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Minami-ke
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Animation - 7.9 |
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Sound - 7.9 |
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Story - 7.0 |
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Character - 8.5 |
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Value - 7.7 |
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Enjoyment - 8.4 |
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Average - 7.9 |
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Last Exile |
(2009-02-17 07:56:50) 2009-02-17 07:48:01 |
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| Average |
9.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| A comedy series that goes back to the basics and excels like no other in providing laughs as well as warmth and fulfilment.
A good comedy is hard to find. Particularly one that is able to excel in itself and the characters in it, rather than rely on cliches, overloading moe, service or crudeness. It is very possible to make what seems normal and usually isn't funny into something that is funny. However, it isn't that easy. That requires a good cast of characters, proper timing, appropriate music and good animation.
The setting of providing a mainly female cast in a school + home setting has been done before, but to differing degrees of success. Lucky Star provided a very otaku-oriented style, particularly oriented to those familiar with Kyoto Animation/moe. It is an otaku's series with otaku jokes, otaku reference, etc. You had to be either a seasoned fan, an otaku or a moe junkie to get/like this. For those who could appreciate those mechanics, it was funny/cute. Personally I found it to be a scrawl and grew tired of cliched moe antics that are potentially worthy of Interpol’s attention. On the other hand, there's Haruhi Suzumiya, which had a very vibrant approach with a mix of lively, subdued and submissive personalities that made for interesting conflict. However, it also relied to much on moe/service antics. They're funny a few times, but by the time you see the gag for the fiftieth time before series' end, it begins to grow old. And again being an otaku-oriented series, it will appeal to only so many. Other similar series that come to mind are School Rumble and Earth Defender Mao-Chan – guilty of similar traits.
A better example would be, say, Azumanga Daioh. With a wacky cast, a carefree attitude and a mix of personalities so loaded in being silly, cute, intellectual, vibrant - there was always the potential for just about anything to happen - and it usually did, with good results. But if there was a flaw with Azumanga Daioh, it was that it did occasionally go a bit too far - particularly in the sexual sense. Plus the lack of males did restrict what was possible. And every now and then, the abstract humour went over even the most seasoned anime fan's head. Still, it has a bigger appeal. AD’s creator’s other work, Yotsuba&, is very similar but even more abstract, which is intriguing in some ways but very discomforting in others, which may explain why it hasn’t been animated and might never be.
(Deep breath)
Why mention all of this? I say this because Minami-ke seems to be very uninhibited by restrictions yet also knows where to draw the line. And for comedy, that's a very hard balance to achieve. It doesn't try to be over-the-top, genre-specific, too abstract, too sexual, too sugary or too moe. It follows the basic KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid. Heck, it even says it at the start of each episode!
'This is a simple depiction of the everyday life of the Minami sisters. Please try not to expect too much from it.'
And this is why Minami-ke works. It gives a healthy dose of many good things but never in excess. No primary character is used too much or too little. Secondary characters flow in and out without disruption but leave fitting impressions. It simply moves on at a consistent pace and is very upfront with what it sets out to do. To simply label it as a clone of Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star is simply insulting. There is more than enough in this series that differentiates it from other comedy series of this style, which I will explain in great detail as I go on.
Minami-ke, as explained at the start of every episode, is an honest account of the lives of the three Minami sisters. That’s the story, right there. Without parents or relatives to take care of them, they rely on each other to get by and for support on several levels. Hence, despite having three very different personalities, they compliment each other very well and share very strong bonds of family and friendship that you just don’t get to see these days. They bring out the best in each other as well as the funny, cute, witty and heart-warming sides. It is a very character-driven series, so that is a better place to begin explaining the finer points of Minami-ke.
