(L) Shinigami no Ballad

[JanthraX^]

I really liked the animation style of Hantsuki and looking at the promo of SNB, the style looks good too,

the Shinigami, Momo, looks just perfect, very cute (not as cute as the manga covers tho) but with a stern expression that shows the seriuosness of her 'job' , the magical cat, daniel, looks pretty good too,

[Spuffy]

Allthough I did like Hantsuki, it felt compressed compared to the novels which I read prior watching the show. Having one episode cover just one chapter instead of a whole volume was better in that aspect. Then again those novels are very different. One is epic and the other episodic.
The first episode covered the second chapter of the first volume. I really don't have any complaints except for Ai Shimuzu being in the cast. I've never been particulary fond of her, and her nasal mode really annoys me. Akiko Kobayashi did a good job voicing Momo though.
This was and is a given show.

[Kawool]

Personally i prefer Hantsuki artwork...and well even if its not chibi, it obvious main characters are younger in SnB.
But i definetely love the opening song and Daniel is so adorable .. i wont spoil for now.
I've made mp3 rips of the op n end but not sure bout Animesuki's policy bout it so just try to think harder about where to find them

[ash_bh]

Looks like another romantic story with a little bit of drama ..... well I'll check the first episode ... maybe it'll be good .

[setsuka]

Momento already has screenshots of the first episodes now. It looks really nice. I wish I can see it now

[Kaoru Chujo]

I loved episode 1. Especially, especially, especially Saitou Chiwa as Mai. Chiwa has the chops.　I've never heard this character from her before.

They told the story clearly and simply, but with depth. Vastly superior to Jigoku Shoujo, for me. But maybe that's just because I like the attitude better.

The animation was not outstanding, but it was very good, just as that of Hantsuki was. The emotions came across well. Manga almost always has better character design than anime. That's just how it is. I think it has to do with having to enable a large number of people to draw the same thing. It has to be a bit homogenized.

Kobayashi Akiko as Momo was good, too, although more for the interesting quality of her voice than for how she used it. The charmingly dead voice is pretty similar to what we heard from her as Kisa in the under-appreciated Zettai Shounen. I'm a big fan of Shimizu Ai, but not for the role of Daniel, yet. Maybe I just don't like the know-it-all animal sidekick meme.

As for Kouta, he was good, too. But I'm not sure who the seiyuu is. It was supposed to be Kaneda Tomoko, but the end credits named a different Kaneda. I'll try to find out if it's an alias she used for some reason.

EDIT: It's actually Kanada Akiyo 金田晶代. See this post.

One negative comment: I really loathe the subtitle "Momo the girl god of death." Maybe it sounds all right to someone who doesn't really know English, but the feeling is all wrong for this anime. Sounds more like a B horror flick or a send-up.

[Srin Tuar]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I loved episode 1. Especially, especially, especially Saitou Chiwa as Mai. Chiwa has the chops.　I've never heard this character from her before.

I guess she'll only be in this one episode though.



I like the concept, but I have a feeling there wont be much continuity between episodes,
and that since the main character doesnt get to spend much time on screen, we wont get to know her much...


I gave up on Jigokushoujou, but ill give this a try...

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Srin Tuar

I guess she'll only be in this one episode though. I like the concept, but I have a feeling there wont be much continuity between episodes,
and that since the main character doesnt get to spend much time on screen, we wont get to know her much... I gave up on Jigokushoujou, but ill give this a try...

It's all true. I gave up on it, too, despite the pretty pictures and Noto-Kawaii. Here's hoping the main character here has a bit bigger role to play than she did in the first ep. I loved the ending, though, where she was it.

Over on 2channel, opinion is split. Some people like the atmosphere and the moeness, but not the animation. Several people, though, specifically said they preferred this to Hantsuki. Chiwa and Kobayashi Akiko both get their share of praise, especially the latter.

[lavielove]

Spoiler:

Momo seemed to know that "Blue" will be one of the cause to Mai death right from the start.Very different from Jigokushoujou.The last cut, momo was in tears.She's not a cool blooded killer after all. I think the sound from the Daniel's bell could only be heard by Mai and Kota.Mai heard the sound because she was about to death but why kota as well ?

[Srin Tuar]

Originally Posted by lavielove

Spoiler:

Momo seemed to know that "Blue" will be one of the cause to Mai death right from the start.Very different from Jigokushoujou.The last cut, momo was in tears.She's not a cool blooded killer after all. I think the sound from the Daniel's bell could only be heard by Mai and Kota.Mai heard the sound because she was about to death but why kota as well ?

Spoiler:

At first he couldnt hear the bell.

He was only with her out of pity, and hadnt really been forced to reconcile his feelings.

When he actively decided to ignore his friends to be with Mai, kouta make a really significant choice..

When he decided to adopt the cat, he made another.

When he ackknowledged of his own, that he was the cats father, he effectively "married" Mai.

