Special A 01 - First Impressions

Hikari-Kei
More Screencaps from Special A 01
I have to say I am not really a huge fan of school life anime. Yet for some reason, two of my anime titles to watch this season belong under that category. It makes me wonder. But then again, it's been a while since I last saw an honest-to-goodness funny anime that I watch only for the laughs so I'm just probably trying to compensate for the lost time by watching not one but two -- and probably more if I ever decide to pick up Kamen no Maid Guy (I'm only interested in this because it has Megumi Toyoguchi in the cast) and Allison and Lillia (which isn't even school life in the strict sense). We'll see.

So Special A. What's so special about Special A? You have me there. Based on the plot synopsis from ANN, I thought that it reminded me a little of another school life title, Kareshi Kanojou no Jijou (or Kare-Kano or His and Her Circumstances), which was, strictly speaking, the first shoujo manga that I ever truly got into.
But Special A seems lighter in comparison. At least, superficially, it resembles Kare-Kano: the rivalry between the main characters Hikari and Kei are somewhat reminiscent of the rivalry between Yukino and Arima, but that's all probably there is to it. Certainly, Special A does not seem to have the same capacity for drama that Kare-Kano had with its wonderfully complicated cast of villains.

Instead what Special A does resemble is the lightness of Ouran High School Host Club. At least, the exclusive school setting seems dead-on, not to mention the absurd number of fangirls walking about the campus, the faux-sophistication of afternoon tea ceremonies, etc. etc.

Don't get me wrong though. I know better than to compare Special A to Ouran and Kare-Kano and I know that whatever similarities there are, that's natural under the school life genre. So what does Special A have to offer?
Aside from the comedic moments -- which sure are humorous, if you like slapstick comedy, which I do to a great extent -- the main focus of Special A is most likely character dynamics and how each character develops with each interaction with the rest of the cast. And the first episode, entitled -- appropriately enough -- Hikari-Kei, certainly affirms that.

Hikari is the genki daughter of a pro-wrestling fan who has no qualms in training his daughter at a very tender age the basics of beating up someone to a pulp. Having never once been defeated in battle, Hikari develops an overblown sense of confidence, which confidence is quickly dispatched when she is defeated in a fight by the son of a close friend, Kei.

From then onwards, it has seemingly become Hikari's purpose in life to beat Kei at anything. The problem is that since that one defeat several years ago, Hikari has never been able to top Kei, not even in high school, where both of them are enrolled under the Special A class, composed only of the top seven students of the school with Kei as the No. 1 and Hikari No. 2. Every day for Hikari is a challenge with Kei, who outwardly goads her on by insisting on calling her "Miss No. 2."

There are other characters in the story, of course -- other members of the Special A like twins Jun (3) and Megumi (4), both of whom have no musical talent whatsoever, which is ironic considering that they are the children of a music producer and a talented vocalist. Jun and Megumi are oddly attached to Ryuu (7), who likes animals. No. 5 is Tadashi, a carefree individual with a wanderlust and a sweet tooth, followed by No. 6 Akira, who likes afternoon tea, cute girls (like Hikari), baking, and beating Tadashi to a pulp.

The rest of the student body are either fangirls/fanboys of the Special A class or those who hate them for the privilege that they get -- Special A do not attend class and have their "headquarters," a greenhouse complete with fountains and artificial streams.

COMMENTS:

Depending on how good the second episode is going to be, I'll probably continue to blog about this. It's not so bad and some scenes are actually hilarious. Both Hikari and Kei are pretty likeable characters. I also like the other Special A members, especially Akira and Tadashi, because I like violence in anime. *sweatdrop*

MORE INFO:
Sample "School Days" (OP) by Yuko Goto
Sample "Hidamare no Gate" (ED) by Jun Fukuyama
OFFICIAL (Japanese)
Anime News Network
Wikipedia