Now that the first shots of the Summer War have been fired, Diego cautiously emerges from his anime viewing bunker to dish out the dirt on some of this season’s offerings.
Today’s hit list includes: CANAAN, Taishou Yakyuu Musume, and Tokyo Magnitude 8.0.
For reference purposes, I’ve included the initial write-ups from my summer preview post.
CANAAN
Official Site / Anime News Network / Wikipedia
In a nutshell: “If something moves, shoot it.”
What I said before: I know far too little about this title to say anything definitive about it – or to even state that I’m watching it for certain – but it’s based on a mystery-themed visual novel and I usually have room in my schedule for a good mind-scratcher. The PV doesn’t offer much in the way of hard information, though the animation quality and character designs are good enough for me to at least grant this a fair hearing.
What I’m saying now: Talk about a blooming understatement. Forget “good enough”; the animation completely blew me away. Where production values are concerned, episode one’s slick performance ranks among the best I’ve seen in a made-for-television series and easily outclasses anything else I’ve laid my eyes on this season.
The voice cast – which includes Sawashiro Miyuki in the title role – does a solid job all around. With Sakamoto Maaya expected to do more than hum a sweet tune in future episodes, things can only get better from here on.
Story wise, the first episode lays down a labyrinthine foundation with various organisations – including, surprise surprise, the CIA – crawling into the picture. The relationships between them, the principal characters, and the disease that probably lies at the heart of it all remain unclear at this point, so I’ll refrain from commenting further on the plot until after I see a few more episodes.
Besides, why worry ourselves about something as inconsequential as a “plot” when there’s a super-cool shootout towards the end of the episode?
Recommendation: Keep watching! It’s too early to say whether we have another winner on our hands, but this show looks far too promising to abandon prematurely.
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TAISHOU YAKYUU MUSUME
Official Site / Anime News Network / Wikipedia
In a nutshell: “Kimonos are soooo Meiji.”
What I said before: This may surprise some, but my inclination to try out this series is largely born out of a long-standing interest in Japanese history. I’ve read up on the Meiji Era, I’m familiar with the Shouwa Era and I’m now a spectator on the sidelines of the Heisei Era, but the Taishou Era has always been a big white gap in my timeline and I’m eager to see it portrayed in animated form. Never mind the possible fact holes and inaccuracies; I can fill them in myself. (After all, that’s what Wikipedia is books are for.)
Historical interest aside, I’m also satisfied with the character designs and animation quality (check the PV for a sample of both). Not the best, but tolerable.
What I’m saying now: One of the characters breaks into song just a couple of minutes into the first episode, belting out a happy tune about Taishou-era Tokyo. What the heck?
Such was my initial reaction, but now I think it was a good way to introduce this period series. For one thing, Koume’s ditty actually sounds like an old-fashioned school jingle, and her little daydream about wearing the newly-introduced sailor uniform adds a touch of authenticity by hinting at the dilemma facing the citizens of a rapidly Westernising Japan.
All scholarly pretensions aside, the series gets off to a good start with this gently-paced introduction. Episode one follows the standard let’s-start-a-new-club formula to the letter: enthusiastic leader nets her first catch, they set out to rope in other warm bodies, failing initially but eventually succeeding . . . you know the drill. Nothing groundbreaking there, but then again innovation has never been a basic requirement in my book, my view being that formulas become enshrined as formulas since they tend to work well with audiences – as they do here. Adrenaline junkies will probably find themselves bored to heck (unless their idea of action is the sight of prim-and-proper schoolgirls spouting keigo), while fans of light slice-of-lifers would do well to give this series a chance.
The animation style is as laid back as the story: a soft, colourful palette with minimal depth and limited detailing. Not impressive by any means, but just right for a series of this kind.
Recommendation: Keep watching, with reservations. I’m interested enough to keep following this, but not interested enough to commit myself entirely without seeing more.
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TOKYO MAGNITUDE 8.0
Official Site / Anime News Network / Wikipedia
In a nutshell: “Did you feel that?”
What I said before: Fire, destruction, chaos and catastrophe – heck, I’m sold! I’m already looking forward to seeing the Tokyo Tower toppled for the umpteenth time.
