I apologize up front for the length.
Seems like reactions to the episode is mixed with some people hating it, and others loving it with both sides having a mixed pool of KagePro fans, and people who're new to the series. Although I probably can't change a good portion of your opinions I think I can try to bring some clarity.
Newcomers:
Please keep in mind that even though we fans have been in love with the source material for a long time no show is for everyone, if you're looking for a straight up anime with typical harems (Nisekoi), or action (Naruto) then Mekaku City Actors probably isn't for you. However, if you're looking for an original mind bending story with deep well thought out characters I suggest you give Mekaku City Actors a chance. We've really only scratched the surface of the story.
If you still need some context, no you don't need to know the source material to understand this anime. Keep in mind that even though we fans have been following the story for a long time we ourselves still don't know everything. We're given hints through songs, and the animations that usually accompany them however; part of the mystery is that we have to piece a good portion of it together ourselves. The manga, and the light novels help bring some context, but they’re still behinds the songs, so its left the community in a craze trying to solve the puzzle with only so much material to work off of, because of that many of us are looking towards the anime as the final piece in the puzzle.
Also keep in mind that we've really only introduced 2 of the 9 main characters, at least in detail. Each character brings something new to the puzzle, and as more characters show up things will start to make more, and more since.
KagePro Fans:
Let’s be honest our expectations were probably through the rough, there was no way it was going to be absolutely perfect even though we can dream right. That being said I'm willing to agree there are a few things that I'm worried about. The first being the eleven episode count, despite the first episode pretty much covering everything that I expected of it, there’s so much material that I'm afraid eleven episodes won't be enough, hell we could probably drag it out for an yearlong series of 52 episodes if we really wanted to. The second being the fact that Shaft doing “Nisekoi” at the same time, and even deciding to throw that show an extra nine episodes. It just feels odd that resources are being placed into a typical harem which most people probably won’t remember come a year from now, when Mekaku City Actors could have stand, and still does to become the next “Madoka Magica” of animes, and could have really used those resources for more episodes, or just better animation quality. Well I’m hoping that Shaft is just ahead of schedule, and found the time to make more episodes, but I doubt that.
That being said, I do believe the first episode animation was fine, at least so far. I’ll admit that I don’t tend to be that person who complains about animation, although I do appreciate it when good animation is evident. That being said KagePro has always done interesting things with their animation, and imagery so it makes since that it would appear in the way it did. I agree that it could have been better, but let’s be honest with enough time and money what can’t be. That being said if you can’t stand Shaft style, then I guess there really is no hope for you here, maybe you can take a break and come back when the series is finished, so you can appreciate it as a completed work.
Regardless, did you hear/see that opening at the end awesome, oh ya about it not being IA, although I agree that would’ve been cool let’s be honest the vocaloids have always lacked an bit of emotion in their songs, and with an story having so much of it, you kind of actually want an human voice on the opening. Regardless there’s plenty of opportunities for IA , or another vocaloid to have another song.
Despite some complaints there’s still allot to look forward to in future episodes, just don’t screw it up Shaft. |