Noda Megumi (her friends call her Nodame) is a free-spirited, lazy, and
messy 2nd-year piano student at Momogaoka College of Music who just wants to
play the piano for fun. Chiaki Shinichi is an orderly, ambitious,
well-mannered 3rd year piano student (at the same school) who aspires
to be a well-known conductor.
After a chance encounter, Chiaki will find himself increasingly interested in
and attached to Nodame because of her impressive musical talents and her
care-free personality. Based on the manga by the same name, the story is
developed around these two students and on their growing relationships in
music, friendships, and possibly even romance.
Review: Nodame Cantabile
From the creators of Honey & Clover, Nodame Cantabile is a drama / romantic
comedy set against the backdrop of the world of classical music. A blend of
slice-of-life storytelling, humor, and terrific classical music performances,
it is a refreshing standout from the more conventional fare that seems to be
currently crowding the air waves.
The series is completely enjoyable from start to finish, and while it may not
be as exciting or as laugh-out funny as some other shows, it has something
that lesser shows lack: charm. From the soft, “watercolor” style
animation, to the amiable characters, the engaging dialogue, and the
enchanting music, Nodame Cantabile completely draws you into its world and its
characters.
The plot is not linear, but rather follows a more spontaneous and somewhat
episodic manner. Though there does not seem to be an overarching storyline per
say, all the episodes do paint a progressive picture of the various characters
as they grow in life, in their music, and in their relationships.
The show depicts the characters in their everyday activities, from eating
meals, going to classes and meeting with friends, to practicing their
instruments, attending rehearsals, and performing concerts.
For a slice-of-life drama / comedy, it works surprisingly well and
consistently keeps the viewer interested as new characters, new relationships,
and new conflicts are introduced with each episode.
Aside from the two main characters, there is a varied cast of vastly different
personalities, from the impulsive and rebellious Ryutaro Mine, a 3rd year
violin student who despises the “strictness” of classical music, to the
eccentric Masumi Okuyama, a 4th year timpanist who is a female trapped in a
male body.
Then there is the perverted and yet highly renowned conductor Franz von
Stresemann, who, while taking Chiaki as his pupil, teaches him little beyond
lessons in rowdiness and womanizing.
As the show progresses, we are continuously introduced to new and intriguing
characters which helps the show remain fresh and amusing. The persistent
characters are, for the most part, also developed quite nicely over a fairly
long period of time.
The comedy is also consistent throughout the series and is, more often than
not, very funny. It never gets old to see Chiaki continuously acting as a
reluctant mother figure for Nodame
(by cleaning and cooking for her, and even overlooking her hygiene),
who lacks both social and household skills, or to see the continuing perverted
antics of Stressmann, especially when an unwilling Chiaki is dragged along for
the ride.
Not just the situations but the characters themselves are consistently amusing
from Nodame’s “unique” verbal and facial expressions to Masumi’s
overdramatic mannerisms and to Chiaki’s unhealthy, but amusing, phobia of
flying. However, despite these comical moments, there are also very dramatic,
serious and heart-warming scenes throughout the show.
Fortunately, the writers were clever enough to keep just the right balance of
humor and drama so that the show never feels too serious to the point of
melancholy nor does it feel too witty to the point of ridicule. Needless to
say, this is quite the winning combination.
Nodame Cantabile presents the viewer with many different themes including the
power of music to bring people together and to overcome worldly troubles, the
ups and downs of love, and the struggle for personal identity.
The show continually expresses the idea that music is not only about theory or
technique but also about fun and enjoyment. As we observe the characters
living through times of joy and contentment or times of conflict and struggle,
we experience the dynamic nature of life. We see that while life isn’t always
fair or enjoyable, that it’s always worthwhile and meaningful.
Visually speaking, there’s nothing to complain about. The animation, for the
most part, is smooth, colorful, and detailed, with a distinctive
“watercolor” feel that was a trademark of J.C. Staff’s earlier work,
Honey & Clover. The result is art and animation that feels softer and more
expressive than animation created though more conventional methods.
