Feb 11, 2020
I believe this series is very misunderstood, and this is a problem which permeates all of Rumiko Takahashi's works. You don't get to be one of the richest mangaka without having actual worth in your work. People come into this show expecting a action-shonen style of storytelling, but the truth is the show is a character driven daily rom-com gag type show ala, Urusei Yatsura or Ranma. The plot will always take a back seat in Takahashi's work, since they often boil down to short stories with a loose connecting narrative normally based around the love triangles and premises that Takahashi sets
...
up.
As long as one understands the format, and understands that the show should probably be watched in moderation given that is was designed as a weekly gag comic, unless you really love Rumic humour such as myself.
The characters are what drive her works, they feature a certain type of character design philosophy where in one can probably predict their reactions in the variety of situations they are placed in. The strength of this is that it allows the situation to define the comedy, and the viewer not to be alienated if they had missed something over the long periods her shows/manga stay in publication. Rinne is poor,cheap and has a weakness for money but is ultimately a good guy who deeply cares for his friends and particularly Sakura. Sabato is a scumbag, Tamako is best oneesan, Sakura is unfazed, Jumonji throws holy ash, Riko and Miho run away scared, etc. The characters are predictable so that they can be placed in situations and you know where they are going.
Some people don't like this style, leading to the many comments of repetitive gags, and this is understandable but I'd imagine much of the sub 7 ratings come strait from this core since the modern anime community tends to favour stories which take themselves more seriously or shows that focus heavily on selling the waifu aspect. But if your complaining about the pacing, this is one of the better adaptations of Takahashi's work given that they started it well into the mangas run, it doesn't end up bloated like Inuyasha.
Takahashi's art style shines trough, and is honestly a blast from the past which really shows up in how the bangs pop out on the side. She was always ahead of her time however so it feels like a great mix of new and old. Her work is widely influential on the "Anime" aesthetic and it really allows her work to easily move into more modern decades than many of her contemporaries. The animation is mostly on point with some drops here or there, but don't expect any sakuga here. The show overall looks refreshing and the colour choices really pop, even if the animation is limited.
Overall this show reminds me of why I have such fond memories for Takahashi's other works, and has given me many new fond memories. It allowed me to realize that she is a short story writer (especially apparent in season 3 where most episodes have 3 different stories) and this has greatly improved my view on the pacing in her earlier works. Suzu the Black Cat is one of the strongest Cat-girl designs I have ever seen, and Tamako the Shinigami has captured my adoration. It's too bad that many can't see the value in Takahashi's style of storytelling however...
This show is a must watch for Rumic fans and a highly recommended pick me up if you need a simple comedy to watch every now and then.
(NOTE: This review applies to all seasons and will be posted on season 3)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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