Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road

Etheric Connect: Scripture, 19:6 Invoke - Pure Concept of Knowledge [SB Creative's GA Bunko Awards Grand Prix winner, a.k.a this shit is great.] If you have ever heard of SoftBank Creative's GA Bunko light novel label before, you would have known it for the one sole source material: DanMachi, which has already spawned 3 seasons and going for a 4th in the upcoming Summer 2022 season, all which've been adapted by J.C. Staff. Novelist Fujino Oomori's DanMachi is the label's acclaimed GA Bunko Grand Prix winner, the most recent up until today since its serialization in 2013. But that comes to a stop, for novelist MatoSato, together with illustrator Nilitsu, have created the next step of that evolution by creating this work that has earned its place as the proceeding GA Bunko Grand Prix winner in 2019, A FULL 6 YEARS where DanMachi has been claiming that title ever since its inception. And if you know anything about awards like these in Japan, they tend to be held in very high regard, and an anime adaptation is almost guaranteed when there's enough source material to go around. Come this season, courtesy of J.C. Staff (which doesn't miss when it comes to highly-prized works like these), Shokei Shoujo no Virgin Road a.k.a The Executioner and Her Way of Life has finally bared its fangs towards the small screen, and to say that the experience was mind-blowing is just cutting it short of the overall feel of the source material. Isekai stories are a plentiful these days, so much so that this genre has already been awashed of the creativeness of many new authors trying to directly copy-paste other works that have been well established over the years, I'd say more than a decade and a half since SAO's inception that truly gave Isekai the much maligned and cursed genre that its known today that's backed by immense, growing popularity with each passing year. But have you ever heard of an Isekai where the entire setting is basically a reverse-Isekai, plus themes and nuances added for effect? I know I have not, and Virgin Road basically opened my eyes to your stereotypical Isekai trope that's subverted in a much more deep and impactful way that's not just mere simple background glitches of illusion for shock value, and the magic itself is utilized in such a way that is a total breath of fresh air. The unimaginable power of Pure Concepts, and Isekai otherworlders called "Lost Ones" whom came from an alternate world known as Japan. These 2 ingredients make up the core premise of Virgin Road, where these Lost Ones would get Isekai-ed and build a new advanced civilization that brought forth Japanese influences into the fantasy world that prospered greatly. However, these Pure Concepts have a negating effect: with prolonged usage, the user will lose control of his/her powers, bringing disaster and calamity to the world, and this eventually gave rise to the fantasy world's legendary disasters, dubbed the Four Major Human Errors that resulted in the effect of these calamities: the Sword of Salt, which turned the whole Western continent into salt that is gradually melting into the sea; the Pandæmonium, a fog-like dead zone in the Southern archipelago where monsters regularly emerge from; the Mechanical Society, which controls the wild frontier in the East; and the Starhusk, which carved out the centre of the Northern continent and set it afloat. To prevent the disasters from raging another situation like these again, this causal effect has become the strictly forbidden taboo that's managed by the Faust (essentially the Church of the fantasy world), spawning Executioners that wield magical powers known as Ether and setting out to assassinate any Isekai otherworlders "Lost Ones" are still being summoned to this very day for fear of their uncontrolled powers. This is essentially Virgin Road's logical extension-cum-exaggerated approach to the Isekai genre, which other than coming off as a one-off shitpost, it's worldbuilding at its best and most finest. And the story goes of one such Executioner by the name of Menou: a young priestess who specializes in hunting down and assassinating Lost Ones before they can become liable threats, being fully aware that they are innocents who have done nothing wrong, but her Executioner training dictating that they cannot be allowed to live, as their Pure Concepts will ultimately corrupt them if they're kept alive for long periods of time. And her task has led to this otherworlder by the name of Akari Tokito: a Lost One with the Pure Concept of Time, summoned by the Grisarika Kingdom's King Grisarika of the noble class, Noblesse. Just like other people who've been summoned from Japan, Akari is dumbfounded of her newly-known power, but isn't given enough time to experiment on her power because of Executioners like Menou having been trained to kill them within the first sighting of getting to know them, then to slowly invoke the assassination with none the wiser, no words questioned. But when Akari's Pure Concept of Time essentially reverses the ability to be physically assassinated, Menou fears for the worst, and has to find another way in order to be able to kill her, which Akari gladly agreed to, and thus, the duos's journey starts leaping through places and people to find an ideal place to commit the assassination, with both parties (Menou indefinitely, Akari definitely) conceding to the act. Viewing this entire scenario through Menou at first glance, nothing seems out of the ordinary: a knife-wielding magecraft with full mastery of her ether. That's until you get to see the nuance of how she thinks and acts through every situation: she's groomed from young to be an Executioner because of what she has faced in her past. Remember the Sword of Salt incident that arose from the Lost Ones' Pure Concept powers bellowing out of control? Menou is a survivor of the harrowing incident, which left her soul "bleached" birthed that became the trauma to form the emotionless husk of a child ridden of her family, with no dream left to live by for a suicidal life. This trauma was relieved by none other than the legendary priestess by the name of Flare, known for her incredible skill in magecraft, as well as being the well-known top Executioner responsible for the assassinations of Lost Ones. Having seen the devastation of a lone child wandering across the vast space of a situation that Menou herself could've not overcome, Flare took her in as her apprentice, and Menou even called herself as Flare's "Flarette", her successor in the current day and age where Flare is nowhere to be found. So think of Menou as like Nana Hiiragi from Talentless Nana, though pulling this gambit off is what essentially kicks off the show proper. The other question now raises to the Yuri aspect of the show, since Mato Sato's work is basically labelled as a Yuri (a.k.a girls' love) work through and through. Raising the bar