Review of After School in the Teacher's Lounge (1994)
Hey, everyone, it's time for a new review.
I came across an anime OVA from the mid nineties called After School in the Teacher's Lounge. I looked up a synopsis to find out it's about two school teachers who fall in love. My first thoughts were: Aww, that sounds like a cute story, I want to watch it. After viewing the first half of the first episode (there are only two total) those hopes for a good love story vanished.
In short, this is one of the worst anime I have ever seen. Everything about this OVA (characters, story, music, animation, design, etc) is bad. However, it's one saving grace, and the reason I didn't give it a score of a one, is the fact that it's so awful it made me laugh.
The story follows a teacher Kawase, who is seen watching a fellow teacher Kazama in the pool one afternoon. Kazama is intrigued and develops a liking for Kawase. Kazama asks Kawase out for his birthday where he proposes that they start a relationship. Kawase agrees, but then out of fear lies to get out of a date and retreats to a family-owned inn for the break. Kazama tracks him down and shows up at the inn, where he attempts to fix and further their relationship.
Right now you're probably thinking: This doesn't sound so bad. To be honest, this anime had the potential for a good story. However, all of that listed above happens in the first half of the first episode. One of the major problems I have with this anime is the pacing. There are five major plot points in the first episode that could have been slowed down, expanded, and turned into separate episodes: the meeting/birthday dinner; Kazama inviting Kawase away for the weekend, and Kawase lying to get out of it; Kazama at the inn and Kazuma showing up; Kazuma flirting with other guests and Kawase's brother having suspicions about Kazuma; and Kazuma finally confronting Kawase, and everything that happens in the end. Slowing this down would allow for better characterization for one, and making the relationship more believable.
There is a time skip between the two episodes. I don't recall it being specified how much, but I think that works in its favor, allowing the audience to decide how long they've been together. The second episode is less rushed in terms of its plot, mostly focusing on Kazama being set up with a friend of a friend's daughter. Of all the characters, I do think that Miho is the most likable.
On that note, I'll now discuss the two main characters. I'm not sure which character is the protagonist since both get a fair amount of screen time.
First, there is Kazama, who is ambitious and refuses to give up until he has what he wants. He can come across as kind of intimidating. For one he was able to track Kawase down that weekend he went out of town. Mind you, this was made in the days before Google. In order to find him he would have had to check perhaps a phone book, records, or maybe even ask around. Also, when Kawase suggests them breaking up, Kazama threatens to kill him. Perhaps it was meant as a joke, but he did put his hands around Kawase's neck. Even if it was meant for humor's sake, I'm wondering if Kawase would always have the feel of the hands belonging to the man who supposedly loves him around his neck in the back of his mind. I don't know if maybe I missed something along the way, but Kazama does come across as creepy.
Secondly there is Kawase. I don't even know what to think about him. In the first episode it seems like he can't make up his mind about Kazama. I do tend to think that he just doesn't like conflict, so avoids it in any way possible. Around the middle of episode one, Kazama confronts him about lying--and I will give him that--Kawase should have at least told him. He could have said something along the lines of: I'm scared that we're moving too fast, I don't want a relationship right now, until I get to know you better. I think anything would have been better than lying.
This anime is classified as a romance. However, I just don't see it as believable. Kazama claims to love Kawase. However, his love for him seemed to have come out of nowhere. Also, he never mentions what it is that he loves about Kawase. I don't see any chemistry between the two. This is the strangest love story I've ever seen.
The art is horrible. I understand this was made before the animation technology of today, therefore I don't expect it to look as good as more recent anime. However, even compared to other anime at the time (Sailor Moon, Record of Lodoss War, and Yu Yu Hakusho to name a few), it's lacking.
The characters look odd. I won't necessarily say ugly, but their bodies are strangely designed. It just looks like their bodies are out of proportion. The faces look weird, especially during closeups of the eyes and nose. The only character who looks like a normal human would be Miho. In all it just seems like a strange choice for character designs.
The animation is minimal and at times look sloppy. I will admit that there seems to be better animation in the second episode. As with the art, I don't expect an anime made at this time to be on par with more recent titles, but other anime made in the same years, or even a few before, have much better quality than this one.
The soundtrack to this anime has a kind of soft jazz feel. However, the same kind of music is used throughout the series, so it's pretty forgettable after a while. In the first episode it felt like the same song was being played on repeat for the full twenty-five or so minutes.
I will say one thing this anime has going for it is the good voice acting. Even if the dialogue may be strange at times, the voice talent still shines through.
In conclusion, I found this anime to be a waste of time. This is a unique story idea that unfortunately was too rushed. For the most part the characters were unlikable, and the art even worse. Often times I found myself laughing at just how ridiculous it is. However, I feel that if this anime was remade today with better animation and with a slower pace, allowing the characters and their romance to develop, it has potential to be a good show.
After School in the Teacher's Lounge: 2/10
Beverage: XXX Vitamin Water
Hello. You have stumbled upon Amber Amethyst's blog. This is my platform where I try to post a weekly review. In general I will review: anime series, movies, and books. However, I may occasionally feel the need to write about something else. I will attempt to write at least one entry weekly. That being said, some weeks will have multiple posts, and some may have none. There really is no structure here.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Review of School Days (2007)
Review of School Days (2007)
Hello, everyone. It's time for a new review.
A few warnings for this review. 1) There are a few spoilers throughout. The more critical ones I will give a warning with SPOILER! and END SPOILER! with a strike through across the spoiled material. 2) The anime in question is intended for mature audiences (18+), some of which will be discussed in this blog.
I recently finished the nefarious, twelve episode anime School Days. I'll admit the only reason I even bothered watching is because I have seen and heard it listed as one of (if not the) worst anime ever made. I knew what was going to happen up to that infamous ending going into the first episode, but I wanted to witness for myself this show that has received so much hate.
Despite the fact that it has its reputation, I found it interesting that on IMDb, the user rating as of this day is a 6.9 (1), and on MyAnimeList it has a score of 6.38 (2).
In short, I don't think it's that bad, in fact I gave it a six on MyAnimeList. It's not the best anime by far, but I wouldn't consider it the worst; actually, I wouldn't even place it in my top thirteen worst anime list. Yes, the ending did come out of nowhere (which I will discuss in full towards the end of this review), but overall I did enjoy this series.
According to Wikipedia, School Days was originally a popular dating video game meant for an adult crowd (3). Later it was adapted into an anime, which is what I will be discussing here.
I'll begin with the opening. I thought it was clever how in the first and last episode there is no opening. There is simply the title card for School Days followed by a visual of glass shattering. It's ominous, yet intriguing. Not to mention I was impressed that there was no opening song/sequence. However, episode two includes the actual opening (which is used for episodes two through eleven). In my opinion, it is the most boring anime opening ever. The song is okay, but that's all there is to enjoy about it. There is nothing special about the visuals. It's pretty much a cliche anime opening, sometimes juxtaposing the two main girls together, other times having them do the same thing with the male lead, then quick edits of the other girls. Basically, it's nothing I haven't seen before. After the first viewing, I just skipped the opening in each episode.
