So yea, I’m gonna need a break there to catch my breath after watching that one.

I vant to be…alone

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Who Knew?

OK, better start from the beginning.

Did you do something with your hair?

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Remember that show about the boy that transforms into a girl and battles other girls with either magic, guns or swords, and the mysterious Moderators who arranged those fight?  Well neither do the writers, and frankly, that’s turning out awesome.

THE CAKE IS A LIE!
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Kampfer has managed to rise just above the level of stupid I expected for a show of this type. There is much less fan service than one would expect, and hints of a plot behind all the random violence. I think what struck me most is the way they treat the gender bending protagonist. Rather than being a guy taking advantage of his situation, circumstances have him spend most of his time as a girl, and he actually plays the part. Lucky for him, all Japanese school girls are lesbians.

You read that right.

Not a Y chromazone in the house

Episode 2 sets up this situation, when the student council president, Shizuru, is revealed as the first enemy Kampfer.  This is the first sign that the story can rise above the depth of stupid I expected, as we start delving into the fact that no one really knows what the Kampfers are.

Hey, a plot point!

They still fall back on cliche personalities, though.

Tsundere is Japanese for Bitch

Now on to Episode 3.  This show confirms what every guy always suspected. Put a gaggle of females in an all girls school, and the need for testosterone drops to nil. This is revealed thanks to a flimsy excuse by the student council president to enroll Natsuru as a girl on the all girls side. The twist here is Natsuru is not so good at maintaining his transformation, and thus, hi-jinks ensue.

This is making me blush

I should point out there is no fighting in this episode, at least not with guns or swords.  Instead, this is developing into a first for me – an all girl harem show (so much for swearing off yuri).  First you have Sakura’s hot, hot pursuit of Natsuru.

What is she trying to say here?

Then Akane stakes her claim, though I’m still not clear if she is after girl Natsuru or boy Natsuru.

Subtile

What makes all this overt sexuality work is the fact that Natsuru sets records for densest anime character of all time.  Where talking white dwarf levels of stupidity here.

What was your first clue?

Shizuru’s solution to this is to start the rumor that Natsuru is already dating…Natsuru?

The question is not Why, but HOW!

Apparently breeders are no fun, and he quickly looses the interest of most of girls, but not Sakura.  She challenges Natsuru for the affections of Natsuru.  That’s right – Natsuru is his own rival.

Love square with three people?

Oh the psychology papers I could write about this show. There is always a slight lesbian undertone in any female ensemble cast, going all the way back to Sailor Uranus in Sailor Moon. Sometimes it’s implied, sometimes explicit, but in this case, it’s completely played for laughs. I suspect once the joke wears out we will be on to new things, like the love square between Sakura, Natsuru, Natsuru, and Akane. And we still have one more Kampfer to go, I’m guessing another red to balance out the sides.

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (A Certain Scientific Railgun) is a side story more than a sequel to the equally long titled To Aru Majutsu no Index (A Certain Magical Index).  While it’s not excluded, at this point there is no reason for the main characters of Index, Toma and Index, to show up, as the show focuses on two side characters, Misaka, the electric user, and teleporter Kuroko.

seen here in their natural element

In addition, they introduce Uiharu (the one with the flowers), Kuroko’s partner at Judgement, and Saten, her Level 0 friend.

Ah friends…can’t live with em, can’t kill them and hide the body

This series picks up with the awesomeness that Index provided, starting out with silly high school hi-jinks and ending with breaking up a bank heist.  In classic Index (or I should say, Railgun) style, this:

Leads to this:

Leads to this:

Let me explain the concept of a railgun – an electromagnetic force is used in series to propel a metallic object at incredible speeds, turning it into a super projectile weapon.  Now apply this concept to someone with control over electricity and a coin, and you have the basis for the title of this show.  I don’t ever recall Misaka using this technique in Index, either, but it’s a damn good idea.  More like this please.

On a side note, this is disgusting:

Kampfer.  Concept – girls transform into battle mode and fight each other for reasons they are not entirely clear of.  Potential – high.  Execution – WTF?

Let me explain.  This is not a good show.  And yet, if they keep it dumb, there is some serious potential.  First, I like the team concept, even though the same team keeps attacking each other for no apparent reason.  Next, transforming into a Kampfer can transform not only your appearance and abilities, but personality as well.  Akane is an example of that.

Where does the hair band go?

Of course, sometimes it’s a little more extreme…

Not exactly cross-dressing…

The only thing that could make this show any better is lesbians…

CHECK!

But as for plot or logic, there we enter stupid territory.  Why are they fighting each other if they’re on the same team?  Why does no one have a clue why their fighting, yet off they go?  Obviously, this is not a thinking type show.  Bring on the dumb!