Nodame Cantabile

-Details-
Genre: Slice of Life, Drama
Company: J.C.Staff/GENCO/Nodame Cantabile Production Team
Format: TV Series
Dates: 12 Jan 2007 – 29 Jun 2007
10 Oct 2008 – 19 Dec 2008
14 Jan 2010 – 25 Mar 2010

OK, before I type a word read this carefully, this is a single review for the first series, Paris and Finale, as for all intensive purposes they are all parts of one large show. To review each separately would be redundant and silly, although it would make us look like we have more reviews, lol, but they would be pretty much copy and paste except for story, so...onward with one cohesive review.

-Visuals- 9.5/10
This is actually going to be really hard for me to grade. On the one hand that visualizations are at time minimalistic, at times over the top typical anime comedic fodder, at time wonderfully designed CG and at times precise and yet vague and imprecise. However, having said all of that NONE of that is what makes this hard to judge. What makes it hard to gauge is the simple fact that these individuals are some of the best voiced and most personable individuals to ever be portrayed in an anime. I simply found myself reacting to the characters as if they were live actors. They are so good I would seldom remember I was even watching anime. So...take that as you will, I shall take it as a wonderful viewing experience.


-Sound- 10/10
Yes, yes, yes I know SB, I am the one who said we needed to stop attempting to critique sound, so shut up. I HAVE to talk a bit about the sound here as the anime is set at a musical conservatory and orchestras and musical performances are at the very heart of this story. Expect to hear Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven and even Gershwin just to name a few and expect the music to take you on an unreal journey into the various characters lives. Music enhances our life and nowhere is that more evident than in this anime.

-Characters- 9.8/10
This is an interesting group of characters. Of course you have the requisite conglomerate of off the wall Japanese individuals but in my opinion what makes the characters so very unique is not their weirdness per se, instead it's more of a "yeah, I knew some guys/girls like that in school". While they all have their quirks it's not so "out there" that they come across as unbelievable. Not only are the supporting cast remarkable but Nodame and Chiaki, the two main characters are absolutely wonderful and absolutely remarkable. Chiaki is the child prodigy who can do anything he wants musically except exactly what he does want to do, which is to be a famous conductor (although...spoiler alert, he does get there, lol) and Nodame is the free spirit pianist who actually wants to be a kindergarten teacher and plays from the heart, not necessarily from the sheet music, but oh boy can she play! To make matters more fun she falls in love with him, he falls in love with her playing, and eventually her, and it is the perfect match of opposites being attracted to each other. Their growth together, and individually is one of the best depictions of it's type i have ever seen in any anime bar none.


-Story- 9.8/10
I pretty much summed up the story above, but I will add that this musical journey of exploration, friendship, love, passion, and hope is simply wonderfully told. It's comedic when need be, serious when need be, sweet when need be and set to music which will evoke all of the appropriate emotions throughout the entire series. This is a long series, and to be honest I wish it had never ended.

-Overall- 9.7/10
Not the best, but pretty freaking close... Actually, this may be the best.... I always say the sign of a good anime is when I feel that the ending has made it complete...seriously I wish there was more and more and more and more of this wonderful show!