The story follows the lives of five ordinary boys who gain nature-based powers given to them by a mysterious creature from outer space. Calling themselves the "Earth Defense Club", they fight against the "Earth Conquest Club", whose members seek to conquer Earth.
A spin-off manga titled Binan Kokou Chikyuu Seifuku-bu Love! started serialization in Pony Canyon's web comics magazine online, on October 16, 2014. A light novel was released on January 7, 2015, in Japan,[10] with two additional light novels released in 2016. A game based on the series for Android and iOS devices was released in Japan in February 2015.[11]
Plot
One day, the Earth Defense Club at Binan High School, consisting of Yumoto Hakone, En Yufuin, Atsushi Kinugawa, Io Naruko, and Ryuu Zaou, who regularly attend a local bathhouse run by Yumoto's brother, meet a pink wombat-creature from another planet who tasks them with saving the world. Using a set of "Loveracelets" he gives them, the group transforms into Battle Lovers (バトラヴァーズ, Batoravuāzu), who use the power of love to combat those intent on spreading hate and discord. As they battle, they encounter the Earth Conquest Club, which has fallen under the influence of the green hedgehog-like creature Zundar. Kinshiro Kusatsu, Ibushi Arima and Akoya Gero, the members of the school's student council, become their enemies, being responsible for creating the monsters they fight.
Characters
Earth Defense Club
Originally an unofficial school club, the Earth Defense Club became semi-official because its members occupied a club room which had a sign reading "Earth Defense Club" on its door. After the student council orders them to formally register their club, it is later approved.
A first-year student whose family owns a bathhouse called Kurotamayu. He is carefree and loves animals, cute things, and food. He transforms into the Sparkling Prince; Battle Lover Scarlet (キラメキ王子バトラヴァ・スカーレット, Kirameki Ouji Batorava Sukaaretto). His color is red and his element is light. His love stick is called Lumiere of Love, which allows him to use the attacks Scarlet Lumiere and Love Sprinkle.
A third-year student who is lazy and prefers to go at his own pace. He is somewhat vain, as, despite having recently turned 18, he is worried that his youthful appearance is fading. He transforms into the Flashing Prince; Battle Lover Cerulean (ヒラメキ王子バトラヴァ・セルリアン, Hirameki Ōji Batorava Serurian). His color is blue and his element is water. His love stick is called Purifying Aqua, which allows him to use the attack Cerulean Aqua.
A third-year student and Kinshiro's childhood friend, who comes from a rich family and has good grades. He transforms into the Piercing Prince; Battle Lover Epinard (ツラヌキ王子バトラヴァ・エピナール, Tsuranuki Ōji, Batoru Ravua Epināru). His color is green and his element is air. His love stick is called Gallant Hurricane, which allows him to use the attack Epinard Hurricane.
A second year student who has made money through the stock market and believes that life is all about money. He is close to Ryuu and is implied to have romantic feelings for him. He transforms into the Roaring Prince; Battle Lover Sulfur (トドロキ王子バトラヴァ・サルファー, Todoroki Ōji Batorava Sarufā). His color is yellow and his element is earth. His love stick is called Raging Gaia, which allows him to use the attack Sulfur Gaia.
A second year student who is popular with girls and best friends with Io. He transforms into the Thrilling Prince; Battle Lover Vesta (トキメキ王子バトラヴァ・ヴェスタ, Tokimeki Ouji, Batorava Vesuta). His color is pink and his element is fire. His love stick is called Blazing Ignit, which allows him to use the attack Vesta Ignit.
A pink wombat-like creature from another planet who tasks the club's members with the mission of protecting Earth from evil and filling it with love. He has the ability to control En and Atsushi's homeroom teacher, Mr. Tawarayama, when he holds him.
A third year student and the president of the school's student council. He is childhood friends with Atsushi, but their relationship is distant and he dislikes that he hangs out with En and the club. He transforms into Aurite, the Golden Chevalier, shining in radiance (光輝く黄金のシュヴァリエ オーアイト, Hikari Kagayaku Ōgon no Shuvarie, Ōaito). At the end of season 1, he reconciles with Atsushi and they become friends again.
