IMHO. 'Mushishi' ~ my head is full of green

A whole month before I start watching ‘Mushishi’ (and not even having any plans to do so), I spend time idly flipping channels in a Japanese hotel and find myself laughing at ‘Chico Will Scold You’. Suddenly Chico asks her guests if they know what kind of ‘insects’ send Japanese people insights or keep them unable to calm down as in idioms 虫が知らせる or 虫がおさまらない.
https://xn--h9jua5ezakf0c3qner030b.com/5685.html
It turns out ‘insects’ were a new way for the first doctors in ancient Japan to explain the pathogens causing illnesses or conditions, as opposed to ‘demons’, which were previously considered the main cause, and, being demons, could only be dealt with by purifying with the help of priests. With time, they evolved into imaginary creatures and stayed in the language only.
These are the ‘mushi’ showed in the program as examples:

And there are the ‘mushi’ from the constantly repeated ‘Mushishi’ introduction:

Isn’t such an ‘insect’ a perfect choice to base a whole manga story on? Of course, simply incriminating ‘insects’ with illnesses would not do. So in ‘Mushishi’, they are expanded to be another form of life, not harmful by nature, and existing as if to remind us of simple things.
If you don’t want to lose hearing, don't forget to clean your ears.
If you don’t want to lose sight, don’t look at bright objects for too long.
If you don’t want to lose your memory and fall victim to dementia, try to go out, meet people and memorise new things little by little.
If you don’t want to harm your nearest and dearest, or nature, don’t abuse your powers.
If you made a promise, don’t break it.
If you have a mission, complete it.
Why ‘Mushishi’ is so impressive is because it’s the rare example of bringing forward the famous Japanese concepts in a beautiful way that is not a simplification but rather making them understandable.
'wabi-sabi' - without making it too philosophical

the 'mono-no-aware' concept - without making it too obvious

and the ‘accepting the inevitable’ - without making it so disgusting

Western heroes, walking in big strides and making superhuman efforts to win the fight with their fate, are more understandable to us. The need to comply and follow the flow is against the wishes of our burning hearts. Seeing a hero who gives up usually makes us despise them. In ‘Mushishi’, however, the need to comply is natural, following the flow is a way to survive, and accepting the inevitable is necessary, but not the worst evil.
‘Mushishi’ manages to make the ‘sad beauty of things’ beautiful enough to look at, and almost tangible, like a museum which allows the visitors to take an ancient treasure in their hands and feel what it's like.

While the word ‘mushi’ is even used in the title, this is, of course, not a story about strange creatures causing problems, but people and their relationships and interactions.
Keeping in touch with your family, even after death. Severing ties with your family for good. Banishing someone from the community because of the trouble they bring. Helping and saving your community despite being banished. Killing your family member for the sake of the community. Killing someone from the community for the sake of your family.
And, as intermezzos, Ginko walking through different places in different regions, always showing what’s sacred for the Japanese - mountains

the sources of life with their wildlife, clear water in springs, valleys of ‘satoyama’ and spiritual residences of the mountain gods

and sometimes - the sea, sources of life, giving people fish, pearls, salt and winds, creating 'satoumi' harbours

A whole month before I start watching 'Mushishi' I find a translation contest in which an excerpt from Yoshikichi Furui’s ‘Crossroads’ is offered as a task. I start translating but the work won’t progress and the process is tedious.
Then I open the soundtrack for ‘Mushishi’ and press play. Suddenly the mountains surrounding the crossroads in the book become green just as the mountains in ‘Mushishi’, suddenly the rain, real rain outside my window, sounds just like little chimes used by Toshio Masuda. Suddenly the tiresome description of tense relationship between the members of the family becomes interesting to translate. Suddenly the sadness becomes beautiful, if not for me - then at least for my future reader.

Could you ever escape falling in love and shedding a tear upon hearing this.

