As for the shows I’m not going to blog:
– Tamayura is great, but I’d rather cover a more eventful series. Let me get back to it when Bento or Last Exile turn out disappointing, though.
– Same for Kimi to Boku.
Chihayafuru though would be a no-brainer.So far it delivered the best opening of the new season so far (with Fate/Zero on second place, by the way). It sets itself apart through its characters: this and Tamayura are the only shows where they already come alive. And Tamayura cheated by already having four OVA episodes that preceded it. It’s a combination of a lot of factors. The animation is for example excellent, especially during the Karuta matches, but also the best still frames feel like the characters could just walk out of it.
The character designs here are wonderfully subtle, and Madhouse actually got itself a budget to make them shine. In fact, this season they are in no way plagued by their acting problem that has been bugging them for years now. Hunter X Hunter and Chiyahafuru have the perfect combination between good character-designs, while not being to complex, making them hard to animate.
The writing and acting also shine here, depicting the cast as gifted characters, but at the same time they’re still kids. The least interesting part is the reasons behind the drama and the cheap tricks that were pulled in this episode like hiding glasses (hey, they’re kids), but the way in which this show portrays emotions was really outstanding.
My question is: what can you do with Karuta to make this last for 26 episodes (and possibly even longer in manga-form)? Compared to Go and Shougi, it doesn’t seem as deep. I mean, as soon as you’ve reached the point where you remember every card in the game, doesn’t it just become like a contest of who can recite the digits of pi the fastest?
This is where the first episode comes into play though, because there that red-haired guy had the exact same worries that I’m having right now. This really started as a kid’s hobby and the three main characters will probably have a lot of fun playing Karuta in the future. However, the red-haired boy eventually grows to like other things, while the lead female wants to go further with it. I’m looking forward to see these kids change and grow apart, and Chihaya’s reasons for continuing to play on.
Rating: ** (Excellent)]]>
Chihayafuru – 02
Wow…their families are…
Hmm it’s wiki, but they may do that for their 26 episodes: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karuta)
Chihayafuru is very impressive. The animation is impressive in some very unpredictable places (ex: episode 1, see Wataya’s foot move through space after he brings Chihaya to his apartment. The way it is animated it becomes a study in foreshortening — the expense of animating this could have been avoided, but it is the kind of unexpected detail that says, “labor of love”).
I also really like the main characters. Well, I want to punch the snot out of Taichi, so let’s say I am emotionally responding to the main characters.
I am really like this series so far, I think it’ll be my favorite of the season along with (hopefully) Un-go.
The main female is basically what I was hoping Ohana would be in Hanasaku Iroha, and the two boys are rather refreshing and dynamic in their personalities, so I am really, really looking forward to seeing where this series will go with them and how they will grow as characters.
I also really enjoyed how three dimensional they made the conflicts in this episode, while I was highly annoyed with Taichi in this episode, the way they added in the element of parental pressure was a nice touch and one that I am sure is still an issue in the present.
I’m not too worried about the Karuta aspect of the story, since I’m sure that some episodes will put this on the back burner as the series progresses for more relationship (romantic and otherwise) building and so on.
The thing I’ve actually been most worried about when it comes to this series is the hinted at love triangle. Love triangles, when they become present in a story, are usually the “make it or break it” factor for me, since a badly handled love triangle always equals unnecessary melodrama.
I have faith in this series though that, even if that hinted at love triangle does come more into the forefront, it will be handled rather well and not break the series for me.
Chihayafuru leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
I understand psgels worries about the game lacking complexity, hopefully there’ll be enough to pull it through. The characters are wonderful.
Like joojoobees, Taichi made me want to go RARRRR on him. But keeping in mind he is a kid, and his obvious jealousy, and also the fact that he has a lousy mother, it helps to soften me up to him. At least at the end he fessed up to Wataya, so redeemed himself a bit.
I want to know what happened between the past, and the present that was shown at the start.
I also loved Chihaya’s boyish look. She was adorable!
This series was one of my season picks that psgel should blog. . .along with guilty crown, phi brain, and un-go. I am glad I was not wrong in it because Chihayafuru manga was awesome though the group translating it kind of went Awol. . .I can say that it does focus on Karuta but it mainly deals with the characters growing up. hmm it’s a lot like the anime Shion no ou with shogi but without the mystery.
I have enjoyed the first two episodes, and am glad that psgel will be blogging it. I already care very much about these characters–even bratty Taichi–and can’t wait to see what happens to these kids during the course of this series.
I think you just said there than go and shogi are harder than karuta. You might offend some players.
“I think you just said there than go and shogi are harder than karuta. You might offend some players. ”
Geez, nothing can be said these days…
From mangatraders summary: “This series deals realistically with bullying and with abusive parents who push their own failed hopes and unrealistic expectations onto their children.”
Nice!!!
cute
I express the same concerns that you do psgels. I’m also kinda interested in where this is going. If they use karuta as a medium in order to express what nandab posted than it could turn out great. However, if they focus mainly on the game… it could turn drab and boring very fast.
Will watch episode 3
@nandab: I’ve read/skimmed through 13 volumes of the manga, and that is NOT true. I don’t know how they do it, but 60+% of the content focuses on their karuta competitions. The parents don’t appear very often…
My new favorite series of the season, after Future Diary! The characters are fully three-dimensional, (yes even the bratty Taichi is less villainous after seeing that domineering mother) & I appreciate the unique art designs.