The eldest sister, Haruka, is somewhat naive, innocent and a free spirit in some senses. Not to mention she is very beautiful – in physique and personality. With her long, flowing blonde hair, her perky eyes, her ever-present sincere smile and the mature/cheerful lilt in her voice, it is virtually impossible to feel anything negative when in Haruka’s presence. However, despite these traits which may have led to her being a bit slack or vulnerable, the dependence her other two sisters have on her draws out the power in her to do what is necessary for the three of them. As a result, Haruka is a source of maternal strength, driven to be a good person and to enjoy her life in order to be able to support her sisters. One wonders how she may have turned out if the Minami sisters still had their parents. But the thought doesn’t last long, because the attraction to Haruka as a character is that her purpose is to fulfil the needs of others and to be a better person. Simple, maybe too optimistic. But there is something undeniably magnetic and very admirable about it. It is very hard to put aside one’s personal aspirations for the good of others, but Haruka is able to do that without compromising her own life. Some people draw fulfilment from those around them being in their lives and don’t need another reason to wake up every day and live life to their fullest. This is how Haruka works. The fact she has a normal life and two sisters to cherish is all she needs. She may be simple but she is such a glowing source of maternal love and positive energy, constantly warming those she values. And because she is very unaware of her effect on others, it is always natural and never loaded with ego or anything malicious, which also makes her very popular amongst her fellow students. Thus, Haruka is a very potent example of the true strength within females and someone her sisters and peers look up to. She doesn’t need ridiculous aesthetics, moe traits or an inflated ego. She is naturally beautiful – which is a rare thing to pull off, but with Haruka it is done exceptionally well.
Chiaki, the youngest, is perhaps the best example of a precocious young girl who is exceptionally aware of the world around her, yet is still able to maintain her cute, innocent vibe. Chiaki doesn’t need moe features, a sugary voice or ridiculous aesthetics to pull this off. Instead, Chiaki is given a fairly sleepy, almost hypnotic expression on her face and a voice that is equally so. It’s as if she is lying dormant, waiting like a predator either to amaze with her sharp wit, lash out at stupidity (particularly to the middle sister, Kana) or to comfort/compliment Haruka. Her voice mulls over like she’s in a dream, handling obstacles in her way with ease and dishing out razor-sharp lines in a plentiful supply. It is this swaying from being the most insightful, stirring character with wisdom beyond her years, then reverting back to actions and habits more befitting of someone her age, that is the core of Chiaki’s charm. Two conflicting sides that are never in excess, resulting in a very intriguing young girl. Brimming with curiosity, never afraid to say what is really on her mind and acutely aware of what is really going on, Chiaki is a major source of humour, as she is the perfect foil to Kana. Certainly Chiaki and Kana require the other to give them that edge, which is why Chiaki ends up being so fascinating. Without Kana, perhaps Chiaki would have ended up very much like Haruka, which would have been a very sedate environment and weakened Haruka as a character as well. With Kana in the fold, Chiaki is forced to develop a serious side to resist Kana’s random antics and to provide visibile appreciation of Haruka’s efforts, which is also a foil to prevent Haruka’s innocent, maternal vibe from becoming too dominant. Which is why Haruka and Chiaki do get along very well. Chiaki’s ways give Haruka fulfilment that results in affection that gives one a moment of pause and a smile on the face. Similarly, Chiaki’s ways also give Kana moments of pause and cause her to fall into line when required, or explode with an even more potent counter that causes all hell to break loose between the two of them and outrageous laughter for the viewer. Either way, Chiaki provides a lot of entertainment.
That said, Kana is the true ‘entertainer’ of the trio. Sporting an eternally vacant/air-headed expression and pigtails more befitting of someone younger than her, always loaded with energy, unable to sit still or follow any concept of normal behaviour, Kana certainly is the ‘spanner in the works’. Where Haruka is very selfless and Chiaki is very considerate and grateful, Kana is rather self-obsessed, loud and impulsive – they very opposite of the other two. But that is a necessary role and then some. It is Kana which provides the majority of the conflict within the Minami family, which causes Haruka to be the stabilising, reliable force and for Chiaki to defuse Kana’s zany antics in a way only Chiaki can – or magnify them. Kana is the essential catalyst for the appeal in all three of the Minami sisters, so why she may not be the most likeable of them, she is still an integral part of the mix. Kana’s ability to turn a normal situation into an epic struggle against the odds, to be oblivious to the glaringly obvious, to unravel a scenario to ‘back to square one’ or to just fail in hilarious circumstances – unmatched. But perhaps the most important aspect is that Kana does have the occasional moment where even she is evidently grateful for Haruka’s eternal generosity and gives Chiaki a moment of pause. So why Kana might make you facepalm occasionally, she is the one that makes things interesting and makes Haruka and Chiaki more interesting, as well as several of the secondary characters. By their own admission, Haruka likes Chiaki for being the catalyst to create difference and fun within the Minami household and Chiaki likes nothing more than to poke fun at Kana. So in a very weird way, she provides an aspect that causes the Minami sisters to be even closer and more appreciative of each other. That is one of the most appealing and unique aspects of Minami-ke – that it relies on more human factors to be of interest rather than more clichéd/standard measures.
