Bartender - Reviews

The anime's rendition of the insightful Bartender manga never quiet fills the big shoes that the manga wears.  That is what this review revolves around.  Since no other review seems to mention the manga, I will. 

The story itself is genuine.  The execution of said story teeters off into some unknown character narration that absolutely does not do the manga justice.  Instead of making a 3rd person omniscient narrator (all knowing) of the story, each character fills in as narrator and tells the story of the troubled customer like they know it.  This really irritates me.  In the manga, the narrator tells the story and the characters remain out of it.  What it comes down to is, the directors just wanted to give every voice actor enough screen time to make it worth their pay (sarcastic opinion).  The story should be told by the troubled customer or narrator, no one else should intervene.  By not doing this, it's confusing and simply confusing.  A better way of describing the narration is abstract.  Enough about that.  Another problem I had was the voice of the Bartender.  What an awful choice.  He sounded like a teenager instead of an adult.  He had a great voice but the part was wrong.  The story though was great and the explanations and depictions where certain spirits came from where really neat.

The animation was astounding.  A little CG was in there, though I am not a fan, it was not to much.  Everything was smooth and the art looked just like the mangas.  Aside from one of the girls who I couldn't tell who she was.

The sound was easy at the opportune time and set the slow-paced mood of a bar. 

One of my gripes, again, revolves around how certain characters intervened where they should not have.  Like, around the end of the anime, every character gathers outside of Eden Hall to pitch in on the narration.  That never happened.  The bartenders were spot on but introduced to early.  Each customer had a nice background though.  The manga develops each bartender even further and more side characters become important to the point of secondary characters.  Like that girl who went to find Sasakura a doctor.

All in All, this anime was only made in honor of some alcoholic beverage's anniversary and will probably never continue.  If it does, it's needs to be remade.  The anime made too many mistakes but looking past them, I was able to enjoy the enriching knowledge provided by a great bartender.  Read the manga from the start whilst enjoying the interesting developments and alcohol exploration.

Bartender - (2006) Anime Series
*Spoilerfree Review by ~Kevin3651 / Kevin くん* 

So, when you first think about Bartender what comes in your mind ? Something like a person who serves you a drink on a table. Similarly this anime "Bartender" is about a bartender named Sasakura Ryuu whos our main protagonist , the anime tells you about a story of him. Now first of all i wanna clear the fact that this anime is all about bartending so if you guys really like stuff related to it or you wanna try knowing about it this anime is actually really great for you but you need a little patience understanding it so take your time and dont get bored okay.

Basic Info:- Length of anime is 11eps . 
Genre: Slice of life, Drama , Seinen .
Mal: 7.4/10. by Palm Studio. 

So, now we move on to the good side of anime. The character design is done in a way like it feels that they are almost alive. Now the Voice acting is almost perfect and suits to the characters in it. Now the Animation , its done in a very classic way and backgrounds are very well made . The OST(Original Sound Tracks) are perfectly made .Also the Ops and Eds are too great for this anime , this is one of the reason that i like more about it . In this anime you will get to know more about the Bars and drinks and apart from this you'll get to know story of almost each characters.

Now we will move on to the bad side , well actually there are no specific reason to dislike this anime , the things that i dont like about this anime is that its very underrated and the ratings are somehow average. maybe because some people find it boring or dont like the anime or maybe because the anime is very short.

I dont know but the reason for writing the review especially for this anime which is my first review of an Anime series although i have watched a ton of animes but this is one my fav. So, by writing this review now i am confident and planning to write more reviews on Anime series. Actually i am good at writing movie reviews but for anime its my first time. I know this review is pretty much long and i am sorry for it .If you guys find it too long but i am sure that even if you guys get a little interested in this particular anime by reading my review then it will be my pleasure to have helped you guys out.

