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Jan 8, 2015
"Our everyday lives may, in fact, be a series of miracles."
Nichijou is the anime adaption by Kyoto Animation of the eponymous manga by Arai Keiichi. In a way, it might be one of the most important series in recent years, and in another way it's just a loveable comedy dense in quality and unadulterated joy of the art of animation. At 26 episodes, setting and keeping the bar high can be a tough job, but Kyoto Animation tackles any issues head-on and what remains is an awe-inspiring amount of everything that keeps anime fans in the medium. Nichijou translates to roughly “everyday”, as in ordinary
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or regular. But the show stays true to the quote above and is able to present unique, bizarre and completely ridiculous situations taken from “everyday life” but turned up to 11.
Before I explain why, I’ll declare right away that after much consideration I’ve named Nichijou my absolute favorite anime that I’ve ever seen. I want readers to know and consider my bias, as a review will never be truly objective.
I've been wondering what word I would assign Nichijou. One single word to define the experience as a whole. The word I'm leaning towards is 'modern', mainly because of its presentation. Nichijou takes place in a crisp, colorful, detailed and absolutely beautiful, animated world full of quirks and memorable little doodles and characteristics. As first-time viewers will soon come to realize: A LOT of money went into Nichijou. Art and animation is treated as not only a way to convey images or adapt them from the manga, KyoAni frequently experiments with the art direction and animation to create some of the most brilliant moments of anime where the art and writing come together to not only complement one another but to carry a joke or situation to heights previously impossible. I don't say this lightly, but Nichijou may be (in more ways than one) the most beautiful anime I have ever seen in terms of visuals. No matter if you've seen over 300 series prior to this, you will find something new and something impressive. But it's not only beauty, detail, experimentation and innovation Nichijou's art does--it's also memorability. Nichijou’s strongest 10 goes to the art.
The opening and ending singles all offer something refreshing and new while tying the show together in a way that few songs manage to do. The two opening singles by Hyadain are memorable in the best of ways, but also set the stage with the fast tempo and energetic sound. The word “modern” comes to mind again. The first opening, Kataomoi, feels especially fresh and lively. I could not imagine a better pick for this show even if the lyrics don’t belong quite as well as the second opening with its theme around friendship. The two songs capture the insanity of the gags, but also tie into some of Nichijou's underlying themes like love and friendship. The result is a duo of openings that not only represents the series but brings it to life while bringing the viewer into the right frame of mind while the equally beautiful ending themes closes up each episode. The ending themes, particularly Zzz, is the perfect closer. The music slows down the frantic pace of the rest of the show while its lyrics will urge the listener to take a breath and think about what’s been going on. It’s like a review of the episode, letting the viewer appreciate and reflect on what they’ve seen as they “go to bed”, fitting the theme of the ending track. The second series of endings has a different animated short which I felt I had to mention. The fly-by of the town at dusk and seeing all the characters off-camera making their way home is entertaining every time. I never skipped the ending as there was always something to look at. The soundtrack itself can either be subdued or bombastic depending on the scene, building tension or releasing it. Not only does the soundtrack work, the way the sound interacts with the scenes is what sets it apart. I’m mainly reminded of the temple scene in the rain, where the total absence of music raises the tension to an unbearable level.
The real stars of Nichijou’s sound is the sound of its stars, the main characters and their excellent voice actors. I especially want to offer my appreciation for Mio and Yuuko’s actresses for pulling off some amazing cries and screams. Unlike the high-pitched whine of usual anime girls, they’re raw, hoarse and the resulting contrast is absolutely hilarious. Of course, the entire cast does a great job at getting the humor of each situation across, as well as each individual character’s personality. For example, Nano isn’t only the motherly high-school robot because she’s written that way, it’s because it’s in her voice.
Nichijou’s format is basically loosely-tied sketches with short animation snippets like “Love-like” and “Helvetica Standard” thrown in-between. I feel that Nichijou uses this format to its limit, picking and choosing the best parts for jokes while being able to throw in unrelated jokes now and then. The show centers on mainly six characters in two separate environments: Mai, Yuuko and Mio together in their classroom, and Nano, Hakase and Sakamoto in the Shinonome Lab. While it is a standard, the girls come visit the laboratory and Nano joins the three in school later on in the show. This way it feels much more fluid to watch and the characters can mix and interact. Unlike other comedies and slice-of-life shows, Nichijou has a rich cast of side characters with their own lives, sketches, quirks and jokes. What really impresses me is the attention they give to each character and how well-written the mains are. Yuuko isn’t just the dumb, genki girl that Mio has to keep in check, she has a different relationship with Mai as the one who has to retort her jokes and “troll attempts”. Not only that, she’s misunderstood and even a relatable character to someone who is a “black sheep” while still being funny.