The animation style for Minami-ke is very pleasing. Well-defined lines give good grounding features for pastel-like colours. Such combinations are just perfect to illuminate Haruka’s natural beauty, Chiaki’s cute/dreamer nature and Kana’s energetic, airhead-like ways. Movement, expressions and shadows are handled well. Water and light effects are very good. My only gripe with the animation would be that the background animation seemed a bit slack overall, but that’s a minor quirk. As for the music, it’s a rather relaxing mix of piano, light woodwinds, calypso drums, mouth organ, xylophones, violin and triangle. Half of the time there isn’t background music, because it isn’t always necessary. It drifts in when needed for extra effect. Again, another superior aspect of Minami-ke – it never does things in excess. Both the opening and ending themes are very light, bouncy and very feminine, yet they are incredibly catchy and ideal for the type of series that Minami-ke is. "The Rise of the Value of Experience" is a fairly frenetic, cheesy piece but very uplifting. With chibi caricatures jumping in and out with little punch lines and throwing in an avalanche of random short moments of hilarity and warmth, it’s just perfect to get one in the mood for an episode and to lift one’s spirits during a bad day. While also a bit fluffy, "Colorful Days" is a more toned down and earnest affair to reflect the more sincere, loving side of Minami-ke, reflecting what a tight knit group the three Minami sisters are. Again, perfect. The voice acting is of a high quality, particularly from the three main characters. Sato Rina does Haruka’s warm, maternal voice with ease, Chihara Minori slips into Chiaki’s dreamer/hypnotic voice ever so easily, Inoue Marina gives Kana the energy and stupidity befitting of the character. Very pleasing to hear.
For secondary characters, there is a good cast. Fujioka, the nice guy most female students his age like, is really into Kana but his actions always end up being misinterpreted, to the point everyone but Kana likes him, which makes for some amusing squirming and pining on his part. Makoto, a male student in Chiaki’s class, has a major crush on Haruka but Chiaki thinks his stupidity almost mirrors Kana’s level, which causes Kana to make him cross-dress as a girl in order to get into the fold. The amusing fact is – it suits him better than when he’s dressed as a guy! He literally sounds more feminine and acts more feminine normally despite his protestations, so he pulls ‘the trap’ version of Mako-chan with ease and makes for plenty of hilarious moments, particularly when it involves Haruka. Touma, a fairly tomboyish girl in Chiaki’s year level, becomes Chiaki’s favourite project and she becomes a ‘reverse trap’ as Chiaki’s pseudo-brother. The funny part being she fits in ever so well into the Minami sisters dynamic as a result, it feels so right. Especially when her own family of three elder brothers, also called Minami, can’t mesh with her at all. Hosaka, a rather flashy, saucy, sort-of-perverted guy in Haruka’s year level, is hellbent on being the perfect person for Haruka and goes to crazy lengths to do so, but never once do his efforts get recognised. But his efforts make for very entertaining watching. The Minami sisters’ uncle ends up being more of a punching bag/comic relief than a supportive figure. The Minami brothers family gradually try to get close to the Minami sisters family, with plenty of spoofs and the like in result. It all works, but furthermore, the series manages to utilise male characters in several different ways – normal and in anime styles – to make the series even more entertaining. I can’t say any other comedy series that has females running the main parts has been able to utilise men anywhere near as well. So once again, Minami-ke establishes its own identity very well here.
