Mato Seihei no Slave - Season 1

I was expecting much more from Mr. Slave than the average plot that every other anime about special academies seems to churn out, mixed with elements reminiscent of Arancar's arc from Bleach... Unfortunately, the not-so-well-done 3DCG animation sticks out like a sore thumb. The studio didn't even bother to mask it as 2D to blend it into the environment as Ishura did so well this year. It's not a pleasant sight, especially during the fight scenes, which lack the impact they should have had. To make matters worse, Chained Soldier falls short even in areas where it should excel, such as the S-M and ecchi elements with Utena yearning for magical girls. This aspect of the anime feels lackluster compared to others that have tackled similar themes, lacking the inventiveness, boldness, and entertainment value. So, the eroticism here is quite mid, the fights are mid (visually below average, action and choreography average at best, effects merely average), and the story follows suit. Are there any redeeming qualities? The characters are fairly decent, including our titular Mr. Slave. However, even with this, the series doesn't earn more than a 5.1/10 from me. (22.03.2024)