Hourou Musuko Wandering Son

After watching this, I was speechless...in a unexplainable way. For the first time in my life I am actually confused at myself if I should like it or not.
But as you can see...Gender Bender.
That is a problem for me since I have never liked any Gender Bender(Not saying I hate it) and this is a total new experience for me.
Even though it seems that I am going to disapprove of this Anime. I simply can't.
The animation is VERY unique and AMAZING. The OST looks good So far.
The Anime itself is a calming, casual Anime.
Something you can actually relax to instead of laughing your ass off to Lucky Star or Oreimo.
It has some very cute moments where you can actually admire the artwork instead of screaming "Moe!".
I can tell this was made very well, a slow pace moving Anime. A perfect Anime such as this, isn't something I can get out of my mind(Like what I did to Level E, Mahou Shoujo Madoka and Wolverine), It's really different.
Just the fact that it's a Gender Bender really makes me feel...how can I say it. Disappointed?
Please do not hate me for this since it's just my own opinion but that's the only thing that's hesitating me to like it.
The Anime focuses on what our society rejects and there were really powerful scenes.
I really can't spoil it more than I already did. This is an Anime you cannot just spoil. You have to watch it yourself in order to feel the effects even though I already spoiled it.
After some long thinking I have decided what to give this Anime.
And surprisingly I will give it :
10/10(Maybe a little less)
I admire the artwork and giving it much thought having a Gender Bender Anime which actually shows some real life consequences. I am going to say that is really unique. I have never seen any Anime which is close enough to resemble this.

When people ask me, a PhD candidate in Literature who has spent a lifetime reading Shakespeare, Melville, Woolf, Wilde, Austen, and many other "great" authors, why I watch anime, a show like Wandering Son is usually the answer. I am not saying that this is some how on par with literary greatness; in order to be that, it takes time and staying power (401 years after his last new play, they are still making movies out of Shakespeare) to be eternally great, but Wandering Son has what so few shows, movies, and media have these days: the guts to go where people don't want you to go because they would prefer to not know.

In the last half century, there has been an increasing interest in LGBTQ media. Books, movies, and TV have all been slowly but steadily finding ways to introduce LGBTQ issues into our world. Most of the time, people are fine with it so long as it stays in the realm of adults. The reality is that many LGBTQ people don't suddenly become "queer" when they reach adulthood. Instead, they struggle with it early in life, into adolescence, and often times, well into adulthood. What LGBTQ media often lacks is addressing those early years and the struggle that it is to be different when young, especially in societies that frown upon it. It is a struggle that for some becomes too much and this struggle is why there is why suicide is such a risk for LGBTQ youth. Part of the problem is that there is nothing out there, in almost any media, telling them that there are other people like them, who also struggle, but can still find friends, acceptance, and even happiness. There is nothing out there to give these young people hope.

Enter Wandering Son, which may be the first thing on television anywhere dealing with pre-adolescent transgender issues as the focus of a television series drama, be it animated or live-action. This is why I watch anime; to see shows that are willing to go places that other mediums are afraid of and to find there stories of heart and courage. The characters you find here will pinch your heart, which is the only way I can describe the feeling I had while watching episode 1. Each of them is real in that they seem not like characters, but actual people, complex and confused. This is the strength of Takako Shimura's writing: she knows that she doesn't have the answers to life and that the struggle to form the question is what most of us deal with. Her characters always seem authentic (see Aoi Hana) because she remains aware of this and her characters demonstrate this awareness. You don't have to be an LGBTQ person to understand these characters or to like the story; you only have to know that you have a heart and that you can feel for people who suffer and hope for the end of their suffering. I bet that there is not a single person reading this review who doesn't know what that is like and how overwhelmed and amazed one feels when great suffering is eased, even if it's just a little bit.

This is a character driven story, so the plot is a standard slice-of-life that will be revealed through the day-to-day lives of the characters in the series. If slice-of-life is not your cup of tea, give this a chance anyway. Wandering Son may be a genre defying show in bringing serious story to slice-of-life in a way that does not become trite or cliche. As opposed to comedy slice-of-life, don't expect this to be light, and expect to cry. The music and art, much like Aoi Hana, sets the mood beautifully and pulls you out of the world you live in and brings you right into the world of the characters. You will lose yourself in the art of this show.

