[Review] Snapshot: Yozakura Quartet - 01

[Misuzu]

Snapshot: Yozakura Quartet - 01

OP: “JUST TUNE” by [Only registered users can see links. ]


ED Sequence:

ED: “Nagareboshi” 「ナガレボシ」 by [Only registered users can see links. ] featuring [Only registered users can see links. ]
「サクラサク」 (Sakura Saku)
“Sakura Blooms”
First Glance:
Youkai vs. youkai battles take place in the cohabited human/youkai town of Sakura Shinmachi on Thursdays in [Only registered users can see links. ]. Adapted from the manga of the same name, the series revolves around a group of youkai teenagers that maintain order in their town by fighting against other youkai who threaten their peacefully coexistence with humans. In a small company led by Hiizumi Akina ([Only registered users can see links. ]), the superhuman strength Yarizakura Hime ([Only registered users can see links. ]), mind-reader Nanami Ao ([Only registered users can see links. ]), and conjurer Izone Kotoha ([Only registered users can see links. ]) maintain order in the town, but also perform the odd job here and there. While it’s easy to make the comparson to [Only registered users can see links. ] with Akina being the “somewhat unreliable yet key president character” akin to Itsuki Iba (much like Omni mentioned in his [Only registered users can see links. ]), I actually find that the similarities tend to end there. Granted the supernatural premise remains, but instead of an Astral magician dispatch service, we have an interesting setting in Sakura Shinmachi where half the inhabitants are human and the other half are youkai. With that said, I liked Rental Magica quite a bit, so having a something along the same lines is appealing to me. My only complaint at the moment is that the first broadcast is in 4:3 instead of 16:9 when the series was clearly produced in widescreen, much like in [Only registered users can see links. ]’s case before.
On the topic of production, Yozakura Quartet’s animation was done by [Only registered users can see links. ], the studio that brought us [Only registered users can see links. ] and [Only registered users can see links. ], two series I enjoyed a fair bit. As such, I find that the visuals look good, but don’t particular stand out by any means. For a first episode, the characters are what caught my eye the most, as there’s something about Hime’s personality and long flowing scarf that appeals to me. She’s rather serious for the most part, but has a goofy side that comes across well thanks to [Only registered users can see links. ]. (I guess even with [Only registered users can see links. ], it would be dumb to turn down starring roles.) This is also one of the few series featuring [Only registered users can see links. ] this season, so her playful yet somewhat psychotic portrayal of Kotoha is fun to watch as well. Music-wise, I like the opening song by [Only registered users can see links. ], who I admittedly haven’t heard anything from before. As for the opening sequence, it’s reminiscient of the funky style used in [Only registered users can see links. ]’s OP, whereas the constantly changing color palettes of the ending sequence is something new to me. The ending song is performed by the usual [Only registered users can see links. ] featuring [Only registered users can see links. ] duo, whose songs from [Only registered users can see links. ] and [Only registered users can see links. ] I absolutely loved, with “Nagareboshi” being no different.
Evidently though, there isn’t a whole lot else captivating my interest in what initially comes off as a generic looking series; therefore, I’m torn as to whether or not to follow it. It’s only slated for one season (something I tend to prefer lately) and has a strong support cast (see below), so I’m inclined to give it a couple more episodes before I decide. Thursdays is definitely not short on shows to watch though, with three more scheduled to premiere next week, so I’m going to have to juggle my priorities accordingly.

Notable Cast:
- Hiizumi Akina (比泉 秋名) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (梶 裕貴)
- Yarizakura Hime (槍桜 ヒメ) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (福圓 美里)
- Nanami Ao (七海 アオ) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (藤田 咲)
- Izone Kotoha (五十音 ことは) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (沢城 みゆき)
- Hiizumi Enjin (比泉 円神) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (関 智一)
- Kishi Kyousuke (岸 恭助) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (小野 大輔)
- Kishi Touka (岸 桃華) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (戸松 遥)
- Azuma Rin (東 鈴) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (又吉 愛)
- Shinatsuhiko Yuuhi (士夏彦 雄飛) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (松本 さち)
- Mariabelle (マリアベル) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (田中 理恵)
- V Juri F (V・じゅり・F) : [Only registered users can see links. ] (大久保 藍子)

[bubba1652]

Two things:

Isn't this review on Random Curiosity? I got mad Deja vu from reading it.

Also, Even though many people are comparing this to Rental Magica, I think the music and Acting was much better in Rental. I would go so far as to call this a knock-off of Rental, but I don't know which came first in actuality, so my opinion has little basis.

I probably won't continue watching this.

[phantom5]

it was good but its sort of different from the manga a little bit but thats what expected