Sketchbook ~full color'S~ (won't be typing this title for a while...)

I recently realized that there was one series in my 2007 list that may or may not have been added in prematurely, since at the time I hadn't exactly finished watching it. The series is #9 on my list, Sketchbook (~full color'S~ but I won't be using it clunky full name in this post anymore), just behind the rather similar slice-of-life-of-a-group-of-art-students show Hidamari Sketch.


Truth be told, both series were almost equally enjoyable with Hidamari barely winning me over since I have the penchant for SHAFT's funky style. I was only one episode away from completing Sketchbook anyways, though I admit that final episode had been lying around for some time just waiting for me to come out of my reluctance to watch it... That may sound like a bad thing for the series, but it is very much otherwise. I just happen to have the rather unfortunate habit of watching series at my own leisurely pace (usually one episode of a show a day unless I've decided to marathon it, which is seldom), and when a series has been delivering a certain enjoyment to me over the course of time watching it, I tend to get a little stubborn in refusing to 'end' the experience by watching the final episode - sometimes leaving it for ages until I almost forget that it's there at all! Of course eventually I do give in and get it over with, though by then much time has probably passed and whatever joy I had watching the series would probably have faded away anyhow... But if I was really that reluctant to let a series 'go' in the first place, it's almost always the case that when I finally get to the last episode that I'm reminded once again why I liked that certain series so... And yes, after that lengthy rant I'm glad to say Skecthbook has been one of those series, and most certainly earned its rightful spot on my top 10 for 2007.

Sora should be a spokesmodel for green tea. And just chilling out =P

What really 'drew' me to Sketchbook so to speak, was the simplistic approach it took in entertaining the viewer. It's a slow paced episodic slice of life series with a healthy cast of characters that are instantly identifiable by their usually singular quirk. The message it seems to be sending seems to be hey, I don't need a deep plot or complex characters to make a show entertaining, just watch Sora walk around looking for things to sketch, taking tea breaks and making simple if not totally obvious observations about the things around her, and be satisfied with it! And you know what, it works. Half the time it's what we're shown, and though some may find it a tad bit dull, for me it really is a soothing experience that's pleasing to the senses, truly fitting to the 'healing' brand associated with 'iyashikei' series such as Sketchbook.

What really brings this series to life though is its 'colourful' cast of characters who are mostly the members of the school's art club and each have their own individual quirk. I may had trouble identifying all of them by name, but from curtain climbing to hand-puppets to entomology I knew precisely what talent or bizzare habit that made each character distinct. It's not too hard to keep track of them all despite there being new ones being introduced at Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei-like intervals (even in the last episode) since the characters themselves are clean cut and serve mostly to pepper the series with comedy. And they're such an amusing bunch and varied bunch that you can't help being drawn to at least one of them, if not all of them as a whole.

What I particular liked in the last episode was how Sora spent most of it in the art room mostly by herself, while recalling just about every single character that's appeared in the series and what she's thought of them onto her canvas. It was the perfect reminder of everything that made Sketchbook special - the characters, the observations of the things and people around us in life, and the cats. Ah yes, the cats were definitely a refreshing and entertaining addition to the cast and story (The one called Grey in particular, is just so darned adorable!)

Another thing I finally noticed in the last episode was that Negishi-senpai is voiced by Shimono Hiro, the voice of Tajima on OoFuri. Something I failed to note until Negishi was calling out to the rest of the club to see the sakura trees, since up till then we always heard him in his angry hyper-shout mode (No wonder Sora's afraid of him XD) Also notable in the seiyuu cast were Hanazawa Kana as Sora, Makino Yui as Hazuki and Goto Yuko as the hilarious Kate (Ke-ito). Also, could you pick out Tamura Yukari and Noto Mamiko from any of the characters? (what th- Mamiko Noto voiced Inuo?!)

As the final 'development' in the show, Sora suddenly musters up the courage to speak up to people in the end. It was certainly a wonderful moment in which she calls out to Hazuki and Natsumi from across the road, and so unlike the Sora we've seen in the past 12 episodes that it's quite surprising, but a pleasant surprise it is. All throughout the series we've learnt bits of Sora's character from her monologues and have been given the opportunity to appreciate her simplistic point of view in life, to see her receive that bit of growth is both a reward the viewer and Sora herself. Bravo!

