So, what are people's opinions on Familiar of Zero?
It is probably the only non-terrible anime I actually hate passionately.
Mostly because it portrays horrible, realistic, and vivid abuse as funny. Someone getting beaten bloody screaming with a riding crop is apparently hilarious.
I could go on about this (and trust me, I have... I have written paragraphs worth on JUST this aspect of the show)... but that is basically it.
Outside of my passionate loathing of the show... It is kind of interesting and it barely explores the concepts it sets up, which is a shame because it has one of the more interesting set ups in anime, as well the show actually deals with low self-image in a actual subtle way (For example Zero looks at her Familiar as a sign that she is somehow terrible... However, most of the wizards in the show actually view the familiar as highly desirable... Showing that she puts herself down so much that she cannot even see what she has right in front of her own eyes.)
In fact if the anime AT ANY POINT treated the abuse, as abuse... It actually could have been a compelling story about a very flawed character who takes out her aggression in abusive ways, and the anguish it gives others who are just trying to help her, as well as dealing with the mental issues of someone being abused. Rather then the story of a Girl with self-esteem issues who is really hot, so hot that lets watch her beat people up in hilarious fashion! Whoa isn't that funny? Now lets put her in less clothing and have her beat the person up some more! Ohhh the piles of hilarity... Ohh what? Its getting creepy? Well don't worry the abused person will definitely start developing Stockholm syndrome just to justify the abuse!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Mind you, watch it if you like. I HATE it... but it has a quality that makes me feel like it is probably popular.
Probably because it has a sexualized under aged girl with large breasts who gets into her underwear a lot who is Tsundere and has magical powers which she uses to punish men when she isn't crying and needing to be comforted.
Ohh and the other female cast is a under aged girl who is sexually promiscuous who has even larger breasts and shows off her body... and an emotionless blue haired girl.
But I am sure that has nothing to do with its popularity.