What interests me most is how the production team will depict the disaster and its aftermath, especially after reading that BONES (the animation studio behind this project) have done some serious homework by digging up seismic data and interviewing earthquake survivors. Let’s see just how realistic things can get when all those facts and figures are woven into an animated story.
What I’m saying now: The aftermath of the earthquake figures prominently from the very start of the episode, but after the first couple of minutes all the death and destruction is set aside and we find ourselves in what seems like an ordinary slice-of-life show, featuring a discontented young girl and her uncertainties about the future. Beyond a few thoughts and casual remarks that may or may not have any ominous content, all is well with the world – and I, perched on the edge of my seat in anticipation of a juicy catastrophe, stare desperately at the screen wondering if the ground isn’t scheduled to shake until the next episode.
And then the gates of Hades are thrown wide open.
It’s all par for the course in the disaster genre: depict the happy complacency of the populace before crushing them under a pile of rubble. The difference is that here, after the initial exposition, no hints are given about the impending cataclysm. No seismographs going haywire, no suspicious cracks in the ground venting sulphurous fumes into the air, no heroic scientists huddled around a computer discussing seismometer readings whilst sceptical city officials callously refuse to take the necessary precautions. The only perceptible sign of imminent doom comes two or three seconds before the event – and then we’re left with a cliffhanger ending.
The animation is competently done – as one might expect from a Bones production – although it wasn’t quite as good as I had expected.
Now if, like me, you’ve acquired the unfortunate habit of skipping opening sequences, don’t do it this time. You’ll miss a gallery of splendid black-and-white artwork depicting key Tokyo landmarks and districts as they might look after suffering damage from a major seismic event.
Recommendation: Keep watching! Now that Tokyo is in ruins, I’m itching to see how the survivors will deal with the quake’s aftermath. And I’d love to find out what state the invincible Tokyo Tower is in this time around. (It appears disappointingly intact – and fully lit – in one of the early scenes, but we’ll know for sure soon enough.)
Tags: CANAAN, Taishou Yakyuu Musume, Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
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Canaan is just too fun
The second episode was especially crazy lol I am blogging this anime regularly 
Oh, there was a song about Taishou-era Tokyo in Taishou Yakyuu Musume?! I have to check it out!
I especially liked the background art in TM8 and numerous expression of the protagonist – will continue watching it
Blog Sora no Manimani. It’s the Moe series this season. It’s actually pretty good.
You beat me to the punch, Diego! I’ll just pull out the excuse that I watched more shows to cover, so it’ll take me longer. Let’s go with that.
Canaan’s first episode was splendidly chaotic and left me with little more than information overload and the fact that Canaan is a silver-haired, gun-wielding Shiki Ryogi. I’m not too sure on the other two you covered, though Taisho Yakyuu Musume could make it into my maybe list down the line.
@Roy: I actually need a moe break. A man can only take so much moe girls doing moe things.
@Kitsune: Crazy second episode, eh? Will watch as soon as my schedule loosens up.
@Roy Mustang: Just finished the first ep. Good stuff! I could use a bit of light-hearted fun now that I’m back in the labour force.
@Noirsword: I’ve got a few more write-ups drafted (very roughly) in my head – Umineko, Sora no Manimani, and Zan SZS. How does a consolidated “More First Impressions” (=your ideas plus mine) post sound?
Diegos last blog post…Summer first impressions – now live on Wolf Hurricane
“@Roy: I actually need a moe break. A man can only take so much moe girls doing moe things.”
Interesting. It’s becoming the exact opposite with me. I can no longer watch anything other than moe anime. I think K-ON pushed me over the edge. How the heck did a typical Shonen DBZ fan end up a strung out moe moe kyun seeking druggie? Damn you, KyoAni!
My impressions post is tentatively done. I was thinking of adding Aoi Hana and Sora no Manimani, but adding those two would probably overload my anime schedule. Ordinarily I’d say yes to the consolidated post, but I’m using a different writing format this season. You’re pretty good at the formatting thing though, so I’ll borrow a couple of your cues since you posted yours first.
@Roy: We’ve lost another one to moe. NO!