C-Bombs and Modified Vespas [Detroit Metal City and Michiko to Hatchin]
It’s funny, so many of my animu blogging brethren (init) are getting exasperated about how much they love Eve no Jikan when, personally, I’m finding it nigh-impossible to express how much I’m enjoying Detroit Metal City. Like, for serious guys. I watch a few episodes and I’m gob-smacked. Completely dumbfounded. The best reaction I can muster is to plan how I’m going to introduce this tour de force of offensiveness to my filthy goth friends (of which I have numerous). The fact that I live in Glasgow makes DMC’s copious use of the c-word just all the more perfect. Although I’ve always sworn like a motherfucker the c-bomb has remained sacred and employed only when necessary. Until I came to Scotland, that is. Now I drop it so frequently in casual conversation that I actively worry about going home in case I let slip in front of my mother. Needless to say, this anime is practically handcrafted for the majority of my friends. Not since Honey & Clover have I ever felt this eager to show my generally anime-phobic chums something of the animated persuasion. Yes, not since Honey & Clover. How bizarre is that?
But there’s obviously more to DMC than the initial shock value of its foul language. I love its laconic exposé on the reality of these obnoxiously stylised acts. It takes the notion of ‘everyone has a mother’ and pushes it to hilariously cutting extremes. I also identify somewhat with the schism Negishi faces between his musical tastes and those he associates with. Most of my friends are the aforementioned goths who would legitimately enjoy DMC’s music. Obviously not so much the lyrics, of which they’d enjoy in the same self-mocking way I do, but the music isn’t too far removed from what I hear before a night out with my nearest and dearest. And yet I’m as indie as you can get without broaching Insufferable Wank territory. Negishi actually mentions Cornelius at one point and I sat there aghast, pointing at the screen in recognition. I’m not saying I’m all about Swedish pop music or anything – I do actually partake in metal diversions when something interesting comes along – but I can’t deny a slight twinge of identification with the boy. The animation style, too, is fantastic. I was initially a little unnerved by the heavy use of borders but Studio 4°C obviously have a vision in mind with the aesthetics and I’ve grown to love it. There’s also a certain superflat element to them that I really appreciate. So yeah, DMC is this year’s Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Only with more rape gags. So many more wonderful, wonderful rape gags.
I also managed to find a Michiko to Hatchin release that didn’t rape my computer in a horrible Krauser II-like fashion. I enjoyed the experience but can see the show becoming needlessly overrated by the community. It’s no Cowboy Bebop, that’s for sure. I got none of the sophisticated storytelling jollies from it as I did from Bebop, nor could I ignore how much it pandered to us, the white-ass crackers of the West. It seemed like a fairly tepid attempt to recreate that genre-striding filmic quality of Bebop though ultimately came off too contrived with none of the meaty substance. I agree with Bateszi that the torture suffered by Hana was very difficult to watch, thus successful in one sense, and I felt a bit of satisfaction when she broke free of it, but it could’ve been more acute, more gratifying. The concept of Michiko to Hatchin reminds me a lot of the manga Bambi and her Pink Gun, only with none of its fantastic anarchy. And seeing as it’s aimed at us, the violence-loving, gun-toting arseholes of the world, there seems to be an overt degree of restraint to it. If you’re going to be so obvious in who your target market is at least go completely nuts with it and show no restraint. Michiko to Hatchin is obviously a highly polished anime with a lot of financial weight behind it, so why not follow through with a punch that doesn’t feel so frustratingly pulled?
October 23rd, 20086:22 pm at
Good on the DMC talk. I’ve yet to watch M&H so I skipped that part :o
[Reply]
October 23rd, 20087:03 pm at
LOL, the tower lit up it’s getting horny. Haha, the show is funny.
@ loliktsune its ok u can skip the first episode it sux – basic summary Fugitive Mom saves daughter from her own version of prison/hell.
[Reply]
October 24th, 20082:45 am at
:) So “us” in anime watching America is white? :(
I’m dying to see this Michiko show, because it does look Cowboy Bebopish in its style. They have to distribute this on DVD for the US!
[Reply]
October 24th, 20086:30 am at
@lolikit: Cheers :3
@frog212: You have no idea how much I laughed when they referred to Tokyo Tower as a filthy slut.
