FreezeFrame: A Key Paradigm Shift March 19
Ok, let’s get the obvious out of the way first:
KyoAni did a fabulous job with Kanon. As usual, the technical aspects of the anime were all top-notch, the directing was solid, the voice acting award-worthy. Each character was unique, their stories significant, and in the end, quite memorable. Kanon 2006 was successful in distinguishing itself from not only the original Kanon but also Haruhi, which was an initial foreboding I had in the earlier episodes. I honestly believe that it was pretty much the absolute best anybody could have done in making Kanon, or any harem anime, for that matter.
That said…
I think it’s a total waste of ability and resources. A studio of KyoAni’s caliber shouldn’t be doing harem shows, which have traditionally just been there for the sake of showing off some more girls in maid outfits or nekomimi or some other ridiculous stuff like that. Not that I don’t appreciate it – it’s just something I feel is better left to the “lesser” studios and not the oharuhiliness that is Kyoto Animation. If my understanding is correct, the main reason they picked up Kanon was because of the success of their initial venture into the visual novel genre, AIR.
The way I see it, it’s like if Studio Ghibli decided they would make more money doing hentai. What if Totoro’s fat tail was on the front side of his body? What if Kiki used her broom for more than just transportation? What if “Laputa” actually meant “La Puta”? Could Ghibli have done it? Sure. But did they go ahead with cheap flattery and quick indulgences to make a quick yen? No way – they took their time to craft masterpiece after masterpiece that audiences around the world have held in the highest regard. In that same way, I’ve always hoped that KyoAni would start picking up material of a higher “moral standard” (I like using that one). I keep referring back to Haruhi because it was a perfect marriage of script and studio – the novels are fantastically written, the anime fantastically realized and produced. Kanon, while being one of the most serious and dramatic hgames, is still held back by the whole concept of these games – to play through the storyline of each girl and experience all the “perks” that come with a developing relationship.
If you step back and look at it, the way all the individual and separate storylines were tied together was by the whole “yume…” blurb at the beginning of the episodes. It’s a weak connection – but then again, it’s probably the best thing anybody could have done to bring some unity to an otherwise disjointed series about a bunch of girls who would have had no contact with each other if not for this one guy.
But enough ranting. Here’s the chaser – no matter how I, or any of us may feel about Kanon, the fact remains that it was a superbly produced series, one that I believe may finally put the traditionally indulgent harem genre into the realm of sanity and integrity. For the first time, I can actually take one of these shows seriously. And it took 24 episodes for the king of TV anime to pull it off.
I guess, in other words, I finally get it.
CLANNAD? I’ve never played it or even heard of it outside that it’s another one of KEY’s works – but if KyoAni is doing it, we may as well start penciling it in as the best anime of the season.
In the meantime, Lucky Star is going to rock, you can bank on that.
-jaalin
Gx-Testament at 11:57 pm on March 19th, 2007
I can’t imagine Kanon made by any one else but KyoAni now. I’m definitely looking forward to Clannad.
Omni at 12:04 am on March 20th, 2007
It’s funny you mention Studio Ghibli since it was announced yesterday that Miyazaki Hayao’s next film will be a work called Ponyo on a Cliff.
Hudson at 12:08 am on March 20th, 2007
Just goes to show that no matter it’s origins, an anime can come out as a masterpiece. Love Hina, Shuffle, and now Kanon are 3 best made harem animes. Let’s just PRAY that Bandai DOES get their greedy hands on this one.
Hudson at 12:09 am on March 20th, 2007
DAMNIT! I ment:
“Let’s just hope that Bandai DOESN’T get their greedy hands on this one.”
Drakron at 12:22 am on March 20th, 2007
Here lies the issue, harem does not need to be ecchi.
Harem type is old … Tenchi is harem, Love Hina is harem … many animes are harem or contain harem elements without being ecchi.
Sure when you what things as “Shuffle!” its no wonder having such impression of harem but the issue is eroge adaptations that likely end up with ecchi elements.
Besides morality? excuse me?
“Koi Kaze” as a example … it deal with incest that we can see as immoral but its a difficult ADULT subject to deal, in fact the 8th episode was not aired in Japan for the fact it dealt with DIVORCE that is kinda a taboo subject in japan.
Perhaps western … excuse me, American moral values are not the same as in Japan, perhaps morality is relative.
Also a curious fact … Kyoto Animation did “FMP Fumoffu” that is Ecchi … never had much of a “moral” high ground to start with.
