Movies / Animé and Toons

Okami-San and Her Seven Companions

By Chris Zimmerman
April 30, 2012 - 20:16

High school shenanigans meet fairy tale whimsy in the yet another adaptation of a light novel series that seems to have sparked fervor in Japan. Taking fairy tale mainstays and repackaging them to fit a more contemporary setting isn’t the freshest of ideas, especially given the slew of live action American dramas in the past couple years, however the concept is still relatively native to Japan. Still, Okami-San & Her Seven Companions is less to do with magic straying into the modern day so much as an unrequited schoolboy crush that develops into something much more genuine.

Ryoko Okami is a member of the Otogi Bank – a group of high school kids who possess certain attributes that fall in line with popular fairytales. Ringo for instance is based off Little Red Riding Hood. The Otogi Bank is mainly a club that sees its members protecting other students from the less than upstanding cut of the student body. One day, a young man named Ryoshi proclaims his affection for Okami, only for her to bite him in return and further denigrate him by claiming he is “too weak” for her. This prompts the boy to join Otogi Bank to prove otherwise.

Okami-San and Her Seven Companions is your standard shonen fare with the focus on a burgeoning relationship that evolves as the series progresses. The two at first find each other’s presence awkward, but through Ryoshi’s determination and Okami’s commitment to her friends, they eventually find even ground to stand on.

The biggest weakness to the series is that it tries its audience’s patience. The addition of a narrator is a nifty gimmick at first, but quickly becomes a distraction, and ultimately a detraction. The narrator tries to instill a sense of humor, but the jokes come off as unfunny and even mean spirited. There is also the matter of the voice talking over the characters, making it extremely difficult to interpret what they are saying and making the conversation a hassle to follow.

Funimation’s release of the series comes spread across a pair of Blu-rays and a matching pair of DVDs. The content is uniform between the two. Commentaries are available for two episodes featuring the English dub cast, and while neither are especially informative, the actors enthusiasm for the characters feels genuine rather than just another role they have to play. Filling out the extras are a couple of promotional videos , textless opening and ending animation, and Funimation trailers for their next line of releases. First printings of the series will also include a nifty limited edition art box.

Ultimately, Okami-San and Her Seven Companions offers a fresh spin on high school romance, intermingling the genre with fabled character archetypes. The tone of the series is light-hearted, but the presence of a narrator is almost a parody of the series, making it impossible to tell if the viewer should take it seriously or not. But even with its faults the series is an enjoyable mix of romance and action that is worth watching for fans of high school dramas with a twist.

B      

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12