Sakamichi no Apollon – 04

Episode 04 –

Sakamichi no Apollon has yet to fail to meet my expectations, with each episode doing a superb job with reflecting upon it’s ever-changing character dynamics, all while maintaining an elegant simplicity that feels very nostalgic and down-to-earth. This show does well in highlighting the complexities of human emotion and interaction, whether it be through love, friendship, and jealousy. It’s shown through Sentarou having some goofy moments with Kaoru, Kaoru’s wavering resolve in romance with Ritsuko, and Yurika’s smitten reaction to Jun’s great performance at the American bar.

What I personally really appreciate about this episode is how it touches upon Kaoru’s isolation vis-a-vis his family members, as well as Sentarou’s discussion of his backstory. Their histories and family relations leave a powerful impression because the show is exploring how these two guys, even with some of their own insecurities and faults, struggle to move ahead and seek their own happiness. This show is inherently chronicling the struggle these two guys undergo as they grow older and are met with waves of emotional turmoil.

It’s not just limited to Sentarou and Kaoru though. This series also does a fine job with exploring the emotional development for Ritsuko, and now, Yurika as well. There’s love, jealousy, shock, sadness; all the human emotions that we experience as we grow older. Sakamichi no Apollon, without a doubt, is telling coming-of-age stories for the entire cast, and it’s astounding how the series can do it so well across the entire cast.

Amidst the emotional growth of all these characters, Sakamichi no Apollon is taking place during a rather tumultuous era; the 1960’s. Japan had lost the World War against the allied forces, US occupation forces had left their footprint in Japan, and Japan itself was in a period of economic growth and social change. The one thing that is extremely noticeable about this series, the jazz, was actually completely forbidden in prewar Japan (it was considered a crime to listen to it). The inclusion of Jazz shows the magnitude of change that is happening in Japan during this series. The setting in this show is a superb way of reflecting upon the characters; like the cast, the setting is changing in ways Japan had never quite seen before WWII, evoking parallels to the ever-changing complexities that come with striving for adulthood that the cast faces in Japan’s different post-war world.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.9/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Sakamichi no Apollon – 03

Episode 03 –

Haha, oh yes. Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite series out of the season. It’s amazing just how well put together this series is, in particular it’s character interactions. The romance featured in this episode was amazingly well done; it was heartfelt, surprisingly sensitive and thoughtful, and all done in a natural manner. The characters were all very upfront about their feelings, some more obvious than others, but the one thing in common was how they were all charming in the way they went about their feelings of love. It’s one thing to have romance in an anime, it’s something completely different having the romance feel alive.

With that being said, I do have to admit that there are some cliches here and there. There’s the brewing love-triangle of sorts, with plenty of potential for drama. Yes, the situation is quite messy, and it doesn’t look like it’ll exactly clear up any time soon.

At the same time, though, this series is incredibly subtle with the small little details and feelings that it conveys. From Kaoru’s caring, heartfelt confession to try and console Ri-chan, to the brilliantly fun jazz session between Kaoru and Sentarou, this series feels very youthful and genuine. The confession scene in particular was powerfully emotionally, filled with a gentle sense of love that was absolutely dazzling. This show is incredibly good at conveying small, details into a much more emotional larger picture, with terrific characters, great jazz, and a noticeably good story pacing.

I feel as if Sakamichi no Apollon can be summed up in three phrases: youth, jazz, and being alive. This show harkens back to a more romanticized and nostalgic time of history, back when love was still innocent and heartwrenching, emotions were wild and uncontrollable, and friendship was always goofy and fun. I feel kind of like an old coot for talking like this, but this show really makes me think back to sillier days during my youth, as many probably do after entering the world of adults. This show is brimming with emotions that are so pure that they almost don’t seem real, yet somehow are grounded in a reality that is completely believable and mesmerizing.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.3/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Sakamichi no Apollon – 02

Episode 02 –

Sakamichi no Apollon started off with an impressive 1st episode this week, and I have to say, I’m almost equally as impressed with this followup. This show holds the promise of being a fantastic coming-of-age anime, with the focus on jazz music in the 1960’s of Japan adding just a hint of nostalgia and sentimentality that I’m really enjoying. The character interactions are realistic, fun, and incredibly genuine, but all of this becomes especially noticeable during scenes where the main characters play music together. Then there’s the romances that are developing in this show; the way in which the romantic undertones reveal themselves just feels natural, and hold a particular level of affection and allure that I personally am really enjoying. This show has done a great job with it’s characters and atmosphere, and heck, we’re only two episodes into the series.

