Michael is Low on Hit Points
Will Munto TV be KyoAni's first miss, or are we all sleeping on a good series?
- Posted January 28th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ET
- Subjects Munto
- Tags impressions, first look
- Image sources
1- Munto [unknown] - Video searches
none
Kyoto Animation makes headlines. Their series dominate the discourse of the anime blogosphere. And the moniker "animation gods" didn't just come from nowhere, now did it? They have yet to miss making a splash with any given series. Not one of their shows has gone by without being at the forefront of anime conversation for that particular season.
Full Metal Panic has its legion of devoted fans (me, me, me). Same with Haruhi (me) and Key adaptations (me). And even when Lucky Star bombed it's first episode, the series garnered the full attention of anyone having anything to do with anime. Sure enough, the series quickly turned around and lodged itself into many otaku's all time favorites list.
KyoAni does not go quietly into the night. Or does it now? When I finally first heard the studio had a new show starting within days at that time, I had to look it up to make sure I heard right? No way KyoAni flies under the radar, I thought to myself. This can't be right, someone must be mistaken in saying that KyoAni has the helm here.
Sure, they're remaking an original story they already told in OVA form. But, you know, this is KyoAni. Where's the deluge of Munto related posts on AnimeNano. Shit, the show doesn't even have a tag at AnimeNano! Up is still up, and down is still down, right? So, what's going on here? Why the relative silence?
It's got a unique look I'll admit, but it's still pretty as anything. The CG effects are suitably flashy. I adore the pastels that remind me of Lucky Star. I love the reflection of the sky on the rain-slick streets. The animation has been crisp and clean so far, unless my eyes are deceiving me.
The story aint half bad either; maybe they can do original content after all! And while that's left to be fully decided, I like it so far. I'm not a huge fan of the "spirited away to a new world as the destined hero" theme, but they're working it quite well here. I'm surprised. And there's already some good character drama right off the bat courtesy Suzume and her delinquent boyfriend.
I'm not just saying this as a fanboy. Munto TV is good. Honestly. So why is it getting so little play in the anime blogosphere?
1 no name
I want a Full Metal Panic sequel more than a Haruhi sequel.
I don't dislike Munto, but I don't particularly like it either. It's just something to watch for me.
2 kadian1364
Say what you will about KyoAni's past works, but their successes were always fun, free, and a little offbeat. I just watched the first episode of Munto, but it comes off as terribly generic swords-&-sorcery tale that takes itself too seriously. Run-of-the-mill fantasy world, some tired war for power, seemingly average girl with special powers, blah blah blah. Where previously KyoAni's greatest strengths as anime producers were sharp, fluid animation, and creating quirky and memorable characters, Munto TV seems completely unremarkable in both categories.
For a show I was looking forward to and genuinely hoping to be something special, Munto TV's 1st ep took major missteps. I'm torrenting the 2nd ep to give it one more shot, but with reservations.
3 IcyStorm
I hadn't heard anything about Munto TV until a week ago, and I don't really want to pick up any new currently airing shows right now.
And I don't think it interests enough people.
Re Michael is LoHP
@ no name
I am such a Full Metal Panic fanboy, and it kills me the treatment the series has gotten over the years. It's a popular enough series, isn't it? The wait has been even longer than Haruhi, and there's plenty of content to pull from.
At one point in time, I thought I'd rather leave the sequel in the hands of Gonzo rather than wait for KyoAni, but as of lately... I'll take that thought back. I can wait.
@ kadian1364
Wow, you nailed it, I think. Even FMP The Second Raid started off lighthearted (episode 2 actually, but the series in general is pretty fun and upbeat). And yes, there isn't a strong hook to grab you right from the start for Munto.
I do think, however, that episode 2 shows more of Munto's potential than episode 1. I have moderately high hopes for the series now.
@ IcyStorm
So it snuck up on you too, huh? I guess a "wait and see" approach for Munto would work, seeing as it's not one of those series you can't avoid discussion on in the anime blogosphere.
4 psgels
I think it's a matter of genre: most people in the blogosphere seem to be into simple romance shows with cute girls, which pretty much describes every Kyoani series thus far (Apart from Lucky Star, perhaps, but that one had cute girls too so it also became popular). Now they come with a series about a bunch of strangely dressed elves fighting against each other, which isn't really in the mainstream interest, hence less people are interested in it.
(PS. Nice idea for a question. It took me a while to figure out that you meant Suzume, not Nagisa from Clannad. -_-)
Re Michael is LoHP
@ psgels
That's another good way of looking at it too. This is why I like anime blogging! You see something, you're not too sure on the "why" behind it, you post a question, and you get some thought provoking answers. Ok, maybe this stuff is all too obvious to many, but everyone misses some stuff some of the time. I like this blogging dynamic, let's just say.
And lol on that last comment, even if I already saw you make that same Nagisa joke on your last Munto (ep.2) blog entry!
5 Martin
Heh, good question. Seriously! I hadn't heard squat about this until you mentioned it so I'll give it a look-see. TBH there are often some really good shows that fall under most people's radar, although I've subscribed to some feeds that belong to blogs whose writers have, how shall I say, eclectic tastes, so I hope to stand a better chance of hearing about the sleepers. At least that's my intention...
KyoAni have always struck me as a studio with talented artists, a switched-on marketing department and healthy finances; if only because the shows they make have solid production values and are popular. Maybe they got lucky with landing the production rights to the Key adaptations and Haruhi (the latter seemed to me to be a show that was in the right place at the right time more than anything but that's another story); I'm not sure. I first heard of them when they did FMP!'s Second Raid, and was mildly impressed with them ever since.
Re Michael is LoHP
@ Martin
I have to admit, I have some eclectic tastes too. So whenever I wonder why a particular show isn't so popular, I have to always run it through that filter of "well, maybe I just like anime others don't?" Of course, this time it's KyoAni, and one of their series flying under the radar goes against everything I thought I knew about anime fans.
And speaking of landing production rights and so and so, I'd love to see more background information and behind the scenes features on anime studios. I've always wondered if that sort of info was readily available to the Japanese -- and we lose out due to the language gap -- or if these studios just have up the iron curtain and nobody knows?
And I first learned of KyoAni with Full Metal Panic too! FMP (all 3 seasons) was the 5th anime series I had ever seen, right after Evangelion, Escaflowne, Bebop, and Trigun. So that's how late in the game I got into anime.