Voiced by a bunch of carefully selected seiyuus who are able to escape from the usual loud exaggerated emotions, accompanied by the beautiful soundtrack, drawn so beautifully, this is the best, if not more, that the mangaka, could with for.

IMHO. 'Sol Bianca' ~ memories of the distant future

I have just read an article in a Russian Web-magazine dedicated to fantasy and sci-fi, explaining the reasons why humanity stopped dreaming about the bright future of mankind in the universe. Oh yes, modern science and technologies have become a great source of new types of crime, so people are too busy finding the modern perpetrators to dream about other planets. Even the good guys shifted their focus to the needs of ordinary people, creating solar batteries, e-commerce websites and just more powerful processors for your new model of smartphone. I wouldn't be writing this post on my recently acquired tablet if they didn't, so it's not that I'm completely ungrateful to them. It's just that I will be writing one more post about how grass was greener 20 years ago in the world of anime, so just in case - I warned you.
You know, I cried watching sad stories with characters sacrificing themselves, like 'Wolf's rain', I cried watching touching stories with people struggling to be happy together, like 'Sunset on the fifth avenue', but I don't remember many other cases I cried because of the beauty of what was happening on the screen and because I would give so much to experience something like that.
I literally cried the whole series of 'Sol Bianca' even though this must be the fourth time I watch it.
I first took time to watch the older ova series of 1990, and was very impressed and at the same time disappointed that the story did not move on while it had such potential. Just when some secrets are about to be explained, the series come to an end... And it's not to be developed in the re-made version of 2000. Even with this understatement, I enjoyed the usual pace of the good old sci-fi - some energetic rock in the beginning, some slow rock as the ending, and a lot of variations on a synthesiser in the middle. Great!
The next day, I start watching 'Sol Bianca the legacy'. And start crying immediately.
As usual, it begins as your average adventure, only it takes place in space.
Is it a western, like the opening hints?
Or a road-movie?
Is it space battles?
Sci-fi?
Anti-utopia?
Or a slice-of-life about several middle-aged single ladies trying to find their way of living their lives?
Just as you might have guessed, I meant to say it is all of this. And then it starts to develop into a human drama. I remember myself complaining that 12 episodes of this or that anime were not enough to show the true nature of just as many as 4 main characters, but here you are - only 6 episodes manage to tell everything about the 4 women-pirates, a lonely girl who becomes their new comrade, 4 different people who become their enemies, and at least 3 characters who become their allies - and in some cases something more than that.
And the same 6 episodes manage to tell several stories describing the universe that 'Sol Bianca' moves in.
And the ship itself. Have you ever seen a space ship with microchips designed as tulips and program interface decorated in art-nouveau?

Even if the idea of representing the on-board computer as an AI with a kind of personality or at least ability to communicate is not new, have you ever seen it represented as a girl in a Greek robe just out of Alphonse Mucha's poster? Shooting an arrow from a giant bow?

And the idea of the AI represented as something close to a magical creature was very new, at least to me, when the anime was first aired, believe me.

Have you ever heard anything more fitting a shining space vessel than the 'Sol Bianca' intro theme?

But well, at the same time I just miss the times when strong anime heroines meant really strong heroines, not your cute wide-eyed pretty girls who don't give up, but strong physically, and deft, and artful, clever, having real knowledge of their respective trade, and attractive, yes, sexy-and-they-know it.

With just a bit of fanservice, no more than a little.

And with those 90s big-shouldered and wide-sleeved jackets...

And human, yes. With past haunting them, with psychological problems maybe even, yes, but so alive.

That's probably why some men found themselves under their heels, and others - followed them to death.

And so perfectly voiced. All of them.

IMHO. 'Rurouni Kenshin' ~ one of a kind

When I raised my eyes to the grey sky covered on the sides by lavish green that appears in late May, I realised it’s been exactly 10 years.

