Ranked #350

Michiko to Hatchin

What would you get if you crossed Thelma & Louise with City of God? You may get complete drivel, or you may, if you're very lucky, get something like Michiko to Hatchin.

Manglobe, the production company (and the brains behind), Michiko to Hatchin, have really pushed the boat out with this anime. But then, they're no strangers to success or quality, being the company responsible for Ergo Proxy and Samurai Champloo. The series was directed by Yamamoto Sayo, and is effectively her first full time at the helm of a production, and whilst this may have been a gamble on the part of Manglobe, it's one that certainly payed off as Michiko to Hatchin has a certain "fresh" quality that I haven't seen in anime in a long time (not since Cowboy Bebop in fact).

The tale is about an escaped convict named Michiko Malandro, and her quest to find her lost, and supposedly dead, lover Hiroshi Morenos. In order to achieve this, she"kidnaps" a girl who is supposedly Hiroshi's daughter, initially thinking that she would know where Hiroshi is. However the world has changed during her years in prison, becoming at times more brutal, and less forgiving.

The decision to set this tale in a quasi-South American (Brazilian), country was a stroke of genius, as the creators and director could do things that would never have been included had this series been given a more staid setting. In addition to this, the characters themselves are able to have that little bit more "flair" about them because of the setting, something that initially detracts from some of them until one realises that the gaudiness is all simply part of that character's persona - more on that later.

Fans of Ergo Proxy and Samurai Champloo will know that Manglobe are able to produce some stunning work, and Michiko to Hatchin is no slouch in this department. From barren deserts to lush jungles, from slum shanties to sleek factories, the level of detail is excellent, and well above that of many recent titles. In addition to this, the various settings in which the story takes place have a certain realistic quality about them that belies the fact that this is an anime.

Characters are extremely unique and well designed, again, adding to the sense of realism about the show. The lead characters and immediate supporting cast are individuals to a tee, with each character possesing a certain lifelike quality that many anime would find difficult to match.

One area where the show excels is with the animation. It's rare that I've seen such life-like movement in anime, and in many ways I would have to say the fluidity and natural motion in Michiko to Hatchin is a step up from that of Samurai Champloo.

Sound is another area where this show works well. The effects are extremely well used, and whilst some may be overwhelming, this is actually purposeful because of the situation the characters may find themselves in. The music used throughout the series is verll well chosen, and is reflective of the Latin-American feel of the show. The OP, a track called "Paraiso" by the Japanese jazz band Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, is excellent, and harks back to the classic "Tank!" of Cowboy Bebop fame. Unfortuantely, I didn't think much of the ED "Best Friend" by Karutetto, as it is a bit too "boy-band" for my tastes.

Now, one of the truly great things about Michiko to Hatchin is in it's choice of voice actors. Manglobe and Yamamoto took the somewhat surprising (and risky), move when they chose the actors to be used, opting not for established voice actors, but for screen actors in their own right. However, this has paid off in spades for the series. Maki Yoko (Battle Royale II: Requiem, The Grudge), is extremely vesatile as the sexy, pouting, hotheaded, and somewhat childish Michiko, whilst Ohgo Suzuka (Year On in the North, Memoirs of a Geisha), is truly excellent in the role of Hatchin, giving her character a depth that is rare to find.

Which neatly brings us to the characters themselves. Michiko is willful, headstrong, selfish in the extreme, and very childish. Hatchin is somewhat shy and nervous, but also responsible, tidy, and hates laziness. Both leads are extremely well defined from the outset, something which is reinforced as the relationship between the two is extremely combative (the two are effectively polar opposites). Other characters like the terrifying Satoshi Batista or the terrier-like (i.e. always chasing Michiko), Atsuko Jackson are also well defined from the start, and through the first few episodes it may be difficult to see how any of the characters are actually developing because of the strength of the characterizations.

