Michael is Low on Hit Points
Futakoi Alternative is one good argument for excellent execution trumping everything else
- Posted May 14th, 2009 at 11:17 PM ET
- Subjects Futakoi Alternative
- Tags short editorial
- Image sources
1- Futakoi Alternative [unknown] - Video searches
none
I've heard the cries that unoriginality is rampant within the industry. Harems and moe are the death of anime. Futakoi Alternative presents a love story between one guy and two twins who all fight to be in a three-way relationship. It wants you to take this seriously. And with execution this good, I couldn't fault you for getting emotionally invested in this patently ridiculous scenario. Now how does that come back to moe?
Alternative starts with a bang. The OP and the first episode feature action packed, beautifully orchestrated mayhem. The series then settles into a slower groove with sporadic outbursts of energy. The show can transition between heavy drama and silly humor better than any anime I may have ever seen before.
The studio behind the anime -- ufotable -- executed everything to near perfection. Every ridiculous thing this show touches upon works. But really, should any of this work? The three-way relationship never sat well with me. It's simply unnatural and unhealthy. Yet, it's not like I could stop watching. And I never stopped enjoying the series.
That has to mean something! With a disdain for the core dynamic of the plot, I still breezed through the entire series. The emotional moments got to me all the same, even when my brain was telling me that this is all very stupid. With ufotable firing on all cylinders, I couldn't come to dislike their effort.
Maybe I'm just an easy sucker. Or maybe execution really does trump all. So with that in mind, couldn't I then extend this postulate into various other scenarios? How about applying it to an oft maligned new trend in anime, like the following:
Good Anime + Moe = Good Anime
Bad Anime + Moe = Bad Anime
Therefore, moe = 0. Fine, maybe moe is the bane of your existence. But it shouldn't turn a good series bad, even for the most jaded of viewers. The same should apply for every other gripe that one could come up with. If ufotable can make a three-way love work, what then can't be pulled off?
1 dm00
This is the show I'd most like to see licensed, but I guess it's all tangled up with Futakoi.
You're right that the central plot hook is something that the show has to overcome, and it succeeds in doing that splendidly.
Re Michael is LoHP
@ dm00
I would think a series like Futakoi Alternative with its energy and "cast full of hot anime twins" would translate to easy sales. You know, not to mention that the series itself is actually good!
Looking at Haruhi-chan's multi-language simultaneous YouTube distribution done by the Japanese company itself, maybe the whole concept of licensing is going bye bye in the near future. One can hope.
2 TheBigN
It helps that you actually were willing to give the show a chance to watch it. It's hard not to pass over something that you think won't interest you. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and it's also something that I really want to see get licensed in the US. :3
Re Michael is LoHP
@ TheBigN
Many series could get away with a lot more if they had execution this good. In other words, it's not so much that I gave it a chance, as that it was so well played that I couldn't help but to do so.