Anime: Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai

Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai is hailed as one of the best isekai and anime comedies by the elitist crowd within the anime community, for three reasons:

1-It’s retro, that means older, and thus better.

2-It’s about anti-escapism, a commonly praised theme and message among that part of the community and a reason to consider everything with it as better.

3-It’s made by Gainax, the once upon a time best anime studio.

Well, unfortunately, I gotta say I’m quite dissatisfied with this title all things considered.
Not in terms of visuals though, because, for a 2002 anime, Abenobashi is pretty well animated. It maintains a good artwork and well done special effects, and since almost every episode takes place in a different world, the backgrounds are always changing and are interesting to look at. The character designs are fairly typical and derivative but since the series is filled with references, they tend to change art styles every so often, with all of them being integrated organically and well enough, given its comical purpose. The motions range from ok to very good, and the directing is full of energy to make up for when the characters are not actually moving at all.

The soundtrack is also pretty good, although I’m not a fan of the opening and the ending is typical and easy to forget. The background music combines decent to good pieces along with parody versions of well known anime and live action movies, without losing the epicness of the originals. Voice acting is wacky but well done, and sound effects are good but affected because they also imitate older titles and sound mixings.

But still, for most of its duration, the show still feels like an episodic referential comedy that loses its point and direction midway, with no anti-escapism message making up for that.

Yes, they serve a purpose for a couple of scenes and making clear that it’s a result of the protagonist not wanting to face reality, but was a whole season needed for that? I don’t think so. As far as I’m concerned, only episodes 1, 7, 9 and 13 actually move the plot, along with some scenes from the others here and there, while the rest works against it.

What I’m getting at here, is that a movie or a short ova series in the likes of other made by the same studio such as FLCL or the Top wo Nerae! mini franchise would have been more than enough of a duration, and work in its favor.

Plus the actual core behind the plot and setting is no more than a sappy love story around characters that aren’t given enough focus and aren’t very likable on their own. They feel like they couldn’t let go of events that happened way ago in their pasts and that are the ones escaping reality the most and never break that cycle, so the message is lost when it comes to them.

On top of that the whole message is contradicted at the end because, when the protagonist is about to face the reality he so desperately wanted to avoid, he gets a magical wish that nullifies the main conflict that started his escapism. And yes I know that that is not exactly true, I’ve seen the very final scene, but that only makes it worse because the cycle continues and the characters keep escaping reality, so what was the point of anything?

Plus when you think about it, it doesn’t make much sense how every world is subconsciously created by the protagonist, yet he barely has control about them, includes younger versions of people he doesn’t know about, and eventually is revealed that has a weird fixation over his grandmother. So much for the different and well written anime comedy and isekai that is not perverted like the ones that come out now.

The main characters are memorable and have good characterization considering their age and stuff, and the support and secondary ones are eventually fleshed out through flashbacks and exploration of the settings, but since what they learn is undone by the ending, it can’t be said that they have proper development and catharsis, and are thus just ok as a whole.

The series is ok as a parody, as it isn’t lazy about it to tell you the jokes directly like other do, and it does a good job in mixing the jokes even in its audiovisual aspect, the characters are ok on a basic level, and an anti-escapism message is always welcomed, especially for what its subgenre would become. But as a whole I can’t say that the series is that well written in any way and thus I consider it overall mediocre and very well forgotten, perhaps even a bit overrated by retro fans.

Cute twelve-year-old plays straight girl to the hilarious, super-stylized fantasies of a boy she likes.

That's the soundbite appeal of Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai. It's an unconventional episodic comedy with parody, quirk, and dashes of moé—imagine a mashup of Pani Poni Dash and The Great Movie Ride—and as of 2011 it's aged well. Seekers of zany humor and nostalgia could do worse than Abenobashi. Seekers of pleasure viewing for lazy weekend afternoons could do far worse. My one stipulation, dear reader, is that you not take Abenobashi seriously. That will only disappoint you.

Let's break down the soundbite in no particular order.