first to the Lost One Akari Tokito, it's pretty much self-explanatory of her power with the Pure Concept of Time, and if you stripping the power aspect away, Akari is initially portrayed as rather clumsy and air-headed, but also kind and trusting, that lead her to easily trust Menou upon their first meeting as she believed that their encounter was fate. In retrospect, Akari has already used her power to invoke the Regression of Time, saving Menou from countless death instances, which circumstances that their meeting in the fantasy world purely comes down to fate and not the first as we're initially led to believe on the surface level. But remember when I said that the more that the user uses his/her own Pure Concept, he/she will lose control of their powers? This is exactly what happened to Akari, and in this case, resulted in the loss of her memories every time she regresses and leaving traces of deja vu for nothing more than just a passing resemblance for mystery. But, you can't mistake that other than fate, and to even anticipate the killing moment, it may sound insane from Akari's POV, but her character shows that her love and attachment to Menou is genuine, and this may be the first time that I'm hearing this that's similar to the ever-so-popular Christian jargon of "dying to self" for others' gain. The next literate pink-haired Nana Hiiragi feel-alike is Momo, another Executioner priestess and Menou's personal aide to assist on missions ranging from reconnaissance to providing support in battles, wielding a wire saw as her weapon. Many may question the significance of the Yuri-ness from Momo to Menou, and this is supported by the fact that both were childhood friends, and the crush that sparked out of it from the hair ribbons that Menou gave to her. Yes, it may sound insignificant that something like a hair ribbon is all it takes for a hot-bodied love affection, but to Momo, this is all that she had of her memories with Menou, and I can definitely understand that this connection creates the reassurance that Menou will always be with her, even when they're physically apart. That, with Akari's inclusion in Menou's life, Momo's jealousy reaches far beyond the levels of the earth so much so to always grumble with Menou, that the latter always appreciates her presence, knowing fully well of the awfully close attachment. But just like a well-hidden enclosure of a yandere, Momo is a force to be reckoned with if she is unleashed of her powers, that love translates to a massive power draw that's equivalent to death unhinged, and you DO NOT want to anger this well-endowed girl, but pet her like an overly attached pet to calm her tits down. The other characters do make their appearances and create their own diversions based on their characteristics, from the likes of the Grisarika Kingdom's warrior princess Ashuna Grisarika whom disregards her position as a princess to look for worthy opponents for battle, to yet another Lost One: Manon Libelle leading a liberated social class all in the disguise that in private, she is but only one of the four main antagonists in the overall story (that's covered in the anime so far). Adding the Church aspect of the Faust and Noblesse being at loggerheads with one another, and you have character and worldbuilding that's larger than life as the series grows to expose more infodump that is cohesive and doesn't feel like it's a waste of time. It's very good and worthy of the Grand Prix position that it won by its inherent strength of making everything connected, that not one single instance is a throwaway feature just for show. Unsurprisingly, for such a valuable work like this, I'd thought that J.C. Staff would penchant the DanMachi staff team to work on this since this unironically links to a high-quality production given its stature, but since we already know at this point that DanMachi would come back next season, an entirely new staff team must be helmed for this stop-gap show of sorts. And for the notables, bringing in Isekai Bookworm assistant director Yoshiki Kawasaki for his directorial debut, veteran series composer Shougo Yasukawa, Hataraku Saibou a.k.a Cells at Work! chief animation director and character designer Keiko Tamaki, it already sounds like there is a seasoned crew of people whom regardless if they knew the extent of the LN's status, would still produce the finest quality that matches the exuberance of the source material in its grandiose. Some nice scenes, especially the high-octane action battles that are a sight to behold, while making this a wholly J.C. Staff work that's definitely the quality that we've come to know of the studio in shows (especially DanMachi), and this doesn't feel like the cheapness of other average shows that has recently been produced to mixed fanfare. On the musical side, Mili's "Paper Bouquet" for the OP, other than the fact that it is sung entirely in English (which you can easily find the lyrics in Spotify), it is an excellent OP that embraces its visual spectacle, but I can't help that feeling that it doesn't sound as good as say, Goblin Slayer's ridonclous gore-rape fest of an OP that I still remember to this very day. It has the Mili "Seal of Quality" that's for sure that some people can appreciate, but I just find the song to be decent at best. On the other hand, I freaking love ChouCho's songs with the rawness of her vocal range that is precedent in 2017's "Imouto sae Ireba Ii." and 2020's "Majo no Tabitabi", and of the 2 ending songs sung this season (this one and the Maou Gakuin-inspired shitfest that is Murabito A), "Touka Serenade" is the next acclimation of ChouCho's angelic voice, paired with the dignified visuals that are just shades of artistic symbolisms placed between Menou and Akari's relationship. No doubt that in my mind, this ED is low-key certainly one of the best of the season in both music and visuals combined. We should come to a consensus: since Japan has countless manga and novel awards like the Dengeki Novel Prize and GA Bunko Grand Prix, these works MUST be adapted into anime, and we SHOULD watch more of them to know of their individual acclaims in the Land of the Rising Sun. The only problem is that people like to profit off of no-name, average people pumping out average works just for quick bucks of cash cows, and this is the rare instance of getting works that have already won prestigious awards that's so great, in the same rhetoric that anime will spike up more sales of the source material. Hopefully this proves to be so, and if there is a Season 2 of this, I will gladly watch more of Virgin Road, because this is the lost art of creative and bold storytelling that so many new wannabe authors nowadays just miss the mark, or barely hung on to tried-and-true methods to try being different, when in actuality, they're one and the same. Watch Virgin Road, it's a show where your virginity will not be lost in this journey for a compelling experience.

