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[yami4ct]

NOTE TO NEW VIEWERS: This post has been updated for Season 2. It may contain slight spoilers for the first seaseon

Season 2 is on! Watch it now!

What is it?

True Calendar (T.C.) 71 - A new age where 70% of the human population lives in space thanks to the development of "Dyson Sphere", a city in space.

The world is divided into two main powers: The Dorssia Military Pact Federation, a power which grew out of a military alliance, and the Atlantic Rim United States (ARUS), which grew in power as it expanded its trade agreements. The minor nation of JIOR has declared neutrality between these two forces and maintains its peace through economic prosperity.

Within the JIOR's Sphere, Haruto Tokishima lived an ordinary life as a high school student in the division known as "Module 77"—until the Dorssian military begins their sudden invasion!

But the whole world will be shaken when Haruto meets the mysterious humanoid weapon, Valvrave!

Who's making it?
Animation Studio:Sunrise (Gundam, Code Geass, The Big O, Tiger & Bunny)
Director:Kou Matsuo (Gunpla Builders Beginning G, Rozen Maiden, Red Garden)
Music:Akira Senju (Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
Series Composition:Ichiro Okouchi
Character Design:Katsura Hosino (D.Gray-man, Continue, Kaiten!!)
Mechanical Design:Kunio Okiwara (After War Gundam X, Armored Trooper Votoms, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, GaoGaiGar, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Fighter G Gundam)


Why would I want to watch Valvrave?
Do you like space? Do you like vampires? Do you like body swap comedy, crazy ancient cults and mysterious humanoid super weapons? Well, if so Valvrave is for you! Also, Dyson Spheres. How many mecha shows have Dyson Spheres?

Where can I watch?
Valvrave will be simulcast by Crunchyroll. http://www.crunchyroll.com/valvrave-the-liberator

How long will it be?
Valvrave will be a full two cour series with 12 episodes airing now and at least 12 more starting in October.


The Cast

Haruto Tokishima
Voiced by: Ryota Ohsaka

Pilot: Valvrave 01

The protagonist of Valvrave. Calm and timid by nature. When his school is attacked by the Dorssian military he's forced into piloting the mysterious Valvrave, a robot that bestows upon its pilot mysterious powers.

Shoko Sashinami
Voiced by: Asami Seto

One of Haruto's best friends and fellow classmates. Daughter of a famous JIORian politician. Like her father, has a gift for politics and leadership. After the Dorssian attack, becomes the leader of the student body as they attempt to hold onto their country's independence.

L-elf
Voiced by:Ryōhei Kimura

Mysterious and deadly member of the Dorssian military. Brilliant and manipulative. Capable of predicting his opponent's moves several steps ahead of time and account for every possible outcome.

Cain
Voiced byaisuke Ono

Leader of the Dorssian Military with a mysterious past. Former mentor to L-elf.

Haruto's Classmates

Satomi Renbokoji
Voiced byaisuke Namikawa

President of the student council. Frequently butts heads with Shoko and the Valvrave pilots over the direction they should be taking JIOR.

Marie Nobi
Voiced by:Misato Fukuen

Shoko's best friends and one of her closest confidants. Never afraid of letting someone know her opinions.

Jior Military

Raizo "Thunder" Yamada
Voiced by:Yuuichi Nakamura

Pilot: Valvrave 03

Impulsive and quick to anger. Hates being questioned. After the discovery of the other Valvrave units, he tries to find any way possible to take one for himself. Eventually able to become the pilot of unit 03. Hates the Dorssian military more than anyone else.

Saki Rukino
Voiced by:Haruka Tomatsu

Pilot: Valvrave 04

Another classmate of Haruto and Shoko's. Former idol with a checkered past. Uses her talent and fame to draw public support for the JIORian cause. After discovering the other Valvrave Units, quickly decides to take Unit 04 for herself.

Kyuma Inuzuka
Voiced by: Yuuki Ono

Pilot: Valvrave 05

Upperclassman of Haruto and Shoko's. Initially very conflicted about the war and routinely fights with Raizo about choosing Valvrave pilots. Steals and becomes the pilot of Unit 5 after a horrible tragedy forces him to action.

