Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Jenangelx3
I tried to like this anime. I really did. I was so excited when they announced the Special A anime because I had been following the manga for so long. This manga has a lot of memories for me and I know that anime tend to add new things, take things out, and change up the story a little to meet the limitations of the time constraints, but it was just impossible for me to love this anime.
If I hadn't read the manga, I might've enjoyed watching this anime, but I agree, this anime really has nothing special compared to other student council anime (and that includes the harem/ecchi ones!).
The characters have a few note features that are from the manga, but it feels like they took out a lot of core elements to the characters and added whatever they wanted to fit. I have such an issue with the…
Read at the sourceTokyoSanchez
There are shows out there that many will experience where even though there are so many flaws in a show that you can point out, you can't help but love the show regardless. In my experience of watching anime, these shows are fairly rare, since normally my enjoyment correlates with how many or little flaws there are. Special A is one of these shows. Special A is one of those rare cases.
One thing I really enjoyed about this show was it's pacing. Although it is probably the cause of some of the rushed parts of the show, the fast pacing never left me bored, and is probably the reason that it alleviates so many of this show's flaws for me.
The multiple settings are also a big part in keeping the show fresh. Even though we are following a bunch of high school kids once again, the convenience…
Read at the sourcetriangulor
This is one for fans of highschool romcoms. Its not a bad show but I wouldn't recommend it unless you are particularly a fan of the genre or really in the mood.
So Special A is everything you expect from a romcom, a bunch of affluent highschool students hang out with a single poor student, one of them is very popular with the ladies but hopelessly in love with our plucky but unaware heroine. We see them get places in a series of romantic situations but she just can't seem to get it. Some laughs are had along the way and I don't want to spoil anything but everything works out pretty well int he end.
In this series the extravagant private school they characters attend has inexplicably decided to devote considerable resources to giving the 7 top students an impressive glass greenhouse where…
Read at the sourceesofdiamon
For anybody who have read manga "Last Game" by Amano Shinobu, after find out how amazing that manga was, and when they try to search other manga that have the same story & style, they will find this one, "Special A" by Maki Minami. For your information, this is not the first manga that have the same theme, unrequited love between a long time childhood friend. There is another manga named "His and Her Circumstances" by Masami Tsuda in 1996 that slightly have the same theme. I expect nothing from this anime, but it turns out to be too funny and a lot of unpredictable situation happen, even its also make me cry a lot with its drama. All character in this anime is sweet and adorable, each of them have their own past and back story that's so interesting. I could say that this anime's genre is f…
Read at the sourceTibs27
"Miss second place", these are common words in this anime, but is the series capable of even reaching second place? I think so.
STORY
The story revolves around a group of friends all in the "Special" class, some because of academics and skill, and some because of money, and some because of necessity. This story is one of romance which is something I don't really enjoy, but this series has a sweet childlike love to it that not many shows can match, it even got me supporting the main protagonist at the end; rest assured with the character arcs present here you'll get to appreciate each character in this show.
9/10
ART
The art style is rather pretty, with lots of greens, whites, and well... natural, organic colors that's pleasing to the eye. It fall short some on the textures as they do loo…
Read at the sourcejangofetts
A rank of 450 on MAL (at the time of watching this anime) was what got me interested in the first place. Suffice to say I have seen less ranked anime's far better than this. This anime for me was a huge disappointment.
So you have this lead character with the resilience of superman, with the intelligence, charisma and wealth of Ironman and needless to say looks to match all in one cheesy shoujo manga basket. The female lead no matter how she tries to catchup with him does not succeed. While initially doing a good job of racking up the tension between the characters, the failure to follow up and lack of closure leaves much to be desired. There is so little difference between the lead characters' abilities and the outcome so predictable that I could not help feel let down.
The side charact…
Read at the sourceiSheep
Let me get one thing straight. I am a huge fan of the romantic comedy category. I was introduced to it by the show "Kaichou wa Maid-sama!", one that many rom-com aficionados credit as being one of the best rom-com manga/anime you can read/watch. After my introduction to this category, I began watching other notable shows: Toradora!, Clannad, and if it may be counted, Oreimo, all of which I enjoyed wholeheartedly. But the issue with the rom-com genre is the use of generic elements, some of them out of choice and some of them because there were no other alternatives.
