Ashita no Nadja

(Introduction)

Nadja was one of my early childhood anime back in the early ’00s but I don’t seem to remember how it ended or how the story progresses. What I remember is the main plot itself when it aired on my local television network. It's been more than a decade since I watch it, so I decided to finally pick it up and make a full series rewatch on it last year. I was happy that I did. Because I am surprised the anime gave me a sort of diamond of the ruff impression about it. A good TV series for what it is ... from start to finish. This review will discuss further why this show is a hidden gem of its time and what makes Nadja a good show.

(Story/Plot/Writing) (7/10: Good) (Spoiler Free)

Starting off the Review Ashita no Nadja or commonly known as Tomorrow's Nadja for international audiences, the story follows the Adventure of Nadja Applefield. Traveling around European Continent in search of clues of her mother’s whereabouts while meeting friends and learning different cultures along the way. Nadja plays out like your classic late-century adventure stories where the protagonist needs to travel to new places to progress the story. We have lots of story like that in animes based around western literature that is aired during the 80s and ’90s.

But sadly starting around the 2000s this type of story in the anime medium got a steady decline. In 2003 anime releases Nadja is the only show that uses the formula, thus making it very unique alongside the other series that was airing at the time. 2003 is flooded with a lot of shows with a variety of genres, with different target demographics ranging from adults, teenage and younger audiences. Nadja aims for much more younger viewers but it cannot compete with the more rule of cool focus shows that even younger kids want to watch. It's quite common that nobody actually remembers or talks about this show even today. This is where my review comes in.

For an Adventure Story, I shall confidently say it’s well written and good. It has a beginning and an ending. Everything feels connected and consistent until the end of the show. Usually, for a children-oriented series, a lot of shows will make a lot of unnecessary filler episodes, especially if the show is around 50+ episodes. But in Nadja, the writers took an effort in connecting each individual episode. It makes each episode important in Nadja’s journey.

The story has a rather slow exposition, pacing and each of the first episodes only give small fractions of information for the main plot. The main story doesn’t kick start until around episode 33. The initial episodes are all about establishing the characters and structured world-building by introducing various regions in Europe. The episodes focus on exploring the people in the region and cleverly describing people's lives. Nadja is also a very good example of a slice of life series. But for its credit, it gives us enough time to breathe and digests the characters and story overall.

The Setting is set to place between 19th and 20th Century Europe. It's lovely to see that this anime has a lot of educational content that feels natural for the plot. As Nadja learns new things as she explores new places, the audience learns from it by simply watching this show. Feels like a fun tour of 19th or 20th Century Europe. As if the Audience is also tagging along with Adventure. There is a sense of connection and pay-off. As Nadja travels around each country, new characters and new stories are introduced that complement the setting and the entire story feels layered in a way.

(Characters/ Main Supporting) (8/10: Very Good in My Opinion) (Contain Some Minor Spoiler)

When it comes to characters the show shines the best. Nadja is a dancer of the Dandelion Troupe, a Small Group of Circus Entertainers, which makes a living by moving town to town to provide entertainment for the locals in the area. Each Troupe member has their own unique personality and appealing side story to share. Some are ok while others have some really good back story to boot. Aside from Nadja and Her Troupe Family, there are also some supporting characters that have their own appeal, own story, and ambitions that shape the entire narrative. Some characters, for the most part, reappear in later episodes. Revealing their own character growth and development in the process made the show even more exciting as it continues.

There is some antagonist in the show that moves the story forward but there are some very despicable moments in the show that might ignite audience emotion into the wall. If you wondering how nasty are the so-called villains? I recommend you guys to check it out from start to finish to understand what I am talking about. This show knows how to give a really bad time experience for our main heroine.

Now moving to our main heroine, “Nadja AppleField”, for a classic late-century female protagonist, there isn’t much anything special to say about her. She is good for what she does in her role, serving as a mediator for the character's conflict, the voice of reasons, and the eyes and ears of the audience in exploring the world surrounding her. The only gripe I have for Nadja as a person is that she sorts of lacks an interesting personality. Sure, she got the looks of the main character, she is very beautiful, but she is very reactive in a lot of situations. There are moments in the show that her kind-hearted nature sometimes results in people taking advantage of her kindness. I consider this annoying. Luckily her flaws are corrected by supporting characters that compromise her weakness and save the day.

