posts tagged “Dennou Coil”
[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]
17 Dec 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: ABC, Dennou Coil, Twelve days of Christmas]
On Friday afternoon I watched the last two episodes of Dennou Coil Buy Glucophage Without Prescription, and wanted to somehow commit my thoughts to words, and without interrupting the twelve day countdown into the bargain. Order Glucophage from United States pharmacy, So, here it is: Day 4 of my Twelve Best Bits of 2007, Glucophage images. Glucophage without prescription, 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, Glucophage interactions, Low dose Glucophage, 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, online Glucophage without a prescription. Glucophage results,
I tried to emphasise during my blogging of the show that, even though it is a series aimed at a younger audience,
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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,
Buy Glucophage Without Prescription. The Ghibli comparisons are also a justified if incomplete picture of the series as a whole: while both touch on nostalgia,
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It could have been arty and serious like Lain was, Glucophage treatment, Glucophage dose, 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, Glucophage steet value, Glucophage pics, friends and family in the process of growing up that are more directly relevant to life experience. Buy Glucophage Without Prescription, 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, Glucophage natural, Glucophage pictures, well, quite spectacular actually, where can i cheapest Glucophage online. Glucophage maximum dosage, 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, buy generic Glucophage. Glucophage from canadian pharmacy, Like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Dennou Coil took a plain, Glucophage use, Kjøpe Glucophage på nett, köpa Glucophage online, 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, real brand Glucophage online, After Glucophage, and gave an interesting juxtaposition with the crisp, pixellated appearance of the online objects and environments, japan, craiglist, ebay, overseas, paypal.
The core of the story is of course the relationships between the cast of characters,
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Glucophage blogs, 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. Buy Glucophage Without Prescription, 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, Buy Glucophage Without Prescription.
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. ^_^.
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[7 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
14 Dec 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
Buy Zovirax Without Prescription, I'm finding it increasingly hard to review this series - the jargon and double crosses are piling up and I'm resisting the urge to cop out and sum it up in fanboyish raves peppered with superlatives. What other series paints such a rich and immersive world in seemingly simplistic watercolour, Zovirax recreational. Zovirax forum, Or presents a conspiracy, the possible cover-up of a fatal experiment and a dangerous new technology in a fashion that is accessible to all ages, canada, mexico, india. Zovirax images, How will I even put off seeing it through to the end in order to wake in time for work tomorrow morning?.
If we take off the metaphorical dennou glasses and view this purely as a real-life drama piece,
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Zovirax mg, it would still be miles ahead of pretty much everything on offer this year; add the mechinations of Megamass, the Coil phenomenon and the shadow of Michiko claiming the lives of the unwary and the end result is a show so extraordinary it goes beyond the realms of ‘a great anime series’ and can stand alongside the classics as an example of how good kids' TV can be...if I could actually think of a similar series that does everything
Dennou Coil does in the same way,
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Looking at the characterisation first, Zovirax brand name, Zovirax dangers, which I guess is the proper way of going about such things, it highlights the way in which the children's experiences are shaping how their feelings and perspectives change and mature, purchase Zovirax online no prescription. Zovirax pics, After seeing Isako's psyche being torn down so painfully, we see her outwardly crying like a child...I actually had to remind myself, Zovirax photos, Purchase Zovirax for sale, "wait a minute, she actually IS a child..." because an outpouring of emotion was up until this point so out-of-character for her, buy cheap Zovirax no rx. Where can i buy Zovirax online, Thanks to Yasako's kindly nature, there appears to be a genuine bond between them that may or may not go the distance - I really hope it does because this is apparently the closest Isako's ever had to a genuine friend, buying Zovirax online over the counter. Buy Zovirax Without Prescription, There are several moments where Yasako references back to the early episodes and their first meetings, which hammered home for me just how far the kids, and the show as a whole, have come. Zovirax online cod, The central messages of the series are now clearer than ever: the aftermath of Densuke's heroic fight back against the Null Illegals (I'll say it again: that dog's only a Dennou pet but he is pure awesomeness) brings up the issue centred around choosing real feelings over those of the Dennou world. Yasako's reaction to losing Densuke led her to question if, buy generic Zovirax, Taking Zovirax, just because the loss wasn't real in the physical sense, are the feelings of loss real, where can i order Zovirax without prescription. Herbal Zovirax, It is after all, loss of mere data; the emotions and memories that go with it are however as real as anything we can see or touch, discount Zovirax. Buy Zovirax from canada, Another pervading theme, brought sharply to light by Isako's (hopefully not) final exchange, Zovirax pictures, Zovirax no prescription, is that of friendship and its