Aika R-16
I love Studio Fantasia. These master craftsmen of the low-angle shot have produced another fine entry into the Agent Aika universe for you to shake your head at in disbelief. Yes, Aika R-16 is the ridiculous panty show, where the barrage of panties are more punchline than suggestive, but most definitely vulgar.
Trust me, this was the classiest image I could find.
Aika R-16 is a prequel to Agent Aika set 10 years before the first series, but really doesn’t have much to do with the original save some cameos. This time around Aika is a 16 year old student, rather than a sexy 26-year old salvager. The story really isn’t all that important. There’s some well endowed and minimally clad psycho chics out to beat Aika in some hand to hand combat. This toe-to-toe fan service filled combat is usually capped with an in your face shot of the defeated’s undergarment area, often slumped over in ways that evokes an “oh my gawd,” rather than “that’s hot”. Just like in the original. However, given the younger age of the R-16 Aika and her friends, sometimes the fan service feels funny, rather than funny in a couple of places.
I’m not saying the fan service isn’t designed to make some part of you appreciate it, but it’s way overshadowed by the comedic aspects. If you haven’t already, snuggle up with this amusing piece on the anime panty-shot.
English Dub Opinion
Two of the leads, Aika and Eri, are first-time lead roles for both of the actresses playing them. The characters are mostly one note characters, so they did what they could, but more experienced actresses probably would have been able to include some sharps and flats for that one note. Given the goofy nature of Aika R-16 it’s fine though. I did like the enthusiasm they both showed both in their roles and during their interview segments.
Overall
I can’t believe I watched Aika R-16 and took the time to post a short review. Who am I kidding? It’s a total waste of time, but I’d watch it if Studio Fantasia got funding to do another Aika based series. I found the first more enjoyable, though.
There’s a load of extras on this disc. Interviews with the director and character designer, the seiyuu and the voice actresses, as well as location scouting videos and promo clips.
Comments
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Yamcha
on June 5th, 2008
Ah, Agent Aika and Najica. Panty shots are kind of like ice cream. Have too much of either and you just get tired of them after a certain point.
radiant
on June 5th, 2008
All I can say is butterfly on boobs = win.
ron~
on June 5th, 2008
hmm never heard about this anime before, going to find some info about this one
super rats
on June 5th, 2008
Yamcha, I loooooove ice cream and can eat it almost every single day.
Radiant, there’s actually something funny about the butterfly.
ron~, it’s good clean fan service fun.
lu-k
on June 6th, 2008
I really enjoyed Najica, which is quite similar in term of fanservice.
I remember I was looking for thise Aika R-16 episodes, but never managed to find them. mmhh should say never properly looked for them.
The show is not licenced here in France, and no fansub either
super rats
on June 6th, 2008
In any of the Aika episodes, R-16 or Agent Aika, there might be as much fan service in one episode as there was in all of Najica Blitz Tactics. NBT did actually care about a story. Aika is obsessed with the undergarment and that obsession is what makes it funny.
Nork22
on June 6th, 2008
Ah Studio Fantasia, thank you for another good round of panty action. Which reminds me, wonder where I put that Najica panties…
lu-k
on June 6th, 2008
mmmhh… « there might be as much fan service in one episode as there was in all of NBT »
Now I definitely want to see that ^^
Seems very because of that, indeed.
IKnight
on June 6th, 2008
I remember Najica was one of the few anime which my local DVD rental store had back when I discovered anime. It quickly taught me that there was more to anime than arthouse films.
flee
on June 7th, 2008
I have only watched the first OVA since I couldn’t find the other two OVAs. It’s funny, action-packed, and ofcourse full of fanservice.
Burrowowl
on June 9th, 2008
I’m not clear on what the difference is (from a guilty-pleasure standpoint) between this any any of the 10,000 romantic-comedy harem shows that air in a given season. Instead of a panty-shot embarrased moe scene per episode, it’s a half-dozen panty-shots per scene and a couple embarrased moe scenes. It’s just a matter of scale.
super rats
on June 9th, 2008
Well, it’s the scale that makes a difference and how undisguised it goes about it, makes a main focus out of what some shows use as a bonus item. The general unchained glee it goes about it too.
Aika feels a little more peeping tom than accidental tourist.
Pull back far enough and sure it is just a matter of scale. Aika really just wants you to get a much closer view of what it’s showing.
nakoma
on June 16th, 2008
watashi wa nakuma desu. anata wa?
Evinson
on June 22nd, 2008
que tal amigos amantes del hermoso arte del anime japones pues la serie de aika r-16 toda la serie de tres capitulos las disfrute mucho y aqui desde Gutemala se disfruta el anime