Baka and Test

Baka and Test

Cover of the Baka to Tesuto to Shōkanjū volume 1 as published by Enterbrain
バカとテストと召喚獣
Genre Romantic comedy
Fantasy
School life
Slice of life
Light novel
Written by Kenji Inoue
Illustrated by Yui Haga
Published by Enterbrain
Demographic Male
Imprint Famitsu Bunko
Original run January 29, 2007 – November 30, 2013
Volumes 12 + 6 special volumes
Manga
Written by Mosuke Mattaku
Published by Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Shōnen Ace
Original run April 25, 2009 – ongoing
Volumes 12[1]
Manga
バカとテストと召喚獣 SPINOUT! それが僕らの日常。
Written by namo
Published by Enterbrain
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Famitsu Comic Clear
Original run October 30, 2009 – August 12, 2012
Volumes 6
Anime television series
Directed by Shin Ōnuma
Studio Silver Link
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo
English network
AXN (Exclusive programming, Philippines feed)
Original run January 7, 2010 – March 31, 2010
Episodes 13
Original video animation
Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: Matsuri
Directed by Shin Ōnuma
Studio Silver Link
Licensed by
Released February 23, 2011 – March 23, 2011
Episodes 2
Anime television series
Baka to Test to Shōkanjū: Ni!
Directed by Shin Ōnuma
Studio Silver Link
Licensed by
Network TV Tokyo
English network
Original run July 8, 2011 – September 30, 2011
Episodes 13
Game
Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Portable
Developer Kadokawa Games
Genre Board/Adventure
Platform PlayStation Portable
Released December 13, 2012

Baka and Test (Japanese: バカとテストと召喚獣 Hepburn: Baka to Tesuto to Shōkanjū, lit. Idiots, Tests, and Summoned Beasts) also known as Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts is a Japanese light novel series created by Kenji Inoue and illustrations by Yui Haga. The series spans a total of 17 volumes, which were published between January 29, 2007, and November 30, 2013, by Enterbrain under their Famitsu Bunko imprint.[2] A manga adaptation by Mosuke Mattaku started serialization in the manga magazine Shōnen Ace on April 25, 2009. Another manga adaptation started serialization in the male oriented web comic magazine Famitsu Comic Clear on October 30, 2009. An anime adaptation by Media Factory was announced the same month. A promotional trailer was released for streaming in August 2009.[3] An anime series adaption began airing on January 7, 2010. Funimation has licensed the anime for release in the United States under the title Baka and Test – Summon the Beasts.[4] A board game/adventure game for PlayStation Portable titled Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Portable was released in December 13, 2012.[5][6]

Plot

The story centers around a boy named Akihisa Yoshii, the titular baka (idiot) of the story. He attends Fumizuki Academy in Japan, a school where the staff rigidly divides the students based on the results of their academic scores. At the start of the school, students are academically sorted by entrance exam test grades. The higher the grades, the higher the class, and the better the benefits. In this case, Class A is filled with the highest-scoring students; therefore, their classroom is filled with many prestigious items (air conditioners, fancy seats, laptops, a free snack bar, etc.), while the state of Class F is the complete opposite of that, representing the "bottom of the barrel" amenities, such as mats and low wooden tables.The story also loosely revolves around the love triangle consisting of Mizuki Himeji (an intelligent girl who was forced into Class F just because of a fever), Minami Shimada (a transfer student from Germany who struggles with kanji very much), and Akihisa, their crush.

Fumizuki Academy has a special system, whereby all the students are able to call forth Summoned Beings (Shōkanjū, or "Avatars" in the official English translation[4]). These Beings are used for battles between classes with the goal of capturing (or retaining) the best classroom facilities. Since Class A is filled with prodigies, they all have strong Summoned Beings, while Class F has drastically weak ones in comparison. A teacher must authorize/supervise each battle, and the health and strength of each student's Summoned Being is based on their last test score in that teacher's subject (i.e. Math, History, etc.). The Beings lose points when struck by an opponent, and should their point count reach zero, the being and student are disqualified, and must take supplementary lessons with the strict remedial teacher, Soichi Nishimura (nicknamed "Iron Man"). However, if the student can leave the battle before reaching zero, these points can be replenished by taking a supplemental exam. The student's Being may then return to the battle.

On the day of the placement test, Mizuki suffers from a fever during the test and is unable to complete it, hence her reining in a score of zero. As a result, she is pigeonholed into Class F together with Akihisa. Akihisa, who dreams of the day when the academy would no longer be divided by grades, pitches an idea to his class to rule over the higher-level classes by conducting a Summoner War for both Mizuki's sake and to get more privileges. Aside from Mizuki (who happens to be the second-ranked student in Year 2), there is also the class representative Yūji Sakamoto, the bishōnen Hideyoshi Kinoshita, the perverted Kouta Tsuchiya (AKA Ninja pervert,Muttsurīni), and Minami. (Akihisa claims she is his worst enemy, but she actually has a crush on him and is reluctant to show it). Throughout the year, Class F attempt several Summoner Wars against higher-ranked classes.

