Summer 2021 First Impressions – Kageki Shojo!!

Streaming: Funimation

Episodes: 13

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: The Kouka Revue was created in the Taisho era, and featured unmarried actresses in all theatrical roles. The otokoyaku (male performers), with their suave, gentlemanly presentation, stole the hearts of female fans. Eventually an elite school was established to train actresses in this art form, and aspiring students compete each year to be among the 40 lucky few to be accepted.

Ai, a former idol who “graduated” (forced to retire) after a run-in with a fan, is one of those aspirants. Her talent means that she’s a veritable shoo-in and her fame means that most of the other potential classmates already know who she is, but she still doesn’t expect to draw the attention of beanpole (and complete weirdo) Sarasa. Sarasa is loud, goofy, and lacks the typical traits of a Kouka actress, but has a certain something that allows her to stand out from the crowd (and it’s not just her unusual height). She aspires to be a top star and play Lady Oscar in “The Rose of Versailles.” Yet thus far, Ai only sees her as a nuisance.

Impressions: Say what you will about “best-laid plans,” but as much as I was looking forward to this series, it just took me a while to get around to it (or most other anime this season, but that’s obvious). But some things are worth the wait, and this series seems to have had my number from the get-go.

I’ve always had a fascination with Takarazuka theater. I learned about the art form when I was in college as a part of a Japanese theater class, and I think like many others I was captivated not so much by the lavishness of the productions (though that definitely has its appeal), but by the debonair otokoyaku performers. While Takarazuka may have had its origins in the same sort of “good wife, wise mother” line of thinking that’s attempted to confine women to certain societal roles over the years, I think women have a certain collective talent for taking what they’ve been given and making it their own in ways that confound and confuse traditionalists. It’s that kind of mentality and ingenuity that I feel like I can sense when I watch a top star descend the grand staircase and I suddenly feel kind of giddy.

Kageki Shojo!! seems to do a good job of capturing how it’s not just one certain type of person who’s drawn to this type of theater. Ai, with her seemingly troubled past, and Sarasa, a jolly amateur (or at least someone with a lack of training that’s traditionally considered applicable to this type of theater) with a head full of rocks, make a comedic odd couple pairing. Ai knows the entertainment business, including the pitfalls of being well-known with an active fan base. Idol culture has its issues and I feel like that part of Ai’s character being introduced is probably for good reason – while I can’t speak to toxicity in Takarazuka fandom, I assume that it exists and might be something Ai will have to navigate. Sarasa seems like a goofball, but I suspect that her life isn’t as simple as it may seem, either. Shoujo dramas are all about character development, and Ai and Sarasa, along with the few other main players we glimpse throughout this episode, are already intriguing figures.

Pros: I like how this series feels grounded in reality, in spite of having to refer to Takarazuka by another made-up name. Throughout this episode I was comparing it to/contrasting it with Revue Starlight, which takes on some of the same terminology and visual trappings in service of a more fantasy-like story. There’s nothing wrong with either type of story and I love Revue Starlight, but I also appreciate being able to examine some of the more real-life aspects of this theater system in a straightforward way – sans talking giraffes and what-not.

Building off of that, while I love Sarasa (obviously she’s already character of the season, and no it doesn’t matter that I’ve barely watched any of the other anime airing right now at this point), I’m really interested in the directions that Ai’s story might go. I feel like it’s rare to get an idol’s perspective in a series about idols; those seem more about indulging in the fantasy that idols provide to their fans rather that really drilling down into the dirt that surrounds that fandom. But her feelings around being touched, being recognized and approached in public, and (judging by the end of this next episode) being obsessed over by stalkers are things we know about but don’t always get to see portrayed in our entertainment. While it might be difficult to watch I’m glad the potential to breach these subjects is there.

Cons: This episode feels… weird when it comes to sexual harassment. There are a couple of moments played for comedy, and while I generally fall on the side of thinking that they were “okay” I’m still left with some apprehensions. In one scene, the new class is being put through their paces by a member of the military, who’s teaching them to march in synch. He reaches out to touch Ai on the shoulder, which she dodges like a pro in a comedic way. He also refers to Sarasa’s tallness which she calls out at sexual harassment and for which he apologizes. There’s a general silliness to the scene that, in spite of how well the situation is handled in the dialog, lends it a joke-y feeling that perhaps undercuts what it’s trying to say. It’s not a big deal but definitely something that stuck out to me.

Some of the visual elements aren’t quite as polished as I would like. The more I learn about the anime industry and the consequences of the sheer number of wonderful (and not-so-wonderful) anime series that have been produced lately, the less inclined I am to pick on messy animation work. And this episode looked fine, but more like an episode from the middle of a series where nothing notable was happening rather than an anticipated premiere of an adaptation involving references to very lavish performances.

Content Warnings: Comical treatment of sexual harassment. References to stalking.

Would I Watch More? – Heck yes I would! Like I said, this series really seems to have my number; my friends who said as much about the manga really knew what they were talking about (and who they were talking to).