First Impressions – Amagi Brilliant Park
Welcome to the land of happy magic people!
Hi everyone. My first week of shows for fall was pretty slow, partly because Amagi Brilliant Park got preempted by a volleyball match. So that pushed it late (and the second episode is already out, the horror!) and now I’m trying to catch up a bit. Let’s pick up skylion and see what we thought of the show.
Welcome back to our continued coverage of all the new Fall shows. Without further ado, let’s jump into Kyoto Animation’s latest work.
Land of enchantment… suuuuure
skylion / / I must confess I am a fan of thigh high stockings. So when presented with a choice pair of leggings attached to a buxom lass that herself possesses a rather lovely flintlock arquebus….you’ve really got my attention. So with these facts in mind, let us take a moment of silence for our poor protagonist. Kanie Seiya…I don’t know if I could or should take your place; as I am at once both envious of your position, and relieved not to be there. That park is manky….the lovely Isuzu Sento, thou dubious in many respects, is most certainly not.
Hi Haru-chan! Oh wait, different show
Highway / / Well, it seems that Kyoani has gotten away from their K-ON! and followups moe and is now in the rut of more severely grownup attractiveness. From the first, Kanie makes me think of Haruka Nanase’s more gregarious younger brother. Meanwhile, Isuzu feels like the last holdover from the old style, reminding me of Touka Takanashi but transported into this new look. And the look of the show fits that same kind of feel, where the cute, fluffy, and sparkly has been replaced by the gritty, run down, and hopeless. And even Isuzu is in on the hopelessness, with the opposing nature of her glowing marketing words to describe the attractions, her deadpan delivery, and her willingness to use threats to get Kanie to comply with her requests.
Isuzu’s glowing words and uninterested inflection set the mood well
skylion / / This was an odd first episode to enjoy. When you match up Ai Kakuma’s deadpan approach as text with the condition of Amagi Brilliant park as ubertext…it’s leave quite a bit to be desired and digested. Given a choice between the questionable nature of a love hotel and the desperate nature of the park itself, one wonders why the city even keeps all that on the bus route. But somehow, this show manages to work it’s magic despite that. Maybe even because of that. I’m often a fan of arcs that start at the very bottom and feature an uncertain rise. As with all KyoAni productions, you are treated to some of the finest animation in the industry. Full motion body movement, choice colors and filters, fresh perspectives, and rich backgrounds, all with what has become a trademark house character design. While I was watching I was quite amazed they could make the desperate look so refined. There wasn’t a single attraction in the park that didn’t fail to impress, yet everything was a colorful ride. I would have to call my favorite Moffle’s Candy House. Because if this world is infested with failed faeries from Maple Land, then it helps to have one gruff individual not at all interested in any state of affairs.
They’re going to be the best of friends, I can totally tell
Highway / / The real hook for me comes halfway through the episode, when we see Kanie’s reaction to the whole of the park. Having burned through his patience, his goodwill, and even his sarcasm, he finally lashes out at Isuzu over the pathetic nature of the park, and I think also her flat defense of it. And we learn that he has a background in entertainment, and has the chops to get embarrassed on the park’s behalf for such a poor effort. “If you want to make people dream, you have to start by believing in the dream yourself.” Isuzu thinks it’s odd that Kanie would be mad at the park as a whole, but I think it makes perfect sense. I think he’s actually not been that upset at being taken around the park by Isuzu, just that what he’s been shown is so lame and phoned in. And given the opportunity to hear people’s thoughts, I wonder which will be the bigger revelation: the thoughts of the humans around him, or the thoughts of the magical people in the park.
Of course there’s the princess but…
An ominous flashback gives it a different feel
KyoAni has managed to tweak it’s own nose. They’ve taken the moe aesthetic they’ve done so well and even defined and given it a layer of disfunction and almost certain dread. Frankly, nothing about this should work. But it does. We are looking at this world with some very cynical glasses, and hope is uncertain. Putting all your eggs in the basket of a sullen, self-possessed teenager is more often than not the bread and butter of anime, but with Kanie it’s goes overboard. I’m anxious to see how this turns out. Can’t let the LOLi princess down.
I’m trying something new with Amagi Brilliant Park, since I’m blogging it. Most of you probably know I’ve been working on learning Japanese (for almost exactly 3 years), and I’ve decided that I’m going to watch each episode of the show through first with no subitles. The first episode I probably got about 30% of what was said (man, I got hung up on Moffle), but I hope I get better as it goes. There’s really a big difference between watching it with no subtitles before seeing the subs vs after. I really did like the premiere, and am interested to see where the show goes. And I hope you’ll join me for weekly posts!
About Tag Team
We live, laugh, enjoy and strictly believe on "more the merrier". When together, we usually come up with very chatty, conversation-based episodics and interesting posts.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
I want to see the Moffle-kun vs Iwatobi-chan cage fight. ><
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Moffle-kun vs. Iwatobi-chan on the Cute and Loose Character tournament of Locodol.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Amagi’s author is Gatoh Shouji, creator of the Full Metal Panic franchise.
His inspiration for writing the light novels came from his musing over the thankless efforts amusement park workers put into their jobs.
His initial info on amusement park operations came from interviewing a Tokyo Disneyland employee, who remains anonymous due to the exposé nature of the on-job stories they recounted.
Additionally, Moffle was Gatoh Shoji’s desire to reuse Bonta the mascot, and he was lucky that FMP’s illustrator allowed him to do so.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Disneyland employees of any nation have to be some of the oddest yet interesting people alive. If they go out as character, they all have to learn to do autographs the exact same way. And they all have to adhere to type. I mean, can you imagine wanting to be Snow White, but you’re an inch to tall?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
*Ari no~ mama no~ sugata miseru no you~*
*Ari no~ maama no~ jibun ni naru no~*
*Nani mo~ kowakunai~*
*Kaze yo fuke~*
*Sukoshi mo samukunai wa~*
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I enjoyed this first episode. But, boy, I wasn’t expecting dat ass shot! Not that I thought there was anything wrong with it…
As a former professional in the entertainment industry, and by accounts an accomplished one, I can totally see why Kanie would be upset at Amagi Brilliant Park and it’s employees’ attitude. They’re not just phoning it in–they’re not even looking for the phone to place the call!
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Oh, and hey Foshizzle: This is the most kissing you’ll get in a KyoAni show, I think!
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Good luck watching without subs! I did that a few times when the subs were late and I was desperate and it really does change the experience. It lets you see more instead of just focusing your eyes on the bottom half of the screen. Definitely an interesting experience and a good way to learn more Japanese :3
…and as a side note, Kanie Seiya is a pretty fun MC. I can always sympathize with total narcissists =w=
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I did about 10 minutes of Jinsei when there weren’t subs for that. Yeah, no. But it’s something I hope to do more of. It’s certainly different hearing some words pop out, and others turn into an incomprehensible mash. And yes, you do get to see much more of what’s going on, since you’re not just reading the bottom.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I haven’t tried it w/o subs. But I’ve tried to multi-task while watching, not paying exact attention to the subs…and I have much less experience that you guys. Futile for me.