Freezing

Caught the first episode of “フリージング, the anime adaptation of the Korean manhwa by Kim Kwang Hyun and Dal-Young Lim, one of the series I was most looking forward to this anime winter season.

Unfortunately, the start of “Freezing” failed to impress. The animation by ACGT is mediocre for most of the first half where the night-time battle scenes lacked fluid animation, the latter half of the episode was better though.

The anime seems rather dark and filled with lots of gore, extreme violence and bloodshed like the original manhwa. Although the animation and detail isn’t at the same level, the violence and bloodshed easily equaled that of recent zombie horror series “Highschool of the Dead”.

What makes the gore far more unsettling here compared to “Highschool of the Dead” though is that instead of depicting violence primarily against zombies, “Freezing” sees young high school girls engaging each other in bloody, lethal battles.

Although their opponents are supposed to be the invading alien Nova race, most “Freezing” chapters are rife with the girls striking each other down in a display of extreme violence which most seem to relish in.
Quite disliked this part of manhwa with its gore aspect of the girls slashing, dismembering, torturing each other over matters that should pale against the duty they have as the only ones capable of defending mankind.

The opening sequence features only Bridgette, which suggests the anime may focus more on her and bring her character forth as its main selling point. Although the manhwa features Kazuya as male lead in the harem plot, the anime might just shift more focus on Bridgette and the alien action instead.

Soft spoken Noto Mamiko who voiced Kotomi in “Clannad”, Nodoka in “Mahou Sensei Negima!” or Shimako in “Maria-sama ga Miteru” here voices Bridgette Sattelizer which promises to be quite interesting.
Having done Natsuru in “Kämpfer” and Kana in “Minami-ke”, Inoue Marina now voices student council president Chiffon.

Other voice actresses include Kitamura Eri who did Yachiyo in “Working!!”, Allean in “Queen’s Blade” and Kureha in “So-Ra-No-Wo-To” as well as Koshimizu Ami known for having voiced Kallen from “Code Geass” and Holo from “Spice & Wolf”

Will watch the next few episode and then decide if I’ll follow the series or not, though if it continues to focus on violence and gore that overshadow all else, probably will drop it.

With “Rio – Rainbow Gate!” also having disappointed, marks two new series that will likely not follow. Luckily the first episodes of “IS: Infinite Stratos” and Yumekui Merry” were great, expect previews soon.