Monday 23 April 2007

Pic of the day: Not cute. Not pretty. But funny and sometimes heartwarming. And besides, high school is such a great time in life, right?

Anime: Lovely Complex

Episodes watched before review: 5

Another high school anime (you may have noticed that there are a lot of them, and I am likely to watch them). In a welcome move, the characters actually look like young adults rather than children. They are not "cute-ified" as Japanese often do. Japanese are crazy about cute, more so than us in the West. That's fine for a "slice of school life" anime like Lucky Star, but deeply disturbing when romance is involved. Something is just off when people who look like kids get all lovey-dovey. I'll be back to that in another review soon, I hope. For now, let us assert with great joy that no kids were wooed during the production of this anime. ^_^

Many high school anime are aimed mostly at boys, and involve one boy choosing how to relate to a bunch of girls. Anime for girls tend to have a female main character, but she is usually not choosing from a pool of boys (literally or otherwise). There is usually one boy that stands out. Typically they start out with a bad relationship because of misunderstandings or different backgrounds, then gradually come to like each other, at which point a rival is introduced for each of them which superficially seems more appealing in looks or behavior. Resolving this and a final greater plot twist is followed by the tentative "happily ever after", though the anime usually ends well before marriage.

Lovely Complex is clearly aimed mostly at girls, because it follows that particular course faithfully. The main character is a girl, Lisa Koizumi, who is taller (170 cm) than anyone else in her class, including the boys. In the same class is the boy Otani, already a friend by the time the anime starts, who is shorter (156 cm) than most of the girls. The height difference amuses people around them, and makes them look like a pair of comedians together. They are still good friends though, because they have almost exactly the same interests. Because of the height issue, however, there can never be any romance between them... or can there?

Apart from this unusual starting point, the anime stands out from the crowd in two other ways: The art is unusual, frequently ugly because the facial expressions are grossly exaggerated, as are body proportions. It really looks like a comedy, but it is not because they can't draw pretty or cute. The drawing is pretty in certain parts where it is appropriate, but only short scenes at a time, which makes those scenes stand out. I'm not too keen on this myself, but that's how it is. The second difference is that the story takes place in Osaka rather than Tokyo. Evidently Osaka has its own dialect that is somewhat different from "standard" Japanese. Usually when I watch anime I can make out parts of the conversation from scattered words, but not here. I don't even try, it would just ruin my embryonic Japanese knowledge anyway.

The first episodes at least are full of comedy, but with an underlying serious story about young people looking for love. This is surely intentional, so that boys can watch it "for the comedy" without being ashamed of watching "girly" anime. And of course, girls like to laugh too (although usually at boys).

By the end of episode 5, feelings are beginning to be recognized. By the character, that is: It is kind of obvious to everyone else from the very start. Not just the viewers, but the classmates as well. By the book there should be many more complications to overcome, but it will probably be done in 12 or 13 episodes. I really don't think they can string it out to a full season of 24 or 26 episodes without getting stale.

Oh, and the name of the male love interest, Otani, may sound similar the Japanese word for "adult" or "grown-up" (otona). But there is nothing so far that the kids shouldn't see. In fact, they would probably be rolling on the floor laughing. OK, some Americans may take offense that there is a boy who dresses and acts like a girl, claiming that God has put him in the wrong body. But there is no crude "adult" humor, no flashing panties or too much skin. Overall it is a very family-friendly and girl-friendly anime.

All in all, not my favorite, but surprisingly likable. I may never quite get used to the art style, but the characters are surprisingly realistic and I feel sympathy with them... which is no small feat from someone who has never looked for love himself. Since the story is simple and the comedy is mainly visual, there is not much more I can say. Except "rent it when it becomes available in your country."