Akira Renbokoji
Voiced by: Aoi Yuki

Pilot: Valvrave 06

Akira is a very quiet and reclusive girl who prefers to view the world through her laptop. She's eventually dragged out of her shell by Shoko. A skilled hacker who frequently manages the internet presence for the JIORian cause. Eventually becomes the pilot of unit 06 to protect Shoko in a moment of extreme danger.

Spoiler

Also the best VVV pilot

Dorssian Invasion Group

A-drei
Voiced by:Jun Fukuyama

Extremely overconfident and self involved member of the Dorrsian military. Former "friend" of L-Elf. Loves to scream "Errrruuuuuuuuuu-Erufffffffffuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!"

H-neun
Voiced by: Mamoru Miyano

Extremely violent and impulsive member of the Dorssian military. Fancies himself a lady's man.

X-eins
Voiced by:Yoshimasa Hosoya

The greatest tactical mind of the invasion force. Able to easily discern the weakness of his enemies. Has a great deal of respect for his leader Cain.

Q-vier
Voiced by:Yuki Kaji

Youngest member of the invasion force. Carefree and a bit naive, but does not give a second thought to killing his enemies.

 

[yami4ct]

The Mecha

The Valvrave Series
A strange group of mecha found in a hanger underneath Haruto's school. Requires each pilot to agree to "resigning their humanity" prior to accepting them.

Valvrave One

Piloted by: Haruto Tokishima

The first Valvrave unit discovered. Appears to be special, even among the other VVV units. Has a mysterious "Beyond 666" mode whose Harakiri Blade attack can destroy whole fleets. Also grants Haruto a mysterious set of powers. Specializes in close range combat.

Valvrave Two

A previously unknown unit that was never completed. Hinted at being very dangerous. Recently reactivated.

Valvrave Three

Piloted by: Raizo Yamada

Heavy hitting, medium range unit. Major weapon systems contained in the arm units attached on its back.

Valvrave Four

Piloted by: Saki Rukino

Second Valvrave unit activated. Longer range attacks that can be remotely controlled. Multiple leg thruster units give it a high degree of maneuverability.

Valvrave Five

Piloted by: Kyuma Inzuka

Defensive based Valvrave. With its shoulder mounted shielding and thick armor, it's more designed for protecting allies than attacking enemy units.

Valvrave Six

Piloted by: Akira Renbokoji

Possibly the most unique of the 5 hero Valvraves. Equipped with numerous sensors, jamming units and other information weapons, it's designed to maintain dominance on the battlefield. It's special "Humming Bird" staff allows it to hack into enemy units and take control, making it the perfect unit for Akira's abilities.

Other mecha

Season 2 Trailers Preview CM1 CM2

Season 1 Trailers: 1 2 3

Full Credits:http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=14983

Airing in Japan: Thursdays at 1:35 AM on MBS

 

[Dresden]

Episode 2 is called 'Beyond 666.' Cheese Geass.

 

[FelixOrion]

Those character designs and their descriptions did not sell it to me at all.




THOSE MECHS SOLD ME FUCK

 

[yami4ct]

Those character designs and their descriptions did not sell it to me at all.




THOSE MECHS SOLD ME FUCK

I'm going to write some better descriptions as the series goes on. Right now, there are some clearly important characters that we know almost nothing about.

And yeah, those mecha designs are absolutely gorgeous. They even look good in CG. Okawara's on the top of his game with this one.

 

[Nekofrog]

Is it like, a rule that all animes with this art styles like this HAVE to have high schoolers as the cast?

 

[Tomat]

Is it like, a rule that all games with anime art styles like this HAVE to have high schoolers as the cast?

Swing and a miss?

 

[Jex]

I really hate the 'anime' art style that pervades anime.

Oh yeah, this show is really, really Gundam. Just so you know.

Well, technically it's Mobile Suit Gundam 79 + Modern Sunrise + Highschool.

 

[Tomat]

Did Mobile Suit Gundamn 00 turn out to be Gundam + Highschool? I didn't watch the series, but the first episode gave me that impression

 

[yami4ct]

Really enjoyed the first episode of this. Honestly, I expected bad sunrise given the description. I had a feeling this would be similar quality to Sunrise's recent Gundam shows, since this is basically just off brand Gundam, but I ended up really enjoying it. It's a more serious show, but brings just enough insanity to really make it interesting. Also, great mecha. I will certainly be continuing to watch this.

