One step forward and two steps backwards is no way to make an anime…
Credit to nylon66 for the original images.
Anime
Strike the Blood III BD Volume 4 released today and nylon66 has early images.
Unfortunately, it’s a 10-episode OVA instead of a TV series. And there will be months between volumes (like with StB II) and the final volume won’t be out until Fall 2019. Fortunately, StB III has more fanservice scenes than the TV series. Thus continuing a trend that started with Strike the Blood OVA and Strike the Blood II.
The surprise this time is nipples in episode 7. Finally. Breaking a steak of five straight episodes without nipples. About time that fast was broken. But not nearly enough food to fill the bellies of ecchi fans after five episodes of low calorie meals. Even worse, they started up the streak again in episode 8…
StB has been pretty good about having some nipples even if just a few every couple of episodes ever since it shifted from a TV series to OVA series. Unfortunately this BD volume finally returns to form but one brief changing scene and a tame pool scene is not nearly enough.
Hopefully they will make up for it in future volumes. But they are almost out of time since there is only one volume (two episodes) left. In the meantime, they seem to have cut back on underwear fanservice too…
Stitches
Snapshots
Omake
Impressions
Welp that was a bit disappointing. Even if a very early impression. Even if ecchi fans finally got to see some nipples again. Even the additional underwear shots and blushing faces were somewhat lacking this time even if sensual. And where the heck were the , vampire sucking shots???
Is it just me or do the faces of the main girls seem to be more derpy than they used to be? More like CG and less like 2D? Especially in episode 02. Why? Why mess with a good thing??? It seems to have improved somewhat but still looks different from StB I & II and the OVA.
Strike the Blood staff used to have a good handle on what works for them. Plot that doesn’t forget the PLOT. But plot and characters first and foremost. With PLOT in measured doses. Which works as long as they continue to deliver quality over quantity.
Problem is that they are almost out of time. When StB switched from TV series format to OVA format, there have been nipples roughly every other episode. Or roughly 50% of the episodes. Until StB III that is. Currently, StB III is 2 for 8 or 25%. That’s half the previous rate. They would have to have nudity in each of the remaining two episodes to get up to 40% which is still short of 50%. Which doesn’t seem likely to happen. Such a shame. And not what ecchi fans were expecting from StB.
I’m still a fan. And I still find StB entertaining to watch again and make media from. But they can and have done better…
Notes
This is just an early look at StB III Volume 4 done for news purposes.
