Nanya’s Crazy Reviews

For more information about this anime, please check out THIS ANN ENTRY.

Title:	#01 ありえないプレリュード
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SYNOPSIS:Konjiki no Corda is based on the game of the same title by KOEI. Later, a manga version emerged and is currently serialized in LALA/Hakuensha. The first episode is roughly based on the first two chapters of the manga though it ended in a different way. The story is rather simple. Hino Kahoko is a normal student at Seisou Gakuin, a school which is divided into music and non-music section. On her way to school, she met a cute fairy Lili. Not many people can see Lili, only the selected ones and one of the first people with the ability to see Lili was also founder of this music academy. What Lili wants is to bring happiness to people through music but sadly Lili can’t find anyone in the school who can see him, not until Hino. Owing to Hino’s ability to see Lili, she was chosen to join the music competition that would soon be held at Seishou Gakuin. The problem is that Hino can’t play any music instrument. Lili gave her a magical violin but she refused to take it. Then, she met a bunch of bitchy girls from the musical section who criticized Fuuyumi for being selected to perform at the competition when she was just a first year student. Hino was pissed, took on their challenge, and got the magical violin Lili gave her out of the case…

As a dating sim, the story of the game was so-so because in each storyline, you only focus on the main character and her “potential guy” and it did not have a solid historical background or plot as say in Harukanaru 3. However, the manga is a massive improvement over the game because it not renders a lot more interactions not only between the heroine and her potential dates, but also between the boys themselves – their friendships and their past experiences. For that reason, I like the manga a lot. The first episode is based on the first two chapters of the manga but the story takes a different spin in the end. In the manga, Hino, though reluctantly, eventually accepted the violin from Lili after she started playing. However, here, she saw Fuuyumi Shouko being bullied and started to interfere and eventually got challenged.1) I think this original development is a bit “strange” and illogical because since Hino never played the magical violin before, how come she would have the confidence to play in front of people? Okay suppose she believed her body would move on its own, it’s still a bit far fetched that she would try playing without even know how to play…

2) In this episode, as usual, they gave everyone a few seconds to minutes of airtime ^_^;; Probably because of that it seems to me this is more like an introduction seminar to the Corda world. Not a bad idea but I am quite sick of this kind of introduction in all dating SIM anime. Just why can’t they think of something more innovative? However, I guess if you don’t show all the guys in the first episode, you’ll anger some fans.

In terms of acting, I am already used to the seiyuu in the Corda world (the male ones in particular) so I don’t have particular problem with the acting. Besides, in the first episode, the guys barely says anything. However, I will like to comment on Hino in particular. No offense but Takagi-san is a bit too “green” for this role. In a way, her Hino is not as energetic and charismatic as the Hino in the manga. I hope she’ll improve along the way. As for Lili, Mizuhashi-san is cute but not quite there yet. I think someone like Kumai Motoko will be a better choice… but then I suppose once you get accustomed to the voice, things will be okay.

Probably the best part of Corda is the music (at least for a Classical music lover as myself). This series, as well as Nodame Cantabile (starting next season) will be very entertaining for me I suppose. Unlike Nodame Cantabile which is more explores classical music with a great degree of depth, Corda is more along the line of using classical music as a stepping stone to bring “happiness” to people, a.k.a. to let Hino solve the problems of the people around her (in a way). It’s too early to conclude the quality of the music at this point. Will make more judgment later on.

BOTTOMLINE:

Average. Doesn’t impress me but doesn’t disppoint me either. This is not just “a shoujo” manga but I’m not sure if I can recommend it to “guys” because it’s not “funny” like Yamato Nadesico where you can just sit through the anime laughing, or has a strong plot like Ghost Hunt. I personally will keep watching as I’m a fan of the manga. Not so sure if it can attract viewers who are neither fans of the game nor manga though.