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[Categories: Anime Reviews]

Moyashimon: first impressions

Posted by Martin  [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives, Moyashimon]

Cute talking microbes. That was the general summing-up of what could be the oddest but most inventive series of the season: Moyashimon (Tales of Agriculture). ANN’s listing gives the simple synopsis of “College student Tadayasu Sawaki has a unique ability. He can see and communicate with bacteria and other microorganisms. Hijinks ensue.” Not much to go on I admit, but there’s not a great deal else happening at first. In a way it reminds me of Honey and Clover in portraying the trivialities of humdrum student life in an amusing and realistic slice-of-life way. Plus cute talking microbes.

Moyashimon: wholesome and full of flavour, and packed with friendly bacteria

I’m currently enduring a pretty taxing biomed course which includes a medical microbiology module so the names of the various species are pretty familiar. So too are the views of laboratories, petri dishes and whatnot. I can’t stand this aspect of the subject as a matter of fact: the reams of impossible-to-remember names, the smell of agar and bacterial cultures, the lurid pictures of various infected body parts just as I’m thinking of heading to the cafeteria…suffice to say I hate the little buggers.

It’s odd then that I find the microbes as they’re portrayed in Moyashimon utterly adorable. Plenty of other bloggers have been waxing lyrical about the kawaii-ness of them, which I found to be strange given the occasional nastiness they cause in real life; after sitting through the first episode and finding myself creased up with laughter at Sawaki and his microscopic friends though, I was just as hooked. Make no mistake, many of Moyashimon’s biggest selling points are the residents of the culture plates, rubbish heaps and beakers, almost to the point at which the human members of the cast are in supporting roles.

There isn’t a big hint of a story just yet, which isn’t much of a worry since it feels like one of those unhurried shows that will get around to stuff like the plot when it’s good and ready, and not a moment before. The characters are just being introduced anyway, such as Sawaki (apparently he has only spoken of his ability to family and close friends, which comes as no surprise when he gets such a sceptical response at times), his best friend Kei, their professor Itsuki-sensei and his assistant Haruka. They’re a really likable and engaging bunch actually, which is a shame when they so often play second fiddle to their tiny research subjects. Itsuki is in particular a real oddball: he’s clearly an expert but takes his work way too far…sucking bird guts through their anus?! Very bizarre.

There’s a strong educational streak running through the proceedings too (especially the microbe theatre, which remind me of the Gits SAC Tachikoma Days segments); it’s informative and as far as I can tell scientifically accurate, but fortunately that doesn’t get in the way of the laughs. For me personally, Moyashimon is a reminder that science doesn’t have to be dull, uninteresting and hard to understand - my childhood enthusiasm for the subject will probably never return now, but that doesn’t stop me being enthralled by this whimsical piece of pure win.

Apparently we move onto seeing how sake is made in later episodes (yay!), which ought to feature my personal faves, the unspeakably cute Aspergillus Oryzae. I cannot wait.

[Filed under Anime Reviews]  [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives, Moyashimon]

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