Believe it or not, I just recently finished watching Kamichu for the very first time. When the show first aired nearly two years ago, I was out of the country and too busy with work to watch anime. I did, however, have the opportunity to catch the first two episodes, and liked what I saw.
So, I was quick to purchase the first DVD volume of the show when it was released here in the States. The wait had left me anxious; for months, I had heard friends praise the show, some describing it as the year’s best. Clearly, I had missed out on something good. Or so I thought…
After watching the first DVD volume, I felt conflicted. Kamichu had everything I looked for in a slice-of-life show: atmosphere, unique setting, and quirky characters. But, like most slice-of-life shows, it had a hook. And, for whatever reason, the hook wasn’t working for me. I didn’t have any particular problem with the, “she’s a god in training,” angle, really. I thought it was kind of clever. I wasn’t watching for the hook, however, and after four episodes, it was clear the hook would dominate the show - so much, in fact, that I questioned even continuing with it.
Ten months and a bargain later, however, I found myself in possession of the remaining DVD volumes. My negative impression of the first four episodes had softened with time, no doubt. But, more than anything, I was desperate for some good slice-of-life. It was a chance I was willing to take.
Well, I’m happy to report that it was a chance worth taking.
Now that I’ve finished Kamichu, I feel a little embarrassed for having underestimated the positive impact the hook has on the show. Ultimately, the show derives much of its charm from the hook. While those episodes in which the hook is most prevalent are far from my favorites, the episodes in which it is more carefully and subtly integrated are, in my opinion, slice-of-life at its best. It gives the story and characters purpose - something that, while often overrated, is always welcome.
That said, I mostly appreciate the show for its atmosphere. Not only is the story set in a lovely place like Onomichi, but it also takes place in the early 1980s. I could feel the nostalgia… and I didn’t even grow up in Japan! Time and place are important to me, I think, and if I can feel that in a story, I take notice. In fact, in Kamichu, time and place might be just as much a hook as, “Mitsue-chan, I became a god.” It’s clearly used to great effect.
I can see myself rewatching Kamichu again and again. I already want to rewatch it! And I doubt I’ll ever tire of it, either. Of my many favorites, there are very few shows of which I could confidently say, “I’ll never tire of this,” but when I think about those shows, a familiar feeling washes over me. It’s the feeling I get from Kamichu.
In other words, I’m hooked.
I’m also in a similar boat… except I haven’t finished the show yet. I have watched the first three episodes and I know I enjoyed it, but for some reason, I just never continued and I haven’t felt the urge to continue. I also have the rest of the show, so maybe I should just finish it next week during the spring break. Good enviroment, I think. I know it’s good, but for some reason, it’s just still there, unwatched.
I finished the show in one sitting and I must say it’s really one of the good but almost unheard off and also underrated anime around.
The “god in training” angle does repel people off and also the fact it’s very Japanese in setting too didn’t make it a favourite when it was aired locally, but I do know a few people who have something positive to say about.
All in all, Kamichu is a really wonderful package, and I’m surprised you’ve just finished watching it, since I recall getting interested in that title from your blog in the first place :D.
I have to say, Kamichu left me disappointed, although perhaps it had something to do with the expectations. I noticed that I like some (very few) series much more than the rest: Azumanga, Haibane Renmei The gap with even the best of everything else is enormous.. So in recent years I started questing for series which I could add to the two titans. I am not yet successful. Kamichu showed the promise, but the unsubstantiated animation pretentions, hideous filler (e.g. the cats), Miko’s character design, and small issues detracted from the show and it failed to reach the top, staying with other good, even excellent shows at the bottom.
I was very hopeful that it was going to be a success, so I started buying R2 DVDs, and that turned out to be a big mistake and a waste of money. The R1 release is 4 times cheaper and has awesome goodies. I adore mini pencil pads.
The atmosphere is great, and I fully agree with the immersion potential. But I also appreciate the comedy. I didn’t expect to, but since the rest did not quite work, I now remember fondly how Yurie played redneck Jedi (who uses The Force to fetch a beer from the fridge), or her reposte to her friends during the sleepover.