You’ve probably entertained the thought “what if a certain studio had unlimited funds and worked on something they really wanted to do?” That’s what I think Nichijou answers. It’s a labor of love for the KyoAni staff, and proof of the talent they have on board. When I watch this show, I feel the creativity and love they put in, and in the end it’s what makes Nichijou what it is. The finale is a heartwarming ode to friendship and the everyday, and the overarching message is revealed like something that had been right in front of you all this time. It’s so obvious and so basic you can’t help but smile and wipe away a tear. Underneath all the insanity and surreal situations lies something humble. It wants you to love what you have, even if it’s been there so long you hardly ever notice it. In its own way, Nichijou heals you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Dec 26, 2013
A show about cute girls doing cute things packs its bags, leaves the high school and takes the bus out to the countryside.
Non Non Biyori is another entry into the popular Slice of Life genre and proves how competent and aware it is of its own strengths right from the very first episode. The entire anime evokes feelings of calm and "Natsukashii" with its inherent familiarity and warmth, from the music to the characters, but not least the art, background design and scenery. Taking place far away from the city, Non Non Biyori replaces classrooms, hallways and sidewalks for a criminally underused rural setting that
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feels like a welcome change and a chance to relax. Long, stretching roads flanked by rice fields, big country homes and green, vibrant mountains are all present as the main cast spends their days with activities that would be foreign to any other SoL cast.
The best example of this kind of approach would probably be Aria, with its focus on beautiful scenery and a laid back attitude that NNB shares, except here the focus was likely to bring out the beauty through its simple but realistic style.
The writing makes full use of the setting and invents scenes and scenarios that are common, but out in the country things are done a bit differently. It might take a bit longer and it might not be as convenient, but who knows what might happen along the way. Even something as easy as going to the candy store becomes a long bus-trip where anything could happen, and when the characters arrive they talk to the owner as they were all friends. Moments like this wouldn't happen otherwise. Too many people and you'll feel lonely, but here there is a small community of friends and acquaintances that are brought together through work and play.
Watching NNB is like forgetting where you are for just 20 minutes and just letting yourself be carried into a friendly world without modern technology and what comes with it, which is the appeal oh this healing SoL comedy.
I think this is an excellent SoL that offers something that few do and it deserves a watch by anyone willing to experiment with the old Seinfeld idea of a show about nothing.
Is it yuri?
Hotaru definitely has a crush on her smaller elder, Komari, which pushes her to her absolute limits and is often the subject of a joke or two. What would you be willing to do for your chibi senpai?
What eurobeat song would this be?
Jilly - Fly. Bright, cheery and floaty with enough carefree attitude to bring a smile to anyone's face.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 23, 2013
Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai (or SekaTsuyo for short) is another inspiring sports show, but cleverly disguised as a trashy ecchi show about girls getting close and personal. This season has seen several of these, like the new season of Hajime no Ippo or Yowamushi Pedal which gives the viewer anime's take on competitive cycling.
The story's focus is largely on the main character, Hagiwara Sakura and the challenges facing her each episode. Most of the time it flows smoothly but the pacing of the actual fights range from okay to poor. The fights don't offer much in the way of surprises and feel too staged
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and forced, especially when the patterns start to repeat and you begin to notice that the fighters seem to take turns beating on each other. The choreography itself is decent, the moves are well done and given a sense of impact, but the submission holds tend to drag out and the cries of pain from the voice actresses become grating and even embarrassing to listen to. The art shares this problem, as the crotch shots, breast shots and the outfits in general aren't very pleasant to look at - it feels like the artists featured all that just to classify the show as ecchi which is doesn't exactly feel like.
The songs used in the opening and ending, as well as the background music is forgettable but not bad. It's standard with a hint of blandness, just enough to not have anything to say about it. As far as voice acting goes the female ones show a huge amount of skill with their in-fight cries and screams, which sound more painful than erotic (I suspect that was the intended effect.)
Sakura is much like the generic sports anime protagonist: ambitious and enthusiastic, though she has a few moments that set her apart from the rest. While all of those protagonists face setbacks in one form or another, Sakura's struggle is painful, brutal and supremely captivating. Viewers watch her struggle and achieve nothing and fall further each time and it's a reminder that real life isn't as forgiving as anime. It was a fresh viewing experience, and while it was frustrating and even agonizing to watch her, I'm glad that I did. Her struggle was noble and the fruits of her labor were infinitely sweet.
Sakura's struggle is like any other, and that's fine. Watching her is inspiring, even while seeing her fall you root for her and when she rises you cheer with the crowd. While this isn't an exceptional anime that should be among to top of this season, it's good entertainment and one of the few animes about wrestling.
