Nodame Cantabile - 01 - First Impression
Posted on January 20th, 2007 by retsgip - 1,361 Views
Beautiful piece
Rating: 9.5/10
The artwork in the first few minutes of this episode almost put me off, and I was thinking “Wtf? Why do people even bother watching this?” Now, I’ve watched the episode three times since yesterday, and I’m still listening to it as I write this entry. My diamond in the ruff award for this season based off the first episode is going to Nodame Cantabile. I heard little to nothing about it before the season, but its finally starting to get around.
For those who really enjoy music, or were hoping to gain some musical stimulation this season, this might just be your answer. After attempting to watch the complete and utter failure that is/was La Corda d’Oro, watching this was like being slapped in the face and awoken from a dream. It’s like comparing Mc Donald’s (La Corda) to Outback Steakhouse (Nodame), it just doesn’t even come close in terms of quality and service.
Worst line to hear waking up hung over in a weird female’s room, EVER.
Premise
Chiaki, a talented pianist and violinist(apparently), is starting to question his ability to improve and grow as a musician. Due to his phobia of airplanes and boats, he’s unable to leave Japan and feels he’ll be stuck being a nobody forever. After a few choice words at his prestigious music teacher, he gets reassigned to a new teacher who deals with delinquents.
While visiting his new teacher, he meets a girl named Nodame. Chiaki sees enormous potential in her piano skills, but she’s such a free spirit that she cares about nothing, except boning Chiaki. Now that they have the same teacher, they are paired with one another and made to work together, two opposites complementing each other and growing as musicians and as people (and possibly a couple?).
Pugya! Her room was loltastically messy.
Why should you watch this anime?
I came up with a few good reasons as to why this anime is so enjoyable: romance, comedy, growth, and music. I don’t have any previous knowledge of this story, but from what I can tell, the main focus of this story will be the romance between Chiaki and Nodame. They are essentially two completely opposite personalities, somehow drawn together by fate, which create a perfectly hilarious couple. However you felt about the relationship in Full Metal Panic will most likely be the same for this anime. In fact, the male is even voiced by Sousuke.
The comedy is fucking golden. It’s a little more slapstick than I tend to like, which almost enters the School Rumble type level of comedy every now and then. Most of the comedy is focused around Chiaki and Nodame’s relationship, and the extreme differences in their nature. I may not related to Chiaki or his actions, yet I still can’t help but laugh when her free spirit runs his patients dry. Hilarity ensues.
I can already foresee LOTS of growth in the near future. Already in the first episode, Chiaki has come off his high horse and allowed himself to mingle with those he thinks are not worthy of him. At some point, we’ll finally see him remove that 20 foot stick that’s up his ass, and he may just become a good guy. Nodame, on the other hand, needs to learn how to control herself and her actions. With the help of each other, I’m guessing that Chiaki and Nodame are going to go through a major rite of passage. I can’t wait.
As for the music, if you like classical, you may just fall in love with this anime. The first episode features a piece by Mozart, which Chiaki and Nodame play together, and it sounds wonderful. There’s also a couple pieces mixed within the episode as well, and it seriously killed me. I was riding high on my blissful cloud filled with Beethoven and Mozart.
-Retsgip
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This is the best show of the season. DO NOT FORGET.
Hmm, I should start watching it as well then
>>This is the best show of the season. DO NOT FORGET.
Seconded. I loved the first episode. The way that Nodame played Pathetique movt. 2 was pleasantly different from most that I’ve heard, which totally fit the way Chiaki describes her playing style throughout the episode.
Reminds me of Honey of Clover, which I shed valuable man tears over. It was that good. Hope Nodame Cantabile will deliver the same, if not higher levels of performance.
@michael: BEST SHOW THIS SEASON!
@neko: Yes, you really should.
@Jroxas: Ooooh, you have music knowledge. Will you be writing about this anime at all? I’m quite interested in the music but I have an extremely limited knowledge of it.
@TripleA: I’m thinking this should deliver some quality drama and decent amount of tears. Although, i think the majority of this season will be on growth more than drama.
Did you even watch past 3 episodes of La Corda?
La Corda shines on it’s character development and character interaction more so than music. It may have a music-based setting, but it’s still a reverse harem series. A good one if I might say so myself. INFINITELY better than Harukanaru and Angelique.
Oh, I love music~! I’m not as versed in piano as I am in another instruments, but it’ll still be enjoyable, ne? ^^
Feeling a little tired at the moment, so I’ll be brief.
Farking funny.
Cheers.
@Nighty: forgive me about the bashing. I realize that it picked up later, but I couldn’t bounce back after its start. To each his/her own.
@whispy: Yup! Much enjoyableness! I don’t play any piano at all and I love it.
@skane: Well said.
awwwww now with everyone saying how good it is i’m gonna have to watch it too……and is this a shoujo?
yeah, something like that danny. Comedy, slice of life, shoujo, romance…and some music.
I’m expecting to shed man tears with this series. I just can FEEL it. Best shows of a season do that … man tears is a rare commodity I spend on deserving shows.
I’m not sure if BEST of season, but very H+C (Nodame=Morita). The live-action didn’t hold great amounts of romance, I’m tending to think this may, but very peculiar still about the romance level.
*on the lookout*
^^