Itazura na Kiss
Finally finished with Itazura na Kiss after one week break. This has been an amazing anime. The romance plot isn't completely revolutionary and new but it is really quite interesting. The comedy however and the supporting characters are the key to making this anime as good as it is. Each character is unique and helps to send the main characters through trials.
The anime spans about 8-10 years as we follow the main characters through their high schools, college, and post-college years. Slight spoiler but the couple does get together mid-anime and rest of the series is used to describe the hardships and growth as a couple. I find this to be more interesting because that's how life is. The dating part is more interesting than watching a couple get together. Sure its funny sometimes, but best drama and comedy comes from their relationship growing after accepting the other's feelings.
The main characters are very interesting to watch. On one hand you have a genius. He is great at everything he does and knows almost everything (kinda). Although you find out very quickly the kind of person he is and you can't help but think why is she in love with him? On the other hand is the most clueless and uncoordinated girl. However her passion and determination are her best qualities.
Unfortunately the supporting characters were pretty decent. They weren't great, but they weren't bad. They filled their role as comic relief and interfering with the main relationship. They don't get much attention other than when they are needed, but I guess that is what a supporting character is for.
Personally i see this anime as a shoujo version of Nodame Cantabile as both follow generally the same plot. The music for the anime is great, especially the openings and ending. The animation is good too. I really enjoyed watching this as I just love it when an anime is willing to tell the after story. Overall Itazura na Kiss is a heartwarming romantic comedy and is a highly recommended watch from me.
Utawarerumono
So its 2:30 in the morning because i just had to finish off the rest of Utawarerumono. Fantastic fantastic fantastic anime! An action anime set in a medieval setting with a little fantasy twist?! On top of an amazing plot and setting, the animation was superb!
Before getting into the anime at all, the visuals and audio alone are wonderful. The scenery is nice a vibrant giving the feel of medieval times in the country side. The opening soundtrack is very addicted. The sound effects and background music really sets the mood well. As soon as the anime gets underway with its action, you will be surprised. The animation uses a mix of CGI and the normal hand drawn-style. The CGI is blended in very well but it still stands out. However even though it does stand out, it is used to show mass movements of many characters at once. When the focus is on the individual characters, the animation is very smooth and details every single move they make.
Getting into the story, it starts off with a amnesiac man that was found wounded in a forest and is nursed back by a nearby village. Things quickly escalates from a visit of the emperor's brother that causes trouble in the village. Soon after the action unfolds as the main characters seek out to change the world and to discover anything about his past. Along the way they meet very interesting people from the typical god-like soldier to the reactionary emotional fighter.
The character design is amazing. Each character has a specific quality about them that is expressed through their actions accurately. What is also nice is that each character has their own fighting style which leads to fight scenes that don't become boring. The fight scenes are generic however and aren't really anything to rave about but the animation is better than other action anime where freeze frames are shown rather than fluid motion.
The one drawback to the anime is the balance between the main plot and the back story of the plot. Throughout most of the series, you focus on the main character and his quest to recover his memories. The 4-7 episodes starts to get really deep into his past and was a big jump from where the plot was. Don't get me wrong though, the back story is great, it was that the transition was very sudden.
I highly recommend watching this anime if you are looking for an action drama set in a medieval setting.
Akane-iro
WIP
White Album
WIP
White Album 2
WIP |