~ Thanks for giving your precious time to my review 🙏~

*Spoiler free Official review*
by :-
~Kevin3651 / Kevin くん

Do you like going to a bar to relax and forget the world? That’s exactly what this show is about and the feeling I get from it. The first time I heard about this show was from Arkada from http://www.desudesbrigade.com (Which is not existing right now. If you wish to see his stuff, please find him at http://blip.tv/glassreflection/ ) and when I did hear of it, I thought that the main character would be mostly the focus and how he would get a lot of screen time but in truth, I was wrong and love it all the same. The main focus is not of the bartender exactly, but of the customers giving each show its own cast, and own character screen time. In fact, even though some of the characters reappear in other episodes, they are not really anything but to relay some message that might not be known about the main character of that episode.

In each episode, the story line stands alone, nothing you have to remember from the last show unless you want to know what the other side characters are from and so your full attention is on the show right in front of you, giving you the same feeling as what the bar is like, where nothing from the outside world should interrupt you from enjoying the special drink. In my mind, our drink as the viewers is the show in front of us like the drink in front of the customer is the one they talk about. And like all good drinks, the show does not leave a bad taste so you can enjoy the slow easy going nature. It’s a good show to watch right after watching a high action packed show as a way of winding down.

There is almost no point in this story where it feels off-key and fantasy like. The stories are very real, everyday problems that normal people would have. A woman who wishes to help break the tension between her father and grandfather; a man who works on creating bars but doesn’t like them; a man who came to the bar after seeing a ‘shining star’ walk in, these are the fears and dreams of so many different people, not just in Japan but all over the world. This anime seems to speak to you as an individual, not just to a wide number of people. They even go so far as to address the watcher, breaking the fourth wall as though you are with these people.

Like almost every anime out there, this one has a Christmas episode but unlike all the others, it doesn’t feel like it was forced into the show. It actually feels perfect with no ‘hot girl’ showing off what she’s got in a scandalous Santa outfit. In fact, there is really no Santa outfit at all and no talk of what Christmas is. They only give you the warm feeling that would make you smile, much like how a drink would warm you up slowly.

The animation is so beautiful. There is a lot of CG when it comes to the bottles and glasses but it never feels out-of-place. It feels a part of this art and never gets distracting from the characters. As for everything else though, the only other ‘CG style’ things could be the liquor and the glass when they stand alone. It doesn’t get in the way of the artwork at all though or make it feel out of place as they merge it well. It’s interesting that at first glance, you would never really see Ryu as anything special, just pretty much a standard Japanese character in a bartenders outfit. I truly love that about this show, the very simple and gentle feeling. They have a lot of scenes that loop or are taken from other shows but I never saw it as a eye sore except for one instance.

The ending of each episode is surprisingly very simple live action of a bartender creating a drink, mixed with a little CG and music video. This is one of the most beautiful and gentle ending I have ever seen and they made it different for every single episode, the drink being different for each one. It’s so calming and gentle that I actually wanted to keep watching the ending, not speed past it. The cinematic camera angles add to the somewhat surreal feeling of just being in the current place at the special time. The music for the ending as well was so sweet that I want to get a single disc of it and play it as I fall asleep.

Now, when we get to the opening, I do have my problems. The opening animation is beautiful and amazing but the music seems to put me off a bit. I watched a couple of these in line and the music unfortunately felt a little too upbeat. It’s not that it wasn’t any good; it was just that it didn’t seem to fit the feeling of the show.

At no part is there really a time that has no talking or music and only silence. All the music is orchestrated well and fits perfectly. There one song for every drink and each of them seem to reflect the story of that drink.

