Otaku Elf Review
Otaku Elf, also known as Edomae Erufu, is a fantasy comedy anime. It is based on a seven-volume manga illustrated and written by Akihiko Higuchi. Directed by Takebumi Anzai, it is produced by C2C, a studio founded in April 2006. This post will have spoilers.
Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the thirty-fourth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on June 5, 2023.
This series focuses on a sixteen-year-old named Koito Koganei (voiced by Yuka Ozaki). She becomes a shrine maiden, known as miko, at a shrine in Takamini after the death of her grandfather. As a result, she becomes the caretaker of Eldarie "Elda" Irma Fanomene (voiced by Ami Koshimizu). Elda is an immortal and beautiful elf summoned from another world. Koito encounters challenges as Elda is an otaku and hikikomori/shut-in who fears going outside the shrine following an unpleasant interaction many years prior. Even so, she attempts to get Elda to enjoy life outside the shrine.
Originally, I had not been planning to write a review of this series because I'm already reviewing nine other series this season, either about magical girls (Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure and Tokyo Mew Mew New), legendary warriors (Unicorn Warriors: Eternal), VTubers (Kizuna no Allele), a yuri-themed cafe (Yuri Is My Job!), golf girls (Birdie Wing), idols (Oshi No Ko), or other subjects (Alice Gear Aegis Expansion and Skip and Loafer). One motivation for writing this review was because of Sailor Moon, which I'm currently watching, for the first time. It features Rei Hino as a shrine maiden, when she isn't Sailor Mars.
The animation style, comedy of an immortal elf being an otaku meeting a normal person, and the centrality of food, drew me in. The latter is primarily grounded in the cooking by Koyuzu (voiced by Hitomi Sekine), the younger sister of Koito. The same can be said for Koito and Elda's stories often becoming intertwined. Also, there are characters which are portrayed as "cute", like Koito's friend Koma Sakuraba (voiced by Haruka Aikawa).
I liked that every episode of Otaku Elf has some story about past Japanese culture, especially from the Edo period. Of course, Elda does all she can to impress Koito no matter what. This is despite the fact that although she has a laptop, she doesn't know how to use a cell phone. When she does use it, she texts so much that she angers the spirits! Elda does not know everything, however, and doesn't pretend she is all-knowing. She is wise, but not omniscient.
Yordeilla "Yord" Lila Fenomenea (voiced by Rie Kugimiya) and Himawari Kohinata (voiced by Teru Ikuta) are a good addition to the series. Yord is a dark-skinned elf, who is bad at directions, and has an absurd rivalry with Elda over an equivalent of tic-tac-toe. Dr. Akane Sasaki (voiced by Yumi Uchiyama) was similarly a positive character. In fact, she is shown in the seventh episode with Kadoi, getting drunk at a bar, with both of them as an interesting pair of characters together.
There is undeniable yuri subtext in this series, specifically between Koito and Elda, especially shown in the fifth episode. Otaku Elf has a degree of intimacy it can turn to and expand in each episode. As such, the series centers on the importance of spending time with others above everything else. In that way, Otaku Elf is special.
In marked contrast to Birdie Wing, the value of studying, and education as an extension, is emphasized through Koito's intense studying in the sixth episode. The importance of taking breaks and not over-extending oneself is an interrelated theme.
I like the slice-of-life nature of Otaku Elf. This makes it different from magic-themed series such as Healer Girl and Management of a Novice Alchemist. Similarly, it is nothing like recent slice-of-life anime. The latter includes Let's Make a Mug Too, The Aquatope on White Sand, Teasing Master Takagi-san, and Laid-Back Camp.
The series differs from YuruYuri, Gabriel DropOut, Is the Order a Rabbit?, Kin-iro Mosaic, Non Non Biyori, K-On!, and Azumanga Daioh, in the same genre. Elda is a living history resource, who is good at origami, but can have awful nightmares. There's occasional casual alcoholism. But, it isn't as present as it is in Bocchi the Rock!. The latter features a sick bassist named Kikuri Hiroi, who spends most of her money on booze.
