White Album is THE anime of the Winter 2009 season
Tagged: otaku . impressions . first look . White Album
Source: unknown
I made a similarly ridiculous proclamation during the Fall 2008 season with A Certain Magical Index. Now I'm making another one, as White Album is the best show I've picked up for the Winter '09 season. And not simply because this is a weak season. The show is great on its own merits.
I'm sure many will disagree with me on this one. After the anime debuted, a good number of posts on AnimeNano blasted the show immediately. Fuck, I even saw a blogger refer to White Album as a trainwreck. Talk about a word that has been thrown around pointlessly and has completely lost all of its meaning.
So what's behind my love for the show. It's got a slow, gentle pace more akin to slice-of-life than your typical love-com or harem show. So far the director has treated the subject matter with respect. The studio hasn't loaded the series up with moe or any type of goofy antics. Not that I dislike any of that stuff, but it is good to get away from it once in a while.
The art style is unique and fitting for the tone of the series. I love that OP, and love the forgoing of any kind of animation within it. It's nice to see an anime set in the not too distant past in a quaint little world without cell phones. One simple thing removed -- taken for granted in our time -- shapes the character relationships and the narrative as a whole.
The show is subtle. Things aren't beaten over your head, and the obvious is often left to the viewer. It's not a guilty pleasure kind of show. I feel smart while watching White Album. Nobody's talking down to me or playing to the average otaku with the boring old tropes. Ok, as bad as I made that last sentiment sound, I have nothing against that sort of thing. This is simply a refreshing anime for me.
I like all of the characters so far. Rina Ogata could go down as an all-time favorite. And apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so. On a bit of a reactionary note to the anime blogosphere: Aya Hirano is great as Yuki. Just because her part in White Album isn't an epic, all-time great character doesn't all of a sudden make Aya overrated.
With Index my favorite show of the Fall and White Album my favorite show of the Winter, feel free to call me a loon in the comment section below. But don't forget to let me know what your favorite show is this season, ok.
February 1st, 2009 at 2:15 PM ET
Comments
1) hashi
I'm not ready to praise it quite that highly, but this is definitely one of the most interesting shows of the season, for exactly the reasons you mention. And Hirano is doing a great job, as you say. People may find that little voice "annoying," but it is creating a memorable character. At least one early blogger, as you also mention, let their prejudices run away with them when they called this a trainwreck. This train may not be the express, but it is a very scenic ride.
2) digitalboy
omg, you actually agree with me about white album and index. You are my hero! (well, index isn't a favorite actually, but I do like it)
3) IcyStorm
I do like White Album quite a bit, but it's not quite the defining anime of winter 2009. Maria+Holic wins that from me. That's probably because I prefer TRAGEDY (i.e. Key adaptations) or LULZ (e.g. Maria+Holic or Toradora!) over something a bit more serious like White Album.
But calling Index THE anime of fall 2008 is over the line. They just overload us with talking and talking and talking, and the transitioning from arc to arc isn't well done. Saying that the "characters feel fresh and unique, and there hasn't been one introduced yet that I don't want more time with" is odd, because the characters in Index are nothing new. There are plenty of guys like Touma and plenty of girls like Mikoto.
4) Sorrow-kun
I'm kinda with IcyStorm on Index, but that's beside the point. I'm one of these people who have been rather unimpressed with White Album. My biggest problem is the characters, and how they've been purposely holding us at arm's length from really getting to know them and seeing them open up to the audience; then again, there's a certain level of subjectivity involved in how much one sympathizes with characters. But I take issue with the label of "subtle", not because I don't think it is subtle, I won't argue with that, but because I'm not convinced it's using subtlety effectively, in the same way that something like Natsume Yuujinchou or Honey and Clover uses subtlety (ie, keeping the emotions from being too overbearing, and, therefore, making them more affecting). It almost feels like that the show is using subtlety as a way to obscure certain plot points, and to coerce the audience to engage with the story, rather than the story just being engaging in its own right. It's almost an effort to watch, but I don't mind that provided the story eventually rewards the audience for paying attention. But, if the story does eventually devolve into an overwrought, emotional trainwreck, (which is what a lot of the signs are pointing to) then I wouldn't really call that much of a reward. Especially if we walk away none-the-wiser about these characters.
It might not happen, but I have my suspicions about the way the show is going about things.
5) jp
White Album, hands down. I thought I was the only one who viewed White Album favorably when it came out. Glad you exist.
6) The_Observer
I'd like to offer some healing potions (grand) for your low HP.
If it wasn't for Marimite or Rideback (there is great potential, I assure you!)...White Album would be my pick of the season too.
Why? That's because I lament the lack of serious realistic drama in our diet. Blame my age (we are all getting on) or what you will. White Album is indeed subtle and the observation of human relational dynamics makes for very compelling viewing. A welcomed change from the usual and it gets us thinking on something tangible. Not the fan-trolling and bashing bouts on the direction which Code Geass should take.
Hence, albeit the hype about other shows in the Spring season (yes I am getting ahead of myself), I am looking forward to the adaptation of Winter Sonata. The injection of (good) drama though cliche is a needed boost for you and me veteran watchers. Perhaps the time for escapism is slowly getting out of the window,
Re) Michael is LoHP
@ hashi
Maybe it has something to do with the distinctiveness of her voice? Maybe some people can't sync into the character because it's a voice they identify elsewhere? I guess I'm lucky to not have that issue.
