I believe I’ve always liked CLAMP’s character designs; long limbs, sleek bodies, crisp eyes, and bishi! This feeling was especially apparent after I had simultaneously started the xxxHOLiC and Tsubasa Chronicle manga. Last year (or possibly late 2006), I was flipping through a V.S. catalog and found some photos the closest human example of a CLAMP design.
I don’t want to spoil anyone, but I just want to state my grief with NHK, and then my love. I took the short time to catch up with some manga reading up to volume 5, and it’s a deep, twisting ride through the spastic world of a hikikomori. Some of the chapters felt strange, almost out of place, due to the sheer randomness, but by chapter 25, we see the most comprehensive overview of the current situations in any NHK chapter. The reason for the comprehension, even though it is very brief and hardly decsriptive of the problems the characters are facing, is that NHK doesn’t do much of “ordinary”. Still, it can deliver quite a fullfilling ride.
Diving in shallow water isn’t for the meek. Neither is being preyed upon by one Nakahara Misaki. Hey hey, I’m only kidding. She’s such a cute kid, and her persistance is quite amazing. So I’ve finished up the next couple volumes of NHK and ran through a few more episodes of the anime. I’ve found the draw; the difference, the substantial points that set these two mediums apart. We have the NHK manga, loaded with trippy confusion and comedy, and very low on the sentiment. Then there is the NHK anime, which takes on a cleanly planned plotline and romantic touch. True statements.
I’ve noticed the anime seems to have a slower pacing than the manga, which is accomplished by the spacing I spoke of before. I don’t think this negates the experience in anyway, but also the anime is accompaniened by a Satou character who seems more interested in Misaki, than his manga counter-part. I’ll assume this is to stress the relation between Satou and Misaki, and I’m not talking about the hikikomori-savior relationship. The manga usually doesn’t play to much into how Satou feels about Misaki, we know he finds her cute but he also has this exsquisite hate/fear attitude towards her. Even from the first episode this is seen when the charming bgm is playing while Misaki and Satou are standing on either side of the door (before Misaki left).Depending on where the next volumes go, I could be saying that the anime presents an entirely better lovey-dovey side to NHK, or not. The coin is tossed.
After watching the first episode of NHK ni Youkoso, then realizing I had checked out the manga before, I decided to read a few volumes. I’ve taken note of animes which use a sort of Zen reflection of the “oktaku scene” to the characters (ie. characters are otaku, Comic Party, Genshiken, etc), but I’ve never paid much attention (didn’t finish reading Comic Party). The presentation in NHK is bizarre and perhaps the reason I’ll venture down the manga road [and its a conspiracy^^]. The zaniness comes in intervals, which is a plus; I’d have trouble following the material otherwise.
They aren’t exactly alike (manga & anime), but that’s no problem. The differences come mostly in timing and slightly extra scenes in the anime to space-out events. Both have put a good display of comedy and interaction. I’ll have to watch a few episodes to really see the differences. The high comedy point in the first volume was definitely when Satou goes hikikomori+lolicon. I nearly fell on the floor laughing, and it makes me wonder how that scene will be included in the anime. It’s very naughty, but so halarious as Satou is hiding in the bushes and peeping on the school girls (awful habit); his entire persona at that moment was outrageous. The first 3 chapters of volume 1 are a strong, funny opening to NHK, the last two chapters were good development, but I didn’t find them as funny (could just be me getting tired, literally, not of NHK, no no no). Comedy isn’t something I necessarily look for, but with the first few chapters so riddled with fantastic nonsense, I was expecting more laughs. Its possible that this story will become sentimental-style, simply because of the hints of salvation, romance, worry, and heartbreak in the first volume. Super!
Ryan A
Melative Current Anime