Chokkyuu Hyoudai Robot Anime: Straight Title

Straight Title Robot Anime / 直球表題ロボットアニメ-STRAIGHT TITLE-

Genres: Comedy, Mecha
Themes: Mecha
Studios: Yaoyorozu
Producers: Bouncy, Just Production, Tsubasa Entertainment
Rating: 5.7 / 10
Rank: #11679
Popularity: #10561
Users Listed: 3,216
Users Scored: 1,003
NSFW: No
Last Updated: 11/07/2021
Aired: February 6, 2013 – April 24, 2013 (Winter)
Type: tv
Age Rating: PG 13
Episodes: 12

Synopsis:

In the distant future of Mobile Century 8013, a perpetual conflict rages between warring military automatons, remnants of a long-vanished human civilization. Millennia after humanity’s extinction on Earth, the conflict has solidified into a drawn-out struggle between the European-based Rebellion Federation and the Asian Principality of Shin. The narrative follows three young robots as they challenge the established order, questioning the very purpose of their endless war.

The series explores themes of purpose, free will, and the nature of existence within a world devoid of its creators. Set against a backdrop of decaying cities and desolate landscapes, it presents a thoughtful examination of conflict and the potential for change, emphasizing the characters’ internal journeys as they navigate a world defined by mechanical warfare and echoing history. The story offers a contemplative experience, focusing on character development amidst a bleak, war-torn environment.

Streaming Platforms:

Crunchyroll

Episodes:

Episode 1: Untitled
Episode 2: Untitled
Episode 3: Untitled
Episode 4: Untitled
Episode 5: Untitled
... and 7 more episodes

Characters:

Fujii (Main) - Voice Actors: Nishi, Asuka
Katou (Main) - Voice Actors: Arakawa, Miho
Mori (Main) - Voice Actors: Ookubo, Rumi
Narrator (Main) - Voice Actors: Hirata, Hiroaki

Staff:

Nakano, Tooru (Sound Director)
Ishidate, Koutarou (Episode Director, Script, Series Composition)
ZAQ (Theme Song Performance, Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Composition, Theme Song Arrangement)
Cort (Chief Animation Director)
KEI (Original Character Design)

Reviews:

User Newmn84 (Score: 6/10):
So, let me get this out of the way first, Chokkyuu Hyoudai Robot Anime: Straight Title is absolutely NOT what it seems to be at first glance, and even MAL seems to have been mistaken. Straight Title is NOT an mecha action anime, it is a comedy anime through and through. Now that's out of the way, onto my review. When I first heard of this show, I immediately went “Cool! A mecha anime with lots of action using MMD? Sounds awesome!” However, after the action-packed opening sequence, I learned that I was sadly mistaken as the line immediately after the title stated “This anime ismade for the viewer to enjoy the cuteness of robots, while enjoying a hardly noticeable, inoffensive investigation.” I just got trolled pretty hard by an anime... Did I rage? No. Did I immediately drop the anime because it wasn't what I expected? No. I simply took it in stride and, in the end, ended up enjoying what the show had to offer.nnThe basic story of Straight Title (or as I like to call it MMD Robots) involves three robots in a world where humans have gone extinct. Mori, Katou, and Fujii are on a quest to end the ongoing robot war (shown in the opening) by finding out how to cause laughter. Sounds stupid, right? Well, it is. But, just throw that all out the window because no one really cares about the story in an anime made solely for the purpose of comedy anyway. Episodes are generally divided into three skits: 1) a skit where the robots introduce and attempt to imitate a style of Japanese comedy, 2) a skit where the robots make something random happen to the opening sequence, usually altering it in some comedic way, and 3) a locale-themed skit where the robots take items from an everyday locale such as a school or hospital, and try to imitate some sort of behavior using the items. The third part is my personal favorite because I honestly don't know if it's scripted at all, rather, it may be all improvisation and the seiyuu (voice actors/actresses) are all doing exactly what the characters on screen are doing. The seiyuu really seem to enjoy themselves and have fun while doing the third part, even going so far as to seemingly fall out of character and laugh, which the show plays it off saying “The noise that resembles human laughter is due to the robots receiving interference from the archives, and is temporarily affecting their external speakers.” While others may see it as being “unprofessional”, hearing the seiyuu and seeing the characters on-screen seem to have fun made me enjoy the show even more.nnI've heard complaints that the animation “sucks” in this show and my response to that is “It's MMD, what were you expecting?” For those of you who don't know, basically, MMD is short for MikuMikuDance and is a freeware program originally made by one guy so that he could make the Vocaloid…
User Ghostfriendly (Score: 6/10):
It seems that even a pure comedy series needs a premise with some weight, to anchor itself down; Robot Anime is much stronger in this sense than the similar GdGd Fairies. Put another way, stories need a reason for existing, in this case the quest of the three robots to discover laughter, providing a few laughs and a couple of very poignant moments along the way. The characters of the three robots are quite middle-of-the-road, but very well defined and distinct. Their humour (and most of the show is humour) might tickle a Japanese audience nearer the funny bone, but is still quite good. Idoubt it would be laugh-out-loud anywhere, but the clever analysis of humour itself is something to be quietly appreciated in any country. The physical comedy of sequences where our heroines simulate cross-dressing robots, or a roller-skating headmaster, to end the war, loses nothing in translation. Perhaps this isn't the funniest show in the world, but it is unique, and certainly worth a look.

News:

MikuMikuDance-based TV Anime 'Straight Title Robot Anime' Announced (01/10/2013)