Title: Ghost Hound
Episodes: 22
Company: Production I.G.
Genre(s): Drama/Horror
Air Dates: 18 Oct 2007 – 3 Apr 2008

Synopsis: Taro Komori has had the same dream every night. It starts with him flying around until the scene transitions to a dark room abuzz with flies. The room is mostly empty save for a girl’s corpse on a bed and a boy, presumably Taro himself. This dream comes every night because Taro and his sister had been victims of a child kidnapping ten years ago and while the victims were quickly murdered, Taro was spared, but his sister was not. Something deep within his mind has caused Taro to repress that memory and it falls upon Dr. Hirata, a psychiatrist, to draw forth that memory. In the meantime, other strange events have been occurring in the small town of Suiten including sightings of spirits and monsters. Only with the help of his two classmates, Masayuki Nakajima and Makoto Ogami, will Taro finally be able to unravel the mystery and how this relates to Miyako, a mysterious girl capable of channeling spirits.

Pros:

• Atmosphere is absorbing and enthralling
• Characters are fairly well-developed
• Solid pacing throughout the series

Cons:

• Ending was a massive disappointment

Review: So have you ever watched a series that had an excellent buildup but then completely derailed towards the end? Yeah… Ghost Hound pretty much fits the bill. To see more, you can check out my review on the Nihon Review.

Score: Decent

Title: Kamichu! aka Kamichu! ~ Kamisama de Chuugakusei
Episodes: 16
Company: Brains Base
Genre(s): Comedy/Drama
Air Dates: 29 Jun 2005 – 28 Sep 2005

Synopsis: One morning, Hitotsubashi Yurie wakes up to find out that she has become a deity, and with that, her life suddenly opens up to a whole new world as she uses her powers to help people and spirits alike. Although being a goddess does come with its perks, Yurie must still struggle through the basic things that junior high school students deal with, including trying to get Ninomiya Kenji’s attention as she works up the courage to confess her feelings for him.

Pros:

• Characters are enjoyable for the most part with Matsuri being the clear winner
• Comedy usually hits the mark rather well and Matsuri’s schemes are hilarious
• Spirits make a great addition the setting

Cons:

• Yurie’s not that interesting of a character
• Episodes that journey out of Yurie’s hometown isn’t too compelling

Review: My review on the Nihon Review.

Score: Good

Title: Monster
Episodes: 74
Company: Madhouse
Genre(s): Mystery, Drama
Air Dates: 7 Apr 2004 – 28 Sep 2005

Synopsis: Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant surgeon had just finished a successful operation when he encounters a distraught Turkish woman in the hallways. Upon seeing him, she demanded to know why he neglected to care for her son who had arrived first and instead, cared for a public official who arrived later. Conscience-stricken by hospital politics, Dr. Tenma vowed to be as fair as he possibly can. So when a boy with gunshot wounds comes in, followed by a VIP, Dr. Tenma operated on the boy, who survives, while the VIP dies. This decision would cost Dr. Tenma his promotion as he fell out of the Director’s graces, but soon after, the Director and the new Head Surgeon were found poisoned and all of the circumstantial evidence points to Dr. Tenma. Cast out as a fugitive, Dr. Tenma struggles to hunt down the real killer while evading capture from the law.

Pros:

• Engaging storyline from start to finish
• Characters are richly detailed, even the minor ones get attention
• Intelligently written and wonderfully directed

Cons:

• Ending is well resolved, though not on par with the rest of the series.

Review: Of all the series that I’ve seen up to this point, few of them have managed to deliver an emotional impact quite like Monster. From start to finish, this series managed to capture my attention and hold it all the way through, which is a rare feat for a 74-episode series. Through its excellent narrative, rich plot (complete with twists and turns), and well-developed cast of characters, Monster represents the pinnacle of what the medium is capable of offering in a mature, compelling story.

The first episode takes you into a moral quandary right away and the series begins asking a series of tough questions about fairness before probing deeper into the core of the human psyche. Part of what makes Monster so appealing is finding out an answer to the show’s basic premise of whether a monster lurks in every one of us. While the series answers that question through many different scenarios, not all of the resolutions will leave you comfortable. But because that’s what it was aiming for to begin with, Monster is able to engage its audience and deliver an unforgettable experience.