The seventh Otaku Elf episode was one of the best in the entire series. It primarily focused on Koyuzu and her desire to spend more time with her sister, Koito. Some of the funniest sequences in the episode was when she charmed people in a wholesale market so she could get fish for free.
The latter episode was only rivaled by the eighth episode. It focuses on Elda meeting another elf, named Haira (voiced by Mamiko Noto). Some of the best parts were having the historical remembrance shown in anime style resembling wood block art. The episode features another miko, named Komari, the same age as Koito. Haira is an elf with beauty only matched by Elda. She is older than Elda and Yolde, treating them as her younger sisters. The episode implied Elda is a lesbian, as she said she liked all the teahouse girls during the Edo period.
By the end of the episode, it is clear that the series is uncritical of the fact that Komari was a social influencer and that Haira was a gambler. Even though Komari was critical of Haira for gambling, she tells Koioto that if Haira is doing what she likes, it is ok. On the one hand, this makes sense as Komari had been with Haira since she was young, allowing her to take candid photographs.
On the other, Otaku Elf, by saying that Haira's desire to be a gambler is ok, implies it is a non-issue and downplays it as a problem. Most gambling is prohibited in Japan. There are exceptions for some motor sports and horse racing. The latter is something that Haira said she wanted to do during the episode.
There is an ample culture of gambling in the island nation. The island has a difficult relationship with it. There is inconsistency between reality and law. Some have pushed to completely legalize gambling across the island. Even so, some people, and groups, have objected to expanded gambling in Osaka. They have argued that crime and addiction (to gambling) will rise as a result. Those caught gambling illegally in Japan can face fines or jail time. This hasn't stopped gambling from becoming pervasive, nor the millions afflicted with gambling addiction. The series could have done a better job with this topic.
Despite the problematic approach to gambling, the series often highlights the importance of remembering the past and preserving it. In the ninth episode, Elda reads a manga that has been published for over 30 years. She reorganizes her room due to a ceiling leak (with the help of Koito) and finds an old videotape. Often series only focus on new technology. They act like anything deemed "analog" isn't worth bringing up. In some cases, there is a blend of the "old" and "new". In the case in Steven Universe, a videotape of the protagonist's mother (Rose Quartz) plays an important role in the series.
Similarly in Otaku Elf, Koito sees a videotape for the first time, and goes to her grandmother, who has an old Betamax player, excited to watch a tape of something recorded from before she was born. She learns that her mother, shown on the tape, was also a miko of Elda as well! In a typical scene, Elda embarrasses Koito. She thinks she will be picked up in a "bridal style" pose and runs away as a result. The latter is part of the ongoing yuri undertones of this series, even though Elda and Koito have more of a master-student relationship than anything that is romantic.
Otaku Elf is much more than a series with endearing character dynamics. It has a protagonist (Elda) who deeply cares about the town she lives in, a neighborhood of Tokyo, I believe. Unlike some other anime this season, such as Alice Gear Aegis Expansion, there's no fan service. Nor are there any characters which are "one-off jokes". In fact, the series, in some ways, counts as an isekai. It has a "genuineness and pleasantness" which evades many anime these days.
The show's animation studio is known for producing over 16 series, including two I'm familiar with: Hitori Bocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu (based on a manga by Katsuwo who also wrote Mitsubishi Colors) and Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina. None of the story elements in either of those series are present in this series.
The voice cast of Otaku Elf is just as strong as the show's opening song. Ami Koshimizu, who voices Elda, also voices the caddy of Aoi in Birdie Wing (Amane Shinjо̄), Mizuki Nakahara in Lycoris Recoil, Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon Crystal, Shiori in Princess Connect! Re:Dive, Yang Xiao Long in RWBY: Ice Queendom, and Konomi Yurikawa in Yurikuma Arashi. Yuka Ozaki, the voice of Koito, has lent her voice as Asuka Toyama in BanG Dream!, while Hitomi Sekine, voice of Koyuzu, voiced characters in Teasing Master Takagi-san, Konosuba, and Ms. vampire who lives in my neighborhood.
