[insert self-deprecating comment about forgetting to take a single bloody screenshot. grr. oh wait, steal!]
Chihayafuru is an adaption from a manga about a group of childhood friends with a passion for the game of karuta and for playing it together. The story is at once a sweet slice-of-life story as well as a fun cultural introduction to a uniquely Japanese game.
The first OP starts out with Chihaya, the title character, trying to drum up members for a high school kurata club. She meets her childhood friend (and former kurata pal) Taichi and a flashback ensues. In this first EP we are also introduced to Arata, a quiet transfer student and secretly a kurata wizard.
There is a lot to like about this series already (though it is hard to really judge a show from one EP, except when it's really bad *cough* Horizon *cough*). Chihaya's character is lovably sincere while being a little ditzy. Taichi is a bit of the brilliant bad-boy, but isn't quite cliche (yet) and Arata is fascinating (though I know that mainly from the manga...you don't see too much of his character here...except at the end).
As for the produciton quality, i like the art which is classically shoujo but also uniquely itself. The opening song sets the mood well and the whole OP has a good feel to it. I am a little disappointed with a few moments where the emotion in Chihaya's voice doesn't qutie match her illustrated expression and mannerisms, but this is a small gripe. This will probably be my feel good for the season (or my Hanasaku Iroha replacement).
No comments:
Post a Comment