Princess Jellyfish impressions
I feel like I should write a review on Kuragehime (Princess Jellyfish)---though I don't like calling it a "review". That suggests that my opinions are for others to guage a series on. But I really believe in the diversity of individual tastes, and always giving a series a chance, personally. Still, after I surprisingly watched the whole series last night (I didn't expect it to only be 11 episodes. ;_; I wanted more!), I want to note my impressions of the series.
Well, after my apprehension about the director, Takahiro Omori, I'm glad any doubts I had were proven wrong. The Funimation trailer said he directed Durarara, and I was concerned that Princess Jellyfish might have the type of slower pace than I'm used to, like Durarara. Fortunately, that pace proved to be an artifact of Durarara's origins as a novel series, and maybe even the story's serious tone (which fit a slightly slower pace). Rather, the director proved to have the ability to tailor a series' pacing, appropriately, depending on the project. Including a lighter, Shoujo drama and comedy, like Princess Jellyfish. ^_^ But despite my dislike of having apprehensions, I will say that because of my apprhensions, I tried to observe the director's style closely. He proved to indeed have a slightly different pace, than what I'm used to, but it's a good kind, and I'm glad I was able to notice it. It's like he drags out some of the shocking/repeated lines a little longer than directors I'm used to, for comedic effect. It made the same old "shocking moment" jokes give me more surprise than I expected, and *actually* _shock_ me. I guess you'd call that renewal. He had this tendency for smooth animation, in small areas, where I'm used to seeing static camera pans or action shoved offscreen. This was especially apparent, when I found the manga, and started comparing a few scenes to the anime adaptation. In several places, the anime director took manga panels filled with only words (usually internal dialogue) and Shoujo sparkley effects, and overlaid them on action (whether in real-time or the next manga panel). This must have been effective, because I favored this approach, over even following the manga, frame by frame---when I usually prefer the manga versions of series, over the anime adaptations (or, I may be predisposed to prefering whichever version I experience first...I'm still trying to figure myself out). But his modifications to the manga were good. The real proof of his skill came at the anime's ending, which is very hard to accomplish effectively, while a manga series is still ongoing. More accurately, I should say, Omori seemed to have new decisions about when to place super-deformed, stylizations, vs the real-time or realistic renderings. And he seemed to favor on-screen action and even comedy in real time/rendering, much more often than the stylized cartoony. Sometimes, it was like seeing an anime gag translated into a live action sequence. 0u0 Yet, he still kept very cartoony (comedic take) effects, like people turning to stone, or asides with unreal, cute mascots. His directing style was very refreshing, compared to what has become the norm. I can see why his style feels original and notable.
But as for whether I should buy the complete series DVD box... That was the whole reason I started watching Princess Jellyfish online, afterall. I'm a little tempted to buy, if it's cheap. But right now, only a special edition box set is out. ~_~ I mean, I'm very interested in the series concept, as laid out by Funimation's trailer. I love gender-bending and otaku protagonists. But most of the series involved the main character Tsukimi's group of friends, ostracising her new friend, simply for being a "Stylish". Even though some people may say that is an "orginal take", against the sympathetic portrayals of geeks and wallflowers, which has become the norm, realism isn't exactly something I want to spend my free time on, let alone, consider entertainment. As an Escapism junkie, I prefer a series with characters and scenes, better than what you'd see in Real Life. People being mean to others is one of my pet peeves. And a series which showcases that for most of it's time is often too traumatic for me to watch often. Unfortunately, when the leading lady's group of good friends, the regular supporting characters are unkind to the leading male, it becomes a lot of the screentime. Not to mention that frequent subplot about the slutty business executive constantly blackmailing Kuranosuke's poor brother. So how could I buy the DVDs to watch over and over? ;~; I really am drawn to the series though, and wonder if I could tolerate such a thing for Princess Jellyfish. Especially since, as the series progresses, Tsukimi's otaku friends come to gradually accept and welcome Kuranosuke/Kurako. I really wanted to see the series continue, after episode 11. That's where it had me hooked: Tsukimi was finding a place to express her dreams, and the Amamizukan friends had become friends with Kurako. But right when it was getting good, the series ended. I might have bought the DVD box if the series continued in that same great vein it was *just* getting on. Unfortunately, that good turn seemed to only be a result of the anime adaptation series being cut short. It was all artful compression, on the part of the director, to conclude the anime. So, even as I found the manga and tried to pick up where the anime adaptation left off, I found the story still stuck in the ruts that the anime director had just taken it out of...only in the anime. ...Still, if some discount DVD set ever comes out, or the volumes end up in the Right Stuf! bargain bin, maybe I'll get it. I do like Kurako's strong assertion to defend and encourage Tsukimi, and I love relating to Tsukimi's weak moments (and seeing her come out of them).
