Short but sweet! Hakuouki Otogisoushi is definitely the anime to watch if you are the type who enjoys viewing a show that features original characters but with a new plot line. Hakuouki Otogisoushi includes the main characters from the widely popular series Hakuouki, which ran for 3 seasons; the original story centres around the female heroine Chizuru Yukimura who travels to Kyoto in hope of locating her father. While looking for her father, she witnesses a man being slaughtered ruthlessly by crazed group of men in blue and white jackets. In the midst of the onslaught, one of the mad men spies her watching and in a frenzy, attempts to end her life. However, her life is spared by the Shinsengumi vice-commander Toshizo Hijikata, who then takes her into custody for interrogation. Once her intentions for being in Kyoto are made known, the Shinsengumi agree to provide her with lodging and help her find her father. As the series progresses, we see Chizuru steadily transform into a member of the Shinsengumi and learn the truth about her past and the shady series of experiments her father has been conducting. The reason behind the acts of violence, caused by the deranged men in blue and white (who are actually shinsengumi members) the night Chizuru arrived in Kyoto, is also brought to light. On the other hand, Hakuouki Otogisoushi solely focuses on the funny, albeit silly interactions that Chizuru experiences with the Shinsengumi members and the characters outside of the Shinsengumi. In episode 2, Hijikata and the other members of the Shinsengumi seem to have a very serious meeting over... who should be the one to flip the omelet over. Toshizo, being the courageous vice-commander he is, decides to take this burden upon himself, but...umm...fails to live up to his role (he breaks the omelet in half).

The last segment of the episode features Yamazaki's attempt to obey Hijikata's order to rest (which is hilarious). He first begins by mumbling "rest" over and over again, receiving a funny look from Okita as a result, then goes to Hajime for advice on how to rest. Hajime, being the strong serious type, offers him a rather unique explanation of what rest is and suggests to him to practice sword swings?...

If you are looking for something less story driven and light hearted, I would definitely recommend this.

Hakuouki Otogisoushi is a show worth watching.

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Hakuouki Otogisoushi - E.02

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