Shomin Sample: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Shomin Sample: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Shomin Sample is a fantasy-comedy series with a unique spin on some of the genre tropes common with anime series. Created by Takafumi Nanatsuki, Shomin Sample blends together fantasy elements for an offbeat series. Produced by Eriko Aoki, Hayato Kaneko, Hideki Kasai, Hitoshi Kawamura, Satoshi Fukao, Shingo Yokota, Shunsuke Matsumura, Yukihiro Ito, and Yukio Shigenari, Shomin Sample will appeal to fans of quirky anime with a comedic core.

Kimito Kagurazaka (Atsushi Tamaru) is a teenage boy who finds himself in unexpected trouble when he gets kidnapped by a group of men bringing him to the presence of the Seikain Girls School leaders. On arrival, Kimito is given a questionnaire and asked about his profound love of muscular men. Kimito is surprised as he is a straight male and there was some misinformation from his kidnappers. When questioned further, the leaders of the school inform him he must be a gay man who loves muscle or he will be banished to an unknown terrain he will never return from because the school can’t ever be discovered by straight men who would spoil the school.

Determined to not become banished to an otherworld, Kimito lies and pretends to be gay in order to survive the school – and he finds himself getting more than he bargained for when he is surrounded by numerous beautiful babes. Now the “Shomin Sample” to all of the girls, Kimito must keep up his acting chops to evade getting in to trouble with the school leaders. Can Kimito survive the school rules and hide his posters of gorgeous girls before getting caught?

Leading the series, Kimito is a interesting central lead. On the one hand, Kimito tries to hide the fact he is straight as he deals with the issues caused by the all-girl school (with him as their “sample” boy). A somewhat offbeat lead, Kimito is a compelling protagonist with some interesting layers and that is something that helps the story. The supporting cast also contributes to the production and to the success of the character dynamics.

The animation is one of the best components of the production. The animation is produced by SILVER LINK. (Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon, Baka and Test - Summon the Beasts) and features art direction by Hirotsugu Kakoi (Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, The Betrayal Knows My Name). The chief animation direction is by Hideki Furukawa (Cat Planet Cuties, Non Non Biyori Repeat), Kazuya Hirata (BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., A Sister's All You Need), and Takao Sano (The Honor Student at Magic High School, Fairy Tail). The animators on the production help to bring the series a compelling aesthetic which fits the material well. There is certainly a nice visual component to the production.

The character designs by Takao Sano (The Honor Student at Magic High School, Restaurant to Another World) do a solid job of adapting the original character designs by Gekka Urū. Sano understands the essential elements to a good character design and helps these characters to stand out as visually interesting and compelling animated characters. The effort certainly helps the production.

The cinematography by Takashi Yanagida (Zombie Land Saga, Dusk maiden of Amnesia) is another arena providing the series with an extra quotient of success. The visual elements of the production highlight a cinematographic approach with an eye for color and detail. This is a colorful and bright looking series – something that enhances the overall tone.

The original score composed by Hiromi Mizutani (Non Non Biyori, Tanaka-kun is Always Listless) is a enjoyable element of the release. The music adds a sense of charm to the production and provides something special to the series style and tone. Composer Mizutani provides a good dose of whimsy.

Written by Kento Shimoyama (Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon, Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World), Shomin Sample might not be a top-tier series but it has a fun concept and that is the primary thing most audiences will want from the series. The characters and their dynamics are key to the success. Shimoyama explores the central protagonist and his relationship with the other girls at Seikain Girls School in a quirky and creative way.

Directed by Masato Jinbo (Restaurant to Another World, Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal), Shomin Sample is a series aimed at fans of comedy anime series. The production highlights the visual style of its director and Jinbo makes the comedy more compelling. The fantasy element is also well displayed by Jinbo’s direction (giving the series a compelling edge). The directing has a nice sense of rhythm.

Shomin Sample: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation, Shomin Sample is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release provides audiences with a strong picture-quality presentation. The color on the release looks excellent and is capable of showcasing the beautiful animation. The animation certainly shines with bright and vivid appearance. The line art and detail is impressive on the release as well. A solid effort from Funimation.

Shomin Sample: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes two lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). The lossless, high-resolution audio on the release helps to enhance the experience. The English dub offers a surround sound mix with more emphasis on the music and sound effects. The soundstaging is good and will please fans.

Shomin Sample: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1:

Episode 5 Audio Commentary

Disc 2:

Shomin Shorts –

1. Kujo's Sadistic Counseling Center, Animated Edition (HD, 3:36)
2. Hey, How Come These Socks Are So Loose? (HD, 4:08)
3. Let Us Have an Eating Contest, Within Reason (HD, 4:33)
4. Do You Know About Commoner Magic? (HD, 4:43)
5. I Am Interested in "Gyudo-n'b-owls" (HD, 4:52)
6. Ichizu Recipe, Commoner Club Version (HD, 2:52)

Textless Opening Song "Ichizu Recipe" (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song "Twilight ni kienaide" Ver. 1 (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song "Twilight ni kienaide" Ver. 2 (HD, 1:33)

Trailers (HD, 4:25)

Shomin Sample: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shomin Sample is a goofy and quirky anime exploring some common anime tropes but in a unique and compelling way. The animation is one of the strong points of the series and the production certainly shines more as a result. The Blu-ray release features a strong video and audio presentation. The release includes a robust selection of bonus features. Fans will be thrilled to pick up the set and add it to their anime collection. Recommended.