The story follows a high school student named Makoto Itou, someone who is portrayed as being average for most of the series. The main character has an interest in Kotonoha Katsura, a pretty girl who rides the same train as him to school. A classmate named Sekai Saionji, who's assigned seat is next to Makoto's, takes an interest in his relationship blues, and vows to help him court Katsura. In a short amount of time Sekai falls in love with Makoto, but despite her own feelings, loves Makoto enough to aid him in getting what he wants. In short, the first third of School Days feels like a typical romance anime.
Sekai succeeds in setting up Makoto and Katsura, and the two latter start dating. Since Katsura is more reserved with the physical aspects of dating, Makoto eventually grows tired of her. Since Makoto feels more at ease with Sekai, he confesses that he would rather be with her, and has an affair with Sekai behind Katsura's back.
In the last third of the anime, Makoto is shown having intimate relationships with seven girls other than Katsura. Some of them deceive themselves into believing that Makoto actually has feelings for them, while others are merely interested in sex. Through it all, Katsura refuses to believe that Makoto would hurt her. That sets up for a good drama.
That brings me to the major subplot to this story that follows Kastura's relationship with her peers as she is trying to convince them (and herself) that Makoto is her boyfriend. Katsura's female classmates have a strong dislike for her, and are looking for reasons to torment her. The reason for their hatred is that Katsura has the largest chest in the class, and ultimately that she is pretty, which they view as a threat. While that may sound like a stupid reason to dislike someone, it's important to remember that these are high school girls. I'm not too knowledgeable about school and societal issues in other cultures, like Japan, but this is actually a pretty common thing in America. I can speak from the experience of someone who used to be a teenager, that in high school, girls tended to dislike the more beautiful and popular girls out of their own insecurities. In fact there were plenty of stupid reasons for teenage girls to hate their peers (looks, money, grades, who she had as a boyfriend, extracurricular activities, and other forms of jealousy). Like these real life situations, the girls in Katsura's class would rather humiliate and bully her than face their own issues.
The art style is standard. Most of the female characters look beautiful--I say look, because there are a few that have such nasty personalities (Otome's friends) that I find them hideous. Most of the characters have typical anime designs, a variety of hair styles and token personalities, but not much that stands out. The one exception, in my opinion, would be Setsuna. While she is small, her eyes can be intimidating, which I think is a good representation of her character. In my opinion, she has the most unique design, and also who I find to be the most interesting character.
If there is something that is a constant in most of the school genre anime it would be the school uniforms. I absolutely love the uniforms in School Days. The male uniform looks sharp and sophisticated. The female uniform is cute, I love the the ruffled blouse. Of course the color scheme of black, white, and gray, with the red ribbons for an accent color looks nice. I actually want to cosplay as Katsura, Sekai, or Setsuna just to wear the adorable uniform. Also, the maid outfits they wear in episodes eight and nine are super cute. If you have a large cosplay group that is mostly female, and you want to wear something cute, but also something that is not overdone, the uniform costumes of School Days would be a good choice.
As dramatic as this story can be, this show includes some decent humor. Episode five when they are at the pool has some funny moments, thanks to the supporting character Taisuke. Also Hikari, who is obviously in like with Taisuke, who notices everyone but her, fueling her frustration. I would watch a spin-off series that focuses on the two of them. Another good example of humor would be the episode of the school festival in which the three cafes: little sister, zombie, and maid, are battling for customers. I can't explain why it is funny, it's just something that has to be seen.
I have to say, considering the subject matter of this anime, what is shown is actually pretty tame. There is an ecchi moment here or there, but nothing explicit. Given that it has an R rating, and knowing what the story is about, I was nervous to watch, but I read that there was no graphic content of that nature on screen. I think that is a classy decision on the production company's part. In addition, holding back in that area adds more shock value to the ending.
This anime obviously has some flaws. I don't mean the ending, because depending on who you talk to, that person may love or hate it. But hang on, I'm going to save the discussion of the ending for last.
For one, I just don't see what is so special about Makoto. It's even mentioned that he's an average student, he's not a member of any clubs, he's a pervert, and there's nothing spectacular about his looks. Basically he's a less than average Joe, but for some reason every girl in the school is throwing herself at him. I can understand Katsura--who has fallen in love with him, Sekai--who has developed a crush on him due to time spent together, and even Otome--who has known and cared for him since junior high. However, I can't see the reason that all these other girls are interested, especially SPOILER!Hikari, who came as a huge shock for me. I'm assuming her frustration over Taisuke, but enough to sleep with her friend's supposed boyfriend? The same can be said for Setsuna. As much as she professes to love her best friend, and tells herself she's doing it for Sekai's benefit, it doesn't excuse the fact that she, herself was the reason Sekai was cheated on. END SPOILER! In all I don't see what is so appealing about Makoto to cause all these girls to fall for him.
On that same note, the character of Makoto is difficult to like. I felt empathy for him in the first half of the series. Even when he was battling with himself over which girl to be with, I could understand. He's a confused teenage boy--a time in life when emotions and hormones are all over the place. However, I find it unacceptable that he leads Katsura on for a good point of time. If he was finished with her, he should have ended it like Sekai suggested in the first place. That may have even avoided the ultimate ending. Also the fact that he SPOILER!kisses Setsuna in front of Katsura, and allows her to view that he doesn't love her before he actually breaks up with her is pretty low. END SPOILER!
I also wondered throughout this anime where all the parents and teachers were. The students were having sex on school grounds, and even after it was revealed in a shocking way, there never seemed to be a staff member intervening. All I could think about while the girls were watching that tape of the rest area is how the girl showing the video would possibly be expelled, and potentially arrested, which led me to wonder why there was no teacher present during that gathering. The parents were never around, nor did they care about the activities their children were involved in. Also, there seemed to be no police activity at the end of the twelfth episode. The absence of responsible adults (even though we know they exist since Sekai mentioned to Makoto that her mom was working late in one episode) ruins the realism of the story.
Now onto the moment you've all been waiting for: the ending. Just a reminder, I knew about the ending going into this anime. I actually prefer the ending to episode eleven. It's cleaner for one, and sort of a happy ending, well, except for one character. If you want a somewhat happy ending, you can just end the series with episode eleven and go about your day. If you want something crazier, continue on to episode twelve.
Warning. If you haven't seen this anime, and don't want it ruined for you, continue on to the conclusion.
SPOILER!
Then along comes episode twelve. The best way I can explain this episode is uncomfortable. The image of Makoto and Katsura passionately kissing in front of a horrified Sekai was harder for me to watch than the graphic violence. Again, Makoto is showing just how messed up he is by not accepting responsibility for his possible child growing inside Sekai, and more so willingly taunting her. What makes it even worse is that Katsura is joining in, showing how being with Makoto has tainted this once kind girl.
