Snapshot: Saki - 01 April 6
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Summary
Saki is some godly mahjong player that has absolutely no desire to win or lose due to some childhood pseudo-trauma. Somewhere in the mix is an insanely annoying loli, a boring pink-haired girl, a genki seito kaichou, and a guy. Something tells me none of the girls has any interest whatsoever in him, as they’re too busy rehearsing their eventual lifelong roles as old ladies in the Joy Luck Club. I’m sure many of you play mahjong (neither me nor Omni do), but you’re likely to find this as ridiculous as we did…
Thoughts
Some might say that my time is better spent blogging about shows that I actually enjoy, that I should just leave their precious favorite guilty pleasure shows alone, but what’s the fun in that? Enter Saki, the next item up for flaming at jaalin’s grill and bistro. You want that well done or burnt to a crisp?
In the past, I’ve picked on the weak and laid waste to travesties like Ninomiya-kun and Kono Aozora, but I’ve since graduated from bullying on those that accept their role as bottom-feeder. Instead, I’ve turned over a new leaf, and am now saving my flame spells on those epic high-profile shows that assume their success is guaranteed, but are actually catastrophic train wrecks right as they depart on their maiden episode.
Saki, Saki, Saki, where to begin? First of all - elephant in the room - yes, it’s an anime about mahjong. It’s really not that big of a deal, considering Hikaru no Go made an absolutely black-and-white board game pretty cool, Naruto made something awesome like ninjas farking boring, and Queen’s Blade made something humans are genetically hardwired to stare at into something unbearable to watch (ok, gonna lay off the QB references for a bit before I exhaust it). Saki does get quite technical with the game and keeps things surprisingly focused, but the entirety of it just comes off as being really freakin’ corny. To put it simply, where I was expecting something like Hikaru no Go, I was instead treated to a rehash of Yu-Gi-Oh with moe-fied character designs.
And maybe that’s my own fault, but given the rather nice character designs, decent art quality, and an amazing voice cast which includes Koshimizu Ami (Nina Wang, Horo), Ueda Kana (Hayate’s Sakuya, Maria-sama’s Yumi), Shiraishi Ryoko (Hayate), Itou Shizuka (Hinagiku, Index’s Kanzaki), and Kugimiya Rie (um… Al Elric), can ya blame me? Gonzo might not be the best studio, but they’re definitely a big name in the industry.
And maybe they were doomed from the start in attacking a game typically played by old loogie-hocking Chinese ladies with too much time and memory to spare, but something about this show just doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe it’s Kugimiya Rie’s overtly loli voice that’s just begging for attention, maybe it’s pink haired chick’s overly-indulgent character design, maybe it’s the awkward fanservice and yuri moments, maybe it’s the 300-esque slow motion scenes (THIS… IS… MAHJONGGGGG), maybe it’s the OH SHI- *thunder and lightning* moments when a tile is played… but whatever it is, it’s clear that the show is just trying too hard in all the wrong ways. And I’m not that easy to win over!
That’s not to say you shouldn’t watch this show - quite the contrary - the first episode was entertaining and even reached “epic lulz” (or whatever the new 4ch lingo is these days) levels at the end, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be one of those one-episode wonders and just fall off a cliff from hereon out. The only way I can see this show working out is that it picks up the whole “Dragonball Mahjong” vibe like Prince of Tennis had, but none of these characters have any of the “mada mada dane” swagger or personality of Seigaku. Still, I’m hoping to be surprised.
Anyone that plays mahjong have any idea what’s going on in this show?
SnooSnoo at 2:03 am on April 6th, 2009
Its a shame that the character designs are quite appealing to me. Because mahjong turns me off and I hate plotless shows. >__>
Kairu Ishimaru at 2:04 am on April 6th, 2009
Makes me wanna play mahjong. ;_;
Brizzle at 2:07 am on April 6th, 2009
I will be watching just for the Seiyuu cast.