But Hey that’s what makes her likable in the first place. An innocent pure-hearted maiden that only wishes the best in a person. To me, I refer more proactive and dynamic heroines that plan ahead and knows when a person is taking advantage of her good intentions.

(Technical Stuff) (Art & Animation 7/10)( Music and Sound Design 7/10)

In the technical aspect of the show, for a 2003 anime, it's good and well polished. Given that this a 50 episode series where the art style and animation remain consistent. The aesthetic is pleasing though some character designs are rather dull. The only character that stands out, when it comes to design, is Nadja's design and the clothes she wears.

Fun Fact:
If you are wondering why it seems like the Key Art Style and Animation have heavy resemblances to some very cutesy style common in 2000’s magical girl series like example: Precure or Doremi look so similar. Then you are not wrong in making that assumption. Seeing in was made by Toei Animation Studio. Toei has a habit of making specialized departments to work on specific aspects of their other shows. In Nadja’s case, they used their magical shoujo division to create Nadja’s Design and other characters.

Music I think it's good for what it is. But wouldn’t say it's worth saving in your MP3 song list. The OP and ED are good for what they supposed to function. When it comes to the background music and sound effects it's Ok. Nothing special but classical music always works on the show set in the late century so it’s a pass.


(Enjoyment/ Bias Personal Opinion)

(7/10 Good and Memorable, But Doesn’t Give a Hard-Hitting Impact for Me as Person)

This is the section I will say both my positive and negative personal comments about the show base on my own flawed reference. There are things that I found amazing in the show that I don’t see much on other shows and at the same time, there are some very boring and jarring moments in the show that I wish the show will continue giving me that magic. The show has some very cheesy cliché and a number of plot conveniences but I know myself that Nadja is a simple show that has its own strength and weaknesses. And to be fair there are more good moments in the show that far out weight the bad ones. And for an anime aim for kids. It far exceeded what I supposed to expect it to be.

Back then when I was a kid, Nadja was like another Saturday Morning Cartoon for me. Now as an adult I see it as one of the good series the 2003 era has to offer. It has far more meaningful moral content that can be applied in real life. I can appreciate the people who made this has some good intentions in mind. Personally, I think it’s a good show that worth recommending to everyone that shares the same interest as me.

(Final Thoughts) (Overall 7.4/10 A show worth recommending to a few)

In summary, the show is all about Nadja Apple Field's life story but magnificently built upon collective stories of unique individuals from distinct places, cultural traditions, and social standing. You are given a variety of viewpoints to create a moral ground of what is good or bad with an added heartbreaking plot twist I wouldn’t expect on a show for kids.

I like that the anime's main moral lesson teaching follows the Japanese tradition of teaching children “omoiyari” or showing empathy to others, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In short caring for others. Which by the way, mature adults in the show teach Nadja when she creates a one-sided opinion on a person.

In a simple line of dialogue.

“Not all people are 100 percent good or evil. Everybody has their reason”

This line really hit me hard. Because this idea remains steady throughout the entire show. Most kids teach the younger audiences what a good guy and a bad guy look like but in Nadja. It teaches you to think and understand a person's situation. It encourages people to not draw out selfish conclusions in defining what a person is. A lesson that is more relevant today because of the advent of social media spreading wildfire of conspiracy about groups and specific individuals.

I might add, I didn’t expect this show to have complicated romances, social class conspiracy theory, and critical commentary about 19th and 20th Century mentality that seemingly controversial if ever talk about or look upon during that era.

I like the charm of the show is a mixed bag of sharing meaningful moral content and unnecessarily wackily looney quirks. Huge respect for this anime-original where the studio is making an effort to write a complete story entertainment for people to enjoy.

I hope when people watch Tomorrow's Nadja, the Inner “Noblesse Oblige” will surface in their hearts.

“With great wealth comes the responsibility to give back to those who are less fortunate than oneself”

“But Noblesse Oblige is not always giving material wealth”

“Everyone can give back in different ways, on any shape or forms that will truly help people to stand up in life”

Thanks for Reading.

Oh, Nadja. Where do I begin?

Set in a story that takes place "a hundred years ago" which is basically the twentieth century, and they do tell you this a lot if you do not skip the opening and closing parts of the anime, this story tells of a spirited blond filled with brimming light, and nothing less, simply known as Nadja. And, something that will also be incredibly muttered throughout the entire anime, she is on a mission. What is it? To seek her dear mother, of course.

Ashita no Nadja is one of the very few anime I have seen where I can not say ... it feels like an anime. Heck, I could compare it to the Dragon Ball franchise in that regard. I know very well what I am watching is anime, but it looks like it takes a style of its very own.

