K-ON! Is Moewhelming

Author: nova

Okay, so K-ON! pretty gud. I guess KyoAni got bored of all the sub-par schoolgirl series appearing like gypsies at a trotting track and decided to show how it’s done. The first episode looks and feels very pleasant and loaded to the rim with positive energy, nothing less than expected. The production crew sacrifices some of the detail in character models in favor of extreme fluidity in animation – a smart choice for a show that’s more or less focused on playing musical instruments. However as K-ON! is sailing the murky waters of the “cute-schoolgirls-doing-cute-and-funny-things“-genre, you can’t really say that there’s anything new or original in it. The character archetypes are more or less clear and the style of gags is rather predictable, but the nice execution on KyoAni’s part makes the whole thing more than watchable. I also think Yui’s seiyuu Toyosaki Aki deserves some recognition, she’s doing a damn fine job as a dojikko-character. Since it’s a music-themed series we’re talking about, the OP and ED songs are especially well done and full of energy, and the BG music works well too.

Long story short: KyoAni shows what Hyakko would’ve looked like had it been done right. Also, Yui is so moe. If you are sick of the Azumanga-type shows or think moe is destroying anime as we know it, then I recommend you give K-ON! a pass. As for me, I think this fits right in the role of relaxation entertainment after a tough day at work. GONZO’s rivaling show Saki should be rolling out any day now and it remains to be seen how K-ON! fares against it. Then again, KyoAni is known for maintaining the same level of quality throughout the run of their series while GONZO…well, you know. In any case, I have a feeling that this is going to be one hell of a season.