"hilarious, super-stylized fantasies" — 人間なんちゅうたかて達者が何よりや

Sasshi and Arumi are childhood friends in a run-down Osakan shopping district. True to the magnetism of opposites, Sasshi (the boy) digs fantasy and escapism, while Arumi (the girl) lives with her feet on the ground. Tragedy strikes, and those feet leave the ground. In short order Sasshi and Arumi find themselves whisked to an oneiric dimension of fantasy, visiting a dozen fictional transformations of their home—the RPG shopping district, the science fiction shopping district, the martial arts shopping district, the Hollywood shopping district, etcetera—and trying to return to their world. It's a transparent formula for parody, and it works great.

Each world applies one of Sasshi's nerdy hobbies to the shopping district. Characters warp to match media tropes, where Sasshi plays the cliché roles of legendary sniper, mecha pilot, hero of prophecy, and teenage hearthrob; and where females take on humorously hyper-sexualized fetish roles. One recurring point of humor in Abenobashi is seeing Sasshi's (and perhaps your) juvenile fantasies imposed on mundane reality. Another point of humor is, of course, the references; the number of jokes referencing other cartoons, movies, games, and books is staggering.

Your enjoyment of Abenobashi will thus map directly to the quantity of media you've consumed in your life. For the Sasshis of the world, the nostalgia and recognition appeal of this series will overwhelm. The Arumis of the world may wish to look elsewhere.

"plays straight girl" — 分かってないもアンタやろう！

The second major element of this series is its tsukkomi/boke dynamic. I mentioned earlier that Arumi plays a pragmatic foil to Sasshi's fantastic escapism in Abenobashi. Well, she voices her role loudly and wields a paper fan. She also hits Sasshi when he waxes nerdy. Which is to say frequently. This slapstick interplay—called manzai—pervades Abenobashi as an enjoyable and distinctly Japanese form of humor. I'll warn you that while the double act is internationally humorous, the fine eastern cultivar of tsukkomi and boke doesn't always translate well.

For those who do enjoy harsh words and paper fan bludgeoning, however, this anime does an excellent job at them. First, most of the slapstick retorts are creative beyond the standard cliché. Second, Abenobashi takes place in Osaka, the Mecca of manzai, and voice actors deliver their lines in a delicious kansai dialect of lilting curves and harsh trills. Arumi's straight girl punchlines work all the better for her apt casting.

"cute twelve-year-old... a boy she likes" — こんな世界なんて……大嫌いや!

You might think I'm creepy for mentioning it. To this I respond: "It's an anidb review, what did you expect? Har har!" Putting jokes aside, you know that technique anime uses to appeal to the male libido? The one where an attractive young girl agonizes over her cup size, resents other females, and shies from revealing clothing because she lacks confidence in her body? And how she ends up showing it off more than a stripper? That's a dynamic of Amenobashi.

It might be a parodic dynamic, and as the story progresses there emerges a possible reason why Arumi was running around without underwear for most of an episode. Nevertheless, it's a dynamic. Abenobashi uses Arumi as a sexual object, and if you're into that sort of thing, it does it pretty well. If you're not, the dynamic isn't too overbearing.

Putting it all together — けったいな話やなぁ～

The three dynamics I've listed form the soul of Abenobashi: media parody, manzai slapstick, and moé. There's certainly more to say about the series, but nothing that's worth my time to write or your time to read. If you enjoy parody, manzai, and moé, Abenobashi is a good candidate for watching. End review.

However, I can't help but mention one major disappointment of the series: it never comes together. You see, toward the end Abenobashi approaches the realm of mono no aware tragic comedy. Tugging at the curtains of Sasshi's escapist fantasies, it hints at a dark, concealed, depressing truth. But when the curtains finally open the audience will find nothing satisfying behind them, no compelling lesson or observation about life, just a perfunctory happy ending. It comes up shallow. Whether this matters depends on whether you need takeaway value to justify watching a moé comedy.

