(L) ef - a tale of memories.

[Skyfall]

Spoiler for episode 1:

Overall i would have to say the first episode is a very mixed bag. Depending on one's tastes, this can be either quite enjoyable or ... well, not so much enjoyable I am still debating where i stand on this.

The animation is of varying quality. Some scenes look very nice, some look rather poor though. Overall it seems Shaft is having problems whenever motion is concerned here - character movements seem almost doll-like stiff and unnatural at times. In fact, the only scene with motion i thought looked decent was Miyako's 'dance' on the beach. Other than that i would say it was rather questionable.

I don't like the 'artistic' approach shaft is taking with it either ... these sudden shifts to black and white or otherwise 'artistically experimental' devices seem very intrusive to me.

Story wise it is good and has potential (Though they seem to be rocketing through the plot and skipping over a lot of things ... the church scene was shortened to the point of being pointless), but the execution here is not something to write home about. It seems to have a rather distinct lack of atmosphere ... at least it didn't exactly do a good job setting the mood for me. Overall it seems to have a bit of an 'artificial' feel to it. (whatever that means).

I can give the episode a 7, but that is not what i wanted to give it ... the show definitely has some issues, what remains to be seen is how shaft handles things from here. In my books, the first episode was definitely on the disappointment side. It could have been more than what it was.

[Wavedash]

I had no expectations going in, having no experience with this property before. And what did I get?

Beautiful Tenmon music as always. Which clashed horribly with the spastic cuts, color splashes, and sudden change that are Shaft's mark. I fail utterly to see where they are going with this storyline with this first episode...which is not a good thing. It should at least give a taster, a feel for what is to come.

I may watch more, but this is one time where I think Shaft should have reined themselves in and just produced some white-bread animation.

[relentlessflame]

For my part, I thought the first episode was very interesting and different, and I liked it. Then again, I'm a big fan of Shaft's trademark style. It does seem the approach is a bit different from the game, but I think I need to see more episodes to know where they're going with it. The Shaft/minori artistic fusion worked for me, but I can definitely see how it'd be an acquired taste.

It's difficult to judge the whole series on this first episode, but I'll definitely keep watching. And some motion issues aside (though I didn't see as many as Skyfall), the animation and art sure is pretty, and the music is great. If they continue to build from here, I'll be happy.

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by Wavedash

I fail utterly to see where they are going with this storyline with this first episode...

You and me both
But in my case this feels like heading into the unknown - and what an exciting feeling it is (kinda a deja vu feeling from what i recieved watching touka gettan - and that turned out to be ana amazing series )

[Kaoru Chujo]

I like. The music and the pseudo-Shinkai settings were great. And I personally love the artsy treatment. I find that it deepens the feelings rather than causing confusion, although I can certainly see how someone might feel differently.

I was afraid from the preview that the game voices wouldn't work in the anime, but they do so far, for me.

I like the mysterious and romantic mood. Especially the romantic feeling of the seashore snowfall scene, and the railway platform scenes. The music by Tenmon is extremely important to the feel of the show. I'm with Deathkillz in my reaction to the mysteriousness of the episode: it feels like the beginning of an interesting journey. We can hope.

The trend to covert references continues:
-- Mail subject: "Zetsubou shita"
-- Pocky brand: "Shaft."
-- Konata in the game being played at 07:56?

[Skyfall]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

For my part, I thought the first episode was very interesting and different, and I liked it. Then again, I'm a big fan of Shaft's trademark style. It does seem the approach is a bit different from the game, but I think I need to see more episodes to know where they're going with it. The Shaft/minori artistic fusion worked for me, but I can definitely see how it'd be an acquired taste.

It's difficult to judge the whole series on this first episode, but I'll definitely keep watching. And some motion issues aside (though I didn't see as many as Skyfall), the animation and art sure is pretty, and the music is great. If they continue to build from here, I'll be happy.

^ as far as motion problems go... from the top of my head i can name 3 scenes -

Spoiler for episode 1:

1) Hiro walking in to the church ... now this was pretty bad, as he seemed almost gliding forward ^^ Not exactly, but it seemed quite wrong.

2) Chihiro walking towards on the train station - she looked almost like a doll. Unnaturally stiff i would say.

3) by the end, Hiro walking together with Miyako. His movements seem somewhat abrupt and sharp.

Overall it is nothing to cry over, but i would say the movements look somewhat unrefined My biggest issue is going to be the 'artistic' moments - i can already tell they are not gong to grow on me anytime soon, meaning they will keep to be 'intrusive' for me, thus leaving a not exactly positive impact on my overall viewing experience

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Skyfall

^ as far as motion problems go... from the top of my head i can name 3 scenes -

Spoiler for episode 1:

1) Hiro walking in to the church ... now this was pretty bad, as he seemed almost gliding forward ^^ Not exactly, but it seemed quite wrong.

2) Chihiro walking towards on the train station - she looked almost like a doll. Unnaturally stiff i would say.

3) by the end, Hiro walking together with Miyako. His movements seem somewhat abrupt and sharp.

Overall it is nothing to cry over, but i would say the movements look somewhat unrefined

Oh, you know what I think part of this is? CG/animation blending. All of those scenes have background scrolling at rates that are slightly off from the animation which causes the animation to stick out more. Though I don't necessarily disagree either that the motions themselves aren't too wonderful either in those scenes. All in all, though, yeah - we'll see if it becomes a regular problem, or is just something about the sub-contracting for this episode.