Getting past that issue, I often refer to Toradora! as the benchmark rom-com, the [nearly] perfect rom-com. I refer to Clannad as a tearjerker with quite possibly the strongest storyline of any anime show. Oreimo, with its cont…
Read at the sourceaindah
Special A was a promising representative of the shojo genre. Was. Up until the seventeenth episode it was fun, cute, hilarious...everything a good shojo anime should be. The characters never escape the usual shojo mold, but still they were very likable and entertaining. Up until the seventeenth episode, I rated Special A with a subjective 9, because it made me smile, it made me burst into laughter, and because it was dynamic and simply fun. And I kept thinking: I can't wait to re-watch this one.
How did it tumble down to a pathetic 2?
Episode 17 - 24 were made. Then starts the downfall of Special A. The story was concentrated on two main characters which suddenly lost their leading parts, and became "those two who you would wanna see, but won't because we have to make more episodes". Inste…
Read at the sourceMoon_Light
Not many have heard of this anime, living in the shadow of Ouran High School Host Club . Though not a harem, this one can definitely shine on it's own. I LOVE OHSHC but it's not the only one out there.
Summary: You could skip if wanted :)
Hikari was the best fighter, that title was hers for a long time until her dad introduced her to Kei, the one person she can't win against. Always placing second to him in everything from sports to academics, she vows to beat him and follows him from elementary to high school. In high school the Special A (S.A)club is formed, in it are seven members, and even there Kei is first. What Hikari doesn't know is that Kei is and has been in love with her since they were small. This anime follows the lives of S.A members as they deal with life, love and high sc…
Read at the sourceinkmouse
Special A was anything but special. It was very cliche, but it's hard to avoid that in shoujo anime. There was nothing mind-blowing about neither the music or the art.
The story is pretty basic. In all honesty, I don't really think there is such a thing as orginality, but it's up to the people writing or directing to make it seem real. We know Shakespeare based Romeo and Juliet off a book someone had already written. How many times have we heard the story of 'I must defeat him...oh, wait I just found out he loves me?' but the issue isn't whether it was original or not, it's simply that they didn't know how to move the plot efficiently.
To me, one of the most important, if not the primary, thing to a story is character. If you have believable characters, then the audience will automatical…
Read at the sourcematchaMochi
It was fun watching "Special A". Even if it isn't very original (it reminded me "Host Club" and "Fruits Basket"), some episodes are really nice. The relation between Hikari and Kei doesn't advance fast, so it can be frustrating sometimes. I especially liked the other couples in the series. So in summary, I can say it isn't the best anime I've ever seen, but it's nice to pass time.
Read at the sourceisabeladj
special a is just one of your typical anime shows but with a special twist.its nice cause the selection of characters are great.the characters have different personalities.each episode tells a different story about their lives in special a .unlike other animes,they focus oeverything not forgeting to mention this and that.
Read at the sourcegravedigger
This is my first review , so don't be to hard on me (as I will be on this anime) :):
Special A is another *of the numerous* "school" animes , so there are plenty of funny scenes , romance and other stuff that usually comes with this type of anime . And when there is romance , usually there is a "baka" person who doesn't understand the concept of love and love "signs" . Unfortunately that's the case here .
The story is about class Special A , in which only the best seven students of the school can go , and by coincidence (or not?) six of them are from rich families (Does that mean that only the rich students are the smart ones??) . And if U wonder what those extra-smart students do at school all day , the answer is :"They drink tea and eat sweets and cookies all day long" :D . And then t…
Read at the sourcenagase
the greatest friendship-anime i've ever seen!
both story and characters are very excellent. they mixed chibi arts and orginal arts very well. the story is rather common but they serve it in different way, so it wouldn't be boring...
the seiyuu (Fukuyama, etc) are very expressive.
the only thing i dislike is there are a bit much for side-characters and they usually don't have any use for the main story.
if you love romance-comedy anime and "dense girl", i bet you will love it..
