Mouretsu Pirates
One of the new series slated for the winter anime season that was curious about and sampled this past weekend is “Mouretsu Pirates” as it seemed promising enough from the rough plot outline and preview imagery.
Starting off with narrated scenes explaining the background story of legalized space pirates, the first episode soon switches into a more typical school setting followed by action comedy shenanigans when they throw main character Marika’s life upside down by revealing her pirate lineage.
Judging by the opening and ending animation sequences there will be plenty of different characters, though have no doubt that aloof Marika & serious Chiaki will be the main duo, hopefully there will be plenty of chemistry and maybe even bit of a shoujo-ai vibe between them.
That wish aside, if the series delivers a roller-coaster of silly girl pirate shenanigans will be satisfied, after all I don’t expect them to be as charismatic or entertaining as say Jack Sparrow. Animation by Satelight in this first episode was good with plenty of bright colors and flashy hairstyles.
Stern, bespectacled Chiaki is voiced by Hanazawa Kana who also voiced Charlotte in “IS: Infinite Stratos”, Kobato in “Boku ha Tomodachi ga Sukunai”, Nadeko in “Bakemonogatari”, Mayuri in “Steins;Gate” and Ayase in “Guilty Crown”.
Newly appointed pirate captain Marika is voiced by Komatsu Mikako whom am not familiar with. Other known seiyuu in the cast include Horie Yui as Coria, Ise Mariya as Natalia and Kayano Ai as Ai, though it’s yet unclear how large the roles of their characters will really be.
What did strike me negatively about this show are the rather atrocious opening & ending songs. Both tracks are done by Momoiro Clover Z, who are responsible for the eclectic but swinging ‘Pinky Jones’ used in the “Yosuga No Sora” ending and the “Dragon Crisis!” ending track ‘Mirai Bowl’. Alas their musical contribution to this series leaves a lot to be desired.
That aside, if this series continues along this course and does not take itself too seriously it could provide for fun weekly entertainment of goofing school girls immersed in silly space pirate shenanigans.
Blue Blue Wave 
I liked the first episode but i have absolutely no idea what the plot is and what is gonna happened next. But i had fun all along, i hope this will be a comedy silly space pirates without too much seriousness.
Are the op/ed that terrible ? To be honest i rarely listen to op and ed in animes … fortunately a bad music doesn’t mean a bad show
@Katsura-chan
Same for me, hoping it’ll continue to be pure silly fun. Compared to many opening and ending tracks I’ve heard, these were rather poor.
I was going to sample this series, but if the story is leading by silly or moe archetype than no thanks :<
@Wolfheinrich
Looking at “Mouretsu Pirates” so far it seems it will lean more into the realm of silly space pirate comedy instead of serious action and drama. If you’re looking more into action and drama with space or mecha elements, “Rinne No Lagrange” will be your thing I believe.
I think Mouretsu Pirates will be silly action and drama, rather than silly comedy. Even in its first episode, it reeks of campiness; the entire thing’s a whole ironic satire about itself. As long as they play that straight without forcing it, Mouretsu Pirates will probably be a more entertaining yet simultaneously intriguing show as Lagrange.
@Mushyrulez
That’s true, it’s not afraid to make fun of itself like that, something which the first season of “Hayate No Gotoku!” also had and is oft a joy to watch. “Rinne no Lagrange” will be an entirely different type of show I believe, it could end up being very raw and dramatic.