Michael is Low on Hit Points
Bring in the replacements: Spice and Wolf and Higurashi Rei OVAs brighten up a somewhat dull season
- Posted May 7th, 2009 at 6:03 PM ET
- Subjects Higurashi, Spice and Wolf
- Tags impressions, mid-season
- Image sources
1- When the Higurashi Cry [unknown]
2- Spice and Wolf [unknown] - Video searches
none
I can't completely knock Spring '09 because there certainly are a few excellent series airing. But overall, quite a lot of my current season picks have disappointed me so far. What perfect timing then for some returning series to plop down two amazing OVAs!
When the Higurashi Cry: Rei 2
Higurashi is known for quickly flipping the switch between innocent playtime and bloody brutality. But what the second episode of the Rei OVA does is both different and amazing.
Rika is brought into a new world, one that may even be called perfect. There are no enemies here, no problems to solve, nothing. This Hinamizawa is peaceful bliss. Yet its presentation is anything but.
The atmosphere and writing here are terrific, playing up a sort of intensity you'd never imagine a world like this having. Everything is right, yet everything is wrong. Is this all a cruel trick? And how -- in a world so right -- is Rika so all alone?
The presentation had me on the edge of my seat the entire way through. No intense violence was needed. There wasn't even the immediate threat of it. Just perfect suspense via brilliant production. In the most peaceful of scenarios, this is Higurashi firing on all cylinders.
And that just speaks to how good this franchise can be.
Spice and Wolf II OVA
I'm always weary when a series switches hands. Imagin did a admirable job with the first series, even if it had plenty of room for improvement. But the anime is now in the hands of Brain's Base, the studio that knocked Baccano! out of the park.
And it looks like they're about to repeat that performance if this OVA is any indication.
Maybe my memories are playing tricks on me, but I don't remember the animation being so vivid and the cinematography being so well done. I thought those two points could be improved upon from last season. If Brain's Base continues as they are now, we can check that one off.
The OVA is a nice little reminder of what really makes this series spin: the relationship between Horo and Lawrence. Or mostly just how dynamic and nuanced a character Horo is. The pace is nice and slow, just how I like it for this type of anime. And the music is as quaint as ever.
Season two is due out this summer and personally, I can't wait.
1 digitalboy
Amazing as spicy wolf S1 was, the animation sucked hard, and Brains Base is the flip-side of the coin as all of their shows look great (baccano, kurenai, gigantic formula, etc) with the one exception of the notably hideous Akikan. Considering this is a sequel, though, I'm thinking they will have a nice budget, and this will be a nice show.
2 Sylvie
Haven't watched past episode 2 of Rei, but episode 2 was certainly intriguing. You feel sorry for Rena, and at the same time happy for everyone else. Bearing in mind nothing unfortunate has happened in the first two episodes... yet...
Spice and Wolf. Well, I disliked S1. Having to watch a show in fast-forward says a lot about pacing problems. Instead of capitalising on the medieval setting and infusing the charcters with life, they seemed to have put the focus on the boredom of living in those times. Thankfully, Brain's Base seems like it'll do a good job, if the OVA is any indicator. The recycled scenes are a tad worrying though...
I must admit I'm a tad puzzled at the drastic change between S1 and the OVA, given that the director and screenplay writer are still the same people. Did I miss out something here?
Incidentally, you misspelt Brain's Base in the latter part of your commentary ;)
3 kadian1364
I had high hopes for Spice and Wolf S1, and was resoundingly smacked upside the head for it. But the OVA gives me hope: if S2 can focus on it's characterization (good things) and avoid both the pitfalls of what they call "economics" and the temptation to resolve all major conflicts by transforming Horo into a Giant Wolf (bad things), I think I may return to being cautiously optimistic about a second season.
Re Michael is LoHP
@ digitalboy
Holy crap, they really did do Akikan! Damn. Well, judging by the OVA, they seem to have their A team on this one. I certainly hope so, 'cause I love me some Spice and Wolf.
@ Sylvie
Actually, only 2 episodes of Rei have been released so far. So we're all caught up. Not much has technically happened, but a lot of stuff has been presented. They've done a lot with so little, and I think that's pretty impressive.
I certainly don't think Spice and Wolf 1 had pacing issues. It's supposed to be a slow, slice of life -ish kind of show. But everyone's mileage will vary on that one. For me, I tend to like that kind of show.
As for "recycled scenes," do you mean the footage they show explaining what happened last season. Because it's been a while, and they're going to want to recap a tiny bit to bring people back into the fold. If they do it now, chances are they won't when the season proper starts up.
And what pray tell do you mean by misspelling? *cough*cough* Thanks for the heads up.
@ kadian1364
I like the economics side of the show, even if I couldn't follow any of it in season 1. It has -- shall we say -- potential. And giant wolf Horo is supposed to be -- I'm having trouble wording this -- a powerful development. The animation just didn't follow through with that in season 1.
But yes, in the end the best part of Spice and Wolf are its characters. That I certainly agree on, as I'm sure most will.
4 RP
I may be in the minority here, but I actually liked the economics scenes from the first season. While they weren't always interesting, they led to some real good scenes between Horo and Lawrence, and also added another layer to Horo's character. Not just a mighty wolf god, but also crafty and smart like ah, um... fox. *ducks*
Re Michael is LoHP
@ RP
I like the economics aspect too. The only issue is that I had difficulty following some of the exchanges in season 1. Whether that was the writer's fault or my own... I'm not sure. I've been looking forward to the light novel translations coming later this year (to the U.S.) to see how those dialogues were originally handled.
You make an excellent point in how those exchanges lead to other developments.
5 Baka-Raptor
Where's Hanyuu?
6 Sylvie
No, by "recycled scenes" I meant they reused a few sections of animation. It's subtle enough to not be too noticeable, for example Lawrence walking to/entering the room, or Horo waking up in her dream.
Which reminds me, the Eastern medicine felt rather out of place in the medieval setting. In those days, they talked about the humours of the bodies, not the 4 states >.>
Re Michael is LoHP
@ Baka-Raptor
Yeah, she had completely skipped my mind until I was reading impressions after the episode and Rabbit Poets brought that up. Because no matter the setup, Hanyuu should still be there nonetheless, right? I guess it would be extra creepy for Rika if -- for some unknown reason -- Hanyuu wasn't there.
@ Sylvie
Well, if they do a good job disguising "recycled scenes" then I can't really complain about them. But the one of Horo waking up in her dream was more a directorial decision versus a budget / time one, I would think.
And yeah, the four states does sound pretty Eastern. I'l have to take your word on it. Good catch. But once again, hardly something to hold against the show.