If you haven’t already figured it out, I have a deep attraction to silliness in all forms. I could (and probably will, at some point in the near future) talk about my reasons for that, but instead I think I’ll talk about the latest object of my curiousity: Battle Athletes Victory!
For those who don’t know what the series is about, it’s basically a story of an all-girls sports competition: a bunch of athletically gifted girls go to a training academy (complete with tests) and, uh, train. The best three go to the University Satellite (the transfer happens a little under halfway through the series), and the best one on the Satellite gains the covetted title of Cosmo Beauty. Basic stuff, really. Except overblown to the point where the midterm involves hauling a giant stone wheel down a (very steep) cliff and over a field of landmines. Overblown to the point where a bicycle race takes place on a thin path that bears uncanny resemblance to a rollercoster. This is not a sports show that takes itself seriously. For further evidence, I submit the main character, Akari, who seems destined for greatness, being the daughter of the greatest Cosmo Beauty ever. Except she’s whiny, scared, and, when under pressure, takes refuge in a painted cardboard box with the words “Akari’s House” on the side.
Of course, there are some serious parts, especially the important races (like the qualifying race for the Satellite), but they’re done well enough to accentuate the humor rather than kill it. The characters are solid, even if a few of the minor ones were obviously made entirely for comic relief. It’s not epic or high art, but it’s fast and fun.
Besides, it’s a school full of athletic girls! Say it with me: L-E-S-B-I-A-N-S. Whoo yeah! A whole series just begging to have dirty fanfiction written about it that asks the question, “Is that position even possible?” The answer is always, of course, “Wanna find out?” (Actually, some of the best parts involve the show mocking the imagined lesbian connections. I love a series that understands it’s own excesses like that)
By the way, the post title comes from the tendancy of this series to have rain appear conveniently in time for dramatic scenes during races, and dissapear immediately after someone crosses the finish line.
I was at the Japanese market today and was looking at the different types of Pocky and discovered ‘Men’s Pocky’. I’m still not exactly sure how it is different from normal Pocky. It doesn’t look any more manly than normal Pocky. And they didn’t seem to have woman’s pocky either. Anyway, here’s a picture of the box.