_____
So, the first time was exactly 10 years ago. And this series was one of the greatest discoveries in the world of anime, even with all those mistranslations and censorship implied by the American distributor whose release was bought by our channel. You’d understand me when I say that the seeing ‘Kenshin’ for the first time was a revolutionary thing, if you know what it’s like to have only a dozen of major TV channels and 250 Mb per month as the only source of information about the new world called ‘anime’.
The story was so great that after trying to ignore the broadcast for a month, because I thought I better not watch it at all than watch partially because of my busy schedule at school, I ultimately couldn’t help watching, even though I’d missed some of the initial episodes. And I preferred to hear the episodes I missed retold to me by my friend than giving up on ‘Kenshin’ at all.
Before starting to watch it for the third time, I thought I’d skip the unnecessary fillers or watch boring episodes fast forward. But there weren’t any boring episodes. Not for a single moment I felt like skipping anything. The thought didn’t even cross my mind.
What you discover 10 years after seeing this series for the first time, is that it’s no less interesting no matter how many times you watch. Moreover, you understand and appreciate it even more.
Is there any need to analyze the story deeply? I don’t think so. It is the case when every character deserves so much respect and every story is so elaborate that words won’t express it.
I loved them, the characters and their stories. I loved the background music and theme songs. I loved the seiyuus, all of them, everyone. The other day I read an article where the author was suggesting that we, fans who feel nostalgic about the older anime, stop regretting about good old times and go watch new series trying to find new masterpieces among them. I’ll explain. This nostalgia is caused by the very fact that you didn’t have to search for a masterpiece those days, it just came to your hands naturally. And I’ll add. The only aspect that surpasses older series in the newer anime series is art, and even that is not a given. Yes, older series were simpler and maybe less attractive visually. However the rest was perfect, while modern series can only offer one aspect in high quality, while the others inevitably fall behind.
Rephrasing Kenshin, I’d put it like this: maybe anime is supposed to be serious, educating, mature and realistic, but I still prefer this kind of anime, where characters shout out names of their techniques, where enemies are defeated with willpower, where characters may help circus artists or sumo wrestlers and the next month go and save the country mastering new techniques on their way… At least, they’re all alive, not moving cardboard figures.

I don't really remember, but Wiki says that the first broadcast of 'Kenshin' - the one I saw for the first time also - ended on July 27th. So today, 10 years after I end my 'rewatching', too, and say goodbye.

Lyrics translation. 'kokoro no hadaka' by Ueda Yuuji

Original

風が吹き拔ける街でお前は
失くした何かを捜すけれど
ディアヤモンドよりも大事なものは
心の裸だけさ

単純な問題で惱むなんて　No!
困難は全部乗り越えりゃいい
指をくわえて待ってちゃダメ
設計図だけじゃ家は建たねえ
動かなけりゃはじまらねえじゃん
あれもこれもしたいって思うことさ
気分次第　こんな時代
スッキリしたいなら　Naked Heart

ため息ついてどこを見てる
真夜中の空を見上げるけど
濁った目には月も星も
わずかな明日さえ映らない
ひ弱な惱みに用はない
今が無駄になるさ
しょうもない感情に甘えてないで
目を覚ませ

鏡に映った寝起きの顔が
ホントの自分さ　ありのままに
胸に飾るのは勲章じゃなくて
心の裸だけさ
風が吹き抜ける街でお前は
失くした何かを捜すけれど
ディアヤモンドよりも大事なものは
心の裸だけさ

優しさと弱さは別問だぜ
考えりゃすぐにわかることさ
レ一ルはみ出したっていいじゃん
電車じゃねえんだから
結果見えてるなんてドキドキしねえ
最後知ってる映画はつまらねえ
気分次第　こんな時代
スッキリしたいなら　Naked Heart

簡単なことさ　雨の日に
濡れたくなければ傘をさせよ
叶わない夢を嘆くより
叶えない自分を嘆きなよ
格好つけたってしょうがない
どんな服を着ても
不自然な冗談さ　はしゃいでないで
目を覚ませ