That bloody ending seemed to come out of nowhere. Then again, I haven't played the original game, so I'm not sure if that actually happens in the source material, but it felt out of place for me. It didn't seem to fit the personality of either of the girls. They are teenagers, and emotions run high for them, but I can't see that justifying murder. It's shown earlier how Makoto's absence caused Katsura to go a little insane, but not to the extent that we see in the last scene.
Since it is so dark and graphic compared to the rest of the story, it makes me wonder if this ending was done on purpose just so people would talk about it. After all, I only watched it because I heard it had an awful ending. If that is the case, then I would have to say that is a clever strategy on the creators' part.
I can't help but wonder how this could have ended differently had Makoto never sought after Katsura, and just allowed her to be a pretty face on a train. For one, two people would still be alive, but how many others would not have been affected by his insatiable lust? Sekai may have still ended up pregnant, but perhaps without other girls involved, Makoto might not have been such a jerk about it. It's just a thought I had there towards the end.
END SPOILER!
In conclusion, I found School Days to be an interesting watch. I'm glad that I have seen this anime, if just to say I've seen it. No, I don't think it deserves its horrible reputation (though I can't say the same for Makoto), but I won't deny it has its flaws, since it obviously does. I don't sympathize with the protagonist, but for the most part I like the two main females, and even they have their unlikable moments. The art is decent, and there is some good humor along with the heavy drama. I'm glad I watched it, but it's not for everyone. I would advise that no one under the age of sixteen, nor anyone with a weak stomach watch this series.
School Days: 6/10
Music: Anime openings
Beverage: Power-C Vitamin Water
1. "School Days" IMDb.com (April 19, 2015). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068993/
2. "School Days" MyAnimeList.net (April 19, 2015). http://myanimelist.net/anime/2476/School_Days
3. "School Days (Visual Novel)" Wikipedia.org. (April 19, 2015). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_Days_%28visual_novel%29
Hello, everyone. It's time for a new review.
A few warnings for this review. 1) There are a few spoilers throughout. The more critical ones I will give a warning with SPOILER! and END SPOILER! with a strike through across the spoiled material. 2) The anime in question is intended for mature audiences (18+), some of which will be discussed in this blog.
I recently finished the nefarious, twelve episode anime School Days. I'll admit the only reason I even bothered watching is because I have seen and heard it listed as one of (if not the) worst anime ever made. I knew what was going to happen up to that infamous ending going into the first episode, but I wanted to witness for myself this show that has received so much hate.
Despite the fact that it has its reputation, I found it interesting that on IMDb, the user rating as of this day is a 6.9 (1), and on MyAnimeList it has a score of 6.38 (2).
In short, I don't think it's that bad, in fact I gave it a six on MyAnimeList. It's not the best anime by far, but I wouldn't consider it the worst; actually, I wouldn't even place it in my top thirteen worst anime list. Yes, the ending did come out of nowhere (which I will discuss in full towards the end of this review), but overall I did enjoy this series.
According to Wikipedia, School Days was originally a popular dating video game meant for an adult crowd (3). Later it was adapted into an anime, which is what I will be discussing here.
I'll begin with the opening. I thought it was clever how in the first and last episode there is no opening. There is simply the title card for School Days followed by a visual of glass shattering. It's ominous, yet intriguing. Not to mention I was impressed that there was no opening song/sequence. However, episode two includes the actual opening (which is used for episodes two through eleven). In my opinion, it is the most boring anime opening ever. The song is okay, but that's all there is to enjoy about it. There is nothing special about the visuals. It's pretty much a cliche anime opening, sometimes juxtaposing the two main girls together, other times having them do the same thing with the male lead, then quick edits of the other girls. Basically, it's nothing I haven't seen before. After the first viewing, I just skipped the opening in each episode.
The story follows a high school student named Makoto Itou, someone who is portrayed as being average for most of the series. The main character has an interest in Kotonoha Katsura, a pretty girl who rides the same train as him to school. A classmate named Sekai Saionji, who's assigned seat is next to Makoto's, takes an interest in his relationship blues, and vows to help him court Katsura. In a short amount of time Sekai falls in love with Makoto, but despite her own feelings, loves Makoto enough to aid him in getting what he wants. In short, the first third of School Days feels like a typical romance anime.
Sekai succeeds in setting up Makoto and Katsura, and the two latter start dating. Since Katsura is more reserved with the physical aspects of dating, Makoto eventually grows tired of her. Since Makoto feels more at ease with Sekai, he confesses that he would rather be with her, and has an affair with Sekai behind Katsura's back.
In the last third of the anime, Makoto is shown having intimate relationships with seven girls other than Katsura. Some of them deceive themselves into believing that Makoto actually has feelings for them, while others are merely interested in sex. Through it all, Katsura refuses to believe that Makoto would hurt her. That sets up for a good drama.
That brings me to the major subplot to this story that follows Kastura's relationship with her peers as she is trying to convince them (and herself) that Makoto is her boyfriend. Katsura's female classmates have a strong dislike for her, and are looking for reasons to torment her. The reason for their hatred is that Katsura has the largest chest in the class, and ultimately that she is pretty, which they view as a threat. While that may sound like a stupid reason to dislike someone, it's important to remember that these are high school girls. I'm not too knowledgeable about school and societal issues in other cultures, like Japan, but this is actually a pretty common thing in America. I can speak from the experience of someone who used to be a teenager, that in high school, girls tended to dislike the more beautiful and popular girls out of their own insecurities. In fact there were plenty of stupid reasons for teenage girls to hate their peers (looks, money, grades, who she had as a boyfriend, extracurricular activities, and other forms of jealousy). Like these real life situations, the girls in Katsura's class would rather humiliate and bully her than face their own issues.
The art style is standard. Most of the female characters look beautiful--I say look, because there are a few that have such nasty personalities (Otome's friends) that I find them hideous. Most of the characters have typical anime designs, a variety of hair styles and token personalities, but not much that stands out. The one exception, in my opinion, would be Setsuna. While she is small, her eyes can be intimidating, which I think is a good representation of her character. In my opinion, she has the most unique design, and also who I find to be the most interesting character.
If there is something that is a constant in most of the school genre anime it would be the school uniforms. I absolutely love the uniforms in School Days. The male uniform looks sharp and sophisticated. The female uniform is cute, I love the the ruffled blouse. Of course the color scheme of black, white, and gray, with the red ribbons for an accent color looks nice. I actually want to cosplay as Katsura, Sekai, or Setsuna just to wear the adorable uniform. Also, the maid outfits they wear in episodes eight and nine are super cute. If you have a large cosplay group that is mostly female, and you want to wear something cute, but also something that is not overdone, the uniform costumes of School Days would be a good choice.
As dramatic as this story can be, this show includes some decent humor. Episode five when they are at the pool has some funny moments, thanks to the supporting character Taisuke. Also Hikari, who is obviously in like with Taisuke, who notices everyone but her, fueling her frustration. I would watch a spin-off series that focuses on the two of them. Another good example of humor would be the episode of the school festival in which the three cafes: little sister, zombie, and maid, are battling for customers. I can't explain why it is funny, it's just something that has to be seen.
