Nobunaga Concerto 03 ~ outrageous attire

Oda Nobunaga embraces his wife, as the difficulties of the Sengoku Jidai threaten to overwhelm them.

Nobunaga Concerto is a bit behind the rest of the shows airing this season; episode three is out now, however, and it does seem that it is trying to be something unusual. Most series based upon the conceit that a high school student that has slipped back in time to the Sengoku “Warring States” period (in this case about the mid-1500s) are light in tone, and often comic, but Nobunaga Concerto takes a different approach, both to animation (which involves motion capture and rotoscoping), and to the story, which is more serious.

One thing I enjoy is the way the muddled color palette, instead of the usual bright colors, keeps the series somewhat grounded. There have already been two characters who were shown in a positive light that have been killed off, so I think the show is going to attempt to present the period as one of tragedy, instead of an exciting adventure. As one character notes, “The Warring States world is a lonely one.”

It still is a bit too early to see if the producers can gain full control of the new technology they are using for animation. There are times when the characters look well designed, and times when the faces seem painted on tubes. There are times when the motion capture makes for lively and interesting animation, and times when the result seems forced and artificial.

It is also a bit too early to say if the story will be worth it, or if the acting will suit the material. There are times when Saburou, who has become Oda Nobunaga, comes across as a witless clown. This could be a setup for character development, since Mamoru Miyano has the depth, as a seiyuu, to bring out some of the pathos that the role should demand. Or perhaps the director just doesn’t know what he is doing and he is leading the project astray?

Verdict

The show is worth keeping for now. As I have said before, I think it is a good thing that the animation staff is tackling a project of this scale. They will learn things in the process, and that will lead to interesting new options for the future of anime. I also like the serious tone, and wonder if this can turn into a compelling story. Of course I simply don’t know whether the promising elements will work together to result in an enjoyable show, but I am interested enough to find out.