The one thing that, once again, completely stood out were the moments where the cast got together to play music. The animation during these scenes is incredibly well done. The scenes just capture the energy and free-spirited nature to  jazz music, and you could literally see the intense passion the cast has for the music in each delicate yet firm movement that they made with their instruments.

And then there’s the actual characterization and development of the characters. This show loves to explore the mind of our main character, Kaoru, and his gradual acceptance of jazz, the goofy Sentarou, and his budding love for Ritsuko. The bond between the main trio of friends is developed in a honest manner that just feels natural, and is also subtle at just the right moments. The bullying incident also served to reinforce this friendship, and showcased the complex adolescent emotions of Kaoru, Sentarou, and to some degree Ritsuko.

Quite honestly, this series is by far my favorite of the Spring season so far. It has a wonderfully well-characterized main cast, a simple yet multifaceted setting, and a focus on music that is both riveting and enrapturing. I knew that Sakamichi no Apollon held promise as a coming of age anime, but this show just keeps defying my expectations in ways that I hadn’t anticipated. The characters are great, the soundtrack is great, and the animation is superb; what more could I ask for? Now hopefully the animation team behind this series can keep things up.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.0/5

P.S. I almost forgot to mention one rather interesting revelation in this episode; that is, the notion that Ritsuko and Sentarou are Christians. For those that are unfamiliar with Christianity’s history in Japan, the religion itself was persecuted against in Japan up until the dawn of the Meiji Era (which means it was persecuted in Japan for well over 200 years). Even up until the end of World War II, Christianity was highly discriminated against, and generally wasn’t looked upon favorably. The inclusion of Christianity could be indicative of a more complex past with regards to these two characters. Alternatively, it could potentially be a tribute to the distinct (but subtle) American influences that are present in this show, ranging from the Jazz to the nostalgic energy reminiscent of the past.

Screenshots are later in the post.

First Impressions – Sakamichi no Apollon – 01

Episode 01-

Wow, I knew that this series was really hyped up, but damn was I impressed. It’s even more astounding considering how my standards were already set really high for this episode, yet somehow Sakamichi no Apollon managed to completely surpass them. Without a doubt, Sakamichi no Apollon had one of the most impressive 1st episodes I’ve seen in a long time, with the legendary Watanabe Shinichiro (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo) directing this series. This episode embodied everything that I had long ago anticipated of a Noitamina series; the episode was thought provoking and character driven, and all in an incredibly subtle manner. Out of all the series that have debuted this season, this by far had the most realistic and heartfelt characters and acting.

The level of emotion put into the characters in this episode was, quite frankly, stunningly well done. The episode knows how to use it’s quiet moments to dwell on a character’s emotions, throw in some funky jazz music to tense up the atmosphere, and have great genuine personal moments between characters. Jazz music being a central theme to this series makes the characters stand out even more, with their realistic yet complex character interactions (and emotional turmoil) exemplified by the background music. Yoko Kanno has done an excellent job with the music, and Watanabe certainly hasn’t slacked in the directing department either.

What was by far the most captivating, and stunning, moment of this episode was when Sentarou (the delinquent student) started furiously tapping away at his drums. The entire scene was beautifully animated, enrapturing, and had a powerful sense of emotion to it. Sentarou’s presence, as well as his obsession with Jazz, will prove to be a central presence to this show, and will without a doubt be extremely important in the relationship amongst the three friends that are featured in this series.

There are also signs of family problems, tensions at home, problems with attending school, and so forth. All of these factors play into the incredibly realistic and human interactions between the main cast, as well as the subtle undertones that embody these character interactions. I honestly feel that this was a superb starting episode to this series, with a brilliantly portrayed main cast in a normal, down-to-earth school setting. The episode was emotional, it was funny, it was inspiring, but most of all, it had a sense of quiet complexity that was perfectly executed. So yea, I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of this series.

First Impressions: 9.5/10

Screenshots are later in the post.