This series....or rather this abomination is what I would call a trainwreck that never had itself on rail. Visual novels aren’t easy to adapt. In fact, recent years has shown that many anime series never lives up to its original material that result in disappointed fans. However, there are also some VN adaptations that are so horrid, so atrocious, so dreadful, so disastrous, so unappealing that it can be in a category of its own. Diabolik Lovers belongs to the category for failure with all its rights. This show is something of a tragedy - an anime adaptation that is almost an insult to thebrain to watch.
Diabolik Lovers is an anime series adapted from the visual novel of the same name. Zexcs handles its production and from one of their more recent notorious series known as Aku no Hana (Flowers of Evil), it’s their chance to step up to the plate again. But only this time, we deal not with a gym clothes but instead with vampires.
The series begins with a young girl named Yui Komori who we know almost nothing about. Well, on the surface, we know that she seems to be a normal girl with a sweet personality. However, I would describe Yui as an empty doll. Why? Well it’s because she is constantly being played by the guys of this show. She takes the role of a toy and the boys just loves to have their play time. Of course, the guys that plays with her aren’t exactly normal. No in fact, they are vampires. They view Yui as a meal nearly every time their eyes are set on her. She is their happy meal and they’re loving it.
Yui also gets treated by the vampire boys as almost a dog on a leash. In essence, she becomes exactly what a frail girl is - helpless, pathetic, and unresisting. On various occasions, she tries to get out of her situation typically involving rape-like scenarios but finds it ever so difficult to do so. It’s a story gone wrong with Yui being the heroine. No matter how girlish she is, there’s no limit on her stupidity and how she deals with her new lifestyle. Whether it’s at home or at school, she submits to her tormentors without ever trying to escape. To make matters worse, she even compliments on the guys in hopes of getting a break. The result though? Vampire rape, hickeys, and blood scars.
As an anime series aimed at a female audience, I suppose the guys have some appealing features. Most of them are designed to look aristocrats and behaves as such. In their minds, they are the masters of the mansion and Yui is their dog. The only difference is that instead of the guys feeding them, it’s the other way around. Most of them have contrasting personalities ranging from Shu’s laziness, Reiji’s demanding attitude, Ayato’s aggressiveness, Kanato’s unstable mind, and Raito’s sadism. Regardless their differences though, they all want one thing: Yui’s blood.
The construction of the story is absolutely ridiculous. There is almost no plot development or characterization; there is never in fact any character development since all of them sees Yui as food with their vampiric eyes. Most of the early episodes focuses on the guys whom each gets his chance to spend some time with Yui. These usually end up with Yui losing blood and crying herself to tears. Are we supposed to feel sorry for the girl? Perhaps but with what she’s doing, there’s a complete sense of hopelessness for her. Each of the guys also seems to have some sort of history as demonstrated by occasional flashback scenes played throughout the series. Unfortunately, it’s never really fully explored so it’s up to viewers to guess in their heads. The story itself also assumed contain a form of romance but usually comes out in an atrocious way that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Artwork wise, there’s nothing really special with the way the characters are designed besides their outfits. Their eyes reflects those of a vampires so some of them are noticeable. The mansion the characters live in has some artistic value with an English-like architectural design. Unfortunately, the atmosphere of the series obliterates any sense of artistic value since it twists around the idea of sexual abuse.
The soundtrack is mediocre at best with an eerie like background. The way the show handles itself hardly comes as any special in terms of OST because most of the time, you’ll be listening Yui fighting for her life and screaming her lungs out. The screams she lets out is a cry for help but no one ever comes. I do give some credit to the ED song though as it creates a sense of darkness. Additionally, the show’s sadistic voice tones of Ayato and Raito gets the job done in that field.
Diabolik Lovers is the perfect example of how to not adapt a shoujo anime series based off a game. The shows’ sadism and vampire rape tones is almost an insult to viewers itself. Yui is one of those characters that is unbearable to watch. At various times, I found myself siding with the vampires since they at least have a control of their characters’ degree. Oh and the humor? It’s blend as dry paint. It tries to add some humor to its dialogues but this comes out as awkward and senseless. Thank goodness each episode is less than the typical 24 minutes or I would of screamed my lungs out for it to be over. Ultimately, I did stick around the show to see how it developed or ended. Unfortunately, it proves once again just how much of an abomination it really is.