overwhelming importance in any situation. As the scenes at school after the glasses' confiscation showed, kids are adaptable so Daiichi's 1337 martial arts skillz are just one example of how they rekindle old allegiances and hierarchies in their social circle, even after their main source of fun and amusement is taken away, Buy Zovirax Without Prescription. Because, Zovirax over the counter, Zovirax for sale, after all, the Circle of Children is fundamentally about friendship and that old adage of how we are all separated by a distance between one another that may take a lifetime to bridge, Zovirax use. Order Zovirax online overnight delivery no prescription, It's a well-worn message but a universal one, and Dennou Coil portrays it more eloquently than many others, Zovirax treatment. Zovirax description, The episode #25 preview seems to show Isako alive too, if only on the Other Side for now, where can i find Zovirax online, Order Zovirax from mexican pharmacy, so I really hope there's a reconciliation for the two Yuuko's before the end; I'd hate to see either of them have to make a Lain-esque sacrifice, even if it's for the sake of the others, online Zovirax without a prescription.
The business regarding the Coil Space, Megamass and Yasako's late grandfather left me tied up in knots actually (late night viewing is always less than ideal...I might give it a rewatch on the train tomorrow) but I did get the impression that it's one big cover-up and those behind it all even know how to get Isako to play into their hands.
Buy Zovirax Without Prescription, Is her brother still alive. I hope for that too. In fact I'm hoping for a happy ending all round, in which nobody has to lose their soul to a virtual world and all have the opportunity to walk that narrow, winding and sometimes lonely path to the future. I don't know why, but I have a distinct feeling that even if the final episodes do something unexpected, they won't be disappointing. My only justification for believing this is that a series that's been so solid and consistent in quality, and have so much careful thought behind it, cannot possibly fail us now.
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[9 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
30 Nov 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
Ventolin For Sale, As cliff-hangers go, #18 of Dennou Coil took some beating with poor little Kyouko being dragged away by shadowy Illegals; it's become something of a supernatural piece in which the cyberbody can be separated from the physical self, and by the end of #21 offers some head-scratchery that led me to question certain portions of what I'd seen previously. Buy Ventolin from canada, Honestly, I never expected a kids' show to go all Lain on us, Ventolin cost, Buy no prescription Ventolin online, not that I think of that as bad or anything. From the creeping Illegals through the Pochi battles that played out like Star Wars scaled down, buy Ventolin online no prescription, Ventolin blogs, to the quite cruel mental attack on Isako, this is pretty heavy stuff by DC's own standards; the series has come a long way and I'm looking forward to see where it takes things as it enters the final furlong, where to buy Ventolin. Ventolin from canada,
The retrieval of Kyouko threw up a few interesting details to chew on but the highlight was undoubtedly good old Densuke coming to the rescue and providing a nail-biting finale to the episode: kudos to the little pooch for bringing back the little brat who'd been tormenting him for the past nineteen episodes. It did make me wonder though - just how much does Mega-ba really know about the Other Side, Ventolin pictures. While society at large was dismissing it as idle gossip and the work of hackers, she seemed to think that the situation really was cause for concern and even went to the trouble of calling Yasako and Fumie (I thought the way in which the Dennou-minded Yasako looked a bit baffled at an old-school analogue telephone was a nice touch), Ventolin For Sale. Order Ventolin online overnight delivery no prescription, The visuals of this episode were fantastic in conveying that creepy atmosphere - it looked like something out of Project Zero at times (one of the few games I've seen that I've genuinely wanted to try out for myself). The watercolour-based aesthetic of what came across as a sci-fi show felt a bit odd to me at first but now that the story has progressed this far I can begin to see why the decision was made because it wouldn't have maintained its air of mystery had it gone for the polished cyberpunk-derived approach, where can i order Ventolin without prescription. Purchase Ventolin online,
Episode #20 is, without a doubt,
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Ventolin For Sale, From Haraken's point of view this is a pivotal moment I think, so it's no surprise that he's profoundly affected by it all. Why and how Kanna wound up in the state she was is still not clear but damn...that was a really powerful scene - a highlight I'll no doubt remember when I look back on the series as a whole,
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Dennou Coil accomplishes that tricky knack of deftly moving between the tender and the exhilerating with ease; the murky,
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After the dust from all this settles, the whole story seems to leap into the sunlight with the kids all attending a shiny new school building with the generally bright outlook of new beginnings, although Haraken was still recuparating,
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[4 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
07 Nov 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
I've come to realise that I can't properly concentrate on the current season until I've seen Dennou Coil Tramadol For Sale, through to the end. Buy Tramadol no prescription, After a jovial and fragmented middle section (I can't bring myself to call it filler when it was so entertaining) the story eases back into its stride and effortlessly ventures into darker territory, posing as many tantalising questions as it answers, after Tramadol. Tramadol no prescription, Fantastic stuff.