Putting it all together, Abenobashi is a good but not great cartoon, whose principle fault is not delivering on a tantalizing promise of depth.

PREFACE
Seen from afar, Abenobashi should only be viewed by people who have seen several genres of anime, are familiar with most Hollywood blockbusters and are accustomed to the Japanese culture. It is brimming with so many parodies of anime stereotypes, famous movie clips and cultural references that if you are not a seasoned otaku, you will miss most of the jokes. If you are not one yet, you better leave this aside until you become one. So… MOVE YOUR BUTT AND WATCH AS MANY AS YOU CAN if you ever want to truly appreciate the series.

THE STAFF
GAINAX strikes again with yet another weird show with an even weirder ending while Madhouse offers us one more of its wonderful animated works. This is also important in a way for being director Yamaga Hiroyuki’s best work (not that he directed many good shows to begin with).

PRODUCTION VALUES
[Wacky to the point of originality.]

- Each episode features the exact same area (a shopping district) dressed as a different anime genre each time. It didn’t strike me as repetitive but as creative. So, yeah, I liked the concept.
- The graphics are heavy on deformity, as characters are drawn simplistic and very often with erratic proportions. Being a parody, this is to be expected; a grotesque perception of the fine arts is a common trait in comedy. If you prefer clear drawings and stable proportions, then this series is not your cup of tea. Still, the deformity and the same background being changed on each episode was a nice idea and with a well presentation.
- The animation is chaotic, as everything moves with cranny fps and little concern about the laws of physics. This mockery is done intentionally for increasing the laughing factor. If you prefer realism, look elsewhere.
- Lightning/ Visual Effects are scarce but present. When something serious is going on, 3D models and nicely made lightings pop-up.
- Voice acting and music themes are never serious-sounding but they are very high-spirited. If this were a serious series, then that would be something to bitch at. But since it’s not… they fit like bread and butter! A notice must also be given to all those easily recognizable variations of several blockbusters’ soundtrack themes.

SCRIPT
[Transformerabenobashi! More than meets the eye!]

- There is scenario present only in the first, the seventh and the last episode. Unlike the cheery atmosphere of the general plot, it’s gloomy and serious. The story starts serious; not funny at all, continues as a parody and ends as a metaphysical mystery. Bizarre is not a strong enough word for it. But it definitely is different and interesting in the same time.
- The serious part involves two kids who see the shopping district they grew up in to be about to shut down. Their families will move away and they will separate, a thing that makes them really sad and pessimistic about the future. Then suddenly…
… The parody part begins with the kids being transported to alternative realities! On each episode (generally stand-alone), their district is transformed into a different-themed place. From epic phantasy (RPG parody), to science fiction (mecha parody), to martial arts, film noir, date simulations, and more (always parodies). And as I mentioned before, you have to be accustomed to many things in order to get the jokes. Most of the time, the kids try to find a way to return home but then…
… The metaphysical part comes to bring revelations, plot twists and a really weird conclusion (can’t say more without spoiling the surprise).
- The story has no side stories and is not even a main attraction. But it definitely gives reasoning for all the wackiness you get to watch and a purpose for the characters (other than making us laugh, that is). And yes, even deeper meanings can come out of it (can’t reveal what; spoilers suck). Compared to most parodies, Abenobashi not only has a serious side to it, but it also makes sense and provides philosophical questioning (if you stretch it a lot, of course). Even if undermined in favor of parody, it deserves a good mark for that.

CAST
[A bunch of likable idiots.]

- The two main characters (the boy and the girl that travel throughout the alternative dimensions) start off quite uninteresting; wimpy boys and edgy girls are the norm of most anime. But as the story closes towards the metaphysical part, they become a lot more than what they seem at first (no, I can’t say more; you know why). They do develop and find a form of catharsis in the end.
- The rest of the characters are there just for laughs, although the boy’s father and grandfather are part of the serious part of the story and that wizard/scientist does provide reasoning for all the strangeness of the show. No character development but really strong presence and mostly vulgar humor is what makes them better than average stunts.
- In general, all characters have funny quirks that provide them with a strong presence in the story.
- Interesting backdrop stories and personalities are otherwise hard to find in them.

