Bakemonogatari
I am 12 episodes into Bakemonogatari, and I am still wondering why I made it this far. What I would remember this anime most for was the continuous, various, and ostensive illustrations of how Araragi Koyomi, the protagonist, is a pervert. Seriously, apart from the creators (Shaft) giving him hair antenna that serves as a metaphor for how his penis reacts half of the time, the cinematography focuses on what he focuses on when confronted with the females' bodies in a scene. And there are a lot of female characters in this anime, two girls his year, one girl his junior, another his sister's friend, and two other little girls. He has hair antenna reactions to all of them, what the hell, and there's only two other male characters in the entire thing.
And to think this anime is about supernatural shit. So apart from the supernatural shenanigans he meddles around with (because he is constitutionally unable to not help people - who all turn out to be females - with their problems regarding aberrations of the spirits of the snake, monkey, crab, cat, as well as being one-tenth vampire himself), I am also treated to boob shots, cleavage shots, panty shots, crotch shots, camel toe shots, and every goddamn eroticizable shot there goddamn is.
Unless it also is a commentary about how mainstream anime is about boys' hormones, which are, when you think carefully about it, some supernatural shit indeed. There has to be a point, however, to this anime, being designed the way that it is - it's apparent that the creators diverged from the usual cinematographic techniques with its heavy stylization - I just don't see it yet in first viewing, unless it's being cynical of the whole business of anime and its stereotypes altogether. Hyouka, for all its goddamned "Watashiwa kininarimasu!" is more substantial than this. Although reviews in reddit would say it's deconstructive, I am still just speechless with the overall execution.
And three episodes more, and I'll be done with it. Heaven help me.
Oh, and PS - a lot of awkward neck angles. A lot of awkwardly bending neck angles. Upon further research this appears to be a trademark of Shaft, particularly that of director Akiyuki Shinbo. It is now known as シャフト角度, Shafuto Kakudo; abbreviated as シャフ度, Shafudo; literally “Shaft Angle.” Good grief.
And to think this anime is about supernatural shit. So apart from the supernatural shenanigans he meddles around with (because he is constitutionally unable to not help people - who all turn out to be females - with their problems regarding aberrations of the spirits of the snake, monkey, crab, cat, as well as being one-tenth vampire himself), I am also treated to boob shots, cleavage shots, panty shots, crotch shots, camel toe shots, and every goddamn eroticizable shot there goddamn is.
Unless it also is a commentary about how mainstream anime is about boys' hormones, which are, when you think carefully about it, some supernatural shit indeed. There has to be a point, however, to this anime, being designed the way that it is - it's apparent that the creators diverged from the usual cinematographic techniques with its heavy stylization - I just don't see it yet in first viewing, unless it's being cynical of the whole business of anime and its stereotypes altogether. Hyouka, for all its goddamned "Watashiwa kininarimasu!" is more substantial than this. Although reviews in reddit would say it's deconstructive, I am still just speechless with the overall execution.
And three episodes more, and I'll be done with it. Heaven help me.
Oh, and PS - a lot of awkward neck angles. A lot of awkwardly bending neck angles. Upon further research this appears to be a trademark of Shaft, particularly that of director Akiyuki Shinbo. It is now known as シャフト角度, Shafuto Kakudo; abbreviated as シャフ度, Shafudo; literally “Shaft Angle.” Good grief.
>And three episodes more
ReplyDeleteYou're in for a ride. There's still 3 more seasons and 3 movies to go. And another one coming. Unless by "done with it" you meant you're dropping it of course.