There's still much to enjoy in terms of humour (Re: Mega-ba getting into trouble at the hospital for trying to cook pike in a side ward!) but it's turned its attention back to the mystery surrounding Haraken's investigation into Kanna's death,
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Where can i cheapest Tramadol online, By the standards of a kids' show this is pretty scary stuff, dealing as it does with the possibility of people's cyber bodies and souls being trapped on the ‘other side’,
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Order Tramadol online overnight delivery no prescription, wherever that may be. On one hand this is all dismissed as just another urban legend and humoured by the sensationalist media; at the same time it threatens Haraken's safety so is quite clearly (at least to us and the kids) a very real threat indeed,
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Dennou Coil is expertly blurring the line between the reality of adults and the frightening view through the Dennou glasses: are the grown-ups really missing something serious here.
It's been a while (too darned long in my opinion) since I last found the time to catch up with Coil,
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Tramadol steet value, so I'm falling in love with its unique atmosphere and mythology all over again. What youngsters' TV is so often missing these days - and I count anime in with this too - is the meticulously observed and expertly handled characterisation that allows the viewer to connect with their feelings,
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Tramadol class, adding a sense of realism whose significance is all too often underestimated. That recurring theme of communication (or lack of) between friends - those who should be closest of all - rears its head once again; there's a stunning scene featuring Haraken and Yasako (above) which highlights the ability of friends to share some secrets but also conceal certain things to protect one another,
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Tramadol For Sale, The great thing is, even though this is a kids' show the pain, misunderstandings and tension are so palpable and genuine that viewers of any age can relate to them.
Buy Tramadol online cod, It's actually a good thing that the cast are of the age they are in a way because their emotions have a purity that would be complicated by romantic tension that comes with adolescence. There are the beginnings of affection there of course (as in that awesome festival episode earlier on in the series) but the dynamic between,
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When things pick up in pace though,
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Online buy Tramadol without a prescription, are the stuff that a production with a feature film budget would be proud of. As in the more emotionally-charged segments,
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Story-wise the pieces are beginning to fall into place now and even though some are a little obvious it's a rewarding experience to see questions thrown up and enough being left unanswered too keep the continuity moving along,
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[2 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
27 Sep 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
The mid-season filler segment seems to have reached an end now, which comes at a perfect time since I was beginning to have doubts about how the story would get back on track. Okay, maybe 'doubt' is too strong a word but the plotline was beginning to get bogged down; nevertheless there were some fantastic details that came out of these episodes, and things seem to be moving along now anyway.
Denpa and his dinosaur
As much as it qualifies as filler, the episode featuring good old Denpa and an Illegal dinosaur highlighted so much about his compassionate nature that I'm glad I didn't skip it in favour of the next instalment. If you sit this outing alongside ep #11, in which Daichi's selfish desire for collecting metabugs spirals out of control and almost drowns Daikoku completely, Denpa's motives are much more harmless and altruistic. Yeah, I really felt sorry for him by the end of the episode...I honestly thought they'd make it somehow. The artwork in this episode was especially spectacular - BTW, didn't that old factory look a bit familiar...?
