UlasanAnime.com – We anime watching folks are a peculiar bunch, aren’t we? The more I observe and reflect, the less I feel inclined to heed critiques about declining creativity or the supposed downfall of the anime industry. In reality, the opposite seems to be true.
While there are undoubtedly serious and valid industry-specific challenges, the discourse often misidentifies the core problem. It’s akin to scrutinizing swimsuit choices instead of questioning the models posing in them – putting the cart before the horse.
The truth is, Chihayafuru is a beautifully rendered and poetic adaptation of a long-standing manga. The subject matter and characters are secondary to the masterful execution, successfully elevating the rather niche pursuit of national competitive karuta into the familiar territory of a sports anime. Many excellent manga adaptations have graced our screens over the years, and it’s heartening to see Chihayafuru join their ranks, hopefully in its 26-episode format.
However, my primary reservation with Chihayafuru is its lack of innovation; it largely excels in executing established conventions. The voice actor for Chihaya, despite being a newcomer, shows considerable promise, particularly in the ending song she performed. It’s also amusing to note her height advantage over Ai Kayano in cast photos. Beyond this, the series offers limited novelty. The animation does feature some creative uses of CG pattern overlays, especially in the opening sequence, and the soundtrack is charming and enjoyable for those who appreciate such elements.
Perhaps this reflects my own jaded perspective on anime, but I seek more from my viewing experience than what Chihayafuru delivers. While it certainly provides some of the qualities I look for in any anime, it ultimately falls short of offering anything groundbreaking or particularly exciting for fans of the medium, especially those who follow late-night TV anime. It seems to be a classic case of receiving not what I desired, but what I needed.
This sentiment resonates strongly with the observations of a certain social-networking cultural critic. I hold no strong opinions on Sayo Yamamoto’s new work, other than its explicit content and its promising nature. I anticipate enjoying it, precisely because I am that “miserable anime watching type” who finds that even esteemed works like Dezaki’s offer merely what is necessary, rather than what is truly desired.
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You know, what I really need is to write a post about Another.
