silan
10-22-2006, 12:08 PM
If you've already read this in Scoot's Chobits thread, then there're no changes. I'm simply moving it out here for more of a response. And so I can make my very first thread (and probably last) here in the Library board. Mwa ha.
Sarcastic Student Review: The Violinist of Hameln.
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1764/hameln1ec8.jpg
Summary:
Hamel is the skilled master of the most rare instrument of all: an ultra-uber-oversized violin. For the sake of viewers, he forsakes life as a concert violinist and takes to the road with his faithful companies for an unforgettable feel-good anime about travelling to lots of places.
Review:
If you thought that the animation on Chobits was cost-saving, then you haven't seen anything yet. The animators of Hameln have done everything they can to get you the most cost-efficient, price-reduced animation that can be found on the market today. In fact, they've taken it to the next level by removing all that unwanted motion and replacing it with a slideshow of colorful images. With this, finally the average viewer can have the time to appreciate the detail and skill that goes into each frame of Hameln. Savor the pleasure of fuzzy storybook images, and pay particular attention to the beauty of the speed lines, which have been revived out of animation purgatory to illustrate the motion of each character of Hameln without anything as unsightly as real action!
Even when there is movement, however, the animators are still looking out for us. By showing those same moving sequences over and over again throughout the course of the series, we are able to catch any details we missed the first time through. And what details they are!
I personally appreciated the chance to gaze lovingly at the character designs, which are some of the more sensible ones I've seen. In what other series does a hero wear kneepads, showing to impressionable kids the importance of proper safety and self-protection?! Also, Hamel's hat itself is one of the true heroes of this series, since it represents how practicality and fashion can be combined into one perfect hatwear design. With a brim that wide, he'll never need an umbrella again. And don't even get me started on Flute. Her design singlehandedly manages to make bowler hats cool again and sexy for both genders; her pom-pom hairstyle teaches poor girls who've battled with uncontrollable frizz the best way to contain huge masses of fluffy hair.
But let's set aside the excellent choices made by the animation staff and take a look at the plot itself. Again, we're lucky. The creators of this series could have spent the effort to develop a plot that easily flowed from plot point to plot point, following Hamel and his compadres to each destination that they visited. Thankfully, they decide instead to eliminate all unimportant plots entirely, saving the audience that much more time. An entire middle section is dropped from sight, taking Hamel and his crew from one location to another in the blink of an eye without explanation... but really, who needs the explanation? I was glad to see that the creators didn't bother to worry about continuity, since the audience is much too smart to be confused by such a sudden shift in location and situation.
Beyond that, the creators also could have followed more closely along with the manga and incorporated the light comedy found in those tomes of graphics and words. Thankfully, they don't. Instead, they suck every last drop of unnecessary humor out of the series, leaving us instead with the bliss of pure despair, perfect for a mood-booster before jumping in front of that train. This series was designed to make you feel better about your life before driving you to end it, so enjoy, and send a grateful last thought the creators' way.
Overall, The Violinist of Hameln is, plain and simple, at the pinnacle of animation and storytelling. All anime being released now can only futilely strive to achieve the beauty of its still shots and the smooth perfection of its bare-bones plotline.
Sarcastic Student Review: The Violinist of Hameln.
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1764/hameln1ec8.jpg
Summary:
Hamel is the skilled master of the most rare instrument of all: an ultra-uber-oversized violin. For the sake of viewers, he forsakes life as a concert violinist and takes to the road with his faithful companies for an unforgettable feel-good anime about travelling to lots of places.
Review:
If you thought that the animation on Chobits was cost-saving, then you haven't seen anything yet. The animators of Hameln have done everything they can to get you the most cost-efficient, price-reduced animation that can be found on the market today. In fact, they've taken it to the next level by removing all that unwanted motion and replacing it with a slideshow of colorful images. With this, finally the average viewer can have the time to appreciate the detail and skill that goes into each frame of Hameln. Savor the pleasure of fuzzy storybook images, and pay particular attention to the beauty of the speed lines, which have been revived out of animation purgatory to illustrate the motion of each character of Hameln without anything as unsightly as real action!
Even when there is movement, however, the animators are still looking out for us. By showing those same moving sequences over and over again throughout the course of the series, we are able to catch any details we missed the first time through. And what details they are!
I personally appreciated the chance to gaze lovingly at the character designs, which are some of the more sensible ones I've seen. In what other series does a hero wear kneepads, showing to impressionable kids the importance of proper safety and self-protection?! Also, Hamel's hat itself is one of the true heroes of this series, since it represents how practicality and fashion can be combined into one perfect hatwear design. With a brim that wide, he'll never need an umbrella again. And don't even get me started on Flute. Her design singlehandedly manages to make bowler hats cool again and sexy for both genders; her pom-pom hairstyle teaches poor girls who've battled with uncontrollable frizz the best way to contain huge masses of fluffy hair.
But let's set aside the excellent choices made by the animation staff and take a look at the plot itself. Again, we're lucky. The creators of this series could have spent the effort to develop a plot that easily flowed from plot point to plot point, following Hamel and his compadres to each destination that they visited. Thankfully, they decide instead to eliminate all unimportant plots entirely, saving the audience that much more time. An entire middle section is dropped from sight, taking Hamel and his crew from one location to another in the blink of an eye without explanation... but really, who needs the explanation? I was glad to see that the creators didn't bother to worry about continuity, since the audience is much too smart to be confused by such a sudden shift in location and situation.
Beyond that, the creators also could have followed more closely along with the manga and incorporated the light comedy found in those tomes of graphics and words. Thankfully, they don't. Instead, they suck every last drop of unnecessary humor out of the series, leaving us instead with the bliss of pure despair, perfect for a mood-booster before jumping in front of that train. This series was designed to make you feel better about your life before driving you to end it, so enjoy, and send a grateful last thought the creators' way.
Overall, The Violinist of Hameln is, plain and simple, at the pinnacle of animation and storytelling. All anime being released now can only futilely strive to achieve the beauty of its still shots and the smooth perfection of its bare-bones plotline.