I'll start this off by saying I'm very, very confused, not just because this anime I'm going to be talking about today is just very confusing in the fundamentals of both how the plot and the world works, but also because while I'm able to keep track of what the anime is actively telling me, I'm pretty sure I'm in the dark of what actually is happening or what could potentially be happening. That... is a good thing.
Kyousougiga is an anime I've been meaning to watch for awhile now. While not very popular in the eyes of the public, anyone who appears to have actually seen the thing tells me it's actually pretty damn good. My own intuition didn't ring any alarm bells either. The anime looked to be something more along the lines of something like Gatchaman Crowds, using an eccentric art style, bright colors and fun dialogue to explore more complex themes. But while Gatchaman Crowds tackled the fundamentals and worth of heroism in a evolving world, Kyousigiga looks to talk about a more simple topic, but one that is heavily unused in the medium of anime, that topic, being family. Yeah, an anime whose central theme is family, that sounded interesting enough to me. And with supposedly amazing characters and an amazing opening, what did I have to lose? But now that I've finally got around to watching the first two of episodes(of an anime that is only 10 episodes) I find myself confused on what exactly the anime is trying to accomplish, or even what is wants to be at the end of the day. I'm liking it a lot, but with no direction and confusing rules, something is going to need to change soon before I can truly invest myself with what the anime is presenting me with.
The OP
Firstly, before we delve into the plot-thus-far, I hope that you think that OP is as good as I do, but not only does it have an annoying awesome song that'll be in my head for the next month or so, but it also encapsulates perfectly the overall feel and tone of the show. But yes, before I get distracted again, the plot. A priest named Myōe has retreated into living in the mountains. Apparently, the inhabitants of the local village find his ability to bring his drawings to life slightly terrifying. Despite this though, the priest lives a content and peaceful life until one day, his picture of a black rabbit becomes a human woman who confesses her love for Myōe. Myōe is slightly indifferent, but after other pictures of children come to life as their children, the "family" lives a dysfunctional but good life. Obviously, this causes a couple problems for the townspeople, and under pressure, the family decides to go through and live in a picture, the city of Kyoto which Myōe had drawn previously, to find a better life. And after stating that premise which I think is both cool and interesting, I'm just going to stop. The first episode has a bit more to it than that, but I'll leave you for that to find out, because I truly believe this is one of those anime which it really is best to know as little as possible about the plot. All else I'll say is that sometime later after the family goes into the picture, and some other spoiler stuff has happened, our main protagonist: Koto, quite literally falls from the sky into Kyoto, stating she is a member of "The Shrine" and that she is looking for a black rabbit. Take that as you will.
We've learned a lot more about Koto in episode 2(though I still don't entirely understand everything about her), but again, I want to keep you in the dark of what the plot is really about, and I haven't learned enough about any of the other characters to talk about them in any detail, so I'm just going to segway into the art style of the show. I must say, I was very surprised when I found out it was Toei Animation of all places that produced this show. Toei have been around since the 1960's, yet I don't think I've heard of anything they've done worth mentioning besides Dragon Ball Z in 1986, and One Piece, which is shounen I'm sure you haven't heard of that started over a decade ago. If you couldn't tell from the OP, the animation looks something straight out of a coloring book, which I guess is fitting. Colors are vibrant and cheerful, and everything from character designs to environments are nothing like I've ever seen before, even looking at the works of Akiyuki Shinbo and Shaft. I rather like the character designs as well; they feel very distinctive from anything else you usually see, and even if I'm not a complete fan of how Koto and some other characters look, I can still appreciate it. On a side note, the show can pull off a few settings that can interest the eye, even giving off a foreboding feel occasionally, which might be a slight hint of the show's tone down the line. Currently, the show has mostly been all fun and games, full of witty dialogue and legitimately funny moments, and while I wouldn't mind a change from that, particularity in the final episodes, I don't want the show to lose its... wonder? I'm not sure what the word is really.
So, two episodes down, eight are left, and I'll tell you right now, I'll be watching every single one. Even if the story feels a little directionless right now, and even if the theme of family really hasn't settled into the show yet, this anime just has so much going for it. The art is one thing, but from the underlying theme of family, to the great dialogue, to the interesting characters that have a lot of places to go, it would be too early to call quits on this show yet. And again, I just can't help thinking that the plot is a lot more amazing than this show is first letting on, particular judging from the clues left in episode 2. Currently, it's getting a recommendation from me, and if this is first time you've heard of this show and are interested, I'd say go for it. I don't think it's going to disappoint you or me. Goodbye for now guys.
Edit:
I now have a complete review of the show here, so check it out for my complete thoughts.
Speaking of Gatchaman Crowds, my review of it is here.
My Top Ten Ugly Duckling Anime Characters countdown is here.
My First Impressions of Mekaku City Actors be here.
And if you feel up to it, follow me on Hummingbird or Twitter.
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