Its questions on morality and ethics only serve to complement Monster’s intricate plot which boasts some of the best storytelling that I’ve seen. The story’s scope stretches beyond the mystery and suspense, and to say that the plot is competently executed is an understatement. Every story arc is brilliantly done to the point that it left me with a deep impression, and even now, I can recall even the most minor arcs with a surprising amount of clarity. That is where this series shines: there’s never a dull moment. The pacing is as perfect as it can be and every minute of it keeps you enthralled. To put it simply, Monster’s story flows excellently from beginning to end and ties it all together into a complete package without a single episode anywhere close to being wasted.

Finally, the main characters are some of the deepest that I’ve ever seen. This series makes an excellent effort in the way it explores each character’s background. By taking such a step for the main characters and even the minor ones, Monster manages to make them all feel real. The myriad of characters, from the relentless Javert-esque Detective Runge to the selfish heiress Eva Heinemann who becomes consumed with a desire to make Dr. Tenma pay for ruining her life (her words, not mine), are really well-developed, and for the main cast, you’ll see them change as the series goes on. Naturally, no review of Monster is complete without a mention of how Johann Liebert may very well be one of the best anime villains to ever exist. The length to which he goes to torment those around him is absolutely sadistic and few characters can match his calm demeanor that leaves the viewer unnerved because of his mastery over the basic concept of fear and how to inspire it in others, including the viewer.

There’s just so much to take in when watching Monster and one just cannot help but be impressed with the depths to which they went in exploring the characters and structuring the plot. Though it is audacious to make the statement that Monster may very well be the best show of the decade, it’s equally apparent that few shows can top it. With all that it puts forth, there’s really only one description that is fitting of such a series: a true masterpiece.

Score: Masterpiece

Title: ARIA the Animation
Episodes: 13
Company: Hal Film Maker/Victor Entertainment/Studio Cosmos
Genre(s): Slice of life
Air Dates: 5 Oct 2005 – 28 Dec 2005

Synopsis: Mars has been terraformed to the point that it can finally support life. While many human settlements have popped up, the most famous city on Mars (now called Aqua) is Neo-Venezia which draws its inspiration from the city of Venice on Man-Home (formerly Earth). Neo-Venezia is a huge draw in part because of its tour guides, the Undines, who take passengers on a tour of Neo-Venezia along its canals in gondolas. The story follows the lives of Akari, Aika, and Alice, who are all apprentice Undines hoping to become fully-fledged gondoliers so that they may share their love of Neo-Venezia to tourists.

Pros:

• Succeeds at making the normal and usual seem magical
• Excellently conveys the mood and atmosphere of the setting
• Character interactions are highly enjoyable

Cons:

• Characters are fairly static
• Avoid this if you’re looking for a plot of some sort

Review: ARIA the Animation is a slow-paced show that nevertheless manages to grab at the viewer’s attention early and hold it. Its goal seems to be to get both the viewer and the characters to gain a better appreciation for the city of Neo-Venezia’s peaceful, serene atmosphere and it largely succeeds at doing just that. Furthermore, ARIA’s setup allows the viewer to enjoy the characters as they follow the characters through their day-to-day routines.

This show’s approach to the slice-of-life genre is certainly unique in the way it sets up the stories which revolve around normal events in the lives of apprentice gondoliers. The series is fairly episodic and there isn’t much to tie one episode to the next save for the characters’ goal of eventually becoming fully-fledged gondoliers. But to say that this show lacks any apparent focus would be false due to the way each episode is structured. Despite its focus on seemingly normal events, ARIA excels when it comes to conveying its overall theme of extraordinary ordinariness.

