ANDROID ANA MAICO 2010
I thought video already killed the radio star.
Review by: Craig "The Last DJ" Norris
Length: 24 episodes, 15 min. each
Genre: Drama, comedy
Watched: 1-24, subbed
Yet another anime that I thought could satiate my lust for hot robot chicks. Also, I was eager to find out how viable an android would be as a radio show host. Would she be witty and topical like Howard Stern is sometimes? Or would she be trite and annoying like Howard Stern is the rest of the time? Regardless, I was prepared for a unique experience. What I wasn't prepared for was how much I would come to care for the characters.
Plot synopsis: In order to boost ratings, a radio station embarks on a most ambitious experiment: appointing an android as host of a problem-solving call-in show. Enter Maico, a state-of-the-art android who uses her vast database to attempt to solve the problems of her listeners. However, she must overcome her inexperience and her own brutal honesty to help those who rely upon her. More importantly, the production staff must overcome all their own personal problems in order to prevent the show from being cancelled.
Artwork: Not bad, but not great, either. The cel work is average, and sometimes some very clunky CG is used for still shots. This makes objects like phones and microphones seem very out-of-place. There is little variety in the backgrounds, as almost every episode takes place within the confines of the studio. I got awfully sick of looking at the same walls hour after hour. Especially considering modern animation quality as a whole, the visuals in this series shape up to be mediocre at best.
Music: You'd think that an anime set at a radio station would have some decent tunes every now and then, but the soundtrack was exceedingly lacking. Not only was there a general lack of decent songs, but the ones that appeared were often relegated far into the background in favor of dialogue. The opening theme was a whimsical tune that limited its lyrics to sounds of the scale. The rest of the tracks didn't show nearly that amount of thought or energy. In the end, the soundtrack is even more blase than the artwork.
Characters: What the show lacks in production values, it more than makes up for with characters that one can't help but relate to and sympathize with. The person they all seem to pivot around is Maico, whose naive and honest outlook is often the perfect recipe for problem-solving. Though she cannot fully grasp human emotion, she believes that every problem has a solution, and she tries her hardest to find it. Densuke is the beleaguered assistant director that receives nothing but abuse from his fellow staff members. As a result, he has an inferiority complex that constantly works against him, which makes him receive even more grief. The cycle of self-loathing makes it appear sometimes that he's on the fast track to the psychiatrist's office. Matsu is the angry director who takes out his frustrations exclusively on Densuke. He is extremely committed to radio, but can get easily distracted by his emotions, and his constantly thinning hair. Kacchin is the public relations director, and is constantly bitched at by the sponsors and the station owners when every little thing doesn't go as planned. He doesn't seem to have much integrity or loyalty, but his buffoonish antics and shameless ass-kissing aren't viewed as much of a threat by anyone. Izumi is responsible for music and sound selection, but normally lifts as few fingers as possible. She is often seen thumbing through magazines and making harsh and flippant remarks. Suga is the script writer for the program, and seeks to recapture the success of his greatest achievements from years ago. He is the most enthusiastic about the program, and greatly enjoys his work. The sound mixer, Ume, would rather let his collection of sound effects speak for him instead of using his own voice. Despite his perpetual silence, he is a well-respected member of the station. The creator and director of operations for the program, Masudamasu, is a corporate-minded woman whose irritation at the show's low ratings never fails to show through. However, her overarching goal is to gauge Maico's abilities as a host. As we learn more about each character and the problems they face, they become more dynamic and easier to understand. And can make them either tremendously likeable or thoroughly despicable.
Plot: At first the show was a mix of comedy and slice-of-life drama that was paced far too slow to hold much of my attention. In fact, I was downright bored for a while. Then, about 2/3 of the way through, I began to feel that telltale burning behind my eyes. While it never escalated into full-blown tears, it made me realized that I was feeling much of the angst, sadness and frustration of the characters. And for me (who yawned through the ultraviolence of Ninja Resurrection and the super-angst of Wolf's Rain), to show any sign of emotion from an anime is a happening that the creators should be intensely proud of. The slow pace of the plot at the beginning may be an annoyance for some, but believe me when I say that suffering through it is very worthwhile.
CHICKS!: Let's face it: the real reason I watch any anime with an android chick in it is for... the android chick. Maico isn't the most impressive physically, but her honesty and innocence are what really makes her desirable. Her willingness to help people with their problems, as well as her adorable face, are a true treat for people who are tired of android chicks who constantly fight with superhuman abilities. Izumi is fairly pretty, but her overly stoic nature is a definite turnoff. She seems to be indifferent or resentful towards just about everyone and everything. So, unless the trials of life have made you more bitter than baking chocolate, you probably won't find a soul mate in her. Masudamasu looks a lot like her personality: conservative and businesslike. Though, if you like that look, you may like her; hey, I've got a thing for cat ears, so I have no business judging, right?
Overall: This show has its flaws, but they can't hold back the raw emotion that gushes from the characters like sewage from New Jersey. The pacing problems prevent the final product from being more refined, and if the raw materials were handled better, this anime had the potential to be a dramatic masterpiece. As it stands, the emotional content is intense, and is sure to make those less idiotically macho than myself shed a tear or two.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Complex and engrossing characters
+ Amazing emotion
- Very slow in spots
- Kind of a downer
Rating: 7/10
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