One reason for this is because both Manglobe and Yamamoto decided against using normal anime practices for developing characters, and instead chose a far more realistic and subtle approach. One needs only to look at the relationship between Michiko and Hatchin, or even Michiko and Atsuko, at the beginning of the series, and compare it with their behaviour at the end, to see exactly how much they have developed as characters. An example of this is the fact that Michiko at the beginning of the series is very much an annoying, sexy, pouting, selfish jerk, however at the end of the series she reminds of Balsa from Seirei no Moribito. Hatchin, Atsuko and Satoshi also undergo this extremely subtle development (you'll see how much by episode 20).

I thoroughly enjoyed this series for many reasons, the main one being the fact that this is a show that is not afraid to show the casual brutality of its setting. There will be some out there who didn't like the way the series ended, however I found the conclusion to be very much in keeping with the eseence of the series, whilst at the same time being far more realistic than the endings of most other series.

This is a rare anime, and is one that should not be prejudged on the basis of one or two episodes. The complexity of each character, the harsh, unforgiving setting, the sometimes brutally real actions of individuals, and the extremely subtle development, all serve to make this one of the best shows of last season, and one of the best anime to appear in the last decade. At times Thelma & Louise, at times City of God, at times Laurel and Hardy, this series possesses a style and flair that surpasses that of Samurai Champloo - a feat by any measure.

Given the quality of this series, and its previous titles, I'm rapidly becoming a fan of Manglobe. read more

****As of Episode 11****

Story - 9.1/10 (A-)

For the most part, the story brings you in from the first episode. A real good plot, some really well drawn out character backgrounds, a spice of latin flavor in each episode and the occasional boob shaking, finger flipping action, courtesy of Michiko. You're going to love the random yet plot focused action of the femine duo. Many twists and turns await, and as of episode 11, it's been a great ride.

Art - 9.7/10 (A)

Well, i haven't seen such colorful designs in..never. Each episode brings something as unimportant (Ex. Shoes, TV's, a gas station) to life. This has something to do with the setting, a great choice by the creator. You'll be amazed how well each piece of setting and backdrop is well animated. Michiko's design of a bad girl convict shows itself from the very beginning.


Sound - 8.3/10

--OP/ED Theme: 9.0/10
The Opening theme is a latin-flavored beat, "Paraiso" by Soul & Pimp Sessions, it really shows the cultural stance of Michiko to Hatchin. An upbeat, fiesta that can show that a non-vocal song can be just as good as a vocal one.

The Ending theme brings the show down to a mellow, humble stop with "Best Friend" by Karutetto (Quartet). A moving song with a variety of different drawings in each part of the ending, something that can really leave you (almost) in tears. Beautifully well sung, the adding vivid images that accompany it also well done.

--BGM: 8.3/10
The BGM is really well played, from the town on the outskirts to the strip bar scenes, it blends well. Some of the lesser bgm will probably leave your mind the next episode, but it's still good while it lasted.


Character - 8.9/10
There's a shortage of characters but the one's i can name are really well done. Aitsuko, the police chief and a (former) friend to Michiko, another bad girl cop with a no-nonsense attitude, how someone like her and Michiko ever became friends is still a mystery to me. Every character has a purpose for being there, and Michiko to Hatchin is one of those shows where they all come together in their own seperate and uniquely different ways. Now we have members of Monstro, including Satoshi. He's a real charmer..right.

Final Conclusion/Enjoyment - 9.3/10

Michiko to Hatchin is a show with a great future and a greater chance of becoming a hit show with a cult following, no doubt. It has the basic components that make a show and more. Only 6 episodes in, and i can tell you it's good and you WANT more. While every show that has been deemed "perfect", it's highly unlikely. Every show has faults, Michiko to Hatchin is no exception. However, it's cultural upbringing and remarkable characters along with the homely latin-flavored music can easily overcome those tiny faults. If you want a change, vote Michiko to Hatchin (pun intended).

Overall(Averaged): -8.8/10 (B+) read more