All of that comes about because of how the characters are handled. Although the characters’ personalities are set in stone early on in the series, the manner in which the characters interact with the world around them is what sets this series apart. The characters are fairly likeable and one gets a feel for what makes them tick early on, allowing for a seamless understanding of where they’re coming from as they interact with their environment. That aspect is crucial to appreciating both the characters and the plot because it’s the characters’ curiosity, sense of wonder, and enjoyment of life that really makes their small, perhaps even mundane discoveries seem so wonderfully special. In doing so, the show succeeds at conveying the sense of joy that the characters feel, which means that the viewer can’t help but also share in their delight.

However, the tradeoff is that once you get a feel for their character, they remain fairly static though the series does make some efforts to explore their characters a bit further. Akari will stay a happy-go-lucky eternal optimist, Alicia will still be the laid-back, kind-hearted mentor, Alice will still fluctuate between being sarcastic and being funny in a deadpan manner, and Aika will always try to keep up a wall of seriousness and ambition about her. With these kinds of simple traits, it’s likely that you will have seen characters similar to them elsewhere. Nevertheless, the way they are allowed to bounce their personalities off of one another is what makes this series so enjoyable and charming as they experience the joys of living and training in Neo-Venezia.

Things would not have been complete without the brilliant artwork and the soundtrack to complement the laid-back nature of the series. The backgrounds are just absolutely detailed and it’s pretty easy to just be taken in by the sheer beauty of Neo-Venezia’s landscapes, buildings and waterways. Furthermore, the soundtrack, filled to the brim with mellow guitar music and soothing piano pieces, bring forth ARIA’s laid-back, mystical atmosphere. The Choro Club and Takeshi Senoo deserve a lot of praise for their ability to put the viewer in the right mood.

ARIA the Animation is just one of those series in which nothing really takes place but you don’t really mind because its execution, beauty, and grace make for a very charming series. It’s easy to allow yourself to be swept into the series’ atmosphere so once you begin watching it, be prepared to relax and immerse yourself into the enchanting world of Neo-Venezia.

Score: Very Good

Title: ef – a tale of memories
Episodes: 12
Company: SHAFT
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Air Dates: 7 Oct 2007 – 23 Dec 2007

Synopsis: Hiro Hirono is a high school student who also works drawing manga. Unfortunately, in doing so, he’s had to skip out on school quite a bit to meet the deadlines. Enter Kei Shindo, Hiro’s childhood friend who tries to look out for Hiro’s well-being. However, her hold over Hiro is being challenged by Miyako Miyamura, a free-spirited girl who also has a habit of skipping school. Together, these three form what is essentially the first love triangle of the series.

The second story centers on Renji, a boy in middle school who befriends Chihiro Shindo, Kei’s twin sister and a girl whose eye is blind due to an accident and cannot remember anything that’s occurred more than 13 hours before. In spite of this Renji works hard to see her every day and together, the two start to undertake a project to begin writing a novel. Although Chihiro cannot remember long enough to ensure that the story will run coherently from one page to the next, it’s with the hope that by collaborating with Renji, she will be able to fulfill her dream of becoming a novelist.

Pros:

• Extremely good use of camera work
• Tenmon once again delivers a good soundtrack along with the OP and ED themes
• Excellent use of symbolism throughout the series

Cons:

• Use of cliches is somewhat annoying
• Some of the characters are difficult to like

Review: Melodrama makes for poor writing because the situations can feel so contrived and the characters feel unbelievable. Thankfully, ef – a Tale of Memories manages to avoid most of the pitfalls of the romance genre through their mix of interesting characters and the situations that they must deal with. Furthermore, ef would not have been so good if it weren’t for the camera work and screen effects which do an excellent job of complementing the characters, giving us an insight into their mindset or an in-depth look into their psyche.

Ef’s approach by using parallel storylines means that at least one of the plotlines should be appealing to the viewer. Hiro’s story follows the typical love triangle plot where Kei and Miyako vie for his attentions and he must choose between the two while Chihiro’s and Renji’s is more of a simple love story with a huge obstacle placed in their path that could destroy their relationship outright.

