Battle Programmer Shirase
バトルプログラマーシラセ
BPS
I’ve seen some pretty bad reviews for BPS, but the concept of a “battle programmer” was enough to make me sit down and want to tolerate it – at least until I figured out I hated it or something. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am rather upset at the end of the series. Having only taken a basic course in C and Unix, I was a little worried that I would miss out on a lot in BPS, but that was not the case. More on that later.
I will warn you: if you dislike ecchi (especially the loli-con type), your viewing pleasure has a possibility of not being stimulated.
First things first: BPS is labelled as an “Ecchi Comedy” and “Sci-fi.” It’s a 2003 anime, consisting of 15 12-minute episodes (5 regular episodes).
BPS is the nickname of Akira Shirase, a free programmer who can do virtually anything on a computer for the right price, but not money. Some rare computer equipment or otaku related, plz. Shirase is the great-uncle of elementary-schoolgirl Misao Amano, and the two are very close. Shirase is probably in his late twenties, Misao probably in 5/6th grade. Misao will cook for Shirase and playfully nag him about the fact that he’s always broke, needs to graduate college, and needs a job.
This series loves running gags. Shirase is always approached by a man named Akizuki at the recommendation of Prof Hayashi. Though Akizuki is a different man in a different field every time, the personality and voice is the same. Akizuki will always walk in on Shirase at least once per case thrown into an unfortunate position with a minor, usually Misao. It’s always an accidental, non-intentional, but very misreadable situation that leads Akizuki into thinking Shirase’s having sex with minors. Akizuki will then follow the exact same thought process he (or all the Akizukis) go through, agonizing over the fact that Shirase’s a pedo, ending at “I never saw anything” and cueing a laughtrack. It bothers me a little that he’s always willing to ignore the assumed pedophilia in favor of earning Shirase’s help, but it’s easy to write off since it’s always a misunderstanding.
The fact that the same thing happens each case can be annoying, but I found it hilarious, since it can be viewed as if Akizuki had to relive that incident new, each time. It grows on you.
In terms of the fanservice, it’s actually pretty reserved. Shirase’s just a typical geek perv, not actively going for the goods but can’t help admiring it if it’s in front of him. I’m very not into loli myself, but since “Shirase wants little girls” isn’t shoved into your face, it’s easy to write off as Misao adores her “onii-san,” and Shirase loves skirt no matter who it’s attached to and has a deep bond with Misao. But the lolicon is very (in fact, more) there if you want it. Especially when Misao’s friend, Yon-chan, attempts to seduce BPS. Oi. Not all Americans are so learned in dirty talk at elementary school age. Shirase’s still interested in older women, it seems, in a particularly golden moment when the butt he’s been staring at hits him in the face.
Some have felt that BPS shouldn’t focus on both skirt and programming and instead be all about programming. I … disagree. I feel that without the skirt, BPS would have to rely on stupid sfx to keep it interesting. One of the first gags when Shirase first did his double compile was a rather elaborate “Hissatsu … double compile!” (Sure kill … double compile!) scene, complete with crazy background and lights. Think DBZ kamehameha or super-saiyan power up scene. The scene quickly wound down with Shirase saying, “Not that there’s a need for that. Pochu.” (pochu being when he pressed the enter key) I feel there was a conscious effort to not cheapen Shirase’s programming scenes with stupid battle effects, and I for one am very grateful. But if you don’t, how will you keep interest in the series geared towards the otaku and geek? Skirt, duh. But due to the main interest in programming, the fanservice wasn’t over the top, most of it favored towards jokes and insinuation. Nice balance to my taste, and I don’t even like ecchi.
Now the unfortunate news: BPS was cut short. I dunno why, it’s really unfortunate. The last episode is very obviously leading into a good, long story arc, but the OP narrator states that it is the last and apologizes (famously apologizing not only to its network viewing audience but also acknowledging the fansub audience). As of 2008, a second season has not been announced, assumedly dropped.
I wanna know what is to happen!!
Overall, the series is balanced very nicely, leaving believable characters and antics without cheapening them through the ecchi scenarios. If you can’t stand any lolicon or running gags, it won’t be your cup of tea, but I sure enjoyed it.
Tags: anime, battle programmer shirase, bps, Comedy, computers, Ecchi, review
August 6, 2008 at 3:02 am |
This series, in it’s own sneaky way, was a masterpiece. The lolicon situations were incredibly heavy, over the limits even for the common japanese otaku, since, at one point, an elementary grade kid displayed an attempt of seduction towards the main character(in his twenties) in a clearly explicit, sexual way.
It must be said that every time a lolicon situation occurred, a recurrent and hilarious gag evidenced intentionally how the japanese culture tends to tacitly accept the trend of “lolicon” in its rooths.
For the rest, the series is truly worth watching, mainly because of the humorous situations and the pleasant and lovely characters.
On the ending note, the single episodes’ short lenght makes every moment precious and memorable, adding to the series as whole…