Sky Wizards Anime Review

A pen pal of mine turned my onto Sky Wizards (full name is Sky Wizards Academy). It recently came out and i figured i'd write a review about it. Much like Ben-to it is very interesting show. (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!)

Plot: In Sky Wizards, humans are forced off the surface of the Earth by magical armored instincts called "Devil Bettles." Humans now survive in floating cities. They fight them in mid-air using magic (this is fantasy we are talking about so go with it). Kanata Age is a young man who lives in a floating city called Misutogun City. He is once a celebrated Sky Wizard but people turn on him after a very dangerous mission calling him a Traitor. One day he is called too assist a fire team call E-601, whom have lost 100 matches in a row.

Sky Wizards plot reminds me of the Matrix. At least in terms of Mankind surviving by not being on Earths surface (In the Matrix, humans survive under ground. Sky Wizards humans survive in the sky). The plot works and is easily understood. The series also give reminders for a the first few episodes.

Character Overview:

Kanata Age: The Main character. Former team leader of Fireteam S128 and Mistuogun Citys strongest Sky Wizard. After completing a very dangerous mission, he stopped going on missions. This made most of the school, sky wizards and people view him as a "traitor." He ends up becoming the leader of fire team E601, in order too shape them up into good sky wizards. Gets himself into situations in which lead him too being called a pervert by his fireteam.
Kanata is a great main character. He isn't annoying and can be a bit off the wall (in a good way). He is quite the sky wizard as well. He is a walking nuclear weapon. He could take down a city if he wanted too and kicks devil beetle ass. He ends up proving most wrong about Fireteam E601. He is also like Shikamaru Nara from the Naruto series. He plans so far ahead in advance that when his plans come true and complete you wounder if he has the ability too see into the future.

Misora Whitale: The platoon leader of E601. She has great speed and stamina but has problems with her weapon and giving orders. She wants too be stronger too honor her late mother (she is using her mothers sword). When Kanata finds out he helps her become not only stronger but a better leader. She holds feelings for Kanata.
Out of the 3 girls, she is in the middle in terms of likability. She has some redeemable qualities and i like that fact she wants too honor her mother. But has short fuse and flies off the handle. Misora has good and bad traits but equals out her standing in E601.

Lecty Eisenach: Is a member of E601. Despite been skilled with her weapon (coming from a famous family that the weapon is past down through) she is very shy and prone too apologizing too easily and/or too much for no reason. Kanata helps her overcome her social awkwardness by making her be a maid at a cafe. She too holds feelings for Kanata.
Lecty is completely and utterly adorable. She is so cute, as well as a kick ass fighter. When the girls move together Lecty cooks for them and earns every ones trust. Once she gets her confidence Lecty is just awesome. She even encourages Misora in later episodes. It makes me happy too her grow so much. It is the quiet shy ones you have too watch out for. She is even more cute and adorable when she blushes. She is perfect waifu material............. i said that outloud didn't i? Oops. If you couldn't tell she is my favorite character.

Rico Flamel: E601s sniper. Smart and a good shot, she holds herself as a "goddess" among-est the mere mortals of the world and cares not about practice and training. However she puts the "goddess" front because she feels inferior too her sister but Kanata helps her regain her will too fight. Like Misora and Lecty she hold feelings for Kanata.
I do not like Rico. Her narcissism completely turns me off. Even though it is a front and completely fake. When she stops with the "goddess" crap and actually tries. She kicks butt, major butt and is a great team player. The narcissism stuff got old 2 episodes in. Wish it was resolved sooner.

Fireteam E601 is nothing when Katana takes over. Katanas off the wall teaching style helps the girls overcome their non-physical handicaps. The girls are already talented sky wizards, each has skill and high marks in certain skills. They just haven't become a well oiled machine. But when they do, they blow people doors off. Even though people refuse too believe a bunch of failures could achieve greatness. Even when faced with a team that are 5 ranks ahead of them they still beat them and everyone who witnessed the victory are stunned. They make you want too root for them. At first they do not make want too but as they bond and grow they do. Fireteam E601 pulls off the underdog trope very well. It is very well done.

