First Impressions: Winter 2014 – Wizard Barristers and Inari Konkon Koi Iroha

Finally we reach the last of the first impressions posts – I am exceptionally burnt out on new stuff right now…and still haven’t a baldy notion what I want to blog this season!!!

Anyway, time to finish up with Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil and Inari Konkon Koi Iroha.

Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil

Well this was a pretty enjoyable opening episode, I’m actually kind of shocked that ARMS managed to hold back on the fanservice so much, restricting it solely to the the pervy frog voiced by Norio Wakamoto.  Yes that green frog thing has Emperor Wakamoto’s voice and is automatically the best character as a result.  The world set up in Wizard Barristers is interesting, the themes of prejudice aren’t overly original, but it is still presented in an interesting way with its focus on legal wrangling.  The court room scenes are certainly more fun than normal given the existence of instant magical executions!  Saying that it is a pity our main character is so very standard – she’s not really all that interesting to watch unfortunately.

Visually, the production values are good with lots of flashy magical powers and action scenes……including one where a bunch of mooks appear out of a giant dragon penis thing….which was strange.  I can’t say I like the character designs much as they look a bit dated or something, but they are very varied and colourful with no two characters really looking alike.  I’m definitely interested enough to check out another few episodes – I’m still a bit wary given ARMS and Yasuomi Umetsu‘s track record though.

Inari Konkon Koi Iroha

Yet another show that I’m struggling to remember much of 24 hours after watching it.  There just wasn’t really much to make Inari Konkon Koi Iroha stand out.  It is pretty harmless though, not doing anything particularly wrong, but at the same time it fails to really make a firm statement of its own identity and ends up feeling like a lump of fluffy shoujo vibes.  The shape-shifting angle has potential to be interesting, but I just don’t care for the characters in the slightest which basically kills any twinge of interest I may of had.

The show is pretty easy on the eyes though – this is a really pretty rendition of Kyoto.  Character designs are rather basic and generic which is a shame given the lovely backgrounds.  I don’t have anything else to say about Inari Konkon Koi Iroha – it’s not a bad show and does have potential, I’m just not interested personally.