K-ON: it’s the show everyone is talking about. While not directed by Tatsuya Ishihara of KeyAni fame, the fact that it’s being produced by Kyoto Animation is enough reason for the fans to go figuratively wild, and when you add the distinct moe character designs and the simple yet appealing slice-of-life premise and setting, it should come as no surprise that K-ON is one of the most fervently discussed – if not praised – shows of the current season.
However, while naysayers do exist (and the minority always has its way of making its voice heard), I’ve fallen for this show after a mere two episodes. Certainly, the series isn’t technically good by any means, and I can’t think of anything truly original that it’s accomplishing – but therein lies the answer. Why do I like K-ON? Because it’s simple, and without doing much of anything, these first two episodes have already provided me with far more entertainment than I dared ask for.
It would be counterproductive to discuss what K-ON does not do, but for argument’s sake, I’ll list a few. Anyone who has watched the show would know that there isn’t anything too astonishing in the directing – the story gets told in a fluid, uncumbersome manner, and that’s that. The music is forgettable as well: save for the OP and ED, I don’t think I can remember a single piece of background music. That could be due to forgetfulness, of course, but I don’t believe that there are too many surprises lying in wait in the soundtrack either. The animation is good, but not great, and the character designs are appealing but ultimately unoriginal.
So what’s left? Certainly not the story, since it’s a typical slice of life show that’s unlikely to develop into much more. And yet, I find myself utterly drawn to it.
From the fanboy perspective, it goes without saying that KyoAni has nailed their target audience once more. Maybe it’s the result of the source material rather than the studio, but the fact remains that K-ON is completely and utterly moe, and I’m willing to admit that I’m not complaining. As someone who fits more or less into the target audience, Yui’s sublime mixture of clumsy and genki is something that I could never say no to, and Mio’s tsundere/kuudere tendencies are absolutely adorable: nothing is more entertaining than seeing the most cool and level-headed girl of the group nervously blush at the thought of handing out tissues.
That said, I’ve probably just covered everything that marks the dividing line between the supporters and haters of the series – if you’re not interested in the things mentioned above, then you probably won’t like it. But is there any truth to that? Does K-ON have merit beyond its obvious pandering?
Inserting pictures of Mio everywhere is now the cool thing to do.
In a broad sense, I’d say no, but when it comes to the specifics, it strikes me as the kind of show anyone can enjoy. Let’s face it: there isn’t any deep meaning in this story, no symbolism, nothing to analyze, nothing to objectively appreciate. Aria-esque shows might come along once in a while, but for the most part, slice of life isn’t about depth: it’s about appreciating the simple things. Or, in short, it’s about entertainment.
In sharp contrast with my April Fools post on the ignorance of most of the world to the potential depth of anime, K-ON is the kind of show that falls into the exact opposite category. I wouldn’t recommend it to a film critic or university professor, I wouldn’t take notes on it and write 2000+ words when I finish: instead, I watch it when I’m in the mood to give my brain a little break, and I find myself savouring those 22 minutes more than I do for some far better shows.
In that sense, K-ON can be enjoyed by everyone, somewhat akin to how we have female Kanon fans and male Fruits Basket fans (and just for the record, I’m one of the latter). I don’t think the moe in the show kills it: it simply makes it more enjoyable for its single male fans. Once the viewer overlooks the targetted character designs, not unlike a UC Gundam fan overlooking 00′s Tieria, he or she will most likely find that K-ON is a very simple and very entertaining show. It does not excel at any specific aspect, it neither breaks new ground nor reinvents an old genre, yet I still find myself looking forward to each episode nearly as much as I did for the emotion-charged Clannad and Toradora.
In short, I cannot concisely explain why the show is good, in the sense that it’s nearly impossible for any of us to define why we like the things that we like. However, I can confidently say that while K-ON is not revolutionary, it possesses a charm – a sort of magic - that enthralls its viewers into watching, and I believe its secret lies in its innocently portrayed simplicity. I laughed when the girls found themselves subconsciously counting clouds instead of cars, I smiled when Yui first got to play her guitar (and I learned a thing or two about amps). My point is, my feelings were with the cast the entire time, and even with the most well thought out directing and writing, this is something that many shows fail to do – and as long as K-ON can continue to be as blissfully entertaining as it has been, I’m sure it will give me something to reminisce fondly on in a year’s time.
