This review on Mashiro no Oto contains spoilers. If you haven’t seen the chapter we recommend that you do it and then go back to read the review.
Summary of Chapters 1 and 2
Setsu Sawamura, instrumentalist of the shamisen whose grandfather has passed away decides to run away most of all and find his own sound. With the aim, he meets Yuna, a girl who wants to become an actress, but gradually gives up her dreams. He stays with her for a while and helps his partner with the dream of being one Rock star, but he cheated on her and in her presentation, Setsu is the one who comes out as opening act. Yuna escapes, leaving Setsu alone and his mother finds him and becomes his guardian while he is in Tokyo. The distance that separated them is shortened by the music. Umeko, the mother, forces him to go to school, his brother takes him and what separates death and old age, the same passion connects them, this passion brought Maeda into his life.
Chapter Opinion
Again with another anime that touches Japanese cultural aspects in a contemporary context, but significantly changed for the narrative. A similar case is that of Kono Oto Tonarewho had two very good seasons, but it is clear that they will not be similar in the story as the characters’ interactions mark a different rhythm and theme. But the similar aspects that I usually see in animes of this style are the colors of the animation: an aspect like semi-cloudy or with fuzzy colors. The anime about him koto or Sangatsu not a lion They share this kind of color but not animation like they wanted to add a touch of antiquity to it or highlight something classic. I watch this anime and it reminds me of the movie Isao Takahata, Kaguya Hime Monogatarias for the color. I highlight it so much because it’s curious about me.
We’ll see the characters and analyze them, but for now, although I think there is something, very little, the development is poor, especially in the second chapter, which felt a little slower. Likewise, this is not serious as the narrative is responsive to the music and as the musical aspect is a total miracle that opening I liked it and the interpretation of Shimasen It’s definitely one of the best things anime will ever have. I liked what I’ve seen so far. I would recommend it, yes, but not to everyone, at least not for the first two chapters.
Lost
The protagonist, Setsu Sawamura, is a prototype because of his tragic past: his parents leave him with his grandfather, his best company dies and he remains in limbo. Since he was little he was serious and unkind, is it because it’s his personality or something else happened to make it that way besides the job? The point is that what motivated him is gone, his grandfather dies and tells him one of the most tragic things he could hear, “give up your dreams,” that is, let him touch that Shimasen, but he had a reason to find his own sound. This seems to me to be a complete success, because Setsu is shown as a blank figure with no personality, who is the sound of her grandfather who filled her, but it was not her own. Without the old man, Setsu got lost, trying to give up the good that hurts now. So he arrives in Tokyo and the events pass.
I save Setsu’s “personality” through what he shows with his music, they identify with themselves: someone who wants to find himself.
A hope
Yuna appears and saves Setsu. Actually, the entire first chapter could be so self-closing, everything happens and it doesn’t feel so rushed because everything that happened could be developed in two chapters. It seems that Yuna won’t appear again, but her development has been so good that I will remember her. The aspiring actress with a boyfriend who is cheating on her also gives in deeply because she wanted hope too. But seeing Setsu kill her makes me realize that it is possible to go on with no aim and be okay as long as you are good with yourself. And it gives Setsu hope to go on and find himself too. In the first chapter the hope is established, the following will be the fight for this faith.
mother and son
Umeko, the protagonist’s mother, finds her son and kidnaps him. She looks mysterious, with money but no fame, she even has bodyguards. It seems that he left his children, there are no clear reasons for now, but there are. Now he thinks he is responsible in his own way, but responsible. Mother and son seem to be nothing at all, completely alienated and different, a ruse like a fox and he as indifferent as a crocodile. Still, only music brought them together and connected them. Although she hasn’t spent that much time with Setsu, she seems to know him as they are both passionate musicians who he hails from Shimasen and she with her voice.
About the song they play Tsugaru Ohara BushiThe lyrics are exactly as Setsu says: It’s about nature and about being able to understand her as a young woman. But what he wants to mention is: some may not like this way of singing, it reminded me a little of Yoko Ono at the beginning, but it’s because we are not used to traditional Japanese musicality. As the song went on, it sounded better, it found beauty. I also looked a lot like Turkish music, which I don’t know if it’s traditional or not, but if you’re interested, you can look for the soundtrack from the series Resurrection: Ertugrul.
brothers
The other highlight is the connection between the siblings: Wakana and Setsu. The first is the oldest and also plays the instrument, but those who feel they have reached their limits know their potential and realize that they cannot go further, not because they do not want to, but because there are things that they consume and skills that he cannot transfer. Is that wrong? I would say no, it is not self-limiting, it recognizes our limits and even if we feel bad at first, we can take some pressure off ourselves because we can find a way to move on and stay with ourselves. This maturity shows Wakana one of the reasons the final “it” sounds so good, now he can play with his heart with his brother.
Constructions and amenities
The construction of the characters seems to me to be good, the adults showing their frustrations and their way of establishing themselves. I feel a harmony in her personality that is really coherent despite the always matching appearances that will be in all series. I see the conveniences as coincidences that can happen because such things happen to us in everyday life, but we don’t see them as the conveniences of scripts because it is real life. If one day you want to buy a drink, you run out of money and you find a ticket on the street: is it convenience or coincidence? If I analyze from this point of view, I can enjoy the convenience. I have to say that these coincidences fit well in this anime.
The manga version has been out for a decade and it seems that the story has to be good or acceptable in order to circulate further. Although he didn’t win many awards, I think only one got noticed in competitions. I have faith in this adjustment and hope not to be disappointed with what will go on.