Well, after my apprehension about the director, Takahiro Omori, I'm glad any doubts I had were proven wrong. The Funimation trailer said he directed Durarara, and I was concerned that Princess Jellyfish might have the type of slower pace than I'm used to, like Durarara. Fortunately, that pace proved to be an artifact of Durarara's origins as a novel series, and maybe even the story's serious tone (which fit a slightly slower pace). Rather, the director proved to have the ability to tailor a series' pacing, appropriately, depending on the project. Including a lighter, Shoujo drama and comedy, like Princess Jellyfish. ^_^ But despite my dislike of having apprehensions, I will say that because of my apprhensions, I tried to observe the director's style closely. He proved to indeed have a slightly different pace, than what I'm used to, but it's a good kind, and I'm glad I was able to notice it. It's like he drags out some of the shocking/repeated lines a little longer than directors I'm used to, for comedic effect. It made the same old "shocking moment" jokes give me more surprise than I expected, and *actually* _shock_ me. I guess you'd call that renewal. He had this tendency for smooth animation, in small areas, where I'm used to seeing static camera pans or action shoved offscreen. This was especially apparent, when I found the manga, and started comparing a few scenes to the anime adaptation. In several places, the anime director took manga panels filled with only words (usually internal dialogue) and Shoujo sparkley effects, and overlaid them on action (whether in real-time or the next manga panel). This must have been effective, because I favored this approach, over even following the manga, frame by frame---when I usually prefer the manga versions of series, over the anime adaptations (or, I may be predisposed to prefering whichever version I experience first...I'm still trying to figure myself out). But his modifications to the manga were good. The real proof of his skill came at the anime's ending, which is very hard to accomplish effectively, while a manga series is still ongoing. More accurately, I should say, Omori seemed to have new decisions about when to place super-deformed, stylizations, vs the real-time or realistic renderings. And he seemed to favor on-screen action and even comedy in real time/rendering, much more often than the stylized cartoony. Sometimes, it was like seeing an anime gag translated into a live action sequence. 0u0 Yet, he still kept very cartoony (comedic take) effects, like people turning to stone, or asides with unreal, cute mascots. His directing style was very refreshing, compared to what has become the norm. I can see why his style feels original and notable.
But as for whether I should buy the complete series DVD box... That was the whole reason I started watching Princess Jellyfish online, afterall. I'm a little tempted to buy, if it's cheap. But right now, only a special edition box set is out. ~_~ I mean, I'm very interested in the series concept, as laid out by Funimation's trailer. I love gender-bending and otaku protagonists. But most of the series involved the main character Tsukimi's group of friends, ostracising her new friend, simply for being a "Stylish". Even though some people may say that is an "orginal take", against the sympathetic portrayals of geeks and wallflowers, which has become the norm, realism isn't exactly something I want to spend my free time on, let alone, consider entertainment. As an Escapism junkie, I prefer a series with characters and scenes, better than what you'd see in Real Life. People being mean to others is one of my pet peeves. And a series which showcases that for most of it's time is often too traumatic for me to watch often. Unfortunately, when the leading lady's group of good friends, the regular supporting characters are unkind to the leading male, it becomes a lot of the screentime. Not to mention that frequent subplot about the slutty business executive constantly blackmailing Kuranosuke's poor brother. So how could I buy the DVDs to watch over and over? ;~; I really am drawn to the series though, and wonder if I could tolerate such a thing for Princess Jellyfish. Especially since, as the series progresses, Tsukimi's otaku friends come to gradually accept and welcome Kuranosuke/Kurako. I really wanted to see the series continue, after episode 11. That's where it had me hooked: Tsukimi was finding a place to express her dreams, and the Amamizukan friends had become friends with Kurako. But right when it was getting good, the series ended. I might have bought the DVD box if the series continued in that same great vein it was *just* getting on. Unfortunately, that good turn seemed to only be a result of the anime adaptation series being cut short. It was all artful compression, on the part of the director, to conclude the anime. So, even as I found the manga and tried to pick up where the anime adaptation left off, I found the story still stuck in the ruts that the anime director had just taken it out of...only in the anime. ...Still, if some discount DVD set ever comes out, or the volumes end up in the Right Stuf! bargain bin, maybe I'll get it. I do like Kurako's strong assertion to defend and encourage Tsukimi, and I love relating to Tsukimi's weak moments (and seeing her come out of them).