There are also plenty of little things that happen frequently that set Minami-ke apart from the others in its genre. Silent-movie type monologues as a build-up to a poignant/funny moment, GTO-style serious/foreboding faces when the sisters are up to something sinister or in a bad mood, the running TV sitcom Ninomiya-kun, mini-movies that actually work (particularly the dream cut scenes Hosaka has of being with Haruka), keeping humour simple (Chiaki’s epic adventure with kicking a pebble is just priceless), a very fulfilling ‘less is more’ approach (Haruka’s gradual build-up to showing off herself in a swimsuit in the beach episode is an epic moment. The nice, unassuming woman decides to take pride in her appearance for once, does so, looks absolutely stunning, provides the only breast-bounce moment for the entire series, which instead of making it crude and un-called for, turns it into a truly divine moment that every character feels privileged to have seen!). It is funny where other anime trademarks weren’t (only Minami-ke has made traps this funny!), it has provided far more character development than other series in its genre, which were more reliant on the comedy. The sisters actually feel more like ‘real’ females that what a guy wants to swoon over privately. It utilises everyday, realistic conflict for positive results. A bit of ‘real’ spice is so much better than pure sugar all the time. Its anti-fanservice habit of putting someone in the way of what would have been service, save for a few Haruka moments, make it feel clean and the few service moments feel so special, healthy and guilt-free as a result. And on re-watch, the jokes are still funny and the warm moments still feel warm.
This all combines to create a very refreshing series that is more that just a comedy – it is also about sibling love. That is what truly sets Minami-ke apart from the rest of its genre – a point that can’t be over-emphasised.
Minami-ke is a brilliant example of a comedy and a slice-of-life series. It never tries to do anything in excess or to be something it isn’t. By providing an honest account of the three Minami sisters and their everyday lives, it creates a very rare level of fulfilment that makes one feel refreshed and very privileged to have watched a series done right. An underrated gem that never loses its appeal.
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5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
7.3 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| I found myself plunging headfirst into Minami-ke after someone recommended the series to me, noting how much I loved the upbeat, sometimes deadpan situational comedy of Azumanga Daioh, and there are many that will tell you that the brand of comedy in this series strikes a very similar chord.
The series presents itself in a series of mini-stories peppered throughout each episode, centered around three crazy sisters who couldn't be any further apart in difference. Chiaki is the youngest sister, sharp-tongued and quick to criticize, but quite intelligent and usually the one of the sisters that makes the most sense when it comes to their day to day encounters. Kana is the middle child - upbeat, over the top, and while she might cross some as a bit overmuch, there's little denying how crazy her antics and insinuations can come across at times. Lastly, Haruka, the elder sister, is a motherly figure that is as idealistic as she is a little naive when it comes to her relationships. The remaining cast is entertaining to watch in interactional perspectives, but the sisters compose the main framework this series is built around (as it should be). Some characters (omg, Hosaka was hilarious! The brothers were also well worth noting) were very fun to watch in retrospect and create a very intriguing environment within the series
I would describe my reaction to Minami-ke's story/presentation as a middle ground between my enjoyment of Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh, because it begs comparison as all feature characters in a school-based comedic setting. Minami-ke struck me far better than Lucky Star in its overall pacing and comedic timing, providing a lot of laugh out loud moments in semblance of the situational stories and subtly building upon the characters as they interact with each other. The story never seems to try too hard in using elements outside its influence and provides stories that flow in and end appropriately without dragging their feet excessively (something that Lucky Star did and often you didn't really know whether to laugh or scratch your head in measures).
There are times when certain elements are repeated (i.e. Chiaki throwing things at Kana, but then again, it's not really a surprise when you see the context), but for me they never came across as overdone or overused, namely from the pacing and progression of the stories themselves.
Its worth saying that I found the humor in this series to be more original than most comedies made in its respective time, it doesn't overrely on one element to make it work (i.e. no overly ecchi situations) and while some arcs lead into others, the short segments allow it to have more punch with one-liners and other key points of humor, and the character personalities come out in full fruition.