キレイな明日を欲しくなるほど
今日に絶望はしちゃいないさ
キレイごとよりもザラついている
言葉を信じている
鏡に映った寝起きの顔が
ホントの自分さ　ありのままに
胸に飾るのは勲章じゃなくて
心の裸だけさ

風が吹き抜ける街でお前は
失くした何かを捜すけれど
ディアヤモンドよりも大事なものは
心の裸だけさ

Translation

In a town where wind blows through
I search for something lost, but
There is only one thing more important than diamonds –
It’s a naked heart

Worrying about trivial things? No!
I just have to overcome all obstacles
It's not OK to envy others who do something while you don't
A house is not built only with a plan
If you don’t make a move, nothing will start
If you want to do this and that
It’s up to your whim, in this time
If you want to feel refreshed – naked heart

Where am I staring at with a sigh?
I raise my eyes to the night sky but
My clouded eyes reflect neither moon nor stars
Nor even a glimpse of tomorrow
I don’t have time to waste on troubles caused by weakness
My present is too precious
Don’t pity yourself with your useless sentiments
Open your eyes

Your sleepy face in the mirror
Is your true face, the way you are
What is worthy of putting on your chest is not a medal
It’s a naked heart
In a town where wind blows through
I search for something lost, but
There is only one thing more important than diamonds –
It’s a naked heart

Tenderness and weakness are not the same
You will understand if you think a bit
It’s ok if the rail juts out,
Since I'm not a train, right
When I know the result I’m not excited
When I know the end of a movie, it’s boring
It’s up to your whim, in this time
If you want to feel refreshed – naked heart

It’s simple, if it’s raining
And you don’t want to get wet, open an umbrella
Rather than grieving that your dream wouldn’t come true,
Grieve that you weren’t able to make it come true
Nothing will change if you just show off,
You can wear whatever you wish
It’s an artificial joke, stop frolicking
Open your eyes

I’m not disappointed in today so much
That I would wish for a beautiful tomorrow to come quickly
Rather than whitewashing I believe in
Words that strike in the eye
Your sleepy face in the mirror
Is your true face, the way you are
What is worthy of putting on your chest is not a medal
It’s a naked heart

'Elemental Gelade' anime ~ when Yuki Kajiura was still young

spoiler alert, as usual

It's your usual shounen. But it's also romance and fantasy. So it's a story about a young boy who travels in a different world, fights enemies, makes friends and falls in love. Be ready to see lots of silly things. Shounen as genre is not for you, 30-year-old manager, or even you, university student in his early twenties.

story and characters

Once upon a time in another world there were flying ships. Made of wood.

And then our Hero finds a mysterious girl who's like

and the Hero is like

and like, I'll guide you to the end of the Earth! Oops, it was not Earth but another world. So, they unite and do something like

and the huge attacking monster is like AAA I'M FALLING OMG

but then a guy like this comes and try to guess whether he's a good guy or not.

But our heroes are not giving up!

 And they like

 and

but then another bad guy comes, or stop, can he really be bad having such appearance? Oh he can. He's SUCH a BAD_GUY OHHHH

 But there's also this guy

 Who's all mysterious and merciless. Guess if he is really that bad?

And the enemies are all like

 and our characters are like

OF COURSE YOU HAVE! But guess whether they will win that battle or not? OK, 'twas easy. Now's the time for the main enemy. And they are all very mysterious and their house is all in dark violet.

 

And then our characters have to deal with many troubles. The story tries to look more serious than it is, so we have several unnecessary deaths, and our Hero is like

But then they gain the remaining strength and defeat the big boss. And their enemies are like

 And our heroes are like

And except for those characters that were created only to die artistically, all the others are like

And then after some time they fly in the sky together. Which is essentially a very heartwarming, happy end. Like I said, I don't like it when the adventure ends and they 'live happily ever after'. This kind of ending is much better for me. Oh, wait. Did you think, after seeing all these ironical descriptions, that I hate this anime?