Media

Light novels

Anime

A 13-episode anime adaptation produced by the animation studio Silver Link and directed by Shin Ōnuma[7] aired in Japan between January 7 and March 31, 2010. On March 4, 2010, Funimation Entertainment announced that it had acquired the anime and streamed simulcast subtitled episodes days after they aired in Japan under the title Baka and Test – Summon the Beasts. Two OVA episodes under the title Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu: Matsuri.[8] were released in two BD/DVD volumes: the first on February 23, 2011 and the second on March 30, 2011. Both OVA come with 2–3 different ending sequences. A second anime season under the title Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni! began airing in Japan in July 2011. In November 29, 2011, Animax Asia acquire the anime for its first season premiere. In May 6, 2012, Animax Asia re-aired the anime as part of Animax Asia's Shounen Sunday. In July 12, 2012, AXN Asia, the sister channel of Animax Asia began to air its first season in the Philippines as its exclusive programming. As of July 25, 2012, Animax Asia have announced that they will air Season 2 on August 16, 2012 under the title Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts 2 as well as the OVA that has announced will air on September 4 & 5, 2012.

The first anime season had three pieces of theme music: one opening theme and two ending themes. The opening theme is "Perfect-area Complete!" by Natsuko Aso, composed by Kenichi Maeyamada. The first ending theme is "Baka Go Home" by Milktub and BakaTest All Stars. The second ending theme is "Hare Tokidoki Egao" by Hitomi Harada, Kaori Mizuhashi, Emiri Katou and Tomomi Isomura. The Matsuri OVAs had one opening theme and one ending theme. The opening theme is "Ren'ai Kōjō Committee" (恋愛向上committee) by Natsuko Aso, and the ending theme is "Getsuyō wa Kirai" (月曜はキライ) by Milktub. The second anime season has one opening theme and one ending theme. The opening theme is "Kimi+Nazo+Watashi de Jump!!" (君+謎+私でJUMP!!) by Larval Stage Planning, made up of I've Sound singers Airi Kirishima, Nami Maisaki, and Rin Asami. The ending theme is "Eureka Baby" (エウレカベイビー) by Natsuko Aso. Funimation has also licensed the second season and the Matsuri OVAs, as with the first, they will simulcast the second series, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release this year.[9]

The original series made its American television debut on August 1, 2011, on the Funimation Channel[10] and the second series, on February 12, 2013.[11]

Video game

A PlayStation Portable video game named Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Portable was released on December 13, 2012 in regular and limited edition box set. The game is featured as a board/adventure game genre along with the following: Summoned Beast Battles, Recovery Tests, Roulette, Equipment Mass, Grade Points and Cards as Power-Ups.

The story of the game is that the Principal of Fumizuki Academy, Tōdo Kaworu has implemented a new summoning system in which students put their luck and skills to the test through board gaming in real time. Thus, creating an event that everyone will interact. If one person wins within three stages without a loss of one, he/she will get to choose the prize of their own desire. Some others don't deserve a prize given by the Principal. If the Principal rejects the prize of your desire, she'll have to find a way.

There are 9 characters to choose from and that is Akihisa, Mizuki, Minami, Yūji, Hideyoshi, Kōta, Shōko, Yūko and Miharu with individual storylines of their own. As a new player, you only get to choose 4 of 9 characters by default and that is Akihisa, Yūji, Hideyoshi and Kōta. To unlock the other 5 characters, you have to play the 4 characters in story mode.

References

  1. ↑ バカとテストと召喚獣 (10) (カドカワコミックス・エース) (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Final Baka & Test Novel Slated for November 30". Anime News Network. November 27, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Anime Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. August 14, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Baka and Test – The Official Anime Website from Funimation". Funimation. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Baka to Test Portable PSP Game Planned for 2012". Anime News Network. January 18, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ 家庭用ゲーム開発実績 [Home Game Development Record] (in Japanese). Vridge. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Baka to Test to Shōkanjū Light Novels to Be Animated (Updated)". Anime News Network. April 11, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Baka and Test Gets New OVA Before 2nd TV Season". Anime News Network. August 23, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Funimation Adds Deadman Wonderland, Steins;Gate and More". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ Funimation Channel (July 6, 2011). "FUNimation Channel – Weekend Roudup (7/1 – 7/3) The Uber Late Edition". Funimation Entertainment. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Funimation Week 7 of 2013". Funimation Entertainment. Retrieved February 9, 2013.

External links