The new anime season just got underway, and as usual I’m rolling up my sleeves and jumping in, so I can find out what new anime shows are worth your time. As I wrote in my overview of the summer 2020 anime season, the influence of Covid-19 has played havoc with anime scheduling, meaning that we’ve got a lot of delayed shows all landing in our laps this season. One I started watching yesterday is Dokyuu Hentai HxEros (the final word pronounced “Egzeros” in Japanese), a parody of a sentai fighting team anime in which the characters do battle with invading monsters who steal human libido using the power of “H-energy.”
Five years ago, mysterious monsters called Kiseishuu — a pun on parasitic worms that live inside the bodies of humans, but altered to basically mean Censor Bug — appeared, using strange powers to sap the “H-energy” from humans. This transforms the victims into drones who think about nothing but studying for university entrance exams and work, with no interest in sex. But a hero named Retto has come to defend humanity using a special device called the XERO Gear, which lets him focus his youthful H-energy. The reason he’s fighting is that he and his childhood friend Kirara had an encounter with a Censor Bug five years ago, an experience that made Kirara become repressed about sex and relationships and robbing Retto of his first love.
By the end of episode 1, the heroes are assembled, ready to join forces and fight the Censor Bugs for the sake of humanity’s sexuality. They are
- Exe Red, Retto, who began the fight against the Censor Bugs by himself. His XERO Gear is a wristwatch that allows him to focus his H-energy.
- Exe Yellow, Retto’s childhood friend Kirara, who has reconsidered her distrust of men and sex as she re-connects with Retto. Her XERO Gear is a bracelet on her wrist.
- Exe Pink, Momoka, a third-year high school student from who speaks Osaka-ben and has a complex about her flat chest. Her XERO Gear is a garter ring around her thigh.
- Exe Blue, Sora, whose hobby is drawing perverted comics. A gentle girl who’s clumsy and liable to do ecchi things accidentally, her XERO Gear is a pendant.
- Exe White, Maihime, a rich girl who’s upset that she doesn’t have a unique special ability, unlike the other members. Her XERO Gear is a choker around her neck.
The new team is called Dokyu Hentai HxEros, or D-Class Formation HxEros. The joke is that they’re a 編隊 hentai, meaning military formation or squad, but of course, will be doing 変態 hentai or sexually perverted things.
The History of Sentai Series…and Ecchi Sentai Parodies
The Super Sentai series, which most viewers will know as Power Rangers, was an innovation invented by Kamen Rider creator Shotaro Ishinomori aimed at young boys in which a team of (usually five) heroes will do battle with the monster of the week, usually combining to pilot a giant robot at the end of the episode. The series changes every year in January, so Bandai can have a fresh line of new toys in stores to sell, and the year a child was born in determines what sentai series generation he’ll feel a connection to. My son came of age during the Megaranger, Gingaman, and Go Go Five! era, and naturally I watched all episodes along with him. The wider genre of TV shows that involve heroes and explosions (including Kamen Rider and Ultraman) is known as tokusatsu (“special effects”).
For some reason, ecchi parodies of sentai type stories are common, and we’ve published several games which explore heroes who do battle as part of a fighting team. One such game is Trample on Schatten!!, a great title in which you fight as a hero alongside cute female warriors, and after the battle is done you need to have sex with them to keep your powers from getting out of control. Another fun game was Jewel Knight Crusaders, in which the male MC finds himself at the center of a harem of magical girls who need to have sex with him in order to restore their powers after every battle. How convenient!
Looking to pick up some great uncensored visual novels? JAST USA is having their Summer Sale, and titles like Trample on Schatten!! are all on sale through July 10! Browse all the sale games here.
Should You Watch Dokyuu Hentai HxEros?
I enjoyed the first episode, and will certainly be keeping up with it. Judging by the depth of the fandom for the manga, I believe we might be pleasantly surprised by the story, and might even end up with the first popular seasonal waifus. Despite the story being about heroes using the power of libido to do battle with monsters, I have the feeling this won’t really be a fanservice-heavy series, as Val x Love or Hensuki were. It seems to want to be a serious sentai anime, but with some sexy undertones, and also provide commentary on the modern state of Japan, a country where most young people have become “herbivores” with very low interest in sex. Anyway, I’ll keep watching!
What new series are you going to be keeping up within the new anime season? Tell us below or on Twitter!
We just love getting in new stock of anime magazines, which are filled with high-quality illustrations and other visuals for fans to enjoy, as well as amazing anime posters for our walls. Browse our new stock of anime magazines for the month here!
