Chihayafuru
Sep. 8th, 2012 05:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pacificpikachuI totally loved Chihayafuru, so I wanted to write a bit about it!
I feel like this series took practically no time for me to get into it. I didn't know much at all about karuta going into it, but I feel like I have a decent understanding of it now.
I think where Chihayafuru excels is, simply, its characters. I feel like all of the characters are engaging, interesting, have their own stories and motivations, and their personalities and stories are all reflected in how they play and appreciate karuta. I was amazed at how quickly I became attached to the characters, and when a new character was introduced, it took me practically no time at all to start liking them, too. Even minor characters!
I found myself emotionally engaged from the very beginning. Every episode gave me all these feelings! I can name so many moments that I was moved by. The episodes went by so fast! I felt like the pacing was well-done, too--it never dragged or failed to keep my attention. It's amazing to me how multi-faceted karuta is. Just when you think you've considered most of the strategies and ways of thinking about it, a new character is introduced who offers a different perspective or way of playing.
The main romance plot thread is subtle, but oh-so-interesting to me. I can't think of a series with a love triangle where one of the characters is sort of...not there, but it makes the dynamics fascinating. I'm definitely involved in the shipping, ha. Taichi really grew on me as the series progressed, but I love Arata's character as well. I'm only rooting for one of them in the love triangle (Taichi), but that doesn't make me appreciate Arata's character and effect on Chihaya any less at all.
I can't even pick a favorite character, because ultimately I like everyone in the series. Every time I try to pick a favorite, I end up wanting to name all the main characters.
The only criticism (sort of, like a half-criticism) with this series is it seems like all the characters cry at the drop of a hat! Haha.
I'd recommend this series to nearly anyone. It's fantastic and well-done and just wonderful. I had a hard time stopping watching it, and I was excited for every episode. It was sad to reach the end, because I didn't want it to end.
I'll be eagerly awaiting the next season, but in the meantime, I'm downloading the manga because I think I'm too impatient to wait. The only problem is, it seems only volumes 1-7 (the anime ends at 8), and 17+ are scanlated. So sad! I hope the remaining volumes are translated soon, or that translations of the rest are floating around somewhere in internet land. ;____;
I'll be sharing this series with as many friends as I can get to watch it!
I feel like this series took practically no time for me to get into it. I didn't know much at all about karuta going into it, but I feel like I have a decent understanding of it now.
I think where Chihayafuru excels is, simply, its characters. I feel like all of the characters are engaging, interesting, have their own stories and motivations, and their personalities and stories are all reflected in how they play and appreciate karuta. I was amazed at how quickly I became attached to the characters, and when a new character was introduced, it took me practically no time at all to start liking them, too. Even minor characters!
I found myself emotionally engaged from the very beginning. Every episode gave me all these feelings! I can name so many moments that I was moved by. The episodes went by so fast! I felt like the pacing was well-done, too--it never dragged or failed to keep my attention. It's amazing to me how multi-faceted karuta is. Just when you think you've considered most of the strategies and ways of thinking about it, a new character is introduced who offers a different perspective or way of playing.
The main romance plot thread is subtle, but oh-so-interesting to me. I can't think of a series with a love triangle where one of the characters is sort of...not there, but it makes the dynamics fascinating. I'm definitely involved in the shipping, ha. Taichi really grew on me as the series progressed, but I love Arata's character as well. I'm only rooting for one of them in the love triangle (Taichi), but that doesn't make me appreciate Arata's character and effect on Chihaya any less at all.
I can't even pick a favorite character, because ultimately I like everyone in the series. Every time I try to pick a favorite, I end up wanting to name all the main characters.
The only criticism (sort of, like a half-criticism) with this series is it seems like all the characters cry at the drop of a hat! Haha.
I'd recommend this series to nearly anyone. It's fantastic and well-done and just wonderful. I had a hard time stopping watching it, and I was excited for every episode. It was sad to reach the end, because I didn't want it to end.
I'll be eagerly awaiting the next season, but in the meantime, I'm downloading the manga because I think I'm too impatient to wait. The only problem is, it seems only volumes 1-7 (the anime ends at 8), and 17+ are scanlated. So sad! I hope the remaining volumes are translated soon, or that translations of the rest are floating around somewhere in internet land. ;____;
I'll be sharing this series with as many friends as I can get to watch it!
