[Winter 2014] Noragami

Audio Recording of the Review: 

So you’re a god, but you’re no Zeus. You’re not even a Hercules. You’re a god who has to pay the bills, one five-yen coin at a time; and your marketing strategies are abysmal. That’s Yato, our protagonist in the series Noragami.

After being ditched by his latest partner/weapon/girlfriend, Yato is trying to find ways to make money and become the god he deserves to be…or at least what he THINKS he should be. He is essentially the god of oddjobs. Then one day he crosses paths with a young girl named Hiyori whilst on a mission to find Milord…the cat. After Hiyori saves Yato’s life, her own life is thrown into jeopardy and she is blessed with powers [she survives being slammed by a bus and kicks a giant phantom frog’s ass!]. Instead of being a blessing though, she wants to get rid of these powers and she prays to Yato to help her. He’ll do it. For a price. Five yen. That’s pretty much it when it comes to basic plot but that doesn’t mean that Noragami is empty of content. It keeps you entertained from start to finish and at not one moment would you feel like you’re wasting your time or that a particular scene is dragging.

Noragami is a story created by Adachitoka and published in 2011 for Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine and is in its ninth tankobon [manga volume] as of January 2014. It has also been picked up by Funimation for Western syndication; which is always a telltale sign that this show will be a standout title worldwide or at least has potential to be so. What gives it this potential is that the character is at first presented to have skills and a skilled partner but then things start to unravel and we see that this god is like us in that he needs a job and that he feels under-valued. His quest to build a shrine after himself is one of the facets of Yato that endears him to the audience and makes his character all the more relatable; he may be a god but he’s not infallible.

Another factor in what makes Noragami’s existence even more necessary is that it balances action with comedy quite superbly. There are cool action scenes but there are also moments in which the comedy seeps in and eases the tension for the viewer and the other characters. The narrative gives off a relaxed feeling in that there are no pauses for exposition or to explain something and that the action is super intense and death is not around the corner. You can sit back and have a good time whilst also being reassured that what you’re watching isn’t mindless, moronic or sometimes with anime these days both.

Yato and Hiyori make a good team and there could be a romantic subplot later on but for now their dynamic has a buddy comedy vibe about it and that’s perfectly fine by me. Hiyori has a need to be normal again; Yato can help do that or at least help her control her newfound skills. I’m looking forward to see how they get to know one another and find out more about their situation as they both have something to gain from the other. There’s a mutual benefit for them breathing the same air. That is if gods breath air or else that figure of speech is no good!

Noragami is one of the most notable shows of the Winter 2014 lineup and should definitely be given a chance by anime fans. It has comedy, action, believable characters, great animation and a simple storyline which is not bogged down by mythology and overly complex sub-stories. There’s something for everyone here. It may be considered a ‘shonen’ anime but it’s not THAT male-focused so don’t think it’s a Naruto or Bleach in that regard. It’s more rounded than that.

Noragami is available to stream on Funimation.com

RATING: CONTINUE [really, do!]

Yumekui Merry [2011]

http://blip.tv/masakox/anifile-yumekui-merry-4834362

One day, Yumeji found out he had the power to look into peoples’ dreams. Then he comes across a powerful entity from said dreams which just so happens to resemble a tweenage girl…how convenient.

Originally premiered on February 26th 2011.

Asobi ni Ikuyo/Cat Planet Cuties [2010]

http://blip.tv/masakox/anifile-asobi-ni-ikuyo-4158699

Cat ears and boobs aplenty! Aliens are on the most wanted list as a cute extra-terrestrial crashlands on Okinawa and finds refuge with a teenage boy as you do. The lowest common denominator leads to hilarity? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Originally premiered on September 19th 2010.