Here’s another discussion point for that whole “idea vs. execution” argument. Modern day riffs on, and subversions of, European fairy tales are starting to creep up onto the dog-eared list of concepts that’re almost automatically old hat to me. Said list includes vampires, werewolves, zombies and dark Oz. I see this and it immediately makes me think of FABLES, SHREK, ENCHANTED, that NBC 10th KINGDOM thing and any number of stories that have the conceit of presenting bedtimes stories in ways that are either more serious or more facetious than usual. Perhaps that’s an unfairly broad umbrella to scoot so many possible stories under, but… but… but that’s how I feel!
Anyway, as I mentioned, OKAMISAN is all about execution. While ASTAROTTE’S TOY was the first show to really make me take notice of its sense of timing, this is likewise the first anime where I’ve had a better appreciation of the characters’ body language. You don’t really even need to read Ryoko, Ringo and Ryoshi’s subtitles to get the gist of what they’re saying and what their deals are - - the voicework and animation is actually that expressive.
This feels like the fifth or sixth pilot I’ve watched where the cliffhanger revolves around somebody playing a hard-nose matchmaker for the main characters because their own peccadillos are, of course, getting in the way of the obvious. While the fact that Ryoshi might actually be the first shy guy who’s effectively weaponized his own meekness, I’ll agree with Ryoko’s assessment that a guy who’s going to stalk his crush and then do nothing when she’s in danger probably isn’t going to be that reliable when the heat’s on. Of course, that unreliability is what makes it all interesting to watch, isn’t it?
I’ll put this somewhere in the middle of the interest scale. I’m not eager to see more cute allussions to pumpkin carriages and lost slippers, but I’m digging the way this handles romance in militarized folklore more than that show with the demon girls and the officers.
Watch this episode "Okami-san and Her Otogi Bank Companions" here and decide for yourself.
Read my thoughts on the previous series I've watched for this extended sampling...
- SLAYERS
- GUNSLINGER GIRL
- RIDEBACK
- FULL METAL PANIC!
- SCHOOL DAYS
- OTOME YOKAI ZAKURO
- GIANT KILLING
- CLANNAD
- HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD
- PANTY & STOCKING
- GUIN SAGA
- PRINCESS TUTU
- TATAMI GALAXY
- MONSTER
- CLAYMORE
- HIKARU NO GO
- MUSHI-SHI
- HAYATE THE COMBAT BUTLER
- [C] CONTROL
- STEINS; GATE
- ASTAROTTE'S TOY
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here. Follow him on Twitter: @tompinchuk
This was my favorite new anime of last year. Also, at 12 episodes it's a nice short commitment. You can't judge a series by the first episode. Death Note being a prime example. It wasn't until L came in that I really cared about that series. It also doesn't hurt that Ryoshi's aunt I would count among my anime crushes.
Ryoko is the classic "tsundere" archetype, very popular in Japan. Western audiences more often sees this in the shy tomboy.
I've watched the entire show last year and really enjoyed it. I wish it would get another season, but I don't see that happening unfortunately.