this is the truth from my heart
Categories: anime, general review
Tagged: seirei no moribito
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Has Gurren Lagann ruined me for other anime? Heavens no! And that’s the truth from my heart.
Wow, the passing of time seems very fleeting when I started thinking about this post. I wanted to make a comment about Haruhi Suzumiya overshadowing other great shows from that season, and I realized that it was about a year ago that I wrote my first post about Kanon. That seems so long ago… but Kanon happened. Then Lucky Star. Now I see Clannad. My gosh, pretty soon another 99 will pass and the Nyunga Ro Chaga will have to hatch again, and I’ll wonder how many times will Kanon be remade and still not give us the Nayuki Ending Experience in that period?
Guardian of the Sacred Spirit (GotSS) had pretty much the opposite approach of what Gurren Lagann, but it didn’t diminish it’s enjoyability. The largest dichotomy is the different style of the overarching protagonist and his/her effect on the series. For Gurren Lagann, it was all about burning emotions and feelings and confidence and most importantly, passion, as evidenced by Kamina. For GotSS, Balsa was the anti-Kamina: calm, cool, systematic, pragmatic. Towards the resolution, Simon and the Gurren Brigade had to call upon their manly instincts and throw reason to the curb. Whereas GotSS had the more scholarly approach to the ending, with even Tanda conducting an experiment on the egg eaters, and, wherever there were emotions, it was supplied by Balsa’s motherly and more holistically family-oriented approach.
(I.e. instead of having Nia summon Gurren Lagann, Balsa, Tanda, and Chagum hibernated for a winter. Very different lead ups to the final beat downs.)
In fact, in any other year, it’ll be a strong contender for best series around. I mean, if an anime can bring L’Arc~en~Ciel back together, that has to count for something, doesn’t it? GotSS had great animation, great voice work, compelling plot, and brisk action. Characters aren’t shabby either. Balsa’s at least an A- with Shaman Torogai and her donkey being pure awesome. As any good fantasy series does, it creates a believable world and wraps the viewer in it.
There are some obvious filler and slow portions in the run (notably when Balsa and Chagum settle down in the waterwheel), but it’s offset by a really fast start and a really tense finish. What is the Emperor’s real intention for Chagum? Can Shuga and Torogai come up with a way to save both the egg and Chagum? Can Balsa fight what cannot be fought? Going into the final eight or so episodes, it could have been the series that dominated all the fanboy chatter… any other Nia-less year. Also, the filler does serve a purpose in the end. One of the filler episodes about the blacksmith comes full circle during the Jiguro story, and the other one about Saya getting married comes full circle during the final beat down.
What I really like about GotSS is that it is supposed to be a kid’s series, but it easily appeals to all ages and manages to toss in a few tidbits about life without sounding overly reaching. For example, at only point Torogai was musing about how she hasn’t seen one of the birds that was supposed to deliver the water spirit in a long time and instantly, like any good democrat, blame the New Yogo Empire’s steelmills for pollution. There’s a lot of moments that also provide some positive life lessons, and they’re woven in stealthily and subtlety into the plot.
Okay, time for some Q&A…
What’s your favorite part of the whole series?
When Chagum asks Tanda why he hasn’t stuck it in Balsa it. So random yet situationally hilarious and appropriate. By the way, have I mentioned that this is based off of a children’s novella? And how come this gets brought up in a children’s series and not a harem anime? Couldn’t the grandmother from Nagasarete ask Ikuto the same thing?
The second best part is the “olden yet new” technology in the series. At the end, the gang start using flamethrowers made out of wood and could shoot flaming arrows. That was great. I was surprised that they didn’t have cell phones and voice mail… oh wait, they did… the shaman communicated with each other by sticking their faces into moving water and left each other messages via fish. That was fantastic as well.
What aspect of this series do you think could use some work?
The animation quality varies from great to passable, and it does feel like it’s a shame that they didn’t do a better job. The sword fights are passable, but the backdrops suffer a bit. It’s an grand story; it deserves some grand scenery.
Okay, sounds good… but what we really want to know is that is there a Darry equivalent?
GotSS even has a low cal version of Darry in Saya. Doesn’t say much, doting, unquestionably reliable, and could headline an AND1 Mixtape DFC Tour.
What are the odds for a sequel?
Hopefully good. Balsa’s and Chagum’s story is the first in the series. The second novel focuses on Balsa returning to her homeland. I guess that’s a spoiler. The key is that there’s seven more novels after those two.
(Then again, Kyoto Animation is sitting on two big money franchises and have done jack with either, preferring to make an anime about nothing and an anime remake of an anime that was only four years old instead.)
Who is the most fascinating character?
For the most part, the characters in GotSS are what they are. Chagum undergoes a big change and matures a lot during the entire experience. Balsa not so much. The Balsa that we first see diving off of the bridge to rescue Chagum isn’t too far off from the final Balsa that we see. I think the character who evolved the most was Shuga, the star diviner. He went through a lot– he started at the top, fell down, and rose to the top again– never wavering from his core beliefs, and, more importantly, had an open mind throughout. He went from a villain-type character to someone who was likable.