I have to say, considering the subject matter of this anime, what is shown is actually pretty tame. There is an ecchi moment here or there, but nothing explicit. Given that it has an R rating, and knowing what the story is about, I was nervous to watch, but I read that there was no graphic content of that nature on screen. I think that is a classy decision on the production company's part. In addition, holding back in that area adds more shock value to the ending.
This anime obviously has some flaws. I don't mean the ending, because depending on who you talk to, that person may love or hate it. But hang on, I'm going to save the discussion of the ending for last.
For one, I just don't see what is so special about Makoto. It's even mentioned that he's an average student, he's not a member of any clubs, he's a pervert, and there's nothing spectacular about his looks. Basically he's a less than average Joe, but for some reason every girl in the school is throwing herself at him. I can understand Katsura--who has fallen in love with him, Sekai--who has developed a crush on him due to time spent together, and even Otome--who has known and cared for him since junior high. However, I can't see the reason that all these other girls are interested, especially SPOILER!
On that same note, the character of Makoto is difficult to like. I felt empathy for him in the first half of the series. Even when he was battling with himself over which girl to be with, I could understand. He's a confused teenage boy--a time in life when emotions and hormones are all over the place. However, I find it unacceptable that he leads Katsura on for a good point of time. If he was finished with her, he should have ended it like Sekai suggested in the first place. That may have even avoided the ultimate ending. Also the fact that he SPOILER!
I also wondered throughout this anime where all the parents and teachers were. The students were having sex on school grounds, and even after it was revealed in a shocking way, there never seemed to be a staff member intervening. All I could think about while the girls were watching that tape of the rest area is how the girl showing the video would possibly be expelled, and potentially arrested, which led me to wonder why there was no teacher present during that gathering. The parents were never around, nor did they care about the activities their children were involved in. Also, there seemed to be no police activity at the end of the twelfth episode. The absence of responsible adults (even though we know they exist since Sekai mentioned to Makoto that her mom was working late in one episode) ruins the realism of the story.
Now onto the moment you've all been waiting for: the ending. Just a reminder, I knew about the ending going into this anime. I actually prefer the ending to episode eleven. It's cleaner for one, and sort of a happy ending, well, except for one character. If you want a somewhat happy ending, you can just end the series with episode eleven and go about your day. If you want something crazier, continue on to episode twelve.
Warning. If you haven't seen this anime, and don't want it ruined for you, continue on to the conclusion.
SPOILER!
END SPOILER!
In conclusion, I found School Days to be an interesting watch. I'm glad that I have seen this anime, if just to say I've seen it. No, I don't think it deserves its horrible reputation (though I can't say the same for Makoto), but I won't deny it has its flaws, since it obviously does. I don't sympathize with the protagonist, but for the most part I like the two main females, and even they have their unlikable moments. The art is decent, and there is some good humor along with the heavy drama. I'm glad I watched it, but it's not for everyone. I would advise that no one under the age of sixteen, nor anyone with a weak stomach watch this series.
School Days: 6/10
Music: Anime openings
Beverage: Power-C Vitamin Water
1. "School Days" IMDb.com (April 19, 2015). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068993/
2. "School Days" MyAnimeList.net (April 19, 2015). http://myanimelist.net/anime/2476/School_Days
3. "School Days (Visual Novel)" Wikipedia.org. (April 19, 2015). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_Days_%28visual_novel%29
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Happy Easter
Happy Easter, everyone. I hope everyone has had a fun time on this holiest of days. I got to spend the day with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. It is my nephew's first Easter, so it was a delight to get to be a part of that.
I have to say that hiding Easter eggs have become a new favorite thing to do. For the past two years now I got to hide them for the kids at my workplace. Several years ago I hid them in the apartment for my roommate (with her doing the same right after finding them all). And today I got to hide them for my nephew. He and his mom went on the hunt for the colorful, plastic eggs and found them all in no time.
Again, Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates this day. To those who don't, I hope you had a happy Sunday.
I have to say that hiding Easter eggs have become a new favorite thing to do. For the past two years now I got to hide them for the kids at my workplace. Several years ago I hid them in the apartment for my roommate (with her doing the same right after finding them all). And today I got to hide them for my nephew. He and his mom went on the hunt for the colorful, plastic eggs and found them all in no time.
Again, Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates this day. To those who don't, I hope you had a happy Sunday.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Review of Amnesia (2013)
Review of Amnesia (2013)
Hey, everyone, it's time for a new review! There are a few spoilers which will be warned with SPOILER! and END SPOILER! There will be a strike through across the spoiled content.
I recently finished watching a short anime series called Amnesia. In all I think it is good. I think it is wrongfully labeled as a reverse harem, and while there are lots of guys that are in a relationship with the main character, that's only a small part of the story, and it is only one at a time. There is no doubt that this series would classify as a romance, but there is much more to it than that. I feel it is fair to consider this one more of a mystery, as the audience finds out information at the same time as Heroine. I made some predictions, and sometimes they turned out to be true(as with what Toma was doing to Heroine in episode nine), but for the most part I only knew what was gradually presented, making it a more intriguing mystery than having too much given early on.
From what I researched, this anime is based on a dating video game marketed for a female audience. (1) The main character has no name and is referred to as [The] Heroine. I actually didn't even catch that until episode six when I thought, "I know all the guy's names, and the names of some of the supporting characters, but I can't remember what the main character is named." As it turned out, she doesn't have one, and she is never called by name in the English dub. (I only watched this series in English, so I don't know if she is referred to as Heroine, or something else in the original audio.) Heroine doesn't seem to have much of a personality in the anime, other than what the other characters mention about who they know the past her to be. I think this can be attributed to two things. 1) She has no memories, so I'm assuming that might have an affect on her behavior and mannerisms. 2) Since this is based on a dating game, perhaps Heroine is a chance for female viewers to use her as a self-insert into this world.
The story follows Heroine having lost all of her memories thanks to a spirit named Orion who accidentally caused her amnesia when he entered her world. Together they try to piece together what was lost while Heroine attempts to live her life as normal. Not knowing who to trust, she has to rely on clues given by the other characters. Each time she "dies" in one of the worlds, she is transported to start over on August 1 in a parallel universe, in which her life is similar, but somewhat different. For instance, in each version of the world, Heroine works at a maid cafe, but her co-workers are liable to change, and more importantly, so has her current boyfriend.
Over the coarse of the story, Heroine is shown to have romantic relationships with five different guys depending on the world. Each guy has his own unique personality (which I'm assuming is based on the potential dates in the original game). First up there is Shin, who is the bad boy with a good heart. Secondly, Ikki--the man who all the girls like, who, in addition to being handsome, is shown to be kind, and a good co-worker. Thirdly, there is Kent, a math genius, who looks at things from a logical viewpoint (similar to Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory). The fourth choice is Toma, who seems to be the normal, nice guy, who Heroine has known since childhood. And lastly, there is Ukyo, who is the mysterious one. Heroine's relationship with each of these guys: whether romantic, friendship, colleagues, or total strangers differs in each universe.
