The conclusion that little witch Chocolat from 'Sugar Sugar Rune' made after living in the human world for some time was: it seems that human boys tend to tease girls they like. Well, it's ok if they really just tease. It also can be understood when a little boy kinda hates a girl and throws balls at her without mercy. But what if a story about the Heroine and the Hero starts from true, sheer hatred?
story and characters
What a usual shoujo looks like is 'they are obviously attracted to each other but cannot confess but that's SOOO CUUUUUTE'. What RDG starts with is a girl and a boy who openly dislike each other without that usual catchy 'she's just not being honest with herself'. Not that there's no room for such feelings, but they appear much later and not just because 'he's so cool' or 'she's so tsundere'. In case of RDG we have not the typical shoujo heroine who climbs up trees like Candy from Candy-Candy, travels the world seeking for adventures like Nadja from 'Ashita no Nadja', or bravely fights monsters like Hikaru from 'Rayearth', but a shy, meek, calm girl. However, she's also not the 'Diabolik lovers' damsel-in-distress MANUKE (coward, doesn't have any nerve) type who lets others do whatever they want with her. If by any chance you're interested in my opinion, the usual shoujo heroine is an IEE, or ENFp in the MBTI, while Izumiko is her 'mirror', EII or INFj. Unlike the widespread tsundere type (ENFp or ENTp or INTp), she's honest with her feelings:
In general she's completely ok when it comes to discussing feelings and relationships and does not hesitate to make a face like this when asked whether she'd agree to be hit on:
She also has strong will. It reminds me how one socionics developer said about Melanie in 'Gone with the wind'. Such heroines are frequently weak or at least not very strong physically and know nothing about demonstrating strength to the extent they aren't able to protect themselves (extroverted sensing is the sore point)
but never hesitate when they have to show their inner strength, even if they have to say something harsh.
They don't have a problem facing a morally difficult situation or when they have to make a decision that requires using not logic (T) but ethic (F).
Izumiko also reacts very calmly when facing situations where other people would not know what to reply.
And in the end she allows herself to show her true feelings which she was so much afraid of doing.
I'm not saying I'm an expert, but our Hero, Miyuki, does look like her dual type. Here's what we have - a guy who values physical and mental strength and does not hesitate to train himself, very harsh in the beginning but eventually giving way to the Heroine's kindness seeing how she never gets angry or arrogant with him no matter what he does or says (thinking, sensing). Unlike her, he knows what to do and how to do it, and wants everything done properly - I'll enter a university and become a good member of the society, he says (plus judging). Even though in the last episode he proves to be actually loyal and refuses to take actions that may hurt people dear to him, that only proves he's bad with human relations and feelings - it took him 12 episodes to get used to having a person to care for and acknowledge his feelings. In other words, he needed a proof of feelings from someone else (NF) so that he could show his loyalty with actions (ST).
By the fact he takes the initiative and responsibility eagerly I assume he's an extrovert, and thus I have the conclusion that I wanted to reach. And it was just all very smooth how he almost hated her in the beginning but then voluntarily took her under his care.
If you're wondering whether I'm really into that guy, Yukimasa, the father of the Hero, then I'll tell you - of course I'm not serious. I'm just collecting hot guys to... to look at. Under no circumstances would I ever acknowledge violence as a method of upbringing. However, this is the reality that we must face when watching this series: in this story physical damage is considered something usual, not forgivable but acceptable.
If you feel disturbed by it, you can try to manage to pay no heed to this side of the story. Since the strange relationship between Miyuki and his father will never be explained either. Or the circumstances about Izumiko's family. Or anything else. While the feelings between Izumiko and Miyuki, and also the three Souda siblings are properly shown, the story itself, unlike what you'd expect from the description, contains even no real battles with enemies that come to capture the Heroine, and the anime does not create a smooth line of events. Rather it looks like a collection of important moments from the original novel with absolutely no attempts to fill the gaps between them. No wonder it gets low rates from people writing comprehensive reviews. There are a lot of examples when I liked an anime that people rate with 1 out of ten, but that's due to the fact I liked the genre while others didn't. This time it's not as simple, RDG is not just aimed at a narrow audience, it's also too limited in time.
graphics
The very first seconds of the first episode can give you a good idea of what's graphics like in RDG.
All landscapes and objects of nature are done in detail and look extremely realistic. Places in the urban areas are also done to look like real ones with all necessary textures and patterns.
Some objects were obviously made in 3D.
Here is one problem, however. RDG makes an attempt to look beautiful but the story is not told properly. I would probably prefer that the same amount of work be put into narration. Just to be fair I have to say, though, that the style is better than on those pictures I saw on the manga covers, and I prefer the way the characters look in the anime to the manga version.