(Though the Shaman is pretty hilarious. She’s like the Leeron of the whole thing, if only Leeron had a donkey… maybe he does… maybe he does…)
What are the odds that this series will get licensed?
It has already! The novels are licensed by Scholastic, which would be kinda funny seeing GotSS sandwiched between ads for Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. It’ll be also interesting how they deal with some of the more adult themes of the series. Maybe instead of a spear, Balsa will be carrying around a huge candy cane. The anime is licensed by Geneon, but with the recent turmoil at Geneon, who knows when the DVDs will arrive in America.
Can we have an anime series without a hot springs episode?
Heavens no! Oddly enough, that’s one of the circular plot elements…
13 Responses to “this is the truth from my heart”
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Solid series. Some boring slice of life episodes, but even those were well done. Excellent landscapes and scenery. Balsa is a certified badass.
Thanks for this post. GotSS rocked my world so hard this season; it was such a shame to not see it getting much of the fandom love that it deserves. It reminds me a lot of Twelve Kingdoms – you know, those really fantastic anime series that nobody ever watches. (*sigh*)
Chagum really gets surprisingly cool, culminating with his asking Tanda to get Balsa as a GF by sleeping with her. Hey, it worked for Seth Rogan in Knocked Up.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention loli-Balsa.
the fighting scenes are awesome, totally fluit and plausable (random balsa beam is acceptable only if she wear a maid uniform)
This is the series my wife crowned as potentially being the best anime series ever in overall consideration. I dare not argue with her.
This series sounds right up my street.
[quote post=”1170″]Kyoto Animation is sitting on two big money franchises and have done jack with either, preferring to make an anime about nothing and an anime remake of an anime that was only four years old instead.[/quote]
Given the value of their existing franchises, is there a financial reason for their decision to make Kanon and Lucky Star or is it just to be deliberately contrary?
Haven’t seen this series, but have heard nothing but good about it. Definitely will check out the novels when they land next year as they look to actually be Good Children’s Literature on the level of “Wrinkle in Time” or “Bridge to Terabithia”.
I also wouldn’t worry about Scholastic messing with the grown-up themes. They don’t seem like a publisher that would change content to make it “less offensive”. They didn’t change Harry Potter when they got the US distribution rights, did they?
[quote post=”1170″]Then again, Kyoto Animation is sitting on two big money franchises and have done jack with either, preferring to make an anime about nothing and an anime remake of an anime that was only four years old instead.)[/quote]
that’s assuming kanon did not make as much money as FMP MWC or SHnY2
which is not a given. kyoani’s target is, surprisingly, NOT average american fanboy, who has at most a tenth of the interest in galgame compared with japanese counter part
if compare the revenue from the 3 kyoani franchise: FMP(Fumoffu, TSR), Key(Air Kanon), SHnY, key would most likely win out (but of course it’s at a advantage for most eps, and SHnY only has 1 season so far)
Goddamn, I just saw ep 22; Jiguro is the most badass of all. No wonder Balsa has the skills she has.
[quote comment=””]Goddamn, I just saw ep 22; Jiguro is the most badass of all. No wonder Balsa has the skills she has.[/quote]
[quote comment=”153679″]This series sounds right up my street.
Given the value of their existing franchises, is there a financial reason for their decision to make Kanon[/quote]
Buddy-buddy with key executives?
[quote]
and Lucky Star or is it just to be deliberately contrary?[/quote]
The lulz and a paycheck from Kadokawa?
[quote comment=”153678″]This is the series my wife crowned as potentially being the best anime series ever in overall consideration. I dare not argue with her.[/quote]
Smart move, but I can’t name any anime series best ever if it doesn’t feature meido or Darry. Must have one or the other, preferably both.
[quote comment=”153681″]that’s assuming kanon did not make as much money as FMP MWC or SHnY2
which is not a given. kyoani’s target is, surprisingly, NOT average american fanboy, who has at most a tenth of the interest in galgame compared with japanese counter part[/quote]
Not even close. Haruhi broke all sorts of CD and DVD sales marks for a franchise not named “One Piece,” “Bleach,” “Naruto,” or “DBZ.” FMP and Haruhi are the cash cows. Sorry to break it to you, but FMP are Haruhi are more mainstream and garners a lot more sales due to that. I mean, h-games players are a small market, whether here in the US or in Japan.
[quote comment=”153674″]I’m surprised you didn’t mention loli-Balsa.[/quote]
Not as awesome as Lolilaika. :(
(Though the Shaman is pretty hilarious. She’s like the Leeron of the whole thing, if only Leeron had a donkey… maybe he does… maybe he does…)
That’s scary, Halloween came early this year.
was that a big firefox? @_@;;;;