A third year student and the vice-president of the school's student council, who serves as Kinshiro's assistant. He transforms into Argent, the Silver Chevalier, rustling young leaves (風薫る白銀のシュヴァリエ アージエント, Kazekaoru Hakugin no Shuvarie, Ājento).
A second year student who is in the same class as Io and Ryuu, but does not get along with Ryuu. He transforms into Perlite, the Pearl Chevalier, making flowers bloom (花咲ける真珠のシュヴァリエ， ペルライト, Hanasakikeru Shinju no Shuvarie, Peruraito).
A third-year high-school student whose grades are "always No. 1". After his grade drops to No. 2 behind Io, his jealousy attracts Caerula Adamas and he is turned into a screw tank monster.
A second-year high-school student who transferred to Binan High School at the end of his first year. After getting sick with the flu, he stopped coming to school and became a shut-in. He is turned into a hikikomori monster.
Yumoto's classmate and the manager of the baseball club, who enjoys the attention he gets from wearing glasses. After Yumoto's cold turns him into a meganedanshi as well, Rui's jealousy causes him to be turned into a dog-like baseball bat monster with glasses.
Yumoto's older brother, who helps run the bathhouse and chop wood for the baths. The finale of the first season reveals that he was the original Battle Lover.
A mysterious talking goldfish that is involved with the Binan High Press Society. The finale of the first season reveals that he had been broadcasting a reality show about the Battle Lovers and Caerula Adamas throughout the universe.
En and Atsushi's instructor, who is supposedly killed after tripping over Wombat and falls down a flight of stairs. While Wombat explains that he is not technically dead, he must remain near him to prevent him from suffering the effects of decomposition, using him as a cover to avoid appearing suspicious. While he later recovers, he is soon injured and falls into a coma again.
Season 2
Vepper
Akihiko Beppu (別府月彦, Beppu Akihiko)
Voiced by: Keisuke Koumoto
A second year student and Haruhiko's twin brother, who, along with him, transforms into the twins shining in the heavens, Melty Luna (空に輝く二つ星・メルティルーナ, Sora ni kagayaku futatsu boshi Merutirūna).
Haruhiko Beppu (別府日彦, Beppu Haruhiko)
Voiced by: Yoshiki Murakami
A second year student and Akihiko's twin brother, who, along with him, transforms into The twins shining in the heavens, Salty Sol (空に輝く二つ星・ソルティーソル, Sora ni kagayaku futatsu boshi Sorutīsoru).
The series, which was directed by Shinji Takamatsu at Diomedéa and written by Michiko Yokote, aired in Japan between January 6, 2015, and March 24, 2015, and was streamed by Crunchyroll, Funimation, and Viewster.[12][13] The series is licensed in North America by Ponycan USA, who began releasing the series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD in August 2015.[14] The first opening theme for season one is "Zettai Muteki☆Fallin'LOVE☆" (絶対無敵☆Fallin'LOVE☆, Absolutely Invincible Fallin' Love) by the Earth Defense Club (Kazutomi Yamamoto, Yuichiro Umehara, Kōtarō Nishiyama, Yusuke Shirai, and Toshiki Masuda), while the ending theme is "I Miss You no 3 Metre" (I miss you の3メートル, Three Metres of I Miss You) by the Conquest Club (Hiroshi Kamiya, Jun Fukuyama, Takuma Terashima).[5] The second season aired in Japan titled Cute High Earth Defense Club Love! Love! from July 7, 2016 to September 27, 2016. The opening theme for Season two is "Futten Toppa☆LOVE IS POWER☆" (沸点突破☆ LOVE IS POWER ☆, Past the Boiling Point☆LOVE IS POWER☆) by the Earth Defense Club (Kazutomi Yamamoto, Yuichiro Umehara, Kōtarō Nishiyama, Yusuke Shirai, and Toshiki Masuda), the ending theme is "Anata wa Haruka Ittousei" (あなたは遥か一等星, You’re a distant star of the first magnitude) by the Vepper/ Beppu brothers Keisuke Koumoto and Yoshiki Murakami.[15]
Manga
A parallel manga entitled Binan Kokou Chikyuu Seifuku-bu Love! (lit. 'Cute High Earth Conquest Club Love!') has finished its monthly serialization in Pony Canyon's web comics magazine, having started on October 16, 2014. The manga focuses more on the lives of the series' antagonists.[16]
Light novel
A light novel series written by Natsuko Takahashi and illustrated by Yumiko Hara was released in Japan on January 7, 2015, as a paperback novel.[17]
OVA
A OVA titled Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! (美男高校地球防衛部LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!),[18] subtitled The Graduation of Love and Youth! (愛と青春の卒業!, Ai to Seishun no Sotsugyou!)[19] which aired in select theatres across Japan for a 3-week period in August and September 2017, starting on August 26. It was preceded by an all night season two screening/advance OVA screening on August 25, 2017, exclusive to the Ticket Pia booking system. The OVA is said to be the "concluding chapter" about the graduation of the 3rd years. The opening theme is Eternal Future LOVE YOU ALL (永遠未来LOVE YOU ALL, Eien Mirai LOVE YOU ALL), while the ending is From Both Our Hearts (心と心で, Kokoro to Kokoro de).[20] both by the Earth Defense Club.