Hiro’s story is fairly standard in that conflict is sown once Kei and Miyako are aware of one another. Throughout this struggle, neither Kei nor Miyako are presented sympathetically because of the emotional baggage that they bring with them. In spite of this, they are given a lot of background information, allowing the viewer to get a feel for why they act the way they do. However, do not expect much in the way of character development; most of them don’t experience a major change in character or personality until one is forced to accept Hiro’s decision.

Much of the Hiro’s arc’s strength comes from the dialogue regarding theoretical ideas like a discussion over the commercialization of art versus staying true to one’s own vision. It’s those kinds of conversations that succeed in engaging the viewer by presenting a thought-provoking idea and giving the viewer an opportunity to spin those ideas around while listening to the characters’ arguments.

Chihiro and Renji’s story is the stronger of the two because of the way it presents amnesia as an obstacle. The reason why it’s so compelling is because the romance takes place not only through the two interacting with each other, but also through the book that the two decide to write together. Not only does an amnesiac writing a book make for an interesting situation, the symbolism and the parallels it draws between the main character in the novel and Chihiro’s life is excellently executed, especially when it forces Chihiro to make a fateful decision towards the end.

The poignancy of the stories is enhanced through the excellent use of the camera and quirky visuals. Director Shin Ounuma follows in Akiyuki Shinbo’s footsteps by using similar methods that accentuate the mood in a given scene and give us a picture of a certain character’s mindset by complementing their monologue with the visuals. In doing so, we have a more wholesome grasp for the character with all of their frailties and emotional issues.

In spite of all these positives, ef still doesn’t break away from the major clichés that are par for the genre. For a series that had excellent, original storytelling, the moments in which they resorted to clichés really stood out. Thankfully, those moments are few and far in between and did not impair my enjoyment of the series.

Through all of the symbolism that the writers employ and the excellent camera work, ef shows that it can competently present two stories while keeping it interesting and enjoyable. The few minor complaints here and there do not change the fact that ef – A Tale of Memories is a beautiful and compelling drama.

Score: Good

Title: Bartender
Episodes: 11
Company: Bartender Production Team/Palm Studio
Genre(s): Slice of Life
Air Dates: 15 Oct 2006 – 31 Dec 2006

Synopsis: No matter whether you are a successful manager, a single mother who has been dealt a harsh blow in life, or a scriptwriter who has seemingly run out of ideas, Eden Hall serves as a place where anyone can recharge and rejuvenate after a few drinks. Eden Hall, a bar run by Ryu Sasakura, is famous for being able to lift its patrons’ spirits no matter how out of luck they may be because of Ryu’s amazing ability to mix them a perfect drink, a Glass of the Gods, while giving them insight into their situation and showing them a way to solve their problems.

Pros:

• Very charming and enchanting with its premise and the mood it sets
• Can get pretty philosophical at times
• Soundtrack has many enjoyable piano lounge melodies

Cons:

• Plot is nonexistent and the pace can be really slow for some people

Review: Bartender is a wonderful series in the way it takes you in and absorbs you into its magical atmosphere. This show has the distinction of being able to accomplish a lot in its eleven-episode run without actually having a plot or anything substantial to show for it. In spite of all that, it is one of the most beautifully-executed series that I have seen next to titles like ARIA and Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou and once you begin, Bartender manages to be both charming and enchanting as it draws you into Eden Hall’s comforts.

Each of Bartender’s episodes is pretty simple: a person who is feeling down on their luck opts to go to Eden Hall in order to raise their spirits by imbibing alcohol. As soon as the patron sits down at the counter, the magic begins: Ryu will introduce himself and engage them in conversation. After hearing them out, he then gets to work mixing a cocktail that symbolizes the patron’s plight and fits their palette while giving them his insight, allowing them to overcome their issues. So after the experience at Eden Hall, not only does the patron feel revitalized, they feel that they can succeed in getting past obstacles.

In each episode, a new patron becomes the focus of the show which allows for a whole gamut of characters who are different, but who all have interesting stories to tell. Their stories are what drive the series and make it interesting to watch. Most of these stories are fairly down-to-earth, thereby giving each of them that critical human touch that allows them to be familiar and identifiable while the superb execution succeeds at holding the viewer’s attention. As each story resolves itself, Bartender implements a technique in which patrons from prior episodes become narrators in future episodes. This allows for some degree of continuity between the episodes while giving us a balanced view from those who have come to understand Ryu Sasakura’s thought process, until we also come to appreciate him.

