BACK TO BASICS: As a kid who grew up on reruns of '70s robot shows, the original Macross was a turning point in my anime viewing life. It was my first introduction to the new breed of anime in the '80s -- one that paid homage to the shows from the previous decade while adding just that extra level of detail to signal the jump to the next generation. (Much to my delight, that joyfully included swarms of homing missiles zigzagging across the screen.)
I loved, loved Macross. I also liked Macross Plus. Then I saw Macross 7, and my reaction could only be best explained by the sophisticated phrase, "WTF?" I mean, I understand that music plays a big role in Macross, OK? But big enough to have the main pilots fighting by singing and strumming musical instruments? I think, I'll pass.
Well, actually, I didn't exactly pass because I forced myself to watch the entire thing just because a friend was kind enough to record the whole series for me on videotape after renting the entire thing while in Japan. The only saving grace this series had for me was seeing Max and Miriya take part in dogfights toward the end the right way -- using traditional mech controls sans singing and guitars (there is a God!). Otherwise, the whole series to me was like watching a mime perform. I know there's art in there somewhere, but boy is it uncomfortable to watch. (And if you happen to be one of the folks who actually liked Macross Xanadu, er, 7, then more power to you.)
With that in mind, I approached Macross Frontier with some trepidation. I knew music is certainly going to be a major part of the series. But if I as much see the main pilot jump into a cockpit with a ukulele and start belting some glam rock against the invaders-du-jour, then I'm outta here. Much to my relief, the first episode had no such thing. The effeminate if not exactly original brooding main character aside, the souped up dogfights, along with the subtle and not-so-subtle homages to the original series really had me hooked (Alto's Valkyrie, for example, has a paint scheme and look that evokes memories of Hikaru's Valkyrie with white and black/red-trimming. Whee.). Now this looks like the Macross I know and love. Yes, the main character is a bit too pretty-boyish and has a first name that would make school bullies want to beat him up. But he also doesn't play a guitar and break into song while in the cockpit and that's good enough for me.
Lest I be accused of only liking quirky anime, I've decided it might be good to include a show with robots to appeal to the fanboys. I figure what better than a series that pays homage to the both the old and the new: Macross Frontier. After all, this is the show that renewed my faith in the Macross series -- at least for its first episode -- following the debacle that was Macross 7. Seriously, what the heck was that (i.e. Macross 7)? I'll make sure I remember to ask this question if I ever meet Sigmund Freud in the after life, although it sure would be funny if he replied by saying, "I've been trying to figure that out, too." Boy, do I need some psychotherapy right about now. Speaking of psychotherapy, it appears as if Macross Frontier's new main character could use some, too, given how everyone calls him "Princess" and all. Maybe he should just save himself some grief and cut his hair, but that would be way too easy, no?
A BUG'S LIFE: New college student Sawaki Tadayasu has a special gift. Ever since childhood, he has always been able to see and talk with microbes. Sawaki's skill becomes a source of intrigue and hijinks once he and best friend Yuki Kei enter an agricultural university in Tokyo populated by an interesting cast of characters. From a quirky genius professor and a postgrad bombshell dressed in S&M-ish garb to two slacker students and two pretty ladies who tend to serve as foils for many of the misadventures hatched in each episode, Moyashimon provides fertile ground for a lot viewing fun.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE: The first time I heard about Moyashimon, I thought to myself, "What could possible be interesting about a story based on agriculture?" Boy, am I glad I gave this series a chance. Moyashimon's unique plot is a refreshing change of pace to many of the stereotypical animes out there that seem to rehash the same old plot lines. Moyashimon has some seriously drop-dead funny moments that will have you laughing out loud. But it also has heart, which is the hallmark of every good story. My only regret about this series was that they stopped at 13 episodes. Guess I'll have to track the manga down the next time I'm in Japan.
COLLEGE LIFE BEGINS: Sawaki Tadayasu, a young man gifted with the ability to see microbes, starts his first day with friend Yuki Kei at an agricultural university in Tokyo. The opening ceremony quickly proves to be eventful as students are warned about a missing student by a faculty member who lacks some delicacy to say the least. Soon after, Sawaki's special ability reveals a dense trail of microbes that leads them to a suspicious mound on the ground. Could this have something to do with the missing student?