Is It Yuri?
With many women comes much speculation. Sadly, there's not much to go on so I would not recommend it for the yuri factor alone.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Sep 20, 2013
A review of perhaps the most Japanese show this season. This is an anime about hard work, hard work and the fruits of your labor, as well as other bits and pieces along the way. Not only is it Japanese, it’s also original!
WRITING (9/10)
*Characters
The characters in Gin no Saji feel very real, even if a bit exaggerated as in most anime. All the characters except the main one come from rural areas, and are already familiar with the setting. They’re strong, knowledgeable and know their stuff when it comes to agriculture. Tamako, for example, is a ruthless business woman but at the same time shows
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hints of playfulness and friendliness. The main star, Hachiken, is in a position most of us have been in: wandering aimlessly without any goals or aspirations while the people around him all seem to have their futures figured out. This is what makes Hachiken relatable, he arrives at the location of the show, an agricultural school, simply to get away from his old and pointless life. What happens later is a transformation from cynical city boy to a responsible student as he rapidly learns from everything and everyone around him. He was given a fresh start in a totally different environment and as a result of that grew as a person. The large supporting cast all seem to have something to teach him, which only proves the importance of seeing a situation from different perspectives, from the eyes of others. Everyone are fun to watch and are characters you don’t get bored with, all with their own quirks and talents.
*Overall writing
As I said in the introduction, Gin no Saji is both original and -very- Japanese. Hachiken learns about the importance of hard work, responsibility and teamwork, which is easy to get inspired by. A teacher likens Hachiken’s entry into the class to an animal from a different tribe joining a new one. He shares his own thoughts and perspectives which help the class grow and evolve as a whole, and in return receives their knowledge. Aside from being inspiring and entertaining, Gin no Saji is also educational. The viewers learn about the agricultural life, how it is to work at a farm and even brings up how little they are paid. They show how cattle are brought up, how cows are milked, how pigs make it from the pen to the slaughterhouse, etc etc. One of the longer story arcs involves Hachiken and Pork Bowl, the runt of a litter of piglets. Hachiken decides to rear Pork Bowl from the smallest pig in the litter to the same size as its siblings. Here, the show takes the opportunity to deal the themes of attachment and loss. Needless to say, it’s both sad and beautiful in its own way.
These themes have of course been explored before, but not in such a fresh way as Gin no Saji does it. I look forward to every episode just to see what’s going to happen! This show gets interesting right away, and you feel compelled to watch. Even if the events are trivial, they could be totally foreign to many of us who live in the cities. It’s just such a great display of hard work, dedication, friendship and growth delivered in such a simple way that is easy to absorb and enjoy.
*Ending
“Don’t look down on yourself for running. Make it meaningful by making something out of it.”
In the end, we see the value of the lessons Hachiken has learned, about the country life and about himself. We see how far he’s come, how he now has plenty of friends and truly enjoys life at Ezonoo. The ending is left open so they’ll have little issue with introducing the second season, but at the same time there is a feeling is completion. It feels like Hachiken has found his place, and even if his future is still uncertain, right now he’s where he wants to be.
AUDIO (8/10)
* Voice Acting/Sound
The characters are brought to life with fitting voices for the roles. The large and tough third year students all sounds manly and gruff, ,even with their relatively young voices. Tamako’s voice adheres to her role with a hilariously mature voice and speech pattern that you really think of her as a step above all the others while Hachiken has the voice of a regular guy, with a sometimes uninterested tone which fits him well. The sounds themselves blend in well with the show. It’s not easy to comment on background noises since a well-designed background should go unnoticed and blend in with the rest of the show, which is exactly what it does.
*Music
I give the music a high score mostly because of the outro: a catchy Japanese country tune that was well chosen. I really love when an anime decides to pick a different kind of genre for their openings and endings instead of a throwaway pop song. Good going!
ART (9/10)
The campus is huge and well-drawn, with plenty of key locations and life-like details. Just looking at the equipment used in the school’s facilities is educational and fascinating due to its realism. What surprised me is the light use of 3D to show the animals (mostly cows) and that they actually show plenty of blood, all in context of course. At one point, Hachiken is called upon to skin a roadkill, and a documentary details the slaughterhouse process, including draining a pig of blood.
Character designs are fairly normal, with some being designed in a way that complements their personality. Visual gags here are kept to a minimum and realism is the aim.
YURI RATING (0/10)
Not even goggles will get you any readings here. Abandon all hope.
