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Jul 19, 2021
Edomae Elf, or as published in English, Otaku Elf, is a very lighthearted comedy series about a young shrine miko, Koito Koganei, who helps the resident shrine goddess, an elf named Takamimi Himenomikoto, whose true name is Eldarie Irma Fanomenel, with running the shrine, collecting offerings from visitors, and helping Elda with offerings and the likes. There's only one slight problem: Elda is a complete shut-in.
Story: 7/10
This is a slice of life comedy series, the story isn't going to be amazing, as each 3 chapter set, referred to as an Episode, at least in the English publication, has its own contained story. However, the stories
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are entertaining within their own rights, and it doesn't feel like the manga has many slow sections. Plus, it throws in some trivia about Edo-era Japan, which is very cool from a history aspect.
Art: 8/10
Again, Edomae Elf is a comedy series, so the art isn't the most important part of the whole thing. However, Akihiko Higuchi, who does both the story and the art, certainly makes the comedic expressions hit 10x harder with the overexaggerated facial expressions that take up a panel or two. The standard art is very good as well, with just enough detail to be taken seriously, but not nearly to the extent of a battle shounen, which I appreciate for a comedy series.
Characters: 8/10
Elda is an absolutely amazing comedy lead, and is likely relatable to the main people who will read this manga: a shut-in with social anxiety that wants nothing more to hang around and play video games, read manga, and watch anime. It is certainly entertaining to see her very lazy self paired up with more serious Koito, who is often doing her best to make sure that Elda isn't getting her way at every turn, but often has to make compromises with the aforementioned elf. These two compliment each other very well, but it was certainly Elda that made me laugh out loud more than a few times.
Enjoyment: 9/10
Sometimes, I need a break from a lot of the serious battle shounen stuff that I particularly enjoy, such as Kimetsu No Yaiba and JoJo, and this comedy manga is a perfect break from that. A goofy premise that is taken and run with perfectly with some nice visual humor to boot. While not all of the jokes make me laugh out loud, there are basically none that make me let out a sigh of frustration like some other comedy manga make me do. It's a good, light-hearted read that knows not to take itself too seriously.
Overall: 8/10
To be fair, I have not nearly read as much slice-of-life comedy manga as a rom-com series or a battle shounen series. However, Edomae Elf falls right in line of knowing its core audience, otakus like Elda, and poking a little bit of fun at them and their preferences, although it's cranked up to 11 for comedy purposes. Some people might say that it's too one dimensional, being a strictly comedy series, but as long as it keeps going at the pace its going right now, I think Edomae Elf will be one of my favorite manga series for the sheer reason of just being so goddamn fun to read. Please give this manga a shot, I promise some of the knockoff brands in it are reason enough to read it. (I'm looking at you, Nintenoo Switoh)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 28, 2021
I decided to watch this show based off intrigue alone, and there's a part of me that's glad I did it, and anther part of me that feels like I shouldn't have. The basic premise of the story certainly intrigued from the first 5 minutes, having a shamisen player running away from home after his grandfather's passing, trying to start anew with his talents on the instrument. However, where this series fall short most to me, is in it first and last episode.
[General Spoiler Warning]
The first episode feels like an entirely different show than the one that the following 11 episodes seem to show. The
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main character, Setsu, is shown wandering around, and being overwhelmed by, the bright city lights of Tokyo, and after accidentally falling onto some boss, is taken to an apartment by a young aspiring actress/pinup model, Yuna. What follows is Setsu getting caught up in Yuna's personal life which ends up with him giving an impromptu performance on his shamisen at a club/concert venue that a rock band was scheduled to play. To me, this first episode is a 9 out of 10, with the main downside being ultra-quick pacing that might be a bit hard to follow.
However, this first episode feels like a bait and switch compared to the rest of the series. What I originally thought was going to be a story about a shamisen player trying to make a living in Tokyo ended up being a slice-of-life dramedy about said shamisen player joining a high school shamisen club, and having said club practice together for a 6 episode long competition that felt like it dragged on for way too long. Not to mention, the slightly mysterious Yuna is replaced by a slightly annoying high schooler named Shuri, who's main goal is to try to bring back sound to her grandmother's memories. To have a character who plays a major role in the first episode and originally seems to be the main supporting character, only to never be seen again aside from a 1 second cameo in the last episode feels like a complete waste to me.
Then comes the last episode. If this show gets a season 2, the last episode is a perfect segue into the next part of the story. However, where the show currently stands, with only 12 episodes, this ending is frankly rather unsatisfying. Our main protagonist has come a long way from the first episode, so to have everything basically destroyed by 3 of the most important people in his life, and to not resolve that internal conflict, honestly feels like the ending was mishandled. But as I said, if this show gets a season 2, this sudden drive that Setsu gets from being put down by these 3 adults is going to make his playing even better, I believe. So to recap, if this gets a season 2, I love this final episode. If this does not get a season 2, I hate this final episode.
Also, I really, really dislike Setsu's mother, Umeko. If you had shown me her in the first 2 episodes, I would have thought that she was going to be a massive help for Setsu, booking him all sorts of gigs around Tokyo to get his name out there. However, what she ends up being is an obsessive mother who wants nothing but to gain the fame and fortune of the shamisen world by taking advantage of Setsu, and forcing unreachable goals on him.
[End of General Spoilers]
All in all, I found Mashiro no Oto to be a slightly underwhelming show that what I had originally anticipated. However, the music is this show is absolutely incredible, with the titular instrument of the show being a treat to listen to whenever they were being played. I think this show has a good chance of getting a better rating from me if it gets a season 2, but until then, it's just a mediocre storyline with meh characters that just so happens to have some killer music.
6/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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