall, Library Wars has an interesting plot and combines character development, military action and humor seamlessly making it an enjoyable yet thought provoking ride.

Rating: 9

Art

The art suits the tone and the style of the anime perfectly. The characters are well drawn but kept simple and 'average looking'.

So whilst the characters are not as 'pretty' as seen in Princess Princess or Trinity Blood; having overly pretty men and woman would detract from the series. The anime deals with average people who are growing and doing their best to protect what is important to them and their country. Having cutesy girls and pretty boys would make this anime far too shallow.

In that sense, the art is perfect for this anime however it will be far from some people's aesthetic tastes which may put some off. The art is however, easy to get used to and not hard to the eye at all and it's not so bad that people should forgo the series.

Rating: 7

Sound

The voice acting and the sound effects of this anime are perfect. Each VA captures the essence of his/her character perfectly, particularly Marina Inoue who plays the female lead. The sound effects, especially in the fighting sequences are well done and not overly loud or irritatingly repetitive. Apart from that there aren't many other musical scores worth mentioning- the anime doesn't have very memorable music but it integrates itself seamlessly and unobtrusively into the series. That said, I wouldn't be in a hurry to buy the OST.

Whilst the opening and ending scores aren't anything special, that hardly detracts from the series.

Rating: 7

Presentation

This is where the anime shines. It's comedic elements, a clearly defined plot which the anime revolves around makes a wonderful and emotional ride for the viewer. It's also got many parts where you want to hit the rewind button and rewatch, particularly the moments between the male and female lead. There's enough humor, frustration and fighting action to keep views on the edge of their seats or cheering for the lead or howling at the mostly unacknowledged romance between the two leads (which leads to some cute moments). There is also plenty of 'awwwwwww' moments and some hilarious one liners and scenes that brings out the personalities of the characters and leaves the viewer entertained.

If not for the 13 episode constraint which unfortunately undermined the quality of the plot, this anime could have been a lot more epic.

Never the less, if you are looking for something free, short and entertaining, this anime is definitely worth watching.

Rating: 9

Final Verdict

8.3333 (good)

Reviewed by IshtarLamarain, Dec 26, 2009

Comments

  1. Andy1308 Dec 28, 2009

    the theme and the plot of the story is quite odd.

  2. Ephemeral-Garden Dec 29, 2009

    Definitely a good anime to watch, and your review is really attractable. I watched this a while ago and I must say I love it. Marina Inoue is always good in whatever she does; her voice just shines.

    Nice one. You make me wanna watch it again. :)

  3. honglong17 Dec 29, 2009

    you make me feel interesting. i think i will watch it

  4. rukasu04 Mute Member Dec 31, 2009

    Nice Review

  5. maaya1989 Jan 02, 2010

    Atsushi Dojo is my 2nd husband besides sakara sousuke?.?

    PS. I love the apperance of Marina Inoue too,I love her voice=w=

  6. mona12 Jan 04, 2010

    thanks for the review

  7. IshtarLamarain Feb 26, 2010

    Glad you liked the review! It's one of my favorite series!

  8. SchRita May 01, 2010

    Thanks for the review!

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