Humorously enough, Toei Animation did indeed animate Ashita no Nadja as well, which was something I literally just discovered well writing this review and it made me laugh quite a bit since I made this example before I found this out. Life sure does throw things at you unexpectedly.

Anyway, this anime quite obviously has all of the commonplace themes you will find in an anime. All the girls have big eyes, all the boys don't, comedy will exaggerate their bodily portions; you get the idea. But, as you watch it, sometimes, you might consider it something else due to how uniquely it presents the world around it.

Nadja has a bit of what you would call "protagonist syndrome" but with the most generic trait of all: she is kind to everybody around her and only wishes for goodwill among all. It certainly was not gearing up to be one of my favorite anime at all with such a character, and I honestly believed I would grow tired of her very quickly. But, surprisingly, after about a dozen episodes (yes, you really do have to dive into this one before it gets good), I grew to actually love this character. I would go so far as to even rank her in my top five favorites.

As I said before, she is indeed a spirited blond. Nadja has nothing BUT unwavering spirit! Her character very rarely becomes despondent, and it becomes very admirable as you watch her go. A bit similar to most journey anime, she will indeed meet a lot of people along the way. Her determination for her unique idealism, her compassion among her loved ones and her cheerful, bright outlook on life will never leave you in anything but awe.

The anime calls itself a "romance," but I feel it should have clearly put itself into the "comedy" genre as well, since I laughed at a vast majority of the episodes a lot. The visual gags are what will really set you ablaze if you are not one that gawks down at your phone the whole time you're watching; and if you are, please stop reading this right now and go watch something else. This anime demands your unbridled attention if you want to get the best out of it.

This anime is quite silly! Most of the time, Nadja will puff up when she is angry or show one of the most adorable expressions you have ever seen. One thing I can say for sure is that Nadja's design is something you may never see again for a while, as far as unique flavor goes. Despite how adorable she is, her design is pretty simplistic to look at. And this is especially surprising, considering the time this anime aired.

Of course, this anime is also a drama and it does this very well, too. Some of the more intense moments will leave you in tears, but the intensity level is usually not all that high most of the time. It will really warm you up to the adventure and characters before you come across any seriousness throughout, which is a very good thing since, at the pace this anime goes, it does indeed thrive with this kind of story progression. And, as it is also a romance, expect some pretty deep lovers' quarrels to occur throughout. Some of them grow rather intense, well others are much more lighthearted.

But, the strongest quality about Ashita no Nadja does not fall in just its characters, the journey or even Nadja herself. No, it is the scenery; more specifically, the environments they travel, the places they see and the soundtrack that compliments. This anime would not have been nearly as enjoyable if it was not for how rich the art style looks. It gives off a plain look if you are a pessimist, but to any art lovers out there, this one will sweep you away with its simplicity in detail. And the soundtrack is something that any anime enthusiast could enjoy. I am still looking for it myself! But, you know how anime soundtracks are. If they are unreleased, you will never find them.

So, if you are still with me, you may now you ask "great, you told me the characters, the unique landscapes and all that, but what make this anime so great that you give it such accolades" well, it is just that: everything I mentioned. That may not be the answer you were looking for, but I genuinely mean everything I said with a passionate heart. This anime thrives from its unique flavor in the art, story and soundtrack choices. Every now and then, they will dip into the public domain as some characters do learn commonplace music and play it, but the soundtrack you hear whenever the natural scenes occur usually have something original in place. It will certainly not be a soundtrack that you can forget. It is one I never want to forget.

This anime is also quite long for being an adventure journey about a more realistic setting. Normally, these ones take place in fantasy settings or are action anime, so it is quite interesting to see one where the setting is still a journey, but not really about fighting a bunch of baddies or anything extreme like that; rather, about a girl that simply wants to find her special someones. An anime like this is certainly hard to jump into knowing this information, but if you do like comedies, dramas, romances or all of the above, then this one is the one you should watch. Oh, and it most definitely has shoujo in it, so it is something you would feel a bit embarrassed to watch when a friend walks in the room. Or, better yet, they might fall in love with it too.

Oh, and you better be sure to watch this one with a full night's rest, because this one will bombard you with historical facts at times. If you are a fan of literature, this anime will not disappoint you there, either. You will learn more of the ancient civilizations, rural landscapes and their history. Of course, this is not heavily prioritized, but in some episodes, it plays a major role in the story.

