A sequel to Zettai Karen Children. Kaoru grows up, so Hyoubu is forced to pick up a new girlfriend with psychic powers (shown above).
Despite the fact that the original Zettai Karen Children was basically a lolicon show, I liked it. Enough to sit through 52 episodes. It wasn’t a great show by any stretch of the imagination, but it was solidly entertaining and enjoyable. My favorite character in the show was the “villain” Hyoubu Kyousuke, a freedom fighter for espers, leader of a terrorist group, an all around nice guy, and a lolicon. Somehow his character was presented without contradiction.
So I was pleasantly surprised to learn we were getting a sequel where Hyoubu was the main character. THE UNLIMITED is quite different from its predecessor, in that most of the comedic elements have been removed. Instead, there’s a stronger focus on the action and the motivations of the characters. Like its predecessor, THE UNLIMITED is a solid show. But it’s nothing great. Every episode is entertaining, but in the end, forgettable.
Someone mentioned on Twitter (sorry, I forget who) that THE UNLIMITED is “the most anime anime ever.” I think he was onto something. Psychic powers, lolis, little girls with magic powers, saving the world from a bad guy who brainwashes little girls, rescuing princesses, it’s got it all. Perhaps part of the problem is that the creators never say no. They try to everything, and do it well. But this lack of focus prevents them from making something great.
By the way: you don’t need to have seen the original to watch this, although some of the side characters might make more sense if you have.
- Storytelling – C – Solid, with a few pacing issues, particularly in the middle.
- Voice – D – Nothing really makes this stand out from other anime, which I think is part of the problem.
- Characters – C – Hyoubu and Andy are great, but no one else gets much attention. Except Yugiri who is an awful character. At least the lolis in the original show were interesting, with Yugiri it doesn’t even seem like they’re trying.
- Attention Grab – C – Kept my interest except when Yugiri appeared.
- Production – C – Looks fine.
- Overall – C+
Recommendations – Zettai Karen Children, Darker than Black, Code-E
I have watched the first 4 episodes when they came out. My first impression after the first minute: “elfenlied, is that you?”. unfortunately it wasn’t even close as good as Eflenlied. I kept watching the show because it was fun to see how less own ideas it has. I could recognize a lot stuff which was copied from somewhere else (normaly this isn’t bad as such, but not in such an amount). I dropped it because it was nothing then a childish cartoon to me, not an anime. I rated it 6/10…
sry for my bad english as usual
I’ve actually never seen Elfen Lied. Probably should at some point…
I’m not sure what you mean when you say it was nothing more than a childish cartoon, not an anime… I think most anime are childish cartoons. 🙂
first, you SHOULD watch elfen lied, it is worth it. In contrast to karen children it is an real anime. to me, an anime must have more than just the aspect of entertainment. it must deliver a message to the viewer and it has to do it in the most hard-line way (ignore the last point, that’s probably just my wishful thinking)
Maybe. I feel like there are a lot of anime that don’t have much of a message though.
I agree with you, but these are not the best
Can’t argue with that. Except for comedies. Not sure DMC, Milky Holmes and Nichijou have much of a message.
I think it was great during the battle episode, when Catasthrope was sunk and Yugiri was taken away. Also, it was great that they animated the “Generation Zero” arc. Too bad the final is disappointing, since there isn’t any fight. The previous was better, since we got to see Major Hyoubu used katana, something new to me. I am also disappointed that Patty and Muscle only made a brief appearance, while Mio didn’t. The latter one is definitely the most interesting PANDRA’s girl.
Of course, when you talk about male character in ZKC, it has to be Hyoubu Kyousuke. The mangaka and publisher know that too, that’s why they are selling Kyoubu’s phone strap instead of anyone else, other than the children. 🙂 Minamoto and Sakaki can go die for all I care. They are such boring, straight guys. The mangaka should just turn ZKC into “Hyoubu Kyousuke and his harem”
Katanas are always cool. 🙂
I was wondering where Mio was as well. Probably Hyoubu kicked her out after she entered middle school and became too old for him. I was also hoping Naomi would make an appearance…
And yeah, Minamoto and Sakaki are boring as hell. Well mainly Minamoto, but he’s boring enough to drag Sakaki down with him. “Hyoubu Kyousuke and his harem” was basically what this show was, I think. I mean, he even branched out from little girls to include Andy.
” I think. I mean, he even branched out from little girls to include Andy.”
Umm…no. In the end, Kyousuke went straight to Yuguri while completely ignoring Andy. Never doubt the Major’s lolicon-ness.
Haha true. I think Andy was still part of the harem though, just a less important part.