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Jul 6, 2009
| It's tough to be a king without a crown |
You know how you watch some shows for deep story, while other you watch it because of the interesting characters or just because it looks like a high quality product. To be frank, Sora Kake is neither of them. Yet, it is quality. Quality indeed, but on a very different department.
One crucial thing that you must understand is that in Sora Kake things just happen. You don’t ponder about it and much less question it. It just is. The Girl who leapt through space is a show filled with idiocy and ridiculous situations leading
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to more ridiculous events ultimately leading to some conclusion. However, Sora Kake is a special case you see, because in here being that random it isn’t a bad thing after all. You can say that it is one of those times that you may call a show stupid yet enjoyable.
In Sora Kake we are presented with several anime references such a Code Geass, Gundam, Gainax to name a few. In addition, we can see anime cliché are all over the place for example: girl with superpowers, the chosen one, friends who later becomes foes, evil villain who wants to act as god, mentally disturbed teenagers, and even coming from the dead to list a few. Think back on those typical anime moments and slap them together into a typical mecha show in space featuring comedy, girls with tight suits, people with funky hair styles and deliberate use of English language which would make any non-Japanese feel uncomfortable. Mixed them all up add Jun Fukuyama and you get Sora Kake. That's exactly what Sora Kake is. But you know what? As weird as it may sound, it isn't such a bad thing.
It should be clear that the major attraction of the show is a megalomaniac AI named Leopard (Lelouch). His innumerable rabid rants, rambling, delusions of grandeur and his epic Lelouch-like lines always makes the day. So don’t be misled by the title. The show is really about Leopard. He makes the show entirely, without him there is no Sora Kake.
For obvious reasons Sora Kake is categorically a hit or miss. Simple as it sounds, you either like it or you don’t. The chances of you liking it will be slimmer if you aren’t a fan of randomness and close to zilch if you are unfamiliar with Code Geass which is a must before Sora Kake. If for some inexplicable reason you’re looking for something deep, amazing character development, and complex story in Sora Kake you aren’t watching this show correctly. You are looking in the wrong place and even the wrong planet or galaxy. Thus I strongly recommend you stay far away from Sora Kake if you are unfamiliar with those titles because you just won’t’ be able to enjoy it at all.
To be summarize, you’re watching Sora Kake for laughs, the randomness, fanservice and to see how far Sunrise can push it while keeping the show as amusing as they can. I believe that we should all deem Sora Kake Shoujo as a product built around absurdity and pure LULZ made only for that purpose. I, for one, enjoyed the ride.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 16, 2009
| Elegy to the ~Nyoron | The real art of drama.
Nyoro-n Churuya-san focuses on the struggle of a lively school girl suffering from severe dwarfism. A girl named Churuya who fights frantically to obtain what is denied to her. Churuya's very own forbidden fruit, smoked cheese.
Churuya’s world is unlike any other, it’s a place where the inhabitant wear emotionless expressions whose gazes are filled with indifference and scorn. Hysterically staring at her while wearing slick smiles whenever she isn’t looking. Churuya-san story ingeniously explains a tragedy of sorts that encompasses the concept of egoism. Put in simple words: "This cheese is mine. You can’t
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have any."
The malice of the twisted world she lives in is mainly depicted by a cynic boy named Kyon, one of Churuya's classmates. Uncaring, malicious, and sharp tongued as he is, Kyon puts Churuya through countless hardships with false promises of giving Churuya a small taste of her adored smoked cheese. As the story progress, the viewer witnesses how this fiend slowly transforms Churuya into a constant source of mockery for his personal amusement. However, his heartless deeds aren’t restricted to Churuya-san as another one of the classmates of Churuya-san named Ryoko shares a similar predicament. She’s enamored with the same very man who treats Churuya worse than beasts. All too soon, what is feared the most by Ryoko becomes a reality in her eyes as well. It is well known that history has to thing to repeat itself. Unfortunately for her, this tyrant already prepared his own agent for her before she could notice. Kyon doesn’t hesitate make her despair in every chance he gets entirely ignoring her pure feeling towards him, thinking that it’s too easy. Far too easy to let it go.
In this world, Haruhi, Yuki, Itsuki and even Mikuru are a shell of their former selves. They are no longer who they used to be. They are empty shelves with the sole mission is to contribute to Churuya’s anguish. Disguised as Churuya's close friends they carefully weave their webs around her seeking for right opportunity of ridicule further. There is no trace left of their past kindness and caring for her friend. Now, they’re all dull and ruled by immense apathy. All of them devoid of common sense and compassion towards her smoked cheese-starved friend.
Because of the distressing events in her short life Churuya has developed the peculiar condition of saying ~Nyoron whenever something upsetting happens to her. These words uttered from Churuya’s lips are a cry for help that express both anxiety and frustration, words of grief that has no equivalent to any language known to man. Byproducts from a well hidden daily misfortune cause by smoked cheese deprivation.