The voices, while expertly done by the Japanese actors, seemed a little off for me but I believe that was only because I am really not into subs. I will read subs while watching the English dub and see how close they were to the original but mostly. But when they give me subs, I have a hard time with them since I have to read a little to fast. I fell into that with this show and so the Japanese voices felt distant and hard to get close to but I feel if I was a native Japanese speaker, I would be much more into loving it. This is one that I really hope comes over to America to be dubbed and not ‘fucked up’ with a lot of script changes and high vocals. PS I think J. Michael Tatum would be a great Ryu. Just my thoughts on it. ;)

Opening Remarks - Never before have I ever encountered an anime, any anime, for which I feel so aggrieved. No doubt this is one of the most underrated productions in the last decade, and its three tags aren't helping matters. Yes it is slow-paced, yes it is episodic, yes it is slice-of-life, but take from me, someone who usually wouldn't go near something with three of my four top hated tags (yaoi takes first place); you will not regret watching this.

Story - OK this doesn't exactly have one which ties the whole series together. It is purely episodic after all. But each individual story is well told without being too fantastic. Precisely the sort of little everyday troubles which can get a person so very down and depressed and in the slumps, and in search of a drink. Not so light that you can just shrug it off, not so heavy that you just collapse.

I'm no bar regular, and the number of times I've placed an order at one I can count with one hand. But if this series doesn't make you want to actually leave the house and head out to one immediately, then nothing ever will. The stories are themselves very grounded and believable, as well as easy to relate to. With the dashes of history for the alcoholic beverages featured every episode, it makes for a compelling tale with just enough content to keep the watcher engaged without overworking the mind.

Now, for the more anal audiences, I'll admit that there's a glaring plot hole or two here and there, but it's nothing which hampers enjoyment, really. Besides, you might want to sedate some parts of your mind while watching this: the philosophical/rational faculty, as well as the MOAR-ADRENALINE faculty. Bartender is all pure empathy. There is no need to think. Only feel, feel in that way that's well, kind of masculine (if it makes any sense to you). If TTGL brought out the manliness of masculinity, then Bartender has brought out its sensitive, emphatic side (yes, apparently such a facet does exist).

The pacing is excellent as well. The details and elements flow smoothly, the audience is not subjected to boredom by over-long narration or dialogue, and at the same time there is the feel of the slow leisurely melancholic mood one would expect from a true bar.

I'll say this though: Bartender is not for everyone, and you really have to be in the right mood to enjoy it properly. There's no action, no humour and nothing beyond a very slight shake of romance. I suggest that if the first episode doesn't just pull you in right away, then take it slow, watch maybe just one episode a day to savour the taste.

Animation - 2006 seems to have been a time for fantastic background art. If you've seen The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (and I wonder what rock you live under if you haven't), you'll know how the classrooms and desks and walls and streets and chairs are so intricately drawn they look like you you can just reach out and touch them.

Well, the bar in Bartender is something like that, but even more detailed. The amount of attention paid to recreating the bartop (for there is no doubt in my mind the bar must have been closely based off a RL namesake), as well as the bottles of the back bar just blew me away. Every bottle, every glass looks wonderfully authentic, and given the sheer number of spirits they go through, sometimes in a single episode, it's amazing how much painstaking effort the studio must have had to put in.

I do have one complaint though, that the colouring of the cocktails are mildly disappointing. When it's supposed to be rich, it's rarely rich enough. When it's supposed to be translucent, it's rarely translucent enough.

The art for the characters populating the series makes them look like they were cut from paper. Normally that would be off-putting, especially since paper-cut figures tend to look best when in stills and not when animated. As it turned out however, it had a splendid effect; the paper-cut figures served to accentuate the solidity of the bar. One got the feeling that the customers, their troubles and even the bartender himself were transient, ready to be blown away by the wind at any time. But the bar, the bar will remain. Besides, hardly any action occurs at all throughout the anime, and it's not uncommon for an episode to feature fully half its footage devoted to the bartender standing at attention with only his lips moving. That displays such paper-cut art (as I call it, no idea what's the proper term) at its best: still.

Also, although it's strictly not animation, the decision to use live-action for the ED was sound. And yes, there's some use of CG but hey if it's brilliantly executed (it is) why complain?

Sound - If you ever get a chance to get your hands on the lossless FLAC OST, grab it. Aside from the OP and ED, it is currently dominating the playlist I use when I'm in a contemplative mood (reading, writing, reflecting etc).

