Tsukiuta. The Animation

I personally loved Tsukiani, but I know that not many people would really like this sort of anime.

There's no overarching plot in this anime. It mainly follows the characters' lives and the small challenges they face as an idol. There's not much of them singing or dancing, but it revolves around how the other work that idols go through. So if you're looking for a lot of singing and dancing, this isn't the one for you.

The music is really good. The opening switches back and forth between the sibling/rival units, and the ending features a different characters' solo song each episode. Some people say that ... the CGI wasn't all that great, but I don't think so. This anime's CGI is better than most of the CGI I've seen in most idol animes.

The art is pretty standard. It looks nice but it's not that nice. There's not really much to comment on other than that.

What I liked the most about this anime are the characters. The characters are really cute. They're all really lovable and make you want to get to know them, but be warned: there's not much character development in this series. If you're looking for character development, you'd have to listen to the Tsukiuta CD dramas. However, not many of you would take the time of day to read the translations. So unless you are willing to know more about them, you should read them.

It's a nice anime to watch when you want to take a break from all the fighting and drama you see in other animes. It's good to watch if you just want to relax.

There's only one rule that all Idol/music-genre anime shall follow: to radiate blissful joy to the audience. Unfortunately within popular landscape, it seems like such joy is only acknowledged in relations to a certain gender bias. However, once such bias is removed from one's headspace, one may definitely discover something great-- Tsukiuta, for instance.

Personally speaking, sometimes it makes me feel salty every time I see reviewers immediately lambast Idol/music-genre anime, particularly the ones with all-male characters (whilst they have no issue singing praise for the likes of BanG Dream! and Love Live!). Such bias immediately shadows the fact of which these kinds of anime actually ... tend get lost inside their thrills and frills to the point of which, they all become pointless in the end. On the other side of the neighbor's lawn, however, there exists Tsukiuta and it is unapologetically joyful. It is not to say, though, that Tsukiuta is a masterpiece within its genre universe but it is admittedly a pretty damn effective piece of art. Tsukiuta never gets distracted by its own smokes and mirrors and there is always a valuable life lesson by the end of each episode. More importantly, Tsukiuta is a better anime to watch by youngsters out there as they consistently distinguish innocence from naivete, teen spirits from unreasonable impulses, and consistent hard work from a mere 'aha' moment.

My final remarks, if you're in the mood for something joyful and perhaps you get sick of hardcore Shounen anime every now and then, Tsukiuta would be a healthy detox. For the ladies, these Tsukiuta boys will get you jumping with neons. For the gentlemen, no need to feel insecure or proud: these Tsukiuta boys are pretty cool to hang out with. There's no shame watching some young men do their damn best in life.

#felixlovesanime

A+, tbh. I found this anime as I was getting back into the music/anime scene, so I watched it coz i figured, "hey, it's anime, and it's music, so why not?" Honestly, it might have been one of my better decisions.


This review is spoiler-free, so while i don't think it's as in-depth as i can make it to be, i guess this can be a review to... encourage people to watch it, if they have the time to do so. go ahead!



OVERALL: 9/10

It's almost amazing! The only reason i can't give it a 10 is because my favorite character did not get an episode ... lmao yes i am that petty. It's chill, easy, and something you don't have to think too deep about. It's something you can watch and rewatch when life is getting too tedious, or when you just want to take a break between watching series with heavier themes.

As someone with anxiety: the soundtrack is soothing. The character songs i like best when i feel i'm about to have an attack are Rui's, Shun's, and Hajime's. The opening and closing themes I like listening to when I'm on my way to school and just want to have fun. Overall experience: 9/10.

STORY: 8/10

The story is not so much as a plot. It's a slice of the life of idols, as is the rest of the Tsukiuta franchise; only this is specific to the experiences of Six Gravi and Procellarium. I rated it 8/10 because, as a student, I was able to relate with their experiences: the agonizing over your dream, the uncertainty in your own abilities, the growth, the support you are able to receive from the people around you... it's relatable, and it's life.



ANIMATION: 9/10

NOW. I know people will disagree with me on this, but hear me out: CG is amazing in anime, especially the way it was incorporated in the series. It's 80% traditional animation, 20% CG. The CG makes it so that we are able to watch the 'performances' in different angles, and more realistically than in other performance anime. From their breathing, to the subtle movements of shoulders and eyes and the face... what else could you ask for?



SOUND: 10/10

It's a musical anime. It pulled through: each character was able to perform his own character song, and each group was able to perform the song they're best known for. The last song? 12 distinct voices, blending so freaking naturally? A M A Z E B A L L S.



CHARACTERS: 9/10

Each character is distinct, relatable in his own way, and well-developed - i guess that's what happens when you produce something in fiction and it actually exists in real life. My only caveat is that the - in my very biased opinion - best character did not get his own episode. Instead, we got a special episode where another idol group visited Earth from the moon. I guess that adds more to his mystery and allure, but still, I wanted a Shun-centric episode, why wasn't I given a Shun-centric episode?



So, that's it! No, there aren't any girls in this story, and no, there isn't a romance, yes, it's all about the friendship shared by a dozen boys, but don't let that discourage you from watching. It's a nice way to just sit back and relax and laugh at the shenanigans that people can get up to - actual teenaged boys get up to, as someone who has been friends with a dozen boys for years, i'm telling you.