Did Mobile Suit Gundamn 00 turn out to be Gundam + Highschool? I didn't watch the series, but the first episode gave me that impression

A lot of awful modern Sunrise crap in 00, but "High school" thankfully never became a piece of it.

 

[PhiLonius]

Been waiting for this.

The mecha designs, besides the green fin things hanging off of each, are really great.

 

[yami4ct]

Been waiting for this.

The mecha designs, besides the green fin things hanging off of each, are really great.

The look super dumb inactive and just sitting there, but fully laser-ized and deployed? Holy heck that's cool.

 

[789shadow]

Watched the first episode.

 

[Nekofrog]

Swing and a miss?

Thought I edited before ninjas came in :T

 

[Enron]

....

Valvrave 1

I have been watching mecha anime for a very long time, and I'm pretty sure this is the worst I have ever seen. I felt insulted. Sunrise continues on its quest to destroy mecha anime. They might have succeeded!

Seriously, folks. This is bad. Insanity levels of bad. Not even hatewatch bad...just awfulbad. Avoid this steaming pile of shit.

I would straight up rather watch MJP than this garbage, and I really didnt like MJP.

 

[PhiLonius]

The look super dumb inactive and just sitting there, but fully laser-ized and deployed? Holy heck that's cool.

Figured it was something you would have to see in motion/action.

....

So judging after one episode, is it better or worse than AGE?

 

[Crash Station]

..

Valvrave 1

Wasn't bad.

 

[R_thanatos]

Ep 1 was full of moments that made me shake my head ( and not in approval ).

You have the worst spies ever, the most incredibly bad scene where the protagonist can't see that he was asked a freaking question.

Cliffanger was nice but seriously , they have to do better than this to keep me watching

So judging after one episode, is it better or worse than AGE?

Valvrave is better than AGe , no contest ...but that doesn't mean that the first episode was "that" great

 

[Tomat]

Thought I edited before ninjas came in :T

To give you a real answer, the show is (probably) partially targeted at high school age people.

 

[trejo]

Valvrave 1

As far as first episodes go the large majority of this one felt extremely by the numbers. It's like they had a checklist of clichés to go through or a quota of tropes to fill. I mean, goddamn. Sure, it looked pretty enough but it was kinda tough to keep watching, honestly.

But then once that happened I kinda just stopped caring about any of those drawbacks in the same way I also stopped expecting this show to be good. Instead, I now expect it to be purely dumb stupid fun. I want it to go full on Code Geass trainwreck levels on everyone's asses.

Hopefully it will not disappoint my realigned expectations.

 

[JCG]

Valvrave - 1

The underlying formula was rather traditional Gundam stuff with a high school setting in the middle, more or less exactly as expected, but the details eventually got pretty crazy and I can't say it didn't manage to entertain me.

In contrast to some of the previous comments, I actually enjoyed the parts with the main robot more than the other stuff in the show. Valvrave itself has the feel of a Super Robot and looks better in motion than in the majority of promotional footage or on paper. I honestly dug the music during its battle sequence too. I still don't like the current enemy grunt robots though and the level of CGI can't compete with Majestic Prince.

So far I might watch more of it than I did for Guilty Crown, which I fortunately dropped, but still think it's going to be worse than Code Geass in most areas (and while that's a bad thing for me, since I preferred the first season, I can see it'll be a good thing for those who want craziness at any cost). I suppose how much of it I'll keep up with depends on what else they decide to do after letting the figurative cat out of the bag. That especially goes for the main character considering the twist they just pulled off.

 

[Zoramon089]

To give you a real answer, the show is (probably) partially targeted at high school age people.

So was Gundam and that managed not to be Mobile Suit High School like every new mech anime seems to be

 

[Tomat]

So was Gundam and that managed not to be Mobile Suit High School like every new mech anime seems to be

Maybe these sell better? Tastes have changed? Who knows?

 

[crimsondynamics]

I entered this thread thinking this had something to do with a video parody of Gabe Newell in a power suit brandishing a sword and tearing up EA offices made in Source Filmmaker in sync with strobe lights and trance music.