LEGACY
[Tribute galore!]

Depending on your personal tastes and acquired knowledge over movies and anime, some episodes will appear funnier than others. There is a repeating motif on the parody-based episodes that will probably tire you after a while but as a whole it is very enjoyable. Being a famous series that ends a lot different than it began, it does make it even more special and memorable, even if you didn’t like the ending or the crude jokes.

SUGGESTION LIST
Excel Saga
FLCL
Genshiken
Panty & Stocking

(Writers note: If you read this review, RATE this review. Authors thrive on feedback, whether it be a simple happy face, or an in-depth critique.)

Summary/Outline: Sashi and Arumi live in the Abenobashi Shopping District with their respective families. The district is slowly shutting down, however, making way for Skyscrapers and the like. Arumi is moving to Hokkaido, where she won't be seeing Sashi anymore. Everything changes, however, when one of the 4 magical icons that protect the Shopping District is destroyed, sending both Sashi and Arumi into multiple parallel dimensions... of the Abenobashi Shopping District! Will they ever find their way back to reality? Do we care? Do THEY care?

For those of you who want a short review, here it is: Any series that does... NOT ONE... NOT TWO...

BUT THREE SEPERATE PARODIES OF MONTY PYTHON SKITS!!!...

Is a must-watch.

Now, for the longer review:

To get it out of the way: Animation was top notch for a TV series. Few still frames unless for comedic effect, and the artists had to draw something completely different every episode as Sashi and Arumi travel to different alternate dimensions. It was not noticable whether the audio or music were good or bad, so I gave them an 8. Expect to see a lot of eights for audio and music in the future as well. Sorry, but I'm not an audiophile. Unless it's extremely bad or extremely good, it's probably gonna get an 8.

Explaining the plot is pointless, since it exists merely to allow for more and more parodies. Off the top of my head: Terminator, Terminator 2, The Exorcist, Rocky, Air Force One, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Titanic, Jaws, Twister, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Dark City (yes, Dark City), Superman, Spider Man, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, AI, Robocop, Die Hard, Star Trek, Escape From L.A., The Muppet Movie, The Thing, and at least two dozen others I either can't remember, or couldn't quite place.

Then the series goes on to parody other anime, such as Ninja Scroll, Love Hina, Tenchi Muyo, VanDread, Fushigi Yuugi, and plenty more.

We also have the genre parodies of basically every genre ever made. Film Noir, Drama, Action, War, Other Comedies, Dating Sims, Hentai, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Fish-out-of-Water, Magical Girl, "War is Pointless", Shoujo Ai (Girl Love), Shounen Ai (Uh... Boy Closenessness), and of course, a thousand others I can't remember. Seriously, this series covered an awful lot of ground in 13 episodes.

As I said before, explaining the different alternate dimensions is pointless, since they're just there to help the different parodies along and make you laugh. There's no real story per-se; There is a small bit of drama towards the end regarding whether someone they know will be alright if they return, but it's dealt with sparringly.

Most of the time, I laughed. When I wasn't laughing, I was smiling. When I wasn't smiling, I was nodding, with a "lost in nostalgia" look on my face. What more can you ask for from a Parody? There are a couple episodes that don't quite work, even though you still laugh quite a bit, and there is one in particular that should have been left out completely. I believe it was in Episode 7, where they dumped the parody angle and went with a drama about how this alternate universe stuff came to be. There is a scene involving a young man's feelings being trampled upon when a woman he loves sleeps with his best friend. This is dealt with WAY too realistically and painfully for a comedy. This episode is a work of art, though, and should be cut out and pasted into a REAL drama. Seriously, it would be great if it didn't feel so out of place. It really made you feel the sting and sadness of betrayal. Great drama, but not appropriate for a pure comedy.

