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AKA: 快感フレーズ, Sensual Phrase
Genre: Pretty-boy musical drama
Length: Television series, 44 episodes, 23 minutes each
Distributor: Currently unlicensed in North America
Content Rating: PG (mild violence, language)
Related Series: N/A
Also Recommended: Gravitation, Gundam Wing, Knight Hunters: Weiss Kreuz
Notes: Based on a manga by Shinjo Mayu, this series was used as a vehicle for the J-Rock band /\ucifer.

Kaikan Phrase


Kaikan Phrase is about the making of a rock band, /\ucifer, from five angsty bishounen guys (Sakuya, Yukifumi, Atsuro, Towa, and Santa), and the trials and tribulations of forming a group, finding gigs to play, and generally making music for girls to listen to.

Well, at least that's what I heard from everyone else.


When I finished watching the episode I screened of Kaikan Phrase at TASS, I kept thinking, so this is what they made for those fangirls who want to see some really fruity rock stars frolic around in a music studio and jam. I don't know how many times I heard the band members say how they were "in love" with Sakuya's voice, but they way they said it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It was like being in music theater all over again - er, just kidding.

Seriously, it says everything that the bassist, Towa, dresses in drag twenty-four-seven (think of Alen Schezar as a drag queen bass player and you get the general idea), and, well, Santa. Santa! (Ho ho ho!) Mind you, the characters weren't badly portrayed, they were all just really, really gay. This would've been better shounen ai than Kizuna, if you catch my drift.

The plot? What plot? It's all just an excuse to sell music. Namely, the music done by these five seiyuu as the singing group Lucifer. It's like having an anime version of Making The Band. And I didn't watch that show either. Mind you, the music ain't half bad (if you don't mind rather bubblegummy J-pop), but music isn't the only reason I watch anime. Though it seems to be the only reason to watch this one. It doesn't help that the dialogue seems to be nothing but filler between the music segments.

I guess if you're one of those fangirls who prefer cel-boys to real boys, this 44-episode series of music videos is for you. Wait, those weren't music videos?

Just go watch Gravitation instead - sure, it's in the same vein (gay *techno* band instead of gay Visual Kei band), but it has better music, better characters, better *everything*!

Plotless, mindless bishounen fluff that serves little purpose but to sell music CDs.Carlos Ross

Recommended Audience: Precisely 14 to 25 year old female anime fans who love bishounen and J-pop. Everyone else should watch something else, as it's not for your demographic at all! Seriously speaking, there was one incidence of fisticuffs, and some harsh language, but nothing major.

Version(s) Viewed: digital source
Review Status: Partial (2/44)
Kaikan Phrase © 1999 Mayu Shinjo / Shogakukan / TV Tokyo
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