IMHO. 'Space Dandy' ~ see you space dandy

If I said that 'Space Dandy' is something from outer space, would it sound like a very cheap pun?

If I didn't, would I ever do it justice?

If the villain's ship did not look the way it does, would 'Space Dandy' be better?

Or would it be better if there weren't those episodes dealing with life and death, 2- and 4-dimensional universes, space and time, love and dreams, other planets and other possibilities?

If you were offered to become a god with no body, live forever and observe the universe, would you agree?

If you met Shinichiro Watanabe in person, would you tell him he needs to stop making these anime series with open endings?

IMHO. 'Baccano' ~ Certainly guns, but not roses

I'm pretty sure that many people give violent shows high ratings because of a subconscious feeling that violent = mature. I'm also pretty sure that many anime producers think that the greater the contrast between different aspects of anime, the greater the effect. They create bouncy jazz soundtracks, invite famous seiyuus, and even draw the smallest details of the ceiling in the first class dining-car, and all that just for the sake of contrast between that and the heavy, unpleasant story.

I did make great efforts to at least understand those characters with their REASONS or DARK PAST, but those reasons and pasts were not reasonable and dark enough to convince me. Maybe because the characters spent much more time punching, biting, shooting and devouring each other, and when not - threatening to do so or discussing all of these, than actually thinking, reminiscing or dreaming. And while immortality certainly brings up questions of the meaning of life, physical and psychological pain, I don't think I gained any insights into these topics thanks to 'Baccano'.

People who don't know much about anime use duck typing. Yes, they are absolutely wrong in thinking anime multiplies violence or inspires suicidal thoughts. But if an anime constantly drowns the viewers in blood and has little food for thought, than what else can we think? It's a violent anime with little meaning.

The most disappointing thing is that 'Baccano' was just this close to be good. The characters could have been so likeable, the story could have been so interesting, if only there were enough time for the characters and the story. Yes, you probably need to avoid shoving such an amount of characters into a one-season anime and then spending half of that season on meticulous depicting cruel fighting and its results. Especially when clearly half of the characters were repeating each other.

 

'Ginban Kaleidoscope' ~ one more figure skating thing

spoiler alert

When you're 10 years old, Sailor Soldiers, who are just in middle school, are perfect adults for you. When you're 15, you gather a big harem of anime-guys - bishounen, macho, ikemen, cold and cool or nice and shy. When you're past 20, you start looking at those shoujo stories from the angle of judging whether you could recommend it for your cousin, or niece, or your friend's daughter.

story and characters

Some people say, the anime version of 'Ginban' only tells the story of the first 2 volumes of the original light novel. Some say, all 9 volumes are packed into this 12-episode series. I say, the hell I care.
Well, we have a story about a girl who's into figure skating, and she's serious because she'll go to the '06 Olympic games.

Her rivals are girls of different types, who never fail a chance to demonstrate their personalities. Even at international competitions.

 Well, our heroine is not less bold, either.

Her main rival among Japanese sportsmen, however, is a modest girl. She even doesn't bother to change clothes and always wears the same costume that shows her maturity, apparently.

The creators made a feeble attempt to make the story more humorous by making the Heroine's coach behave like an idiot, and her younger sister - the opposite, behave like an adult, even though she's obviously in primary school. Sometimes the popular trick of 'stop-frame as if from a different genre' was used, but it didn't save the story from being boring.

The love interest of the Heroine - a ghost that possessed her and was to go back to Heaven in 1000 days - was just a good guy, but did not show much of a personality to count as an attractive character, though certainly he was supportive and kind.

Though I would probably say thanks to the creators that they did not make it a usual happy-ending story, the ending was nevertheless very sweet and plain.

graphics
On one hand, here you'll see eyes showing through thick forelocks

On the other hand, move movements of figure skaters were created with love and scrupulously and looked very naturally.

And there were a few attempts to create an atmosphere with the means of visual image.

In general, I would not say the graphics was bad, but if you look at the light novel covers by Hiro Suzuhira, you'll find them much more attractive and appealing.

voice acting
Among voice actors I would not really name any particular person who impressed me, but I cannot say there was anything odd or unsuitable. For the goal set before them, I guess they all did a good job. Saito Chiwa was probably the only one whose voice was at least interesting.
It was embarrassing, though, to hear Maaya Sakamoto struggle to pronounce "authentically" the English phrases of her American figure skater.

music
Music in shoujo anime was good in 90's. Take 'Rayearth', for example - opening and ending themes and background music and character image songs alike, all tracks were composed with style and with love. Since then the trend changed and now it's a rare thing to find anything decent in shoujo series. Mostly they just compose a cute easy-to-sing song and either give it to the seiyuus or invite some random girl to perform it. Music in 'Ginban' was almost unnoticeable, and OPED songs were so plain and mediocre that I payd no heed to them.

conclusion
I won't say this was a waste of time, oh no it wasn't. However to say I gained anything or enjoyed anything particular in this anime would be an exaggeration. I guess, that's the fault of the creators that they mostly made it a comedy than a story about relationship with a person who is destined to die soon. This theme could be emphasised more and make the story a real profound drama. Instead, it was not properly shown until late in the series and thus, was not developed enough to make a spectator sympathise and cry together with the Heroine.
But well, I guess, as a short shoujo story it's not bad.