@Vichus Smith: Very good point. I think I was too eager to use the phrase ‘white-ass cracker’. But yeah, I think it’s a safe bet Michiko is coming to region one. It looks like it’s banking on it.
[Reply]
October 24th, 20087:30 am at
Just when you can’t imagine how much more awesome DMC can get, it rapes you with awesome.
MichiHatchi: Hana’s torture montage was indeed tough to sit through, but I do think the self assertion was really gratifying. The fact that it was undermined by circumstance near the end (she was still a damsel in distress) only makes it more interesting to me.
It’s like thinking “If I only had the GUTS to do X, then I’ll be free” and not acknowledging the flaws of that logic. Hana showed guts, and was thwarted anyway. It gives me confidence that if Michiko walks all over her, it’s because Michiko’s a real beast.
It may aspire to Cowboy Bebop, but I think more anime really should (not as a derivative, more like a tradition).
[Reply]
October 24th, 20088:51 am at
frog212: we’re not even sure if she really is Hana’s mom.
I found the first ep of Michiko to Hatchin to be a fantastic prelude for what’s to come, seeing Hana suffer in the hands of those pretentious “Christians” made me go RAEGG, and I’m glad that it ended in episode 1! Looking forward to Hana’s development from being a wimp to being more GAR (and more bitchslapping? :P)
[Reply]
October 25th, 200810:20 am at
@ghostlightning: She did show guts, it’s true, but how much did you want her to utilise that hot iron? I got a scary bit of bloodlust when she really started laying into the sister…
@usagijen: Hana’s development is definitely one of the main draws keeping me interested. Michiko, at this point, seems more like a force of nature than a character, so a lot of MtH’s success will rely on how it humanises her and whips up our empathy. An anime fan can not live on badassness alone.
[Reply]
October 26th, 20082:22 pm at
I expected the novelty value of DMC to wear off sharpish but surprisingly it’s going the distance and having me on the floor with laughter every time. The Tokyo Tower Rape was insane but I especially loved the scene where the venue starts to burn down but the drummer refuses to leave his kit “And a new legend was born!” LOL@drummers.
The use of frames confused me at first, but apparently it’s very faithful to the original manga; like you I’m appreciating the vibe it gives off because it very literally feels like a comic brought to life. I can also see my friends digging it (although Setsugai won’t be played at my local jam night any time soon).
Michiko to Hatchin has still left me unconvinced. It’s too keen to be Westernised for my tastes: I can see what it’s trying to accomplish all too clearly, and it relies very heavily on Hollywood plot devices and aesthetics. The prison break and Hana’s stereotypical ‘cruel bunch of catholic hypocrites’ family were entertaining on a superficial level (although the latter made me want to put my fist through my screen) but I agree that an anime fan cannot live on badassness alone.
Maybe this is less of a problem for Japanese audiences who aren’t as familiar with Hollywood’s cliches as we are but I was left a little cold. It’s colourful, exotic and has attitude by the bucketload, which will make it a fan hit but that doesn’t do much for me. With any luck the next episode or two will give me the crucial empathy with the characters so I can genuinely enjoy it.
[Reply]
October 27th, 20082:44 am at
OhGod. Another ‘rape’ pun.
[Reply]
October 30th, 20085:21 pm at
@Martin: Haha, Camus is a perfect example of drooling idiot drummers isn’t he :D I have a few drummer friends and he captures their slightly baser moments brilliantly.
@Kairu Ishimaru: There can never be too many rape puns. RAEP.
[Reply]
November 1st, 20089:46 am at
@hige: Yes. rape puns are just the bestest EVAR!
[Reply]
November 17th, 20089:07 am at
DMC rocks, period. And yes, I hold the c-word sacred and will continue to do so. Lucky I’m only in Germany.
[Reply]
January 4th, 20098:40 pm at
I couldn’t agree more with your DMC talk and I feel like we’re looking at it from similar perspectives since I, too, am friend to a horde of goth kids.
And indeed the c-bomb is holy! Even though I say fuck about bi-sentencally (word?) the c-bomb is only for events!
[Reply]
January 8th, 20098:26 am at
Two things I found interesting about DMC:
1. The fans in the series. The way fans behave are shockingly similar to how fans behave in real-life.
2. It’s concept being like a twist on the Jekyll/Hyde concept.
Well, I enjoyed both Eve no Jikan and DMC. :D
[Reply]