Reviews

Sakamichi no Apollon was a fun ride, but the flaws it does possess hold it back from being the top-notch Watanabe/Kanno combo you'd expect. But I'll start with the pros. The story is entirely heartwarming. It's a coming-of-age tale with flair and raw, likable characters. Sentaro, Kaoru, Ritsuko, and Yurika fight and make up just like we as teens would, and watching them do it is easily identifiable. The backdrop that unites them - jazz - weaves its way into the fabric of their dynamic cleanly, to the point where Sen and Kaoru jamming seems nothing short of normal. And enjoyable. It's plain to see how good friends the two are when they can sit down and play, no questions asked. Plus, every song that gets time during the show is excellent ear candy, even for those like myself who don't have a love for the genre. The music is equally complemented by the art. Though it may be simple character-wise, it proves beautiful in its minimalism; in some ways faintly reminiscent of the works of Miyazaki. Finally, the time period of the 1960's - an unorthodox one to represent - is executed well, never becoming glaring nor hidden to the viewer. It, like the music and art, integrate so nicely, it's as natural as an after-school session.

Onto the cons. I understand this is an adaptation of a manga, and I haven't read it to compare the two, so I'll go off what I know. The plot, at times, is lacking. It seems drama was injected into it, instead of being a natural part of the many relationships that exist. I had my hands raised in questionable disbelief as Kaoru again instigated another spat between himself and Sen, all because of an innocuous misstep in the pair's relationship. The same applies in reverse, and with other characters. While they may be identifiable, that doesn't mean they're always understandable, and it can be irksome to watch obvious mistakes pop up time and time again. Where do many of these mistakes come from? As a slice-of-life, it's bound to be romance in abundance, and in abundance it is. However, the relationship triangles that shape as the protagonists mature can't shake a definite feeling of being routine. You've seen it before, in a similar form, and by now it's well-worn.

Possibly the most disappointing part of the series was the ending, which skimped on closure and felt plain rushed. In the end, though, I left Sakamichi as a whole satisfied, and maybe that's all I really hoped from it. It's an anime to like, not love. And in my case, I liked it a whole lot.