~ ETERNAL
つづく
K-ON: How To Make A Simple Thing Good
K-ON: it’s the show everyone is talking about. While not directed by Tatsuya Ishihara of KeyAni fame, the fact that it’s being produced by Kyoto Animation is enough reason for the fans to go figuratively wild, and when you add the distinct moe character designs and the simple yet appealing slice-of-life premise and setting, it should come as no surprise that K-ON is one of the most fervently discussed – if not praised – shows of the current season.
However, while naysayers do exist (and the minority always has its way of making its voice heard), I’ve fallen for this show after a mere two episodes. Certainly, the series isn’t technically good by any means, and I can’t think of anything truly original that it’s accomplishing – but therein lies the answer. Why do I like K-ON? Because it’s simple, and without doing much of anything, these first two episodes have already provided me with far more entertainment than I dared ask for.
It would be counterproductive to discuss what K-ON does not do, but for argument’s sake, I’ll list a few. Anyone who has watched the show would know that there isn’t anything too astonishing in the directing – the story gets told in a fluid, uncumbersome manner, and that’s that. The music is forgettable as well: save for the OP and ED, I don’t think I can remember a single piece of background music. That could be due to forgetfulness, of course, but I don’t believe that there are too many surprises lying in wait in the soundtrack either. The animation is good, but not great, and the character designs are appealing but ultimately unoriginal.
So what’s left? Certainly not the story, since it’s a typical slice of life show that’s unlikely to develop into much more. And yet, I find myself utterly drawn to it.
From the fanboy perspective, it goes without saying that KyoAni has nailed their target audience once more. Maybe it’s the result of the source material rather than the studio, but the fact remains that K-ON is completely and utterly moe, and I’m willing to admit that I’m not complaining. As someone who fits more or less into the target audience, Yui’s sublime mixture of clumsy and genki is something that I could never say no to, and Mio’s tsundere/kuudere tendencies are absolutely adorable: nothing is more entertaining than seeing the most cool and level-headed girl of the group nervously blush at the thought of handing out tissues.
That said, I’ve probably just covered everything that marks the dividing line between the supporters and haters of the series – if you’re not interested in the things mentioned above, then you probably won’t like it. But is there any truth to that? Does K-ON have merit beyond its obvious pandering?
In a broad sense, I’d say no, but when it comes to the specifics, it strikes me as the kind of show anyone can enjoy. Let’s face it: there isn’t any deep meaning in this story, no symbolism, nothing to analyze, nothing to objectively appreciate. Aria-esque shows might come along once in a while, but for the most part, slice of life isn’t about depth: it’s about appreciating the simple things. Or, in short, it’s about entertainment.
In sharp contrast with my April Fools post on the ignorance of most of the world to the potential depth of anime, K-ON is the kind of show that falls into the exact opposite category. I wouldn’t recommend it to a film critic or university professor, I wouldn’t take notes on it and write 2000+ words when I finish: instead, I watch it when I’m in the mood to give my brain a little break, and I find myself savouring those 22 minutes more than I do for some far better shows.
In that sense, K-ON can be enjoyed by everyone, somewhat akin to how we have female Kanon fans and male Fruits Basket fans (and just for the record, I’m one of the latter). I don’t think the moe in the show kills it: it simply makes it more enjoyable for its single male fans. Once the viewer overlooks the targetted character designs, not unlike a UC Gundam fan overlooking 00′s Tieria, he or she will most likely find that K-ON is a very simple and very entertaining show. It does not excel at any specific aspect, it neither breaks new ground nor reinvents an old genre, yet I still find myself looking forward to each episode nearly as much as I did for the emotion-charged Clannad and Toradora.
In short, I cannot concisely explain why the show is good, in the sense that it’s nearly impossible for any of us to define why we like the things that we like. However, I can confidently say that while K-ON is not revolutionary, it possesses a charm – a sort of magic - that enthralls its viewers into watching, and I believe its secret lies in its innocently portrayed simplicity. I laughed when the girls found themselves subconsciously counting clouds instead of cars, I smiled when Yui first got to play her guitar (and I learned a thing or two about amps). My point is, my feelings were with the cast the entire time, and even with the most well thought out directing and writing, this is something that many shows fail to do – and as long as K-ON can continue to be as blissfully entertaining as it has been, I’m sure it will give me something to reminisce fondly on in a year’s time.
~ ETERNAL
つづく