Final_Eschelon
02-01-02, 09:59 PM
The reason I got NieA_7, other than the fact that I wanted to see what an attempt at humor by the creator of the ultra-deep "Lain" would end up looking like, was the fact that, in my limited anime experience (5 years and around 100 or so DVDs) I had yet to see a series that dealt with common people. I mean the really common people; like Mayuko, Kotomi, Chie and her dad. None of these people have super-powers, yet their struggle to eek out a living in poverty-stricken Enohana gives them strength of character that a lot of super heroes could just never have.
Shoot, I have learned more about the details of lower-middle class Japanese life than I ever had prior to watching this series. I was able to add a bunch of words to my Japanese vocabulary, such as bento and conpa. But grammar lessons aside, this series has provided a very interesting glimpse into what a normal district in Japan might be like in the near future... if we have an alien landing, that is ;) . Kidding aside, even the aliens are human-like, both in appearance and mannerisms. It has long been a trend in anime to show big, towering cityscapes as the settings for many a series (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Macross, Outlaw Star, Akira, Ghost in the Shell, etc.) but NieA_7 is the first series I've seen that really deals with life in the poor country/suburban districts of Japan, sans skyscrapers and traffic jams.
I love the personalities of each of the characters, and I especially like the fact that this series is a kind of dark comedy. It's dark in it's depictions of lower-middle-class life, with the day to day struggle to make ends meet taking precedent over all other activities. But the many instances of Hatare , or "lame" style humor, the abundant face-faults, and the infamous pupilless "anime angry eyes of doom" running rampant thoughout the series, make its comedic aspects stand out perfectly in just the right places.
I am looking forward to getting the last DVD in the series, but I know I'm going to go through post-anime-series letdown afterwards, wanting more of the characters and comedic situations. I hope some of you out there share my views on this brilliantly conceived and executed series.
Peace! ;)
Shoot, I have learned more about the details of lower-middle class Japanese life than I ever had prior to watching this series. I was able to add a bunch of words to my Japanese vocabulary, such as bento and conpa. But grammar lessons aside, this series has provided a very interesting glimpse into what a normal district in Japan might be like in the near future... if we have an alien landing, that is ;) . Kidding aside, even the aliens are human-like, both in appearance and mannerisms. It has long been a trend in anime to show big, towering cityscapes as the settings for many a series (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Macross, Outlaw Star, Akira, Ghost in the Shell, etc.) but NieA_7 is the first series I've seen that really deals with life in the poor country/suburban districts of Japan, sans skyscrapers and traffic jams.
I love the personalities of each of the characters, and I especially like the fact that this series is a kind of dark comedy. It's dark in it's depictions of lower-middle-class life, with the day to day struggle to make ends meet taking precedent over all other activities. But the many instances of Hatare , or "lame" style humor, the abundant face-faults, and the infamous pupilless "anime angry eyes of doom" running rampant thoughout the series, make its comedic aspects stand out perfectly in just the right places.
I am looking forward to getting the last DVD in the series, but I know I'm going to go through post-anime-series letdown afterwards, wanting more of the characters and comedic situations. I hope some of you out there share my views on this brilliantly conceived and executed series.
Peace! ;)