The Dennou Coil dinosaur and another iconic skyline shot...it's probably a coincidence after all
The episode that follows initially turned out to be a bit of a recap effort but I was rewarded for my patience (even when being treated to a pint-sized virtual kitten with hands for ears, patience is required when I sit through recaps) towards the end when Haraken meets an interesting stranger. It's a very sudden but welcome return to form after the levity of what we've seen recently, and throws the show back into 'mystery mode'.
A monitor kitty
After Denpa getting some screen time and character exploration, Yasako gets some attention too, which hasn't really happened much since the early episodes. Her wanderings that attempted to rekindle those all-important lost memories were quite touching in a way, as was the friendship she struck with Takeru. A great strength of Dennou Coil is how tenderly the character-driven scenes are handled; once again I was getting that Ghibli-esque feeling that the creators are able to portray the innocent curiosity and sense of adventure of childhood with absolute ease.
Yasako and Takeru
The revelations and plot progression of #14 and #15 weren't overdue or anything, but I suspect that if there had been any more stand-alone episodes I probably would have been quite critical of them, even if their content was as enjoyable as the episode featuring Denpa and his dinosaur. At this point there are not one but two new characters who will no doubt be really important to the story later on so all things considered Dennou Coil is still pure brilliance - I honestly haven't even considered the autumn season line-up yet at all.
[No Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
09 Sep 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
Dennou Coil continues to be my favourite show of the season as we're introduced to more details surrounding Kanna's death when the kids find her diary and Yasako cracks the password code. The awkwardness between her and Haraken is portrayed with the restraint and eloquence that I've come to expect from this show - I felt really, really, sorry for Haraken after he finally read Kanna's diary. No kid should have to shoulder that sort of pain at his age.
Poor Haraken!
Sadly the second of the two outings that follow is a filler episode that doesn't do much to progress the story. With any other series I'd look upon filler episodes with distain but in Dennou Coil's case I can forgive them because the ep in question was such fun. Seeing every character growing an Illegal 'beard' which becomes self-aware and forms its own civilisation had me in stitches - so much so that I didn't mind the fact that the series was obviously stalling for time. Since it was planned so meticulously, I'm guessing that Daichi's First Hair was a 'standby episode' intended to be aired in the event of unforseen scheduling and/or production hiccups so I'm not expecting a Wolf's Rain-esque derailment of the plot that causes too many problems.
The absurdity of Illegal virtual hair
The episode that involved Daichi adopting an Illegal that ends up growing out of control and creating cubes of water-filled space left, right and centre was brilliant though. It's an entertaining effort and introduces the strained relationship between Mega-ba and Haraken's aunt; it adds a bit to the background too, highlighting for the first time the idea of an Illegal that feeds off the virtual material of walls, street furniture and so on. The dynamic between Daichi and Fumie was fantastic as well, reminding us once again at how masterfully the show does its characterisation.
All your fish are belong to us
It was also one of the most imaginative episodes so far. The sight of the Sattchis floating around helplessly, the giant fish, the cubes of water and the Coil Agency's attempt to sort it all out are prime examples of why I enjoy this show so much. Hopefully we'll see more of the same and some further development in Haraken's investigations from here on.
[3 Comments]
[Anime Reviews]
20 Aug 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
You may have noticed I'm not doing episode-by-episode reviews any more. Basically, blogs such as T.H.A.T. and Star Crossed are quicker than me on that front, and do it better into the bargain. Watching several in a row before reviewing them is easier, especially with the likes of Dennou Coil. It's an absolute joy to watch - not to mention hopelessly addictive.
On the trail of a missing cyberpet...again
Ep #7 is a prime example of how this show blends urban legend and truth - very much like the Knights of the S.E. Lain universe - until not even the viewer knows where the reality ends and the myth begins (I bet the short snatches of dialogue at the beginning of the episodes are really quite important). In a scene that is in actuality pretty funny, the two Yukos find themselves trapped in an abandoned building with an Illegal running riot while Kyoko chases after a cyberhamster that has been reported missing. It's all good fun but we get just a little of insight into the mythology that forms a background to the show as well as some glimpses into Amasawa's character - I can only wonder how long she can keep that hard-ass front that she carries around with her. The moment where she rescues Kyoko, not to mention the conversation with Yasako, might be a turning point for her as it was for Haraken in the last outing.
