Dennou Coil full series (2007 in 12, day 4)
On Friday afternoon I watched the last two episodes of Dennou Coil and wanted to somehow commit my thoughts to words, and without interrupting the twelve day countdown into the bargain. So, here it is: Day 4 of my Twelve Best Bits of 2007. Since we’re well into the autumn season I think I can say with certainty now that DC is, as far as I’m concerned, the TV series of the year. I’ll try to pick out another few Memorable Moment candidates after the moar tag that’s a bit more specific than “the whole damn thing!” too.
I tried to emphasise during my blogging of the show that, even though it is a series aimed at a younger audience, it covers themes and ideas that are applicable to viewers of any age. The virtual world aspect and certain thematic concepts echoed of SE: Lain on numerous occasions and I’d even go as far as to say that this show is as groundbreaking as that seminal series; of course Dennou Coil is a very individual piece of work that has no parallels at all in some ways. The Ghibli comparisons are also a justified if incomplete picture of the series as a whole: while both touch on nostalgia, have a playful sense of humour and profound coming-of-age messages, it actually surpasses even Miyazaki and Takahata at times in terms of imaginative vision. I honestly believe we have a classic on our hands here.
It could have been arty and serious like Lain was, and given the concept it ran the risk of disappearing up its own backside amidst much chin- and head-scratching. What in actuality happened was that it took a more accessible and everyday approach to reflect the age of its cast and target audience instead: it portrayed issues such as the importance of household pets, friends and family in the process of growing up that are more directly relevant to life experience. Those heart-rending final scenes between the two Yuukos wasn’t just the explanation of the various mysteries and plot devices; it was a portrayal of that emotional gulf between two human beings getting that little bit smaller for a change, and would have indeed moved me to tears had I not been surrounded by strangers who were puzzled at a guy watching a cartoon on his laptop while on a crowded train.
Artistically and musically Dennou Coil was, well, quite spectacular actually. The soundtrack was low-key and at times whimsical but it exemplified the understated and ‘less is more’ approach to the presentation as a whole, which was another aspect in which it was a refreshing break from the norm. Like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Dennou Coil took a plain, watercolour-based aesthetic that’s unusual for a sci-fi effort but offered a rose-tinted and soft-focus feel of a childhood memory. This apparent simplicity was deceptive: when the action kicked in the whole affair moved along with a lifelike fluidity that seemed effortless, and gave an interesting juxtaposition with the crisp, pixellated appearance of the online objects and environments.
The core of the story is of course the relationships between the cast of characters. This is my only criticism of the show, albeit a minor one. It highlights an inevitable trade-off between the central characters and the supporting ones: I’d have liked to have learned more about Mega-ba, Fumie, Kyouko and Tamako but that would have turned the attention away from the pivotal story arcs involving the Yuukos, Kanna and Haraken. It’s testament to the meticulous planning behind the show that the writers decided to maintain this focus, even at the cost of enough details and side-stories to fill a second season of episodes.
Most importantly they all felt real. As in, not the stereotype, archetype or any particular type of character but individual personalities (who nevertheless exhibit particular traits) in the same way that real people we’ve all known and met over the years do. Everyone’s afraid of being alone, of being hurt by those close to them, to the point where they build up an emotional barrier around them. Evangelion covered this well but did it in a very blunt and exaggerated fashion; Dennou Coil shows this aspect of human interaction at ground level, showing how it manifests itself in an everyday and more recognisable setting. Sure, the kids spend much of the screen time in a parallel world that makes a whole city their playground but it’s a very universal tale of loneliness, guilt, acceptance and friendship whose messages can be pinned to real-life situations. With that amount of heart and soul it’s also important to remember that Mitsuo Iso has created one of the most meticulously and stunningly realised alternate realities to grace our screens in years too - when a production is called a labour of love this is a textbook example of what I’m getting at. Just do yourself a favour and watch it already.
Memorable Moment
Wher to begin? The meeting between Haraken and Kanna on the Other Side? Isako’s final tearful return to reality? Densuke saving Kyouko? Metabug hunting in an abandoned bus park? Ep #8, the summer festival episode, is DC at its most jovial and heartfelt; it balances that sense of fun with a seemingly endless stream of questions, mysteries and plot twists that the series excelled at from the first frame to the last.
Other ABC bloggers’ posts for the Twelve Days of Christmas
Drop your url into the comments section below if I’ve inadvertantly left you out. ^_^
Posted on December 18th, 2007 @ 1:00 am
My stand-out moment was something different - the sleepover, where the kids told each other scary stories. It’s got awesome characterisation, and also showcases how the show deftly balances the real and the imagined, and the whole idea that there’s not just a fictional world, but also a world with its own mythology which may or may not be true.
Posted on December 18th, 2007 @ 6:16 am
Great review! This was my favorite series of the year, heck I think it might be my current favorite anime. I feel so touched by this series and I enjoyed it throughly. It wasn’t overly melodramatic and didn’t try too hard to appeal to kids. I always feel so happy after watching the lighthearted episodes, and touched by the sad moments. It’s been awhile since I felt so satisfied when watching an anime.
Posted on December 18th, 2007 @ 7:19 pm
Good review. For me, too, DC is the best series of 2007 by a fairly wide margin. I’m surprised, though, that you didn’t include episode 12 among the most memorable moments - may Satchii shoot me in the face if that wasn’t the most genius filler episode I’ve ever seen - and Yasako’s mom’s lecture about the real world.
My only bone to pick are the hurried exposition given by Nekome in the last few episodes, as well as a near-lack of ending for the supporting cast; I think maybe they could have sacrificed one of the three “filler” episodes (11-13; I’d personally prefer 13, sorry Denpa) and paced the remaining story a little differently to allow for some more screentime for them when it mattered. Then again, who knows if our feeble human brains could even handle pure awesomeness without any flaws at all…
Posted on December 18th, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
@FhnuZoag: I really enjoyed that sleepover ep too - it builds Michiko up as an urban legend but not explaining her true nature until much later on in the series. Very clever. I thought the blending of myth and technology was masterful overall actually.
@Shirokiryuu: My fave of the year for sure, and may just make it into my top 10; it’s hard to say for sure on the latter point without rewatching it. This show is crying out for a R1/R2 DVD release.
Lawl: yeah, seeing everyone grow self-aware beards has me grinning inanely just thinking about it! As fun as the filler eps were (I loved the giant fish episode too), they were after all filler. That said, I suppose it offered a breather from the exposition and plot pace when viewed every week in the TV slot.
Posted on December 24th, 2007 @ 1:59 am
I just finished watching the series, So I hurried over to your review.
I’m still in shock that its over - And what a fantastic ending. I might/ WILL have to rewatch the last couple of episodes again, Seeing if there is anything I may have missed out on. Knowing the series, I pretty much know I’ve missed something.
I find this hard to believe as you state its a kids show. It can been shown to children but they still most certainly wouldn’t grasp exactly what is going on.
This is fighting hard for my number one anime place now. I think it just might have just made it, I need to let the awesomeness of DC sink in a bit first before I can decide if it is the one.
Posted on February 28th, 2008 @ 8:48 am
Thanks for this review. I totally agree that Dennou Coil is THE best anime of 2007… and it gets far too little notice. In spite of the fact that I don’t like melodrama, Isako’s lengthy internal conflict with Michiko-san was the highlight of the series for me. I’ve known people who have fought that same battle but lost, and are still struggling with their “Michiko-san” 12 years later. It’s painful to see.
This stuff is real.