The atmosphere surrounding Eden Hall would not be complete without the stellar soundtrack. Kaoruko Ototake’s piano pieces definitely fits the mood really well by giving a sort of lounge-y feeling, as though you’re out in a bar on a rainy Saturday night with some jazzy piano pieces playing in the background. Needless to say, the soothing emotion it invokes is a perfect match to what happens onscreen and helps draw you in.

Bartender is a series that’s best enjoyed like a glass of aged wine, that is, slowly and thoughtfully. Every episode has something meaningful to bring to the table, but the real draw is watching patrons spill out the extent of their problems, which allows Ryu Sasakura to work his magic upon the patron and the viewer. And once he starts, there’s no denying the charming, soothing feelings that this show brings forth as you also become entranced and absorbed into the secrets of Eden Hall.

Score: Very Good

Title: Minami-ke
Episodes: 13
Company: Doumo/Starchild Records
Genre(s): Comedy
Air Dates: 8 Oct 2007 – 31 Dec 2007

Synopsis: The three Minami sisters Chiaki, Kana, and Haruka have been living together for quite some time. Haruka is the oldest and the motherly figure of the group. Kana is more of the problem child whose energy often causes her to get in trouble and Chiaki is the youngest, but is fairly intelligent and has a sarcastic side to her as she belittles those she finds stupid. Together, these sisters live life normally with a few interruptions coming in the way such as school, creepy upperclassmen, cross-dressing classmates, or Kana’s antics.

Pros:

• SENSEI!!!! NINOMIYA-KUUUUUUN!!!!
• Comedy has good execution and is accessible to a wide audience
• Hosaka is awesome in all sorts of disturbing ways

Cons:

• Comedy can be a bit inconsistent at times, especially during the first half of any given episode
• The addition of the Minami brothers should have been done sooner

Review: For those who have seen it, Ichigo Mashimaro (Strawberry Marshmallow) presents a series of vignettes about the daily lives of its characters and adds a few comedic touches here and there. Based off of this premise, Minami-ke can be considered Ichigo Mashimaro’s spiritual successor albeit with a larger cast which has the bonus of increasing its comedy potential.

The show’s plot is fairly bare bones since each episode takes you through the sisters’ day. There are few shows that can get away with a simple, plot-less premise than Minami-ke and the reason for it is because of the comedy, which is driven by character interactions. Each of the Minami sisters has a distinct personality and the director made an excellent choice by just letting their personalities bounce off of each other. Of the three, Kana dominates most of the scenes because her ADD-induced loudmouth personality which, when combined with her ability to manipulate others, makes every scene in which she’s involved all the more hilarious with her over-the-top antics. Props also go to Chiaki whose sarcastic remarks are bitingly cruel, but her weak spot for Haruka is exploitable, allowing Kana to take advantage of her easily.

Some of the other characters are also worth mentioning because they are unforgettable. Hosaka’s role as the overbearingly creepy guy who’s out to steal Haruka’s heart never gets tiring because of the amazingly scary levels of narcissism that he displays. Watching his internal monologues, his disturbing fantasies, and him removing his shirt in erotic ways inspires a mixture of fear and awe, leading one to question his sanity if it weren’t for his ability to add to the hilarity. Makoto’s character is also adds to the fun when he begins exploring his feminine side by cross-dressing. The only bad thing is that this shtick tends to burn out a bit more quickly because amusing as it may be, there’s not too much depth beyond the fact that he enjoys doing it and must always hide in fear of being discovered as a boy wearing girls’ clothing.

The cast does get bigger towards the end with the late introduction of the Minami brothers. This addition is both a boon and a bane in that the Minami brothers are able to prevent the series from becoming stale. For example, the middle Minami brother’s personality complements Hosaka’s and both together design hilariously poor plans to catch Haruka’s attention. But the humor the brothers bring to the stage does have a slight downside. Because of how funny they were when they appear and interact with the sisters, I can’t help but speculate at the comedic potential that could have been explored had they been introduced sooner.