I don't usually write anime reviews on MAL but after seeing the hate this series is getting on here for stupid reasons has forced me to write this. First of all let me make one thing clear don't believe on the score. The story for this unique Isekai is really good with amazing world building and characters and as a Light Novel and manga reader I can confirm that it gets even better from episode 4 and the final arc of this series is amazing.The pacing for this series is really well done and every episode it adds something to the story or hints at something.As a light novel reader it was good to see them only adapting 2 volumes without skipping most of the stuff. The characters are really unique and not your normal Isekai characters who feel like every other Isekai character. They have unique character development as the show goes on and some really interesting stories. The animation and art by JC Staff has been their best since Railgun season 3 but there are a few episodes with weak animation and art. The ost and both the Op and Ed song are amazing. This is among the new isekai of this season is the best and is going to be one of the best ones of the year too. Overall it is a 10/10 for me and if you are a person not watching this because of low score and Isekai then you are missing out on a great anime.

If you go to my profile, you will see I'm very picky when it comes to giving a 10/10 or even a 9/10 rating. Please try to keep that in mind when reading. Sound: 9/10, great. The opening is great. Several singers. Good melodies. Stereo effect to tingle your ears in all places. The sound effects undeniably go above and beyond, just like in Jojo. There's a deep, rumbling layer to some of them. The voice acting, while not jaw-dropping, is nothing to be ashamed of. It's good. The background music could use some improvement. Not that there is anything wrong with them, it's just that I've heard better. They'regood enough, but didn't help hype me up. Art: 9/10. Honestly, I initially rated sound and art 10/10 as there's nothing wrong with it but ultimately decided against it to separate it from the character and story, which both go above and beyond. Only in one episode can you see J.C. Staff (the studio) trying to save a little bit on the budget by reusing 2 or 3 animated shots. The CGI was used sparely. It was in only one episode that I can remember. And I'm not even actually sure it was CGI in the first place. Anyway, it fit seemlessy. The character designs are gorgeous, the clothes and the hair are well animated. The fight scenes don't use any cheap trick, like hiding everything behind a cloud of smoke or only showing shockwaves because "the characters move too fast for the human eye to see" (you know what I'm talking about if you've seen Dragon Ball, for instance). Here, you actually see the characters and there's no freeze-frame either. Character: 10/10, outstanding and fully deserving of this perfect rating. An interesting choice for sure, the main cast is pretty much exclusively female. Personally, I liked it a lot! It was very refreshing! It makes for new or different interactions. Each character comes with their lot of background, mystery, strengths, weaknesses and quirkyness. Their psyche is explored as well. And it evolves. Their chemistry works wonderfully. It makes it easy to get attached to the cast. The characters' actions aren't purposefully frustrating, nor involuntarily so either. Story: 10/10 and I couldn't possibly go any lower as there are too many reasons it's as good as it gets. As mentioned above, each character brings their lot of background and mystery. But not only that, the world itself also has a rich history. And this anime is not shy when it comes to giving away revelations. The powers of the characters are not bland. They are well thought out. They come with their drawbacks or limitations. The main plot is clear, engaging and naturally leads to the unfolding events of this season. There is no forced diversion delaying the progression or anything of the sort that would drop the rating. It's surprisingly hard to guess who's the antagonist of any given arc! None of the factions at play are manichaean either! Enjoyment: 10/10. Earlier I mentioned the soundtracks weren't epic enough to elevate the hype. But it was well compensated by the art, the story and the characters. So in the end, even during the fights the hype was there. The anime did pump me up, just not at full potential. Outside of fighting, I'm eager to learn more about the world and our characters! At the same time, the season gave me a satisfying ending. It resolved its issues flawlessly. Overall: 10/10, a starting season worthy of a masterpiece.

