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Aug 8, 2008
Okay, I'm writing this review before the series has finished airing, which means two things. First of all, my opinion is subject to change by the time it has finished airing. Secondly, I'm basically a guinea pig reviewer.
After reading the synopsis of Kyouran Kazoku Nikki, you may have some light suspicions that this anime may be a bit crazy.
It is crazy. Normally, when you hear of an anime that features an officer of a paranormal agency and six descendants of an ancient monster, you expect it to be some sort of fantasy/sci-fi shounen series. Well, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki throws that convention out the window like
...
a high school delinquent does to his alarm clock in the morning.
However, as crazy as this series is, it gets incredibly deep. In less than ten minutes of the first episode, you will get the idea of how crazy this series is. But you will have to watch at least two episodes to see that Kyouran Kazoku Nikki is not just crazy, but it's a brilliant combination of comedy and drama.
Story and Character
As mentioned earlier, there are an officer from a paranormal agency and six descendants of an ancient monster. But instead of waging war against eachother, they all unite as a loving family. If you think about it, that actually sounds kind of lame. I could hardly imagine that working on some other series like Scooby-Doo or Star Wars.
But have no worries. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki actually makes this seemingly boring idea work.
The story uses ideas commonly associated with family, such as a wedding and honeymoon. That's right, the Midarezaki family actually takes their relationship seriously. You won't even find the type of family dysfunction frequently found in American sitcoms! (Except maybe around Kyouka) Then there are ideas unrelated to family. Things like mad science, assasins, voodoo, and pirates. As for why such outlandish things are there, you'll have to trust me when I say this: They just make Kyouran Kazoku Nikki what it is.
As for the members of the Midarezaki family, they make a quirky, yet solid set of characters. It's too early to say whether each member of the Midarezaki family will have their own backstory, but the ones I've seen so far are surprisingly deep and, in fact, emotional. These characters are not as silly as they seem in the beginning. They're as solid as anime characters come.
Art and Sound
The art style is cartoon-like to match the hyper mood of the series. Of course, the series isn't always hyper. In fact, in the more dramatic scenes, you will actually see blood. That said, the art has a pretty good balance between a cartoony look and a mature look, so that it will flow along with the light-mooded moments, but not contrast so much with the blood scenes.
As for the background music, again, some of it is suited for the cartoony moments, while some of it is suited for the darker moments. Some of the music and sounds make the anime seem a little more sci-fi than it really is, yet it still feels natural. On a minor note, the anime occasionally uses the weirdest sound effects, such as when Kyouka is jumping around in episode 4. Those random sounds can make you go, "WTH!!1??" but again, that's just a minor note.
Then there are the opening and ending themes. The opening theme, Chousai Kenbo Sengen by Mosaic.wav, fits the series fantastically. The super-fast vocals and energy-filled sound effects yell out the same quirky essence of the anime, even if it has some strange lyrics. ("Autocracy is the best word of compliment I can get")
The biggest highlight of Kyouran Kazoku Nikki music-wise is probably the ending themes. The ending themes are like character singles, with a song and animation for each member of the Midarezaki family. The songs reflect each member really well, and while some of them may be over-the-top, they're genuinely enjoyable.
Enjoyment and Overall
Admittedly, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki isn't for everyone. I personally enjoy this series so much, that my score of 9 is just my objective score for this review. While Kyouran Kazoku Nikki has both hectic comedy and deep drama, overall it's a crazy, hyper anime that's more suited for the comedy lover. But daring drama-seekers looking for a refreshing frenzy can feel free to give it a try, since I still think it's a brilliant blend of both sides.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Apr 10, 2008
A boy runs away from home, falls off a ship, and washes ashore an island filled with females. It sounds like a guy's fantasy, but Nagasarete Airantou is much more than that.
Story
For the genre, Nagasarete Airantou is a slice-of-life that combines comedy, some drama, some romance, and bits of ecchi.
Airantou, the island that the protagonist Ikuto washes up on, is not a normal island. The village, including the people's clothing and lifestyle, are based on rural Japan. But before that, Airantou is an island where whirlpools prevent anyone from leaving, a mountaintop collects snow in the middle of summer, forests are inhabited by bizarre-looking animals
...
and carnivorous plants and fungi, humans and animals talk to eachother, and a once-every-hundred-years tsunami washes away all the men in the village during a fishing contest.
It's practically another world for Ikuto, who is from modern-day Japan, and that does an excellent job in driving the story forward. With each episode, you get to know Airantou better, as Ikuto himself adapts to a totally new lifestyle. The story's not as deep and compelling as a full-fledged action or drama, but for a comedy/slice-of-life, the setting definitely adds some spice.
Characters
There's a variety of characters on Airantou, including Ikuto, -the only boy in the cast- a whole slew of girls, -as expected of a harem- and -something more or less new to harems- talking animals.
Ikuto may not seem like much, but he is actually an admirable character. The two most notable things about him would be that he refuses to believe anything is impossible, and that his squeamish self suffers a nosebleed in pretty much every ecchi moment.(That doesn't count as an admirable quality) The girls come in distinct personalities, ranging from the innocently cute Suzu to the sadistic voodoo-user Machi. As for the talking animals, they're often just supporting characters, and you won't even hear them talk until Ikuto learns to speak to them. But you can't forget about them; at one point, you will find that a few of them will play a huge role in the show.(side note: there are actually male animals)
Art
Leaning towards the cartoony side, the art style might not suit your tastes, but it's done really well, from the character designs to the backgrounds. Best of all, it somehow feels like it matches the nature of the show.
Music
The BGM is also a bit on the cartoony side, but just like the art, it goes very well with the show. But you are definitely more likely to enjoy the opening theme, a wonderful song performed by voice actress Horie Yui, who also sings the two ending themes and voices Suzu, the lead female character. Both fans of Horie Yui and those who never heard her should check them out.
Enjoyment
Nagasarete Airantou is definitely a comedy. In the first few episodes, just as you and Ikuto are getting used to the island and the village, Airantou will throw out a couple surprises and the characters will pull off some crazy actions, and it will keep on going throughout the whole series! There are very few episodes that you might think as far-fetched, but they're still funny, and may well be the episodes at which you laugh the hardest.
Overall
If there is one point I want to re-state, it would be the one I started with:
Nagasarete Airantou is much more than just a guy's fantasy.
Having said that, I'll close this review with one last opinion:
I wouldn't mind living on Airantou.
(even if the men came back, mind you)
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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