The best of the best: The episode involving the Dating Sim alternate universe, and Episode 12. Scene from Episode 12: A highrise building modeled after Die Hard, housing about a dozen or so characters, half of them naked, are tossing oxygen tanks at Jaws, who is riding towards them in a Tornado. Jaws eats about 30 something tanks, at which point everyone breaks out a machine gun and unloads, causing the building to partially blow up, sliding away like in Titanic, when the characters fall and bounce off the propellers, and... but you get the picture. It's stupid, it's insane, and I couldn't stop laughing.

In closing, any series that does a parody of Monty Python's "The Lumberjack Song" can't be all bad, can it?

A comedy which shares the same aspects of what made Furi Kuri fun. Pure Wackiness!! Well its to be expected for something being produced from the same studio. Unlike Furi Kuri this one actually has a plot and is a very solid parody comedy series. The laughs are huge in this as there are spoofs ranging from Hollywood movies to DragonballZ. This anime makes fun of everything thats popular in realm of television. Every episode has a particular theme to it and so makes it great for rewatch factor. Like if you love Sci-Fi then the episode spoofing the genre is worth watching alone.

The characters are nice and extremely funny. Arumi is girl caught into the nerd's (Sashi) fantasy world and ends up paying for it through a lot of pain. Adventures ensue and the fun begin. This is a definitely worthwhile watch if you want parody simply making a mockery of all other shows in the past. A lot of fun with its (absurd) fanservice which happens to be funny and full of laughter.

Animation
Like Furi Kuri which had crude animation for comedic scenes.. this one actually "looked" crude. Its hard to explain really but it wasnt very pleasing to the eyes.

Sound
Very average soundtrack. The BGM basically consists of ripoffs of other series mainly to make the scenes more funny.

Story
Pretty good for a comedy series such as this. Its wacky but isnt completely senseless

Character
Arumi and Sashi are both funny and full of emotions. Arumi actually feels as if shes superpissed while Sashi is definitely enjoying the fantasy worlds.

Value
Very high. Some episodes were EXTREMELY funny. And depends on what genre you like.. so those episodes spoofing that particular genre are hilarious.

To the other otakus out there I guess I can say this is a relaxing time off from the more serious animes. 98% of this show is parody related and in many ways it's quite similar to Excel Saga. It's quite episodic and each episode makes parody of something new, bringing up alot of references constantly. That's really why some of the episodes might seem much more fun than others because you can laugh a little harder when you realize what the incidents are referring to; and that's why sometimes everything may just seem like confusing overdone craziness.

I never really got hooked to Abenobashi, unlike the other crazy-comedies like excel, puni puni poemi and FLCL because in a way it seemed like Gainax was out of ideas on this one. The show relied way too much on those parody references, there wasn't much pure comedy at all really, I had to search for similarities all the time and maybe squeeze out a smile when I realized what was being made fun of. Episode 12, the hollywood parody, was the funnies episode imo.

And as for the story...hmm I think I'm being very large when I say a total of 2 episodes are dedicated to story development. I guess you can say things get semi-interesting when you learn how everything is connected, but it wasnt nearly enough to make me gasp- and in the end everything is a bit rushed. It was also a little annoying to see yet again a boy/girl relationship where boy drools over tits in tight clothing and girl gets insanely mad each and every time, and beats him to the moon and back. Love Hina, anyone?

A big selling point are the sounds/visuals even though they won't nearly save this anime either. The visuals don't smell 20 miles away from computer-assistance and yet they're incredibly detailed. Sometimes we see dark and misty backalleys and sometimes we see bright and colorful flower fields, very nice indeed! The characters also look nice, and the two mains are really kawaii!
The sound part is equally good, I especially liked the OP. It's quite funky and there is just something cute about japanese girls trying to sing english, here they dedicate an entire chorus for that :) Also the background music and ED are more than decent.

So just to wrap it up:
For otakus: An eye-candy of a parody, where you shouldn't look for a story, instead hope that you can refer to the incidents a little better than I.
For newcomers: Keep Abenobashi on the shelf for a while, or maybe in a box in your basement.