The Yuukos captive with another Illegal on the loose
Speaking of Haraken, he is given an important lead in his investigation surrounding Kanna - for a show as light and bright as this, it's a serious and powerful scene which highlights how 'grown up' he is, especially when placed next to the likes of Daichi. Episode #8 seems to break through Haraken's shell however during the summer festival while he finds another clue regarding Kanna.
Dunno why but I just love this pic
This was possibly my favourite episode so far - it's proof of Dennou Coil's intricate plotting that the Illegal Haraken finds is only one of several memorable and important moments in the story. His reaction to Yasako in her full yukata outfit is as telling to us as Daichi's reaction is to Fumie; it is here where we get a fantastic demonstration of Dennou Coil as a character piece as well as science fiction. The summer festival thing is as overdone as the hot springs type of episode in anime shows but this is a heartwarming, funny, and enlightening example of how such a well-used plot device can still make for great entertainment. This is where we all can relate to these guys in some way or another. Check out Kyoko's revenge on Daichi though - I lol-ed until I rofl-ed, as they say.
Ramune down collar...owned!
Episode #9 didn't work as well for me though, perhaps because the serious and jovial aspects were in much starker contrast, making it feel as if it wasn't sure whether to be serious or not. That sort of slapstick comedy doesn't usually do much for me anyway, which is probably why I missed the tenderness and emotional insight of the previous instalment. The ghost story/trial of courage theme is another old anime favourite but I felt it detracted from the appearance of the Michiko apparition and Hareken's head trip scene, which I wanted to see in more detail.
Michiko who?
I'm not saying ep #9 wasn't good, but as is often the case with quality shows, Dennou Coil sets high standards for itself with successive episodes: I loved the antics of ep #8 in particular. This is a series that works, and rocks hard, on a number of crucial levels. In the same way as, say, Miyazaki's Totoro (the review is imminent...I promise), it masterfully shows the world from a child's perspective as limitless, exciting, scary and who knows what else; and yet, it can tap into the adventurous child in all of us without coming across as patronising. I'd put money on a Western licence being on the cards already.
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[Anime Reviews]
11 Aug 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
Now that I'm getting used to the terminology in this show, I'm finding it easier to follow the story and get taken along for the ride. Yuuko Amasawa is introduced properly as a new classmate to Yuuko Okonogi and Fumie (I'll be calling the Yuukos by their nicknames from now on to prevent confusion!), and after some amusing incidents involving class prankster Daichi, she exerts her authority as an 'encoder' to use him and his gang of hackers for her own ends.
I was chuckling out loud at the 'class hacking' incident, which takes the schooltime playing around and updates it for the
Dennou Coil universe: Isako's skills allow her to fend off Daichi's spam-bombing, and delivers a comeback without breaking a sweat. We're also introduced to the enigmatic Haraken, whose shy and taciturn demeanour makes him a great contrast to Fimie's brash personality but is even more interesting; the story behind his drive to research is really quite tragic, and that moment at the end of episode #6 where he finally smiles feels like a real milestone for him.
We're being introduced to more and more details as the show progresses, but I still feel we're scratching the surface here. The series'
Wiki entry states it's been in development for over ten years now - a startling fact which isn't overly surprising considering the amount of thought that appears to have gone into its every level. The smallest details, from the way a table jolts when Fumie slams her fist down, to the textures of materials of the online world, are realised with an attention to detail that is, for want of a better word, staggering. I thought I'd seen imaginative sci-fi and impressive Madhouse efforts, but
Dennou Coil is already promising to sit up there with the best of them.
Haraken is an example of the character-driven aspect of the show, which also exhibits a remarkable amount of complexity: Isako's exchange with Yasako speaks volumes about them both, but her motives are still unclear. The social politics will no doubt be familiar territory to the middle/high school aged the target audience, but Isako's arrival at the school brings up good old fashioned schoolroom drama with some profound truths about how we all interact as youngsters. If only school really was as interesting as it is in Daikoku...