Yuri Flostre: Member of S128, Kanatas old fireteam. She used too idolize him but after a mission in which he succeed (she didn't know because he was outcold) she views him a "traitor." Even though she does view him as such, she still holds strong feelings for Kanata.
I want too like Yuri, i really do. But she lies too herself and treats Kanata poorly (he doesn't really care though) and toes the "traitor" narrative like everyone else in the Academy. She is a very good fighter though, very skilled. Kanata taught her well. In the final episode though Yuri finally drops the act and shows her true self. Shame it toke so long.
BTW i will be talking about each girls feelings
Chloe Sevegny and Lloyd Alwin: Both are members of S128. Chloe is Kanatas childhood friend. Each do not view him as a traitor. Chloe even requested Kanata be the leader of E601.
I like the both of them and break up the stupid "traitor" narrative everyone else toes. I wish they were used more. Lloyd even helps Lecty overcome her social interaction troubles. Great background characters that could have been used more.

Freon Flamel: Ricos older sister and supervisior of the Academy. Though she doesn't like her sisters attitude she still asks Chloe about her progress.
Like most people, doesn't hold Kanata in high standards and doesn't think E601 will become anything. Even makes a bet that if they fail in the Academy tournament they will be disbanded and Katana relieved of duty. Glad too see Kanata shut her up.

Real Nue: Member of the medical divison and develops a crush on Yuri (for completely outrageous reasons).

Amy, Beach, Sheila, Christina Balcuhorn, Lily Lancaster, Sasha Nielsen and Greg Hastuck are all canon fodder for E601 too go through in the tournament. Each think they will win but they do not.

Socie Whitale: Misoras late mother who was one hell of a fighter but was clumsy and silly at home. Upsetting her daughter and husband. She is KIA and everyone except Misora forgets her.

Gail Whitale: Misoras father and Socies husband. He is a Normal (meaning he is just human, no magical power of any kind). He is a restaurant owner. He worries that since he forgets about his late wife that if Misora dies, he'll forget about her too.

Animations: Pretty good. Though it does look the animators use CGI once in a while. And it looks rather bright. I had too lower by screen a couple times. Characters looks good, backgrounds look good. When it is night time though the animators shine. It looks fantastic when it is night time.

Character Development: Misora and Lecty get most of this. Rico and Yuri fall short in this. Their acts fall off not often enough. Rico and Yuri rarely show their true shelves. Lecty grow by leaps and bounds. Misora grows into her role as leader and when briefly overcome by self doubt she uses Rico and Lecty as an example too follow (especially Lecty). Everyone else is pretty much developed.

Violence/language: This anime is pretty clean. Only a view words you can say on TV are used and there is very little blood. Anybody 13 and up can watch this.

Sound/English Dub: Sound is good. Metal hitting metal is as it should sound. Explosions and attacks sound good. The English Dub is one of the better ones i have heard. The characters sound as they should and the voice actors/actresses do a very good job with their assigned characters.

Romance: I will preface that i do not like romance in most things i read or watch. But in Sky Wizards it is done in such as way that.... i actually like it. As i will explain. However it isn't the main focus of Sky Wizards but it kinda plays a part.

Yuri: I'm starting with Yuri because she has the strongest feelings for Kanata. When ever she is around him she acts differently. Chloe teases her about being in love with him. Which in my opinion she is. She does things through the series too try and distance herself from Kanata and her feelings but it come right back round too her feelings for Kanata. When Kanata admits he likes her she blushes. When he holds her hand she blushes (in a crisis situation mind you). She even goes as far too say she'll never forgive the final bad guy for hurting him. She even makes a cake too confess her feelings (the cake says "i love you") But Kanata ruins her surprise and says the cake is either for Misora, Lecty or Rico. Causing her too run away saying she hates him. But she joins E601 because she made a bet with Kanata that her firetime would beat his in the tournament. The fact she puts up a false front and toes the line like most people. However the false front doesn't work everytime. She loves Kanata. It is plain too see.

