rolfson.cristina - 2015-05-27 12:33:18

I came across this show and it seemed to have a decent premise so I thought I would give it a try, and it was the biggest mistake I could've made. I came into watching Absolute Duo with high expectations and that's where it all falls apart, Absolute Duo is mediocore at best.

To start off with the story isn't completely bad but it follows the same path as too many other shows and it just gets worse as it goes on. The animation is pretty too look at, but that is it. The amount of continuity errors I found while watching this show was unbearable. For example in episode 6, in the space of 10 minutes I believe i found about 5 major screw ups. Like in the end half of the episode when Lilith and Tooru fire her Blaze at the same time, she uses her left arm to aim because her right was damaged, even after this scene when Tooru and her go to continue their fight, she mentions her injured arm again. Yet when they cut to Tooru in the hospital, she comes in with her left arm all bandaged up in a sling. Things like this crop up everywhere that it makes watching the show painful.
The characters aren't even worth anything either but this is due to the show pandering to the Harem side. You have all the stereotypes from this genre, the small shy silver haired girl who is special, the pretty normal girl who misunderstands it all, the girl who is useless and gets brushed to the side and the big breasted blonde. This in itself isn't a bad thing, as quite a lot of shows have this particular grouping of characters. However, Absolute Duo does absolutely nothing to try and make them likeable. If they put in half as much effort into actually trying to develop the characters as they did in making uncomfortable to watch semi-nude scenes, the show might actually be worth a damn. But as it is, it would be easier to explain to someone why you were watching porn than this show.
The show does try to get back onto the actual 'story' in the end, and the mini fight between Tooru and Julie was nice to watch, but by then its too late, I found myself skimming through the last few episodes to get to the end out of boredom so I could move onto something I actually wanted to watch.

In the end, if you have absolutely nothing better to do with your life and have no other shows to watch, then by all means, watch Absolute Duo. Just be prepared to be let down over and over as you watch this show.

abshire.jade - 2015-03-29 06:01:00

 Un anime de magia o algo así , que ya sea ha visto  un tipo kokonoe toru  es otro tipo con otro tipo pasado  trágico  y con un harem de los de siempre . Estudian en una academia  donde usan unar armas mágicas llamadas blazes y con la directora loli , en otras palabras originalidad(sarcasmo) en fin otra mas del montón  olvidable como todas de este tipo 

dustin70 - 2015-03-29 00:17:02

Absolute duo had an okay, if not stellar, start. In fact, at the beginning I quite enjoyed this anime. Unfortunately, things quickly took a turn for the worse with animation and fight choreography, writing, and characters development turning to shit. 

Typical examples include main characters somehow avoiding gunfire by standing still as well as the bland-as-fuck generic MC getting shot and hacked to pieces only to get up and walk it off while spouting something about protecting his duo. 

The plot was awful. There's no getting around it. After watching all 12 episodes I still only have a vauge idea of what their school is actually about and what they are really fighting for. Basically everything that happens in the show seems to be a direct result of somebody wanting power. Their explanation for everything is wanting to become stronger and they place arbitrary defintions on what is right and what is evil as it suits them. 

In short, this show doesn't have many positive atributes. It suffers from halfheartedly attempting to be something "meaningful" while simultaneously being an extremely generic harem ecchi with bland characters, bad writing, and a huge amount of predictable tropes. If you do decide to watch this anime, watch it for it's ecchi and do not expect anything special.

hills.makenzie - 2015-03-27 00:21:29

Story

There are plenty of manifestation of supernatural powers from within type of anime. They are pretty much the same and from all these types of anime series Absolute Duo's story is average. Add main character with tortured past and in this one since it is a story of partners they both have a tortured past. Add an unusual power manifestation. Add harem, Add blonde transfer student that finds the main interesting. Add evil organization. See pretty average.

Animation

The animation is a little bit above average the fight scenes and fast movements don't seem choppy and rushed. There is extra focus on the fan service scenes, the animation for these scenes is far above average. Overall not the best animation but definitely not the worst.

Sound 

Average for fighting harem anime. Not groundbreaking on this aspect.