If we take the graphics as a separate kind of art, it's beautiful and so detailed I'd even say it verges on being wasted. Such images deserve to be viewed for a longer time than it takes in RDG. If you want to check it out, just look for the menus from the DVD.
voice acting
The first time I ever heard Uchiyama was in 'Bimbougami'. Even though a comedy, thanks to the seiyuus' work the characters demonstrated a great deal of personality and deepness. Since then I wrote Uchiyama's name in the list of 'promising seiyuus'. He was the second reason for me to watch RDG, the first being the fact that it explores the world of Japanese folklore and Buddhism and Shinto religion. I was not wrong when I had high hopes for him. In case you're wondering if there's any proper romance in the anime, just watch the opening video and remember the fact it won't get any further. However, if after that you're wondering whether it's worth watching or not, I'll tell you what I thought. It's worth watching at least to hear him say these three words.
What a usual shoujo looks like is 'they are obviously attracted to each other but cannot confess but that's SOOO CUUUUUTE'. What RDG starts with is a girl and a boy who openly dislike each other without that usual catchy 'she's just not being honest with herself'. Not that there's no room for such feelings, but they appear much later and not just because 'he's so cool' or 'she's so tsundere'. In case of RDG we have not the typical shoujo heroine who climbs up trees like Candy from Candy-Candy, travels the world seeking for adventures like Nadja from 'Ashita no Nadja', or bravely fights monsters like Hikaru from 'Rayearth', but a shy, meek, calm girl. However, she's also not the 'Diabolik lovers' damsel-in-distress MANUKE (coward, doesn't have any nerve) type who lets others do whatever they want with her. If by any chance you're interested in my opinion, the usual shoujo heroine is an IEE, or ENFp in the MBTI, while Izumiko is her 'mirror', EII or INFj. Unlike the widespread tsundere type (ENFp or ENTp or INTp), she's honest with her feelings:
If you're wondering whether I'm really into that guy, Yukimasa, the father of the Hero, then I'll tell you - of course I'm not serious. I'm just collecting hot guys to... to look at. Under no circumstances would I ever acknowledge violence as a method of upbringing. However, this is the reality that we must face when watching this series: in this story physical damage is considered something usual, not forgivable but acceptable.
If you feel disturbed by it, you can try to manage to pay no heed to this side of the story. Since the strange relationship between Miyuki and his father will never be explained either. Or the circumstances about Izumiko's family. Or anything else. While the feelings between Izumiko and Miyuki, and also the three Souda siblings are properly shown, the story itself, unlike what you'd expect from the description, contains even no real battles with enemies that come to capture the Heroine, and the anime does not create a smooth line of events. Rather it looks like a collection of important moments from the original novel with absolutely no attempts to fill the gaps between them. No wonder it gets low rates from people writing comprehensive reviews. There are a lot of examples when I liked an anime that people rate with 1 out of ten, but that's due to the fact I liked the genre while others didn't. This time it's not as simple, RDG is not just aimed at a narrow audience, it's also too limited in time.
graphics
The very first seconds of the first episode can give you a good idea of what's graphics like in RDG.
If we take the graphics as a separate kind of art, it's beautiful and so detailed I'd even say it verges on being wasted. Such images deserve to be viewed for a longer time than it takes in RDG. If you want to check it out, just look for the menus from the DVD.
voice acting
The first time I ever heard Uchiyama was in 'Bimbougami'. Even though a comedy, thanks to the seiyuus' work the characters demonstrated a great deal of personality and deepness. Since then I wrote Uchiyama's name in the list of 'promising seiyuus'. He was the second reason for me to watch RDG, the first being the fact that it explores the world of Japanese folklore and Buddhism and Shinto religion. I was not wrong when I had high hopes for him. In case you're wondering if there's any proper romance in the anime, just watch the opening video and remember the fact it won't get any further. However, if after that you're wondering whether it's worth watching or not, I'll tell you what I thought. It's worth watching at least to hear him say these three words.
Other seiyuus were all very good, even though I don't know them. Not many seiyuus have their own unique voices - many are just representatives of a certain type. Say, Hayami Saori is the 'calm, shy girl' type, Yonezawa Madoka is a good 'active positive girl', Ishikawa Kaito and Kimura Ryouhei are 'bright and a little bit childish guys'. On one hand, it's not that I'll remember them very well after watching RDG. On the other hand, have you ever switched off the sound in an anime? Try to do so and look at the picture. It's moving but there's not enough life in it until it is animated by the seiyuu's voice, especially it's true in case of RDG because it has this kind of art which is so beautiful that it's almost lifeless.
