My reviews on these different harem themed anime titles from last summer are starting to bleed into each other. But at least this one is a little bit more grounded in the real world. Or at least it doesn't feature shinigami girls, daughters of demon kings, and time displaced heroes. It does feature a school with some pretty heavy power playing in the student council, though. So, it's... kinda... grounded in reality.
Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate or Love, Elections and Chocolate is set in the fictional high school Takafuji Private Academy, where the General Affairs, Security Affairs and Financial Affairs are the main power players, with the school's student council president always voted from one of the groups. When the Security Affairs division is embroiled in the Osawa Incident controversy, the group is unable to present one of their members as a potential student council president candidate. Financial Affairs division head Shinonome Satsuki runs for the position, releasing a manifesto that includes the plans to disband useless clubs. This plan puts the Food Research Club in danger, since their activities usually involve slacking off in the club room and eating snacks. FRC president Sumiyosi Chisato decides that one of the club's members should run for student council president to avoid disbandment, subsequently assigning club member and childhood friend Ojima Yuki to run for the post. Despite Yuki's initial protests, they push through with their plans, especially after current student council president and Security Affairs division head Mori Yakumo offers his support and expertise.
The truth is, I would have tagged Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate, or KoiChoco for short, as a slice of life anime title if it weren't for the extreme level of politics exercised at the Takafuji Private Academy, attempted murder mystery (which I thought was a full-fledged murder mystery), and a particularly tragic sob story that led to an aversion to eating chocolate.
KoiChoco is adapted from an adult visual novel (meaning, it's a dating simulation game), where playable character Yuki ends up with one of five girls, including Chisato, Satsuki, Kiba Mifuyu, Morishita Michiru and Aomi Isara, depending on the choices you make throughout the game. The anime version of KoiChoco, however, takes a more standard approach to its storytelling, at least when it comes to the viable romantic interests that Yuki pays attention to. There's less conflict when it comes to the girls vying for his attention, especially since Mifuyu chooses to just keep her desires a secret, Isara limits her affections in the form of respect and admiration and Michiru is more focused on finding her missing friend Ogibashi Kana. In fact, FRC adviser and teacher Shinonome Hazuki is more forward about her attraction to Yuki, but does so in a teasing manner.
KoiChoco introduces a lot of characters, so the series admittedly struggles when it comes to giving each one the proper background or history given the short 12 episode run it received. Some of the histories are glossed over, thereby lessening the emotional impact the characters' experiences should have on the audience. Yet, KoiChoco does well in other aspects, establishing various mysteries that can be engaging and are successful in holding the interests of the audiences, instead of focusing on all the hot girls who fall for the innocent charms of Yuki. The plight of the FRC might seem frivolous to the other students, but their selfish reasons for letting Yuki run would eventually unfold into a deeper understanding of how their school politics work. The mysterious hit and run incident that marks the beginning of the series would eventually hint at the menace posed by the Katahira Faction.
In the middle of the potential burgeoning love stories and other mysteries is the main event at the Takafuji Private School and the ultimate goal of the FRC... the Student Council presidential elections. I appreciated Yuki more as a presidential candidate than a viable love interest, although I suppose both situations do highlight his exemplary characteristics. While a reluctant participant in the beginning, Yuki would eventually embrace his new role and goal, eventually finding that he is less of a wallflower than he originally thought. By the time the series reached its latter half, I was surprised to find myself getting excited when the story delved into the FRC and Yuki's efforts relating to the elections more than the girly romantic parts that the series originally offered.
KoiChoco surprised me in different ways. It was more serious and way less ecchi than I had expected. And however unrealistic the school events in the series are, I still found that the characters (except those associated with the Katahira faction and that candidate who keeps wearing that henohenomoheji mask) are more grounded than the previous harem anime that I've watched of late. But most of all, it was more entertaining that I gave the first few episodes credit for.
It's not perfect, but KoiChoco turned out to be fun to watch.
Now, where can I get a Meiji milk chocolate bar at this hour?
Happy viewing!!Labels: Adaptation, Anime, Drama, Harem, Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate, Must-Watch, Romance, TV