Haruka Aikawa, the voice of Koma, previously voiced a character in Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie. Mamiko Noto, voice of Haira, voiced a supporting character named Kazuki Kosuda in B Gata H Kei - Yamada’s First Time, Hakko in Canaan, Elsa in Gunslinger Girl, Kanon's mother in Love Live! Superstar!!, Shimako Toudou in Maria Watches Over Us, Gin Todo in A Place Further Than the Universe, and Saki Arima in Your Lie in April, and many other roles.
All in all, Otaku Elf is highly relatable to the hundreds of thousands of shut-ins in Japan, which the government believes is a "new social issue", and those elsewhere in the world. It might even draw in an audience from anyone who is living at "home" with their parents, or others living a "hermit-like" existence, being social recluses from society.
In any case, I recommend this series highly. I hope that it receives a second season, even though that is unlikely considering the last nine series by the same studio have not been renewed. Often, companies try and limit corporate risk by planning out each season for only 11-13 episodes. If the show is a success, "additional seasons can be ordered" as noted by Justin Sevakis.
Otaku Elf is currently streaming on HIDIVE.
© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.
7 notes
·
View notes
pd101 japan the girls ep 9 by a harowota
you know the deal
opening words hit kinda hard
ONE TWO THREE LEAP HIGH!!! leap high brain rot
why elimination feelings recap?! me sad i miss S. Kotone
the concept groups feelings being either saved or having lost members is so :c
Ayane is ambicious, quite sure some might take her words a bit insensitive...?
ahhh saved teams must chose the ones they think they need (toxic's case)
everyone (except Ran, who choose Yuuki) choose for the 1st one themselves?
oh and Ayane put Joa 3rd
ow Joa felt impossible to add herself there
ohhhh &ME time, saved ones
Koto unsure poor thing
poor Tsuzumi, can't choose
AtoZ time here
Shizuku wants S. Kokona
PARUTAN IS SO CUTE
Popcorn team, idk, N. Kokona wants Joa
who stays for &ME?! (as if i didn't saw images before... remember half)
bye Rinon, let's see you in your group for this (which i totally remember... i don't)
awwww Rinon!!! (i love and hate how i get attached to these girls)
who stays for TOXIC?!
bye Miyu, Joa, Hazuki... let's see you later (poor Miyu, she was leader)
all of them are so cute!!! (feels like sisters, all sisters)
NOOOOOOOO AYANE SAD (well, all sad)
how they join the groups? who decides?
ohhh they divide
AtoZ team so cute!!!
they got Rinon and miyu
AWWWWW THEIR SIGNS
CUTE GIRLS SO CUTE
they look like little sisters to Miyu and Rinon here, idk
"Ai no reson" - Sakuraba Haruka (love you parutan)
wait... so Baddie got intact... ohhh nice
Mena is like "they're good and i'm glad, but don't want to lose my positions and might lose them)
POPCORN CHAOS
they're so fun!!!!
how they planned it, how they received them, so cute and cute!!!
Joa in popcorn is interesting
ohhh uncle hongee is presenting this as well
Yumeki strict w his fan that wrote Yumeki in kanji, wtf
global producers!
Tsuzumi's "Daisuki" to her french fan (who lives in Korea but speaks japanese, funny remark)
the benefit thingy makes me feel so bad
being 7th is 0 votes, at least give them 100... this is so sad
Koakuma (Baddie) time!!!!
CLAW-me cool and cute at the same time!
