Seitokai no Ichizon - Episode 1

In all honesty, you could almost categorise Seitokai no Ichizon as one of those shows that doesn't particularly need a plot synopsis, but regardless I might as well regale you with one anyone - The series is set largely within a room where a student council meets... A council made up of four female members (all chosen by the students by way of a popularity vote in essence), together with the highest scoring individual in the school's exams. In this case, that final place happens to be taken up by one Ken Sugisaki, who just happens to be an eroge-obsessed guy who spends way too much of his time thinking about creating harems. A perfect fit for an all-female student council... Or not, depending on which way you look at it.


Anyhow, the introduction to this opening episode is fantastic material from beginning to end if you like your anime cross-references and parodies, as the council members discuss their move from light novels (where Seitokai no Ichizon began its life) to anime. From The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya to Dragonball Evolution, and from putting random stars into the show's title through to... well, Lucky Star inevitably, there is plenty crammed into the first couple of minutes, and a lot of it is quite genuinely funny.

What a shame then that the remainder of the episode is largely pretty dull and generic stuff, centred around Sugisaki harassing, insulting and otherwise being annoying towards his female council-mates, until we reach the inevitably soft-centred ending which doesn't particularly fit in with what has gone before at all. There are at least a few knowing anime cross-references during the episode proper to enjoy (I got a particular kick out of the mention of supplying castanets for the school's light music club, a small sideways nod to K-ON!), but compared to those quick-fire opening moments there's not really anything note-worthy to discuss - Even the character designs and animation quickly becomes forgettable.

I get the distinct feeling that this is going to be one of those shows that offers up very occasional moments of genius and/or hilarity, smothered almost entirely by the vacuous and predictable nature of the rest of its content. There's plenty of time for Seitokai no Ichizon to prove me wrong, but aside from hunting for the anime-related gags there's probably not going to much of a good reason to rush off to watch this show judging by its first outing.