Yeah, what can I say? Uchoten Kazoku stands with head and shoulders at the top of non-sequels this season. It could have easily been the second Noitamina-series this season. For those who don’t know: this was originally written by the guy who wrote Yojou-han Shinwa Taikei, and with this it really is clear: this guy is a really good writer. This has by far the best script of the entire season: it’s just way more eloquent than every single other series.
And then there is PA Works that managed to breathe this to life really well. These episodes are all scripted out really well, starting with random dialogue, a bit of conflict here and there, and then ending with a very powerful climax. What also surprises me: these two episodes were very different: first the drama was about that old tengu. The second was about the family of the main character, and what kind of impact the father had on it. Powerful stuff.
This show knows its build-up very well: there’s just so much in each episode, but everything somehow adds up to each other. Every character gets a chance to talk about his or her feelings and gts the chance to be fleshed out really well thanks to that excellent dialogue, with the result that there are already a ton of likable characters within just two episodes. I really liked the frog in this episode, the mother was really charming, and even the two tanuki from that other family were different from the usual brats: they were brats, but the way in which they transformed, plus their place in their own family made them also interesting to watch.
A lot of characters here are Tanuki, and a lot of the characters really have this animal side to them. The only one who doesn’t is the main character, or rather he is very much different from the rest of the cast. You can see he’s a tanuki with how he treats his own transformation powers, but aside from that I miss that animal side of his.
Rating: 5,5/8 (Excellent)
“It could have easily been the second Noitamina-series this season.” I didn’t think about it but agreed with you — this show does have the quality of a good Noitamina series, and I especially like how well the characters and their feelings for one another are handled.
I am really loving this series so far, it’s a big shame that more people aren’t watching…
This series is definitely the most interesting and striking out of the lineup. And here I was thinking maybe I could end up not having anything to look forward to ever again with two consecutive somewhat lacklustre seasons. Really enjoying this series going down the same vein as Yojouhan and loving the treatment of the background visuals, reminds me of Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto (2008).
I’m really happy that this show is getting noticed. It’s got a unique charm and wit that has been alarmingly absent in new series lately.