Anime
You Want an Objective Toshokan Sensou Review? Look No Further!
We, the TS fans, are facing a terrible adverse wind right now
So I gave Toshokan Sensou a full mark of 10/10 in my MAL (and once again I hear cynics go “WHUTT?!”). Objectively speaking, there’s a plenty of good reasons why I came up with this score, and I’ll just let this graph speak for ‘em:
Don’t we just love graphs?
…Or should I say, objective rating be damned! Because our (TS fans) BURNING LOVE for this show can’t be measured with such cheap quantitative measures!! In this time of adversity, we the TS fans hold on firmly to our love, and will never admit defeat to cynics. We go all out in defending a show we fangurl about! RAWR
But seriously, no review can ever be objective. It’s always a subjective matter, and hence you can’t simply let a numerical rating represent how you feel about a show, in the same way as others shouldn’t judge a show through these ratings alone. This article which otou-san linked in his comment to Kabitzin’s post was really insightful, and all the more reinforces the right mindset of reviewing and judging a show. I am glad that the negative reviews I’ve seen of Toshokan Sensou was objective enough to have included both the good and bad points in the series, and it’s thanks to these people that my urge to defend The Library War was awakened, and hence, this post.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that we actually need both these negative and positive forces in the blogosphere, to broaden perspectives on just about everything. The interaction between these anti- and pro- factions will always bring in a new light on things, because the varying insights of these factions is what brought them to such opposing ends of the spectrum to begin with. There are things which the cynics can’t see, and the zealous TS fans can, and vice versa. So I speak here on behalf of the fans and lovers of this show, and why I think it was an awesome anime, not just because of the fangurl stuff.
Love amidst all the bashing, that’s what this is.
One thing I noticed in this whole Toshokan Sensou ripple in the blogosphere, is that the very reason why many people loved this show, is what made other people hate it (yes I’m using the word ‘hate’ loosely here) — that is, how the library war premise became a backdrop for love and other slice-of-life elements of the show. This is what the anime focused on, and somewhat neglected the rest. Admittedly, the neglected aspects became easily forgivable for us fangurls because this show answered many of our prayers. It’s not all the time that you get to see a KICKASS anime couple (a male and a female tsundere to boot), whose development is just how we wanted it to be, and so much more.
But still, there’s more to it than that. Fangirls and other fans alike, didn’t just love this show for the rabu rabu stuff while ignoring the books and political stuff. Fangurls might babble nothing else but “IKU x DOUJOU <33”, but there’s no way we could’ve loved these characters if not for these books and politics stuff.
We might not have given our smart-ass Toshokan Sensou political and logical analysis but we know for a fact that the whole Library War setup, no matter how ridiculous it might seem to others, shaped the characters in ways unimaginable. We could not have loved Iku and her passion for books and her kick-ass-ness, if none of the war conflicts were present; we could not have seen Doujou in both tsuntsun and deredere light if it wasn’t for this premise, either. That goes the same for the rest of the characters in the show, who were shaped by their principles, but ultimately by this sandbox world of reality they were in, which allowed us to witness who they are, how they fight, and what they fight for. Through these “half-baked” aspects, the characters were fleshed out, they sprung to life and hit really close to home (to those who grew and loved them), and from then on became characters who are not simply in Toshokan Sensou, but engraved in our hearts and minds.
It’s also because of the aforementioned reasons that you can’t just ask for a Library War with no war and/or no books, because all these aspects, no matter how half-baked, are part of Toshokan Sensou, and we identify this show with them. And as I’ve said, all of these helped shape the characters. In simple terms: Library War – Library War = nil, and it’s a LIE! So obviously, complaints and demands like “this show would’ve been better off without the war and the silly premise”, or “they should’ve made this a love comedy show instead”, is certainly impossible. Go watch some other shoujo animes out there for your romance and love comedy fix, and see if you’ll be able to see something as enjoyable and unique as the antics of Iku x Doujou.
We all know that 12 episodes is not enough for Toshokan Sensou, the staff knows that as well, and they must’ve been through a hell of a time deciding on how to best adapt the novel into this crammed-up short anime series, retaining enough to make people enjoy it and love it, and to make them interested enough to look up the novels if they weren’t satisfied with the half-baked aspects of the anime. For all we know, the staff people must have been under a lot of stress throughout the entire process of brainstorming that they decided to add the silly fight scenes and other RiReRoRu stuff. I know I’m just making up silly excuses here but whatever.
