Lady Battle! ~The Battle of Maid and Butler~: Review of the attractive characters and story

Lady Battle! Ladis versus Butiers! - Detailed review and recommendation of Lady Battle! Ladies Venus Butlers!

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

Light novel

■ Release date

March 26, 2010
Included as a DVD bonus feature

■Release and sales

・Distributor and distributor: Geneon Universal Entertainment

■Frequencies

5 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 6

■Original Story

Tsukasa Kozuki (Dengeki Bunko)

■ Director

Atsushi Ohtsuki

■ Production

・Animation Production: XEBEC
Produced by: "Ladies vs Butlers!" Production Committee (Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan, ASCII Media Works, AT-X, Lantis, Clockworks, NEC Biglobe, XEBEC)

■Works

©Tsukasa Kozuki/ASCII Media Works/Ladies vs Butlers! Production Committee

■ Story

Young lady x butler! A love story like a battle begins?

Hino Akiharu, who looks like a tough guy but is actually quite a coward, has come to the private Shirarei Academy, formerly a school for the richest girls, to transfer to the special course for training servants, the Servant Training Course, in order to pursue his dream of becoming a butler.

However, his butler training does not go smoothly, as awaiting him at Hakureiryo is a reunion with his scheming childhood friend, Tomomi.
An encounter with the arrogant young lady, Sernia, and a turbulent exchange with the extremely clumsy maid, Sanae!
Will Akiharu be able to become a great butler?

*Quoted from the XEBEC official website

■Explanation

When Akiharu Hino was in elementary school, his parents died and he was taken in by his uncle. One day, he saw on TV a former girls' school, a super prestigious high school for rich girls, Shirarei Academy, and decided to transfer to the newly established education course. He passed the exam and enrolled. However, with his evil eyes, scar on his left eyebrow, spiky brown hair, and triple piercings (safety pins) in his ears, he scares the students (most of whom are rich girls). Meanwhile, he reunites with his elementary school classmate, the dark-hearted girl Saikyo Tomomi, who caused him many traumas. He is also mistaken for a suspicious person by Sernia Iori Flameheart because of his appearance and is chased by her. Nevertheless, Akiharu gradually gets used to school, and the relationships around him gradually change...

"Ladies versus Butiers!" is a challenging work that maximizes the appeal of the original novel while unfolding the story in the short time of an OVA. Fans of the original will be able to see new sides to the characters and gain a deeper understanding. In addition, the condensed story development that is unique to OVAs is full of ingenuity that will keep viewers from getting bored. In particular, Akiharu's growth and the changes in the relationships surrounding him will leave a strong impression on viewers.

■Cast

・Hino Akiharu/Okitsu Kazuyuki/Saikyo Tomomi/Kawasumi Ayako/Selnia Iori Flameheart/Nakahara Mai/Daichi Kaoru/Kugimiya Rie/Shikikagami Sanae/Koshimizu Ami/Shikikagami Saori/Goto Yuko/Sakurazawa Mimina/Hidaka Rina/Pina Sformclun Est/Goto Mai/Ayse Khadim/Hanazawa Kana/Hedie/Tomatsu Haruka/Mikan/Sakuma Beni/Tenjo Jikae/Ise Mariya/Housui Ran/Hayami Saori/Kazama Daikichi/Kawada Shinji/Todoroki Shingo/Kawakami Takashi/Mika Mitsuru/Fujimura Ayumi/Anna/Watanabe Akino/Benikoji Sakurako/Goto Saori

■ Main staff

・Planning: Akihiro Kawamura, Kazutomo Suzuki, Yasuhiro Mikami, Shunji Inoue, Nobuhiko Sako, Takehiko Shimojima, Shinao Shiji ・Original story: Tsukasa Kozuki (published by Dengeki Bunko)
・Character design / Munyu ・Series composition / Tamai Go ・Character design / Chief animation director / Takami Akio ・Art director / Kinoshita Ryoka ・Director of photography / Nakata Tomoyuki ・Prop design / Tsurukubo Hisako ・Art design / Aoki Kaoru ・Color setting / Matsuoka Tamae ・Editing / Sakamoto Kumiko ・Sound director / Aketagawa Jin ・Music / Ueoka Kei ・Music producer / Koike Katsumi ・Music production / Lantis ・Sound recording / Anzai Ayumu ・Sound effects / Murakami Daisuke (Sound Ring)
・Recording assistant: Hideaki Kizawa ・Recording studio: STUDIO T&T
・Sound production: Magic Capsule, Takatoshi Hamano・Editing assistant: Kenichi Hirai・Video editing: Q-Tech, Motoki Shirai・Publicity: Teruhiko Sato, Mikio Kitajima・Logo design: Yuji Hagikubo・Associate producers: Jun Fukuda, Mami Toida, Tomoya Yamamoto・Cooperation: Dengeki Bunko editorial department, Dengeki Bunko MAGAZINE editorial department, Dengeki Moeoh editorial department・Aki Kawamoto (ASCII Media Works), Takashi Watanabe (ASCII Media Works), Takashi Iida (Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan)
・Production desk: Asami Kitahara ・Literary and setting: Takeyuki Ishida ・System management: Tsuyoshi Hirota ・Animation production: XEBEC
Producers: Nobuhiro Nakayama, Kazuma Miki, Satoshi Fujita, Yoshiyuki Ito, Tsuneo Takechi, Jun Sugiura Line Producer: Takumi Kusakabe Producers: Kohei Kawase, Naoko Koyama, Takatoshi Chino Director: Atsushi Otsuki Production: Ladies vs Butlers! Production Committee (Geneon Universal Entertainment Japan, ASCII Media Works, AT-X, Lantis, KLOCKWORX, NEC Biglobe, XEBEC)