:) at 2:11 am on April 6th, 2009
lol the japanese mahjong rules got me so confused
kairuu at 2:14 am on April 6th, 2009
I think you mean, “You want that burnt to a crisp or bloody as hell?”
jaalin at 2:16 am on April 6th, 2009
yea i was gonna say that, but “bloody as hell” would entail that i barely flamed it
always wondered what a $5 shake tastes like… hmm there’s a denny’s about a mile away…
ruffles at 2:17 am on April 6th, 2009
Although I don’t want to see Gonzo relentlessly bang one of my favourite series in the ass, I don’t think I have much of a choice, I enjoyed the manga so much it’s compelling me to watch this. At least the good cast should ease the pain a bit.
Hagiri at 2:20 am on April 6th, 2009
Well i’m guessing miyanaga & nodoka will be the hikaru & akira pair in this show.
Seeing nodoka chase after miyanaga after learning she has done ’something’ [which i actually have no idea what it was] that could not usually be done in 3 straight rounds, makes me remember on how akira chased after shindou at the start of the series. Although nodoka does not have the same ‘genius’ presence as akira had..
Saki might have some potential in becoming a ‘hikaru no go’ but time [more episodes] can only tell…
ZeD at 2:21 am on April 6th, 2009
I read some chapters of the manga and it’s not bad.. But it might be boring for those who don’t know how to play mahjong..
The problem is that Gonzo will fuck up everything and add a lot of ecchi scenes
Phazeshift at 2:22 am on April 6th, 2009
Haha, being able to play mahjong finally paid off…i think….
Kcirnal at 2:23 am on April 6th, 2009
ive played mahjong now for awhile and although they have slightly different rules (red tiles?!!?) it was alright following along. Anywayz i find this show actually interesting cuz its not the cliche type mahjong story where some loser in life gains fame and money at a mahjong tournament either through cheating or overexaggerated/corny skills(like every other mahjong movie thats ever made). TO have the main character so godlike that she can keep her score at +/- 0 is much more interesting to watch.
jaalin at 2:27 am on April 6th, 2009
that “god of gambling” movie with steven chow was pretty cool lol
mike at 2:28 am on April 6th, 2009
Anime just don’t feel right, the manga actually has a better feel to it.
kadian1364 at 2:35 am on April 6th, 2009
Jaalin, I think you summed up all the reasons why to watch Saki. It’s the seasonal “Oh Gonzo!” show at its finest. And me not knowing a whit about Mahjong makes it all the better.
hylarn at 2:41 am on April 6th, 2009
I may actually have to watch this. It’s hilarious, even if for all the wrong reasons.
polke45 at 2:48 am on April 6th, 2009
@Jaalin
yea, i love that movie. in fact, i have all the version of it including the spin off version except the third one of the original. those movies are the greatest chinese classic movie.
anyway, since i play mahjong in Canton style, i won’t be able to understand Japanese rule . I also tried in pc game 2 but still don’t understand the rule much.
Kcirnal at 2:49 am on April 6th, 2009
all steven chow movies are hilarious but any mahjong based movies ever made have been so repetitive with nothing new im going to stick with saki. Even with all those overdramatic twist that really does resembles yugioh (lolol) and those lightning effects are just too hilarious.
polke45 at 2:54 am on April 6th, 2009
i get the feeling viewers will get negative effect from this anime. It is like producer are saying “hey, kid. Know what, you can be just like us, a person who has gambleholic. After watching this anime, you will know more about mahjong. so get out there and lose all your money to us, muhahahahha!”
jaalin at 3:03 am on April 6th, 2009
yea, never mind espn’s world series of poker coverage… this anime makes mahjong look way too cool and will be the downfall of society
me at 3:07 am on April 6th, 2009
The funny part is the manga is pretty much more of the same from what Jaalin gripes about but, to me anyway, I found the overly dramatic reactions and friggin lightning crackling from Saki’s fingers as she plays a tile to be hilarious. It’s not that they’re trying too hard to be dramatic and serious, it’s clearly intended to be over the top and somewhat absurd. Yuki’s obsession with tacos should have told you right away not to take it too seriously. I like the manga for that, so I’ll see if this show provides that same corniness.