Apocalypse occult academy is a concept that combines elements of the paranormal and supernatural with the setting of an academic institution. This fictional school focuses on instructing students in the arts of magic, divination, and other occult practices in order to prepare them for a world on the brink of destruction. At the core of the academy's teachings is the belief that the end of the world, or some form of cataclysmic event, is imminent. Students are trained to harness their metaphysical abilities and use them to both survive and potentially prevent the apocalypse. The academy grounds are often described as mystical and foreboding, with hidden chambers, ancient rituals, and secret societies. The curriculum at the Apocalypse occult academy encompasses a variety of subjects related to the supernatural.
The curriculum at the Apocalypse occult academy encompasses a variety of subjects related to the supernatural. Students study potion-making, spell-casting, and the interpretation of ancient texts. They also learn about the history of magic, the different types of supernatural creatures, and the methods for summoning and controlling them.
Apocalypse occult academy
In the latest issue of Otaku USA magazine, we bust out a feature on the mega-popular Sword Art Online, based on the light novels by Reki Kawahara. While Kawahara is no doubt a hot topic when it comes to SAO, the anime adaptation is also something director Tomohiko Ito has come to be known for. That’s fine and dandy, but let’s not forget Ito and studio A-1 Pictures’ 2010 show, Occult Academy, which is doing a fine job of standing the test of time so far.
It’s hard to believe it’s been so long, but we posted our first impressions of the series back when the summer 2010 anime season was underway. Many of those feelings came flooding back when revisiting Occult Academy recently. It’s a sharply directed show that keeps things tight and fun throughout its 13-episode run, which is actually something Sword Art Online could have taken a cue from. While Ito is also known for his work on the 2006 adaptation of Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba’s Death Note—and is also helming the upcoming anime version of Fullmetal Alchemist creator Hiromu Arakawa’s Silver Spoon—Occult Academy stands out as a successful crack at original anime.
The series follows Maya Kumashiro, daughter of the headmaster at Waldstein Acadamy, AKA the Occult Academy, who visits the school after her father’s passing. Her initial goal when arriving to attend his funeral is to accept her inheritance of the school and then promptly shut it down. It’s clear from the beginning that she holds a hefty chunk of resentment toward the occult—a subject that completely dominated her late father’s life—so she’d just as soon be done with it for good. Things change, however, when she gets entangled in the Prophecy of Nostradamus, which predicts the end of the world, and a mysterious force that’s intent on seeing it come to pass. It came after her father, and she’s most certainly next.
The key to stopping the prophecy is, well, a Key. The apocalypse can be prevented by destroying the Nostradamus Key, and that’s precisely why Fumiaki Uchida, AKA Abe Minoru, has been sent back in time to find it. This brings him, floating nude like a descending angel, face to face with Maya, who eventually comes around and decides to team up with Fumiaki to stop the apocalypse. Thus we have all the makings of a series loaded with occult action and an all-or-nothing race against the clock.
Occult Academy manages to create a really potent blend of light horror elements, Japanese folklore, and plenty of humor that keeps things from getting too dire. At times it scratches that monster of the week itch, but never strays too far from the pressing matter of finding the Nostradamus Key by any means necessary. While Maya initially comes off as an extremely cold character, there’s plenty more to her than that, and we gradually witness the shedding of various layers as the show progresses. Likewise, Fumiaki is a really interesting character, especially with the way his current mission is woven in with flashes to the future, and references to the other Abe Minoru characters that attempted to find the Key before him. Needless to say, those missions didn’t end too well.
The end result is worth experiencing for yourself if you haven’t yet, and I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the fun here. Occult Academy is a great show to marathon over the course of a day or two and, best of all, it looks fantastic. A-1 Pictures did a bang-up job on everything from the character designs to the animation, which holds up well a few years later. There are plenty of options for checking out the series—NIS America released it on Blu-ray and it’s still streaming over at Crunchyroll—so do yourself a solid if you haven’t given Occult Academy a shot yet.
©A-1 Pictures/Aniplex, TV TOKYO
That most of the side characters are unimaginative makes the story even less relevant to the audience. The supporting cast never evolve past their gimmicks: fat dowsing student, the quirky father, occult-obsessed glasses girl, and Maya’s childhood friend. Perhaps the poor pacing and the unimportant early episode are to blame. And, while more important side characters are developed with more success, it only happens near the end of the series long after the story has begun in earnest. The hurried development makes the growth and changes of the characters a bit hard to digest, particularly with Mikaze, a relatively forgettable character, who would later get a surprisingly large role.
Combat training is a crucial part of the program, as students are expected to defend themselves against otherworldly threats. The academy's student body is typically portrayed as diverse, with a mix of talented and skilled individuals from different backgrounds. Each student possesses their own unique set of abilities, which they develop and refine during their time at the academy. Friendship and teamwork play a significant role, as students often unite to face various challenges and overcome obstacles. Throughout the narrative, a sense of impending doom looms over the academy, heightening the tension and suspense. The students' ultimate goal is to prevent the apocalypse or alter its course, using their acquired knowledge and skills. This creates a thrilling and high-stakes atmosphere, where every decision and action has consequences that may impact the fate of the world. In summary, Apocalypse occult academy is a captivating concept that combines elements of the supernatural with an academic setting. It explores themes of survival, self-discovery, and the battle between light and darkness. With its diverse characters, intense training, and impending doom, this concept offers a unique and gripping narrative..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Elements: Elemental Magic at the Apocalypse Occult Academy"
1. Sandy - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Apocalypse Occult Academy." The story felt scattered and confusing, with no clear direction or purpose. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to care about their journey. The pacing was also off, with moments of intense action followed by long periods of nothing happening. Overall, I found the entire experience underwhelming and regretted investing my time in watching it.
2. John - 1 star - "Apocalypse Occult Academy" had so much potential but failed to deliver. The plot seemed interesting at first, but it quickly became convoluted and hard to follow. The animation was subpar, with awkward character designs and choppy movements. The dialogue was riddled with clichés and lacked any substance. I couldn't connect with the characters and found their motivations shallow. The series felt like a waste of time and left me feeling frustrated and unsatisfied.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Apocalypse Occult Academy," but it didn't live up to its promise. The story had too many supernatural elements thrown together without proper explanation, leaving me confused and disconnected from the plot. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real growth or development. The animation quality was mediocre, and the action scenes were lacking in excitement. Overall, I found the series to be a disorganized and forgettable experience.