Such thoughts appeared in my mind after I scrounged around this website for reviews on the previous 2 iterations of the series. And, judging from what I bore witness to, well, let's just say that I became decidedly put off by the series as a whole. I've heard of it many years ago, but I was confused then as to which is the first in the chronological order of events.
UNTIL late last year... After a Japanese correspondent of mine Tweeted to me on what shows he'll be watching for the Fall 2013 anime season, in which he said that he'd give the VN adaptations a try. (And a big etchi lover this guy was, sigh...) One such anime that he mentioned was this anime right here, White Album 2. And so, in keeping together with the Japanese injunction to "relate to one another in a spirit of 'similarity'", I decided to give it a go.
If only I knew what I was getting into... OH-MAI-KAMISAMA!!!
Immediately after I went through this existentially scathing emotional-wringer of a romantic drama, I started to question my own relationships (not the romantic ones for I've no such thing) to that of other people- in a way.
For one, the plot of White Album 2 is rather straightforward in what it aspires to present: it is by all accounts, a story of a young man who wishes to end his final days of high school leaving behind good, fond memories. However, he happens to chance upon two beautiful young women, each with their own distinct set of personality traits and histories, and goes through the motions of becoming closer to them as friends. UNTIL... *Spoilers*
Now, the strength of the series's plot isn't in its 'astoundingly original' premise, but in the execution and emotional depth of it. All too often do we see aggressively optimistic, comically pessimistic, melodramatically sappy, maniacally nonsensical depiction of romances being bitterly regarded as the standard staples of fictional narratives, but few are truly a force to be reckoned with in its depiction of the subject matter. Never once did I feel that everything that ever was presented before me was needlessly amped-up or dumbed down so that they can elicit a reaction from me. No, not once at all. The key to their presentation of the three protagonists' struggles in love and friendship lie in the subtle cues and psychological subtext that are carefully spread out throughout the plot. Though there were instances of heated verbal fights and emotional reticence, such things do not come by without the plot's masterful handling of back story exposition, character personality traits and character motivations, all of which are utterly decisive in heightening the emotional impact of scenes while driving the messages that the plot attempts to convey.
As for the art, though there are quite a few occasions of rather sub-par animation, it for the most part succeeds in setting the overall tone of the series. The artwork is deep, vibrant, subdued, perfect for the series's intention to properly convey its narrative and accompanying themes. I'll also have you know that the opening sequence to the show is very impactful and will, if nothing else, leave a deep impression upon you, particularly as the plot progresses- both in terms of content and music.
No profound romantic drama can ever succeed without superb voice acting on the VA's end, for they have truly brought these characters to life in their stellar depiction of the characters' emotions during a particular scene. Sadness, anger, resentment, joy, all of it were properly executed. None felt that they were overacted or underacted in attempts to compensate due to atrocious directing or lack of skill. Musically speaking, the series's soundtrack is greatly fitting as it succeeds in conveying all manner of emotions to the audience, just like the voice acting. The lyrics to some of the songs are also rich in meaning and will leave you thinking when the series concludes.
When it comes down to the characters, considering that this is a heavily-character driven narrative, let's just say that they were unmistakably well-written and that their overall interactions and responses to one another's actions is within the realm of plausibility and possibility. However, if you are looking for tremendously complex characters with an immense amount of variance and depth within them, then this series will not be able to suffice your desires for they are very much portrayed as ordinary Janes n' Joes, save for one who stands out rather considerably.
Personally, I did not expect such a narrative to be so impactful once experienced, but the fact that it was left a profound impression upon me, and by the end, I am left ever more wondering if in the future we will be able to encounter such rare, underrated gems in storytelling. However, I could hardly say that I 'enjoyed' this in the most technical sense for there is no pleasure in witnessing hardship and sadness- unless if one was emotionally sado-masochistic towards oneself, I know I was.
And that concludes my first full review of an anime series. I hope you found it helpful in some way or another in clarifying your thoughts of whether you should take a gander at the show- or not. Till next time then.
[Personal Rating: 9]
[Critical Rating: 9]
{NISHIZAWA APPROVED}