We'll also see what happens as far as that artistic thing goes. I could see them cutting back on it a bit and/or refining it a bit as we get deeper into the story. It would really interfere if it too much farther than it did here, but I didn't mind most of it, personally. Like I said, though, I was already a fan of the style to begin with, so maybe that's just my bias speaking.

Edit: Oh yeah, in terms of the episode in general, I also wanted to say -- about the story...

Spoiler:

I thought it was interesting how they inter-meshed the 3 stories. Because of the way they solicited the 3 different character-driven ED CDs, I figured they were going to do the story in 3 parts, but it's clear from the first episode that they're going to mesh them all into one "tale". Seems interesting.

[Dagger]

I didn't mind the storytelling approach to ep. 1. Thought it was pretty cool, actually. What I did mind was Mizuki. They made her look all wrong. That hair... ugh! (ETA: And by Miyako, I meant Mizuki. Whoops.)

[monir]

Something about Shaft that always pulls me in the series they have done so far, and this show is no exception. I'm not sold yet on the series although I do want to know more about the story. The animation... well, I'll say that the worst has yet to come and there is no Shinbou this time around to distract us when the animation becomes dire. When the CG used to detail the background stands out from the animated movements, it tells me the show is already stretching the budget. There is also those short-cut tricks employed to avoid further animated movements, i.e. the camera moves away from the characters when they are exchanging dialogues and focuses from a distance so there won't be any need for lip movements. There were a few shots here and there that I liked a lot nonetheless.

I also would like to admit my utter disliking for Takagi Motoki's voice (Aso). He is pretty much the voice that orchestrates those pansy-ass, wishy-washy male characters such as Raki from Claymore, or Nozomou from Futakoi.

[changeup]

Can't agree more with you on the issue of Takagi Motoki, monir. I also dislike his voicing of Jona Macka in "Toward the Terra". If these characters are voiced by a female CV, I might still bear it, but a male CV with that voice? Utterly sick.

[Ichigo91]

[Skyfall]

Now that it has been subbed and i can have a better grasp on what was going on ... have to wonder whats the matter with Chihiro. Overall the way she acted (not going to school / "I shouldn't be moved by things like these) smells dangerously like a terminal disease of some sorts. Wouldn't be surprised to find out thats the case.

Then again she said something like "he would even be friends with someone like me?" ... considering Aso shouldn't know about the illness (assuming there is one to begin with), this could be shyness or very low self-esteem due to the eyepatch. (Missing eye?) Don't know if that would explain her not going to school though ... unless she would be so shy of the patch to even avoid school (or people in general) because of it. Not sure what to make of her, apparently existing, amnesia either. Oh well - time will tell

[grey_moon]

Wow so much crammed into epi1. I'm not too sure about the other characters, but I really really want to find out more about Chihiro. Even though it is far too early to say this, but I'm feeling that they could drop everyone else and just focus on Chihiro and I would be happy with it.

[Dagger]

Wow... I thought Chihiro's issue was pretty obvious, heh. The diary, at least, is a huge hint.

[grey_moon]

Originally Posted by Magus IX

Wow... I thought Chihiro's issue was pretty obvious, heh. The diary, at least, is a huge hint.

hee hee if that was aimed at me, then I kinda guessed her problem, but its her story line that has me really excited and how it is going to pan out.

Spoiler for some thoughts on Chihiro's story line:

One day amnesia* has so many possiblilities, so much to over come etc. But the nasty stuff is where the writers imagination can really flow. Just imagine they build up a relationship together, and some arse decides he likes her more and decides to edit her diary! I'm sure that the people she remembers and trusts would be able to put her straight. Also what will happen to her when everyone grows up and she no longer recognises anyone

I like the whole idea of what I think is the Chihiro story line, it maybe as Nagi says is over used and cliche, but I for some reason it has got me really excited.

*I'm guessing she has the type where her memories reset each day.

[Ashlotte]

Well that was most defiantly a Shaft episode in every sense of the word, which can be a good and bad thing.

I always tend to start out loving what they do visually, but somewhere around the mid point the constant assault of style over substance generally wears me out...

Hope this one can keep a decent story while still being visually interesting.

[Racketman]

Is that Perfect Cherry Blossom one of the girls is playing?

[darkchibi07]

Originally Posted by Racketman

Is that Perfect Cherry Blossom one of the girls is playing?

With Akira going against Konota!

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by Kimichi

Well that was most defiantly a Shaft episode in every sense of the word, which can be a good and bad thing. I always tend to start out loving what they do visually, but somewhere around the mid point the constant assault of style over substance generally wears me out....

Good points. I find myself dropping Shinbou shows about halfway through, too. But I don't think of it as being worn out by any assault. I love the look, but I get all I need from a few eps and there is not enough plot/character/relationship to keep me watching to the end. I think they need to up those other aspects rather than tone down the art. Maybe they can do that here.

[Ascaloth]

I.....have completely no idea what was going on. All I know is that it feels like I've been hit with a larger dose of "defamiliarization" than I can handle. >_<

I'm too tired, I guess. Looks like I'll have to sleep on it, and look at it again tomorrow morning. I might be better able to apply Theatre Studies concepts to it then, since it's apparently what SHAFT was going for with their version of a VN adaptation. :S