Character

These characters can be added to any other harem fighting school anime and they would fit because they are the same. The only character and probably the only thing that makes this anime a bit better is Rito "Usa-sensei" Tsukimi. Couple this character with the godly Tamura Yukari and you have the best thing in this series.

I will put overall and enjoyment together, not much enjoyment here besides the brief scenes with Usa-sensei. With that said average for this type of series. They had so much more to work with like with Tor's past guess if they have another season they would delve into his past since they focused on Julie's past more.

wilford51 - 2015-03-23 21:36:17

Its really not that great.
I dont even think there was a story, nothing is explained and it seems like every episode they throw in some new english word to make everyone seem special.

And the weapons looks like toys.

cmorissette - 2015-03-11 14:54:48

First off, it's 3/11 and this anime isn't completed yet but I've watched enough to give it a review. If you're just starting to watch anime, then this anime is really for you. "Entry Level Weeb" material if you will. AD fits the bill for that because it takes common troupes and does them well. Not revolutionary or anything, but does them cleanly and correctly. However, this gets rather dull for the seasoned viewer, as a lot of the "plot twists" are predictable standard events. It has nice catchy rock music that is pleasant to listen to but not something particularly memorable. That's how I feel about this anime, nice but not particularly memorable. For some reason, (The jumbled abomination) Guilty Crown is mentioned a lot with this anime. Wether it be entry level weebs saying this and Guilty Crown is their favorites, or the fact that (I think) it had some of the same companies involved. I find it Ironic because it does exactly the opposite. Guilty Crown takes an interesting concept (Bio-terrorism of all things!) but completely over complicates the plot, while Absolute Duo takes a normal concept and over simplifies the plot, both of these done to "Please the viewer". With its gratuitous fanservice included, if you're down for something easy  and to watch for a bit, check it out. I may change this review since you all know how fickle 12 episode animes can be.

hgleichner - 2015-02-12 23:44:17

Absolute Duo, what seems like a slightly different take on the "harem/school/action" type anime. With a nice colourful start, it quickly descends into a darker plot. Episode one does a very good job of drawing in viewers i feel with a good intro to the plot and characters, capturing a good essence of what the show is about in almost all aspects. The underlying "norse-gods" theme is also an interesting element that i don't encounter very often, and looks like it will form an important part later in the anime.

The characters also show a lot of potential as well, with relationships and development not waiting around for their moment. The pace of all aspects is at a nice high pace from the start, which maybe adds too the show as it certainly feels like a show that does not need to be dragged out. Having said that it is by no means a rushed anime either, it at the moment feels like a well structure, spaced out anime. 

The visuals are also well done as well. aside from being a very good plot driven show, with the harem aspect on the back burner, It still has a definite Harem theme. it also has its colourful and moe moments as well! 

I don't like to compare but if i was to name a similarities, Absolute Duo share a of similarities to Infinite Stratos, So if you are a fan then this is the must watch anime of the Winter! If you weren't a big IS fan, fear not! Absolute Duo is still a very well plot driven anime and definitely still worth a watch, If the first episode doesn't take you then it might not be worth your time, but in my opinion if the first episodes interests you at all then stick with, it has yet to disappoint me anyway!

quinton60 - 2015-01-21 02:18:17

Absolute Duo...

... is a show in progress. At the time of writing only three episodes have aired which is obviously insufficient for me to draw any conclusion as to whether the show will eventually descend into suck (Death Note, Umineko no Naku Koro ni) or rise to glory (Steins;Gate). So be aware that my review is based on only a few episodes.

Despite all I decided to pen this piece anyway because other reviewers have given the show a bad rap, which could potentially dissuade new viewers from even checking it out. One point of criticism is the amount of fan-service... and yes it does have some, but nothing excessive compared to ecchi shows like High Scool DxD. Dismissing it for that reason would be sad, because it is actually an amusing ride if you can overlook it's flaws and accept the show for what it is. 

Premise

The main protagonist - Toru Kokonoe - is a boy with a tortured past and the power to manifest a magic shield powered by his soul, a so-called Soul Blaze (tm). 