I guess I was at least close with the sword and powersuit.

 

[Xilium]

So was Gundam and that managed not to be Mobile Suit High School like every new mech anime seems to be

Gundam Seed/Destiny/Wing

Anyway, most anime is targeted towards teens (Shounen and Shoujo) and therefore feature teen protagonist, teen angst, and teen romance.

 

[Defuser]

Everything in episode 1 seems like gundam...the bad parts of gundam.

The only thing fantastic about the show is the OP which is sung by T.M.Revolution x Mizuki Nana.

 

[VanillaCakeIsBurning]

Rise of the CG.

Are there any mecha shows running currently that don't use CG? Or has it become an impossible expectation for new shows to not use CG?

 

[Ken]

valvrave heads look like rehashed gn-x heads

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Valvrave the Liberator Episode 1 – Revolutionary Transfer Student

Excellent episode. Really lived up to my hype for the anime and truly it managed to set itself far up and above the other anime with mech running this season as well as being at the pinnacle of anime thus far this year. Valvrave itself excellently served to greatly complement the characters and their motivations and even a driving force empowering their interactions with their alternative views on happiness and what drives them. L-elf and Haruto will probably be the duo to watch this season and I hope great things come from them.

Spoiler

Are their destinies now and permanently intertwined? I think so maybe, he seemed to have expressed much interest in Haruto all throughout the episode that there truly had to be something more, unless he suspected he had some larger role to play, which ended up turning out being right, but now having been hugged and bitten, hm, great scene

Characters are really well designed in this and beyond the two leads quite difficult to rank everyone else, guess Id say Satomi and Yuki Kaiji's character, Q-vier, for second favorites, and then the rest of L-elf's crew for thirds (H-neun, A-drei, and X-eins). Rest of the students look like they may provide interesting moments and fun comedy to give some breaks to the serious and intense tone of the anime.

Plot

Spoiler

I hope they can keep all the mindblowing moments coming. Never would have imagined a death within so short of a time there, and then additionally just a large amount of deaths and destruction in and around the school. Ruthless, what if it even starts to target other named characters. The huge one had to have been the final scene though. Can the writer top that?

Also, I want Valvrave, best design, swords, wings, even, speed and agility, incomparable.

 

[CornBurrito]

I kind of liked it. CG was... not unbearably bad.

 

[Fimbulvetr]

Yikes.

 

[duckroll]

LOL. Before I clicked on this OT I didn't even realize that they updated the official site with ALL the mech designs. Crazy shit. This show is going to be crazy. I doubt the story is going to be very good at the end, but it's going to be entertainment. That's for sure! Lololol.

I love the music though!

 

[yami4ct]

LOL. Before I clicked on this OT I didn't even realize that they updated the official site with ALL the mech designs. Crazy shit. This show is going to be crazy. I doubt the story is going to be very good at the end, but it's going to be entertainment. That's for sure! Lololol.

I love the music though!

Well, not all the mecha. Valvrave unit two is conspicuously missing. Speculation fuel! Is it a midseason upgrade for the hero? A super secret prototype for the rival? A horrible experiment went awry that the heroes must face? Some super evil unit for the final big bad? Should be fun to find out.

 

[7Th]

Spoiler

People thinking Shouko is dead probably didn't watch Code Geass.

 

[Arksy]

So uh, would you guys recommend this to someone who isn't largely into anime? (Me). I enjoyed Blecah, NGE, Death Note, hated Naruto, Elfen Lied and FMA.....if that helps......

 

[fertygo]

I don't care the bad thing on this, its have frigging [REDACTED] Mech.. so glorious.

And that thing totally made for SRW, I would love it so much when its eventually happen.. that hisatsu on first eps already make me squeal like little kid.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

So uh, would you guys recommend this to someone who isn't largely into anime? (Me). I enjoyed Blecah, NGE, Death Note, hated Naruto, Elfen Lied and FMA.....if that helps......

Based on the only episode that has aired so far, its worth checking out. It really has captured the best ideas and things in anime this generation.

 

[Arksy]

Based on the only episode that has aired so far, its worth checking out. It really has captured the best ideas and things in anime this generation.

The robots looked cool. It's a pretty big hook..Damn...Must check it out!