A lovely end to a lovely show indeed... And with a reminder to continue Hal Film Maker's other more reknowned iyashikei work Aria. So while I bid farewell to Sora and her art club (and the cats!) it does seem to be the perfect time for me to catch up with those gondolas of Neo-Venezia which have left me far behind.

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2007 Flashback: The Rundown

Run, Mihashi, run...

It's already 3 months into 2008... And I'm still stuck writing posts about yesteryear (This is what happens when you restart your blog at an odd time of the year -_-"). Perhaps not the best time to publish this, but what the heck, this list has been sitting in a word file for much too long.


The 16 anime that made my year in 2007 (no real significance to the number, just so happen 16 of them I considered above average by my technically loose standards. And no series continued from 2006 or continuing into 2008 either, it's a purely 2007 list), in ranked order (good to great to best) :

The Good:
16. Dennou Coil (spoiler: RIP Densuke T_T)
15. Nodame Cantabile (Mukyaa~!)
14. Lucky☆Star (L-O-V-E Lovely~Tsukasa!)
13. Claymore (The Idiot's Guide to Self Mutilation)
12. Seto no Hanayome (Masa-san!!!)
11. Lovely Complex (All Hanshin-Kyojin BANZAI!)
10. Darker than Black (BONES)

The Great:
9. Sketchbook ~full color'S~ (Slow down world...)
8. Hidamari Sketch (Sorry ef and Bamboo Blade, the Miya of the year is here)
7. Moyashimon (The "You Absolutely HAVE to check this one out for yourself" show of the year)
6. Minami-ke (KANA IS BOSS)
5. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (~Burebureburebure~)
4. Potemayo (Honi, honi!)

Top 3:
3. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
2. ef ~a tale of memories~
1. Seirei no Moribito

Ranking done by the more serious, rational, and supposedly objective side of me that's supposed to judge the overall aspects of the show (Story, characters, presentation, blah blah blah) though obviously influenced by the whimsical, instinct-following, impressionable me (an indication of how much I felt the show impacted myself as a viewer, whether it tickled me silly or made me go "HOLY SHI- THAT WAS AWESOME , now I just have to sit down and let the other side of me think why...").

Of course anyone who's read this blog lately will probably notice the omission of one particular title, which at the time of this list's conception (a few months ago, mind you) was done on purpose since I wasn't done watching the series in question... But in the back of my mind there was no doubting its place on the list - the question is where? If serious, rational and objective had more of a say, this series would probably rank 4th pushing the current #9 to #4 a position back (and Gurren Lagann would have to switch places with ef). But based on my sheer enjoyment of this series and how it really changed the perception I had of its genre, I'm giving the 2007 top honour of personal favourite anime on Tondemo Nothing! to...

0) issa-sa's personal fave of 2007: Ookiku Furikabutte

Which neatly rounds up the Top 10 standouts series (#s 9 to 0) on my list with OoFuri coming out tops. *applause* A similar situation arose the year before that: Mushishi was easily the best overall 'serious' anime of 2006 (this time, it's Seirei) and Haruhi to me was best in just about every other respect (and was no doubt the iconic series of its year -whether you liked it or not- much like Gurren Lagann), but my personal favourite Ouran High School Host Club won me out anyhow. Call it personal bias or 'bad taste'/'good taste' or whatever, but what can I say, my blog my pick =P When you have strong shows colliding at the top, I'm the kind who'll pick the one that just feels right, and there's no denying that Ookiku Furikabutte is that series for 2007. Even back when I was only halfway through the series starved for subs, OoFuri had already impacted me so positively that I just knew it was the year's Ouran for me. I'd like to say more about the show now that I've officially completed watching it, but that'll be another post for another day.

It's also interesting to note what others ranked as their best show of the year: Specifically, Jason chose Gurren Lagann, Kurogane went with Seirei, Jeff Lawson pulled pleasant surprise by crowning Potemayo ^^ while the guys at Epic Win championed the best of the best: Mushishi! (Okay their real choice I wasn't as excited about). Besides these that come to mind, there was quite the Minami-ke love as well if I remember correctly.

I won't be debating why one series is better than another (or explaining why I didn't include/watch/finish watching series XXX not on the list) since this post is quickly becoming dated material. As a whole, I think 2007 offered myself many surprises in terms of series I liked (and utterly disliked) and though there were less hard-hitting sure-hit shows than 2006 and more average fodder running around (which even if I completed watching, did not make the top 16) there was generally enough to impress me at any given time during the year. So here's hoping for as good/a better showing of shows this year.

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