Sekirei

Sekirei, described in a sentence, would be ahem... Highlander with boobies. But don't let that put you off. I say I've read 61 chapters, but that's a bit of a guess; it's around 61, but I lost my place.

Now for the review (oh, and please forgive my bad spelling and grammar).

Story: As mentioned, it's basically Highlander with hot chicks in revealing outfits. Oh, and if you haven't seen Highlander, go to a DVD rental shop and rent it. I'm not describing it for you. But basically, it's a good plot taken from an 1980s action movie, so it loses points massively for lack of originality. It could get those points back at a later date, however, if something happens that is significantly different from the plot of Highlander—say, if the main character started shooting lightning from his eyes or something (okay, that's just silly, but it's just an example). So, for story, 6/10.

Art: Good. That's it. Good. Nothing special, nothing bad, just good. 7/10.

Characters: This is where this manga really shines, mainly the main character. Unlike most harem stories, the lead isn't a perv or just plain clueless. He is a believable character—a kind, polite boy failing at getting into university (or college if you're American). An extremely cute girl in a revealing miko outfit literally falls out of the sky, and he gets dragged into her problems. He tries to help and never attempts to take advantage of her yet understands that she is a she and he is a he. Everyone else also manages to avoid stereotypes (or at least most of them). So, I'll be generous and give this category 10/10.

Enjoyment: 7/10.

Overall, if you love ecchi harems, read this—you will love it. If you don't, however, you will still probably enjoy it. 8/10.

Warning: This review may contain spoilers.

First impressions, so my first impression is that this is about a bunch of superpowered human-looking aliens fighting it out in a citywide battle tournament to reach paradise with their master. Sounds cool and I want to see what they do with it.

Story, 6/10

One day, while Minato, a two-time college entrance exam failure, walks in depression from his latest failed attempt to get into his dream college, an extra thick shrine maiden named Musubi falls from the sky and lands on top of him. During this encounter, he finds out that Musubi is being chased by two women dressed in S&M outfits who shoot lightning from their hands. During their escape, Minato learns that Musubi is something called a Sekirei, a group of 108 powerful, superhuman-like aliens looked after by a local corporation (mostly comprised of hot MILFs, thick schoolgirls, pretty boys, the occasional trap, and loli).

The main character has been chosen against his will to take part in a citywide death tournament called the Sekirei Plan, where Sekirei and their masters, called Ashikabi, fight for the ultimate prize. Minato now finds himself involved in the fight for his life in quest for this ultimate prize so afterwards he can continue his normal life and live in peace with Musubi.

Sekirei, if you couldn't tell, is another one of those battle harems which is quite common nowadays. While I don’t have the biggest love for the genre due to oversaturation, Sekirei is probably one of the better battle harems out there because it sticks to its simple story to the end, faults and all. It tries to portray themes of friendship and camaraderie straightforwardly, and the main character isn't guaranteed victory just because he has more Sekirei than others.

When boiled down, Sekirei's plot is like a Pokemon game except the Pokemon are hot human-like aliens (maybe they should have run it by the slogan "gotta fuck them all"). The basic plot follows a formula where the main character gets involved in drama or some shit while this tournament goes on in the background. Most of the time, it involves a girl with problems, and after the drama is done, he adds another Sekirei to his team. This repeats about six times, getting old fast. In harems, the male lead solves problems using his dick, but sometimes the problems were internal, making conflicts slightly interesting.

One example of interesting drama was when the character Homura started to get attached to the main character. His unique biology means he can't control his gender or power to a certain extent. He struggles with no control over his destiny, becoming a plaything to fate. While interesting, the problem became gags later, less funny each time.

About 2/3 through the story, we get more focus on the battle tournament and the history of the Sekirei. The tournament itself isn't bad as far as tournament arcs go. Main character actually has reasons to win now - to revive fallen Sekirei, reverse damage caused, and keep it out of dangerous hands. The action is alright, and there's enough background and side plot to make battles impactful from a character perspective.

