Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Busou Shinki: Armored War Goddess – The Complete Collection (2012)

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If you are a person who loves mecha anime series with wonderful character development and captivating storylines, then “Majestic Prince: The Complete Collection” is highly recommended!

Click here to purchase “Buso Shinki: Armored War Goddess” on Blu-ray

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TITLE: Busou Shinki: Armored War Goddess – The Complete Collection

YEAR OF RELEASE: 2012

DURATION: Episodes 1-13 (325 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: June 13, 2023

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Director: Kikuchi Yasuhiko

Series Composition: Yokotani Masahiro

Music by Oda Tetsuro

Character Design: Ebata Ryoma, Kishida Takahiro

Art Director: Kato Megumi

Anime Production: 8 bit

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Featuring the following voice talent:

Asumi Kana as Arnval “Ann”

MizuhashiKaori  as Altines “Aines”

NakajimaMegumi  as Altlene “Lene”

Chihara Minori  as Strarf “Hina”

Katō Emiri  as Eukrante “Clara”

Mizushima Takahiro as Rihito

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Rihito might only be a freshman in high school, and he might have just moved back to Japan after living overseas, but despite those seeming social disadvantages, he’s already living with four beautiful girls! Of course, that’s because his girls are all Shinki, the tiny, six-inch high, customizable fighting androids that have become the latest craze. And don’t let their size fool you. Just because Hina, Ann, Ines and Lene are small enough to keep in shoeboxes, that doesn’t mean that they’re not intelligent, packed with firepower, and eager to take on whatever task their “Master” assigns them. Unfortunately, they’re also extremely competitive, and since each one wants to be Rihito’s favorite, get ready for more than a few sparks and fireworks to fly around the house as Rihito’s battery powered princesses take on all comers in BUSOU SHINKI!

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It was back in 2006 when Konami Digital Entertainment debuted their media mix franchise, “Busou Shinki”.

From MMS (Multi Moveable System) action figures produced by Asai Maki and an online game, the series had a good run for six years before being discontinued in 2011 (for the game) and 2011 (for the action figures).

And while there has been discussion of a new smartphone game, nothing released yet.  But for those who missed the original anime series or Blu-ray/DVD release, can check it out again through “Buso Shinki: Armored War Goddess – The Complete Collection” courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

So, what is “Busou Shinki” about?

This takes place far in the future where small (several inches tall) androids known as dolls (shinki), are used to compete.

The series focuses on numerous Shink.  Ann (an Arnval Shinki) helps her master who is attending school and gets help from two other Shinki, Ines and Lene.  These three Shinki love their master and are loyal workers.  But while cleaning his room, an important letter of his flies out of the window and as the three go to retrieve it, they are attacked by a Shinki named Kurara.  Meanwhile, their master’s father sends a shinki, known as Hina and the young master now has four shinki, with Hina a bit shocked because the unlike her (who only thinks of battle), the three don’t.  Granted, they can keep their own during a fight, but their reason for being is to serve their kindhearted master.

And throughout the series, we meet other Shinki who find out about the four and try to cause trouble with them, while a mysterious individual is trying to get Hina at all costs.

For the most part, the series is kind-hearted and fun.  While the storyline becomes much more emotional and deep towards the end, the series is easy to watch and it’s only 13 episodes long (with the OVA included).

To be truthful, at first I thought this was a series leaning more to the cutesy sweet, “we are mini-androids trying to live life and to keep our master happy” and I was thinking a few episodes in, “perhaps this is way too cute for my tastes”.  But definitely stick with it because it does become more interesting for its second half.

But for the most part, the series was used as a way to sell the action figures and has continued on through a new Kotobukiya action figure series “Megami Device” (which is considered as a spiritual successor of “Busou Shinki”) which was produced by Toriyama Torio (who produced “Busou Shinki”) and Asai Maki who was involved with the body design.

As far as the anime series is concerned, I do love mecha and I do love the character and mechanical designs for this series.  I like the idea of the shinki and also the various characters and outfits that leads to an exciting introduction for fans towards the action figure series.  There is also a wide range of media for “Busou Shinki” such as Internet radio, manga, novels, video games and more.  But for the most part, the anime series definitely coincides well with the anime series.

But for the most part, while it’s not known if any new products will be released for “Busou Shinki” ever again, for the anime series alone and/or for those who do collect the action figures, may want to give “Busou Shinki: Armored War Goddess – The Complete Collection” a try!

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Click here to purchase “Buso Shinki: Armored War Goddess” on Blu-ray