Ebiten: Complete Collection

Not unlike the Scary Movie series, this is a burlesque mishmash drawing upon Japanese fantasy, sci-fi, anime, manga, and TV shows, referencing and spoofing Ultra Seven, DragonBall Z, Megazone 23, Sailor Moon, K-On!, and just about everything in between. An underpopulated high school student-stargazing society composed of BFF girls (thus the nickname "Asstronomical Club") is so irrelevant on campus that its faculty advisor is a distracted teacher's cat. The group faces closure due to a lack of members and the fact that they really don't accomplish much. The parody-strewn episodes (copying even the artwork style and theme songs of the material being satirized) largely center on the young ladies—drawn in hyper-cute "moe" style—embracing and/or tormenting would-be recruits, especially freshman Itsuki, who is really a boy, forced to cross-dress to maintain the female status quo. Itsuki also has a secret secondary personality as a supervillain (foretold by Nostradamus), who is plotting to Take Over the World with pheromones. In a meta-epilogue, our heroines invade the very anime and manga studios creating them. Given the mission of sending up anime clichés, one should not be surprised at the "fan service" panty flashes, breast gropes, gratuitous nudity, and gay-lesbian tropes trotted out. Almost none of this is meant to be taken seriously, although it could have cult mojo amongst more knowledgeable anime fans. Compiling all 10 episodes (and an OVA) from 2012 in separate Blu-ray and DVD editions, in Japanese with English subtitles, rated TV-MA, extras include bonus shorts and music videos. A strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)