I think that the fact that there are five guys interested in the main character is the reason this anime is considered a reverse harem, but I disagree. For one, she is only allotted one boyfriend at a time depending on the world she is in SPOILER!: However, that can be debated in the Toma arc, as it is never specified if he truly was her boyfriend from the beginning in that one. END SPOILER!. Also, I feel that this series fits more along the lines of a mystery or a drama. There are some good twists in here. For instance, the middle of episode nine surprised me (and also made me dislike that character). Episodes eleven and twelve are full of suspense and drama.
In each world Heroine is trying to regain her memories. Since certain memories pertain to a single world, Heroine sometimes is confused by what happened in a previous world, and what has yet to happen in another. I think what makes it a good mystery is the fact that the viewer him/herself isn't even sure what to think. The audience is piecing together the clues as Heroine and Orion figures them out. A few of the characters catch on to the fact that Heroine has lost her memories, as they notice her acting different from usual, or she falsely remembers something that never happened in that world. Since Heroine has no basis on what to go on in each new world, the risk of her remembering something wrong puts her in danger a few times.
Some parts do seem rushed, such as Kent's arc. I feel he didn't get as much time as the other characters. I also wanted to know more about Ukyo's relationship with Heroine, especially given what he said when he introduced himself to her. Perhaps if two extra episodes were given, particularly for Ukyo, his confession in episode twelve would have had more of an impact.
Something I really like about this anime that I feel the need to mention is that it doesn't take place in high school. That's not something that can be said about most romance anime. The characters attend a university, and even then very little time is spent in a school setting. The majority of the plot happens at Heroine's workplace, in one of the characters' homes, or in one of the marvelous outdoor settings.
The art of this anime is beautiful. Of course the characters are all stunning. The main five guys are obviously intended to be attractive since this is a game for females, but even the minor characters (Waka, Mine, Sawa, etc) are pretty. The use of color in this anime is fantastic. For one, each of the guys have their specific color. I especially love the costumes. Heroine's rose motif is lovely along with the pretty argyle stockings. I like that four of the main guys' costumes are based off playing card suits. The cafe uniforms--both male and female versions--are adorable.
The settings. Wow. Even if some of these worlds are only temporary, the animators take advantage of using such beautiful settings. There are some gorgeous, spacious landscapes, especially of the sky. Screenshots of the landscapes alone are something worth looking at. Even the locations, such as the cafe, is ornate, and, as is its theme, enchanting. The park the characters visit, the location of their retreat, the shrine in the eleventh episode--magnificent details.
As mentioned earlier, I watched the English dub of this series. I think the dub is pretty good. I love the actress selected to play Mine, as her voice is as adorable as her personality. Other good voice acting choices include: Ikki, Kent, Shin, and Waka. Heroine seems like a difficult character to play, as there is so little to go off of with her, so with that in mind, the actress did pretty good.
I think the ending to this anime is brilliant. It works well for the story, and fits with its original source material. Some people may not like the choice that this anime made for its ending, but I find it satisfying, and in a way it's something that everyone can be happy with. SPOILER!:As the audience gets to choose who Heroine ends up with, it fits well with the choices that can be made in the game, Some may not like a vague ending, but I think it's the best decision for an anime that includes many different worlds and outcomes. END SPOILER!
In all I found this anime to be original and enjoyable. I think it is a good mystery in which the romance is a secondary trait. It can be confusing at times, and I would agree that maybe twelve episodes was too little time for the plot to expand as much as it could have. The art is beautiful in all aspects: characters, settings, and animation. It's not for everyone, but I would recommend it.
Amnesia: 9/10
Music: Blackmore's Night
Beverage: Mio Berry Acai
1. "Amnesia (visual novel)" Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (April 4, 2015). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia_%28visual_novel%29
Hey, everyone, it's time for a new review! There are a few spoilers which will be warned with SPOILER! and END SPOILER! There will be a strike through across the spoiled content.
I recently finished watching a short anime series called Amnesia. In all I think it is good. I think it is wrongfully labeled as a reverse harem, and while there are lots of guys that are in a relationship with the main character, that's only a small part of the story, and it is only one at a time. There is no doubt that this series would classify as a romance, but there is much more to it than that. I feel it is fair to consider this one more of a mystery, as the audience finds out information at the same time as Heroine. I made some predictions, and sometimes they turned out to be true(as with what Toma was doing to Heroine in episode nine), but for the most part I only knew what was gradually presented, making it a more intriguing mystery than having too much given early on.
From what I researched, this anime is based on a dating video game marketed for a female audience. (1) The main character has no name and is referred to as [The] Heroine. I actually didn't even catch that until episode six when I thought, "I know all the guy's names, and the names of some of the supporting characters, but I can't remember what the main character is named." As it turned out, she doesn't have one, and she is never called by name in the English dub. (I only watched this series in English, so I don't know if she is referred to as Heroine, or something else in the original audio.) Heroine doesn't seem to have much of a personality in the anime, other than what the other characters mention about who they know the past her to be. I think this can be attributed to two things. 1) She has no memories, so I'm assuming that might have an affect on her behavior and mannerisms. 2) Since this is based on a dating game, perhaps Heroine is a chance for female viewers to use her as a self-insert into this world.
The story follows Heroine having lost all of her memories thanks to a spirit named Orion who accidentally caused her amnesia when he entered her world. Together they try to piece together what was lost while Heroine attempts to live her life as normal. Not knowing who to trust, she has to rely on clues given by the other characters. Each time she "dies" in one of the worlds, she is transported to start over on August 1 in a parallel universe, in which her life is similar, but somewhat different. For instance, in each version of the world, Heroine works at a maid cafe, but her co-workers are liable to change, and more importantly, so has her current boyfriend.
Over the coarse of the story, Heroine is shown to have romantic relationships with five different guys depending on the world. Each guy has his own unique personality (which I'm assuming is based on the potential dates in the original game). First up there is Shin, who is the bad boy with a good heart. Secondly, Ikki--the man who all the girls like, who, in addition to being handsome, is shown to be kind, and a good co-worker. Thirdly, there is Kent, a math genius, who looks at things from a logical viewpoint (similar to Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory). The fourth choice is Toma, who seems to be the normal, nice guy, who Heroine has known since childhood. And lastly, there is Ukyo, who is the mysterious one. Heroine's relationship with each of these guys: whether romantic, friendship, colleagues, or total strangers differs in each universe.
I think that the fact that there are five guys interested in the main character is the reason this anime is considered a reverse harem, but I disagree. For one, she is only allotted one boyfriend at a time depending on the world she is in SPOILER!:
In each world Heroine is trying to regain her memories. Since certain memories pertain to a single world, Heroine sometimes is confused by what happened in a previous world, and what has yet to happen in another. I think what makes it a good mystery is the fact that the viewer him/herself isn't even sure what to think. The audience is piecing together the clues as Heroine and Orion figures them out. A few of the characters catch on to the fact that Heroine has lost her memories, as they notice her acting different from usual, or she falsely remembers something that never happened in that world. Since Heroine has no basis on what to go on in each new world, the risk of her remembering something wrong puts her in danger a few times.
