Spring 2011 Anime Opinions – Dog Days, Dororon Enma-kun, Hanasaku Iroha

Dog Days

Dog Days isn’t really all that good. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it Dog Shit like the giggling schoolboys on IRC like to call it, but it’s definitely not anime of the year. The gist is that a go-get’um boy from the real world gets transferred into a fantasy land where everyone has cat/dog ears and tails. These animal-people are in a “war” with one another whereby no one dies and the worst that happens is they get temporarily transformed into kawaii versions of their animal personas.

As explained in the show, the only thing on the line is morale. Big whoop. The characters look vaquely reminiscent of those in Utawarerumono, but with a focus on a younger audience, there’s a much less sexual flavor in the show (yes, I can taste sexuality). I’m sure we’ll see the power of spirit at work here and friendships will be formed and blah-blah-blah. You’ve seen this before. But it’s a light-hearted fantasy land. There’s a reason these shows are so prevalent and if that appeals to you, then go for it. Just have low expectations for anything resembling innovation.

 

Dororon Enma-kun

Dororon Enma-kun is all right if what you’re looking for is a light-hearted comedy with an irreverent tone.

It’s a show centered around demons and Japanese mythology, with the main characters being two demons and a human girl. “You so whacky!” is the theme of the show, and that’s what you’re gonna get with this. Not my cup of tea, but I’m known for having shit taste. I’d like to write more, but the show is what it is. ~_~

 

Hanasaku Iroha

Hanasaku Iroha is a personal favorite of mine this season. I wrote a lengthy summary-review for it here (note I wasn’t exactly being 100% serious). The animation is high quality and they’re covering a relatively serious plot with a layer of sweetness. As someone on here/IRC said, I bet no one expected the show to be this good. I mean, come on. A show about a girl who works in an inn? Who gives a fuck?

But let’s be straight here. The plot isn’t all that amazing and the characters have been done before. Seen Fruits Basket? Remember the guy who led the clan? Yeah, that’s the grandma’s character in the show. The “rival” girl here is going to become the main character’s friend and is going to realize that having a friend isn’t so bad after all. We can all see the show play out in our heads after having seen the first episode.

But the show isn’t all about being unique (even if it stands out in the sea of clones we’re getting this season). It’s about providing interesting relationship dynamics along with a mature tone and character types that seem to be underutilized these days. If you’re just looking for something mindless and fun to watch, you may want to stay away, but it would be a shame if you didn’t even give the first episode a shot.