Visual Novel Adaptation by Production I.G.
Simulcast available from Funimation

Premise: In the near future, nonplussed lackey Kaito Yashio and adorable nerd Akiho Senomiya are trying to build a giant robot for their high school robotics club. Somehow, as we are told, they will save the world.

Marlin’s Verdict: Boy, I hope Kaito becomes more likable.

Steins;Gate was my number two favorite show of the past year, and that was only number two because it had to go up against Nichijou. Needless to say, my hype for Robotics;Notes in the hope that it would continue in the major improvements Steins;Gate had over the first semicolon show Chaos;Head was great. So far, I feel my faith has been justified.

The opening was great, I love how the lines the high schoolers were saying sounded so serious, but were said with a slight hesitance that showed their inexperience, and in a way the ridiculousness of a bunch of high schoolers making a giant robot. While the plot is hinting at some kind of story greater than just building a giant robot, I’m content at the moment just to learn the story of how they are going to manage to put the thing together.

I’m sort of split on the characters, though. As far as we’ve seen, my impressions of the hero as opposed to the heroine are as different as night and day. Akiho is absolutely adorable, and her energy really carries this episode. I have  a soft spot for hopelessly optimistic characters and she really takes the cake. On the other hand, Kaito is a very boring protagonist. I really don’t like how indifferent he is about the proceedings and his almost snobbishness at his position in a video game really make him unlikeable. I’m hoping Akiho’s energy gets to the guy and we see some positive character development, otherwise I’m going to just keep wondering why he’s even getting so much focus in the first place.

Lifesong’s Verdict: Charming

This first episode was a bit of a slow burn, but it was enjoyable. The heroine is the star here, and she manages to take something that probably wouldn’t be very interesting without her, and make it pretty fun to watch. Really not too much happens in this first episode. We are introduced to our cast in a somewhat typical way, but the futuristic setting does a lot to give it a fresh feel, and did I mention the heroine? She is a cutie. This is one I will not allow myself to miss

Jel’s Verdict: The Safe Bet

Of all the things I’ve watched this season, I think Robotics;Notes may have the broadest appeal. The premise of saving the Robotics club is inoffensive and creates a pretty cool near-future setting that anyone could get behind. I mean let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Giant Fighting Robots? We also have our heroine who will no doubt be tremendously popular. She’s super cute without laying on the moe too thick, and actually pretty funny. I love how she randomly pulls out a pair of glasses for her little aside lines. So even though it might not be the riskiest concept, Robotic’s;Notes certainly has plenty to work with and I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy it as much as I did.

Iro’s Verdict: Take Note

Peppy heroine, bored guy, high school club antics, giant robots – all the typical anime trappings. The execution is solid, so chances are you won’t hate this.

Gee’s Verdict: Inspiring

As a guy who’s experienced a passion for robots and being the president of a club, Robotics;Notes resonated with me in quite a few ways. Seeing Akiho’s passion for her club and dreams is inspiring and reminds me a lot of myself. She definitely carries the show and her enthusiasm is inspiring. So far, the show itself has been on the slow side, but it’s charming and I never found myself being bored while watching. However, like Marlin, I’m not a huge fan of Kaito. Apathetic characters have always been a pet peeve of mine and I hope he develops as a character or else I’ll just wonder why he’s even there in the first place. Regardless, I definitely plan to continue watching this and am looking forward to seeing the club and its members grow and develop. Because I want to believe in Gunvarrel.

Dragonzigg’s Verdict: By the Numbers

I am really, horribly sick of apathetic male high school protagonists. Characters are not made of a void of personality, but there’s nothing interesting, likeable or worthy of note about Kaito here – he’s a boring, slightly jerkish cipher. Akiho on the other hand, plays into the genki girl cliché but nevertheless remains a bundle of energy and inspiration, almost single handedly raising this episode to watchable status.

The show is also a little confusing about it’s basic premise, and I would have preferred a little more worldbuilding. We’re clearly in the near future, and robots exist, but at the same time it’s not that far ahead of the current day, and Gunvarrel still appears to be firmly in the realms of science-fiction  Are the club building a full size functional Gunvarrel? Or is it just a model? As it is the setting strays dangerously close to generic high school drama, and that’s not good. This first episode was profoundly ordinary, and that isn’t an encouraging sign at all.