Winter 2010 First Impressions – Chu-Bra!

So uh, don’t mind the different theme you see. This is probably a short-term thing. Rabbit Poets is merely going through a identity crisis.

Speaking of identity crises (what a smooth lead-in!), let me tell you about this show called Chu-Bra. It’s a mixed-up show that seems to be conflicted as to whether it wants to be a heartwarming shoujo show about girls growing up, overcoming rumors and making friends, or TnA smorgasboard for ronery teenage boys.

To be honest, Chu-Bra works better as a shoujo coming-of-age story than an ecchi fanservice-fest. Oh sure, there’s all sorts of ridiculous camera angles and ridiculous fanservice-friendly situations. The underboob, the imagination nudes, the locker room hidden camera, the clothed boob grope, the naked bob grope, the underskirt keitai shot, the skirt flip, the peeking garter strap. Yeah, it’s all there. But none of it is particularly titillating. Whether that’s just me, I don’t know. The animation was meh, and the character designs aren’t particularly attractive, but all the fanservice seemed to lack that naughty je ne sais quoi that ecchi fanservice shows typically have.

The story itself isn’t as ridiculous as you might think though. Nayu Hayama is an "underwear monitor" or basically an underwear product tester (ok, that part is ridiculous), who finds herself in middle school ostracized and the victim of scandalous rumors, because she "accidentally" shows off her black laced panties in an ill-timed fall. But by the end of the episode, she makes two new friends, as they embark on finding out more about their bodies and the perils of wearing ill-fitted underwear… Ok, now that I typed it out, yeah it does sound ridiculous. But the heart and the structure behind it is pretty standard.

1. Nice lead girl
2. Victim of rumors
3. Nosy busybodies learn the source of rumors was just a big misunderstanding
4. Nice lead girl becomes friends with busybodies
5. Nice lead girl eventually makes up and becomes friends with the evil rumor spreading girls (probably)
6. Underpants gnomes episode
7. ???
8. PROFIT!

But like I mentioned earlier, Chu-Bra suffers from an identity crisis, and I can’t tell who it’s for. Girls might appreciate (or at least empathize with) the story, but be turned off by the ridiculous fanservice. Guys might appreciate the fanservice (if they’re desperate), but be bored to tears by the story. I was hoping Chu-Bra would be a guilty pleasure, but that’s not happening. As it is, I can’t recommend this show to anyone, except maybe underwear otakus.