 

[Crash Station]

So uh, would you guys recommend this to someone who isn't largely into anime? (Me). I enjoyed Blecah, NGE, Death Note, hated Naruto, Elfen Lied and FMA.....if that helps......

I like it, but I don't think this is a very newcomer-friendly series. There's other stuff with more mainstream appeal this season like Attack on Titan.

That being said, I won't tell you to not watch it. Just know that it does have tropes that many people who aren't into anime anymore complain about.

 

[Jex]

I really do hope that this show becomes entertaining in a Sunrise/Code Geass manner because I missed that whole era of the internet. Fingers crossed!

 

[Dresden]

Believe in Okouchi.

 

[duckroll]

Reposting from the Anime thread:

In other "news" it looks like Shinya Ogura (an animator/designer/scifi setting research guy who's working on Gargantia this season) has been shitting on Valvrave on Twitter. Seems he's been ranting about the inaccuracy of what the show claims to be a "Dyson Sphere", and bitching about how poorly researched that element of the show is. I guess he's just mad that they took the more generic scifi approach to depicting a Dyson Sphere, since it's an approach which was debunked by Dyson himself.

I wonder how many people actually care about this, or know what the "problem" actually is.

 

[Kagari]

I watched episode 1 and while it started out somewhat boring, I grew to like it by the end. I think I liked it more than Gargantia's episode 1. The music is what drew me in from the start so hopefully the story goes somewhere decent. That scene after the credits was uh... interesting I guess...

 

[Arksy]

Seems decent enough. It reeked very much of a few early scenes of NGE with the mecha, but NGE was excellent so I can deal. I'm not sure what happened at the end.

Spoiler

Dude got stabbed then turned into a Valvrave vampire and tore L-Elf's neck out? Is that canon or what? It happened after the credits, so I'm a little confused.

Not really an anime connoisseur so forgive me.

I like it, but I don't think this is a very newcomer-friendly series. There's other stuff with more mainstream appeal this season like Attack on Titan.

That being said, I won't tell you to not watch it. Just know that it does have tropes that many people who aren't into anime anymore complain about.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm not wholly into a lot of anime so those tropes don't have the same grate.

 

[Kagari]

Seems decent enough. It reeked very much of a few early scenes of NGE with the mecha, but NGE was excellent so I can deal. I'm not sure what happened at the end.

Spoiler

Dude got stabbed then turned into a Valvrave vampire and tore L-Elf's neck out? Is that canon or what? It happened after the credits, so I'm a little confused.

Not really an anime connoisseur so forgive me.



Thanks for the recommendation. I'm not wholly into a lot of anime so those tropes don't have the same grate.

Some shows start the credits early and do an extra scene after. It's still part of the episode.

 

[shintoki]

I really hate the 'anime' art style that pervades anime.

Oh yeah, this show is really, really Gundam. Just so you know.

Well, technically it's Mobile Suit Gundam 79 + Modern Sunrise + Highschool.

Good. I need a new gundam series that will reuse all the same plot points, tropes, and etc. They've been using for the past 30 years


The Ending is a good sign. Code Geass Hopefully!

 

[Jex]

Reposting from the Anime thread:

I wonder how many people actually care about this, or know what the "problem" actually is.

Nothing more delicious then nerd rage.

 

[Dynedom]

Episode 1

What

the

FUCK?

Show of the forever

 

[JCG]

Good. I need a new gundam series that will reuse all the same plot points, tropes, and etc. They've been using for the past 30 years

The issue is whether it'll follow them all straightforwardly or not. There's already tons of Gundam elements and I imagine they'll stay around for the duration, going by all the information available, but when you start adding other things to the formula...the results won't always be identical, in the end, even if the main parts still remain underneath.

In other words, it's a matter of degrees (and twists, if you prefer, although I'm not expecting the show will stop being primarily Gundam-based all of a sudden).

I really do hope that this show becomes entertaining in a Sunrise/Code Geass manner because I missed that whole era of the internet.

Following that line of thought, I'd say the first episode already qualifies or is at least on the way there.

It's still missing other things, for better or for worse, but the baseline level of crazy has been established.

 

[Tomat]

2 days after watching and I'm still mad.

Gotta rewatch this to see if its as dumb as I thought it was the first time.