BTW the her confession is IMHO poorly done. Come on a cake? With Misora, Lecty and Rico around? I've seen better confessions. I will say though i like the cake idea. It would work better if they were alone.


Misora: Misora has feelings for Kanata. I wouldn't say it is love but it comes as close as you can. She gets jealous when Kanata shows kindness too Yuri. And becomes depressed when Rico thinks Yuri is Kanatas girlfriend. She blushes around Kanata. She recognizes the cake is for Kanata when he opens the box it is in. And has the most shocked expression when Kanata says he likes Yuri.

Lecty: Lecty have feelings for Kanata as well. I would say it is just crush... a heavy one. He helps her overcome her social awkwardness and shyness. Whenever Kanata pats her on the head (his way of saying 'good job' too her) she blushes. She even says at the finals of the tournament as Kanata pats her on the head "Kanata please stop patting me on the head. Your making me blush." Kanata does it a few times throughout the series and she blushes everytime.

Rico: I think it is debatable as too wether or not Rico has feelings for Kanata. Yes he sees through the "goddess" mask she puts up and accepts her for who she is. But when she states that Yuri is Kanata girlfriend she doesn't bat an eye. So either she hides it really well or she has the slightest crush.

Kanata: I wouldn't say Kanata has feelings for Rico, Misora and Lecty. He treats them very well and is friendly too them. However Yuri is a different story. He protects her from the final villian, taking what would have been a lethal blow. And he admits he likes her. Though he thinks Yuri is a lesbian for admitting in a magazine interview that "she only likes someone who is stronger then she is." And thinks the cake is for Rico, Misora or Lecty. He even thinks she is crushing on Chloe. However he is trying too be funny and be light hearted. During the cake scene in the final episode when everyone is looking at the cake, Kanata is blushing.

IMHO Kanata and Yuri have something between them. Misora is heavily crushing on him, same with Lecty. Rico is hard too read. However Yuri confesses her feelings too Kanata and the cake was for him. But it is left open ended and up too the watcher (or reader as there are light novels and a manga.)

Criticisms: This series for the good things it has some things i do not agree with.
Fan service is one. While yes like Ben-to it has long legs, short skirts and boobs. However the Lecty and Misora are 14 years old. Really? Even a few upskirts. Yes this is an harem because it feature more girls then boys. The Misora, Lecty and Rico are sometimes shown less then fully clothed but not nude. This contains no nudity. Yes the girls take a bath and are nude but nothing is shown. It is clean in this regard. Kanata even gives the girls shoulder massages but it sounds like he is doing something else too them. Again it is for humor. But some of it feels very forced. It isn't a turn off but this series isn't for everybody.

"Tratior" subplot: While at first it is easily understandable while Kanata is a "tratior" by the end of the series it is revealed as too why he stopped going out on missions. He has the same abilities as Real Nue. Which Kanata got on the dangerous mission shown in some episodes of the series. But Kanata doesn't like using those powers. Once it is reveal by Real Nue that the "devil beetles choose him" he decides too use his powers too protect everyone, though he is serverly injured (and heals quickly after the battle). Yuri finally understands why Kanata didn't go on missions and forgives him. I think so does everyone else (like most stories in media and entertainment). While it is used too for tension purposes i find it just rather unnecessary and should have been resolved sooner. Kanata sacrificed his reputation, trust and strength in order too keep it a secret. That is one hell of a burden too carry around. I have seen it far too often in anime and manga that this sort of thing happens.

Perhaps my criticisms of the series are a bit nit-picky i admit but those are my problems with the series.

Final Opinion: Very few series get my emotional invested in characters. Sky Wizards does this Misora, Lecty and Rico. Watching failures overcome great odds always hits me hard. Watching them grow and prove (insert Sander Cohens "Doubters" here) wrong is great. I have too give the series a  B+. The fan service may turn some off but the characters them selves, story telling and "against all odd/underdog" trope works well.