Winter Anime Impressions – Munto TV

Continuing my impressions of the new winter season is the new show from KyoAni – Sora wo Miageru Shoujo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Seikei or just Munto. The original OVA, from 2003 and 2005, is the only show of KyoAni that I haven’t seen and it is also KyoAni’s only original work. When I realized that the tv series was going to run in the winter season, instead of spring like it was initially reported, it became my most anticipated show of the new season.

Rating: 12/12 Perfect

A lot of ground was covered dealing with the story in this first episode. Two realms exist – the heavenly realm and Earth – but, while only Yumemi can see the heavenly realm above the clouds, people of the heavenly realm see earth as a dry, lifeless desert. The heavenly realm’s existence is tied to the availability of Akuto which was thought to be limitless but is actually limited. When the heavenly realm found this out, they became miserly and only used enough Akuto to keep the realm going. One kingdom within the heavenly realm is led by a young king named Munto and they seek the means to make the heavenly realm safe. Their quest, though, is using more Akuto then the other kingdoms like so the other kingdoms have united to destroy Munto’s kingdom. Munto finds out that he needs to find Yumemi, aka the Girl of Destiny, to save the heavenly realm and he leaves to find Yumemi on Earth. Yumemi is a normal 13-year girl except for her ability to see the heavenly realm and she has two friends, Ichiko and Suzume. In this episode we learn that Suzume is going to marry a kid that’s known as a delinquent tomorrow, much to the shock of Yumemi and Ichiko.

I tried hard to not read any reactions until I had the chance to watch it myself but I was only partially successful. One reaction I saw on a few blogs was complaining about the animation quality (with screenshots taken out of context to “prove” their point) but after watching the first episode I have to strongly disagree.

The softer, watercolor style used is very similar to slice-of-life shows like Sketchbook, Natsume’s Book of Friends, and Potemayo. None of these shows are criticized for their animation style; instead, most of these shows have praised. I think this style is more harmonious with the intention to show Yumemi as a normal person, living a normal life. Just imagine if Munto looked like Kaiba, Gits:SAC, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei or Gurren Lagann – it would feel like a totally different show. Yumemi’s walk to school with her friends just after a rainstorm was extremely beautiful and jaw-dropping in it’s own ways. It looked liked the trio was walking through a dream with a mirror world at their feet. And the style did lose it’s watercolor feel and gained a slightly more realistic feel when the show focused on other people like when Gass was fighting or when the Council of Elders where plotting the destruction of Munto’s Kingdom.

Original productions like Gurren Lagann, Michiko to Hatchin and Munto always get me excited because we don’t know where the show will go. I like the feeling of not knowing and having no way to know how the many story threads are connected before we get to that part of the story. Is the drama with Yumemi’s friend marrying a supposed delinquent connected to saving the Heavenly Realm? How is Yumemi special and will she be able to help Munto? No one knows for sure and thus there’s the potential for superb excellence from this show.

Another reason I also like original productions is that I can guess about future events based on clues that get dropped and not have to be worried about looking silly because no one will know the answer for several weeks. Already in this episode of Munto, there are several interesting hints dropped in the show and in the OP/ED animation. For example, I think time manipulation will appear in this show. I’m basing this off of seeing young versions of Yumemi and her two friends appearing in the opening. Also, King Munto mentions being restricted by some sort of space/time boundary from reaching Yumemi. And finally, if the boy that’s going to marry Yumemi’s friend said he grew up alone, why is he shown in the ending having a party this Yumemi and one of her friends at a much younger age?

Overall this was a very solid opening episode and while it didn’t quite impress me as much as say Rideback, the story and it’s possibilities really drew me in and really make me anxious to see what happens. The characters seem very likeable, especially Yumemi and Gass. The voice actors all did a good job with my current favorite being Daisuke Ono as Munto. The fight scene with Gass was well done and showcased KyoAni’s smooth animation skills – I’m hoping to see more such scenes.