[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- 1-3: when things that once were beautiful are bland
Get the reference there? Please?
Um, right. I started reading around the aniblogosphere while I was waiting for the subbed versions but after getting the general “not as good as the original” gist repeatedly, I gave up on reading and commenting. Put it down to the way in which reading excessive negativity dampens my mood and spoils things for me. This series however suffers what I call the SOFAD Effect: ask any Depeche Mode fan what they thought of Songs of Faith and Devotion and the first thing would be “It wasn’t as good as Violator.” The trouble is, nothing they’ve done is as good as Violator, which detracts from the fact that SoFaD is not half bad in its own right. I guess my analogy here is, beyond recommending Violator as a masterpiece, that Gunslinger Girl: -Il Teatrino- is actually quite good. Just not nearly AS good as what went before.
It’s part of my blogging nature I guess to jump to a show’s defence when everyone else is in a state of “Zetsubou shita!” dismay and rabid disappointment (in other words, you should be used to it by now). I’m fully aware of how it isn’t nearly as gritty, realistic or eloquent as the first season, whose budget must’ve looked shocking on paper but paid for itself over and over again on-screen. Il Teatrino lacks an element of what I can only call sophistication - season #1 was one of those rare pieces of anime that was mature, intelligent and avoided all the clichés to make a show that was as far removed from the archetype of its respective genres as is possible to get. Depending on how the subject matter is handled, it could be anything from exploitative and repulsive to heartfelt and profound; while the first season was decidedly of the latter, at least the second avoids being the former. There is however a crucial dash of polish and assuredness that’s sorely lacking here but for me at least, a partial measure of the original’s brilliance has been retained…not much I grant you, but just enough to keep me watching.
The op theme sums it up for me: it’s actually quite decent, but somewhat average after getting so attached to the Delgados’ superlative offering. Similarly, the character designs are familiar enough for existing fans to recognise but different enough for the changes to be glaringly noticeable. It’s a sudden change, which is probably more the significant problem than the fact that there was a change in the first place. Things like car designs don’t bother me - personally, I think Fiats look stupid anyway. Nor do the voice acting performances let it down from my own point of view; I do recall Henrietta being even more shy and whisper-y though, but that’s a minor criticism since Triela seems to take centre stage this time.
Placing Triela in the thick of the action was a wise move since Henrietta and her relationship with Jose was covered so well in the first season. The arrival of Pino as an antagonist is a brilliant development too, adding a foil for their operations which, in retrospect, was the only thing the first season lacked. With her more grown-up and pragmatic outlook, Triela is a great central character to carry the storyline along and whose mannerisms give what to me sums up what makes the series special: the franchise’s trademark juxtaposition of tenderness and brutality, which still gets me every time.
Moments such as diligently loading a pistol in her dorm room with stuffed toys in the background or looking on at a recently-killed victim and wearing an expression of calm satisfaction usually reserved for the completion of a household chore all look out-of-place, jarring and quite sad. Such is the central ethos of Gunslinger Girl: they are kids trying to live human lives while a pitiless system is stamping the humanity out of them in order to further its own ends. Seeing Triela getting shot at, spattered with blood and suffering personal injury doing things no youngster should have to do does look jarring but beyond that initial impression of discomfort, the series shines as a character piece. So far Il Teatrino does this to a lesser degree, but it shines nonetheless.
These episodes work best in the pan shots (which, again, are impressive unless you can remember how Madhouse rendered them) and the more sedate moments of dialogue, presumably because they play to Artland’s strengths. I do love Madhouse by the way, and the first season of Gunslinger Girl was to my mind one of the best pieces they’ve done to date. Artland are good at the picturesque stuff but their style is very watercolour-ish; I’d say it was impressionist if I knew much about fine art, which is unfortunately not best suited to this sort of show. The wheels fall off in the action scenes because the lacklaustre choreography feels like that of just another anime action thriller…the problem is, Gunslinger Girl never was just another anime action thriller. It was one hell of a lot more, which is preaching to the choir for anyone who’s watched from the beginning. I suppose I’m relieved that at least some of that is beginning to come through after the mediocre opening acts because, after all, it’s the story that’s going to really make or break it.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 12:42 am
I’ve given up watching this series. By the second episode it was just starting to feel like a tacky add on to the first season and I stopped trying to enjoy it. It wasn’t bad in all honesty but the first season set the bar and this second season just tripped and fell on it’s face.
At some point in the future I may give it another chance but for the moment it’s too much of a downgrade.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 4:47 am
I thought it picked up in the 3rd episode. I’m giving Il Teatrino another chance, the important thing would be that I’d just have to lower my expectations a bit.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 4:53 am
I netflixed the first series to be ready for this one. I cringed when I saw the animation for the ep 1 riot, and thought maybe I’d better leave off, but after reading your post maybe I’ll give it a second chance.
The new season may carry more of the elements you expect in a series, such as an overarching story, and regular antagonist, but season one didn’t need those things. It cast a spell, introduced by the Delgados song (I can’t think of a more appropriate opening theme to a series), and we saw the day-to-day horrors of these girls’ lives through a wall of emotion. Walls of emotion don’t last long. Twelve episodes was quite enough. It might be interesting to see what they can do with a more story-driven approach.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
I think the problem really just is, “This isn’t what we’re used to”, at least music-wise, animation-wise, and character design-wise. I guess the question is, does the show at least retain the feeling that is the point of the entire series, and I’d say yes. I hope that there’s a little better execution though, since things seem a little forced.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
You’ve written exactly what I thought of it. It’s good, but the reduced production values let it down, while clumsy action sequences feel pretty weak when compared with the nail biting life and death fights of the first series.
The story is still the ace however. The first episode’s focus on action made it look hopeless, however the second episode reassured me that story was up to standard. It’s not a dazzling start, and comparison with Madhouse’s efforts make it look even worse but there’s still potential.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
@Sy: you’re unlucky in dropping the series there, because the opening ep is IMO pretty poor, and things only improve once the story gets going. I recommend seeing it as far as ep 2 or 3 before judging it one way or the other.
@hayase: lowering your expectations is probably the best plan - accepting that it’s not as good as season #1 is kinda essential to enjoying season #2 at all, or at least it is for me.
@Peter S: the first series was very character-driven, but now that they have already been introduced, it makes sense for the second to be more story-driven. The riot scene had me cringing too (how small IS their budget?!) but as long as the plot is decent, it should be worth a second chance.
@TheBigN: I’m still of the opinion that it’s a change that’s had fans up in arms - after all, the names and general likenesses are the only aspects that are the same. The music, different. The aesthetic, different. The direction, different. It is jarring, especially when you feel that the first season got more or less everything just right.
@Wildcard: again, the story I think will carry it when the visuals don’t. The potetntial’s there but these episodes are less…delicate?…in portraying the girls’ situations. The director seems to lack the confidence the previous one had somehow.
Posted on January 30th, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
@ConcreteBadger: Sorry I wasn’t very clear. I did actually watch the second and third episode but by the third I’d totally lost interest in watching anymore after having pretty much already given up after the second.
Posted on May 14th, 2008 @ 2:19 am
I think its good except for the fact that the characters look more fake than the first season. I bet if it was in english we can understand whats going on. But other than that its ok.