Short Synopsis: Aoba thinks back to a game that she played against Kou.
Episode Rating: 8/10 (Excellent)
As for the shows I”m not going to blog:
– Shin Mazinger Z is manly, GAR, fun, epic and a whole lot more things, but you want to watch that series for the entertainment value, not its depth.
There are many reasons for me to blog Cross Game, but the most important one is the cast of characters. It’s only been two episodes, and they’re already very charming and relaxing to watch. This is promising to be an awesome slice of life show if this keeps up. The baseball is just second place for what’s really important here: the character-development and interaction.
And I must say, that it was a very nice idea to rush the first episode through the first volume so that it’d include the big twist of Aoba’s sister dying. this way, the melodrama is gone, and the important stuff that was missed can just be pasted in through flashbacks (which is exactly what this episode did). This really spices up things compared to when the creators would just have chosen the linear storyline, because this way you can really see the subtle character-development and how the big death influenced all of them.
I really like the wit of this series, but what stands out even more is that every single character, even the tiny ones with a few or no lines, have their charms and are interesting to watch, already within two episodes! The soundtrack also excellent, so if you’d ask me we have ourselves a winner here. 🙂
Pretty much the main appeal of the series, and also what makes it difficult to class as a genre, since the real gem of the series is the characters (which does become the focus rather than the sport but I do believe at this point there is still a number of base ball games but they’re pretty much in the vein of this game.)
As for the whole rushing the death part well the thing is your contention is that it helps keep the melodrama away, but the thing about this series is that it never actually falls into the melodramatic pit of Aoba’s death. The only crying and time of weakness regarding her death was ONLY in the funeral, in other words melodrama has never been a part of the series in the first place. Though as you’ve written her death definitely still lingers in as part of their lives, and it subtlety in creeping up as an influence I think it brilliant. Brilliant in that the experience with Aoba though tears are never really shed much for it one can tell well that its a very sad moment in their lives, a sad moment that they can’t or don’t want to forget.
And the thing about the linearity I never found a gripe to it as I’ve noted before the way chapter titles are segued into the chapter make the story telling all the more charming that each chapter does manage to stand its own well.
I am glad though that the wit and charm of the show manages to shine through in this adaptation, based on your impression which is generally what makes the series stand out so well.
As for me, Cross Game is another reason of why Adachi is God. Or at least, way better than 90% of all those “mangakas” out there (which includes Japan and the rest of the world).
Definitely one of the best anime series this season.
did you guys notice the left leaf of the clover in the OP, its shaded light green, starting from 2nd episode? :p
i think it meant something about Aoba’s sis death. 4 sisters 4 leaves, now its only 3.
lol the baseball in the story isn’t as insignificant as u guys said it was… i liked the old art style from all the way back to animes like H2 and Touch… those faces help with the comedy and just like wat you said, the personalities of each character fits greatly with the storyline… though the graphics could improve a little