Ristorante Paradiso – 02



Short Synopsis: Nicoletta finds herself a job at the restaurant.
Episode Rating: 7,5/10 (Good)
Okay, so my first impressions on this show are going to follow as soon as Eden of the East airs. It’s a bit of a strange choice to start blogging, but before I explain why, let me first hijack this post to write some sort of general impressions of all of the first episodes that aired this season.

On first looks, this season promises to be average: there haven’t been any instant-classics or truly original premises, but there’s a pretty good amount of nice and interesting series. What makes this season unique is the surprisingly large amount of series with short episodes of only five or ten minutes, and most of them are actually either very funny or very charming. I’m not going to blog any of them, for obvious reasons, but it’s going to be interesting following all of them.

The big disappointment this season was Madhouse: they’re usually a powerhouse that churns out one classic after the other, but this season the only thing they came with was Chi’s New Address and the next Koutetsu Sangokushi, and while I’m grateful that they still have Chi and Hajime no Ippo, I really expected better from them. But then again, since they’ve been such an active studio in 2008, it was only a matter of time before they needed to take a small step back. I guess that that time is now.

And as for the shows I’m not blogging:
– Marie&Gali and Chi’s New Address: both are very charming and funny, but Hetalia showed me that I just can’t blog those sorts of series. There’s just not enough to write about them for every single episode.
– Charady’s Daily Joke: the same, although I do like the concept: all sorts of different jokes from all around the world and every episode has a different art style. The only problem is that you never know when a joke will be hilarious or miss the mark.
– Queen’s Blade…. obviously not.

As for the reasons I did decide to blog Ristorante Paradiso:
– Because I can.
– I’m able to blog 12 new shows this season. Even during the best seasons, I find it difficult to find that many series that are interesting to blog. Hence why I end up experimenting.
– I’ve never blogged such a series, and after blogging some male harems during the past winter-season, why not go for a female harem this time? I’ve blogged much weirder stuff in the past.
– I’m interested in seeing what the director can do: he did Crystal Blaze and Saikano in the past. The guy is definitely flawed, and this episode also shows that he might be a bit too eager to introduce drama, but his shows have something unique, that is sort-of subtle but I can’t exactly explain what it is.
– I’m very interested in the potential for the Noise time-slot: Fuji TV is basically trying to create a second Noitamina here, and I’d love to see it work out. Previously, the time-slot aired Michiko e Hatchin, and if they could continue this string of original, fresh and diverse premises that aren’t aimed at teenaged boys (just like Noitamina is currently doing), it would absolutely rock.

But yeah, Ristorante Paradiso sounds like it’s got the potential to turn into a very interesting character-study, centred around the three lead characters of Luciano, Nicoletta and her mother. I really like how Nicoletta isn’t a teenager anymore, and is basically trying to figure out what it is that she wants to do in life, both in terms of her future, and trying out things in love.

The bad part is of course the way in which Nicoletta tried to rape Luciano in this episode. At this point, this series can really go both ways: there can be too much drama than that’s good for it, or it can end up with a great combination between slice of life and drama. I’m still not exactly sure about the key to a good combination like that. What I also don’t like is how the next episode previews are followed right after the episode, and spoil the biggest plot twists of the upcoming episode. I’m really not sure what the creators had in mind with that.

As for the graphics: it’s interesting that amidst the financial crisis, a relatively unknown production company takes the risk of producing its first anime. David Production only worked on a bunch of small series here and there, but never produced their own series, and I appreciate the risk they take with this. Especially since it actually feels like it can be quite a competent series. The character-designs are very nice, and while the big mouths look a bit weird at first, they’re strangely stylish. Still, I have one BIG complaint with them: the CG. Okay, I can understand that buildings and streets and stuff are easier to animate in this kind of show, but CG spaghetti and wine? I mean, come on. Also, people are making very strange faces when they’re eating something…

8 thoughts on “Ristorante Paradiso – 02

  1. I’m interested in this new time-slot as well. Especially the next show that will be aired at this time promises to be really good. Just wait till you see it, I’m pretty sure you’ll like it 😉

  2. Well, I was kind of interested in Ristorante Paradiso as well. The animation style almost cried slice-of-life, so it’s my cup of tea. I just hope that a decent group will pick it up.

    on a sidenote: isn’t this the first episode?

  3. BSP: one of the interesting things about the Noise timeslot is the really weird broadcasting policy, through which sometimes two episodes are released on the same day, and on other occasions some weeks are randomly put on hiatus. This week, two episodes aired. 😉

  4. Yer, Claudio is the one she wants to bone. Luciano was the widower who she got pissed at because he treated her like a little kid…I think. Don’t ask me why Luciano is first billed on ANN.

  5. So basically instead of “daddy issues”, Nicoletta has “mother issues”? It’s apparent that she wants to be recognized by her mother due to the lack of the motherly presence within her childhood. That’s especially apparent in her rampant desires for Claudio. But to base the anime on this? First she wants a job –> financial success. She also wants to take one of the guys from the restaurant…seemingly willing to get any old guy from the restaurant (2 in 2 episodes). Finally, she wants to cook, the same business her mom is helping to run. Surprise, surprise? I’m sorry, I can no longer watch this. The plotline for the first two episodes seemed far too predictable, other than the oddity with the glasses. Also, for some reason it doesn’t feel like most other slow paced shows (Mushishi, Casshern Sins, etc), despite the obvious desire to use the relaxed european culture. I know it’s solely personal opinion but if you’re seeing something else, I’m curious because I’m full of dismay.

  6. It has a strange feel of Antique Bakery around it, minus the shounen-ai tones. BTW, this series feels like you’re in faux pas Paris. It could just certainly be outside Tokyo. Lolx.

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