While I like the depth you got into in art and sound, I feel like the story section was kind of hard to follow, particularly at the beginning. I might also recommend relying less on comparisons to another show. While mentioning another series isn't always a bad thing, excessive referances to another series can be distracting because not everyone will be familiar with it and as a result the review can end up being more confusing than helpful. Overall, good review and thanks for sharing!
A Channel tv Review
Story & Characters
There isn't really anything unique about the storyline of A Channel, the adaptation of the bb Kuroda classic which happens to be riding on the coattails of a fellow Manga Time Kirara/Houbunsha breadwinner in K-ON!. I mean, this is about four stock characters with their own charms in a slice-of-life setting, chronicling their lives at Aoigaoka High. That's it. It's nothing comprehensive, like Madoka Magica, where there is a plot. Credit the staff for sticking to the original plot (whatever it is) by Mr. Kuroda and making something watchable out of it.
You have your obvious, absent-minded ditz in Run; the ever-monotonous, but clearly-obsessed-over-ditz-as-so-far-as-to-protect-her personality in Tooru (who has some oversized clothes, unfortunately; not that that's a bad thing), your dual-persona bookworm in Nagi (try watching her without the glasses, see where that takes you) and the well-endowed, shapely scaredy-cat in Yuuko who parallels a certain bassist from K-ON! in a way.
You don't really have any other supporting characters that stand out in this one. It's your usual, plain random comedy involving the four I pointed out. It's not terrible, but it does not have the type of progression like K-ON!. I like to use K-ON! as an example because they share the same publisher and comic magazine, and K-ON! has the type of progression and continuity that you don't see in A Channel.
I'm going to give this a six.
Rating:
Art
Now, A Channel is a moe series. Let's make this clear. The reason why A Channel will get a decent score from me is the character design, the animation of every episode, from the backgrounds to the transitions.
The character design may be a bit disproportionate, with the heads a little bit bigger than they should be, but for what it's worth, at least it's not any bigger. Aside from that, the fluidity of the motions of every character in the show is nice, and the visual effects of the show are pure class.
Episode 5, the beach episode, is a perfect example to study how the background and the objects mesh together. I believe they have integrated a little 3D into the 2D so much as to make it 2.5D. It's a nice touch.
I really didn't like Yuuko's eye design in this one, even though it is in line with bb Kuroda's interpretation. Otherwise, I like the eye shape and the color of the characters.
Another good touch was the scene transitions. It always seemed that every scene ended with a customized transition that concluded the mood in the scene by a character, or some object relevant to the scene. It's nice continuity.
A Channel's animation staff didn't waste any time adding color and vibrance to this series. They utilized every part of the palette from the first episode onward. The scene at the end of Episode 1 with Tooru and Run embracing is a classic example of A Channel's art at work. It stimulates, it warms the heart, it soothes the soul.
Good art and good animation make for a high score. Let's give it a nine.
Rating:
Sound
The music of A Channel is also sharp, and is highlighted by the different insert songs sung by Tooru (Aoi Yuuki), Run (Kaori Fukuhara), Yuuko (Minako Kotobuki) and and Nagi (Yumi Uchiyama). From "Start" to "Harukaze no Kagaku" to "Tomodachi", every insert song characterizes the mood of the characters at that point in the series. You know when you watch a children's film and there are some songs that the main leads sing to emphasize the setting? A Channel's main four pull this off to a T.
Going back to the main four, their acting is solid. Minako Kotobuki has had a number of roles in the past: from Tsumugi Kotobuki of K-ON! to Mitsuko Kongou of the To Aru series. Aoi Yuuki claims Victorique de Blois of GOSICK and Madoka Kaname of Puella Magi Madoka Magica Fame. Aoi is a very versatile seiyuu, and the monotonous personality of Tooru is something she can do.
Kaori Fukuhara, if you remember, was the voice of Tsukasa Hiiragi from Lucky Star, so Run's ditziness made her a good fit for this role. Yumi Uchiyama is actually the new face in this crowd, and this is her big break. It's a treat to watch someone pull off a dual personal role in Nagi like Yumi, so do keep an eye out for her in future shows in the years to come.
Making their cameos in this show are Minori Chihara and Miyuki Sawashiro.
The background music to this, composed by Satoru Kousaki, is passable and fun to listen, but it's all about the insert songs, and the ending theme, Humming Girl. Great inserts, great ending, good background music, solid voice acting. Can't ask for anything more. Nine.
Rating:
Presentation
If you are looking for a series that has a comprehensive plot that thickens with every passing episode, you're going to be a tad disappointed by what you see in A Channel. Keep in mind that this is a moe show riding on the coattails of K-ON!'s success. You can say that this is K-ON! without the guitars, club meetings, cakes and tea. There is not really much of a plotline to sniff at in this one.
However, if you like shows that have excellent art and animation to go with catchy music, you should give this a try. We all know that moe has been the in thing for quite some time. It's the moneymaker of all anime shows: the moe! Appreciate it, or at least try to. There has to be something about A Channel that makes you say, hey, I want to tune in. Where can I subscribe.
It's not for everybody, but if you like it, you will know it, and you will never look back.
Rating:
Final Verdict
7.6667 (good)
Reviewed by Hachiko, May 20, 2011
Comments
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SnickerdoodleNinja Retired Moderator May 20, 2011
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angelxxuan Banned Member May 20, 2011
doodle made a good point, I still don't know what this anime is about, I haven't seen it. I'm not a moe fan but if the plot is decent enough I will give it a try, from the review at hand I probably wouldn't bother with it. from what I've heard of other people this anime is halfway decent, now I'm not certain if I want to see it or not, this confuses me greatly :/
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Hachiko May 21, 2011
Quote by SnickerdoodleNinjaWhile I like the depth you got into in art and sound, I feel like the story section was kind of hard to follow, particularly at the beginning. I might also recommend relying less on comparisons to another show. While mentioning another series isn't always a bad thing, excessive referances to another series can be distracting because not everyone will be familiar with it and as a result the review can end up being more confusing than helpful. Overall, good review and thanks for sharing!
A lot of people know K-ON! more than this, and this is basically, as I see it, the poor man's K-ON!. It's K-ON! without the guitars, cakes and tea. And the reason you probably found the story section hard to follow is that there is no story to begin with from this show. It's an adaptation of the 4koma, but there is no plot to it.
As for you, andgel, use your best judgement. For me, I'll ride it to the finish line because it has good art and sound.
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CyanideBlizzard Retired Moderator May 24, 2011
I have to admit, I'm rather surprised to see a review of this series out considering the series itself isn't finished. I'd imagine that you know enough about the show to assume nothing would change from what you had watched until the end. It certainly makes for a different style of review! Personally speaking, I'd of waited until the series was finished to be able to properly review it, but I have to say you did a good job working with what you did based upon what you viewed.
Nice to see another submission from you, Hachiko!
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Hachiko May 26, 2011
Cyanide, it's safe to say that regardless of what happens from here, I've already made up my mind.
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