UlasanAnime.com – This is primarily a first-impression piece, akin to savoring a fine meal with the perfect wine pairing.
The TV anime is now available for streaming on Crunchyroll, presumably after an exclusivity period. However, this likely holds little significance as the entire series was already pre-screened in Japanese theaters.
I recall an opportunity to catch the first segment during ML10th Act3 in Fukuoka, but circumstances prevented it. My hotel roommate that weekender also missed the initial showing due to a mishap beyond his control, opting instead for the pre-screening.
You might also be interested in : Frieren: A Season's Reflections
Here are the “filters” that are coloring my experience after the first episode, personal biases if you will. For brevity, I’ll list them:
- Miriani. While comparisons between related works are common, I don’t actively engage in them. Instead, it’s an unconscious process where I can understand why people draw parallels in plot, writing, or direction to support their arguments. Or rather, is Miriani beyond reproach? I don’t consider it that exceptional, nor do I entirely agree with those nostalgic for the A-1 Pictures era. After watching Shinyani, I don’t find it as lacking as some suggest, especially when compared to Miriani. Ultimately, Shinyani isn’t the culmination of a decade of effort like Miriani, which felt like a drawn-out process for an anime better suited for 2018. This suggests I’m consciously setting aside that obvious comparison.
- Visual Novel Anime Titles from the 00s. I’m reminded of a specific title, one of my all-time favorites. This anime shares a similar vibe, focusing on atmosphere and feeling rather than a strong plot, much like the “vibes” of the 2000s. This was a common element in many postmodern narratives, especially visual novels of that era. Anime adaptations of visual novels often derive similar feelings and storytelling techniques to express emotions. I’m unsure how well Shinyani will capture this concept, which the original Shinymas game prided itself on, but we shall see. Generally, this approach requires significant time, and with Shinyani needing to cover numerous idols within a single cour, it’s unlikely to be a prominent feature. Throughout the first episode, I noticed recurring motifs of the sky, feathered wings, scenes set by the rhythm of the sun (particularly the sunset scenes), all underscored by simple piano melodies. This is reminiscent of EF.
- Gakumas Visuals. My perception of Shinyani’s visuals has shifted since watching Gakuen IDOLM@STER. In fact, this realization prompted this post. Repeatedly watching Rinami’s 4K intro clip has likely had a significant impact. Putting jokes aside, this is because the IM@S 3D art style has evolved. I believe this is also a subconscious influence from Miriani, leading us into a new era where A1’s licensed artwork is a distant memory, MLTD serves as a transitional visual artifact, and Gakumas represents the future, or perhaps the present. Shinyani’s visuals align well with the graphics produced by the talented team at QualiArts. When I saw this unveiled, it brought to mind someone speaking about courage.
- My Role as a Shinymas Producer. As someone who engages with the Shinymas game intermittently, my primary interest lies in the overarching meta-narrative, the fandom, the music, and the performances. Having been involved with the franchise since its inception, I know what to anticipate. Similar to Gakumas, which features weekly new character reveals, I’m focused on the franchise’s overall progression as new units are introduced. The anime itself isn’t something I’ve been desperately awaiting; it clearly serves as an introduction to the lucrative Shinysong game, which launched just months prior. This reminds me that I should write about it. However, you can likely infer my feelings about that game. Your mileage may vary here, as I’m uncertain about the size of my cohort, especially within the English-speaking community.
So far, the anime is at least visually competent, upholding the IDOLM@STER brand from a production standpoint. I’m uncertain about the story’s direction by the season’s end, especially with the announcement of S2, which will include Straylight and Noctchill. I assume there will be further progression. To suggest that announcing and teasing new units for S2 before S1 even aired feels somewhat premature would be an understatement.
Unfortunately, speed often trumps nuance in the otaku world, and we know that the audience familiar with Shinymas primarily through internet illustrators and erodojinshi is significantly larger than my own cohort, LOL. Regardless, I will continue watching this show, as if I had any other option.