The only problem with Minami-ke is that some might not appreciate its brand of humor. There are little nuance stories (such as Chiaki kicking a rock down the street and later losing it and feeling rather in the dumps by the end) but it's very similar to the situational and random stories that compose Azumanga Daioh, and i'm not sure how someone could find them all that different (i.e. Osaka, I think it was, kicking off her shoe and it randomly ending up landing on a truck passing by).
Animation standards are nicely done, it might seem awkward in some progressions, but more often than not it's utilized in attempts for humor (the mature, scary looking faces that happen when the sisters find themselves in conflict with each other, I like to call it the "Onizuka" effect because it implies some kind of mischief at work XD). Settings are nicely done for its respective time and I actually really liked the character and overall cel design in this series, clean and clear cut.
The overall soundtrack is quirky, fun, and as energetic as you'd imagine it to be. The lively opening theme is one that could potentially get stuck in your head, and find a place there by series end (I really enjoyed it and it still hasn't left me even from watching the series multiple times). The ending theme is just as quirky, though perhaps not as inherently catchy. Voice acting is quite well done, and I have to hand it to Inoue Marina, Rina Satou and Minori Chihara: they all make this series as good as it is with their vocal work and chemistry within the series as the sisters. You really can't separate the caliber of which they perform their roles from the appeal of the series, because it's just that gravitating, even if you aren't sold by the characters in their respective constructions initially.
Overall, I really enjoyed Minami-ke for what it offered, and I'd likely say it's one of my favorite contemporary comedies for its quirky and quick humor. There were moments where it loses steam (particularly towards the end), but the overall ride reached beyond the cons of the series for me. I would recommend this to those who want a decent, quirky (yet quick) comedy to watch in the style of the aforementioned series. I would also recommend this over the intended remake (Minami-ke Owakari) as it has superior production values and direction compared to the remake.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
6.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
5 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
5 |
| Enjoyment |
6 |
| Minami-ke comes off as trying to ride the success of the Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star on having their theme of the daily muses of a high school life.
Animation is decent, with clear detail in Hi-Def, but suffers from consistency issues as well as having a really bland colour palette that is not interesting.
The 3 main characters' voices did a decent job, as they are all lead by pretty good seiyuu (Marina Inoue, Minori Chihara, and Rina Satou). But the characters are all pretty forgettable, as the side characters' voices all seem to blend into one for some reason.
The story to me, is a big letdown. Like Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star, each 25min episode is composed of smaller 5-10min story "clips" that focus on a particular daily muse. But the problem with Minami-ke is that it is neither funny like Azumanga Daioh or charming like Lucky Star. In fact, a lot of these story "clips" are annoying than entertaining. For example, the bubblegum is not funny at all, and the Chiaki kicking the rock is almost pointless and needs much polishing. The story does get slightly better towards its end, around when the Minami brothers are introduced, but they were not paired enough to change my impression of its storyline.
The main characters do have a slight depth to them. Chiaki is the smart person (like the Lisa Simpson here) of the family, you do get it that she is still an elementary school girl by the way she acts. The problem is that the way their character acts kept on repeating throughout the 13 episodes and didn't really make much progress. With the Minami brothers mixed in towards the end, the chemistry do get better, but they dissappear just as quickly as they have appeared.
Overall, this anime left me a very lackluster feeling when I have finished watching it. At no time I was thoroughly being entertained. You may have had a chuckle here and there, but most of the time you will scratching your head asking the writers why do they think those stories are funny.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
7.7 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| Minami-ke is a show about... nothing – but in a good way. Honestly, nothing really happens – there’s no major drama, or mystery or romance or supernatural occurrences; heck there isn’t even any evident plot progression. Minami-ke is a slice of life comedy about three sisters and their ever expanding brood of quirky friends. It doesn’t sound very exciting and I wasn’t sold on it at first either but Minami-ke actually provides a charmingly funny look at everyday life.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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Roto |
(2008-07-24 18:11:31) 2008-07-24 14:00:19 |
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| Average |
7.0 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Minami-ke is an anime that has the genre of a slice of life. I really can't say this is comedy, but some may find this humorous. Also i really don't know how to recommend this because I think most wouldn't really find this enjoyable unless you're looking for an anime that has a slice of life. The story does continue on in it's second season for this one didn't have an ending. And i have yet to watch the second season.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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|
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| Average |
8.2 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| This anime is actually a very nice watch. The level of comedy is up to azumanga daio but its not azumanga daio at all. The comedy works but it will not suit everyone at all. It is a nice watch, if you like almost slapstick comedy.
