Senran Kagura is an anime based upon the game series with 12 episodes plus 6 short OVAs. It is known as Senran Kagura Ninja Flash for its English release. It is set in modern Tokyo. It introduces Asuka who seemingly appears to be a normal high school student, however, it is soon revealed that she is a shinobi in training. Having just passed her test, she attends the secret portion of her school along with four others.
The first few episodes slowly ease the viewers into its world and how this secret shinobi business works. We’re presented with the rules that the shinobi have to abide by and the types of training that the girls goes through. To introduce some tension into the plot, rival shinobi’s show up with ill intent. The powers of the shinobi’s are superhuman, from being able to jump off tall buildings to summoning animal spirits when using their secret ninja arts. Just like the games, the anime has a heavy dose of fan service. Katsuragi instantly shows up to rub the breasts of other characters, while the camera will constantly linger on certain parts of the characters for longer than necessary. There are more than a few suggestive shots, including when the characters get wet or the odd ways that the characters eat their sushi rolls. Although granted, it likes to play around with this at times when it does this with a male character so it becomes an unexpected funny scene.
The plot has a high focus on day to day activities. Eventually, it introduces the light and dark factions and their eternal rivalry. It takes around half the episodes before the two groups clash and the anime focuses on these ten characters. Each character wields a unique weapon and has their own ace abilities. It is eventually revealed why the two groups clash against each other. It tries to blur the lines between the two factions, by having affectionate moments in the dark shinobi side.
The light shinobi’s, and thus our protagonists, feel very weak in comparison to the dark shinobi. The protagonists are easily defeated, are a lot more clumsy, and in general, a lot more timid, lacking conviction. Frequently, the anime dives into the backstories of the characters, such as Yagyu and Hibari being very good friends and protective of each other. It spends a decent time doing this, even when you thought that it had finished telling the backstories, in a later episode, it will expand upon it further.
The anime tends to rely on its flashbacks too heavily as they are way too numerous. You’re constantly wrestled away from the present so that we can learn about some sort of sob story about the characters. It wouldn’t be so bad if it just did it once with each character but because it keeps revisiting them, it’s messy. The fight scenes are fairly disappointing. This is because they are of the type where there are a lot of flashy effects but it turns out it is just hiding the fact that it is using static images. Thus, hits lack impact and substance. Most of the focus is on the fan service as the plot ends up being lackluster as well. The anime adopts the clothing damage from the games but it isn’t done as funnily or as exaggerated, losing some of its appeal.
The ending is weak as it goes on the clichéd and predictable path of all the characters working together to defeat the greater evil. It is not necessarily a bad decision but it just happens so quickly without much substance that it doesn’t quite feel probable. The six OVAs are short four minute segments. They were released with each blu-ray and DVD volume. Each OVA puts the characters into lewd situations and it doesn’t add anything since it’s pure fan service.
Overall, Senran Kagura is a very average and mediocre anime. The biggest thing going for it is the fan service but it can only do so much when the episodes are filled with bland and boring events. The constant flashbacks are irritating and take you away from the moment, while the fights, story and everything else fails to capture your attention.
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