Every once and a while I will watch a show that is so fantastic that I cannot help but rave about it. Okami-san and Her Seven Companions (henceforth referred to as Okami) is just that kind of anime. It was awesome. I received my copy from rightstuf a few days ago, and have since watched through the entire English dub by FUNImation.
Now, while I will agree that the Narrator's talking over the top of the other characters was very annoying, it did not ruin the show for me. The English dub was awesome. They are beginning to speak more and more modern with every new release, and it is something that I really enjoy. Regardless of how accurate the translations are( I really do not care, that is not why I watch anime)the English dub by FUNImation was spot on.
The show is about Ryoko Okami, she is the heroine of this story. She has a best friend and buddy from High-school Ringo, and the rest of her friends at the Otogi Bank. It is basically a club that does odd jobs for folks inside and outside of school in exchange for a favor to be repaid at a later date.(cough Mafia cough) I really enjoyed the story. There is this total loser, screw up Ryoshi who has a thing for Okami, and while he has nothing going for him, he resolves to become stronger to protect her. In the past, Okami has been hurt by a past love and finds it difficult to let anyone into her life, so she rejects him repeatedly and constantly. However, as the story progresses we see this become less and less as is with most love stories of this sort.
Ok, the story was cool and all that noise, but what is Okami's real draw? The ploys it makes on other animes, and fairy tales. I am pretty sure that I counted more than 5. Hansel and Gretel, Puss in Boots, The Big Bad Wolf, Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Rapunsel(damsel in distress, then again that's a lot of fairy tales), as well as others. It is so cool to see these classics referenced in an anime like this. I really liked how Ryoshi, through his interactions with some of these iconic characters was able to grow as a character, and eventually come into his own in the final episodes.
Everyone who has seen the SUB is in for a real treat with this dub. Don't believe me, well in a recent interview with JDMjr, our action anime afficionado, I got his opinion on this release.
"Okami-san was one of those shows that I did not know what to think at first, however after one episode I was hooked! I love Ringo, she is that cute and sly character that always says what everyone else is thinking, but too scared to say, or admit in this case. I give this show a 9.5/10 just short of perfection."
THAT IS JDMjr!!!!! An action anime fan, someone who normally does not enjoy love stories. This is huge coming from him. I will say that I am rating the show the same, a 9.5/10, a must watch, and a must add to any anime collection. So, if you are interested it comes out April 3rd, and is still available for pre-order at rightstuf.com. Click the link below, and do not forget to tell them taht the boys at theanimevoice.com sent you.