A crowd soon gathers around the mound, including a mysterious old man who decides to dig up the ground. A strong stench quickly fills the air and Sawaki and Yuki get a quick lesson about fermentation. The old man turns to be Prof. Itsuki Keizo, an acquaintance of Sawaki's grandfather. Apparently, the nutty professor has heard of Sawaki's special ability, which soon gets quickly put to the test.
After winning over a certain skeptic, Sawaki's demonstration gets interrupted after he notices a major infestation of creepy microbes known as fructivorans coming from somewhere in the university. What could possibly be going on?
UCHI KAERU: Chi wakes up and quickly notices her new surroundings. The lost kitten is also introduced to her new "family." As any cat owner knows, however, the walking furballs typically don't react well to surprises. Fortunately, Chi is easily bribed by a certain secret weapon. As usual, Chi remembers her real family, which typically causes her to channel her inner Ozzy Osbourne and mutter "Momma, I'm comin' home." But doing so is easier said than done.
Home is where the heart is, even for lost little kittens.
HOME, SWEET HOME: As the brother of a guy who picked up a scraggly little stray kitten several years ago, I can relate to the travails of having your home invaded by some spunky little critter. Oh, the nights I would wake up as the purring, little devil licked my face. And the days I'd get scratches on my hand following an ambush by the playful domestic insurgent when I wasn't paying attention. Which brings us to "Chi's Sweet Home," a show that follows the adventures (or is that misadventures) of a lost kitten who suddenly finds herself in a new home. Given my experience with my brother's latest pet project from the street, I must confess that my bad, macho self just can't help but melt into a puddle of baby-talking idiocy every time I witness Chi's little kitten actions in this series. It's just so fweakin' adowable!!! Ahem. Now that I've made myself the target of some sort of male-driven intervention, I now point you to the episodes featured in this blog's cheap anime viewer. One can only hope that you don't end up singing the theme song to yourself all day long and cause your non-Japanese-speaking -- or even Japanese-speaking -- co-workers to think you've lost your marbles. Not that, um, that kind of thing ever, um, happened to me.
HOME, SWEET HOME: To commemorate this blog's first entry, what could be more fitting than a show with a main character who suddenly has to adjust to new surroundings? In the first episode of Chi's Sweet Home, the poor, little kitten is separated from her loving family. Lucky for our little protagonist, Chi is saved by a loving family.
Short and sweet, Chi's mini-episodes are like those quick snacks best enjoyed as you huddle in the winter under a Japanese kotatsu. Plus, Chi's just so darned cute! And yes, I think I just lost some points on the old guy card with that one.
CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN:A Japanese girl once chastised me for being, in her own words, "changeable." The first thing that popped into my head after hearing that was underwear so I couldn't help but chuckle. Needless to say, she didn't exactly appreciate my reaction. Then one day, I was looking through a Japanese-English dictionary she gave me as a present and noticed that the word kimagure had a check mark on it. One of the English translations was the word "changeable." All this time, she meant to tell me that I was capricious. (I guess this means I'm at an orange crossroad, get it? Kimagure? Orange road? As in ... um, just forget it.)
Like the ebb and flow of the tides, the phases in which I view anime in my life seem to come and go. Growing up in a country where '70s robot shows enjoy popularity to this day, my first jaunt into the world of anime spanned such classics as Mazinger Z, Voltes V, Daimos and Tetsuwan Atom, ending with the final episode of Macross.
Then came several anime-free years until I rediscovered the genre again in the '90s after coming across localized videos for such shows as Ranma 1/2, Patlabor, Dominion Tank Police and The Guyver. That was followed yet again by another sabbatical that would go for some time until I ended up with a Japanese roommate with a stash that included Slayers, Dunbine, L-Gaim and Dancougar.
After what I can only describe as anime burnout, however, I lost interest in anime for several years yet again. It wasn't until I started self-studying Japanese once more that I started watching anime again last year. That's because anime tends to boost my confidence with my Japanese comprehension a lot more than, say, Japanese news on TV Those shows tend to use highfalutin' words that make me feel like an idiot. An accidental run-in with Nagasarete Airantou kick-started my anime return, followed by shows like Hayate the Combat Butler, Claymore, Shakugan no Shana and Moyashimon. Anywho, I don't know how long this latest anime phase is going to last. Until then, I though it might be neat to do a blog with video links to some of the shows I've seen and post some random thoughts about them. Of course, just like my interests, the features shows shall be "changeable." Because once things gets stale, then they just aren't fun anymore. Variety, after all, is the spice of life, and anime is no exception.