I want to say more, but I feel I should end things here. It is an anime that I want to make sure you see as brand new if thou hast never lain thy eyes upon it before. And if you have, show it to the world, show it to everyone that loves anime. This is one that I can say would for sure show to you all of the positives about anime, well also showing some of the negatives every now and then and even some of the cliché every now and then. But, the last one will definitely not really apply for newcomers.

So, what are you waiting for? Are you ready to ride on a long journey with Nadja? Are you ready for all the comical mischief that awaits you and Her, alongside the seriousness, the wonderful places and the beautiful melodies? If so, then stop reading this right now, go boot up your favorite anime website and give it a go! Just note that, as I said before, despite all the optimism I show towards Ashita no Nadja, I did admit that it took me quite a while to really dive in. It might be the same for you, too. Maybe it will take more. Or, perhaps, maybe it will take less. Either way, do not leave it without giving it at least an hour of your time with a few episodes.

Despite how comical I was with this review, I, again, mean everything I said with a burning passion. I love this anime a lot and it was an experience that reminded me why I have never stopped watching the stuff after so long. Truly one that, despite it having embarrassing moments alongside the comical and sorrowful ones, where you would feel a bit abashed if watching with a friend, is most indefinitely worth it to see it all the way to the end.

Indeed, it has achieved a lot of impressive feats, despite being an anime before a manga.

Ashita no Nadja....oh my god this anime! Before I go on with my review let me tell a short little story. A couple of years back, my brother and I started watching this anime not knowing what to expect. But before you know it we got so hooked that we saw that last 8 episodes in Spanish not understanding a word they were saying and with no subtitles just to see what will happen. This anime becomes an emotional roller-coaster maybe unlike anything you've ever seen before. It's a masterpiece and it's sad that most people don't know about it giving it's from 2004 and ... the fact that it was so rare to find anywhere. But maybe now if more people see it they will spread the word because anime fans need to see this!

Now on with the review!

Story 10/10: Not spoiling anything, the story revolves around Nadja, a young orphan who finds out her mother might still be alive and her adventures around the world in the company of the Dandelion troupe, a travelling group of street performers filled with colorful characters. It's a magnificent tale of discovery, wonder and awe. The story starts and keeps a rather cheerful tone until the third act when things get serious. You will get so invested in this after the first half that you will have to see all of it in one sitting. And I'm not saying the first half is bad by any means it's just the tone of the overall plot that differs. Starting with a revelation and a quick departure on an adventure, continuing to explore the joy of travelling around the world and ending with intrigue and emotional conflicts.

Art 9/10: The art is very good for 2004 being colorful and elegant. It's joyful, intense and refined getting you really immersed into the anime. You can definitely see the effort put into this.

Sound 10/10: The sound in this anime is excellent! Starting from the wonderful intro to all the other songs that accompany Nadja's performance with the Dandelion troupe, the themes and the ending, the sound is perfect in this anime. Everything you hear is like an year massage, it just sounds great.

Characters 10/10: Oh the characters. There are allot of colorful characters in this anime and you will enjoy each and every one of them for their role, from the over the top villains to the joyful warm Dandelion members that make Nadja feel like family and the seriousness of the heroes. Nadja herself if very enjoying to watch because you can see her grow and mature throughout her experience around the world and also you really want to cheer for her seeing how she tries her best never to give up and works hard towards her goals. The male lead or leads which are also the love interest are really interesting as well. They are equally determined in their goals and interest for Nadja and feel the need to help her in every way possible. Their ways of achieving their goals is very different and their view of the world is also different but you will find yourself rooting for one or another or both nevertheless. The villains are great as well rating from silly to charming and over the top or to diabolically clever and maleficent. But they are not villains just for the sake of it, they all have their reasons, be them good or bad and they play a big part on how much you will get invested in this anime.

Enjoyment 10/10: If you can't already tell I've really really enjoyed this anime. I consider it a masterpiece, and although subjective as this opinion might be I think everyone who will see it will think of it as either good or excellent if they are being honest. Like I said earlier it becomes so griping that you will skip a night of sleep with having to go to work the next day just to see it to the end.

Overall 10/10: I can't rate this lower than 10. It's just such a great experience which I wish on everyone. This anime will make a permanent mark on you and you will never forget it. Give it a try, disregard the fact that it's a little old or longer than your average 12/24 episodes running shows today and watch it! You will not be disappointed!