So my thoughts on the show? It's...okay, I guess. Don't get me wrong I like watching it, but the enjoyment I get is always coupled with frustration; and I'll get to why later. I'll start with the strong points in this show.
The art in the show isn't too bad. It looks a little off putting at how dated it looks, but I think it fits very much with the overall tone and setting of the story. With the show taking place in post WWII-era Japan I think that the show's kind of faded and basic art style compliments it pretty well. It manages to have an older feeling to it without remaining completely bland, even managing to be downright beautiful at points. That tied with the music of the show captures the story it's trying to tell, in it's essence. And the music, my god the music. ORGASMIC! The opening song is just so beautiful; and that trumpet at the end sends waves a ecstasy through my body. I can't help but smile every time I hear it.
The opening isn't the only good music in it though. Of course a show about teenagers playing jazz has got to have some decent jazz playing in it, and boy does it. The show manages to create the passion and euphoric feeling of playing music incredibly. I'm pretty sure it uses up most of the budget for whatever episode it's in. The music is clean and energetic when it needs to be and the characters look like they are having a blast playing it, which means I'm having fun watching. So good job Kids on the Slope, you got that right.
But for all the good things this show has, it's plagued with missteps that are too big to ignore. This show is supposed to be a drama, and it is I guess. I mean if you could call a middle school fake love rectangle, drama. I say fake love rectangle because it's not actually a love rectangle, the characters just think it is. I guess the drama would actually be better if it made sense to me. It doesn't. The problems they have in this could literally be solved with a single conversation and clearing up if one character actually liked another one, instead of everyone just passive aggressively acting on their assumptions.
Hmm...I guess the more I think about it that is exactly what middle school drama is. Okay, I'll give you that show. You successfully portrayed kids being stupid and immature, but that doesn't mean I like it. It's actually frustrating to me, watching these kids make one wrong assumption after the other and just making everyone upset because of it.
Speaking of the characters, they are mostly forgettable. Like so much so, that I don't remember most of their names even while watching the show. I've gotten to the point where I only refer to them by their main characteristic that distinguishes them from the extras (other than the fact that they apparently matter to the story).
So you got glasses. He's the MC and he plays the piano. Then there's scarface, he's tall and plays drums. Scarface also likes to fight, probably because he has dirty american blood in him tainting his pure nippon heritage. Next is pigtails, she's a romantic interest with no discernible personality other than waifu. Oh and there's Brother Jun. He is the only person who's name I actually remember because he's actually fun to watch and has a singing voice like a god. Her dad owns a music store, so there's that. You got hat girl. She wears hats sometimes and paints. Cat boy recently showed up. I'm still not sure if he will remain in the plot, I hope not.
So yeah...that's all the relevant characters. All pretty bland and archetypal as you can tell. They don't really make the annoying plot any better, if anything they just kind of make it more cliché. Some people will probably in enjoy the story being told here, but I don't. It and the characters only lead to add filler in the show for me, while I wait for the next time they resolve their problems by jamming out on some tunes together.
Overall this show gets a 6/10 for me. Trash, but "I'll finish it" kind of trash.
P.S. The american guy in the bar that said the phrase "Coon music" is great.