■ Main Characters

Hino Akiharu is a member of the 1-C Education Department at Hakureiryo Academy's high school division. He looks like a total delinquent. But inside he's a homebody and a bit of a coward, and he's a simpleton who doesn't understand women's feelings. Due to various accidents and misunderstandings, he is treated as an enemy by women, but many people like him because of his personality.
・Saikyo Tomo: A member of the upper education department of 1-C at Mihaku Reiryo Academy High School. She is Akiharu's childhood friend and the trauma maker who implanted so many traumas in him. She went from being a commoner to being the daughter of one of the world's leading companies. She plays the role of an honor student, but deep down she has a dark side.
Sernia Iori Flameheart is a student in the upper education department of Shirarei Academy's Takaro 1-C. She is a quarter Japanese and quarter British descendant of a prestigious aristocratic family with the British crest of a "red-feathered waterfowl." She is a beautiful girl, and gets furious when Akiharu calls her a "drill" for her distinctive blonde curls.
・Shikikagami Sanae belongs to the 1-A Junior High School Education Department of Hakureiryo Academy. She attended the Junior High School Education Department until her family fell into poverty, so she transferred to the Junior High School Education Department. She's clumsy and has big breasts. Her clumsy behavior causes more or less damage to those around her (usually Akihabara).
Daichi Kaoru is a member of the 1-C Education Department at Hakureiryo Academy High School. Akiharu's roommate. She hides the fact that she is a girl and disguises herself as a boy to become a student at Hakureiryo Academy. At first she shuns Akiharu, but gradually becomes interested in him.
Pina Sform is a student in Class 3-B of Clan Esto's Shirarei Academy. She is the first princess of the Kingdom of Sfor, a small island nation in Northern Europe. She is an otaku who loves Japanese anime and the like, and as a result, she speaks in a manga-like manner. She refers to herself as "mistress." She ends her sentences with "ja."
Sakurazawa Mimina is a member of the upper education department of Shirarei Academy's high school division, class 2-A. She is currently 19 years old, as her entry into higher education was delayed due to a heart condition. However, she looks like an elementary school student. Her talent for painting is so genius that she has been featured in a magazine (some say she is a living national treasure).
- Tenjoji Kaede, chairman of the board (also a janitor). He was appointed by the previous chairman because he seemed to have the most free time, and is the representative of "useless adults." He likes BL novels and games, and is on the internet even during work hours.
・Head of the Department of Deep Peace Education (concurrently serves as assistant to the chairman). A maid who is extremely competent and therefore always has to look after Kaede. A cool beauty. She has attended Hakureiryo Academy since kindergarten. She is good at throwing fountain pens.

■Subtitle

・#1／Tomomi and Celnia (2010/03/26)
・#2／Sanae and Saori (2010/04/28)
・#3/Mimina and Pina (2010/05/28)
・#4／Ayse Hediye (2010/06/25)
・#5/Daichi/Otori (2010/07/30)
・#6/All Cast Edition (2010/08/27)

■ Related works

・Ladies vs Butlers!
・Ladies vs Butlers! Music Clip

■Detailed evaluation

"Ladies versus Butiers!" is an OVA based on the original novel "Ladies vs Butlers!", and its appeal is wide-ranging. Below, we will provide a detailed review from various perspectives, including the story, characters, production, music, and visual effects.

story

The story begins when Hino Akiharu enrolls in the tutoring department at Hakureiryo Academy and begins his journey as a butler. In the short time frame of an OVA, the essence of the original work is condensed, and the story unfolds from the perspective of a different character in each episode. This allows viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the inner thoughts and backgrounds of various characters, including not only Akiharu, but also Tomomi, Sernia, Sanae, and Pina.