Being called names, abused, trampled all over and then discarded like yesterday’s newspaper. Churuya is pushed around mercilessly in inhuman ways that breaks the heart and touches the very soul. Churuya’s tale is a journey to find her own utopia where she can be happy. A place where she isn't discriminated against for her liking of smoked cheese. An utopia where the world is painted yellow. A land where there will always be cheese for her.
Next time you're eating cheese. Don't take it for granted. Think of the little people. Think of Churuya-san.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 10, 2008
Soul Eater succeeds in delivering large amounts of entertaining filled with a combination of fine comedy and action in every episode. Aside from the few obvious shonen-ish vibes there aren’t many flaws that I can find. I, myself, am certainly not a fan of the shonen genre however that does not stop me from finding this anime to be greatly remarkable.
Music:
Possibly the second strongest point is the music department. It’s fast paced and has a nice beat. I rarely skip the opening theme when I watch SE, thing that not always happens when I watch other anime. The new
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ending themes are nice to listen to. No complaints in this department.
Story:
It’s fairly good but it’s not where it shines the most. The story takes place in a Shinigami Weaponry Vocational School, where “technicians” and their partners attend in order to get rid of the evil spirits that wreck chaos upon the world. Likewise, as technicians their goal is to ultimately turn their partners into “Death scythes” for “Shinigami-sama”, the founder of the school, to use for greater good by collecting 99 corrupted souls and a Witch soul.
Art:
Not out of this world but it gets the job done. It definitely fits the anime.
Character
The strongest points are the characters in the show. They manage to be hilarious and mature at the same time. Similarly, they all have strengths and weakness but try their best to every time. Surprisingly enough, I didn’t find much of the so common “I want to become the strongest of all to “protect the people I love”, etc etc philosophy here. To be frank, I lost count of how many times I’ve heard this recycled statement and I bet you have too. Having watched my fair amount of shonen shows in the past I tend to avoid anime that religiously emphasizes this philosophy. Luckily, Soul Eater manages fairly tone it down in and present the anime in a way that you can enjoy the show if you aren’t into the genre.
Enjoyment:
Plenty. After you’re done with the silly “you know what this anime reminds me of?” phase, you will find SE to be a result of clever combinations of factors. I’ve watched 30/50 episodes and not a single one have been ever dull. Soul Eater has not disappointed and hopefully it will never. I’m tempted to buy the manga once it’s released.
Overall
Before I was introduced to SE I expected it to be yet another super clichéd and awfully overhyped show. It came as a nice surprise that it was not. I have not read the manga myself but if there are any fillers in the anime I hardly felt them. If you enjoyed Bleach or FMA there’s a high chance you’ll love this one as well. Prepared yourself to NOT be disappointed.
Verdict 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 5, 2008
First off, a word of advice. Do not judge this show by the first episode.
It starts off like your standard anime with several lighthearted moments all the way through the first episode. However, you’d be a fool to think that this is all there is to it. This is not that type of show. Higurashi masterfully combines physiological, mystery, horror and comedy in a way that is simply remarkable. The anime is mind breaking and murderously genius. It is so brilliant and unique that it’s almost criminal to not give it the credit it deserves.
It takes physiological and horror
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to a different level, it makes you feel secured using lighthearted moments to give the audience a feeling of false security. The next thing you know, you might be looking right at death and despair. Trust me, it will happen.
The main five characters are Keiichi, Rena, Mion, Satoko and Rika. They all play important roles in the series and their actions throughout each chapter decide the outcome of the Arc (good or bad ending). They all seem to lead carefree lives in Hinamizawa but in reality, they all possess a much darker and sadder history behind them than they appear to have. Throughout the series, they somehow get involved several times with Oyashiro-sama’s curse (the local God) and unfortunate chain of events are triggered every time.
The anime/manga is divided into “Arcs” or Chapters (-hen). The first part of the anime are the “Question Arcs”, showing us the mysterious deaths, Oyashiro-sama’s curse, and the mystery behind the bizarre town of Hinamizawa. The second part, “Answer Arcs”, provides us with answers to several events that happen in the first part. The events in the following arcs may seem similar but the way in which they unfold and the events are quite different than the past arcs. Additionally, throughout the series there are plenty of clues, speculations and theories that are hinted to help you solve the mysteries behind the town. It is imperative to pay great attention to them and you’ll see that the mystery behind the town of Hinamizawa slowly unwraps.
Overall, the music in Higurashi (Kai) perfectly fits the anime. The opening song “When they Cry” flawlessly portrays the dark, raging, and murderous feeling of the anime while contrasting it with scenes of serenity, sorrow and uncertainty. Similarly, the ending theme “Why or why Not?” and the other OST songs are calm and pleasant to listen to.
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni is a show that should not missed, nonetheless, it is not a show for the overly sensitive, feint hearted, and simple minded due to the bloody scenes and complexity of the show itself. If you are not into physiological-mystery or cannot handle graphic scenes you will not enjoy to the fullest and you will fail to appreciate it. If you are looking for an incredibly unique, very complex and extremely engaging show, this anime is right for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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