Of course, when I praise White Album like this, I'm doing that based on my own expectations that I hope the series lives up to. I hope, I hope, I hope...
@ digitalboy
You're my hero too. Glad I'm not as crazy as I thought I was. Either that or you're crazy with me! I was really feeling alone there with my love for both shows. I mean, my favorite shows each season are the anime blogosphere's beating horses. Ugh.
@ IcyStorm
I do like Maria Holic quite a bit too. As White Album picked up, it came to be the series I'd club a seal over to get that next episode. I can wait for Maria, but I'm still happy when it's here. My history with Shaft comedies (my last post) makes me a bit weary, though.
Now on to Index. Ok, I made that comment three episodes in and maybe we're not exactly talking about the most unique cast of characters ever. Ok, maybe Stiyl is actually Renji from Bleach. Ok, maybe their uniqueness comes more from style than substance. And maybe the uniqueness of the show lies heavily in its presentation and story arcs.
But dammit I love the show. I love the atypical direction things get taken each arc. I think the setup and resolve of each arc has been unique, memorable, and creative. The show feels well thought out. There is creativity and uniqueness within the show.
The characters -- at least for me -- don't fall into the bad pits their archetypes can fall into. Sorry if I'm not coming across well enough here. I swear I'll make clearer and more well thought out points on why Index is great once the show is complete and I take some time to write my final take. For now I'll simple take a page out of Miao's book and say that it is THE show I want the next episode from stat!
@ Sorrow-kun
Brilliantly put. I can't argue against you're point on how White Album is using subtlety some of the time. Not all of the time, but yes, they have been hiding character intentions with it so far (I believe). I just happen to think that's a bit clever. I like it.
And yes, the story could devolve, but I'm betting on that not happening. Of course I can't actually call White Album the best show of the season until this season is over. I'm just betting at this point in time that this will go down as my favorite. At least, it is THE show that started this season that I want more of right this minute.
@ jp
And I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes this show too. The way some other bloggers talked about it at first... Wow. I came in prepared to hate the series, and then surprise: my favorite show this season! And it was all thanks to that first piece of art (Yuki and Rina lying next to one another) that made me go, "that looks pretty and even kind of artsy. I'll give it a shot!"
@ The_Observer
I guess I'm "low on hit points" because I can't get into video games like I used to. A good healing potion was that recent Final Fantasy XIII trailer. My God...
Argh, you had me until Geass came up. Season two certainly looks bad on re-examination, but it was incredibly fun to follow week to week with all the drama outside the show going on. And season one is a candidate for best anime all-time, in my own opinion. See, I told you guys I was a bit crazy!
And speaking of realistic drama, have you seen Bokura ga Ita yet. That is the most honest and real teen romance I have ever seen in any type of media, not just anime. I can name the ex-girlfriends in my life that the main heroine from that show is. And I'm sure girls can do the same with the main guy from that show too.
7) Koji Oe
Eh, sorry man I thought some of your writing was pretty awesome, but praising White Album so highly like this has really lost some points.
If you think White Album is refreshing you should try watching some older shows. White Album is far from anything refreshing for this day and age. Once you've watched some older shows, try watching White Album again. Then you'll see how bad the show is. Nice try though.
Also, what is with the Comments that are not polite and on-topic will be deleted statement? Never liked censorship much. Suck it up.
Re) Michael is LoHP
@ Koji Oe
Now I'm low on some other points too? Now, now. Everyone has their unique tastes. I can take you up on your challenge, but I need to know what older shows you're talking about. Being older doesn't make a show good, as the ratio of good to bad has stayed the same throughout the ages.
And I have never deleted a comment, nor should I ever have to. Polite means you're not dropping racial slurs like a 12-year-old over Xbox Live. On-topic means you aren't promoting your newest product, Weight Gain 2000. I can take criticism, so feel free to dish it at me. Just please don't leave a drive-by "you suck" without telling me exactly why and how.
8) Martin
This is the point where I breathe a sigh of relief. I'm guessing it's because I heard so many negative things about WA...probably because it was the first to be subbed and is part of the slice of life/realistic fiction mould that's not the most popular. I read half a dozen dismissive posts, then gave up. Now I've actually watched the first episode I've decided to give it another couple of outings before jumping on the Hate Bandwagon.
I will say that the characters are bland at first glance (I emphasise the condition 'at first glance'), and it's a bit slow. I don't mind that actually, but I know quite a few people have a problem with slow, not-very-flashy series.
I was actually considering giving up halfway through the episode but my patience paid off: that phone conversation at the end built up the emotion, and almost all my fears were allayed. The text overlays were a nice touch too, and the direction felt assured and...cinematic? It's as though we're watching a serious, live-action drama - it has subtlety and sophistication. Those two things alone makes me want to see it do well.
Re) Michael is LoHP
@ Martin
I wasn't completely sold after the first episode either. By episode two, I had begun to get a handle on things and started to truly appreciate the show. It's wasn't long after that when I realized how badly I wanted more of the show. By then I was completely sold.