Before discussing characters, the history of the Sekirei is slightly interesting, another reason why I call this the Everyman of battle harems. Sekirei have been on our planet before, descendants of humans breeding with Sekirei. Anyone could be an Ashikabi, rich or homeless, as long as they have Sekirei blood. One problem is they don't explain much about where the Sekirei come from - just that they came from outer space, possibly underground ships waiting to be found again. My nitpick is wanting to know who made them.

Pros: Slightly better written than some harems, doesn't overstay its welcome. Not amazing like Golden Boy or High School DxD but memorable enough. Cons: Some drama becomes pointless at times and brought up for gags after solving the problem, taking away impact.

Characters, 6/10

Main character Minato is another bland harem protagonist. He’s the nice guy who becomes slightly more manly and takes charge of situations. I wish he wasn't like this because other side characters have more distinct personalities and extreme beliefs. Side characters are slightly more interesting but still typical characters. Some characters are better written and have more personality, bothering me less than usual.

Hayato Mikogami is a childish rich person pursuing whims without thought. As the series continues, we find out he’s very lonely until he meets Sekirei. Other major players have similar dynamics - coming off as assholes but changing through interactions with their Sekirei. Relationships between Sekirei and Ashikabi are slightly interesting - best friend, lover, loyal servant - progressing too fast. They might understand each other deeply through spiritual bonds.

Art, 6/10

Artwork is decent most of the time except for a few un-focused panels. Backgrounds look alright but sub-par during fight scenes showing destruction. Fight scenes themselves are alright but don’t flow well, mostly using special attacks instead of hand-to-hand combat. Character designs are nice and easy on the eyes, especially Sekirei designs.

Enjoyment, 5/10

I liked the anime and manga initially, watching it occasionally to pass time. Nowadays, it’s more of a once-in-a-blue-moon enjoyment. I enjoyed the fights and found the story entertaining despite being basic and dated. Character interactions were slightly more engaging than expected. I enjoyed this manga for slightly exceeding expectations.

Overall, 6/10

If you enjoy harems and people fighting, give this manga a shot. It’s not as good as High School DxD, Golden Boy, or Rosario Vampire but ten times better than generic battle harems. It’s a good time passer. If you’re not into harems or want something more serious, stay away. For a good tournament battle, watch/read any Fate Stay Night series or Yu Yu Hakusho’s Dark Tournament arc.

tl;dr: A manga that, despite its disjointed and random nature in many aspects, remains interesting and enjoyable throughout.

This manga featured numerous intriguing elements but didn't develop them significantly. Consequently, it felt like the progression was lacking, leading to a sense of disconnect. The main characters had personalities and backgrounds worth investing in at a basic level, yet their individual stories seemed weak. Aside from the protagonist, character development largely halted once they were "winged." Relationship growth also progressed very slowly afterward. As a result, while each character appeared interesting individually, the overall cast felt flat. There were some good character stories, especially in the latter portions where side characters received solid development. However, these stories didn't tie into the main narrative or cast, making them feel separate from the holistic story.

The plot was engaging moment by moment but extremely random, leaving readers unsure of the next direction while still feeling predictable. This randomness made it hard for readers to invest in the overarching story. This wasn't due to twists—new information that changes your understanding of existing plot elements—but rather the plot being dictated on the fly by the person running the Sekirei project, which didn't flow well. Some twists about the origins of the Sekirei and Minato's connection to them were heavily foreshadowed, diminishing their impact when revealed.

This all culminated in an ending that was predictable and generic, yet satisfying because it aligned with my preferences. The epilogue was excellent, offering a slice-of-life feel that better showcased character and relationship development. Despite little seeming to happen throughout the manga, the epilogue conveyed a sense of growth. The comedy was solid initially but dwindled over time. The manga might have been better paced if it leaned more on slice-of-life and comedy instead of focusing so much on the overarching plot. Battles had interesting aspects, like Norito, but powers felt overly simplistic and unexplained, making battles random without being particularly impressive. Power growth was minimal but unnecessary, resulting in battles rarely having tension. Still, individual battles were cool. The art was exceptional, with varied and appealing character designs despite their plainness.