Some parts do seem rushed, such as Kent's arc. I feel he didn't get as much time as the other characters. I also wanted to know more about Ukyo's relationship with Heroine, especially given what he said when he introduced himself to her. Perhaps if two extra episodes were given, particularly for Ukyo, his confession in episode twelve would have had more of an impact.
Something I really like about this anime that I feel the need to mention is that it doesn't take place in high school. That's not something that can be said about most romance anime. The characters attend a university, and even then very little time is spent in a school setting. The majority of the plot happens at Heroine's workplace, in one of the characters' homes, or in one of the marvelous outdoor settings.
The art of this anime is beautiful. Of course the characters are all stunning. The main five guys are obviously intended to be attractive since this is a game for females, but even the minor characters (Waka, Mine, Sawa, etc) are pretty. The use of color in this anime is fantastic. For one, each of the guys have their specific color. I especially love the costumes. Heroine's rose motif is lovely along with the pretty argyle stockings. I like that four of the main guys' costumes are based off playing card suits. The cafe uniforms--both male and female versions--are adorable.
The settings. Wow. Even if some of these worlds are only temporary, the animators take advantage of using such beautiful settings. There are some gorgeous, spacious landscapes, especially of the sky. Screenshots of the landscapes alone are something worth looking at. Even the locations, such as the cafe, is ornate, and, as is its theme, enchanting. The park the characters visit, the location of their retreat, the shrine in the eleventh episode--magnificent details.
As mentioned earlier, I watched the English dub of this series. I think the dub is pretty good. I love the actress selected to play Mine, as her voice is as adorable as her personality. Other good voice acting choices include: Ikki, Kent, Shin, and Waka. Heroine seems like a difficult character to play, as there is so little to go off of with her, so with that in mind, the actress did pretty good.
I think the ending to this anime is brilliant. It works well for the story, and fits with its original source material. Some people may not like the choice that this anime made for its ending, but I find it satisfying, and in a way it's something that everyone can be happy with. SPOILER!:
In all I found this anime to be original and enjoyable. I think it is a good mystery in which the romance is a secondary trait. It can be confusing at times, and I would agree that maybe twelve episodes was too little time for the plot to expand as much as it could have. The art is beautiful in all aspects: characters, settings, and animation. It's not for everyone, but I would recommend it.
Amnesia: 9/10
Music: Blackmore's Night
Beverage: Mio Berry Acai
1. "Amnesia (visual novel)" Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (April 4, 2015). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia_%28visual_novel%29
Friday, April 3, 2015
Review of Paranoia Agent (2004)
Review of Paranoia Agent (2004)
Hey, everybody. It's time for a new review. This review will contain spoilers. I will warn beforehand with SPOILER! and END SPOILER!, and there will be a strike through across the spoiled content.
Back in 2011 I watched a popular anime called Death Note, and to this day it is still my favorite of all anime series. Having just finished Clannad: After Story (a slice of life, romance, comedy, with a few tear-jerking episodes towards the end), I craved something different, something more along the lines of a psychological thriller like Death Note. I researched good psychological anime and a constant on many lists was Paranoia Agent.
Several years ago I saw this anime listed on Youtube in a video about the best anime openings. I have to say it deserved a spot for a good reason, but I'll get to that later. I watched a review on the show, and it seemed interesting. As of today, this series received a score of 7.7 on MyAnimeList (1) and an 8.2 on IMDb (2).
Where best to begin than with the beginning? In this case, the beginning is the opening. This opening would place in my top thirteen anime openings. The song is nothing special, but the visuals are so different than what normally happens in anime openings. It shows the main cast of the show standing in either dangerous areas, or otherwise unpleasant. For instance, Tsukiko is standing on the edge of roof of a tall building, the children are being overtaken by a flood, Harumi and Maria are standing in a dump, Misae is inside her house that is now in ruins, and the whole cast is standing in the middle of a busy street. The strange thing about this is that they are all laughing. They all look at ease, not at all bothered by their locations. These images are unsettling, and when taking close looks at their faces, disturbing. However, that is the same feel of the show. I've never seen an opening that fits the mood of the series as well as this one. The opening is supposed to get the audience interested in the show, and I think it accomplishes that.
Now onto the show itself. What I like most about this series is that it requires thinking. I like how it kept me guessing throughout most of the anime. Even after finishing the series, I'm still not sure what is real, and what was imagined. This show has major suspense. Granted Paranoia Agent is only thirteen episodes long, but I binged watched it in under twenty-four hours (including needing to break after episode three to go to bed), I was that interested in seeing what happened next.
In the first episode Tsukiko has designed a cartoon dog character called Maromi that has become a huge hit in Japan. She is pressured by her boss to design a new character even though she can't come up with anything. She is considered weird by most other characters, and the only person she trusts is her plush toy of Maromi, who talks to her, and offers her comfort and advice. With all this stress on her, Tsukiko is attacked by Lil' Slugger (Shonen Bat in the original), a boy on gold skates, carrying a bent baseball bat. After the assault Tsukiko is more at ease.
Each episode focuses on a different character. These characters all have some kind of major stress in their lives, and right before a breakdown, Lil' Slugger appears and attacks that person. As with Tsukiko, after each incident, the victim feels better. By episode three, this led me to two major questions. 1) How does this attacker know when people are at the height of suffering? 2) Is he a villain, or a hero there to save people from their own mental issues?
Two detectives are assigned to this case. They question the victims, and the potential suspects. I like how the two investigators are complete opposites, a great example of making the good cop/bad cop work. In addition, it's interesting how this case has a similar effect on both characters in a different way SPOILER!:with Maniwa going insane in his attempt to find and stop this threat, and Ikari falling into depression. END SPOILER!
There is some creepy imagery in this series. Two of the best examples come from episodes two and three. In the second episode, Yuichi, a once popular boy is suspected for being Lil' Slugger. This coincides with the upcoming student council election, and he believes his rival is starting these rumors. When Yuichi hears the other students talking about him, or he dreads what will happen, the world transforms into a more warped, abstract animation style. The blank, white eyes on the characters are chilling to look at.
In my opinion, the third episode wins the award for the creepiest moments. The woman Harumi is fighting among herself--literally. Even when she wants to put that part of her self aside when she gets engaged, life becomes a horror story when she realizes she may not be the one in control. Visually, the climax of this episode is the scariest. SPOILER!Harumi is trying to get rid of Maria (a second personality who is trying to fight for dominance), and she receives a telephone call from herself, just the thought of that happening is scary. I love the image of Maria's hand grabbing Harumi's arm right after she smashes the mirror. Harumi is then being dragged down the street by Maria, who is switching between black-haired and red-haired versions of herself, and then in the next shot it shows Harumi stumbling and struggling against an invisible force. END SPOILER! While the audience can see it is all in her mind, it is real to her, and the way it is animated is brilliant.