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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|
|
| Average |
7.5 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Overall, the anime is just as the fellow reviewers say. The series is about three girls (one in elementary, one in middle, and one in high school) and their daily lives (sort of like Lucky Star but without all the otaku-ness).
The three sisters all have unique personalities which cause for a few good laughs occasionally. It is a really light series that can be watched at random and doesn't really have much of a storyline. There is very little plot in this so if the characters don't get you interested in the first two or so episodes, you probably won't like the rest of the series (though so far the series is 2-for-2 out of my friends).
There is also a large cast composed of support characters (since there are THREE schools involved here) which adds some variety to the episodes.
All in all (as others have said), this is a comedic, slice-of-life anime that is free of magic and fantasy.
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1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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|
Pakxenon |
(2008-02-18 20:41:22) 2008-02-17 05:08:16 |
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| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Minami-ke: This is just a plain depiction of the days of the lives of the three Minami sisters. Please don't expect too much. Also, brighten your room and keep at least 3 meters from the TV.
Unfortunately, most of us western anime fans don't do this, nor even have a TV. IN ANY CASE: Minami-ke is one of the best slice-of-lives the genre has to offer. With charming sisters, a cast of crazy and gender-bending characters, and simple but genius animation and directing, this anime will surely have you cracking over every skit and episode, with never a dull moment. Safe to say, if you like stuff like Azumanga Daioh or Hidamari Sketch, you'll probably like Minami-ke more than them.
Being a character-driven comedy, if the Minami sisters fail to impress you, the rest of the series won't work anymore. And this is why it works - the core characters range from the mother-figure Haruka, the troubler but easily-manipulated Kana, to the cynical yet vulnerable Chiaki; motives driven by family, jealousy, competition, and just plain stupidity all circulate throughout the three sisters, bringing even the most dull events full of hilarity and naturalness. The rest of the cast isn't too big: at least TWO traps (all the more reason to watch this), crush characters for all the sisters (trap included; Hosaka is GOD), girl friends, another family, and a couple more added to the tree of family and friends. The cast gets fleshed out decently in the alloted time of 13 episodes, because these simple characters can only be developed so far. But what they lack in complexity they give back in the form of running gags, which never cease to be funny nor old. And thankfully, there is a second season to show more of the characters and their well-intentioned acts of humor (for us).
The animation is kept relatively simple with an opaque and limited palette but smooth animation and quality. In addition, several skits are hilariously overdone and possibly budget-constraining, as per the parts with the dynamic cameras. Even though the anime loses the shoujo elements of the manga, it still manages to be [more] pleasing to the viewer with a sense of normality in atmosphere. And I can't finish this paragraph without the mentioning of the Bible Black faces, prevalent and sexy throughout the show.
Though the stories and skits are uneventful (holidays, school crushes, typical slice-of-life and etcetera), they still manage to be entertaining due to the nature of the characters and the shift-style directing. Lots of good scenes come from the fast shifts of the characters (and their Bible Black faces), or in the form of word-only scenes or daydreaming sequences.
The anime has some original material in it, too, and safe to say, made the experience even better as one is an overly dramatic parody that the Minami sisters watch.
The opening song can get annoying after awhile. The ending song is less prone to that. And the simplicity of the scores comment the situations perfectly.
Worth the watch? Yes. Worth a rewatch? Doing that right now. Worth a second season? Review pending. Worth the fun? Why else?
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0 of 0 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| Minami-ke is a pleasant 13 episode comedy about three teenage sisters released in 2007.