One guy, several girls, and a heap of mishaps form the basic recipe for a harem story. However, Sekirei takes a slightly different approach. Instead of being a typical Harem, Ecchi, Rom/Com, this series offers a kind of battle royale with a "gotta catch 'em all" vibe. But instead of catching cute Pokémon, these trainers have to catch cute girls, not with a ball but with a kiss. Oh, and occasionally their clothes explode.

The "Sekirei Plan" is an ultra-secret project where mysterious hot guys and gals must fight incessantly. Why? Who knows. What's the point? Probably for the amusement of a deranged billionaire who spends his time ranting from his ivory tower. And no, that's not a joke.

On the street level, Minato Sahashi is the young man thrown into this bewildering situation, becoming the Ashikabi (partner) of one of the 108 Poke-Sekirei. A cute girl named Musubi, with enhanced abilities and physique. Her goal is simply to fight for her master. Why? I don't know... Maybe to be the last one standing and win... something. The main plot is set up in the first three chapters, but it's poorly explained, usually through the eccentric monologues of the billionaire game master or some other character revealing withheld exposition. Honestly, much of the dialogue feels unnatural, and the battle royale itself seems uninspired and convoluted as it tries to add depth.

But between the fights and exposition dumps, Minato is just a regular guy trying to make the best of his unexpected circumstances, which is fairly enjoyable. Especially as he gradually increases his roster. It's weird to say because these aren't animal-like creatures sent to slaughter each other. These Sekirei are basically augmented humans with various personalities and desires... That one sends to slaughter each other. Although there are meant to be 108 Sekirei, the story focuses mainly on those Minato claims and interacts with. So there's a good two or three dozen for fans to pick favorites from and create fan art.

As for Minato himself, he's frankly a self-identified useless NEET who gets lucky due to his birthright. He does experience some character growth as the story progresses but remains weak-willed throughout, evident from how he's drawn (usually on his hands and knees).

Sure, Minato isn't much to look at, but for an ecchi harem manga featuring loads of cute girls, the mangaka can unleash creativity on the page and carry even a subpar story with their art alone. Unfortunately, those hoping for more creativity will find the artwork for Sekirei rather lacking. Simplistic character designs with wonky features and exposed-lopsided breasts are some issues I had. The background environments are basic, lacking detail and shading to elevate them. Overall, the art looks incredibly simplistic and usually simplicity would make action sequences easy to follow, but even there the mangaka fails.

Overall, Sekirei is a battle manga with mediocre battles you can only follow by reading the attack moves. An ecchi manga that fails to arouse due to lackluster artwork. But a harem with interesting character dynamics and relationships. I wish it had more fun character interactions and less of the mess it became towards the end. Sekirei is the kind of manga I enjoyed years ago, but re-reading it now after reading over a hundred superior manga makes it hard to ignore its flaws.

Ah, Ecchi manga. Typically I stay away from these, but I stumbled upon this one and decided to give it a read.

Story - 8
The story isn't half bad. However, there's not much plot development, with an overemphasis on the female anatomy. If the author had focused more on the main storyline, this could have earned a higher score. The humor, especially the old man jokes, was pretty funny though. I found myself laughing so hard that my parents would come in just as I hit Alt + Tab.

Art - 7
Once again, too much focus on the female anatomy. Apart from that, I quite enjoy the artist's style. I can handle one, two, three, or even four girls (up to Tsukiumi), but beyond her, it becomes overwhelming. And how does one draw that many breasts without causing an eyesore?

Character - 9
Surprisingly, I really like the characters. Particularly Tsukiumi. The author did a fantastic job with her tsundere personality, which I adore. The other characters were decent too. Musubi seemed obsessed with her chest size, while Kusano provided most of the laughs.

Beyond that, I think I've had enough.

Enjoyment-wise, it wasn't bad. I might consider reading it again.

Overall 8. It deserves this score if you're into Harem/Ecchi genres. Not recommended for those who can't handle polygamy.

Some spoilers ahead.