I would say at this point it made sense that he could hear the bell, because he was consciously in love with her.

heh, its pretty strong stuff for a kid his age i think. His bitterness at the cat after Mai died also proves that- he was deeply hurt at losing her, and was about to take it all out of the cat. (something that he'd probably regret for the rest of his life)

[lavielove]

Originally Posted by Srin Tuar

Spoiler:

At first he couldnt hear the bell.

He was only with her out of pity, and hadnt really been forced to reconcile his feelings.

When he actively decided to ignore his friends to be with Mai, kouta make a really significant choice..

When he decided to adopt the cat, he made another.

When he ackknowledged of his own, that he was the cats father, he effectively "married" Mai.

I would say at this point it made sense that he could hear the bell, because he was consciously in love with her.

heh, its pretty strong stuff for a kid his age i think. His bitterness at the cat after Mai died also proves that- he was deeply hurt at losing her, and was about to take it all out of the cat. (something that he'd probably regret for the rest of his life)

Spoiler:

ya, you are right. The first time Mai heard the sound ,Kota did not.Actually he should blame himself rahter than a cat.He had to choose between his friends and Mai and he chose his friend.I was like when I saw Mai holding Kota's hand and said that "we are father and mother" lol . But if I were him, I will do the similar thing to Blue as well. Humans after all.

[Tenson]

another great series

Media Works and wowow are really incredible with their line up this year so far The whole mood of Shinigami is so bitter-sweet but yet somehow playful. As Kaoru Chujo said, this is almost a completely different experience from Jigoku Shoujo. I guess you can almost say that they're on two sides of a coin. Jigoku went with the dark/evil-ish series while Momo is the light/bittersweet approach.

Overall, I really like this series so far and highly recommend it to those who don't like the darker mood of Jigoku

[orion]

Spoiler:

No way I would blame the cat.(a cat owner's bias here!) It's actually both of their faults what happened to Mai. If she had carried an umbrella or had other protective gear, then she wouldn't have gotten sicker. If he had left soccer early and met her with an umbrella, then she would have been okay. Besides, twice a day feedings for a kitten is not enough. Don't they have animal shelters in Japan? How come anime characters decide to take care of cats, but then they don't do it properly?

[GokuJunior]

So... there are 2 fansubs for now... which one do you like the most? Kuroneko or C1Anime release? And there's still The Triad release left at least...
I want to download one, which one do you recommend and why?

[lavielove]

Originally Posted by orion

Spoiler:

No way I would blame the cat.(a cat owner's bias here!) It's actually both of their faults what happened to Mai. If she had carried an umbrella or had other protective gear, then she wouldn't have gotten sicker. If he had left soccer early and met her with an umbrella, then she would have been okay. Besides, twice a day feedings for a kitten is not enough. Don't they have animal shelters in Japan? How come anime characters decide to take care of cats, but then they don't do it properly?

Spoiler:

I think you didn't noticed the weather news on TV,that's a quick shot.No suprised that either Mai or Kouta didn't take the umbrellas.Obviously Kouta would has thought that Mai would be in her home when he left soccer.Mai is quite reckless coz she came went back home in the rain, she can stay in the shrine for a little longer and should be waiting for the rain to stop.She's a kid anyway,so I'll skip on that part.

By the way, Momo hugged Kouta in the end. She did that because she wanted to hugged him or just did it behalf of Mai ?

So... there are 2 fansubs for now... which one do you like the most? Kuroneko or C1Anime release? And there's still The Triad release left at least...
I want to download one, which one do you recommend and why?

Personal favourite will be from Kuroneko coz I like the way Kuroneko translated Hantsuki and also quite fast.Actually the more,better because even though one of the subs take a rest for awhile we are still on track and can catch up.

[NeoSam]

MediaWorks site for Shinigami no Ballad:
http://www.mediaworks.co.jp/contents/momo/index.php

Volume 8 of the seinen novel Shinigami no Ballad will be released on 10/3/2006 (March 10th, 2006), here's the cover of it:



So cute Moeeeeeeee~~~ LOL

The cover will be added with the rest of the covers of the seinen novel in the first post of this thread (when I find a little bigger image >.<)

[techiet]

Oh man, the covers looks so nice <3~
And I'm not sure about which fansub to choose either...
Download c1's version right now, already got KuroNeko's...hmm...

[Lothar]

So the shinigami is eventually defeated, people can finally become immortal, and we colonize the outer planets to deal with the population explosion, right?

Because if this is another anime that crams the "death is bittersweet, it makes life have meaning, you should ultimately want the ability to die, so don't lament death" line down my throat after 5 1/2 years of watching anime, I'll pass.

[Potatochobit]

i cant say i liked episode #1, it wasnt what i was expecting and wasnt welcome either.


what is with all these japanese producers making kid shows with all the tragic death scenes? even starting with episode 1? thats just silly. needs more pokemon on SAT mornings.


or was this show supposed to be aimed at all the pedophile cat girl fanatics out there?

[LordBrian]

How many times did you watch cartoons at 12:30 AM on a school night when you were a kid?