Why is this? Why do LN adaptations seem to struggle? My suspicion rests on the structure of the source material: the one-book, one-subplot, one-climax system that works well for a series of small novels. However, in the case of anime adaptations, a strict adherence to the source material renders the format of the show predictable and, particularly in the case of shorter series with less time to explore the available material, the story arcs rushed and contrived. Without some alteration to the pacing and structure of the story (see Durarara), light novel adaptations will forever fail to achieve greatness.
So what of Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi, the anime that I've already spent 2 paragraphs not reviewing yet? Well, I'm afraid to say that despite some nice ideas, impressive atmosphere and brilliant production standards, this series is arguably one of the LN Adaptations greatest casualties. Now I've not read the source material, but I suspect that it handles the story much more effectively. That's because in the course of 12 episodes, Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi somehow manages to rush through 5 arcs with a lot of implied complexity, while simultaneously failing to establish any kind of direction, interconnectivity or explanation. The result is a story that entirely fails to satisfy, particularly when you consider that a couple of the arcs (the first in particular) could last 12 episodes by themselves with enough thought. But no, we get 5 poorly explained, rushed and entirely inconsequential arcs when one well-developed arc with sufficient complexity would've suited the show better.
Not that KnIN (abbreviated name ftw) is entirely without the foundations of a good series. In fact, the show has so many good ideas that it simply serves to make it more disappointing that they are handled so poorly. We've got characters that are engaging (with the exception of the lead, whose character development begins and ends with "cute loli"), but for the most part they are underused and completely unconnected to whatever central story arc that this show was trying to create. There's a total lack of significance placed on some interesting character conflicts. Likewise, the story has some fantastic fantasy elements focusing on a potentially complex and well-conceived world, but these devices and ideas are never fully explored. Witches? Immortal killers? Cities of the dead? Time loops? Great ideas, but hideously flawed in their execution. I understand that the show is taking the Angel Beats approach of remaining ambiguous with regard to its metaphysical elements, but there's an art to that, in that you actually have to explore elements that you're remaining ambiguous about that provides enough info for us to construct some theories, and KnIN doesn't.
OK, the show has some effective emotive scenes: 2 to be precise, and the Julie/Scar romance subplot could've carried a show by itself instead of being sidelined like it was. But in the case of the 2 high-impact emotional scenes, the "feelz" are pretty cheap and dependant on the mood established by the technical elements, rather than any strong relation or connection with events. In fact, in the case of the first example, we don't even get time to feel any kind of emotional connection because the arc is so rushed. Characters established, relationship suddenly present and then climax. No time to build any real empathetic response. And in the second example, the events over which we cry are instantly reversed. Y'know, the old Tasogare Otome x Amnesia, Kanon 2006 "you-thought-they-were-dead-and-cried-over-it-but-they-aren't-really" trick.
I believe I just mentioned the technical aspects of the series, and I guess it's safe to say that they are incredibly well produced, but at the same time we've come to expect that from recent releases to the point where high-quality animation is pretty much par-for-the-course. This isn't the early-2000s any more; basically every show gets good animation nowadays. Animation's smooth, character models are consistent and designs are nice to look at. The "lighting" effects are probably the highlight of KnIN's aesthetic, as they do manage to lend a relatively awe-inspiring warmth to a fantastic world. The sound is also very effective in establishing the mood, whether the scene be sad, happy or mystical in nature. Some very nice tracks playing the background, and a fairly good (but not fantastic) OP/ED sequence set.
So what do I have to say in conclusion? Put simply, KnIN is a beautifully-conceived disappointment. It's a show with so many nice ideas, but it's been rung out and compacted so much that it feels a bit too dry. Mediocre, cheap emotion rather than any kind of relateable character conflicts, with the more interesting supporting cast ultimately being sidelined to a static little girl. It never goes anywhere, never does anything and never seems to make a point, and far from being the profound masterpiece that it thinks it is, it's simply pretentious. Yeah, that's the right word.