At only 11 episodes, you really don't have an excuse for not watching this show. Wandering Son will restore hope in the heart of the most jaded anime fan and it will leave you wishing there was more of this story, or at least more stories as well done as this. While the subject matter is mostly what I focus on, that aside, Wandering Son is an amazingly beautiful show that demonstrates the power that animation can have. Disney and Pixar should take notes from this series.

After watching three episode I conclude:

The anime Hourou Musuko is a very well thought out slice of life show and the plot is original and interesting. It is not one for those looking for a light comedy or an action shounen but for the more mature audience who wants a story of morals and exploring the depths of different relationships. It has everything you would need to fill middle school character's lives with drama and growth; such as a past love triangle, 'finding one's true self' and the turbulence of acquaintances, family and friendships. This anime really explores into themes which modern society would reject in reality.

The storyline starts off with the characters' first days at middle school. The self introductions to the class reveals that most of the main characters went to the same elementary school, 'Nishigaoka Elementary School One', although story really centers on Shuichi Nitori, who likes to cross dress in private and even in public at times, and Yoshino Takastuki, a tomboy who yearns to be flat chested. While still going to elementary school Saori Chiba, who had been very close to Nitori and Takastuki, confessed to Nitori only to find out he had been rejected by Takastuki, although Nitori still maintains his crush on Takastuki. From then on Saori has hated Takastuki as well as becoming cold and distant to most of her current classmates and this affects all the current characters indirectly. And from here on starts the eventful middle school lives of class 1-3.

The characters are well thought out and each one has his or her place in this story. They are all different in personality and their feelings are realistic. Especially Chizuru Sarashina whose extreme lively and eccentric personality brightens up most scenes, Takastuki a strong character who supports her friend Nitori in life, Nitori's sister Maho who despises her brother cross dressing and Saori who still bears a grudge against Takastuki. Because of their realistic personalities, Hourou Musuko can produce some very emotional scenes which viewers may relate to and leave a deep impact on them. Although at such a young age, around 13 years old, some of these characters have already matured mentally even before puberty.

The opening and ending are full of win.
The opening has an air of 'overcoming all of life's problems and challenges'.
The ending makes you think of 'doing anything for the one you love and for yourself'.

The 'watercolour' animation is suiting as it gives off an aura of 'youth' and 'innocence' and the art is good.

This anime is not your average school life romance as it deals with other problems in life as well which gives it a well earned drama and slice of life genre and a place on my watchlist.

Being embarrassed by a cracking voice, getting your first bra, having your heart broken for the first time... growing up can be tough. Looking in the mirror and not being comfortable with what you see is an experience that we all are familiar with, but what if you looked in the mirror and saw yourself as the opposite gender? What if you woke up and felt that you had been born in the wrong body? These are questions that Shuichi Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki wake up with every morning before rushing off to middle school.

Not your typical gender-bender, Hourou Musuko - Wandering Son, asks us to look into the private thoughts of these pre-teens who are struggling to find out who they are. When Shuichi Nitori dresses in his sister's clothes, Maho makes it clear that she does not accept him. But rather than vilify her as the evil older sister who shuns her brother and his differences, we feel that this transitional time is also hard for Maho and we know that deep down she loves her brother. Mirroring the challenges that we all face, the characters of this series ask us to open our hearts and ask ourselves "who do I want to be?"

I see, Nitori is more like girl and Takatsuki and Sarashina are more like boy. It can happen when wall of genders are still vague but not clear like this anime. Since I'm and I was straight when I was that age, it is difficult to understand what they feel but I want to see what will happen next. This anime looks like Evangelion, His and Her circumstances. I think this is interesting theme.

I understod why this title was "Wandering Son" when Nitori said "You are a special girl to me" to Anna. I expected different result, though.

Hourou Musuko (Wandering Son) is in no way your typical anime. There's no mecha, not much fanservice (if at all), and no pop-cultural references. However, that fact is one of the series' strongest points. Simply put, it's brilliant. It's one that dares to be different. It's one that shows you can have a beautifully animated series that touches on a moderately important topic and it can be pulled off. The series does have a few flaws as a result of its experimenting, but if you give it time, it evolves into perhaps one the best, most original animes of all time. Wandering Son is a definite must watch.

