2/21/2015 - 10:55 PM - GMT +8
By: Seth Legaspi
Edited on 4/28/2015
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| (Left to Right): Misa Toudou, Ema Yasuhara, Aoi Miyamori, Midori Imai, Shizuka Sakaki |
Without reading any synopsis or asking about this show, I somehow decided to just dive headfirst into it due to off-hand remarks I heard about it while at school.
At first, I thought it was just another school-type series, wherein it focuses on the activities and adventures of these high school girls in their club or something.
Then...
THEN!
Oh boy, I was surprised when it suddenly shifted to 4/5 of the entire club graduating, and then abruptly moved to a scene of Aoi Miyamori at a traffic stop:
(Here is when I realized that this character will be the 'focal point' or the 'Main main character')
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| With those kinds of eyes too |
By P.A. Works, Sentai Filmworks, and Warner Bros., (Yes, Warner Bros.) Shirobako gives us this very interesting take on the 'Anime Industry.'
One of the things that kept my attention on this series is its focus on the characters themselves, and how their relationships, situations, and lifestyle affect the greater whole.
One more thing, Shirobako passes the Bechdel test several times over throughout this first arc's episodes. And I have to admit, this enhances the story even more, and with it the focus that I stated above, since instead of diverting the viewer's attention to a 'romance/pairing,' the series instead sets its viewers on its main subject; the 'anime industry.'
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| Yes, since their jobs are part of the anime industry, even their 'get-togethers' are aligned with the subject |
Moving on, this anime series has two OPs, there's one for the first episode, and there's another OP for the rest of the arc. The show's concept of having two opening themes really gives that sort of 'special feeling' to the show, since a kind of emphasis is given to the first episode, as well as the rest of the first arc. It also has an ED that really fits the show's overall mood.
The first episode's opening theme, 'I'm Sorry EXODUS,' by Tracy (Mai Nakahara, Shizuka Itou, Ai Kayano) really set the mood with its cute and merry theme. The trio's voices really fit the song's intended mood well, and when the main, Aoi Miyamori sang along with it, it gave me this fuzzy feeling with how adorable it was, especially when it was mixed with the visuals. This song may seem quite random at first, but if the introduction of the song is taken into account, as the OP of the anime they're making, the song now has this deeper meaning in its usage as the OP for the first episode, since it marks the beginning of the main character's journey into this sort of life, an 'Exodus,' in a sense.
The second OP, 'Colorful Box,' by Yoko Ishida truly emphasizes this message of a beginning journey. The mellow melody of the song, along with its use visuals that at the end displays fragments of scenes, really gives that nostalgic effect. In fact, the lyrics themselves blatantly pours a shower of nostalgia about those 'good old days.' Overall, this song certainly sustained the series' general idea on the anime industry, wherein it's a journey of sorts.
The ED, 'Animetic Love Letter,' by the three of the Main Characters, Aoi Miyamori(Juri Kimura), Shizuka Sakaki (Haruka Chisuga), and Ema Yasuhara (Haruka Yoshimura), finishes an episode by giving a 'closure' through a mellow, yet more upbeat song. With the 'puppet theater-like' visuals, it really gives that 'closure' kind of vibe for the episode that just finished, and sets you up for the next one, especially with most of the previews happening right after it.
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| dat CG |
What I really found interesting about this series though, is how it placed its main characters in a realistic setting, and then put them up against the hardships and dilemmas of their chosen professions.
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| Such as being outperformed by a well-known voice-actress in an audition |
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| Doing things that were not part of your expectations on the job |
Despite these however, the series then shows how each characters tackles these problems in their own way. I know, it seems really simple just saying it like that, but the way the characters did it, as well as Miyamori's (the light-orange haired girl) thoughts on the rationale of each character really defined this anime series' message, heck even the 'side-characters' had their own moments, especially with the job competition we have today.
With such things, this show seems to be really filled with content, and surprisingly, they were still able to add in a lot of 'office-drama' wherein stuff go wrong with their jobs (not romance stuff as I stated above, but work-related problems).
I simply liked how this series possibly shows the staff's own experiences within it. I won't go as far as saying to use it as a reference, but the idea this series has been conveying really touches me for some reason.
I highly recommend this series for anime enthusiasts, fans, and the like, since it will give you a glimpse on the anime-industry itself. I also recommend this for young folks that are thinking about their future, since it really makes one think on what their choice should be.
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| Just watch it! |
Update! 3/6/2015 (Though I believe I should have noticed this earlier)
They made an OVA on Exodus! (The anime series that they're working on in this first arc of Shirobako)
(Preview)
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