What happens when you take Yugioh, Cardfight Vanguard, Madoka Magica and a pinch of Rozen Maiden. You get Selector Wixoss a card game anime that anime takes all the cliches and elements from the card and manages to flip them upside down.
WIXOSS is a card game that’s popular with teenagers. Supposedly there exist “LRIG Cards,” female character cards with wills of their own. Special girls can hear the voices of the LRIGs, and those who possess them are called “Selectors.”
These Selectors have card battles in a dimension that other humans cannot access.
The story follows Ruko Kominato who is the latest girl to discover an LRIG card. She names the eric Tama, and without any further explanation is thrown into her life as a Selector where she now must take part in a game where the other girls are battling for glory where if they gain a set number of matches they wish will come true. However, there is a cruel catch if the Selector loses three times, not only their wish, will be denied but their wishes will turn into a curse that would destroy your life forever.
Selector Wixoss doesn’t care whatever you understand the game or not as it is just a series that follows a select number of girls who want to aim to become an eternal girl. This aspect alone really makes Wixoss stand out separates itself from other card game anime that were all about the card themselves rather than characterisation.
I did eventually understand the game rules and mechanics but that wasn’t the real reason why I liked this show. The reason why I like this show was due to its very competent writing, thematic exploration and characterization. Due to it separating itself from other card game, it allowed itself to have more options in terms of storytelling. One of the main things that Selector Wixoss did was deconstruct the whole card game anime genre. Many of the elements that were in the genre are flipped around to great effect.
The psychological elements were fantastically executed. Throughout the 24 episodes run we see the characters suffer both mentally and psychically to a point whereby by the end of the series they become totally different people. On top of that, the plot twists were executed as it managed to surprise the viewer in the most unique and clever ways. The moment when the series said that people who become the eternal girl.
Naturally, Selector Wixoss isn’t perfect as it strongly ties into the good but inferior second season. The plot, for the most part, wasn’t as intriguing compared to the previous season. Thanks to it taking a more clichéd approach, it became way too convoluted for its own good and finally, it had an introduction to a couple of plot holes. Season 2 isn’t all inferior though as it has a lot of good things in it. For one Spread Wixoss did a great job at giving characters arcs closure as each character does have a satisfyingly closer even if it’s a bittersweet one.
The psychology aspect has been cranked up to 10 as it allows for more engaging dialogue between characters. The best thing about Selector Spread Wixoss is more character-driven to a point that surpasses the first season in that aspect. Even if the plot, for the most part, wasn’t as intriguing as the first season, the character-driven approach of Spread more than not makes up for it and because of this Spread Wixoss is a good but slightly inferior squeal.
The characters is where makes Selector Wixoss shines.
They are all an interesting bunch of characters that have the purpose of in, the plot one way or another.
Our main female lead Ruuko is a very interesting and likeable character that I enjoyed from beginning to end. She starts off as a lonely individual who prefers to not have any friends but as the series progresses, she starts to open up by making new friends thanks to Wixoss. Not only that but the time you get to Spread WIXOSS she becomes a skilled and badass Wixoss player
The one thing that I really liked about Ruuko is that she was written as a character first rather than a typical card game lead who gets in the game. What I mean by this is that compared to most card game protagonists she gets better at the game because of pure skill and knowledge instead of plot reasons.
My favourite character in Selector Wixoss is without the question Yuzuki. I really liked her passionate and fiery personality whenever she’s on-screen. I also liked her incestal romance subplot with her brother. Yes, I actually liked an incestal subplot for once.
If you have been following me since the beginning, you know that I hate incestal relationships in anime due to it being forced, creepy and poorly executed.
Selector Wixoss is the expectation of this because not only it was written well, but it managed to showcase the harsh reality of an incestual relationship. Throughout infected Wixoss, we get strong commentary about insect and how people who love their siblings romantically are treated like scum.
Yuzuki loving her brother may come off as dirty but she has a strong and justifiable reason behind it.
On top of her strong subplot, she’s just a fun and likeable person and that is why she’s my favorite chararter in Wixoss.