The CGI used during musical and instrumental performances are also nicely done
and adds to realism. Fans of the technical side of music will certainly get a
kick out of the accurately animated hand movements present throughout the
series. The show is also available in an HD format. Watching the episodes in
720p on an HDTV is quite an impressive and immersive experience.
In addition, the sound is first rate, and more than makes up for any
shortcomings that the animation may have. Each character’s voice is fitting
and expressive and the music is both soft and striking, both melodious and
spontaneous. The opening and ending themes are among the best I’ve heard in an
anime to date.
In fact, the music is a crucial aspect of the series. It ties everything
together, it is what drives and motivates the characters, not to mention it
sounds exceptional.
The musical performances
(most of which are borrowed from the earlier live-action series) are true
to the nature of the original classical pieces and yet infused with a
songlike or cantabile (get the meaning of the title now?)
quality.
The result is nothing short of brilliance. In fact the quality and, so to
speak, enjoyability of the music will likely inspire many to learn or listen
to classical music. And as someone who used to play in a band in middle school
and loved classical music, Nodame Cantabile has certainly revived my since
dwindled interest in the genre and to the study of music in general.
You know you have something special when a show is able to inspire or
encourage you to do something meaningful in real life. But as always, there
are some parts of the series that could use improvement or could have been
done better.
One issue I had with the series was that the story may progress a little too
quickly for some, with certain storylines perhaps not getting quite enough
attention. And while the main characters are very well developed, it would
have been great to see more development or back-story of some of the more
minor characters. But considering how much material is covered in just 23
episodes, perhaps this is understandable.
Speaking of which, even though the story at times moves along at a blistering
pace, there are still a few moments when it does seem to drag just a little.
The ending also seems a little sudden and abrupt, and while not ending in any
sort of cliffhanger it certainly seems to imply that there is more to come.
Finally, the watercolor-style animation, while initially impressive, soon
loses some of its appeal. These are not major problems by any means, since the
series is of such high quality in general.
Overall, Nodame Cantabile is an enjoyable, charming, and meaningful look into
the world of music as well as the nature of love, relationships, and life in
general. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for something that is funny
but meaningful, and relaxing but charismatic.
Whether you’re a fan of romantic comedy, a classical music buff, or just
someone who wants to sit down and watch (Nodame Cantabile Crunchyroll) a few random episodes without having
to commit, this is the anime for you. So go ahead, take the Nodame Cantabile
challenge. I bet you can’t watch just one.
Miscellanies: Nodame Cantabile
Cantabile is a musical term which means “songlike” or
“singable”, which in the context of the show refers to the playing of
instruments to imitate the human voice.
The series aired on Fuji TV from January to June of 2007 as well as various
other Japanese TV stations. It was shown in widescreen format with both a
standard and high-definition definition version
(the HD version usually aired after the standard version was aired).
The opening theme “Allegro Cantabile” and the second ending
“Sagittarius” is performed by SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH
(a solo project headed by artist Suemitsu Atsushi) while the first
ending theme, “Konna ni Chikaku de” is performed by Crystal Kay.
The group responsible for much of the classical performances heard in the
series is performed by a group called the “Nodame Orchestra”, which
consists of members specially selected for the live action drama, including
members from the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
The anime TV series is based on the manga, of the same title, created by
Tomoko Ninomiya which has past 17 volumes in Japan. An 11-episode live action
TV series also aired prior to the anime in 2006. The manga has been licensed
by Del Ray for distribution in North America. As it stands, the anime remains
unlicensed.
Nodame Cantabile | |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 23 |
| Status | Finished Airing |
| Aired | Jan 12, 2007 to Jun 15, 2007 |
| Producers | Dentsu, Genco, SKY Perfect Well Think, Kodansha, Fuji TV, Magic Capsule, Asmik Ace, Sony Music Entertainment, Fujipacific Music |
| Studio | J.C.Staff |
| Rating | PG-13 - Teens 13 or older |
| Themes | Adult Cast, Music |
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