For me, the best overall episode has to be number six. This is a good example of fantastic editing. Tsukiko is brought back in for questioning, after the homeless woman gives the detectives an interesting testament. Meanwhile, the teenager Taeko is devastated by a recent happening concerning her family, and all she wishes for is to forget. I just love how brilliant this scene is done. The focus keeps switching from Tsukiko to Taeko, and what is being said of one can relate to the other. Also, there is the story of the old homeless woman juxtaposed with Taeko, that resolves in a major twist--how it is edited to make you believe one thing, when in reality it's something else entirely. It's fast paced and, in my opinion, one of the most intense moments in the series. This episode also has the best ending.
I found episodes one through seven intriguing. Episode five is kind of silly, but an intriguing look into the mind of that episode's specific character. However, episodes eight, nine, and ten come across as filler while waiting for the next "season" (episodes eleven through thirteen).
Episode eight feels like it came out of the blue. This one follows three people who meet up to commit suicide together. It has nothing to do with the main cast, nor does it move the plot along. Is this episode bad? Not at all. Of the three "filler" episodes, this one is my favorite. It makes for good comic relief in an otherwise tense story. The humor is dark since it centers around suicide attempts and constant failing (the reason for the failures is revealed in the end). The part where they're chasing after Lil' Slugger is hilarious. If you like black humor, you'll probably find this one amusing.
Episode nine focuses on four women gossiping about recent Lil' Slugger attacks. The first story is kind of creepy, and the second one realistic (even though it's clear that in that one it wasn't Lil' Slugger who killed the woman), but they get more ridiculous with each tale. This episode is meant to show how rumors can spread a simple lie into something outrageous. I found this episode to be rather boring. It is good to see how these rumors are progressing, but I think it would've worked better to show maybe a minute of gossip in each episode, rather than filling up an entire one.
Of all the episodes, number ten was my least favorite. Other than the surprise ending I feel that it adds very little to the story. Unless you are interested in the production of animation, you can just skip this one, and it won't miss anything. I honestly feel like this episode is intended for an animation class by using an animation to teach the lesson. While watching this one I kept wondering, "when are we going to get back to the main story?" I understand the point of this episode is that the legend of Lil' Slugger is being blamed for all these acts of violence, but I think that topic was covered better in the second rumor in the previous episode. This one was just too boring for my tastes.
The final act of the story is covered in episodes eleven through thirteen. This is where everything starts to go crazy, well, crazier than before, that all leads up to a shocking ending. There are a lot of different theories as to what actually happens, and I think that's one of the positives to this anime--it can be left up to interpretation. For instance, has Maniwa truly gone insane, or is what he's seeing the truth? Is he fighting Lil' Slugger, or is it part of the delusion? Is what happened to the city in the end due to what we see on the screen, or is it more metaphorical? And then there is the question surrounding Maromi herself. The answers are never black and white, anyone is allowed to believe whatever they want.
This anime does a great job with displaying how a simple rumor can be spread until it reaches out of control limits, whether if it is by word of mouth, or through forms of media such as the television, or in today's time Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. It's important to remember that this anime was released in 2004, before social media became what it is today. If there ever is a revamp (animated or live-action [this is one anime I can see working as a live-action movie or mini-series]), I am interested to see just how much more of an impact today's social media would have on the spread of the rumors.
The character designs are perfect for this kind of show. The people look realistic instead of being all moe, or unnaturally beautiful, especially for the dark tones of this story. I also like that there's such a variety of characters: all different ages, occupations, shapes, sizes, social classes, personalities, etc. The look is different from a lot of popular anime that I think works well for this one.
The pacing works well for the most part. I've already touched on the unnecessary three "filler" episodes, and won't repeat that here. The building of suspense moves at a steady pace, not giving more than what is needed. The calmer scenes move at a slower pace, while the more intense it gets, the quicker the shots and editing (again, done superbly in episode six).
This is just a lingering thought I had about the ending. SPOILER!:That is the state of Maniwa in the last act. I'm assuming that he is imagining Lil' Slugger because he feels the need to fight him due to unfinished business at the end of episode seven. However, he admits that he knows that Lil' Slugger does not exist since he questioned Tsukiko's father and knows the truth about Maromi and the kid with the bat from the initial incident when Tsukiko was a child. However, he is still actively fighting the demon form of Lil' Slugger. This makes me wonder, does Maniwa emotionally need this delusion to help him move on, or is it possible that everything that happens in the last three episodes only occur in Tsukiko's mind?
Here is one of my theories on the final episodes. I'm wondering if it is possible that sometime after she recreated Lil' Slugger, Maniwa approached her with the truth he discovered from her father. Tsukiko running into Ikari's dreamworld is symbolic of Tsukiko trying to run from the truth. Maromi chasing her and Ikari is all in her mind while she is trying to run from the fact that she had started all this hysteria. She doesn't want to face responsibility, despite knowing the truth, just like when she was a child. I'm wondering if Ikari wasn't even there for that last part, it was just something Tsukiko imagined to help support her delusion.
Or it's still possible that both Maniwa and Ikari had also gone insane from the case, and by Tsukiko admitting her lie, everyone was set free? These are is just some thoughts I had about the final episodes. END SPOILER!
In all, I think this anime is worth watching. It is a good suspense, horror story. The gore is minimal, as the medium relies more on psychological scares. Keep in mind, this is not something to watch while tired, as it does require thinking. It may even take multiple viewings, as I was confused at times, especially with the last episode. The ending, as well as what the overall story is about may differ from person to person.
Paranoia Agent: 8/10
Music: Sarah Brightman
Beverage: XXX Vitamin Water
1. "Mousou Dairinin" MyAnimeList (April 3 2015). http://myanimelist.net/anime/323/Mousou_Dairinin
2. "Paranoia Agent" IMDb (April 3, 2015). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433722/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Hey, everybody. It's time for a new review. This review will contain spoilers. I will warn beforehand with SPOILER! and END SPOILER!, and there will be a strike through across the spoiled content.
Back in 2011 I watched a popular anime called Death Note, and to this day it is still my favorite of all anime series. Having just finished Clannad: After Story (a slice of life, romance, comedy, with a few tear-jerking episodes towards the end), I craved something different, something more along the lines of a psychological thriller like Death Note. I researched good psychological anime and a constant on many lists was Paranoia Agent.
Several years ago I saw this anime listed on Youtube in a video about the best anime openings. I have to say it deserved a spot for a good reason, but I'll get to that later. I watched a review on the show, and it seemed interesting. As of today, this series received a score of 7.7 on MyAnimeList (1) and an 8.2 on IMDb (2).
Where best to begin than with the beginning? In this case, the beginning is the opening. This opening would place in my top thirteen anime openings. The song is nothing special, but the visuals are so different than what normally happens in anime openings. It shows the main cast of the show standing in either dangerous areas, or otherwise unpleasant. For instance, Tsukiko is standing on the edge of roof of a tall building, the children are being overtaken by a flood, Harumi and Maria are standing in a dump, Misae is inside her house that is now in ruins, and the whole cast is standing in the middle of a busy street. The strange thing about this is that they are all laughing. They all look at ease, not at all bothered by their locations. These images are unsettling, and when taking close looks at their faces, disturbing. However, that is the same feel of the show. I've never seen an opening that fits the mood of the series as well as this one. The opening is supposed to get the audience interested in the show, and I think it accomplishes that.
