The appeal and reviews of D-Frag!: The perfect balance of comedy and action

D-Frag! - D-Frag - Reviews and Recommendations

Overview

D-Frag! is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Tomoya Haruno. It aired for 12 episodes from January 7 to March 25, 2014. It was produced by Brain's Base and directed by Shizuka Sugawara. The anime depicts the high-energy comedy of the members of the Game Production Club (provisional title), as well as their everyday lives that have little to do with game production.

■ Story

One day, Kazama Kenji, a feared delinquent at Fukagawa High School, visits the Game Production Club room. A small fire breaks out there, and with the help of the club members, he successfully puts it out. However, he is attacked by the club members who try to steal his memory in order to cover up the fire, and while he desperately tries to escape, he is saved by the club president, Shibasaki Ashika, and ends up joining the Game Production Club. From then on, Kazama gets into all sorts of trouble and gags with the members of the Game Production Club (provisional).

■ Characters

The charm of D-Frag! lies in its unique characters. The main character, Kazama Kenji, is a reliable guy who is in charge of the straight man, but the setting that he has the goal of taking over the school is interesting. Shibasaki Ashika is the president of the Game Production Club (tentative name) and a troublemaker who is nicknamed the strongest darkness. Captain Takao has a tsundere personality and cares about Kazama. Karasuyama Chitose is a character with earth attribute who is the student council president and is Ashika's childhood friend. Mizukami Sakura is a junior with water attribute, self-proclaimed younger sister attribute, and is a fun-loving character. Osawa Minami is an advisor who looks good in a tracksuit, and although she has lightning attribute, she always has a sleepy atmosphere. Kawahara Naka is Kazama's childhood friend and the vice president of the student council with a masochistic tendency. Funabori is a classmate with a homely and modest personality, and is enthusiastically supported by some boys as a woman who would be suitable for Miss Okusan. Kazama Noe is the younger sister of Tsuyoshi and is also a character who inherits the bloodline of tsukkomi. Shiohachi is a member of the Game Production Club (tentative name) who has feelings for Ashika and sees Kazama as a rival. Yokoshima and Hiroshi Nagayama are members of Kazama's clique and appear as childhood friends.

■Animation and direction

D-Frag!'s animation is characterised by Brain's Base's careful drawing and comical direction. The comedy scenes are particularly entertaining with their rich movements and changes in expression. Director Sugawara Shizuka has faithfully incorporated the taste of the original work into the anime, while adding his own unique direction to enhance the work's appeal. Additionally, character design and chief animation director Matsumoto Kentaro's designs also faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the original work.

■Music

The music for D-Frag! is written by Akito Matsuda. The opening theme "Suterumite!" is sung by Iosys JK Girls, and its light and catchy melody perfectly matches the atmosphere of the anime. The ending theme "Minna no Namae wo Iretekudasai" is sung by Kana Hanazawa as Shibasaki Ashika, Shizuka Itou as Chief Takao, and Aki Toyosaki as Funabori-san, and is a song that captures the individuality of the characters.

■ Episode

Each episode of D-Frag! depicts various troubles and gags caused by the members of the Game Production Club (tentative name). Episode 1, "It's the Kazama faction!", shows how Kazama decided to join the Game Production Club, while episode 2, "Damn the fake Game Production Club!!", shows the conflict between the Game Production Club (tentative name) and the real Game Production Club. Episode 3, "Fujou Academy Freedom Festival. Also known as the Fufu Festival", shows the commotion at the school festival, while episode 4, "That's the Devil's Fourteenth Orchestra!!", shows a confrontation with a mysterious group. Episode 5, "What?! Lunch for my sister?!", features Kazama Noe, and episode 6, "It's a love triangle!", features a romantic element. Episode 7, "Dirty!!", shows the strange behavior of the club members, and episode 8, "I wish those dots were good...", focuses on the topic of game production. Episode 9, "That's right, she's his little sister," depicts Kazama's exploits, while episode 10, "Tama-senpai, it's been a while," features characters from the past. Episode 11, "What's a secret technique?", depicts the special skills of the club members, and episode 12, "If this keeps up, I'll have zero friends forever," is the final episode that concludes the story.

■ Recommendation points

D-Frag! is a work that is appealing for its high-tension gags and unique characters. In particular, the troubles and gags that the members of the Game Production Department (tentative name) get up to are sure to make viewers laugh. Also, don't miss the animation and direction that firmly captures the taste of the original work. The music is also perfect for the atmosphere of the anime, and you can enjoy the opening and ending songs. This is a work that I would definitely recommend to people who like comedy anime and unique characters.

■Broadcast information

D-Frag! was broadcast on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, and AT-X. It was also streamed online on Bandai Channel, AniTeleshiAta, GyaO!, J:COM On Demand, au Hikari TV Service, Rakuten Showtime, NicoNico Douga, DMM.com, PlayStation®Store, VideoMarket, NicoNico Douga Mobile, Best Hit Video, Best Hit Anime Video, d Anime Store, and other platforms.

■Copyright

©Haruno Tomoya/Published by KADOKAWA Media Factory/D-Frag! Production Committee