The thing is, the staff knew well that the episodes allotted for this series is too short, so whether they like it or not, they had to omit a large chunk of the novels. But then, they couldn’t just take away all the military warfare whatnots in the show either, because they still are essential to Toshokan Sensou. This show never intended to become the next blockbuster jack-of-all-trades anime, the people behind this show knew well that it could never delve into the other aspects given the limited time they had. This anime wanted to instill the love for books, fighting for what we believe is right, holding on to our principles no matter what, and more importantly, the anime aimed to give life to the novel characters, to give it justice, despite the crammed-up 12 episodes. And it managed to do just that. It showed us enough premise to get to know the characters, and love them for who they are. And for that, it rightfully deserves a perfect 10. This show was worth every energy I poured for pimping and following it, worth just about every cent I spend on its goodies (damn you TS!)
Viva la Revolucion! Viva Toshokan Sensou! 
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23 comments for “You Want an Objective Toshokan Sensou Review? Look No Further!”
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“This anime wanted to instill the love for books, fighting for what we believe is right, holding on to our principles no matter what, and more importantly, the anime aimed to give life to the novel characters, to give it justice, despite the crammed-up 12 episodes”
SO FUCKING TRUE.
But the lesson Toshokan Sensou gave me is that, more importantly than anything else, we have to keep trying. No matter what. The road ahead may be long and hard, but things will be fine in the end if you try.
I regret nothing! I orginally thought this show was going to be 24 episodes, which makes me feel even more that so much more could have been done. Ah well, its all over now…unless they make another season. Which they should. And do it better.
The wallpaper of Iku standing in the field of chamomiles gets me every time
You are awarded a flowerpot of blooming chamomile. Water it regularly.
I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to review the last episode and the series as a whole yet! I think your chart is the best description of the series, and I can see how the storyboarding got a little rough with the staff. Still, I was really drawn to the characters so they got that part right =D.
See, this is how I get along with you, issa-sa and Hynavian — I don’t like any of the shows you seem to enjoy
Well it was a fun ride and they at least remained faithful enough to basic infantry tactics to keep me from raging. In all honesty the war it self may have been stupid, but humans have waged stupid wars before like the War of the Pacific.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Pacific
These guys were fighting over a large tract of soon to be useless desert.
the title and promotion might have been a little misleading for the fans of military action. for the rest of us tho it just turned out to be a pleasant surprise that they focused on character development instead.
but honestly, a war like that just might have broken out in china some decades ago. we have tons of tv adaptations that dramatize the “literary martyrs”. the scholars even had a famous phrase that goes “my pen is my gun”
)
(and this goes without saying, but TS probably won’t be airing in china…
-just a long-time faithful reader of ur blog, so keep up the good work please! …also waiting for your 3rd missing files installment
All hail the Toshokan Sensou Queen!
For a short while I was rather distressed over the fact that DOUJOU X IKU was drowning out the OTHER good (if not fully developed)aspects of this show when I was trying to review the show more ‘objectively’ than I would. I mean, DOUJOU X IKU is good enough for us fans, but how am I gonna recommend the show to all them cycnics out there?
And that is why you my dear, are the queen of Toshokan Sensou pimping! You’ve managed to say why TS succeeded NOT in spite of its ‘WTF BOOK WAR?’, but instead pointed it out as what moulded the series into what we love! (LOVE POWER BURNING PASSION GO!)
@C.I.: well said, my friend
I just hope they’re saving the last volume for another season, or an OAV at least.
@Omisyth: I was hoping it would get 24 episodes too, but then they already planned things out even before airing, and intended to cover only the first three volumes with the short 13 eps
@ojisan: Thank you, I shall treat it with much TLC (tender loving care)
I’ll eagerly wait for your entry on the last episode, and your review as well! 
@Kabitzin: I’m just glad you’re enjoying this for what it’s worth
@blissmo: lolz, at least we have ROOKIES in common. Macross F too, but then I’ve been so lazy to catch up with the later episodes
And lol, I’ve been procrastinating from writing my Missing Files posts. I’m like 95% through reading volume 1, and I might just skip some parts in my post to make my life easier 
I’ll make time to write that entry after my Kure-nai review.
@Crusader: LOL. Ridiculous war is ridiculous
@basset: eh, but I do think there are quite a number of TS fans in China now, I’d like to think most animes reach them
@issa-sa: I owe these burst of insights not only for my TS love, but because of all you fans’ BURNING LOVE for this show. That, and the cynics, made me all the more inspired to make this entry. Tough times, and we managed to stand through it till the end, TS LOVE POWER to the MAX.