Zeroblade at 12:27 am on March 20th, 2007
Technically, they should be doing other, non-harem shows, but the fact of the matter is that the main goal is money. Studios need profit to survive; without it, they can’t make any other good shows.
Also, Key’s writing is still good stuff, so even though they do Visual Novel adaptations, at least they’re picking some of the best source material to work with.
ferro at 12:27 am on March 20th, 2007
Common KyoAni! use your “top-notch” for something else, rather than one more harem show.
I’m waiting to see it in the next Full metal panic.
JS at 12:36 am on March 20th, 2007
Whichever way, what KyoAni does rocks. So I’ll be watching whatever comes out of their studio.
Shinova at 12:46 am on March 20th, 2007
Your (as in the author) definition of “harem show” seems pretty loose, as in anything involving a guy and several female characters. Whether a show is REALLY a harem anime or not depends on more than just the ratio of female characters to male characters.
Shinova at 12:47 am on March 20th, 2007
And while some of us may dislike them for it, what KyoAni decides to animate is none of our business, and especially so since we’re not even their primary demographic.
AvexMode at 1:00 am on March 20th, 2007
Fate/Stay night should be done by KyoAni. How about that?
Nekozama at 1:11 am on March 20th, 2007
Loli look on Fate stay… cant imagine that eheheh
Jay^2 at 1:35 am on March 20th, 2007
no clue wut La Puta is… @_o…
and i love your FreeFrames!! They’re so puzzling and make me think outside of the box. (which usually i never do… -_
Syaoran Li at 1:36 am on March 20th, 2007
Oh man, you put a hard theme here…
KyoAni sure is one, if not the best, animation studio of this last 5 years, so is natural to expect from them top-notch quality and greatest show; like Haruhi Suzumiya no Yuuutsu, Full Metal Panic! & AIR. Then, why did they pick Kanon? You know, I always think that I you truly love what you are doing, everything is going to be perfect, detail by detail, scene by scene, line by line, so, if they manage to bring their staff to love every single project, is that a good signal than whatever project they pick will hit highest scores. Like an old song in my country say “If I don’t love what I do, I don’t see any meaning of doing it”. I’m sure that KyoAni pick it up Kanon for some strong reason, like they did with Full Metal Panic! (Taking it away from GONZO) and then hit the spot with Haruhi Suzumiya.
Yes, you may be right, with their great talent in every aspect, and the long time it takes to do an anime series of this high marks, is reasonable why you point this out. I’ll be glad to wait another year for more Haruhi, or another two years for more Full Metal Panic! Because I know is going to be a wonderful job for sure!
Way to go with KyoAni, keep makes us proud of you! Lucky Star and CLANNAD, here we go!
Jeff Lawson at 1:53 am on March 20th, 2007
I cringe when I hear Kanon labeled as a “harem” show. Because, as Shinova alludes to, one guy and multiple girls does not necessarily a harem show make. Not in the traditional sense, at least.
And, for that matter, I don’t think it’s fair to label Kanon an “H-game”. Indeed, the original version of the game included sex scenes simply out of necessity. However, they were more a bonus than anything else, and where only included such that the game would survive in a market where sex scenes were not only the norm, but expected. Thankfully, these scenes were removed from later releases of the game.
Kanon is a visual novel, plain and simple. You don’t “play” the game as much as you “read” it. There’s nothing you can do to change the course of the story, really, and each girl’s arc plays out independently of one another. In other words, each girl’s story is a mini-novel of sort.
So, excepting the fact that you’re dealing with multiple storylines as opposed to a singular storyline, how is the structure of Kanon all that different from the structure of light novels such as The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi?
Kanon is not something to be taken lightly. It’s practically an institution in otaku culture. It’s been suggested that KyoAni pursued the project in response to continued requests from fans. And, given how spectacular a job the production team did, I suspect they relished having the opportunity to work on Kanon. So, don’t you think it’s a bit impolite to say, “It’s beneath them?” The halls of KyoAni are probably crawling with Kanon fans.
Syaoran Li at 2:14 am on March 20th, 2007
I’m with you Jeff, since KyoAni made a good choice.
Is like a fansub group; they pick it up a series because they love it so much. For example, in my language (Spanish) there is one fansub group that over four years has done almost over 100 projects between series, OVAS and movies. Of course, sometimes they take their sweet time to do it, but you can be sure that their work will be perfect. You can say the same about KyoAni, as you can say the same about any choice you do over your entire life.