He is  just beginning his attendance at a prestigious academy for gifted youth with similar powers, though most manifests swords rather than a shield. It's an all paid quality education that even includes a generous allowance. The only catch is, that you get expelled for flunking a test, so you need to keep up your efforts at all times. These tests are combat-related of course (it would be a seriously boring anime, if everybody were doing math assignments) and already on the very day of admission a large battle royale between the freshmen weeds out 50% of all new applicants.

Once school starts, the student's are paired up in "Duos" (hint hint) for the duration of the education. A duo is supposed to study together, train together, fight together and share the same dorm room, which is why they are normally same sex. However through various mechanics Toru ends up in a duo with an albino girl - Julie Sigtuna - who is the secondary protagonist and apparently supposed to be from Sweden or at least Scandinavia. She is somewhat lacking in Japanese social skills, which - in combination with the formal and well mannered Toru - provides most of the comic relief.

All the other members of the cast are archetypes as well - the tsundere (gotta have one of those), the big breasted but untalented girl, the aloof guy with glasses, the muscle head... they're all present.

That is basically it. The plot alternates between high school slice-of-life and combat with a few hints about a season-wide arc thrown in. An arc that has yet to materialise at this time, but probably involves some badguy for the protagonists to beat up.

Graphics and sound

The anime looks gorgeous. It is colourful, has a good and clean character design, excellent background art and animation that varies from ok to great.

 Especially the combat scenes are well choreographed and animated. Action is definitely where the show truly shines.

The sound is neither good nor bad, but does what it's supposed to do. It... sounds. So while I am not likely to purchase the sound track, I have no real complaints either.

Final Verdict

This anime is not a deep mind-bender and it doesn't break any new grounds in Japanese animated story telling. There is not likely to be any lengthy intellectual discussions in the forum about ambiguous plot twists and unexpected character developments. But Absolute Duo is easy on the eyes, the characters are simple but likeable, the comedy is funny in that Japanese slapstick kinda way and the combat scenes are dynamic and engaging.

In short - this show is fun.

If you approach it with that in mind, you will probably like it. 

Btw. in response to those who have their panties in a bunch because Julie looks like a ten year old loli: Seriously! Half the girls in every anime look like minors. Including the entire cast of Clannad. That is nothing specially related to this show.

klindgren - 2015-01-08 19:14:57

I will be reviewing this anime as it airs.

So far only one episode has been released and from what I have seen it has some comedy, quite a bit of fan service and a pinch of action to finish it off. It doesn't take itself too seriously by using comedy to lighten the mood of the show but it also looks like it will have an actual plot instead of just figuring out its plot in the last few episodes.

amara94 - 2015-01-06 19:46:58

i will be short on this review because this anime is just on Fan Service... i cant say in details because of this...because we only see a lot of nowhere events...

the opening is a real traitor... you see a large of fight but the anime just contain fill-up all over again and people like this...

as we can see the main character is freaking gay dont know where he come from..with crappy shield power he is not bad ass at all...the characters dont have a real reason to love this guy... compared to some others Ecchi..

the beginning is rude for making you think thats gonna be serious but thats a real lie.. you will be deceive by what is gonna happen next.. and the end is pathetic i have already expected this end at the episode 1 .. thats sad because the graphic are awesome... but the story and the enjoyment.. not here at all..the comedy is mediocre you just gonna laugh 2-3 time... and the Ecchi eat the 3/4 of the anime and thats making this anime very bad..

dont forget the pathetic unescessary events who gonna happen during the anime !

nothing to see this is truly a nothing .... no real goal... nothing soo serious.... not soo much fighthing just talking about some subject not important.... you can pass your road on this one if you search something serious i can't say this anime is fun...sorry but .... this is very not good just the Animation is good in this anime with the Loli and the BunnyTeacher.. if this 2 things are not in the anime..this anime become a real mistake... i just can't say this is good..and i think a lot of people gonna think this is bad too..

this anime is a 

                     Watch Juuou Mujin no Fafnir this is more serious

*note don't be mad at me by what i say guys....i like and watch every anime but i want to say something supposed to help people about what they gonna watch so don't be angry at me and push down my review if you hate that this is not necessary to hate what i say this is supposed to help people about what they gonna watch.*