I am heading into my fourth year of anime fandom (coming a year after beginning my fourth decade on this planet). And in those years I have stubbornly withstood the siren call of streaming (not to mention the evocative invites to peruse e-books).
But my technological boycott has come to an end. Namely because my employer offered to reimburse us for iPads and, in the space of a few months, I find myself reading science fiction on the bus and gazing enraptured at carefully crafted anime series in my bed . . . all from that enticing, glowing little screen. There I have it, countless fictional words literally in the palm of my hand (and just a fingertip away thanks to Multi-Touch technology).
So here I sit, with a Crunchyroll membership in hand, debating Hulu Plus membership, and decrying that Apple won’t allow me to download Adobe Flash Player (which would open up the worlds of Viz, Anime News Network and others – sadly, not yet to be). And the unexpected side effect is that I find myself finally accessing subtitled anime without recalcitrance, reluctance or resentment. Though I’m a former avid reader (once an avowed bookworm when I had more time for literary pursuits), I am not and never have been a fan of having to read my television. This has meant that the overwhelming majority of my anime viewing has involved English dubs. But having the subtitled show in the palm of my hand has changed everything. It feels vaguely like holding a book and reading from it while watching episodes unfold feels natural and comfortable.
Even better, I get to watch shows that may never be licensed for distribution in the United States; shows that, while excellent, may not garner enough purchases to make it a worthwhile gambit for US DVD distribution. And for shows that will be released, I can get a head start and get a feel for the show, to then determine if I want to own it.
Which brings me to two shows that I have been enjoying –
Gosick (Sherlock Holmes meets Gothic Lolita) and
Chihayafuru (part high school drama, part love story, part sport story …. where the sport in question is a traditional card game).
Gosick is really beautifully animated; a polished piece of anime. While not earthshattering, it is fun and has good atmospherics. There are mysteries to be solved – some episodic (The mystery of the ghost ship! The puzzle of the missing girls!), and another spanning the entire series (who is Victorique and why is she a recluse typically confined to campus?). The characters are mostly familiar archetypes, but still amusing. And, at about halfway through the 24 episode series, it is not the mystery, but rather the interaction between Victorique (our doll-like, fiery yet vulnerable sleuth) and Kujo (her one true friend, comic foil and protector) that keeps the viewer invested.
Why I like
Chihayafuru is a bit harder to nail down. It isn’t exactly like anything else I’ve seen. There are familiar elements (high school setting; love triangle; beautiful girl who is a reformed tomboy; competitive sport), but somehow their combination feels authentic. The story surrounds a traditional Japanese card game, Karuta, and a trio of friends whose bond is first made playing this game while in elementary school. The show leaves some things unexplained (at least early on) - the three main characters part ways, heading to different middle schools, and those years are only being uncovered bit by bit. Circumstances allow them to meet again as they enter high school.
There is genuine emotion in this show, with all three main protagonists revealing very real and believable shortcomings, fears and insecurities. This show is still airing and being added to on Crunchyroll – at this point, six episodes in, I’m already anxious about catching up to the currently released episode and having to wait with trepidation to see what happens next.
Like
Gosick,
Chihayafuru is nicely appointed. Its animation sometimes falls a bit short, but most of it is gorgeous to look at and the opening and closing animation are especially striking. The story gets added depth as the card game that is played, Karuta, is a historical game (and sometimes educational tool) which utilizes 100 poems or proverbs (with variations depending on locality). As our female protagonist, Chihaya, uncovers her love of Karuta and the history and meaning of the poems, we get to experience her wonder, excitement and love of the game as a surrogate. Though the show is heavy in sentimentality, it somehow works. If you are willing to remember the uncertainty of youth and disengage, at least a little, from cynicism and sarcasm, the show has a very real chance of hitting home and striking an emotional chord.
The new year has seen me submit to both streaming and subtitles. And I must admit that my anime viewing is the better for it.
