Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon

Based on the light novel series written by Minoru Kawakami and illustrated by Satoyasu, “境界線上のホライゾン“ is a fall season show had not originally planned to watch but reading others were enthusiastic about it, decided to check it out.

The first episode was good, promising “Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere” could be a fun fantasy action series with plenty of comedy and some ecchi moments, making for an entertaining weekly watch.

Animated by studio Sunrise, should be no surprise that the animation is solid, with very fluid and crisp action scenes. All the various characters are very recognizable thanks to their different ornate costumes and hairstyles.

Next to the characters being an eclectic mix that include a mecha dragon, an incubus demon, a slime blob an a giant, was struck by how most of the female cast sport impossibly large bosoms.
Save for Makiko, Heidi and a few flat-chested girls, the other girls have such incredulous breast sizes it makes me fear this series could turn into a show only about ecchi exposure.

However, while the first episode was still fairly light hearted and could lead one to think it will be largely about ogling shapely girls, the initial advertisement trailer for the show seems to indicate there will be plenty of action. So guess will have to wait and see what direction this series takes.

Alas, with a projected run of only twelve episodes, fear two major elements may turn out to be this series’ undoing and send it crashing into mediocrity or worse.

Firstly, there is the rather complicated core plot setting, which while roughly explained in some of the character’s dialogue during the first episode makes it all rather convoluted. In fact, would recommend one reads up on the core plot to make it all more digestible.

Secondly, the cast is rather large, huge even if you would count in the various enemy factions. Considering there’s already so many characters shown from the Musashi Ariadust Academy students, fear with such a short episode count most of them may be relegated to superficial cameo characters or simple scene filler. If so, most will no doubt be little more than one-dimensional stereotypes.

May have complained above about the emphasis on specific exaggerated parts of many of the female cast’s anatomy, but must confess that I was immediately smitten on Oriotorai Makiko’s character. Not merely due to Makiko’s shapely curves but also because she’s voiced by Shiraishi Ryoko, whose voice I adore and whom you may know from roles as Hayate in “Hayate No Gotoku!”, Kanako in “Nyan Koi” and Mako in “Saki”.

Others in the voice cast include Yuuki Aoi as the shy Suzu, she previously voiced Madoka in “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” and Alice in “Ikoku Meiro No Croisée”. Male lead Touri is voiced by Fukuyama Jun, famous for roles like Lelouch in “Code Geass” or Takanashi Souta in “Working!!”.

Horizon is voiced by Chihara Minori, known for voicing Nagato in “The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi” or Chikaki in “Minami-ke”. Touri’s sister Kimi is voiced by Saito Chiwa, who also voiced Homura in “Puella Magi Madoka Magica”, Lucchini in “Strike Witches” and Sejougahara in “Bakemonogatari”.

Am quite looking forward to the next episode!