Guys, guys, guys! I figured it out! I know what's wrong with this anime! If you're gonna tl;dr this review than please just know that Shokei Shoujo is a criminally underrated show on MAL because it missed its international audience target by a long shot and I don't mean just the first episode twist that everyone who bothers to know his isekai is aware of. Let me elaborate. This show comes in a season packed with quality content and in an almost post-post-isekai era. It can't create anything new in the concept, we already have had self-aware isekais for years. It can't compete with hype for Kaguya-samaor SPYxFAMILY and it failed to capture hearts of most people invested in regular isekai genre. I mean, I rated it highly but I don't think it comes close to the likes of Re:Zero or Mushoku Tensei and there is abundance, A B U N D A N C E of mid-to-relatively-good shows in the genre. You may ask yourself than - why should I watch it? Who cares if just another guy got transported and struggles to be the hero (or one-shots everything in his way)? The answer lays in subversion of tropes. And before you say "Ha! But it has been done a million of times already. Basically every isekai needs to come up with something new." I will say "Yes, yes of course. Who are you and why do you watch those shows?". And I mean it. Ask yourself those two simple questions because if your answer is along the lines of "because I enjoy seeing my unrealized fantasy in a cartoon form" or "I see myself as guy who starts with nothing but than BAM BAM PEW PEW latent (or developed) super powers and a harem" than Shokei Shoujo is not for you. Hey look, it's even in the title. It says shoujo, doesn't it? Oh, so you might think because it was marketed as a yuri it may perhaps appeal to or target audience who likes to see relationships and love bloom between people of the same sex with all the emotional twists and turns? You're wrong. And if you came looking for this kind of action, this is not an anime for you. Although I have to admit, it's possibly the greatest shortcoming of the entire series - it fails to realistically capture female x female dynamics in any emotionally impactful way. Fanservice than? Maybe it has some o t h e r kind of rabu rabu action? Again, wrong. You will 100% see many more panty shots in horror/mystery series like Summertime Render airing at the same time. Shokei Shoujo (in my opinion) is not even close to ecchi. Again, not for you ;( Who is it for than? It's for you, dear daydreamer. You, the person who enjoys your properly established fantasy world with some thought being put into how power levels work. You, the viewer who prefers their anime with a seasoning of genre and trope awareness. You, the chuunibyou enjoyer of made-up class systems and magical explosions. But beware! If you also fall into previous "not for you" categories, Shokei Shoujo is going to be mid at best. I can't stress it enough. This show's Original Sin is invoking fantasies to literally kill them first chance it has. It is the core of the entire plot as well. It's about coming to terms with not wanting to erase your dreams but having to live in a world where you have to submit to killing them. So if you don't mind sitting through a show that has literally no self-insert material*, no emotional kick, little to no ecchi, but talks to your childish-yet-aware brain, be my guest. Watch it and you will be rewarded. On a sidenote, if you need more of a hook: +fights are not that predictive in terms of how they develop; +music, especially the OP by Mili, is great; +story is thought-through and centered around heavy world building; +usage of known tropes (talking to you, Re:Zero and time travelling shows) has a unique twist to it; +for once "going home" is the opposite of an end goal for characters; +the apparent MC is not Saitama overpowered and needs to find creative ways to deal with opponents far stronger than herself. Hope that now you are aware of how this show works and why people seem to rate it as they do. Give it a chance if you will. Maybe you're in the right headspace for the Executioner and her way of dealing with life. * MINOR SPOILERS. Shokei Shoujo deals hard blow to male-centered ego not only in the first episode where a typical sigma-to-alfa protagonist is killed of. It goes great lengths to show there are literally no males in this fantasy world of any significance. There goes gender diversity through another window.

Merchandise

Links may contain affiliate references

Студия

Продюсеры

Темы