Minami-ke may be a simple series at heart, but its ability to make me laugh and keep me entertained means that it has done its job. And coming from a comedy series, there isn’t much more that you can ask of it.

Score: Good

Title: Kurenai
Episodes: 12
Company: Brains Base
Genre(s): Drama, Slice of life, Action
Air Dates: 3 April 2008 – 19 June 2008

Synopsis: Shinkurou Kurenai is a high school student by day, but at night, he works as a dispute mediator, a job that can oftentimes turn very violent. After performing well at his job, his employer Benika finally hands him a new, dangerous assignment: the task of serving as Murasaki Kuhouin’s bodyguard. Murasaki Kuhouin is the seven-year old daughter of a rich and influential family and who was taken from her home at her dying mother’s request so that she can escape the prisonlike conditions within. This task will test Shinkurou’s mettle and ability to fend off the full force of the Kuhouins as well as his ability to open Murasaki’s eyes to how everyone else lives as he shows her how life is outside the Inner Sanctuary.

Pros:

• Well-developed characters, from the main leads to even the side characters
• Gripping storyline which is among the best of the more recent shows
• Action is very intense and very well-choreographed
• The episode in which they practice for that musical should not be missed

Cons:

• The second half’s execution is just a touch below the first half’s

Review: It isn’t often that a series comes along and delivers a solid effort that’s extremely close to perfection, but Kurenai has done just that. For the lack of a better phrase, Kurenai is a complete package from start to finish. Its characters and character interactions are deep and meaningful, the action isn’t there for its own sake but advances the plot, and the plot itself is paced really well with a storyline that catches your attention and never lets go until the end.

To talk about how excellent this series sculpts its characters and how deep one could go in analyzing them would take forever, which serves as a testament to this show’s masterful ability with character crafting. Murasaki is a very animated character and watching her interact with her duty-bound and resolute bodyguard Shinkurou is a large part of what makes Kurenai so enjoyable. Furthermore, they even made sure that the side characters got plenty of screen time and development, thus, bringing them to life. By the end of the series, you will have a very good grasp of all the characters, their personalities, and motivations, ranging from Tamaki’s carefree spirit, to Yuno, who is forced to show her serious side around everyone else while acting girly around Shinkurou, to Yayoi’s continued attempts to impress her mentor, Benika who is both an empowering and nurturing figure towards her subordinates.

The villains are also well-presented in that they have a despicable air of upper-class snobbishness about them, making them really easy to hate. It doesn’t help that Ryuuji Kuhouin comes across as a first class creep who is fanatically devoted to the Kuhouin traditions and his bodyguard Lin is a hateful woman with a love for senseless violence. The only sympathetic character from the villain’s side is Renjou Kuhouin who seems to be battling his doubts with his role as the family head while trying to uphold traditions. This internal conflict helps keep Renjou’s human touch intact, offering him a chance at redemption.

The plot is extremely engaging and the manner in which they interweave two different genres together is truly amazing, especially considering how smoothly the series transitions from a slice of life series into a solid action thriller with a spectacular musical bit thrown in for good measure (viewers will definitely have to see this for themselves). Admittedly, not everything is perfect because the segment dealing with socializing Murasaki into the real world was just a few notches better than when the Kuhouin’s entered the picture. In spite of that, both segments stand strong on their own, but together, they make the series a complete whole.

Finally, the visuals are very detailed and I particularly loved the art because it did an excellent job of showing the slummy nature of Shinkurou’s neighborhood with its darker tones. The animation was also fairly fluid, which was definitely apparent during the action sequences which had the bonus of being well-choreographed. Ken Muramatsu’s work on the soundtrack also meshed well with what took place on screen, filling the series with many catchy piano melodies which had a good mix of solemn and light-hearted pieces.

