La storia della Arcana Famiglia

So, new anime. Mafia looking organization of vigilantes protecting a port island with Tarot inspired powers.

Interesting first episode, though I would have liked it better if the Princess had declared that she would win the challenge in order to be free by herself.

Still I wonder where they will go after the current arc ends.

Probably nowhere. I think this is pretty much the entirety of the show. Although I could be wrong.

Still, it has an interesting premise, and the characters are likable enough. Personally, I find Debito rather amusing. Whereas Jolly can go die in a fire for being creepy and rapey.

The Duello will probably be the entire plot of the series. I'm fond of tournament arcs so I'm okay with this, but I kinda feel that it wouldn't be utilizing the whole mafia aspect. Will have to see if the next episodes will do something about that.

Tarot-motif powers. Dang, I'm a sucker for this sort of thing, I'd probably keep watching to find out what the powers are.

A fun watch so far. I'm really just expecting some reverse harem hijinks and some good fights.

Gotta agree with Jolly being creepy though. He better be humiliated at some point.

Watched a preview for it. From what I've seen, it definitely looks like something I can really enjoy, but I couldn't stop thinking about how an Italian mafia is using swords.

Ladies and gentlemen, the things that bug me.

Apparently they use whatever they like. I do hope the island and mafia-like activities are explored.

Ugh, the first episode was pretty bad. The premise is a letdown- when I think mafia I sure as hell don't think "tournament arc with magical powers". The characters are a mixed batch, Felicita, Liberta and Pace are tolerable but rest of the cast is varying degrees of annoying. The episode pace and execution were lousy. It dragged horribly in the middle. And then there was that info-dump that about Arcana that felt incredibly forced.

I migth keep watching this depending on the quality of second episode, but it doesn't look good- the preview made it seem bit fillerish. But we'll see. It may yet surprise me.

So yeah my three cents.

The bishies were all cliches, but I didn't find them annoying...yet.

The only thing that sets this off from other harem shows is the fact that the main female (Felicita) is not a Damsel in Distress and actually has some skills. If she doesn't become useless/generic through the rest of the series I might actually enjoy this.

All valid points. The storytelling is quite poor and as I've noted the mafia thing is practically unused (seriously, swords?). But considering my experience with otome game adaptations this has been the best offering so far (so please tell me if some great work eluded me).

Hm, it was alright, but I think it has the potential to be "great" with its premise, setting and animation. Islands are fun, the Arcana and special powers are interesting, Italy is a rare setting for an anime, etc.

But yes, the characters are annoying cliches. That can be charming sometimes, but in this case I am not charmed.

I don't know if that sets it apart. She seems like a regular Tsundere who everyone automatically forgives whenever she does something bitchy to me. But then again, almost everyone is overly violent and jerkish and The Rival to everyone else, so it is less annoying that she just does what everyone else does. And most of the time she seems reasonably nice.

Also, I hope she wins.

edited 3rd Jul '12 8:56:08 PM by Ruise

Yes she's a violent tsundere. But at least her being violent is a bit more justified when you considered the setting, how she was brought up and who she was attacking was all about being rough and violent. Plus, in a mafia group with only her as a woman, I can imagine she needed to come off as strong and dangerous to get some respect. What sets her apart, at least for me, is that she acts bitchy but (apparently) she can back it up and actually defend herself. Normally bitchy tsunderes hit and abuse everyone around but when push comes to shove they are frail little girls that need to be constantly saved by a man. I don't like that at all. Oh, and "everyone automatically forgives" might be because she is the boss' daughter.

Of course, all of this is speculation based on one episode. There's a huge chance that for all her skills she is still going to need to be saved by everyone -_-

Episode 2 is out.

The way they added in the exposition was really, really bad and contrived. The female lead continues to avoid being annoying, and that's great. The premise this episode was dumb but I enjoyed seeing some of the harem in their respective works. That skit after the ED was seriously horrifying though.

edited 8th Jul '12 11:02:37 AM by Fabelyn

Yup, still completely average.

The bit after the credits was the best part though.

Indeed, the plot was way too dumb. You guys live on a tiny island and are famous. Just spread the word that you found a white cat! Put up some posters on the Famiglia family board or something. On the other hand I did like Felicita's resolution to win the tournament for herself

Episode 2: This show just cannot get exposition to flow naturally. XD

Plus the premise of the episode was just dull. Its saving grace is Felicita, who's the best heroine I've seen in otome game adaptations, though that's not really saying a lot.

Will keep watching though, we have yet to reach the Duello and I dearly hope that we get some decent fights.

edited 13th Jul '12 7:24:01 AM by fillerdude

Episode 3: Exposition still feels kind of contrived. Is this going to be 1 cour or 2? Because really, there's no way this will end well if it's just 12 episodes since 3 episodes in and all we seem to be getting are these boring filler like episodes. Worse, they seemed to have completely forgotten about the whole fight etc; we don't see them train or have any kind of rivalry. Next episode sounds boring too, if this keeps up I'll drop it soon.

I'm also sad about there not being any fights yet. I want my Tarot powers battle dang it. I hope we get to the meat of the story soon.

The exposition is practically a gag at this point.

But aside from that misgiving, Episode 3 was okay. ...yeah, that's about it.

Memo to kick chicks who actually mind that people can see their undies: wear frickin' shorts. I can not stress this enough.

edited 16th Jul '12 5:56:28 AM by fillerdude

Where the heck is de Vito's sexy accent from?! It sounds a little Tokyo-yanki-ish but more... foreign. It's really starting to bug me that I can't place it.

Episode 5: Nova episode. Was okay, if a bit cheesy.

Next week has something to do with vaguely evil scientist so it should be fairly interesting.

Episode 6: Nova and Liberta using their Arcana powers thanks to Dante's secret training.

Episode 7: Nova and Liberta blah blah thanks to Mama's secret training. Also gives us new tidbits about Luca, Pace and Debito, which were far more interesting.

Are we gonna even get to the Duello at this rate? -.-

The Duello is only at the very end of the series.

In episode 1, they said that it'd take place in two months.

What, are they gonna cram it all in the last two episodes or something?

Episode 8: Slightly interesting info about Pace, Luca and Debito, and Jolly's experiments.

Maybe Duelo take place AFTER shows end...

Episode 10: Bland cheesy dialogue, unsatisfying emotional resolutions, and Idiot Plot. Nothing nice to say comes to mind so I'll just stop there.

Episode 11: Just some affirmation that Fel's going either the Liberta or Nova route.

We also— finally— get to the Arcana Duello, but I expect it to be majorly unsatisfying given that it'll all happen in a single episode.

Episode 12: Finally the Duello!

In which boring battles happen! Seriously. Fights were boring.

And Felicita manages to avoid having to pick, just like a true harem lead!