Ranked #2339

Aru Machi Kado no Monogatari

Aru Machi Kado no Monogatari or Tales of A Street Corner does exactly as its title says and gives us the stories that live and grow in the streets. However, these are the ones that are not told.

This isn't about the people living the city, it isn't about a street performer or a vendor, a taxi driver or young lovers--it is about life. And there is life in everything. From the dying leaves on a tree, to mice, to even posters on a wall.

This is an experimental anime about point of view and atmosphere. It does not truly give us a set story. It moves around locations in a European town set somewhere between the 1920s and 1940s judging by the look. There are several sub-plots throughout the OAV. They follow a girl and her teddy bear, a mouse that gets kicked out the nest, posters that flirt with one another, make music, but are silenced by a newer poster of a dictator, leaves on a tree that are saddened at the fates that await them. It's all rather interesting that the director chose to pay attention to these smaller aspects. However, it runs on aimlessly for too long of a period, so whatever storyline is set up eventually drags on for ages and wears out most of its welcome. It is mostly saved by the insertion of an event later on in the OAV that pretty much changes the entire pace of the anime.

Most of the clues of the anime being set in Europe comes from the art style. It is not traditionally "anime-like", as the character design looks like something that popped out of am Eastern European children's novel or propaganda comics and posters. There is a lack of detail in terms of shading, intricacy, but the animation was done fairly well, and the look evokes the feel that, yes, this may very well be any street in a town in Europe, namely Russia.

The music was probably the best thing about this OAV. It is the classical sort of music you would hear in the score of an old musical. Lots of piano work, strings, woodwinds supplied both the score and some of the sound effects. It is mostly a cheerful, fun composition for the anime.

Unfortunately, not much can be said about the characters. What can be said about posters of people who say no words but evoke emotions through their expressions, or a mouse that runs around with a piece of cheese, or a moth that flitters about aimlessly? Not much. Complex characterisations are a no-go for this anime, as it mostly presents us with music and the spirit of the streets, but that's about it. Except perhaps the two musician lovers on the posters. Their relationship reminded of the The Little Tin Soldier for some reason.

Aru Machi Kado no Monogatari reminded me of the 1940s American-made Tom and Jerry cartoons while I watched it. Except, of course, the cat and the mouse known as Tom and Jerry had tons more personality than the characters of this anime, and also did not overstay and wear out the enjoyment factor. For a musical anime with a lot of random sights and different stories from the street corner, then I recommend this OAV. Other than that, it isn't worth an immediate watch as it tends to tediously drag on and presents very little of an actual plot until the very last few scenes. read more