Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt: Review

Let me start by saying that I should have seen this show a while ago. A few friends were raving about shows during my fall out with Anime, saying that this was a great show and that I really should check it out. They said things like "It's unlike any show Gainax has done in the past" and "It's like Saturday Morning Cartoons, Sex, and Anime had a three way and some how no one wants to pay child support so it's on the street trying to hustle!" That second line was totally not said to me, but it would have helped me to go and see it when I started my anime rehab. So yeah, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt or PSG for the remainder of the review was something I decided to watch coming back to anime. It follows two angels cast out from heaven and in order to regain entry into the pearly gates, they're sent on missions from God delivered via lightning through their dog, Gi-- er, Chuck and they go around the city killing off goofy themed ghosts that give them heaven coins. Garterbelt acts as their guardian and Charlie a la Charlie's Angels as they go around doing stuff. Yeah, PSG in a nutshell.

The intro is catchy, like herpes

Why did I even listen? No, no, I assure you, this isn't going to be a bash session on the show, I mean after all I could and no one would care and it's not going to stop bad anime from being made, but I guess for me the show suffered from mistaken identity for a good chunk of the show. For starters, I'd like to state that I liked the action, I liked the sex hijinks, I liked the animation style, hell even the homages and subtle inside jokes were great, but like Tuna Fish Ice Cream, it's just not a great combo overall. For starters, the show doesn't take itself or the plot seriously, like any old fashioned Saturday morning cartoon did in the 90s. I mean, Double Dragon, Street Sharks, and Biker Mice from Mars didn't and they were just fine, especially if your nostalgia glasses were just cleaned last week. And there in lies my first problem with the show. It stops doing that. The plot comes back hard and sudden like a chikan's hand on a middle school girl in an overstuffed train. POKE! Story Line! GROPE! Sudden story and character development! FONDLE! Terrible plot twist ending.

You read that right. Ending.

They're just as confused as I am, and I don't blame them.

My second problem is that it actually goes through some sort of intermission type end. Wait...what? Why? Why did you end? Haven't you seen a Saturday morning cartoon? Aren't you trying to do that? You weren't? You sure? Because that episode with that Transform... You were only pulling my chain? I need to learn to take a joke?

Nah, f*** dat noize. That just doesn't make any sense. After all, in a three way, everyone is supposed to be pleased, not confused about what just happened.

At least there were sex jokes!

Right?

Right, about those jokes. They were hilarious and constantly in bad taste. I think for the most part, I really liked how tongue in cheek everything was, and I could see this show making it state-side. This is where PSG shined like fool's gold, consistently making a mismatch of elements watchable. Considering it's Gainax, Funi would have a field day trying to air all the unneeded F***s and F***ing Bitch comments that Panty randomly spurts out whenever she doesn't want to do something and sure, the animation dramatically changes styles for the transformations in way that would make a hooker nod in appreciation. That being said just isn't enough for me. Don't get me wrong, I love T&A in my anime, my Shunya Yamashita collection, my obsession with ecchi shows, and my joy of the occasional oppai joke reaffirms that I do and yet, it just wasn't enough for me to jump on board completely.

I have to admit, I love Gainax. I liked Daikon IV, and liked Evangelion the first time around (oh man the gripes I could type about versions...), TTGL is commendable though I disliked the ending (personal bias, folk) and well FLCL still sits well with me along with good memories of chillin' out listening to the Pillows. That being said, I don't think I wanna see the sequel for this show. I've been robbed so many times from anime that I get Vietnam style flashbacks of me wasting time watching something terrible move across my screen.

If you haven't seen it, it's safe to pass. Consider watching Usagi Drop (Bunny Drop) instead. If you have to see it, strap in and get ready for some confused disappointment.