Read at the sourceanimegurl09
Special A is a good story about two rivals (boy and girl) who slowly start to develop feelings for each other. There is much more to this story than that but this is the main focus. I really enjoyed watching it even though I think since the main focus is the developing relationship between Kei Takishima(male main character) and Hikari (female main character), that the show should have focused on them mostly.
I got a little discouraged seeing that they really didn't have more kei and Hikari episodes but the ones that did focus on them was great. But basically you have a story about 7 main characters attending this elite school called Special A and the bonds that grow and the challenges that they have to face.
Story 7: I give the story a 7 just because I think they didn't really focus on…
Read at the sourceshoebox
A romantic comedy that is very fun, light, and enjoyable.
Story: While there lacked a clear overall story, development in the relationships between characters linked the series as a whole. The short stories covering blocks of episodes were very entertaining, allowing for the audience to see the dynamics between and the growth of the characters. However, some of these short stories lack originality, but then again, the romantic comedy genre can easily be repetitious.
Art: Artwork for the anime is good and pretty consistent throughout. The animation is still considered good even though I believe that the art of this anime was not meant to be spectacular.
Sound: The seiyuus were well-matched with each character; they were able to bring the series to another level of humor and enjoyment.…
Read at the sourceSmithy
When one sees visuals of “Special A” and reads that the main premise of the series follows the school days of a select group of intelligent, rich students at their prestigious school that has created an exclusive elite class for them called S.A., one can't help but to think of “Ouran High School Host Club”. Add the shared element that the wealth, insane levels of talent and skill that some of the members possess is often plastered all over the screen. The fact the group in “Special A” has one commoner among them, Hikari, quickly makes one think of Haruhi from “Ouran High School Host Club” to boot.
However comparisons end roughly there as Hikari and Haruhi are quite different characters. The relationship between the “Special A” l…
Read at the sourceshadowraze
Special A is primarily a Shoujo Rom/Com that starts off slow but gets better as you go. Based on the inability of Hikari to understand Kei's true feelings for most of the plot. Normal laws of physics are generally ignored by the seeming superhuman duo of Kei and Hikari, who also are both at the top of their school academically.
The story isn't the most original story ever, relying on the interaction of the seven members of the Special A (SA from now on) class and not involving many other characters. While somewhat predictable, it still manages to be entertaining most of the time if not frustrating because of the general lack of development between the main couple's relationship. (The anime does have several minor changes in its adaptation of the manga's story)
The art style is pretty no…
Read at the sourceMaster10K
Special A is a Shoujo, Romantic, Comedy, Drama about the extravagant lives of some prestigious individuals and the romantic endeavours some of them pursue. It contains some side-splitting comedy but tends to fail when circumstances get too serious.
The story… well it sort of has one and sort of doesn’t. For the most part, the series follows the random antics of an elite group of students known as the S.A (Special A). This usually involves any random theme you can imagine, be it competitions or festivals, whilst exaggerating the wealth of these students. This brings about some truly hilarious slapstick comedy moments, which varies depending on the character delivering the joke nevertheless some jokes can become really repetitive. Then there are times it focuses on a specific m…
Read at the sourceDreameress
Delightful anime.
From the very start you are drawn in. Hikari is not the usual clumsy, slightly dumb, female protagonist. She's a warrior basically. Learning the art of wrestling from a young age, she defeated everyone. Then she meets Kei and he is the first to defeat her. Her mission in life becomes defeating Kei in every aspect of life.
Fast forward several years.
They are both in High school apart of "Special A" a class of nine students who are the top 9 in the school. Hikari, of course, is number 2 which she hates because the number one spot is held by none other than her arch nemesis/rival Kei. What she doesn't know is that Kei is in love with her. And so the story begins.
Story: The plot line is great so far. Kei keeps his feelings hidden but several things slowly reveal to Hik…
Read at the source