Ranked #589

Diary of Tortov Roddle

Oh my, what and incredible work of art we have here.

Diary of Tortov Roddle is really something unique, I enjoyed it very much.
It's like watching a moving panting, like running through a museum while beautiful music is being played all over the place.

It really doesn't has a plot, It's just Tortov Roddle traveling and showing us places. But oh, what kind of places.
They are so magical, with a great amount of surrealism, artistic, unique.
It leaves you wanting more. Always wanting to know what other kind of places he will visit. Places just beyond our imagination.

The art is really simple, original,different. That's what makes it so beautiful. For me is perfect.
You feel like you're watching a painter working. And you're transported into the painting.

The music is so relaxing, perfect for this piece of art. And is a well a piece of art. A great job of Kenji Kondo.
I can almost imagine the instruments coming into scene while watching this.
And I wouldn't be surprised if that happened ^^.

The characters well let's see... have you ever seen a pig with legs thinner than a horse's?. Here you can see it. And you will love it.
Tortov reminded me a little of Don Quijote. Thin and tall, using a hat too.
(Maybe the pig is Rocinante.)
And the things that Tortov writes on his diary gives us a more magical and pretty perspective. I love how he sees everything.

I almost forgot about the bunny men! They are awesome.
There's the lady of the flower hat too.
And a big bear who proyects cartoons on his back ^^.

I highly recommend this. I know it's not popular, but only people who are imaginative and can open their minds to appreciate different and beautiful things and don't call everything new ''weird'' can really enjoy this.
And if you're not one of those persons, try to see it anyways, it's worth it.

The best way of watching this?. Relaxing drinking a cup of tea :] read more

Do you remember ever as a child wrapping yourself up in a comfortable blanket, opening your favourite picture book, and getting lost in another world that transcended the pages and ink?

That's what sitting and watching The Diary of Tortov Roddle is like.

This anime seems to have jumped out of the pages of an old book. The story is compelling, simple, and I cannot find another word to describe it than 'whimsical'. Tortov is a traveller, or maybe even just a wanderer, who goes from countryside to village, village to town, town to countryside once more with his very large horse-like pig. The story is his documentation; pages out of his 'diary' that he keeps of the strange and unusual things and people he encounters on his journey. If there's one thing this story succeeds in doing is creating atmosphere and another universe. Tortov's world is magical, mechanical and mundane. It'd be hard not to be swept into his story and swept away by his world.

One of the greatest things about this anime is the art. It is very European-esque, and looks like it chose to combine and apply the styles of Van Gogh and Munch over using the more traditional anime look. The characters are drawn with thin lines, they seem very angular and long. The backgrounds are beautiful. The landscape scenes are breathtaking. There is an effective use of a grainy look as well, to give the anime a more "aged" look. It's a beautiful anime.

As for the score, it completely suited the mood and atmosphere of the series. Rarely do you see music work so well as to aid in controlling the pace of a scene. When there is something Tortov is intrigued by, interested in, confused by, the music does its job and reflects those emotions, drawing us closer to the character and events.

Tortov is one of the more interesting leads you will see. He is always mildly surprised and fascinated by what he sees, but even the most amazing sights rarely shock him, as he easily accepts everything in world was being normal, because really, even if it is fantastical to us, it is commonplace for him. He is a calm, quiet man who takes in everything around him. There aren't many characters in this short series, and there wasn't a lot of character development. But the character the anime starts and ends with is an interesting, original one.

There wasn't a moment that I wasn't completely absorbed by this anime. It was by far one of the greatest short series I have ever seen, and to me, one of the most innovative anime I have seen.

The Diary of Tortov Roddle is a wondrous little anime. Even with its simplicity, it managed to be deep and truly moving. I highly recommend it with a mug of warm cocoa. read more

The Diary of Tortov Roddle shows us in a somewhat unique way. The story starts where Tortov Roddle, the main character and somewhat the narrator, introduces himself and tells us a bit about his journey.

During his journey, he encounters a lot of fantasized things, such as frogs, a fish, a bear, a pig, rabbits, etc. (I will not say specifically how they are related to fantasy since that would spoil the whole thing). He always guides us in his point of view and in a journal way. So, it is not hard for us to understand this story.

In my perspective, I really love the storyline, but I think they could have made more episodes or such. The character, with Tortov Roddle, is enough already and is perfectly fine. I really love the artwork. They also produced La Maison en Petits Cubes, which makes this ONA popular.

I guarantee that this anime will really grab your attention and you will enjoy the way the story is shown. read more