Now if only they’ll release a DVD-episode or something…
@Georgina: and there is, my dear
I think it’s in DVD volume 2, I just hope the other ones will have extras too!
Excellent pimping, Usagijen <3333 (btw, I’ve been spreading the TS love about my Italian webpeers like a madwoman XDD )
I’ve heard about the DVD episode on the TS animesuki 3d. I really hope they’ll fansub it too. And more DVD-specials wouldn’y hurt either
I love this series!
I was sooo sad when it ended.
I wept salty tears.
You said somewhere that they were trying to:
“make them interested enough to look up the novels if they werent satisfied with the half-baked aspects of the anime.”
I’m looking for the novels, but I can’t find anything.
Is there somewhere that an Americano such as myself could get the books in english?
I searching!
My objection to toshokan sensou isn’t that it would be better off without the politics and war, it’s just that these elements, in my eyes, really aren’t very well realised. The sides are so black and white that, apart from one man, the MBA look more like either team rocket or psychopaths than a government agency. This could have easily been remedied within the 12 episodes by simply showing more people on the other side who aren’t a bizarre injury away from being a bond villain, or having someone in the library corps defense department who isn’t a passionate idealist percieved as lacking no moral flaws. I admit this was briefly touched upon with whatshisname’s brother but then it was dropped really quickly afterwards. I still have yet to see how exactly the government benefits from the MBA being so extreme, they have essentially engineered a civil war and that strikes me as being more harmful to them than a book could be.
While the library war books may be very good (haven’t read them), the anime on its own is simply not good enough for the story it is trying to tell. While it would have been better if twice the length I don’t think we should go easy on it simply because of that. The creators tried too much and gave a mediocre product in far too many areas.
On the other hand the doujou/kasahara moments made me blub and I did really enjoy it but it was simply fun (certainly not a bad thing) instead of being great, if you catch my drift. yeah this was too long wasn’t it.
Hmm. . .When watching TS. . .I put anything that deals with the war and politics on the back burner because I feel like it is a setting that develop the characters and fleshing them out to who we love. I didn’t find the politics and war that entertaining because it isn’t suppose to be. . .War and politics are serious stuff yet many people think that freedom of speech and books to be laughable because they live in a world where they are surrounded with them. .. But I can understand the world of TS. . .and the civil war that the govt got themselves into is basically telling us that even within its own society not all views are accepted that is why. .. library task force is necessary to protect the other people’s privileges. That is how and why we are introduce to the cast of TS. .. I think it is more about how these people came to be who they are in believing in what they hold as important.
By the way.. . I am also a fan girl! LOL
@elianthos: yes, I demand MOAR DVD specials!
@sMurphy: I believe it’ll take quite some time before this novel gets licensed. The chances of it being brought to America might increase if someone translates it, and I can only hope there’s a talented TS fan out there who can do that
@Marmosette: I found TS to be the kind of anime which somewhat requires its viewers to fill in the “black and white” gap shown throughout the series (’it’s only as deep as the viewer sees it’ and all that), so yeah I can understand exactly where you’re coming from. and don’t apologize! long insightful comments are most welcome!
@Paj: well said like a true TS fan! There are lots of plotholes, and enjoying TS is only a matter of knowing where and how to look at it so you’ll be able to love it
Just a thought about Library Wars (Just finished the anime today)
Seems like the idea came from Cultural Revolution from China. It was surprisingly decent, but I had to endure painful cliche moments as usual.
What I found a bit surprising is the lack of anti-armor, HE or other ranged weapons used against trench warfare. Ok, so it’s not full-scaled warfare… but it doesn’t hurt to bring some explosive stuff to crack down the defense. Car bombs, mortars, machineguns… you name it. Every freaken soldiers are armed with typical assault rifles LOL. Bring the freaken RPG to stop the helicopters, idiots. If they can afford hundreds of men with modernized rifles… they can afford a rocket launcher.
And that Doujou character really resembles Sagara from Full Metal Panic. Disturbingly similar…
Not fantastic, but it wasn’t a waste of time.
Man I’m regretting marathoning this now. I want to go back and read the novels and manga. Sadly, this one cannot read Kanji. I love this review, though. HURRAY FOR RATIONAL FANGIRLS.
@pekau: I’ve been watching FMP recently, and Sagara is actually what made me remember watching Toshokan Sensou. I completely agree.
@jeanniex1: No regrets! You liked/loved it, and it’s all good~
The novels are being translated, from what I remember. I’m not really updated on its progress though.
Oh, and speaking of FMP, I guess we can say that Doujou = Sagara with common sense of dere dere emotions!