MoMoeAllNighters
February 28, 2015
Not Recommended
I never intended to ever write any reviews, but i just couldn't stop myself from giving a heads-up to people who are intending to watch this shitty anime. This anime is basically a waste of everybody's time, it's so bad that ill probably get more enjoyment in watching Dora the explorer....... Story-1/10: Story follows a highschool girl who unknowingly walks into a "Rape Mansion," that inhabits psycho fucks that takes extreme pleasure in assaulting the girl and making her feel like shit. I would rather watch Twilight for a better vampire story. First few eps just shows the girl getting played by each one of the brothers,great fucking character introduction...... I couldn't even find a plot, as all it was is just fucking douchebag vampires assaulting the helpless girl for her blood, in and out of the mansion.
Which group of viewers is this anime targeted for? I have no fucking idea. This fucking reverse harem shit just makes guys like me to want to punch a fucking hole in my screen. I don't think girls would find joy in watching other girls getting assaulted, named-called, attacked by douchebags in every fucking minute of the anime either. I'm surprised feminists haven't shoved the creators of this anime in a deep pile of gender equality shit yet.
Finally after about 3 quarters of this anime, you can finally see some plot (Not as it anybody in their right mind would care about the plot anyways). Maybe the creators finally realized the shit they were making, and decided to create some character development that makes you feel more sympathetic to the vampire pieces of shits. Ha, as if. I want these fuckers to die a slow and agonizing death the sooner, the better.
Since i don't want to waste anymore time of my life on this piece of shit. Ill only explain one of the shitbrained brothers. Lets just call him crap, since there is no reason for me to even remember their names. If you ever watch this show, you will remember the little shit with the dolls. Apparently crap has a whole fucking dungeon of these dolls, wtf does he do with them? My best guess is that he probably practices his raping skills on these dolls, cause that is just how fucking sadistic he is.
His fucking teddy bear, that fucking teddy just fucking puts five nights at freddys down the fucking drain. The little shit takes this fucking teddy everywhere to rape innocent women, or spirits of some sort(Couldn't give any shits to find out wtf he was actually doing) Imagine the resolve the fucking teddy has..... To watch his fucking owner fuck everything up without even saying a word. That is a true mastermind, the secret boss of bosses.
The ending cannot even be explained, its not even a ending. The creators were probably just fucking tired with this shit, and to atone for the deaths of their co-workers during the creation of this anime. They made sure that the ending was extra shit.
Art-4/10
Art was ok for the first few minutes, before the fucking vampire douchebags came. Everything became unbearable after that.
Sound-2/10
The voice of the fucktards made me want to puke. +1 just out of sympathy of the female voice actor for having to work with this shit.
Character-1/10
Character? Could care less about the character development from being too traumatized by how shit they were.
Enjoyment-1/10
Could give negative if i had the choice.
Overall-1/10
Need I elaborate?
Plz, don't waste ur time on this crap.
RecommendedFunny
you're an inocent girl and one day your dad decides to drive you to a mansion in the middle of nowhere full of sexy horny vampires. perfect reverse harem isnt it? Apperently this vampires havent seen one sigle woman in their entire lifes besides their mothers so whenever they see the protagonist they cant help but abuse her. you have the fuck boy, the fedora man, the psychopatic kid, the angry issues, the fuck everyone around me face and the... i duuno what to call glasses guy. basicly they're all mentaly disturbed. this was supost to be an harem but none of the boys has romanticfeelings for her, all of them objetify her, belittle her and call her selfcentered without the poor girl doing shit. you cant even choose if you prefer them rough of gentle, all options are gonna step on you and then complain how you dirtied their shoes. its made purely to satisfy the guilty pleasure of masoquist girls.
but honestly, i found this shithole very intertaining. so ill give it a 10/10.
Recommended
In the beginning it seems to be a lot of fluff, though as you progress through the show the plot reveals itself. The only thing wrong is that the flashbacks need to be explained more, and there are many holes and unless you read it up on the wiki or have played the original game, you'll be left with questions. The plot itself was originally well written and pretty deep, though somehow when made into the actual anime it came out confusing and somewhat hard to follow, especially when the episodes are only 15 minutes long at most, and it is a full plot inneed of full episodes. Some episodes felt rushed, though the ending was extremely satisfying and surprisingly touching considering in the beginning parts of the anime you'd think the anime is shallow, though it proves itself wrong.
The art itself was beautiful. The characters are my favorite part. They are well rounded, and best of all, realistic. Realism might be the main part that turns others away. The vampires act exactly what you would expect a vampire to act like, sadistic and hungry. Most people come here expecting a knight in shining armor twilight copy and are disappointed. They're vampires, and act like so, not as a fairy tale. Though this is a turn off for people who are expecting fairy tale men. Unlike others I actually liked the female lead. Like others she is also realistic, not some perfect brave strong hero out to save the world. Just an ordinary but still special girl. I don't see that many vampire series out there, so I definitely won't forget this one soon.
