Natsu and Happy pose for the opening sequence.
In a succinct and elegant manner, the narrator's introduction provides some background information on the Kingdom of Fiore and opens the door to a world of unbridled magic.
From the display of mostly monochrome medieval-style maps and portraits of wizards battling immense beasts, one might think that the story takes the medieval fantasy theme to a level akin to that of stories like King Arthur and Lord of the Rings. Just when the mood for an odyssey of grand proportions has been set, a winged blue cat designed like a plush toy flies across the screen and reminds us that this is an anime series. One must set expectations neither too high nor too early.
The opening sequence consists of standard fare. There are panoramic stills, large group shots with all eyes looking far off into the distance, heroic conquests, a melancholic girl out in the rain, gigantic monsters, slow motion duels, and sun flares - lots of sun flares.
The opening theme itself is nicely composed. It has good lyrics, is sung very well, and has clean instrumentation. The music through all the episodes thus far is quite good. Much of it is far from subtle, and is all the more noticeable due to the show's use of exaggerated power. Nonetheless, the background music suits every situation it accompanies and is never overbearing. Additionally, the Scottish or Highland themes are a pleasant departure from orchestral aggrandizement.
Fairy Tail is about magic, the quest for power, glory and fame, as well as the strength that is gained and the bonds that are forged during those quests. The two main characters are on such a journey, and their adventures bring them formidable enemies, dark mysteries, and the promise of great reward.
Lucy is a Celestial wizard seeking rare Gate Keys, which allow her to summon and command elemental spirits. One of her greatest aspirations is to join a popular guild, but that is easily taken care of in the first episode.
Natsu is a Salamander, or fire wizard, with great potential. However, he still a lot to learn in the ways of skill and finesse. He and his sidekick Happy, a fish-obsessed cat, are searching for Igneel, a fire dragon who was once Natsu's caretaker and teacher.
All of this sounds marvelous and would easily make a great theatrical production. Fairy Tail takes these and many other related concepts, flips them upside down, turns them inside out, then adds a generous helping of gag humor, several outlandish and boisterous characters, comical outfits, plus a dash of cuteness.
Fairy Tail is a parody of its own and other genres, including pocket monsters and magical female warriors. Despite (or perhaps because of) this, it is thoroughly enjoyable. The humor keeps things lively, even amidst tense situations and serious fights. The characters are likeable, especially Lucy and Happy. Also, though each episode tends to focus on a specific mission, the appearance of an evil mastermind (Eligor) has made things more challenging for our heroes, and thus makes the show more interesting.
The visuals are neither lackluster nor exemplary. On one hand, the animation has low frame rate, and there is an enormous amount of re-use. On the other, the backdrops are cleanly painted, there are a wide variety of settings, the storyboard is cohesive, the editing is fairly neat, and the colors are as rich as the character roster.
The closing sequence presents super deformed animation at its best, with cuteness galore, chorus line dancing, lots of running, lots of wistful imagery, and a theme song that overflows with lovesick daydreaming.
Super deformed Lucy daydreams about romance.
I'm tempted to give this series a relatively high rating now, even though I've only watched eight episodes (out of thirteen, I believe). Many viewers might shy away from shows with such ludicrous characters and gag humor, but this is an exception I would happily recommend to all anime fans. Crazy characters and low-budget quickie animation aside, Fairy Tail is well written, funny, and entertaining.
0 comments:
Post a Comment