I have a couple of episodes on video iPod and I rewatch them from time to time, mostly to polish my listening skills than anything else.
I wish they would consider creating 2nd season of Kamichu
For me, Kamichu was the best show of 2005 and is up there in my top 15-20 favorite shows somewhere. I absolutely loved the setting, characters, art, mood, the whole package. It’s the one of the series I remember most from the past few years.
I picked up the LE set from the Christmas TRSI sale, but I really do need to remember to get the other DVDs eventually for a rewatch (or two).
We’re watching this in my anime club right now, and while it seems to be working for some, after nine episodes the hook still isn’t working for me. I like what I’m seeing, but it’s not leaving me in awe. Hopefully it changes by the time I finish watching it. :3
KA-MI-CHU!
You know it’s funny, I just finished watching this one myself a few days ago. I had just recently gotten a new monitor, and wanting to really appreciate it, I did a quick google on ‘hd anime’. That led me to this blog: http://anime.miao.us/archives/2006/02/13/606/
Kamichu was one of the hd anime that that author had blogged about. He mentioned it as being Ghibli-esque, and I knew I had to see it. Let me say this anime is beautiful in every sense of the word, and while it doesn’t always make effective use of the 720p picture size, the scenes where it does (the God world, lots of panoramas of the city) more than make it worth it.
The series is light-hearted and fun, but leaves you with such a happy, warm feeling, exactly the kind of show I love. It never really stunned me, I was never agape with a plot twist or an epic moment, but I can’t think of another anime that leaves you with such a feeling of contentment.
Ka mi chu!
The Kamichu HD (ADTRW) fansubs were upscales. Good upscales, but upscales none the less.
Also, many shows that air in HD don’t get real HD raws simply because they air on encrypted cable channles which makes capturing the thing that much more of a hassle. In fact, plenty of the stuff you see flying around in JP P2P networks with 720p or HD lables are simply upscales, or regular SD resolution material that’s been ‘bloated up’ by broadcast on a HD channel :/
As for the show itself, it is one of my personal favourites. Gorgeous to look at, really adorable, and panders just right with good taste. It’s one of those series that puts a smile on your face for the rest of the day after you finish watching an episode or two.
Back in the day, I was weeping tears of blood after no one picked up the subbing of Kamichu once the SA goons gave up on the project. In the end, it actually wound up being the first series that I’ve ever actually finished my first watch run on DVDs instead of fansbus or raws - My (still awful)moonspeak wasn’t very good(/inexistant) at the time, and I didn’t want to soil my first expirence of the thing by going for the half-get by watching the raws, so I waited. And Hoped. It’s a good thing your prayers are answered sometimes :p.
Still, I’ve always thought it was somewhat odd that NO ONE picked Kamichu up back then, since the general concensus among the watchers already at the time was pretty much that it was a real gold nugget, to be savored as an example in its genre. Sure, audience-wise there’s plenty of more popular stuff, but I don’t really see that as being a hold-back - It’s not like less popular appeal stuff hasn’t been subbed before.
I mean, even 39-episode long, shoestring-budget Aria is getting its subs, what was to keep a considerably more shiney, blingbling, subtly(?) moe (hey, in terms of raising fan interest, it never fails), and considerably shorter series in the same genre from the same treatment?
But I guess Kamichu timed itself badly into some sort of minior slump/implosion period in the fansub scene, or something. The end of the era of the big groups and yadda yadda, etc.
…Also, how can anyone possibly not like Miko? She’s Adorable :3.
The ED is so cute!
a glowing recommendation… this definitely sounds like it’s worth checking into
“also the fact it’s very Japanese in setting too didn’t make it a favourite” - Kurogane
Kamichu was the reason I decided to visit Onomichi (where the series is based off of). While I got to see it only for a day + the fireworks from their summer matsuri, it is a very quaint, beautiful city which looks even better in person.