Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate
The visual novel “恋と選挙とチョコレート“ by Sprite with art by Kanno Touko already spawned two manga adaptations and now gets the anime treatment as a harem school comedy with some drama.
Although the overall genre of “Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate” clearly is that of a harem comedy based off an eroge -the type of which there are plenty each season- the opening scene of the anime does show there will be some drama along the way.
While most of the female cast assembled around the male lead are cute and endearing, so far all of them fit in basic default molds in terms of their character and visual styling, making them rather two dimensional, much like the male lead who is so stereotypical he is alas rather bland.
Animation by studio AIC Build is fair, all of the characters are rendered well and with care. Next to different traits and eye color styles, each of the female characters has a recognizable hair style, luckily those with more outrageous hair colors sport their hairdo in subdued tones.
Feisty childhood friend Chisato is voiced by Nakamura Eriko, she also voiced Haruka in “The iDOLM@STER” and Ejutsu in “Shin Koihime Musou”.
Mizuhashi Kaori voices oneesama character Mifuyu, previously she tackled roles like Minami in “Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu”, Miyako in “Hidamari Sketch” and Mercredi in “Kiddy Grade”.
Satsuki is voiced by Asakawa Yuu, who also voiced Hibiki in “Amagami SS”, Rider in “Fate/stay night”, Motoko in “Love Hina” and Sakaki in “Azumanga Daioh”.
The mysterious Michiru is voiced Imai Asami who previously voiced Kurisu in “Steins;Gate” and Chihaya in The iDOLM@STER”.
Oboro, nicknamed ‘Yume’, is voiced by Ogata Megumi who voiced male characters before, like Shinji in “Neon Genesis Evangelion”.
Trap Hidaka has yet to appear but is stated to be voiced by Sanada Asami who tackled roles like Sawako in “K-ON!”, Kanako in “Maria†Holic” and Matoi “Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei”.
Enjoyed the first three episodes of this series and will likely continue to watch, but compared to the other shows that I am following this season, “Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate” does feel like it is the weakest in that lot and it does not transcend the average level of the dime in a dozen harem school comedy… yet.
Though one must honestly wonder if more can or should be expected of this show.
If you like the run of the mill harem series based on eroge, or if you like school setting comedies filled with cute girls, then this show might be right up your alley.
Blue Blue Wave 
Are you serious? If Chocolate is Eroge Harem, then Kokoro Connect is Moe filled Slice of Life snoozefest.
Both are actually full blown character dramas, and Chocolate juggles three genres at the same time- political and social commentary, character drama and romance as a tiny, background sub-sub-plot appended to character drama.The risk is not that it becomes too generic, the risk is that because there’s only one Cour, the ambition of the story would collapse on itself. The question is whether it’s drama falls flat, or it’s “Election” angle is mishandled. Eroge Romance is the background here, not Election or Character Dramas. Romance is just an add on, the main focus seems to be “Chocolates” – Character Drama and “Election”.
Granted, it’s drama is weaker than Kokoro Connect, in part because it’s dispersed among more characters.
IMO, Chocolate comes in the same class of shows as Kokoro Connect and Tari Tari, just with more haremish elements in it. It should be compared to those two shows, not the likes of Who is Imouto.
@Andmeuths
Well, it is based on an adult visual novel and the anime so far clearly gives all signs multiple girls will vie for Yuuki’s affection.
If the original visual novel has a lot of character development and a such social commentary as you say, then you’re right to question if the anime adaptation will be able to bring all that in its run and do the original justice. Or worse, with only one cour and the easier marketing of harem romance, the production may just have that element prevail and push the rest to the back.
It’s great to see your enthusiasm about the original though, it gives me a lot more hope that this series is indeed well worth picking up and will bring us much more than the average harem comedy.
I look forward to it. ^^