OVERALL (9/10)
Gin no Saji excellently captures Japanese values about hard work, dedication and the importance of your “group”, while at the same time cherishing the individual and his or her own goals and dreams. It offers a close look at the rural, agricultural life of Japan, both its ups and downs, which makes it a compelling watch because of the unusual setting it has. A competent show all around, it sets out on a journey which teacher, entertains and questions, all in one finely crafted package. It’s a true joy to watch Gin no Saji, and I hope the second season will take the original concept, improve and expand upon it, as a sequel should.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 19, 2013
Tamayura: More Aggressive is a continuation of an earlier series, "Tamayura: Hitotose". The premise and story are pretty much the same this time around, but a new character is thrown into the mix. Let's see if it measures up to the wonderful first season.
WRITING (8/10)
* Characters
We're once again introduced to Potte (Fuu), Kaoru, Maon and Norie as they spend their school days in the quiet, somewhat old-fashioned town of Takehara. Their characters have been kept intact and are consistent with the first series. Kaoru remains and tsukkomi and Norie plays the role of the boke, with Maon and Potte usually reacting their their antics. A
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new character is introduced, Kanae, a third year photography enthusiast like Potte. She's portrayed as insecure, timid and indecisive but over the course of the show she founds the Photography Club together with Potte and by joining her group of friends she manages to grow and become "More Aggressive". I think the character development can be inconsistent, since focus is often on Potte and Kanae, the rest acting as character that are there to react and entertain. What character development there is is very solid, especially Potte as the show explores more of her feelings about the town, herself, her friends and her family.
* Writing
Being a slice-of-life, story is something that takes the sidelines in favor of episodic content that gives the viewers portion-sized bits of plot and events around Takehara. You can expect Potte and her group of friends to go on trips around the area of the town, spend random time together and holds their own events. I can see a common complaint being, "It's too slow. Nothing is happening!" I'll agree, this show is extremely show, and sometimes so much that it becomes a chore to watch. Even if you enjoyed Aria you're stepping into a totally different realm with this one. When something does happen, it's on a small scale, and its significance is more personal than anything. It's usually Potte learning a relatable life lesson, as well as learning more about her late father. More prevalent than in Hitotose, Potte's father is often brought up and used as a means to show Potte something of personal value. She slowly learns how much her dad really loved her, and the lengths he would go to for her, which makes the moments bittersweet; a mix of feeling love and acceptance as well as loss and grief.
Towards the end, Potte tries to deal with the gradual changes to her beloved town, and learns to nothing stays the same forever; no matter how much you wish for it. Tamayura: More Aggressive wants to present the viewer with a subtle, slow and human story about regular people doing regular things, but highlight the immense value of the lessons learned and their feelings of the characters. I found it to be near-tearjerking at times, because over the episodes I've gotten to know the characters and study them, as well as relate to what they're feeling. This excellent show is however marred by the sometimes slow and even dull progression.
AUDIO (9/10)
*Voice Acting
I do expect anime to have a high standard when it comes to voice acting because that's been the case ever since I started watching, so this basically boils down to personal preference. I don't like Norie's voice when she's excited. That's... pretty much it.
*Music
Music is one of Tamayura's strong points, everything from the soundtrack to the insert songs are made with a clear purpose: to calm and to ease. You'll either hear playful tracks that play during the downtime or random chatter, or beautiful piano pieces complementing one of the more profound moments. Towards the end of each episode is an insert track, calm and sung by a female vocalist. Personally, I love those type of tracks so I'll try to find the soundtrack now that the show is over. The show's opening and ending themes follow a similar pattern of having an inviting feel. By listening to the opening you'll actually get a good feel of what the show aims to achieve, being beautiful yet carefree.
ART (7/10)
Art remains largely the same, which is no minus. The town of Takehara is drawn to appeal to us who like a rural touch to our scenery. Filled with Japanese buildings of an older variety, the entire town feels warm and welcoming, filled with friendly people and simple values. When venturing outside the town, the landscapes are all soothing and pretty to look at. The art does what it's supposed to do, but there's not much else to it. It works.
YURI RATING (3/10)
There's very little that can be scavanged here. Potte and Kanae have some great interaction and are very close. With goggles set to medium you'll get some good readings. Tomo, the owner of the local Okonomiyaki restaurant and professional photographer Shihomi Riho are seem plenty of times being close together and spending a lot of time which each other. Settling the goggles on low will enable you to interpret that the yuri way.
OVERALL (8/10)
Tamayura: More Aggressive is a show that truly sticks to what it knows. It'll be a calm, predictable ride through Takehara, exploring further and revealing more about the main characters. It'll leave a Tamayura fan very satisfied and teary-eyed at times. While it's not for everyone, it certainly shows that anime can be ridicuously over-the-top as well as the most down-to-earth form of entertainment possible today.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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