For me, Kanon was one of the series that introduce me to the anime culture. Since I was little, I liked so much Japanese animation (mecha specially) but thanks to series like Kanon, I could expand my field of vision about anime. Now I have an open mind to pick up whatever show that sweet my tastes, from a slice of life series (my favorites) to a melodramatic harem series (drama and romance are the best combo). And for damn sure; if someone have to do a remake of Kanon, that someone had to be KyoAni.
You were right, we couldn’t have more Sagara, Chidori or Tessa in FMP, or maybe more Haruhi, Kyon and Mikuru in Haruhi Suzumiya; but a real anime fan will gladly wait patiently for when that time comes. For now, we can enjoy such memorable shows like Kanon.
Owari.
Jason-Sama at 3:08 am on March 20th, 2007
Actually it’s better that KyoAni do these kind of animation than just doing one or two types of genre only, do you see GONZO also one of the best animation studio doing only mecha anime? The answer is no, right. Even GONZO is starting to do love story (like ahum RomeoXJuliet).
These top notch animation studio should be improving the quality other anime genre not only in mecha. Besides since KyoAni did AIR, their coorperation with Visual Art’s/Key original works are adding up and people are more to interested in H-game turn anime. Am I right? KyoAni keep up the good work with CLANNAD.
Son Gohan at 3:34 am on March 20th, 2007
My definition of harem anime is a series with a male protagonist who becomes romantically involved with 3 or more girls. Kanon is definitely an harem series. One of the best, sure, but still an harem series with all the limitations of the genre.
I would like to see KyoAni do some more intelligent animation. Come on, they already did AIR and Kanon. Do we really need CLANNAD?
I would not mind if they could do 2-3 series at the same time, but since they only do one series at a time, this means that new Haruhi and new FMP seasons are delayed. ;_;
Tolitz at 3:43 am on March 20th, 2007
Most of this stems from people’s norrow-minded view of genres in anime… and the harem genre has gotten a lot of flak from seemingly “high-browed” people who claim to watch “intellectual” and “realistic” anime rather than their hated (insert any anime from any popular genre here).
In a few blogs I have seen people passing up on any harem anime series and making judgements on it without even watching a single episode (or sometimes after only watching just ONE episode). This close-mindedness has been adopted by other people who want to pass themselves off as “sophisticated” otaku (if there is such a connotation).
While I agree that there have been many anime series in the harem genre that have been downright “ridiculous”, that doesn’t automatically make the genre itself “ridiculous”. If I based the entire mecha genre on, say, Dual Parallel Adventures (which coincidentally was also from the “harem” genre), wouldn’t that be unfair to the genre itself, which has produced brilliant series like Zegapain, Code Geass and even my old fave, Rahxephon?
So saying that KyoAni has better things to do than “waste their time on another HAREM anime” is not only arrogant and elitist, it’s also a sign of contempt for the harem genre and everyone who supports it. It also shows the lack of knowledge you have on the Key games as well as the harem genre itself, especially if you think that every title has to be “ecchi” influenced or provide a generous dose of fan service.
And just because there’s more than one woman interested in one man, it doesn’t automatically make it a harem anime. It amused me before that most elitist reviewers didn’t hesitate to downplay Suzuka coz it reminded them of Love Hina, which was a harem anime, therefore it didn’t need to be taken seriously. Most people underrated and under-appreciated Da Capo (first season), because not only was it harem, it had incest.
Yet a “reverse harem” like Ouran High School Host Club gets stellar reviews, and ignores the fact that it’s a bunch of guys infatuated with one girl! People will say “but it’s so good!” and totally ignore that it was, in essence, just another harem series. Double standards in anime? You tell me.
I stifle the urge to say “I TOLD YOU SO” then you said that you now “get it” … but this particular blog entry makes me think that you, in fact, still don’t get it
But good post, nevertheless - in a “stepping on the ant hills” kind of way
- T
FortMan at 4:19 am on March 20th, 2007
Son Gohan:
My definition of harem anime is a series with a male protagonist who becomes romantically involved with 3 or more girls. Kanon is definitely an harem series. One of the best, sure, but still an harem series with all the limitations of the genre.
Since Yuuichi didn’t get romantically involved with anyone beside Ayu, would KyoAni’s Kanon still fit into your categorization of “harem anime”?
Genres are useful illusions, but illusions they still are.
I have not played the game, but from impressions (never actually heard of negative ones on this, even) from peeps who have played the game, I’m looking forward to Kyoani’s Clannad already.