K-On!
けいおん!
K-on! is a 2009 anime that is currently on-going, assumed 12-13 episodes. It can be classified as “Moe” and “Slice-of-Life.”
K-On! is about a high school popular music (light music) club. K-On focuses on the little slice-of-life things from trying to make a band and learning an instrument on top of juggling school. It is very much a stylized-moe anime, so if Lucky Star pissed you off, don’t watch K-On. It’s even MORE moe pandering.
That being said, I LIKE K-On. It’s like Lucky Star in that the unimportant things are pointed out to be humorous, but don’t compare it with Lucky Star too much. Don’t over-analyze it; just take K-on! at face value and I guarantee it’ll be more enjoyable.
The animation is, as usual Kyo-Ani, very well done, and this time the bg music is commendable. Nothing grand or amazing, but cute and catchy. Which is the point and essence of K-on. Cute and catchy. There are running gags, and all the charas are super moe. Mio is a little over-the-top cute, in my opinion. It’s like every moe trait was crammed into her, which makes me feel like she’s just a container of moe traits sometimes. Most people label her as their favorite character, though, and it’s undeniable that moe-blobs are crowd-pleasers. My fave chara has to be the airheaded Yui, since she’ll do what she wants to without caring about public opinion (air guitar in the middle of the sidewalk). Though I’ll admit she annoyed the heck out of me in the first coupla episodes, she really grew to be a likeable, happy-go-lucky character.
I know there’s negative opinions out there. I acknowledge the “Kyo-ani is trying too hard to make sales with the moe,” but that’s about all I am willing to tolerate. “The gags are cheap,” “There’s no plot/it’s moving too slowly,” etc… Yeah yeah, but that’s the freaking point of a slice-of-life. It’s SLICE OF LIFE, guys. Don’t expect an opus! Anyway, the one opinion out there that pisses me off is “Where’s the music?! It’s supposed to be about music! It should be more like Beck!” (which is also a good anime, but that’s neither here nor there.)
… Have you READ the manga? It’s not an anime about music, folks! It’s about high school girls who just happen to want to do a band. Don’t watch it if you want an anime all about how some girls form a band and get their music on the way to stardom. They play girl-pop for goodness’ sake. And WHY are people comparing it to Beck?! THEY’RE NOT IN THE SAME GENRE. It’s like comparing a 5-cent romance novel with Shakespeare. You watch K-On! for the giggles and $#it, not for drama and inspiration.
Seriously, people. The only MAJOR problem I see with K-On! is that people over-estimated it, or just expected something out of it that was never there to begin with. If you don’t like high school, slice-of-life, moe comedy, then why are you watching it and then complaining that it’s just a high school, slice-of-life, moe comedy?
Oh, and the complaint that the characters “magically” get good at playing … well, I’ll admit I’m more tolerable of that since I read the manga and know that Yui is SUPPOSED to have ridiculous, innate skillz (with a last name like Hirasawa, it makes sense). But do remember, shogun, that the first 3 episodes covers a span of 3/4ish months. If Yui doesn’t do anything but go to class and practice guitar after school until midnight, which is what is suggested… And then the other girls are already good at what they do, and they practice all summer vacation together … c’mon. It makes sense they can pull off a reasonable live after summer vacation.
Ahem. Sorry, read 1 too many negative reviews about how K-On! doesn’t seem to have a plot, or isn’t as good as Beck. In short, I like K-On! It’s cute and funny, and the OP, ED, and Inserts tend to be cute and catchy. It sometimes goes overboard on the moe, but it’s a very endearing slice-of-life. I was very impressed that the voice actresses sing the OP, ED, and Inserts, and on a good level. I will admit it seems a bit pointless and vapid at times, but isn’t that the charm of slice-of-life?