I don't think much of the OP and ED though. The OP is a bit too hippy to sit well with the rest of the production (although it's a decent track in its own right). And the ED, while not bad by itself, doesn't sit well with me. Perhaps it's the norm in Japan, but I wouldn't think of having such a voice paired with any bar I might frequent.

The voice acting is adequate and satisfactory without being particularly commendable. If anything, the bartender sounds rather too youthful and eager to please to match the solid sophistication of his own bar. The unnamed narrator however, was definitely well-cast. A deep, mellow, affable voice which just oozes quiet class and dignity.

Characters - Transient, with very little known about any of them. In fact, by the end of the series, I realised I still knew next to nothing about the bartender himself. And in fact, sometimes I don't even know the names of the episodic cast members.

But it doesn't matter. The anime succeeds in 25 minutes where so many have failed in 25 episodes: create characters we can actually care about. Doesn't take 25 minutes either. By the time of the first cocktail I'm usually already in sympathy with whichever poor sod is occupying the bar that night. Sure sometimes their concerns are shallow, sure not all are likeable. But their behaviour is so human, and their concerns are so human.

In fact, the characters are what made the bar seem real. They were common folks, dressed in simple working-class attire and with simple mannerisms. All masks stripped bare, if not voluntarily, then by the bartender's masterful eye. None of that high-brow posing, even at a bar with as much class as this one.

I wouldn't go as far as to say it is easy to relate to them. But I'll say this: the series places the audience at the bar itself. Now the customer is speaking, and the audience is behind the bar with the bartender, not necessarily understanding with the trials the customer is going through, but seeking to emphatise. Now the bartender is mixing his drink, and the audience is in front of the bar next to the customer, watching with curiosity and wonder and anticipation. Like I said, Bartender is pure empathy.

Closing Remarks - I urge everyone to give this a shot. At the very least you'll learn a good deal about spirits and alcohol (all the better to pick up girls with). Palm Studio no longer seems to be active, given that Bartender seems to have been their swan song production. A huge pity (even if I did drop their Genshiken after the second episode), but fitting in a way. Bartender is like them raising a glass to themselves, a sense of the same melancholic courage found throughout the series.

"Bartender" - 6/10

Story: 7/10 "Bartender" offers a unique and soothing narrative centered around the art of bartending and the stories of its patrons. Each episode focuses on a different customer with a specific problem, and the bartender, Ryu Sasakura, crafts a special cocktail to address their needs. The storytelling is calm, reflective, and filled with life lessons. While it's not action-packed or plot-driven, it's a refreshing change of pace that explores human emotions and connections.

Animation: 5/10 The animation quality in "Bartender" is modest. It doesn't strive for visual extravagance but instead relies on subdued, realistic character designs and settings. While this minimalist approach works for some, it may come across as unremarkable compared to more visually ambitious anime.

Sound: 7/10 Sound plays a significant role in "Bartender," especially considering the importance of the bar's ambiance and the soothing background music. The voice acting is solid and complements the characters' personalities. Sound effects related to mixing cocktails and the clinking of glasses add to the authenticity of the bar setting.

Characters: 6/10 The characters in "Bartender" are diverse, representing various walks of life, and each has their own unique story to tell. Ryu Sasakura, the titular bartender, is a well-developed character with a mysterious past. However, some may find the secondary characters somewhat one-dimensional due to the episodic nature of the series. Nevertheless, the interactions between Ryu and his customers are the heart of the show.

Overall: 6/10 "Bartender" is an anime that stands out due to its focus on mixology and the human experience. If you enjoyed the anime, you'll likely appreciate the manga's faithful adaptation of its core themes. However, keep in mind that it's a slower-paced, contemplative series that might not be everyone's cup of tea. While it excels in storytelling and character development, its visuals and animation may not leave a lasting impact. Nonetheless, it's worth a watch for those seeking a more mature and thoughtful anime experience.