The style in which the characters of Minami-ke are portrayed is very interesting. The anime randomly shifts the characters' facial expressions from the normal simplified features to a more detailed zoomed-in fashion, highlighting the emotions and thoughts of the character. That aside, the amount of detail in the scenes are sufficient, and the character designs themselves, although not fully unique, are pleasant to behold. There are also a couple of 3D computer enhanced scenes, which make a pleasant surprise.
The theme songs of Minami-ke are very cheerful, reflecting the overall mood of the anime, and are reasonably catchy. The voice acting is excellent, as the exaggerated voices complement the exaggerated personalities of every character in the anime perfectly. The background music isn't too noticeable, but doesn't harm the scenes in any way.
Although there is some development in the storyline of Minami-ke, the events that occur are relatively insignificant, and most of them do not conclude in the 13 episodes. A second series is out, continuing, and hopefully concluding, the storyline. Nevertheless, being a light hearted comedy, Minami-ke does not rely heavily on its story. As a result, the anime is still extremely entertaining despite lacking a conclusive plot.
The majority of the humour in Minami-ke result from its cast of characters, and it is an exceptional cast. Although most characters are undeveloped, their exaggerated personalities and actions are absolutely hilarious. Even some of the most insignificant side characters and events are ridiculously funny, adding immensely to the enjoyment of the anime. Add on the top quality voice acting, and Minami-ke becomes one of the funniest comedies released in 2007.
As a comedy lover, I thoroughly enjoyed Minami-ke despite the relatively short 13 episodes. However, there is a sequel to this anime, which will hopefully expand more on the storyline, and be at least as enjoyable as the original. I strongly recommend Minami-ke to all comedy lovers, and anyone else that is after a pleasant and entertaining anime to watch.
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| Average |
7.0 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Want something like Azumanga Daioh? A slice of life? A comedy? Try Minami-ke. This anime is about three sisters who kind of do random things around the house, but the way they do it is really funny. From first kisses, cooking, buying a swimsuit, and more. How could you not love Minami-ke? Well, I guess you can.
The animations were decent/good at best, but these kinds of shows don't really need good animations to show the comedy side. Character designs were fine, except for the tear drop mouth shape. Which you do get used to after a while. OP is an energetic song that's pretty good in it's own way and I always skipped the ED, because I found it boring and unattractive as the OP. Background music is used, but there are few and some of them are repeptitive. Voice actors do a fine job too from Kana to Chiyaki, I thought they fitted the characters quite nicely.
Haruka is the oldest and the most responsible and likes to cook and she takes care of her two younger sisters. Then we have Kana who is in the middle and she is well .... not that responsible and actually she's pretty clumsy and not that smart. But she was my favorite one in this cast. Then you have Chiyaki who is the youngest out of the three and she's kind of mean and only loves Haruka and won't let anyone else love her. I didn't like her that much, but whatever. Kana made up for everything.
The story is just your simple slice of life/comedy show. Everything they do is almost funny and everyone's reactions are funny as well. There are some parts that will guarantee a laugh and some parts that won't. Overall, I don't know if I would watch Minami-ke again, because I already know what to expect.
Do I recommend Minami-ke to you? If you like comedies and loved Azumanga Daioh. Then yes. If you're more into the action and slaughtering of people. Then ummm .... no. Anyway, if you were interesting in action animes, why would you even be reading this review?
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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| Average |
9.0 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Minami-ke is a slice of life comedy about 3 sisters all of whom are school-aged, but in different levels of schooling.
The main attraction of this show is the interaction between the 3 sisters. We have a mature, placid elder sister who contributes to the more situational comedy of the show. The youngest sister is the intelligent, yet young type who constantly picks on the middle sister, the air-head/overly cheerful one and the main focus of the show/manga.
The anime itself really doesn't have a linear aspect, but it more than makes up for it by offering quality comedy when it matters.
If you are looking for something fun to watch when you have random free time, Minami-ke is for you.
I may change the story rating depending on how it pans out.
/based on ep1
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2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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