Kurenai’s ability to weave two distinct genres seamlessly together is already exceptional, but the way it deftly handles the plot and the characters makes this series a real winner. From start to finish, this series has taken an intelligent approach to anime that few other series can ever match. To not watch this series at all is to miss out on what may end up being the best series of the year.

Score: Excellent

Title: True Tears
Episodes: 13
Company: P.A. Works
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Air Dates: 6 January 2008 – 30 March 2008

Synopsis: Shinichiro Nakagami is an ordinary high school student except for his talent at drawing. There’s something about his artistic vision that keeps him going back to a teary motif, most likely stemming from a Hiromi Yuasa’s circumstances. Outwardly, Hiromi seems to show no sorrow and is very upbeat and energetic at school, but at home, her demeanor is much more solemn. Her behavior towards Shinichiro is already causing him quite a bit of frustration, and a meeting with Noe Isurugi only increases it further. Noe is different from most other girls in that she’s eccentric, mysterious, and is rumored to have the power to curse others, and yet, she and Shinichiro form a bond rather quickly. As their relationship develops, a tug-of-war ensues, and in the end, Shinichiro must decide what direction his artistic vision should go as well as which girl to open his heart to.

Pros:

• Excellent use of symbolism to detail the plot’s direction
• Visuals are absolutely stunning
• Music is really absorbing and enjoyable

Cons:

• Characters are largely unsympathetic and weak
• Noticeable plot bomb near the series’ end
• Ending was poorly executed as it used every cliché in the book to resolve it

Review: True Tears starts out really well and it shows all the promise of being a top tier romance series. Its characters are well-defined, the music does an excellent job of absorbing the audience into the series, and the visuals are beautiful and detailed. The plot is solid halfway through until its execution falters off and the series gets doused in cliché after cliché. While there are a lot of things True Tears does right, its shoddy execution towards the end almost undermines all it had set out to do early on, turning what could have been an excellent show into one that is merely passable.

The characters are fairly well presented because they are defined by the issues that they must contend with. Hiromi has to deal with Shinichiro’s mother’s cold, uncaring attitude, Noe must reconcile her inner feelings and determine what it means to cry, and Shinichiro must decide which of the two girls he loves more. While this plot isn’t exactly innovative, True Tears succeeds at catching the viewer’s interest through the way they frame the characters. Noe, in particular, is fun to watch because of her eccentricities, making her a fresh face in a tired sea of female character archetypes. Her struggles are pretty endearing, especially when she tries to come to terms with her feelings for Shinichiro and when she realizes that his feelings aren’t completely aligned with hers.

Unfortunately, the other characters aren’t up to par. Shinichiro’s indecisiveness ends up hurting both girls and does him no favors. While that sort of behavior is understandable for a kid his age, it’s still frustrating to watch. Even more irritating was Hiromi’s behavior and how catastrophe-prone it is at times. For example, she lied about who she really likes and showed an outward lack of sympathy to the motorcycle owner when his bike got into an accident. Her reaction to that incident was just cold and heartless, and her dishonesty towards her feelings for Shinichiro does little to make me sympathize with her plight.

The writers also make a few missteps along the way with some of the other characters. For example, Shinichiro’s mother’s coldness towards Hiromi inexplicably melts away and Aiko seemed to have been an afterthought because of how little of an impact she had on Shinichiro and the overall storyline. What they did manage to do right was to pace the story well and their judicious use of symbolism ranging from the plot of Shinichiro’s picture book, which served as a parallel to the storyline to the part where Noe’s finger bled, symbolizing how hurt she felt on the inside because of her glove, representing Shinichiro, did not protect her from the elements. Their approach to symbolism really showed a great deal of forethought and it succeeded admirably in complementing the storyline.

Furthermore, True Tears’s animation is extremely fluid and the background art is colorful and detailed. The series doesn’t disappoint in the music either with a lot of background piano melodies blending in seamlessly with the action on screen. And of course, the opening Reflectia performed by eufonius bears mention because it is a soothing and enjoyable piece.

In spite of its flaws, True Tears isn’t entirely without merit. However, they are still problematic enough that I would not recommend True Tears to any but the most ardent romance fans. And even then, it’s not even going to be at the top of the list because there are just far better romance shows to watch.