Storyline
The decision of where to start this series is part of what hurts some of its grade. For anyone who isn't clear, this begins several volumes into the original manga series and quite some time after all the characters have met. But if you quit this series after the first episode because you were confused about who was who, please give it a second look. You'll learn who everyone is and how they are connected very quickly through flashbacks.

I had not read far enough in the manga to reach the point that the series begins with, so I can't tell you how faithful it is to the source material. As its own work, it's an excellent drama whose main story arc is not one of plot but of character growth (see below). It should also be noted, however, that the broadcast version condensed two episodes into one to create episode "10+11." This gives the finale a somewhat disjointed feeling, since some plot points don't get as much development as they truly need. Hopefully CR will get the rights to release the DVD version of the full two episodes, and if so, bump this grade up half a star.

Music
The soundtrack music was nice and added mood to scenes, but was otherwise unremarkable. I strongly dislike the opening theme, but the ending theme quickly grew on me.

Characters
Faced with adapting an ongoing manga, it seems as if the creators of the anime decided to choose two points in it not for their plot but for their character progression. We begin with the main characters at odds with each other, fighting or avoiding one another, and we end with the circle of friends reuniting and learning to be more accepting of each other.

The series deal with (obviously) transgender issues, but if you're expecting politics or theory or detailed discussion of how people construct gender identity, look elsewhere. "Wandering Son" is more interested in addressing the issue by having a range characters who relate to their gender and their sexuality (not the same thing) in different ways. Given its very open ending, it also presents one with a feeling that identity is something of a work in progress, especially when a person is only 13/14. What matters more are the networks of support and friendship and acceptance than you build up to help you work through the process of figuring out who you want to be. Maybe this is why it settles the theme of theater, with the assumption of roles and playing out of parts.

Animation
Okay, I don't like the saran-wrap affect of the coloring in this series, which is why I knocked half a star off. That said, it only is really bad in a few of the episodes, and if you consider animation in terms of smooth motion, consistency of character design, and lack of obvious shortcuts, it is essentially perfect. This is a very high-budget show and it's a shame that the buzz for it in Japan has not been stronger than it is.

I'm not sure whether I would ever buy this anime, but it has definitely convinced me to buy the manga, which will be coming out in America in June 2011.

I am a big fan of this series and the big step forward this series is in tackling series social issues which plague the world and Japan in particular.

Storyline: I have read the manga up to its most current chapter, and the anime downplays the transgenderism of the manga in a serious way. For example, there is no sense of "growing out" of the gender dysphoria for Nitori Shuichi in the manga. Puberty only becomes a larger problem as Nitori discovers that he can no longer pass as a female. In my opinion, this choice to downplay trangendrism in the anime probably has to do with the strict gender roles in Japan and the satisfaction for the audience that would arise if the 'problem' just goes away.

While I have misgivings about how the anime subverts the main conflict in the end, I must commend the anime makers for some very exceptional scenes. For instance, the bridge scene from the first episode is one of the most beautiful and heart-rendering moments of all anime in my opinion.

Music: I did not enjoy the opening song, but the ending song by Rie Fu is deserving of much praise. The background music during the bridge scene of the first episode greatly underscores some the masterpieces of sensitivity in this anime.

Characters: This is an exceptional character-driven anime. While there are flaws in the storyline, the characters are a breath of fresh air because of their complexity and emotionality. Critics have oft pointed out the almost superhuman maturity most of these middle schoolers have, but I think of that as one of many necessary idealizations in this series which asks the audience to go deeper within themselves and arrive at a higher sensitivity.

Animation: My only misgiving about the animation is that I prefer how the manga does the character's hair. In the manga, one can see individual strains of hair on Takatsuki Yooshino's head, and Shimura Takako, the mangaka, often uses her characters hair in order to express emotions.

I suggest that anyone who likes the anime to read the manga, for which the first volume will be coming to the U.S. in June (2011).

Wandering Son is an unusual anime. It’s everything you would expect from a slice of life, but it does break a couple molds.

To talk of anything before Wandering Son’s artwork is kinda foolish however. So lets begin by discussing the art. The shape of the characters is normal, however, it seems like someone has lowered the saturation on the films color. That, or the entire anime takes place in a cloud.

