The Anime Review #5

Ghost Hound Eps. 2 - 4

The show took its time in laying out the main cast and their various connections, but by episode four we get a semblance of direction. Visiting the ubiquitous hospital where Tarou has eerie memories of his sister (who varies from conversational and alive to corpsetastic and fly-ridden), the trio of boys all have out-of-body experiences and turn into gimpy alien things (or spectral projections, if you will). Judging by Miyako's nebulous comment on the Unseen World the hospital might be some kind of entrance into an O.B.E style alternative reality, which suggests a basis for the forthcoming events of the series. Episode four actually had a surprising sense of humour considering the FUCK MY HEAD experiences of prior episodes. The weird bits of flesh around the arse and ears of the gimpy spectral versions of the boys were surprisingly whimsical (the overall design being oddly silly for GH). Masayuki's vanity when commanded to have his haircut during the Shinto cleansing ritual was an uncharacteristically jovial way to end episode four, too. Perhaps now we've got the M.O. of Ghost Hound in our sights, with the whole 'traumatic childhood memory' fixation being resolved/exhausted, we might get something less inclined to rape our minds. Or at least, be gentler about it.

Dennou Coil Eps. 1 - 6

It took the avid recommendations of Batezsi and Karura, but I'm officially on the Dennou Coil bandwagon and officially loving the crap out of it. There's been enough analysis in the blogging sphere to explain its charms, but I will add it's the first anime since Honey & Clover that I wouldn't hesitate to show to non-otaku. Given enough support and hype it could easily etch out respectable love from the British viewing public. And I mean the Viewing Public, not just anime fans. Sometimes I whither at the degree of prestige Ghost in the Shell mines from its first film; not because it was undeserved and misused by the franchise (GitS: SAC & 2nd speak for themselves) but because it seemingly made any sci-fi anime that isn't GitS a hard sell in this country. But then calling DC sci-fi does it a disservice somehow. The sci-fi elements are exciting and fun, a resilient gimmick, but it's the fundamentals like the characters that truly make it great (like all things). And Densuke, obviously.

Comments

[Martin]

Your taste so mirrors my own, it scares me sometimes. I'm sure there's something my parents haven't told me...anyway, it's good to see you're enjoying Dennou Coil. I can see it being a hit with youngsters in the UK too - get it on TV on a Sunday evening and we'll have a whole new anime fanbase who didn't get into the genre via the usual routes of Ghibli or Akira/GitS. The story doesn't drop off in quality later on either - there are one or two 'stand-alone' episodes halfway through but there's a constant atmosphere of playfulness and mystery...one of the best shows of the year I reckon.

I'll be watching some more Ghost Hound later this week too...it's another rare case of the content living up to the rabid hype that surrounds it, even if it feels like my brain is being thrashed around almost as much as it was after my rewatch of Lain. Good stuff all round though.

[0rion]

Ahhh yes, good ol' Dennou Coil. I agree that I would be more than happy to show this to a non anime fan without any compunctions. Doesn't hurt that it shares some similarities with the Miyazaki's visual style, so it will feel accessible to people who have watched any of those films.

Haven't had time to keep up with Ghost Hound, but it's definitely on my watch list, and I've enjoyed immensely what I've watched thus far.

Also Martin lol @ your comment. :P

[Hige]

Martin:
I'm not sure if my dad was ever a milkman, but who knows. It might just be a case of awesome taste :x Nicely articulated about DC and kids TV - I could imagine it being the Ghibli of television here. It seems so far removed from what's 'traditional' in anime, but with everything that makes the medium stand-out. I hope we get a DVD release at the very least. And Ghost Hound is one of those quietly-confident kinds of show. It doesn't rely on flash or gimmickry to prove its worth; it just moves at the intended pace and has this smouldering compulsiveness about it. Definitely getting on with it better than Lain.

0rion:
Mm, it shares the same gift at capturing the spirit of childhood, the drama and excitement of it, as Miyazaki, too. And not the skewed adult nostalgic version of childhood that always feels wrong, either. Plus DC has loads of cool technological shit, too. It's hard to fault it! And catch up with Ghost Hound; the fourth episode gives a lot of perspective on forthcoming (I assume) events. Makes things much more enjoyable.

[Karura]

Welcome to the DC bandwagon; I'm actually thinking of starting a new religion of Dennou Coil worship ;p

I feel guilty for not starting Ghost Hound yet, but there's just so much anime to watch already that I can't get into gear with regards to picking it up.

[Hige]

Karura:
I would happily give 30% of my earnings to such a cult. Granted I'm a student, and it would be 30% of ARGHFUCKDEBT, but my heart would be in the right place. and no worries with Ghost Hound - I can imagine it being a serene marathon/bulk watch. Definitely worth a shifty, either way.

[yann]

Just 'cause you didn't like it (didn't get it?) doesn't mean that it was "misused by the franchise" or whatever... It seems you tend to confuse your opinion with facts once in a while... too bad.

GITS 2 might not be perfect but it's still an amazing movie.

[Hige]

yann:
Huh? Did you read what I wrote? I didn't say it was misused (the opposite, in fact) and rarely do I ever unintentionally mistake opinion for fact.