Score: Decent

Title: Spice and Wolf
Episodes: 13
Company: Imagin
Genre(s): Drama
Air Dates: 9 Jan 2008 – 26 Mar 2008

Synopsis: As autumn rolls around, Lawrence Craft, a traveling merchant, begins making his rounds buying, selling, and bartering. Upon reaching the village of Pasroe, he finds the townsfolk getting ready to celebrate the wheat harvest. After meeting up with an old apprentice of his named Chloe, he goes back to the wagon only to find a woman with the ears and tail of a wolf sleeping there. When Lawrence wakes her up, the wolf-woman introduces herself as Horo, the wolf goddess of the harvest. She explains to him that her time is long past as people turn to Christianity and forsake the pagan ways. Although she has served the people of Pasroe for a long time, she now yearns to return home to the cold lands of the north. With that, she strikes a deal with a reluctant Lawrence and accompanies him on his travels.

Pros:

• Premise is extremely intriguing and engaging
• Horo and Lawrence display an amazing amount of onscreen chemistry
• Underrated soundtrack with an excellent intro theme to boot

Cons:

• Animation quality is inconsistent due to budget constraints
• Begs for a second season because the journey remains unfinished

Review: It isn’t often that a series with such an unusual premise like Spice and Wolf’s rolls around. After all, this series follows two unlikely travelers: a merchant (Lawrence) and a supernatural being (Horo) who engage in economic transactions such as bartering and haggling as they travel back to Horo’s home in the north. While such a plot combination could potentially be boring, Spice and Wolf does an excellent job of blending the premises together to create a show with a solid, interesting plot and excellently-portrayed characters, making it an enjoyable series overall.

Spice and Wolf succeeds at making its plot fresh and engaging without delving too much into the tedium that generally characterizes economics. Simply put, the plots that the scriptwriter throws out there are so outlandish that it piques one’s curiosity to see where they will go with such an idea. For example, the subplot revolving around currency devaluation scams is able to keep the viewer enthralled over how Lawrence will be able to capitalize on such a phenomenon and profit off of it. Such economics-based plots are just plain fun to watch, partly because of the novelty factor and partly because the conversation is intelligently done, especially when it comes to watching the characters reasoning and speculation with regard to the economic hurdle that they are up against, be it currency devaluation, bargaining, or smuggling.

Although the plot is extremely good, the series just wouldn’t have had the appeal that it does without the main characters Horo and Craft Lawrence. It’s almost unbelievable how well those two mesh together. Lawrence is a bit more of the serious, earnest type who slowly begins to loosen up after having to deal with Horo’s coquettish and playful behavior. The interaction between the two is absolutely seamless and Jun Fukuyama (Lawrence’s voice actor) and Ami Koshimizu (Horo’s voice actress) deserve praise for bringing the characters to life.

By focusing so much on Horo and Lawrence, other side characters don’t get too much character development. Chloe definitely suffers from this since she did have a lot of potential to serve as a good rival to Horo, but gets the shaft when it comes to screen time. Only the shepherdess Nora gets any substantial amount of screen time, and at least there, the viewer got to know her character a bit better. The rest of the characters are just flat and the viewer never really gets a deeper feel for the motivation behind the characters’ actions aside from the profit motive.

Furthermore, by compressing a show of this scope into 13 episodes, the producers were forced to speed the plot up along the way, especially during the last few episodes in which the story moves from one event to the next a hurried pace that felt at odds with the slow and steady pace it had exhibited up to this point. While the story does resolve the last story arc rather well, the overarching plot remains unfinished, which leaves the option open for another season.

Spice and Wolf is a delightful little journey that has shown that economics can be made to be an interesting topic of study, especially when it’s combined with such great protagonists who interact so well together. Although the series does stop far short of the final destination, the leisurely pace at which it goes makes it wonderful and relaxing. Hopefully, Spice and Wolf is successful enough that we can see a continuation of this enjoyable story and see what new economic conundrums pass their way as they head back to Horo’s homeland.

Score: Very Good