FanBoy's Domain: Yuri Anime Review: Queen's Blade Season 1(Blu-Ray)

***SPOILERS AHEAD!*** ***NSFW IMAGES AHEAD!***

A 2009 ecchi anime series, Queen's Blade is actually and adaptation of a series of visual combat books. The story takes place on the great continent of Gainos where every 4 years a tournament known as Queen's Blade is held to determine which woman will rule the continent next as queen! We follow Leina Vance as she sets out from her kingdom to avoid becoming the next countess as well as to follow in the footsteps of her mother and become a powerful warrior. Along the way, she encounters( and fights) several strong and unique female fighters who all vie for a chance to become queen! Like Strike Witches, Queen's Blade has a very large cast of powerful and beautiful women and almost all of them are lovable! From all-powerful warriors like Claudette Vance(Leina's older half-sister), to a scheming and silly angel named Nanael, to the shape-shifting Melona(who shoots acid from her breasts! :D).

Leina Vance

Claudette Vance

Elina Vance

Melona

Risty

Nanael

Shizuka

Tomoe

Echidna

Menace

Airi(one of my favorites!)

Nowa

Alleyne

Irma

Ymir

Cattleya

Melpha

Aldra(current queen)

Like i said, pretty big cast! O.O Despite there being so many characters, all the girls get there chance in the spotlight, where we learn part of there pasts, there personalities, desires, and reasons for fighting in the tournament. Of course some of the girls are still more interesting than others. :P The action itself is pretty decent. The animation quality for the show is pretty good. The girls are beautiful to look at and the environments and world they inhabit look great. Some of the fight scenes are more fun to watch than others. Not too bad but more could have been done with the battles. There is definitely room for improvement on the action front.

Perhaps the best part of all(at least for me anyway XD) is the fanservice! There is a TON of female nudity, panty shots, suggestive poses and more throughout the series! Queen's Blade nearly ventures into hentai territory at some parts! :D Of course the copious amounts of fanservice may be off putting for some, so Queen's Blade is not for everyone.

Just a sample! You're welcome! :D

Since this is an ecchi anime with an all female cast there HAS to be some yuri! Thankfully it is not always played as just fanservice. Several of the girls have real feelings for each other that develop pretty well over time, especially in season 2(more on season 2 in the future). Of course some of the yuri is just for silly fun, such as Elina's lust full advances towards her older sister Leina!

*Note: Yuri pairings n Queen's Blade I support!

-Leina x Risty

-Echidna x Leina

-Tomoe x Shizuka

-Elina x Leina

-Airi x just about anybody

-Nowa x Alleyne

And this being a fanservice series there has to be yuri kisses! Three to be in fact! :D

Awesome! XD

To top off the fun cast of characters is a very strong cast of voice actresses! Some of the best in the biz in Japan lend there voices to the leading ladies and really help the characters to stand out and shine!

As for the US Blu0Ray release itself, color me impressed. The picture quality is pretty amazing and looks great on a high definition display. The sound is good provided you have surround sound. They also packed in the bonus OVA episodes as an added bonus! A pretty sweet deal I'd say! Sadly i have no comment on the dub. I'm a sub person all the way!

Overall season 1 of Queen's Blade is pretty good. We are introduced to the world and the characters at a steady pace, the animation quality is pretty awesome, the fanservice and yuri is damn fun! The only knocks against it are the OK action sequences and the fanservice not being for everyone. But for everybody else this will be a fun series to watch!