The new KyoAni adaptation have come, and it already gained a positive AND negative buzz. I have read translation of the original 4koma before, therefore I knew what would come to me and lowered my expectation. Unlike the first episode of Lucky*Star, some jokes in K-on have come out better than the ones from the aforementioned show. A prime example would be the Krauser cameo in the 4koma. The anime have done it better.

The episode itself lived up to its ambitions in both technical and substance fields. This means, not set very high. The general animation and graphics are by no mean on the same level as KyoAni’s better works, like FMP Fumoffu and The Second Raid or Suzumiya Haruhi. However, it does not mean that they are as bad as some people made it to be. It works for what K-On is. The exception being of course the OP and the ED animations, visuals and animation, in addition of the music does the right job into grabbing who Kyoto Animation is aiming. I must say that I am more liking the ED than the OP, the style being more to my liking. Background music, on the other hand, would need some improvement.

In term of substance, I must say that I did know what to expect; in other words, not a lot. While “Girls joins the light music club in an attempt to save it, and does not know music” implies something rather dramatic, the general tone of the manga is a lot more laid back, and that is the same in the anime. K-On is indeed less serious than Beck, so you will be disappointed if you have expected Beck with Girls by KyoAni. Moreover, the humor is way lighter than the one found in Detroit Metal City. The original manga is clearly sitting in the slice-of-life genre, with few touch of humor here and there. The anime here is in the same tone, KyoAni sticking right to the source with very few liberties.

And what about the characters? They are stereotypical, right. However, they have their own twists, so pigeonholing them to one-word character type is not only too early, but also unfair. Yui is your bubbly head girl, however her head is still on her shoulders, so she was able to tell the three girls that she does not know how to play guitar and tell them that they are not that great. Mio is straight and down-to-heart, however she is lenient enough to get along with Ritsu instead of complaining to no end like her character type usually implies to do. Ristu is outgoing and have the stroke of a budding leader. However, unlike Kana Minami (another outgoing and energetic character with that leader vibe), she is not completely stupid (this can be argued that Kana walk the thin line between idiocy and genius). Tsumugi appears as a rich lady with the healing girl touch. While she seems enthusiastic over things, like her first time in a fast food, she is soon later to not be retarded (I kinda miss Miyuki, and lament that her character was not used to her full potential). The K-On girls are moé, right. However, it is not excessive moé as some reproached to Fuuko Ibuki or Kotomi Ichinose in Clannad, or Tsukasa Hiiragi from Lucky*Star. I would say that the K-On girls are sitting somewhere in the middle part of the moé moé end of badass girl – moé moé scale (Balalaika from Black Lagoon would sit on the extreme end of the Badass girl – moé moé scale).

In conclusion, K-On episode 1 delivered what I wanted. While I have seen better from KyoAni, it is nowhere as bad as some bloggers tries to make it to be. Overhyped? Yes, I’ll not deny that. Deserving this hype? Your mileage vary. Deserving the whole rage and backlash against it? Why so Serious? Take it Easy!
It is definitely sitting on my to watch list for this spring.

Distraction tits

FFS Japan there are only one episode out!

I cant wait for them to rape it with UN Owen and Ronald.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 4:25 pm and is filed under Anime.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.