D-Frag!

D-Frag! is a refreshingly comedic and vibrant anime series that FUNimation picked up in 2014, adding a distinct flavor to their repertoire of entertaining anime releases. Reminiscent of the lighthearted charm and eccentric humor popular among anime enthusiasts, D-Frag! is delightfully offbeat and undeniably engaging.

This series follows the life of Kazama Kenji, a high school 'delinquent' who thinks he's got it all under control. He has his own gang, known as the Kazama Gang, and considers himself to be quite the ‘bad boy’. However, this perception drastically changes when he crosses paths with the Game Development Club (Temp), a group ostensibly dedicated to, well, game development. The show's title, D-Frag!, is derived from the term 'defrag', a process to optimize a system's functioning - a clever reference perfectly in tune with the plot's emphasis on gaming and development.

The members of this club are anything but ordinary; they're uniquely quirky and seem to have otherworldly strength for some inexplicable reason. These marvellously unconventional characters include the club's eccentric president, Shibasaki Roka, who claims her 'element' is darkness, a duo of inherently strong and peculiar girls, and a previous student council president. The members of the 'Game Development Club (Temp)' challenge and frequently outmatch Kenji's pretensions of toughness, illuminating a comedic conflict that threads the plotline. Kenji’s aspiration to maintain his farcical delinquent image while being caught amid the whimsical Game Development Club engages the viewers in a series of laugh-out-loud situations.

D-Frag! engulfs you in its humorous pull with its comedic timing, animatedly vivid art, and lively soundtrack. The show does a remarkable job in character development and visual presentation of the story, making the viewers feel a genuine connection with the characters. If high school comedy is your cup of tea, D-Frag! serves it up with an added punch of endearing absurdity that makes it irresistible.

It’s not just the character development the anime win over; the art style and presentation make it even worthier. The animation style adopted by Brain's Base, the studio behind D-Frag!, renders the show as distinctly vibrant and pleasantly colorful, which mirrors the anime’s buoyant undertone. The characters – both the main and supporting – are remarkably designed, their visual appeal harmonizing with their characteristics, enhancing the viewing experience.

The sound design of D-Frag! is also worth mentioning. The show’s opening and ending theme, as well as its background score, harmonize with the anime’s theme, further immersing the viewer into D-Frag!’s world of humor and wittiness. The voice acting does justice to each character's distinctive personality, injecting a life essence into them that adds a layer of vitality to the show.

D-Frag! stands as a testament of an anime that masterfully balances high school life, gaming aficionado excitements, and humor in a crazy, farcical melee. Comprising 12 entertaining episodes, it effectively weaves elements of comedy, slice of life and gaming, dishing out an enjoyable anime that leaves viewers entertained, amused and craving for more. The show's ability to simultaneously embrace and mock common tropes of high school anime also adds to its charm.

In conclusion, D-Frag! is an anime that is comedic, strangely compelling, and engages viewers into a joyride of laughter and hilarity. It is an underrated masterpiece that firmly holds its viewers with its unique storyline, combining a wacky sense of humor with a cast of lovable characters. With D-Frag!, FUNimation has presented a gem that appeals not only to the casual viewer but also to the ardent anime enthusiast. For anyone looking for a fun, enjoyable watch, D-Frag! comes highly recommended. It’s not one to be missed!