Now we get to the weakest character in the show Uemura. She’s no means a bad chararter in fact, she is a good character in her own right The problem with Uemura is how the plot portrays her where she is literally a plot device 50% of the time as she seemed to set up a lot the show’s darker elements right in our faces. Not only that but her wish of making new friends ended up being pretty dumb in the long run as she made friends with Ruuko and Yuzuki and she could have easily left her cards as well as her Eric at home but no the show decides to sadly the turn the idiot switch on her as she takes her Eric with her everywhere she goes. To her credit, she does become a better character as the series goes, especially when you get to season 2 where she’s a great companion and friend to Ruko as she helps her discover the true nature behind Selector Battles.
Now we get to the most entertaining as well the most complex character of the show Akira. At first glance, she appears to be your average popular idol but as the series progresses you will start noticing how nicely layered this character is. She started off a successful model that’s always the centre of attention of the staff in her modelling agency. However, as soon as Iona stole Akira’s attention in the modelling scene, she falls into the darkness where she develops an inferiority complex towards Iona. Her motivations may come off a contrived at first, but once you get to know her you will begin to sympathise with Akira a lot. ]
This is the reason why I love Akira so much. On top of being an entertaining sadistic character who is fun to watch, she’s also a brilliant character study about a beautiful model that falls into darkness because of jealousy and because of this, she is my second favourite character in the show.
Finally, we have Iona who is an individual who is surrounded by layers of mystery. Like with other characters she’s a fascinating character that I liked from start to finish, however, I cannot go into reasons why she is fascinating without going into heavy spoilers for both seasons and I don’t want to do that.
The side characters are pretty good for what they are thinking they could have been more memorable. For example, in one episode the show introduces Chiyori, who had an energetic personality yet, she didn’t get to do much in the plot. She only appears about one time in season 1 facing Yuzku in a Selector battle. In season 2 she suddenly becomes one of the more important characters. I have no issue with Chiyori, in fact, I like her as much as Ruuko but she could have been introduced a lot better. The first season should have one episode, probably introducing her similar to Akari and Uemura. Yes, the show did eventually give her a backstory that explained her motivation but it happened so late in the series than again season 2 writing-wise isn’t as strong as season 1 thanks to that slow beginning.
J.C Staff is known for making the show as beautiful and stylish as possible and Selector Wixoss, for the most part, is no different. The character’s designs were clean, consistent and well-drawn as they all fit into the dark but beautiful urban setting to the series. The background scenery is filled with detail and atmosphere. I’m not joking when I say that this show scenery is background worthy.
The animation is smooth, consistent and vibrant.
Selector Wixoss visuals are only enchanted by the incredible soundtrack.
The soundtrack features a lot of electronic, spooky music that gives the series atmosphere and tension.
This is thanks to the talented Maiko Iuchi the same person who did the soundtrack for Raildex.
The first opening theme “killy killy JOKER” by Kanon Wakeshima is a pretty catchy opening theme that is fun to listen.
The second opening theme, on the other hand, world’s end, girl’s rondo by Kanon Wakeshima, on the other hand, is not that memorable despite decently fitting the opening itself.
I don’t have much to say about the two ending themes other than its alright. They are solid songs on their own but the ending visuals for both of them were more on the boring side for me.
I haven’t seen the show in its original Japanese audio but I heard a few clips of it when it was and I thought the Seyiuus did a good job with the roles that they were given. Which leads me to Funimation English Dub and its fanastic. Voice actors fit the actors perfectly. The audio quality is top-notch, and the dub script is astounding. Standout performances go to Lindsay Seidel as Ruko, Apphia Yu as Yuzuki and Jamie Marchi as Akira.
Its such a shame that Lostorage Wixoss never got an English Dub but that’s for another time.
I love watching card game anime like the next person but I feel it was time for this genre to change. Most if not all card game anime nowadays are similar to Yu-Gi-Oh and while there were a few expectations, partially Cardfight Vanguard Season 1 and the Reboot it was the genre that oversaturated despite it being niche overall.
Having a card game anime pull a Digimon Tamers, Evangelion and Madoka Magical is financing to the eyes and Selector Wixoss ended up being a wonderful series because of that.
I may have minor issues with certain characters as well the first half of season 2 but strong psychological elements, stunning visuals, atmospheric musical score and intriguing main characters more than not made up of its shortcomings.
I strongly recommend Selector Wixoss for anyone who is tired of the typical card game formula.
TakaCode Reviews 
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