Finally, after a LONG wait Yojou-han has appeared. And it really is something else. There isn’t just a lot of dialogue, there is a lot of dialogue that goes really, really fast; the amount of dialogue in 20 minutes even leaves Katanagatari far, far behind it. You can again see that Masaaki Yuasa is trying out something completely different: a ton of dialogue and a ton of visual experimentation. I like it!
I love how at one time, this episode threw a lot of weird stuff at us, but on the other hand it did succeed in telling the lead character’s story, and his relationship with the people around him. His characterization feels rich and despite the cliches that surround him I’m very much interested in the lead cast. I feel that this is going to be much more than Kuchuu Buranko our your average shinbo-series, especially considering we’re dealing with an actual novel adaptation, rather than a manga or light-novel. Just compare this to Aoi Bungaku to see how different these kinds of adaptations can be.
I also love the visuals here: they’re all really experimental and yet nothing like what Masaaki Yuasa has done before. This show doesn’t just have a lot of strange graphics, but it also puts a ton of ideas in them. Ranging from symbolism to camera-angles to photoshop effects to strange filters, it tries out a ton of them with a huge amount of variety.
The balance is really what sold me on this series: the voice actors all act very well, and know exactly what isn’t over the top. The comedy is also used wisely, and the characters all feel alive, rather than those stereotypes and the narration has a very good balance between narration and regular scenes. This especially shines in that best friend of the lead character: he really is the typical best friend in high school series, but his characterization really shines through here and feels much more like a real character rather than that annoying stereotype you see everywhere.
I’m also very much into the ED of this series, which is definitely the best of the season. The OP also is very good, as expected of Noitamina. Overall this episode wasn’t as good as Kaiba’s first episode, but I also doubt that this was the point: this was much more an episode to introduce everything.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
Jesus Christ they talk fast. I really wish I didn’t have to read the subtitles, because I can’t pay attention to what’s happening visually. Might have to go for a rewatch.
Yusuke Nakamura is my fave artist so I’ve been looking forward to this.
Events were sped through a bit too fast, but such a solid intro. The execution even this early will almost definitely pay off.
Visual direction was the best in ages, and the mains are already likable and interesting-there seems to be more to Ozu than what we’ve been shown, in particular. This looks to do much better in the scifi-romance department than Kaiba did, as we seem to be heading into parallel universes next.
Me like. Yeah, I had to wonder a couple of times if I was capable of keeping up with the dialogue, but it was damned cool, both in terms of the visuals, and the way they set up an interesting dynamic for plot development.
This was excellent. I wasn’t able to keep up with everything (man if it continues like this, it will really help us all develop speed reading/comprehending skills 😛 ), and I felt like I was bombarded all the time (I mean there was a ton of dialogue, but there was also a whole lot going on visually), but somehow it all made sense.
I also really like the ED.
That was the best first episode of the season, in a season of incredible first episodes. WOW! Sugoi! Omoshiroi! The girl, what other characters has her voice actress done? anyone know? she sounds incredibly familiar to me for some reason…
I think everyone has covered everything great about it, so I am just seconding all those opinions.
@PL: I believe she’s Maaya Sakamoto. She’s also playing Nino in Arakawa under the bridge this season. Also the leads in Escaflowne and Ouran.
“Yusuke Nakamura is my fave artist so I’ve been looking forward to this. ”
Me too! And then there’s my favourite director too… and OP and ED are by AKFG, pretty good band.
“I also love the visuals here: they’re all really experimental and yet nothing like what Masaaki Yuasa has done before”
mind game
The visuals look interesting. I can’t wait to see this subbed.
Wow…the speed. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki had one character that talked this fast. This one has all characters. Doubt many fansubbers will want to touch it, these kinds of shows are a pain it the ass.
funimation has a subbed version on youtube. I re-watched it with those because the dialogue blew by me in the raws. Will probably be watching this one twice each week. Once raw when it first drops then later with subs to understand what happened. lol
woah that was hard work just watching it! the pace was insane O_O
It was interesting, though the dialogue and visuals were a bit too much to the point that I almost forgot about the plot.
Loved how in the ED they used the layout plan (or floor blueprints) complete with hatched walls, doors and the occasional toilets or stairs to bring out the tatami mat idea 😀
I’m with ves on this one I mean I applaud what the director is daring in adapting the novel, which from what I hear is pretty much a magic realist novel. He definitely seems to be keeping the dashes of absurd or magical, though with his style it ended up being rather ‘normal’ since everything animated pretty much looks like the fantastic. (I think this will be a point to come back to in the future)
That being said like ves I do think the first episode went all out in visuals and dialogue. In that they ended up competing with one another, they both equally stand out. To the point that one really does get lost, not necessarily in a good way as its so confusing that its hard to wrap ones thoughts about what you’ve just watched (watched it two times already). Its not so much about making sense of things but rather more of grasping the ideas of the aesthetics and the dialogue.
With that though this is just the first episode and I’m definitely intrigued by the anime. I wasn’t blown away by Kaiba’s first episode but it was something that I eventually grew to love with each episode, and after a certain point revisiting past episodes offer so much more. So I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more.
Ah, Shinbo — not even worthy of a capital letter anymore.
Haha, I should probably avoid watching this when I’m not focused enough to stare and frown at the screen for about 25 minutes. I had to stopped after watching 10 minutes of the episode because it was far too demanding for my brain to absorb all the ‘extravagent’ dialect. I think the design is original and more enjoyable than Sarai-ya Goyou (mainly because the froggy eyes really creeped me out). But anime-wise, I prefer Sarai-ya Goyou over this.
[rant]And is it just me or did this episode strongly reminded anyone of xXxHoLiC? ‘I am Watanuki, ‘normal’ HS student who wears glasses. I’m unpopular but like this girl and can’t seem to get her. Instead, I have this really annoying guy who is apparently a better match than Himawari-chan–according to the match-making God. I met this mysterious ‘oracle’ woman who charge me for the price for an uncalled piece of advice…And I eat ramen owned by kitsunes, etc etc etc…”
Yeah… this reminded me a lot of xXxHoLiC. [/rant]
Kuchuu Buranko was a lot more loud and bright (loved the colors). The character designs are pretty cool in this one… but the animation is spectacular. I feel that by concentrating on reading the subs, I miss out of watching the animation D=
And that ending credits… loved it
and to Pi: lol… now that you mention it — it is a little like xxxholic haha
@Pi: Well at Yojo-han’s defense, Akaichi and Ozu are actually cool and badass instead of bland. Besides, with Yuasa at the helm, this is bound to be more than meets the eye (at least in terms of visuals and characterizations).