YURARA CENTER?!
they look so cool, OMG I WANT YUI'S FIT
oh, ofc, rehearsal, and it's Hana's team so and she's 35th, so is hard for them
all missing Ema-chan :c c:
they got a letter from Ema
awww Ema
DO IT FOR EMA
ohh Ema was supposed to be center, wait... Ranka center? :/
when it changed to Yurara? (better)
ohhh Ranka wanted Yurara to be center and gave it to her for preffer the rap, nice tbh
poor Yurara, girl is worried
Hana is leading ohhh
Baddie is complex as i understand Keiko
they're so wow after that discussion of the concepts, feel them kinda explosive
this is fun group as well
so cool, sexy and cute
wow Yumeki's opinion
i can hear Yui having troubles with the lower notes
i love how Thelma seems so fun as a instructor, Thelma is big sis for sure
OMG THE FITS!!!!!!!! i wanna be that cool to rock those outfints, maybe not Ayano's tho, furr jackets seem so weird for me
PERFORMANCE!!!
best teamwork are you saying Thelma?!
WOOOOOOW YURARA ON THAT INTRO SO CUTE AND COOL
me likes me likes
omg Yui! Hana! Yurara! Keiko!!!
ojhduiafhuyfsghjsdgabfuyh Keiko and Rino!
i'm weak at that type of fanservice, sorry
kinda wanna cover this song ngl
SUGOI SUGOI FOR REAL HONGEE
ehhhh Hana's monitor fell?! went unnoticed
owww Ayano you did it nice, idc how many votes you got, you all shined (even Ranka...)
true, they enjoyed this a lot!!! i agree w hongee
next one is? AtoZ!!!!!!!
i have high expectations but not in how ever you may think
Tokimekki (why traduce the name you mfs?!)
firts love song, expectatives go up
no one wanted this one? (tbh i agree Parutan, i'd want koakuma too, i guess Haruka doesn't want more cute songs?)
Mena keeps being leader and center, but she handled it good, i think
oof Rinon wants the rap, but also Mena
Rinon took the rap
tbf, Mena's voice in the rap is not bright, as Rinon's
Miyu is so good at expressions and again sooo ii onee-san
oof get the same group she was in before joining the dance room is hard for Miyu...
everyone helped her to focus tho
ohhh Parutan is another that quited school, but doesn't regret it, that's good, hope she never will
auch Mena off key
ohhh recording footage
iugh i saw pro tools (i hate pro tools)
awww Parutan looked so cute recording!!!
Mena has many problems to record
2 and half hrs for Mena recording?!
they're supporting her so cutely
i love to hear the hint of classical on Shizuku even when it's almos unperceptable
Yumeki being cute and not scary and kinda therapeutic, make a wish!!!
they look so cute, i wish i could handle cute looks like those, but i cant
Hina and Parutan are all in my eyes
Shizuku so interesting sounding
cute song, me likes
Miyu is master of expressions and taught them nicely
Rinon is so cute cool cute
Miyu is cute sexy cute here
Kagura is cute cool
the rest cute cute, but in different ways
AMAZING me liked, feel so sweet, i hope popcorn isn't much sweeter or i'll get diabetes
Parutan's words for Yumeki so cute, her improvement as well
PARUTAN MAKE IT TO DEBUT WHEREVER
&ME time
Nalala?... kinda boring name
cute cool white uniform-ish outfits, like, but too white... kinda oujosama-ish tho Tsuzumi's is less oujosama-ish tho
idk what to say here, but i sense the troubles they have and had with the rehearsal footage
Miu's funny comment bout choosing center
awww Koto&Yui (Yui hyping Koto)
everyone here's in crisis?! Koto, Suzu, Kokoro?
poor Suzu, i think
Ran words are nice, ngl, i also think i got a 180° turn mindset after those words, and i'm not even sure about what
NAKASONE!!!
