Comments on: ef - a tale of melodies Review - 77,5/100 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/ An anime blog covering a large variety of series, both popular and underrated. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:03:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Gotank http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-15015 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:05:15 +0100 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-15015 "It seemed to me that the creators never really knew what they wanted to do with this story. They keep throwing one plot twist after the other but forget to make the viewer accustomed to the characters." This was my main qualm with Melodies as well. I couldn't perceive a direction in the plot with Yuuko side of the series at all after the death of the main antagonist. Eventually, all I could conclude was that the car accident in episode 10 was thrown in purely for the sake of melodrama and having the story line up with everything else; the last episode felt terribly dragged out. Mizuki's story, on the other hand, I actually enjoyed quite a bit. The story itself is rather simple, but the message is very hopeful. Episode 11 did very well in summing up that side of the story, especially with that fantastic confession. Overall, I didn't think that badly of Melodies. Most of us just went in with too high of expectations. At least the music was still epic. “It seemed to me that the creators never really knew what they wanted to do with this story. They keep throwing one plot twist after the other but forget to make the viewer accustomed to the characters.”

This was my main qualm with Melodies as well. I couldn’t perceive a direction in the plot with Yuuko side of the series at all after the death of the main antagonist. Eventually, all I could conclude was that the car accident in episode 10 was thrown in purely for the sake of melodrama and having the story line up with everything else; the last episode felt terribly dragged out.

Mizuki’s story, on the other hand, I actually enjoyed quite a bit. The story itself is rather simple, but the message is very hopeful. Episode 11 did very well in summing up that side of the story, especially with that fantastic confession.

Overall, I didn’t think that badly of Melodies. Most of us just went in with too high of expectations. At least the music was still epic.

]]> by: Kyon http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10785 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:00:50 +0000 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10785 EF-a tale of melodies = most underrated series ever. EF-a tale of melodies = most underrated series ever.

]]> by: Shippoyasha http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10769 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:03:19 +0000 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10769 I sorta disagree with that, because the directional change was HUGE. Shinbou was the advisor, sure, but the storytelling techniques to the actual visual flair were just in a different ballpark. The first ef season felt more advanced in all those terms than the second. And Shinbou just has a TITANIC impact on the shows he does. So I'm not surprised a lot of the lost-impact goes down to him being only an advisor. I sorta disagree with that, because the directional change was HUGE. Shinbou was the advisor, sure, but the storytelling techniques to the actual visual flair were just in a different ballpark. The first ef season felt more advanced in all those terms than the second. And Shinbou just has a TITANIC impact on the shows he does. So I’m not surprised a lot of the lost-impact goes down to him being only an advisor.

]]> by: relentlessflame http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10761 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:28:48 +0000 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10761 "...though without Shinbou directing it, the flair and the substance was lost (Ironic since Shinbou does the chaotic stuff so well, but he put in a lot of what makes the story click in the first season)." - Shippoyasha Both seasons of the show had the same staff, though, with Shin Oonuma as Director and Akiyuki Shinbo as a Supervisor. So whatever differences there were between the two seasons wasn't because of staff changes, at least. “…though without Shinbou directing it, the flair and the substance was lost (Ironic since Shinbou does the chaotic stuff so well, but he put in a lot of what makes the story click in the first season).”
- Shippoyasha

Both seasons of the show had the same staff, though, with Shin Oonuma as Director and Akiyuki Shinbo as a Supervisor. So whatever differences there were between the two seasons wasn’t because of staff changes, at least.

]]> by: BlueYoshi http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10760 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:09:49 +0000 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10760 Aww, that's a shame. I never got the time to start Melodies this season, and I heard that it wasn't as good as Memories. I guess I'll still have to drag myself to watch it sometime early next year. At the very least, for the brilliant music. Aww, that’s a shame. I never got the time to start Melodies this season, and I heard that it wasn’t as good as Memories. I guess I’ll still have to drag myself to watch it sometime early next year. At the very least, for the brilliant music.

]]> by: omo http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10759 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:09:33 +0000 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10759 How does knowing why Chihiro was being taken cared of by Yu make that big of a difference? Anyways, I thought the second half of the series was better than the first in some aspects, especially in terms of writing. However it was overall less compelling than the first season, being a companion piece rather than something that can stand on its own. I don't know why you think creative expression wasn't important in the second series, it was a HUGE plot device with Amamiya-sensei. Oh well. How does knowing why Chihiro was being taken cared of by Yu make that big of a difference?

Anyways, I thought the second half of the series was better than the first in some aspects, especially in terms of writing. However it was overall less compelling than the first season, being a companion piece rather than something that can stand on its own.

I don’t know why you think creative expression wasn’t important in the second series, it was a HUGE plot device with Amamiya-sensei. Oh well.

]]> by: Shippoyasha http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10758 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:59:19 +0000 http://psgels.blogsome.com/2008/12/23/ef-a-tale-of-melodies-review-775100/#comment-10758 Hate to agree, but I do. The music and production were great, though without Shinbou directing it, the flair and the substance was lost (Ironic since Shinbou does the chaotic stuff so well, but he put in a lot of what makes the story click in the first season). Overall, it was a fairly straightforward prequel with some genuinely good moments. Too bad those few good moments couldn't salvage the whole thing or make a genuine mystery out of the plot, which is an ef staple. Hate to agree, but I do. The music and production were great, though without Shinbou directing it, the flair and the substance was lost (Ironic since Shinbou does the chaotic stuff so well, but he put in a lot of what makes the story click in the first season).

Overall, it was a fairly straightforward prequel with some genuinely good moments. Too bad those few good moments couldn’t salvage the whole thing or make a genuine mystery out of the plot, which is an ef staple.

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