Medaka Box

**Archangel** · Thu, 04-05-2012, 12:02 PM

Alternative Title: めだかボックス

Type: TV
Episodes: Unknown
Source: Manga
Studio: Gainax
Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Martial Arts, Romance, School, Shounen

Synopsis: Kurokami Medaka, a first year, is elected as Student Council President, and the first thing she does is establish a suggestion box, later dubbed by students the "Medaka Box". Medaka encourages students to submit any problem to the box without hesitation and promises to take on any issue from anyone.

Since Medaka won the Student Council elections with a staggering 98% of the vote, she ends up as the Council's only member. She asks her childhood friend, Hitoyoshi Zenkichi, for help and he grudgingly agrees, becoming the Student Council's lowest ranking member. Soon Medaka recruits two more people to the Student Council, the former judo club member Akune Kouki as secretary and the current swim club member Kikaijima Mogana, on loan for 300 yen a day, as treasurer.

Now the Student Council members spend their days solving the problems submitted through the Medaka Box, whether they be hooligans in clubs where they don't belong, girls who need help writing love letters or people who've lost their pets, gradually earning the respect and admiration of the entire school.

Resources: ANN | AniDB | MyAnimeList

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[WhyNot] - Episode 01

***Kraco*** · Thu, 04-05-2012, 02:57 PM

Hmm... I'll have to watch the second episode to judge this show. One thing I can say right off the bat is that I couldn't get used to Aki Toyosaki voicing Medaka. Maybe having such a soft and round sounding actor was a carefully calculated choice, instead of some much more aggressive and dominating voice actress, to underline Medaka's pure will to help and subconscious sense of superiority, as opposed to anything superficial or sheer ambition based. Nevertheless, I couldn't get used to that clash.

I do want to learn why she's so powerful, though.

**Ryllharu** · Fri, 04-06-2012, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by Kraco

One thing I can say right off the bat is that I couldn't get used to Aki Toyosaki voicing Medaka. Maybe having such a soft and round sounding actor was a carefully calculated choice, instead of some much more aggressive and dominating voice actress, to underline Medaka's pure will to help and subconscious sense of superiority, as opposed to anything superficial or sheer ambition based. Nevertheless, I couldn't get used to that clash.

As a fan of the manga, when they announced an anime, I had no clue who they could possibly cast as Medaka. But I'm really happy they went with Toyosaki. I think a lot of people really underestimate her range. She's been cast over and over so many times in the gentle and cutesy roles that the undertones of her voice always get associated with those types of characters.

But she's got a fairly astounding range. It's hard to find those casting recordings they circulate through the agencies and studios, but if you had the wherewithal to watch all of Qwaser and the "extended previews", you got a really good idea of what she's actually capable of, and you can barely recognize her sometimes.

I don't think anyone else could have captured Medaka's simultaneous arrogance, concern for others, and obliviousness as well as Toyosaki Aki could. It might be nicer if she spoke her with even more authority, but it's close enough. Even if I never had an idea what Medaka would sound like in my head, I do now.

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As for the characters and anime itself, I'll certainly be watching it. Watching Medaka herself is funny, particularly the way she appears behind someone's shoulder, posed in exactly the same way. Plus I like her little fan. There aren't enough main character class presidents with fans.

Shiranui is one of those characters you can clearly see as someone the saintly Medaka might actually find irritating, since she seems to know a great deal of what's going on. She's like the Brains to Medaka's Skill, only she doesn't seem like she cares about people the way Medaka does, perhaps the opposite. The evil kendo guy who made the request did mention that Zenkichi is always hanging around those monster women. Intriguing use of the plural, or a translation typo?

edit: Oh, and Gainax is producing this. I can only imagine how they are going to make this even more over the top and insane than the source material already is.

***Buffalobiian*** · Sat, 04-07-2012, 04:39 AM

I like the kind voice of Medaka. Authoritative would have been gratingly irritating.

***Buffalobiian*** · Thu, 04-12-2012, 04:23 AM

Whynot - Episode 02

**shinta|hikari** · Sat, 04-14-2012, 06:44 AM

Apparently, the manga was written by Nisioisin. This tempts me to watch this, but I would first like to ask those who have reached much farther than I have if it really has a satirical approach to the shounen genre, much like his gatari stories. People keep saying that when they defend the story, while haters say that he sold out and made it a generic battle manga for shounen jump.

No need to elaborate, just give your impression of which is more accurate.

**Archangel** · Sat, 04-14-2012, 07:25 AM

The first arc is bad, the second arc is meh, the third arc is great and the fourth arc starts ok but ends poorly.

And if you plan on taking it seriously in any way then this isn't the show for you.

**shinta|hikari** · Sat, 04-14-2012, 07:36 AM

A lot of people seem to take it seriously though. Does that mean they are over reading it? If they are, I will probably not watch this.

**Archangel** · Sat, 04-14-2012, 08:46 AM

Then don't.

***Buffalobiian*** · Thu, 04-19-2012, 01:56 AM

Whynot - Episode 03

***Kraco*** · Sat, 04-21-2012, 03:50 AM

I find the eps where Medaka isn't doing anything superhuman more interesting than those centered around her. Such as this one, even if beating the whole judo club (minus the captain and the glittering prince) isn't altogether realistic, but at least it was in the background. I'm also getting used to her voice now.

***Buffalobiian*** · Sat, 04-21-2012, 06:58 AM

I didn't enjoy this episode nearly as much as the others because there was only one "shadowing" scene by Medaka. And perhaps I miss her doggy suit too. Overall I did enjoy this episode a lot though, since Zenkichi isn't a bad character neither.

Medaka's "I'll heal all your sins" talk/methods does get to me a little though.