Now you see what kind of story EG is. Does it mean it's bad? Nope. I'm just warning you. It's extremely silly, naive, plain and usual. Did I like it? Yes, a lot. Why? Exactly for those things that most people would probably dislike. It's not the case when people say 'this and this was bad, but instead that and that was good', no. It's the case when people say 'it was so mediocre' or 'it could not happen that way'. And my friend +Арагорн Араторнович said 'shut up and watch'. You don't want all laws of physics maintained here. You don't want credible stories. You want flying ships. You want red or blue hair. You want loli-girls with big eyes. You want magical swords and non-human creatures. You want Medieval Europe villages mixed with Ancient Greece clothes and oriental fighting styles and and 19th century Europe progress.

The story was obviously changed to meet the requirements of a TV series. Some episodes were such obvious fillers you would probably want to skip them, but I did not. I don't know why, but even those parts were enjoyable.
The humour was not original or new, but hey, it's 2004. It was the trend those times.

music
Now for the main attraction. In 2000s Yuki Kajiura was still young and fresh and her music was good. Just in case you want to ask me, I think her latest melodies repeat and resemble one another too much. However, in early 2000s she was still able to write a decent OST with several melodies that can be easily taken for listening as independent tracks. The only minus point for this OST is that not all melodies that were used in the anime were issued on CDs, even though there is an OST album and a special album, too. Like I said to my friend when I started watching, guess who is the composer here if I hear pseudo-Latin lyrics laid on pseudo-gothic chorals?

The OPED songs were not as good, since they were very plain. I would not say they were bad, though, since they belong to the category 'nice to listen when you watch the show'. And just in case you want to know, savage genius' song 'ameagari' was used in episode 15 as a background song. It's a coupling song for 'Forever', the opening.

graphics
It was mid-00s. Anime was becoming better and better, the visual side of it, too.

However, there was still no money for creating absolutely-every-frame-beautifully-decorated. Most moving objects were created simply but nicely. In my mind, it's better than 'kuro to kin to hirakanai kagi' that I looked through the other day, where you will see clear sparkling images with no faults, but won't find anything except for hard fanservice for female fans.
'Gelade' also did not let any slack in design. The clothes were all elaborate and nice, even though simple, and so were interiors. Name the style? =)

voice acting
While art was becoming more and more expensive-looking, voice acting in 00s began to slightly decrease its gorgeousness. Outstanding seiyuus of 90s were giving up their place to new seiyuus, but some of them were not worse than their seniors. 00s were rich in young promising actors. If 'Gelade' is not an eye-candy for you, than it will for sure become an ear candy. Have some Ishida Akira, Ueda Yuji and Ogata Megumi, multiply them by Toriumi Kousuke, Okiayu Ryotaro, Kugimiya Rie, Suwabe Junichi and many others. My discovery of the year is Saito Kimiko. Her low voice was making me tremble with excitement. Another seiyuu that I did not know before is Hanba Tomoe. Her performance was very good. The main heroine voiced by Takahashi Mikako was good. Kuea's Suzuki Naoko was so good it's a big trouble she does not do many anime roles. And even Mizuki Nana whom I basically dislike previously did a very, very good job. That's good that some of them are still active. I'm afraid of times when they will move to an elder category and will have to be replaced with younger ones.
Or you could say that I am simply grumbling because 00s was the period of my youth. Well, that's true.

conclusion
Yuriko Kaida's and Yuri Kasahara's voices have never spoiled an anime. Bizarre vehicles and strange swords, magic crystals and mysterious people, but more than that, journeys to another towns, to another continents... Yesterday one of my friends told us she's really intending to spend at least half a year in India... but I'm not as brave as her, and Valcione is not India, so I think I'm glad to have travelled to another world with 'Elemental Gelade' team.