When you anticipate a story centered around a battle royale, you naturally expect something thrilling, entertaining, and packed with action, featuring exhilarating clashes. You might even expect a touch of poignancy, given that not all fighters are destined to survive until the end. Sekirei is indeed a battle royale manga that raises these expectations but fails spectacularly to meet any of them. Instead, it delivers an overly saccharine light-heartedness, muddled storytelling, and constant cop-outs, resulting in a bland series with surprisingly low entertainment value.

The story begins with Minato Sahashi, a down-on-his-luck loser (and your typical harem protagonist), who miraculously meets Musubi. Unknowingly, he establishes a master-servant relationship with her and becomes embroiled in an impending battle royale where over 100 "battle maidens" like Musubi will fight until only one pair remains. However, an Ashikabi can have more than one Sekirei, and soon Minato amasses a harem, emerging as a strong contender in the game.

The series sets up an exciting contest well, hinting at bigger mysteries early on, suggesting an interesting game. However, as Sekirei progresses, it becomes clear that the series won't deliver on its promises. While battles are plentiful, they aren't very engaging. Most battles are one-sided, with the victors already decided; somehow, Minato acquires some of the most powerful Sekirei very early in the story, which kills the surprise factor essential for making battle manga fun. Even when battles manage to escape predictability, they disappoint. Either they end in flashy power volleys with last-minute power-ups or abruptly conclude with anticlimactic cop-outs, killing the initial excitement.

Battle royales often carry tragic or dark undertones, depending on their context. With numerous Sekirei battling until one remains, the series sets up rules where tragedy seems inevitable. However, Sekirei's overly light-hearted nature shies away from these moments. Though this isn't inherently bad, when the series reaches points where tragedy should be unavoidable, it cop-outs with cheap answers. This light-hearted feeling permeates the manga, preventing it from crafting an exciting battle manga. The series does occasionally entertain tragedy, but these moments are clichéd, unsurprising, and feel like cheap ways to evoke emotional moments, mined for cloying sentimentality.

The storytelling starts decently but lacks substance. As the series progresses, explanations become incoherent nonsense. Most reveals are vague, muddled, or unnecessary. This is especially evident in the final volumes, where what should be a climactic finale turns into convoluted babble. Instead of delivering on built-up plotlines, the series opts for a messy final battle with faceless enemies, leading to a disappointing conclusion. Plotlines like Minato’s sister subplot, which could have been interesting, are poorly developed and end with unfulfilling cop-outs. It seems like Sekirei constantly cop-outs.

Sekirei doesn’t offer much in terms of characters either. Our main hero, Minato, is wimpy and unconfident but has a heart of gold. He undergoes minor changes, usually pointed out by other characters, but never becomes an interesting lead, often swept along by the plot. Author Gokurakuin creates most characters like factory assembly line products: slap a single characteristic onto a character design and call it a day. Most characters lack depth and become tiring due to their one-note personalities. The Sekirei’s utter devotion and dependency on their Ashikabi strip them of character depth, feeling like subservient wish fulfillment. Tsukiumi is probably the most entertaining character, but she's still a one-note tsundere. The attraction some Sekirei have towards Minato feels unbelievable, making his overpowered team questionable. There are some decent characters, but they're few and outside the main cast.

Gokurakuin’s art is one of the few plus sides. Character designs are well-done, detailed, and varied, making the series pleasant to look at. Backgrounds are fine but sometimes relinquished for battle spectacle. Unfortunately, Gokurakuin is less effective in depicting flashy clashes. While there are noteworthy moments, battles are often bland, contributing to the disengaging action. Being an ecchi series, gratuitous nudity is found in nearly every chapter. However, Gokurakuin’s nudity isn’t very salacious, part of the attraction of an ecchi series.

The main issue with Sekirei is that author Sakurako Gokurakuin wasn’t suited for an action-packed battle manga. They seemed better suited for a super cheerful gakuen spin-off. Their focus on light-hearted, lovey-dovey shlock, muddled storytelling, and constant cop-outs brought down whatever potential this series had.