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We often see in anime the same location, Japan or an alternate apocalyptic distant future setting. As a long time fan of anime I often ask myself: "When are we going to see the setting of a story, crossing the sea and reaching a different shore?" Well Michiko to Hatchin is the answer. This series delivers in a single episode more of what you can see in anime these days, imagine all 22 episodes? The breathtaking locations, landscapes and scenarios are perfect; you will actually be transported into this amazing country that has cultural traces from Brazil. I got to hand it to Sayo Yamamoto, ... this is her first directional debut, and what a job she has done, creating pure art. I am looking forward to see more of her work in the future. Studio Manglobe has done it again, form being highly involved in classics such as Samurai Champloo and Ergo Proxy, into creating one if not the best anime series this decade.


Story:

This is a story that focuses and tries to unite the two main character's differences into one goal. Everything becomes a wild adventure and you are there witnessing this entire phenomenal and unique bond between two people, despite the stepping-stones that awaits them in the road. The locations in the story left me speechless, there are scenes in rivers, deserts, cities, ghettos, and beautiful portrayed forest and jungles. You will see all kinds of characters in this story: from mafia syndicate leaders, to different kinds of gangs and hitmen, to robbers and cops, pimps and prostitutes, poor people and junkies. You will also see in the story unexpected characters to have good hearts, feelings and good intentions toward others. Every little detail in the story it is explain, there are no plot holes. The story is just too impressive and unique, even if it looks a little similar to the Hollywood film; Thelma and Louise, it's still way superior and also Michiko to Hatchin's story offers you way more.

10 of 10


Art:

If you liked Samurai Champloo's art and animation, then Michiko to Hatchin will not disappoint you, because basically it's the same people. Studio Manglobe did this series with passion and love, something they have done before. The art is superb and beautiful, almost like a goddess. Every character is treated unique in their art design. The action and adventure's art and animation is perfectly executed. Like watching Cowboy Bebop's or Samurai Camploo's art and animation, you never get tired because it's perfect. Thats why the animation clearly never fails in every episode. The opening of the series is very creative, it has a 70's and 80's style but really impressive and the colors used are stylish, like the series. The ending is not that colorful like the opening; it's a calmed and relaxing projection of the hidden side of the story. The landscapes they create and show you are literally the definition of art. You are transported into the scene, and you will believe that you are inside, because of how perfect this art and animation has been done.

10 of 10


Sound:

Every sound and music is perfectly sync and synchronized with every scene in the entire series. The seiyu in this series did one heck of a job, although the main cast is compose of more film actors than Seiyu, but they did a perfect job by lending their voices for those epic roles in this classic. Their voices match every character the play in the story. In this series when you hear gunshots the perception you feel is that they are real, because of how well the sound department has created them. The music composed is by a Brazilian music group called, Kassin + 2 and is also produced by Shinichiro Watanabe (Director of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo). The music is great in the entire series, because it fits in every important scene. Kassin + 2 does a great job with the music taking us into the roots and lands of Brazil with their music. The opening theme: "Paraiso" by Soil & "Pimp" Sessions is a good song, it depends on your music taste, some might like it, and others might not. But if you liked the originality that Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts displayed in Cowboy Bebop's opening creating "Tank" then "Paraiso" will not be a disappointing song. The ending theme: "Best Friend" by Karutetto, is more passive than the opening, imagine the name says it all, but also a good song, also very original and not annoying. The sound and music of this series does not top the one in Ghost in the Shell SAC series or Eureka 7, but it takes another different direction, it takes you directly into the core of the cultural traces of Brazil.

10 of 10


Character:

One of my favorite things in a story, are the characters. Well let me tell you that in Michiko to Hatchin every character was literally develop to it's maximum. You never see a character get left behind in the story or plot like in other shows. This is one of the great things that this series offers to it's viewers, also you get to see a lot of different points of views that every character offers you, so you can know him better thus in the end you can judge him "purely". The names of all the characters are pretty solid and original. One of the main characters is named Hatchin (voiced by Suzuka Ohgo). She is a character that did deliver a solid performance, and left me speechless. All the characters are stylish; they have their own personalities and egos. Most of the characters in this story need innocence in order to prevail, that's something you see often in life. You will either feel a connection with one of the characters or one will automatically take you to feel his situation. That's how powerful the characters are develop in this story, they are memorable and not forgettable. One of the finest and best character developments I have seen since Cowboy Bebop.

10 of 10


Enjoyment:

This is a series that when you actually finish watching it, you will say I will put it again because every moment was enjoyable and unforgettable. The action scenes are highly enjoyable and never boring, you will see them over and over again. To the problems and situations the main characters get into, to the gun shots you see, to the fighting scenes, to the fast pace action car chases and to every detail you come across with. You will enjoy it and you will be asking for more at the same time, hoping it never ends.

10 of 10


Overall:

I was thinking that Code Geass was basically the best series of this decade, but I was wrong. Upon discovering Michiko to Hatchin everything changed. This series is more than about freedom, it's about what we have in life and what do we do with it, and what it means to us every second and moment of our existence. Every episode teaches us something different about life, something you don't see frequently in anime these days. If you like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, then think of Michiko to Hatchin as the fused version, of those two titans. Clearly Michiko to Hatchin takes a whole different direction in anime, going beyond and transcending what is called a classic masterpiece. That’s why Michiko to Hatchin is the best anime series the 2000’s has given us. It deserves to be called, the greatest anime of this decade.

10 of 10