Forget for a moment that this show is based on the 100 poems that are the root of certain things like the now very well known Kurita game (thank you Chihayafuru!). Utakoi is simply a very nice, very well told, and artistically animated tale of romances taking place in historical Japan. Now, even with all the anime viewing that I do, I still know very little about the historical figures or facts ...
Forget for a moment that this show is based on the 100 poems that are the root of certain things like the now very well known Kurita game (thank you Chihayafuru!). Utakoi is simply a very nice, very well told, and artistically animated tale of romances taking place in historical Japan. Now, even with all the anime viewing that I do, I still know very little about the historical figures or facts involved in this. And I know next to nothing about these poems. So, I am looking at this from a pure storytelling point of view. As a series of romantic stories, Utakoi is quite interesting and engaging. In this first episode, two tales are told, the first about playboy poet Narihara and his love for the woman who would later become queen to the emperor and then after his brother and sister-in-law.
The first story told is much more interesting, due to the playful nature of the characters. It also has a stronger emotional weight, with the final scene between the two lovers having greater meaning. The second story is a bit less engaging, but a good contrast, as the main character is more of a straight-laced worker having to leave his wife alone for his duties. There's nothing surprising here, but the emotion comes from more of a place that is grounded and natural, something relatable. The animation for the series is also befitting of it's subject matter, as it is quite poetic and artistic, feeling more like an old art piece in motion than just another animation. For sure this series is certainly one of the more unique of the season.
It's hard to say where this anthology series will go. The first episode present a couple of romantic tales that are fairly entertaining and engaging, if they don't really present any surprise. But, in a season full of cliche ridden fan-service fests, Utakoi is something a breath of fresh air.
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