Now onto the show itself. What I like most about this series is that it requires thinking. I like how it kept me guessing throughout most of the anime. Even after finishing the series, I'm still not sure what is real, and what was imagined. This show has major suspense. Granted Paranoia Agent is only thirteen episodes long, but I binged watched it in under twenty-four hours (including needing to break after episode three to go to bed), I was that interested in seeing what happened next.
In the first episode Tsukiko has designed a cartoon dog character called Maromi that has become a huge hit in Japan. She is pressured by her boss to design a new character even though she can't come up with anything. She is considered weird by most other characters, and the only person she trusts is her plush toy of Maromi, who talks to her, and offers her comfort and advice. With all this stress on her, Tsukiko is attacked by Lil' Slugger (Shonen Bat in the original), a boy on gold skates, carrying a bent baseball bat. After the assault Tsukiko is more at ease.
Each episode focuses on a different character. These characters all have some kind of major stress in their lives, and right before a breakdown, Lil' Slugger appears and attacks that person. As with Tsukiko, after each incident, the victim feels better. By episode three, this led me to two major questions. 1) How does this attacker know when people are at the height of suffering? 2) Is he a villain, or a hero there to save people from their own mental issues?
Two detectives are assigned to this case. They question the victims, and the potential suspects. I like how the two investigators are complete opposites, a great example of making the good cop/bad cop work. In addition, it's interesting how this case has a similar effect on both characters in a different way SPOILER!:
There is some creepy imagery in this series. Two of the best examples come from episodes two and three. In the second episode, Yuichi, a once popular boy is suspected for being Lil' Slugger. This coincides with the upcoming student council election, and he believes his rival is starting these rumors. When Yuichi hears the other students talking about him, or he dreads what will happen, the world transforms into a more warped, abstract animation style. The blank, white eyes on the characters are chilling to look at.
In my opinion, the third episode wins the award for the creepiest moments. The woman Harumi is fighting among herself--literally. Even when she wants to put that part of her self aside when she gets engaged, life becomes a horror story when she realizes she may not be the one in control. Visually, the climax of this episode is the scariest. SPOILER!
For me, the best overall episode has to be number six. This is a good example of fantastic editing. Tsukiko is brought back in for questioning, after the homeless woman gives the detectives an interesting testament. Meanwhile, the teenager Taeko is devastated by a recent happening concerning her family, and all she wishes for is to forget. I just love how brilliant this scene is done. The focus keeps switching from Tsukiko to Taeko, and what is being said of one can relate to the other. Also, there is the story of the old homeless woman juxtaposed with Taeko, that resolves in a major twist--how it is edited to make you believe one thing, when in reality it's something else entirely. It's fast paced and, in my opinion, one of the most intense moments in the series. This episode also has the best ending.
I found episodes one through seven intriguing. Episode five is kind of silly, but an intriguing look into the mind of that episode's specific character. However, episodes eight, nine, and ten come across as filler while waiting for the next "season" (episodes eleven through thirteen).
Episode eight feels like it came out of the blue. This one follows three people who meet up to commit suicide together. It has nothing to do with the main cast, nor does it move the plot along. Is this episode bad? Not at all. Of the three "filler" episodes, this one is my favorite. It makes for good comic relief in an otherwise tense story. The humor is dark since it centers around suicide attempts and constant failing (the reason for the failures is revealed in the end). The part where they're chasing after Lil' Slugger is hilarious. If you like black humor, you'll probably find this one amusing.
Episode nine focuses on four women gossiping about recent Lil' Slugger attacks. The first story is kind of creepy, and the second one realistic (even though it's clear that in that one it wasn't Lil' Slugger who killed the woman), but they get more ridiculous with each tale. This episode is meant to show how rumors can spread a simple lie into something outrageous. I found this episode to be rather boring. It is good to see how these rumors are progressing, but I think it would've worked better to show maybe a minute of gossip in each episode, rather than filling up an entire one.
Of all the episodes, number ten was my least favorite. Other than the surprise ending I feel that it adds very little to the story. Unless you are interested in the production of animation, you can just skip this one, and it won't miss anything. I honestly feel like this episode is intended for an animation class by using an animation to teach the lesson. While watching this one I kept wondering, "when are we going to get back to the main story?" I understand the point of this episode is that the legend of Lil' Slugger is being blamed for all these acts of violence, but I think that topic was covered better in the second rumor in the previous episode. This one was just too boring for my tastes.
The final act of the story is covered in episodes eleven through thirteen. This is where everything starts to go crazy, well, crazier than before, that all leads up to a shocking ending. There are a lot of different theories as to what actually happens, and I think that's one of the positives to this anime--it can be left up to interpretation. For instance, has Maniwa truly gone insane, or is what he's seeing the truth? Is he fighting Lil' Slugger, or is it part of the delusion? Is what happened to the city in the end due to what we see on the screen, or is it more metaphorical? And then there is the question surrounding Maromi herself. The answers are never black and white, anyone is allowed to believe whatever they want.
This anime does a great job with displaying how a simple rumor can be spread until it reaches out of control limits, whether if it is by word of mouth, or through forms of media such as the television, or in today's time Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. It's important to remember that this anime was released in 2004, before social media became what it is today. If there ever is a revamp (animated or live-action [this is one anime I can see working as a live-action movie or mini-series]), I am interested to see just how much more of an impact today's social media would have on the spread of the rumors.
The character designs are perfect for this kind of show. The people look realistic instead of being all moe, or unnaturally beautiful, especially for the dark tones of this story. I also like that there's such a variety of characters: all different ages, occupations, shapes, sizes, social classes, personalities, etc. The look is different from a lot of popular anime that I think works well for this one.
The pacing works well for the most part. I've already touched on the unnecessary three "filler" episodes, and won't repeat that here. The building of suspense moves at a steady pace, not giving more than what is needed. The calmer scenes move at a slower pace, while the more intense it gets, the quicker the shots and editing (again, done superbly in episode six).
This is just a lingering thought I had about the ending. SPOILER!:
In all, I think this anime is worth watching. It is a good suspense, horror story. The gore is minimal, as the medium relies more on psychological scares. Keep in mind, this is not something to watch while tired, as it does require thinking. It may even take multiple viewings, as I was confused at times, especially with the last episode. The ending, as well as what the overall story is about may differ from person to person.
Paranoia Agent: 8/10
Music: Sarah Brightman
Beverage: XXX Vitamin Water
1. "Mousou Dairinin" MyAnimeList (April 3 2015). http://myanimelist.net/anime/323/Mousou_Dairinin
2. "Paranoia Agent" IMDb (April 3, 2015). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433722/?ref_=nv_sr_2