Checking up the more famous seiyuus, Miyano Mamoru fans will have nothing to enjoy here, his Harukawa was plain. Mr Ishida was the same as always. I guess he'll never be given any other kind of a character - they are all cunning guys having ulterior motives, no matter be it for the sake of the protagonists or not. Tanaka Rie as the goddess was absolutely beautiful, at least this is how I would want her to be - self-confident, with that confidence covering all areas of her soul, arrogant, even sexy, which also is a part of her confidence. Kugimiya Rie as Wamiya, who is a boy, created a very good character, I'll give her that. Nojima Hirofumi also made his Takayanagi extremely 3D. What I'm trying to say is that thanks to such seiyuus the characters were even more realistic and credible than it could be imagined without a voice. Mr Fukuyama was voicing a character who's, like it seems to me, closer to his real age than usual, but hey, he's convincing no matter who his character is.
music
If you can distinguish between Annabel's songs, then you're a genius. I can't. All of them are the same to me. This statement includes all other singers of that kind - Yuuki Aira, Misawa Aki, Ceui etc. In other words, the opening song is extremely boring and plain. The ending song is much better, since it's by Masumi Ito (Hikaru Nanase). She also wrote the soundtrack. I'd say it's the classical type, the music is not very outstanding but it sure has its charm and every melody fits the moments it's playing at. Her songs are very unusual and though I respect her, I wouldn't listen to 'yokan' out of the anime.
A completely different thing is the insert theme song of Izumiko, 'Izumiko no mai', and 'Kakugo' - one of the most beautiful theme songs I have ever heard. That the problem lies in the composer is just too obvious because it is performed by the same Annabel, but what different fates these two songs have.
conclusion - after 4 years
How things change with time... I clearly remember being dissatisfied with the narration, namely the fact that the background is never revealed, which made watching RDG a real torture, wanting to know more and not being able to. However, after 4 years, RDG looks very different to me, and is an example of how a short story should be presented when the ending of the anime is not the ending of the story. Yes, RDG is the true way to end a season. No, no only to end a season, it should be the model of how to make a season - how to present characters, how to let them develop, how to keep everything going. Despite the vagueness and lack of enlightenment, these 12 episodes set a solid ground for further development, regardless of its existence. At least, plot holes here are not black holes, sucking any possible continuation into abyss.
Moreover, it should be no coincidence that I recalled 'The good witch of the west' and 'RDG' at the same time - both were written by the same author. Even unconsciously, I must have been remembering these two works as similar, with the same kind of fascinating, kind, tender story. Now I know for sure that if I ever want something for my soul to have a rest in, I have these two.
Checking up the more famous seiyuus, Miyano Mamoru fans will have nothing to enjoy here, his Harukawa was plain. Mr Ishida was the same as always. I guess he'll never be given any other kind of a character - they are all cunning guys having ulterior motives, no matter be it for the sake of the protagonists or not. Tanaka Rie as the goddess was absolutely beautiful, at least this is how I would want her to be - self-confident, with that confidence covering all areas of her soul, arrogant, even sexy, which also is a part of her confidence. Kugimiya Rie as Wamiya, who is a boy, created a very good character, I'll give her that. Nojima Hirofumi also made his Takayanagi extremely 3D. What I'm trying to say is that thanks to such seiyuus the characters were even more realistic and credible than it could be imagined without a voice. Mr Fukuyama was voicing a character who's, like it seems to me, closer to his real age than usual, but hey, he's convincing no matter who his character is.
music
If you can distinguish between Annabel's songs, then you're a genius. I can't. All of them are the same to me. This statement includes all other singers of that kind - Yuuki Aira, Misawa Aki, Ceui etc. In other words, the opening song is extremely boring and plain. The ending song is much better, since it's by Masumi Ito (Hikaru Nanase). She also wrote the soundtrack. I'd say it's the classical type, the music is not very outstanding but it sure has its charm and every melody fits the moments it's playing at. Her songs are very unusual and though I respect her, I wouldn't listen to 'yokan' out of the anime.
A completely different thing is the insert theme song of Izumiko, 'Izumiko no mai', and 'Kakugo' - one of the most beautiful theme songs I have ever heard. That the problem lies in the composer is just too obvious because it is performed by the same Annabel, but what different fates these two songs have.
conclusion - after 4 years
How things change with time... I clearly remember being dissatisfied with the narration, namely the fact that the background is never revealed, which made watching RDG a real torture, wanting to know more and not being able to. However, after 4 years, RDG looks very different to me, and is an example of how a short story should be presented when the ending of the anime is not the ending of the story. Yes, RDG is the true way to end a season. No, no only to end a season, it should be the model of how to make a season - how to present characters, how to let them develop, how to keep everything going. Despite the vagueness and lack of enlightenment, these 12 episodes set a solid ground for further development, regardless of its existence. At least, plot holes here are not black holes, sucking any possible continuation into abyss.
Moreover, it should be no coincidence that I recalled 'The good witch of the west' and 'RDG' at the same time - both were written by the same author. Even unconsciously, I must have been remembering these two works as similar, with the same kind of fascinating, kind, tender story. Now I know for sure that if I ever want something for my soul to have a rest in, I have these two.
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