StoryLooking at some of my previous reviews, it may seem that there is very
little anime I truly enjoy. This is at least true for the past couple
of months, and so Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi (TIAA) a refreshing change from a recent selection of stagnated trash.
A familiar sounding storyline plays out like watching an overly
enthused puppy. Eager to please, it bounces around excitedly,
performing impressive tricks before the commotion becomes too much and
an anti-climactic ending results in a puddle on the floor. Other
reviews had me expecting the worst – the show was cancelled partway
through and cut from 50 episodes due to a lack of viewing figures.
Sure, the finale isn’t as strong as the predominant part of the show,
but overall TIAA is an enjoyable journey from start to end.
Expecting the tripe “spirit-fighting” shows typically produce, I was
pleasantly surprised by something that had more in common with Mononoke and Mushishi than fillertastic Bleach.
The intelligent use of words as weapons is fascinating, especially the
awakening of characters who use the meaning of their names to brandish
new and remarkable armaments. The engrossing action scenes contrast
beautifully against a slow-paced narrative backdrop, and the adrenaline
starts pumping during the impressive battles against the diabolic youi.
As impressive as the fights are, they are not what will have the viewer
coming back for more. Instead, the unfolding back-story for each of the
Ayashi team in short, snappy arcs reveal some startling events; showing
the heroes to be mere mortals and a darn sight more affable than other
shounen stars.
Set in the Edo period, the writers make clever use of history and
colour it fantastical; with possible scenarios, such as famous faces
coming to power, now involving the demon-hunting Ayashi, they
incorporate various levels of the Shinsengumi task force and add the
mystery of the demon-spawning “other world”. Unfortunately, the climax
takes generous liberties to help bring the show to a rushed close,
causing the underlying facts to err more towards fiction. Some of the
initial charm of TIAA is lost to a barrage of plot threads colliding in a messy finale, and
would definitely have benefitted from a second season. Being maybe a
little too forgiving of this untidy fact, the first seven-eighths are
some of the most impressive anime story I've seen in a long time and
influence my overall story score. Also, expecting the finale to fall
flat on its ass and finding it to be more than palatable, I feel that
this show is definitely a diamond in the rough.AnimationUtterly stunning visuals in the first quarter of TIAA soon give
way to mediocre animation as the show suffers significantly from the
budget cuts. As the fantastic CG youi initially blend seamlessly with
an animated background, their fluid and natural movements become
hampered as the monsters are downgraded to being hand-drawn. The
character designs are consistent and definitely a plus to the show,
their emotions conveyed brilliantly through Bones' pointy nosed
animation and a colourful palette. If the composition had remained
top-notch throughout, the animation would definitely have rated a 10.SoundI am a complete sucker for an excellent soundtrack, and TIAA offers exactly that. With an up-tempo J-rock track opening the aural
furore, much of the incidental music is traditional Japanese shamisen
that matches the show’s ambling pace. The director seems to have
perfectly chosen an audio accompaniment to the visual fluctuating
momentum of the show.CharactersOne thing surprisingly enjoyable in TIAA is the father-daughter
type relationship between the protective Yuki and the captivating Atl.
The strength of the pair as they struggle to resist the compulsion to
revisit the other world is a must see, especially the hints of a
tentative romance. Whilst forbidden affairs like the one portrayed in Solty Rei usually turn me off, the handling of this pair goes beyond a physical desire and more into a mutual respect and understanding.
A balanced team dynamic is brilliantly enforced by a wide selection of
disparate characters, all of whom have a murky past. For an action
title, there is also a surprising amount of development, and each of
the personalities is treated to their own arc in which their reactions
and disposition are explained by previous experiences. Even minor parts
don’t feel neglected, giving TIAA one of the richest and most endearing casts I have seen since Baccano.OverallAs flawed as the show may be, this does not affect the overall success
and enjoyment of an exhilarating ride through multiple genres. With
ticks in all of the right boxes, it certainly will appeal to those who
like well paced action and development without the pointless
powering-up episodes. The period drama and slightly disappointing
ending may turn off some viewers, but overall this is a severely
underrated sleeper-hit that deserves a look over.