Particularly impressive is Akiharu's growth and the changes in the relationships around him. At first, Akiharu is misunderstood because of his delinquent-like appearance and gets into trouble, but gradually he opens up to the people around him and builds trust. This coming-of-age story not only moves the viewer, but also succeeds in portraying the complexity and depth of human relationships.

character

Each character in this series is unique and leaves a strong impression on the viewer. The main character, Hino Akiharu, is an intriguing character with a gap between his appearance and his personality. Contrary to his delinquent-like appearance, his homely and timid personality creates comical scenes that entertain the viewer. His simple-minded side also complicates his relationships with the female characters around him, adding depth to the story.

Saikyo Tomomi is Akiharu's childhood friend and a character who torments him as a traumatizer. The contrast between her dark nature and her public face as an honor student and rich girl draws viewers in. Although Celnia Iori Flameheart is a haughty young lady, she is shown to grow through her interactions with Akiharu. Her obsession with her drill hair and her tsundere attitude towards Akiharu are what endear her to viewers.

Sanae Shikikagami is a clumsy maid who causes Akiharu more or less harm, but her innocent personality and large breasts leave a strong impression on viewers. Kaoru Daichi is a character who attends Shirarei Academy dressed as a man, and is portrayed struggling with her own gender through her relationship with Akiharu. Pina Sformclan Estow is an otaku princess who loves Japanese anime culture, and her unique way of speaking and behavior entertains viewers.

In addition, each character has their own charm, such as Sakurazawa Mimina's genius talent for painting, Tenjo Jika's humorous side as a useless adult, and Shinkan's ability as a cool beauty maid. The relationships and growth stories woven by these characters are the main attraction of this work.

Production

The animation for this work is produced by XEBEC, and the quality is very high. Character design is by Takami Akio, who faithfully reproduces the illustrations from the original work while adding the movements and expressions that are unique to animation, bringing out the best in the characters. The skills of art director Kinoshita Ryoka and cinematographer Nakata Tomoyuki also shine, and the work is full of visual appeal, including the beautiful school buildings of Hakureiryo Academy and the unique rooms of each character.

Series writer Go Tamai has condensed the essence of the original work while developing the story from a different character's perspective in each episode. This allows the viewer to gain a deeper understanding of each character's inner thoughts and background, and has succeeded in giving the story depth. Director Atsushi Otsuki has also succeeded in the challenging endeavor of developing a story in the short time frame of an OVA, showing his ingenuity throughout to keep viewers from getting bored.

music

The music for this series is by Kei Haneoka and produced by Lantis. The opening and ending themes, as well as the background music for each episode, play an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. In particular, the opening theme, "Ladies vs Butlers!", has a catchy melody and lyrics that capture the hearts of viewers and enhance the worldview of the story. The ending theme, "Venus Line," also leaves a strong impression with its beautiful melody that reflects the feelings of the characters.

The background music was also carefully selected for each scene, effectively expressing Akiharu's growth and the changes in the relationships between the characters. In particular, the background music reflects the personality and emotions of each character, such as in the scene where Akiharu reunites with Tomomi, the scene where he meets Selnia, and the scene where Sanae works as a clumsy maid, and adds excitement to the story.

Visual Effects

The visual effects of this work are of extremely high quality, thanks to the skills of colorist Tamae Matsuoka and editor Kumiko Sakamoto. In particular, the unique costumes of each character and the beautiful school buildings of Hakureiryo Academy are full of visual appeal. In addition, the story unfolds from the perspective of a different character in each episode, which diversifies the visual expression and keeps viewers from getting bored.

Particularly impressive are the visual effects that bring out the best in each character, such as Akiharu's delinquent-like appearance, the color scheme that reflects Tomomi's dark nature, the character design that emphasizes Sernia's drill hair and Sanae's large breasts, Pina's unique outfit as a geeky princess, etc. Additionally, the backgrounds are carefully depicted, with the beautiful school buildings of Hakureiryo Academy and each character's unique room, making it full of visual appeal.

■Recommendation

"Lady Battle! Ladis versus Butiers!" is a work that can be highly recommended not only to fans of the original novel, but also to anime fans. It is a must-see, especially for those who are interested in the characters' personalities, growth stories, and changes in human relationships. In addition, the challenging attempt to develop a story in the short time frame of an OVA, the high production quality, and the beautiful music and visual effects are also attractive points.

This work is a moving story that depicts Akiharu's growth and the changes in the relationships around him, leaving a strong impression on viewers. It also allows viewers to deeply understand the personalities and backgrounds of each character, successfully adding depth to the story. In addition, the challenging attempt to develop a story in the short time frame of an OVA, the high production quality, and the beautiful music and visual effects are also attractive points.

Please watch "Lady Battle! Ladis versus Butiers!" and enjoy the charm and growth stories of characters such as Akiharu, Tomomi, Sernia, Sanae, and Pina. You can also gain a deeper understanding by enjoying the original novel "Lady vs Butler!" and the related work "Lady vs Butler! Music Clip."