The worldview of
Dennou Coil may be set in the future, but it had me thinking about how the online world has already progressed. Ever the technophobe at the time, my first experience of the internet was seven years ago in my first year of university; unlike Daikoku, my high school had only one internet connection and anyone wishing to e-mail to the school had to phone the library in advance (this is going back twelve years or more, don't forget). These days, this is unthinkable! The 'net has become an integral part of my own life but we're now seeing a generation of kids grow up with the concept from the get-go - like Kyoko, they're exposed to the 'vast and infinite' online world at such a young age that it's second nature to them. For a show such as
Dennou Coil to connect with its young audience, it must mean that the jargon of the series is also second nature - all of a sudden I'm feeling as old and clueless as my parents!
I'm now seeing
Dennou Coil as not only a downright brilliant anime series but, as all good science fiction is, a reflection of how our world is today. Kids can play in a different world that is limited by their own imagination and will to explore; it also hides hidden dangers. As much as I feel like a dinosaur for struggling to get my head around a series intended for Japanese schoolkids, I'm addicted to immersing myself in a richly-realised parallel world. Although there is the possibility of serious injury such as in the case of poor Kanna, the worst that normally happens is a broken pair of glasses and pocket money down the drain. Credit must go to Mitsuo Iso for creating such a mind-blowing environment - the kids can go digging for buried treasure, keep their own pets, become master hackers and literally make an entire city their playground. Who hasn't dreamed of a childhood like that?
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[Anime Reviews]
15 Jul 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Dennou Coil]
There have been a couple excellent shows this season that have proved that we as fans are as spoiled as a rich kid on Christmas morning...my coverage of them has sadly gone on temporary hiatus now that they're licenced. With a bit more spare viewing time and a slew of recommendations, I gave Denno Coil a try - and what a hidden gem it is.
The first couple of episodes are a tad confusing, given that they're set in a near-future city in which computer and internet technology has worked its way into the fabric of real life. Terms such as 'meta tags', 'firewalls' and 'viruses', well-known to people who are infinitely more I.T.-literate than I am, will be in their element here but it's an eye-opener to see theoretical concepts and techie jargon words taking on tangible forms. One character's (virtual) pet dog falls ill, so she has to download a cure to remedy it; with the help of special glasses and goggles, characters can walk the streets and 'see' beings and objects from the electronic world superimoposed onto our own.
This is all a bit hard to envisage without seeing the episodes for yourself, but it reminds me of two very opposing types of anime - the first being, rather obviously, the high-tech masterpiece
Serial Experiments: Lain. As in
Dennou Coil, the 'virtual' world is blurring with reality and various aspects of each spill into the other. The other that sprung to mind is, more surprisingly, the family-friendly fantasy fare of Studio Ghibli. The virtual critters and bugs could have walked (or crawled) into the
Lain worldview from a Miyazaki movie, although
Dennou Coil, for all its talk of dangerous software and missing pets, remains quite a harmless show that is unlikely to frighten younger viewers.
Given my
Lain and Ghibli comparisons, it comes as no surprise that I fell in love with the artwork of
Dennou Coil straightaway- I was overjoyed and not unduly surpised to learn it's a product of Studio Madhouse. In my experience they have given us almost 100% pure win, although
DC's visual style is quite different from the likes of, say,
Paranoia Agent. The palette is quite subdued and washed out, giving it a 'watercolour' feel that's unusual for a sci-fi show; the character designs are also very distinctive and remind me once again of Miyazaki's and Takahata's very simple but expressive creations.
Initially I thought there was a problem with my player (there is, but this isn't it), but the 'virtual' objects appear blocky and pixellated, making them stand out from the normality that surrounds them; small touches like these gently reminded me that
DC is a show whose production values are high but their quality is not immediately apparent.
The story is introduced at a pretty well-measured pace, setting things up for a fun romp in which our heroes fight hackers and save cute, fluffy creatures of various types. There are also half-forgotten memories and more nasty-looking manifestations but I think it's unlikely that this show will deliver a shock to the system like
Bokurano has. Because of the young protagonists, it appeals to a wide demographic that encompasses even yong children; on top of this, visually and thematically it's the most fresh and imaginative series I've seen in months. If you haven't watched this show already, I'd highly recommend you check it out.
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