The character’s are drawn following the usual fashion of anime, but there is a higher emphasis on glare than I am used too.

The first episode begins with the question: “What are little girls made of.” This is followed by a middle school boy complaining about the uniform he’s been forced into. Claiming that as baggy as it is, it still feels like it’s suffocating him.

From here we get a brief introduction of our characters. But it’s done in a way that these could all be extra’s for all we know. I do like the reaction of the sister. She is waiting to go to school while her father takes a picture of her and her brother. She is very annoyed by her father’s antics, but still forces on a typical smile that seems genuine. The brother on the other hand, only barely smiles, he definitely seems depressed.

Wow, I’m 3 paragraphs in and I haven’t even gotten to the opening credits. Anyways, the opening of this anime is easily one of the worst I’ve seen. It’s slow, it’s mostly hallway pan shots. It just plain feels low budget. Like it’s only really their because it needs to be. And yet, by the third episode I can't imagine any other kind of opening for this show. It works perfectly. The song in the background is genuinely good and the animation matches it perfectly. I still feel that the show doesn't really need an opening.

I’ve never really understood openings. I get them budget wise, but if your just going to phone it in, don’t include an opening at all. I mean, for every Lupin the 3rd or Bleach’s Asterisk, there are probably 20-30 of these mostly shit openings. I say we lose them all. I’m willing to lose the one’s I love to not have to put up with these ones anymore.

After the credits end, an opening ceremony for the school year is shown, and we get more of a feel for our main character. And after that my favorite scene so far happens. We get a more in depth at the class via a introductions. The class goes around and introduces themselves to one another in the way we all had to at that time in our lives. They stand up, say their name, their former school, and something about themselves. It’s all going normal, till our main character stands up and, stumbling over his words, begins to introduce himself. Halfway through however he is interrupted by another boy asking about a rumor. We then see two arms holding a book aloft, followed by those arms coming down and hitting the other boy on the head. Saorin (The girl holding the book) then says “Rumormonger” and walks out of the room.

I don’t want to spoil too much more of the show, since despite my original apprehension, this appears like it could be a good series. The characters are stereotypes, but they are blended well, and there is just enough crazy to keep it original. And there’s a pretty fun plot twist that happens about halfway through the episode.

For more reviews from the lakewatcher crew head to Lakewatch.webs.com

Out of everything that was simulcast last season, this was the one that stood out the most. Because it was a lot different to everything else simulcasting on crunchy. First noitaminA slot, and taking a hugely serious topic in crossdressing and making it into an anime.

If you're looking for huge epic battles, look somewhere else, as this will have nothing of the sort in it. However, while saying that, I'd still say those people should give it a go. Anyway, it focuses on the characters as they face many challenges, like falling in love. Just like any other teenager. However, the two main characters, Shuichi Nitorin and Yoshino Takatsuki, both want to be the opposite sex. Nitorin wants to be a girl, while Takatsuki wants to be a boy.

The show itself is based on a manga series, but it actually misses out the first couple of books in the series. However, this lets you get right into it and works well, with flashbacks explaining details along the way.

The animaion has to be one of the best I've seen that isn't a movie. It's pastally-like art style gives a nice feel to the show as a whole, and one that's quite hard to explain.

Also, the music is a brilliant fit. It has a nice relaxed style going through the whole show, making the whole thing a joy to watch. The opening theme, and especially ending theme, are brilliant and I consistently find myself playing them over in my head, where as usually I would just forget it after watching it.

The characters are a nice blend which, unlike most shows, don't have pink hair or cat ears. This is completely serious. Nitorin is the focus of the show, and his character grows and changes over the 11 episodes. Same with Takatsuki, who is similar in many ways. But then there's Saorin, who is alot different to both, who is quite blunt with what she says. Saorin is a lot different than Chi, who is the craziest of the lot. Overall, every character feels like a new person, with even the side characters, like Maiko, the big model who is sided with Anna and Nitorin's sister, feeling like fleshed out human beings.

But when these all come together, they make a magnificent spectacle, and an absolute joy to watch. I am sure that this will be the best show of the year, and I would honestly rate it as one of the best things I've seen. Even if it doesn't seem like your type of show, give it a try at least, as this is brilliant. Truly amazing!