Nobunaga Concerto is a forgotten anime. When people read the words "Nobunaga" they are generally put off from even touching this anime due to the endless amounts of disappointing and predictable anime which have tarnished the name. However, even if you do manage to give this anime a chance, you will be frustrated by the unique looking art. Some may say the art is absolutely horrible but I beg to differ - it begins to grow on you and it is but a minor blemish to this epic series.
First off, Nobunaga Concerto is an Adventure anime with a twist - you follow the life of Saburo and his attempt to live the life of the legendary Japanese warlord, Oda Nobunaga. That being said - it can hardly be classified as an action anime, as there is very little action and the main appeal to this anime are the characters.
Story
The story is beautifully simple with elements of romance, loyalty and friendship. Nobunaga Concerto has a character driven story line as we follow the main protagonist, Saburo. Throughout the 10 episodes we see how Saburo evolves as a character and is obviously the most relatable due to the fact that he is from modern day time.
Pros:
-Each episode adds value to the progression of the story and helps give Saburo and the supporting characters more depth. This gives the watcher more emotional impact - we share the joy and sadness of Saburo, making this anime an "emotional rollercoaster" (sorry, i know it's cliche)
-As stated before the story line is quite simple. There is a decent amount of plot twists but none of them will have you saying "what the f*ck was that?" or "hooooly sh*****it that was so unexpected". This may be seen as a downside but it plays it safe and it works beautifully.
-Gripping - every episode pulls you into the world even more (start marathoning it now XD)
-Clever alterations to the actual history which are very quirky and act like easter eggs for the people who know some of the basic history of the Sengoku Period
Cons:
-Nobunaga Concerto has a very compelling story, nevertheless that does not mean it is perfect.
-Due to this anime being a short 10 episodes, there is no explanation of the time slip which resulted in Saburo entering the Sengoku era.
-the anime ending is a read the manga type ending and the manga is not even translated to English - so you can't really read the manga after. However, this should not discourage you from the anime as the ride from episode 1-10 was truly amazing. The ending does not tie everything in a knot, but it doesn't leave you on a gigantic cliff hanger. It is better than most anime endings, despite ending in a rushed state.
Art
Personally i did not mind the art too much, especially because i managed to watch Kingdom - a fantastic series both anime and manga. However, if you certainly detest the CGI art you need to endure about 2-4 episodes before it begins to grow on you. If you are planing to marathon it, it will certainly grow on you a lot quicker.
The story and the sound will make you forget about the art fairly quickly. I highly recommend that you give this anime 3 episodes before you make the decision to drop - the art is just a minor blemish.
Sound
I find sound one of the most important qualities in an Anime. A perfectly placed track at the exact time can amplify the experience so much more. The sound in this anime is amazing. It is a masterpiece. The soundtrack accompanied with the story makes this anime very entertaining and occasionally gives you chills. The beautiful sound of the Japanese flute playing whilst Saburo rides out to war - wow, it seriously is an epic moment.
Character
Not much to say here - Nobunaga Concerto is peppered with great characters. Honor, loyalty, humor , friendship , romance - the characters allow this anime to have such an enticing appeal.
Enjoyment
It is a thoroughly griping anime that is very underrated and definitely worth a shot. It is an anime which deserves more attention so hopefully they can make a sequel, but i doubt it. I would not say it is on par with titles like Steins;gate, but it is still a very well made anime which can leave you entertained for a while and hungry for a sequel - that is if you can get past the art.
*note:first review - constructive feedback appreciated
note: apologies for grammar mistakes and badly constructed sentences - haven't thoroughly proof read it.