Film
An anime film, which serves as a sequel to the original series and celebrates its 10th anniversary, will be released in Q1 2025. The staff and cast members from the series are reprising their roles.[21]
Reception
Reviews for the anime have been generally positive. Amy McNulty from Anime News Network gave the first three episodes of the series an "A" rating writing that: "Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! should make any anime fan laugh, although long-time fans of magical girl shows will get the jokes better by default. As a parody of a genre that can still entertain in its own right, this series walks the line of critiquing and venerating the magical girl genre with finesse. It's comedic, but it's not a gag-a-minute affair. Yes, it has over-the-top situations, but it's just slightly less believable than the typical magical girl show, so it works. We're not laughing at the show, we're laughing with it."[22] When reviewing the ninth episode, to which she gave an A+ rating, McNulty later wrote that it: "demonstrates that the show entertains best when it's both a parody and a magical boy show in its own right. The fact that the boys are able to talk the melon monster down before they heal him with love is another fun twist on the give-speeches-about-justice-to-monster-then-heal-with-love formula. Overall, the viewers spend more time with this monster than any of the previous ones, paving the way for laughs aplenty."[1]
Ian Wolf writing for Anime UK News gave the first two episodes a rating of 9 out of 10 saying: "Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! has so far proven itself to be a highly entertaining show, mainly because of the knowing parody it contains. The series mocks all of the normal magical girl tropes, whether it is the poses, the lines that are spouted, the transformations, or the attacks. The only real difference is the fact that you have male characters instead of female ones." He also stated comparisons to shows such as Ouran High School Host Club, a romantic comedy manga which also parodies romantic manga; and Free! in which he compares the similar fan-bases, namely fujoshi, saying: "Let's be honest, we all knew that as soon as the concept of five attractive boys akin to magical girls was revealed that every fujoshi and fudanshi was preparing to write quite a lot fan fiction."[23]
In a review of the first three episodes Dan Barnett of UK-Anime Network gave the series 7 out of 10 claiming that: "Cute High Earth Defence Club Love is a series that has the potential to be a bit of a breakout hit if it plays its cards right. The series is undeniably hilarious as the characters take everything around them seriously, and sexual innuendo flies around so much that it's impossible to keep a straight face. The pains that Wombat must go through to try and avoid being cuddled by Yumoto are fantastically funny too! What might hold it back though is that three episodes in there's little evidence of a plot other than the bog standard 'bad guys make monster of the week' fare that's typical of the genre. ... It's a tricky line to walk if the series wants to keep as wide an audience as possible, though there are certainly fans around who'll happily pick-up another pretty-boy series to fill the void left by Free."[24]
^"美男高校地球防衛部 LOVE!GAME!" [Cute High School Earth Defense Club LOVE!GAME!] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
^"2015年1月放送予定のアニメ「美男高校地球防衛部LOVE！」のコミカライズ！" [Anime "handsome high school Earth Defense part LOVE!" Of January broadcasting schedule 2015] (in Japanese). Ponimaga.jp. 2014-10-16. Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