Koto isn't there, Koto got sick :c
still sick for last rehearsal?! I feel so sad
Nakasone got me sadly annoyed, but i get it why, but then mother, and then profesional mother
still kinda worried, KOTO WAS SICK!!!
is she sick in the performance?!
wow i haven't talked bout Momona
CUTE TSUZUMI!!!
i can finally see a bit of brightness on Suzu
Momona is my dear Kassa that i remember always but pro-er somehow
everyone cool, tho idk how i feel bout this song, is cool and cute, more cute tho... but there's a something missing... idk
nice performance, nice all, i'm just worried Koto was still sick there
she wasn't totally fine yet, trainers said it, wasn't noticeable, but still worried
i could have said more bout everyone, but idk, no words, and weird feelings
POPCORN TEAM!
kawaii
everyone a flavour of popcorn cute!!!
lol cute Serina!
new F7avors (don't like that 7 there... but cute, all are xxFx)
i'm curious bout cute Joa
uhhh Joa had hard time for sure
lol Serina was the only one wanting to be center after reformation
poor Hazuki can't remembers choreo
Joa extra work
i can't talk bout their meeting but it feels, dunno how, but feels
Sakura is so funny
Nakasone made them go outside!!!
and look from affar
Serina wasn't last rehearsal!
oh nooooo pain, back, or hip?
poor Serina!!!
hope she didn't got it worse after performance
i like they're colour coded, that's idol!
lets go
SO CUTE START!!!
NAGOMI BBY!!!!!
i like this song!
cute Joa!
everyone but wow cute Joa!!!
from cute cute to cute sexy to cute cute?
HYPER CUTE
cute Joa is amazing
all cute
ohhhh Kokona speaking english cute!!!!
I'm gonna speed up stuff cuz gotta sleep, but let's go Toxic
they look sexy
CharmHolic... interesting name
ohhh Kokona says it's a sexy song, makes sense (also the name and fits)
kinda want Yuuki's fit and Momoka's
ok, so, Yuuki leader
Momoka suggesting change on positions
ofc Ayane wants main vocal, girl is confident on her voice
Momoka, Yuuki and Tsukuchi battle for the raps part
Momoka rap (enjoy what you lost one time)
Yuuki got sub vocal 2, so Tsukushi rap 2
so they're discussing the type of sexy the song is, interesting
Ran woks so well with everyone, idk, Ran shines whereer she is because she seems to try her best to make everyone else shine as well, that's what i think at least
Kokona, u can be sexy, believe it!!! (i'm not one to talk tho) also work on expressions, that helps, but you're expresionless
had to put x2 speed
They got Ayane embarrased at recording
c'mon Kokona, u can do it, i know it's hard
Kokona is doing it!
let's go
poor Yuuki, doesn't know how to sing that part!
awww Yuuki and Nano, they were in the same club so it seems so wholesome the help
PERFORMANCE!
new Kokona you say Nakasone? okay okay
i got cautivated by everyone but the song is not my type of sexy song, but nice nice
wow
fr it's a new Kokona
idk what are Momoka's vibes, but i want them and also wanna be under the charm of those vibes (in which way? idk)
not Ayane being the only one becoming cute cute in her solo camera portion after the end! she had a sexy vibe but cut it anyways, love it!
but omg MOMOKA
back to speed up more
every one was amazing!
but tbh, i think &ME was the less amazing one
let's see what people thoght
POPCORN? that was 4th for me
2 on 3rd?
Koakuma?, is my 2nd
AtoZ tied with koakuma? that was my 1st
&ME will be 1st right? ofc... but that was my last (sorry Kassa, and everyone)
Toxic was my 3rd...
sad
oh &ME places
Kokoro and Suzu 4th?
3rd? Kassa oh
6th? Rin...
7th? nooo she will get 0... Koto noooooooooooo, she was sick!
1st? Tsuzumi (deserved) so 2nd Miu
don't wanna see rank...
yes they all did good
no ranks pls!!!!
noooooooooo
they'll have prizes!!! deserved!
i don't want elimination!!!
4 notes
·
View notes