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Shigofumi ~Stories of Last Letter ~
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Animation - 7.8 |
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Sound - 8.5 |
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Story - 8.3 |
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Character - 7.5 |
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Value - 7.5 |
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Enjoyment - 7.8 |
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Average - 7.9 |
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Roto |
(2009-04-22 17:00:26) 2009-04-22 16:55:51 |
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| Average |
8.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Seeing a mail carrier who is delivering a letter to you from the dead is no ordinary thing. What you are encountering is a mail carrier who is giving you a Shigofumi, a letter from the afterlife. The title Shigofumi comes from the combination of the Japanese words for "after death" (shigo), and "letter" (fumi), which means "after death letter"
Shigofumi is a short series consisting of 12 episodes and one OVA episode.
Now I hope that people don't confused about the mail carriers. They are NOT Shinigamis or Death Gods, just mail carriers who are dead. However they do not deliver letters only. They deliver anything as long as it has a postage stamp on it from the higher ups. Be it a letter, gun, knife, or key.
Though the story can be quite tragic, however the story can be filled with overwhelming emotions.
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fnord |
(2009-01-30 18:49:50) 2009-01-30 18:16:57 |
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| Average |
7.3 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Shigofumi, a short 12+1-episode show about a postal girl for communication between the dead and the living.
Animation:
For 2008, quite simplistic, but easily watchable.
Sound:
Very atmospheric and strong, in my opinion a lot superior to the animation in terms of mood-establishment.
Story:
Shigofumi tries to blend episodic content about the people that the letters got delivered to or from with non-episodic content about the general mysteries of the postal girl at the center of it and does a decent job of that in my opinion. Both the episodic and the non-episodic content have a dark and sad twist to them which contrasts with the moe-designs and comical elements. Storytelling is not revolutionary, but employs timeskips and flashbacks to make it more interesting. Artistically, it does a good job of choosing interesting perspectives and tones for the scene, which makes the somewhat predictable main story enjoyable. A large minus point for the plot is its stubborn insistence on the inclusion of various anime tropes, like the lolicon-girls (one of which is supposedly 18, my ass), a beach episode, and some comic relief, which was not distracting though. All in all, the story left something to be desired, but was quite decent and subtly atmospheric. The last couple of episodes suddenly brighten up the mood and message of the show, which I thought was very irritating; it could have been used, though, to contrast with the colder and darker message of the earlier episodes and impress a more positive view of life on the viewer, which would be something nice for most viewers.
Characters:
Character archetypes (cold loli, hyperactive talking staff, cheerful loli, kind guy) used without remorse, but with some turns that made them acceptable. A very unimpressive category.
Value:
The subs I saw were fluid good, and I think there might well come a time when I feel the urge to watch it again.
Enjoyment:
Despite its many flaws, it manages to provide a lot of atmosphere for the story it tells, and has some very jaded moments in it. My memory of it is quite fond, and I would recommend it for watching - it is not ground-breaking by any means, though.
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| Average |
7.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| The tale of Shigofumi delves into the travels of a "mailman" of letters from the dead as she delivers her messages to people while exploring her own past. Though filled with moments of genuine emotion, it overreached in its final arc.
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| Average |
8.5 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| "This is Shigofumi" phrase that changes people's lives for ever... It is said by a girl rather short, not taller than average, with white hair, and cold looking - gold colored eyes. She's dressed in dark clouds and a cloak also with a hat and a staff that talks and is able to float in the mid air. She is a 'letter carrier' or you can say 'mailman', but Shigofumi are letters that sender's are dead... All the girl is able to say is that it is her job to bring this letters. Her name is Fumika, and she is one in her kind, but she is not the only person doing this job.
In the begging it is not a typical story, after first episode you are shocked with the outcome of the end, but after all - after second episode you'll find this anime rather as a series of stories for one or two episodes. But there is a main fable as well.
Anime studios that done this series are J.C.Staff responsible for titles as: "Ai Yori Aoshi" (8.0/10.0 (121 reviews)), "Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~" (7.3/10.0 (52 reviews)), "Excel Saga" (.9/10.0 (79 reviews)(top 200: # 115)), "Karin" (7.5/10.0 (20 reviews)), "LOVELESS" (8.7/10.0 (28 reviews)), "Shakugan no Shana" (8.0/10.0 (43 reviews) (top 200: # 165)), "Shakugan no Shana II" (8.3/10.0 (3 reviews)), "Zero no Tsukaima" (7.7/10.0 (17 reviews)) and over 100 other titles. So they are a gigantic studio anyway.
Animation is at good level, the timing of camera is good, the angles are great with nice light and shadow work. Colors play a vital role with movement of the characters are making perfect harmony. From time to time there are mistakes - but you will not notice them if you are not sensitive for this thing.
Sound in this anime is on good level and as well is the music, the Seiyuu ((Voice actors)) done a great work, as well as the matching for the heroes. Not all of people know that it is crucial. OPEN and END songs are well done, I like them very much.
As you know it is not a story in the begging, but even all the side plots are nice, tragic but as well nostalgic, philosophical and didactic. They are not about the Shigofumi, but about how you should live or rather how we should worship live in encounter with death .
The main part is about Fumika herself as well as her live - it is complicated while she is alive and she is dead as well. Because it is one of the crucial parts of series I will left it for you to decide if it is good or bad - for me it is definitely good. One of my favorite is when Fumika gives a Shigofumi to a man bullied by a gang in a dark alley. He things she is there to help him, but after she gives him the letter and leaves - he opens it and there is a paper with a blooded hand stamp of a child in it. Not born child... All Fumika says is "Ferwell father..."... It gives you a view of topics that are touched in this series.
In the matter of characters it is essential to see Fumika as the main heroine as she is able to interact with those she gives the Shigofumi, as well as she is able to see the world around in a different way - more objectively, from outside of the plot others are involved in. This changes when she becomes the center of a drastic conflict. This story is very emotional and delicate specially in ethics and moral aspect. But in my opinion it makes the anime one of the best short (12 episodes) series this year.
In the end it is a really powerfull anime showing a load of good and bad aspect of live, death, morality, etics, as well as action, little dark humor but not offending, perfect characters and a group of lessons critical for young people.
There are some mayor mistakes, and maybe the side plots are different in the material aspect that is shown, well it makes a verity of stories, not bad ad all.
If you asc me I will tell you that it is one of the better anime in this half of 2008. Definitely worth watching with anyone you like, adore and wish not to send him or her a Shigofumi in the near or far future - the main thing is also this:
"If you can say It now, don't wait for a chance to say it in a Shigofumi."
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