wintryKat's Blog

Anime Relations: Tenkuu no Escaflowne, Escaflowne

Escaflowne in movie format suffers from the "should have been a TV series" syndrome. I know you are probably thinking, "but NightMiles! Haven't you heard of the 26-episode Escaflowne TV series?" Yes, indeed. Escaflowne the TV series was very good in my opinion (and I've rated it as such in my anime list) and also a significantly different slant on the Escaflowne story. It took the time necessary to flesh out the story elements opened up, and explored just enough of each character's background and mindset to really cement the major players in.

The movie, on the other hand, only seemed to get it right at the beginning. I would say the first 30 minutes set the stage for a really awesome tale. It re-introduced characters familiar to viewers of the TV series, but didn't play around in making it clear this was a very different story. Factions were brought in and a line was drawn in the sand. A wonderful setup had taken flight, but then the rest of the movie was spent glossing over numerous plot points that needed more time devoted to them.

As an example, in the TV series the chemistry between Hitomi and Van developed in a satisfying way that felt natural given the events taking place in the story. In the movie, it was more like a switch labeled "Go go gadget relationship change!" was flipped on in the projector room without warning.

This is called "Quick Thoughts" so I will refrain from going into it any further. I think it would have been nice if they turned this movie into it's own "alternative world" TV or OVA series, though. Lots of potential left untapped.

Anime Relations: Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

Sigh.

Finished Kare Kano tonight, and I have to wholeheartedly agree with the consensus. The ending is just not very fulfilling. Doors are opened and not intended to be closed. Relationships are cast into the sky and our car runs out of gas just as we begin to catch up. So much more could have been done and said. A far better ending was deserved. More episodes were needed.

Kare Kano, I dock two points from the score I give you just because of that ending.

Anime Relations: Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

I am only 8 episodes into Kare Kano, and I need to immediately declare it one of the best Anime I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. Everything about it is solid, from the top of its head down to the soles of its feet. The amount of workmanship that has gone into crafting the story, as slow and light as it may seem at first blush, is breathtaking. The series has the most unexpected human quality to it, which locks me right into the struggles of this romance. Somehow the frequent "manga mode" episodes go into during more intense situations really have the right feeling, too.

The music is perfect, the ending credits are made interesting by video footage and variations on the music, and the episode previews are fun to watch being acted out. Heck, the "don't sit too close to the TV" warning at the beginning is far more creative than anything else out there.