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June 23, 2008 | Television | Toshokan Sensou
I spent some time this weekend catching up with Toshokan Sensou, a show I lost all enthusiasm for only a few episodes in, initial interest notwithstanding. Like a lot of people, my disappointment with the show was a direct response to its ridiculous premise. However, having given it a second try, I’ve come to the conclusion that the premise isn’t quite as ridiculous as it seems. Oppressive totalitarian regimes often do have a taste for censorship, and there have been instances in history in which armed resistances have coexisted in a persistent stalemate with the ruling party for so long that they’re eventually recognized as legitimate institutions.
Ultimately, the trouble with Toshokan Sensou is not the premise, but the execution. The politics of Seika Japan are clearly more complicated than the show lets on, and the friendly manner in which the two opposing factions do battle suggests that the author mostly wanted to write a war story without, you know, dwelling on gloomy things like death and destruction (how delightfully Japanese). It’s undercooked, to say the least. But, taken as alternate history, it’s about as believable as any light political thriller that turns reality upside down for flavor, and taken as the coming of age character drama it eventually becomes, it’s about as satisfying as any other anime series of similar form, fit, and function.
In other words, it’s turned into a perfectly enjoyable show now that I’ve stopped trying to analyze and second guess it to death.
The funny thing is, it’s my natural inclination to take anime at face value, and not to analyze it or second guess it to death. Why did I not afford Toshokan Sensou the same benefit of a doubt as I would any other anime series? Why was I so quick to judge it so harshly? I really don’t know. I’m perceptive enough to recognize that I’ve been “down” on anime these past several months, if not “down” on a lot of things in general, so it could be I was simply looking for any reason to drop the show - any show, really - from my regular viewing rotation. Or, it could be I was just horribly depressed to see Aria come to a close.
Whatever the reason, it so concerns me that I would act in such a way that’s so out of character and so antithetical to the way I typically approach anime, that I feel like I need to subject myself to repeated viewings of Saikano both as a penance and as a reminder of what disappointing anime really feels like.
Or, I could just cut the crap and catch up with some of the other shows I’ve been ignoring. Like Itazura na Kiss. And Shugo Chara. And the second season of Da Capo II.
They ain’t gonna watch themselves.
Everyone should be watching and keeping up with Shugo Chara. It’s magical girl at its best with Peach-Pit style when it isn’t in fillerland.
DCII’s so boring in comparison to the (first two-thirds) of the first Da Capo, sadly, since Nanaka’s so cute. Kotori’s better, though.
I was pretty much the same. Politics? Who cares. I’ll just take it as it is…at least for Toshokan Sensou.
I’ve experienced the same thing, dropping a series because it doesn’t meet my initial expectations, then going back later and getting hooked. I just went back and finished Someday’s Dreamers, which I’d dropped after just a couple episodes back in ‘03, and I found myself wondering why I would have dropped it, because it ended up really pulling me in this time. Maybe it’s just being in the right mood to watch a certain type of series–the same thing happened to me with Lamune, dropped after episode 1, then marathoned the rest months later and loved it.
Haven’t checked out Toshokan Sensou yet, but I’ve been meaning to.
Mmh, maybe you over analyzed and second guessed the premise because it was the most conspicuous part of the show? I haven’t watched it, but the only way to locate it in my mind is through the premise. Just a guess.
Also, keep up with your approach to anime; it’ll make you rage less, live longer, and, well, you know, enjoy more anime.
PS: If you have a chance, watch Kurenai; beautifully written, tons of fun.
“Ultimately, the trouble with Toshokan Sensou is not the premise, but the execution.”
As someone who was part of an armed force, I am primarily disappointed with Toshokan Sensou because of the trivial nature military regimentation is portrayed.
It isn’t really my nature to dismiss anime based on regimental triviality, since it isn’t likely that directors or mangakas have been actual soldiers themselves. However, the story isn’t anything to wow at either. I expected something much deeper but 3 episodes into it, I realised that it was weighed down by traditional Shoujo trappings. Perhaps not an issue for older anime fans, but definitely puts me off.
Now if they story was more insightful, I wouldn’t mind going on. But it isn’t. Too bad I guess.
I still think the story manages to be plenty insightful, just not in the way you’d expect it to be. It’s not so much about how ‘this is what the military would be like if it was centered around books’ or ‘this is what the world would be like if censors had their way’. Though the intricacies of these may have been dealt with significantly bettr in the source material, given the condensed anime version, it becomes more of ‘this is how we’re delivering you a good tale set in a slightly improbable setting’, so it is perhaps best to take the setting at face value, but focus on execution of the story in it instead.
God, that was rambly and unnecessary since you’ve already said you’re already taking Toshokan Sensou as it is (and it seems to be more a reply to dKiWi). Perhaps the so-called shoujo trappings finally came through to you, Jeff? :P
“military regimentation” may not be applicable in this situation, I mean, that’s the point of this post in a nutshell.
Anyways, toshosen is just… light character drama. All that war/free speech trapping is like the candy shell of a M&M. In this case it serves to attract as a gimmick and repulse for people who are looking for something else. There’s no “flaw” really. No more than expecting an anime to watch itself when you aren’t watching it.
I’ve been keeping up with Kurenai, Nemo_N. I’ve yet to watch the final episode, but I agree that it’s a wonderful show.
Anyway, Omo really hits the nail on the head… at its core, Toshokan Sensou is no different from any, “young person away from home for the first time, finding their place in the world,” anime series (this seems to be a common theme not just in anime, but in Japanese media in general). It just happens to have a unique hook, is all.
For what it’s worth, the only anime series I’ve watched that seems to get the military “right” is Yomigaeru Sora: Rescue Wings. It’s so realistic, it’s practically a recruitment video.
Yea, a lot of anime are like that. It might be on a submarine, in a space station, on a giant airship, on a military base, in a giant robot, heck, even on the internets.
I think there is some worth to criticize toshosen’s half-hearted treatment of … strangely unfathomable political situations and the resulting physical conflict. But at the same time, it’s pretty unique and it isn’t something we can truly say “hey this is what is suppose to happen” because there is just no real life analog that can apply in all the nitpicky, glorious details. For starters the limitation on armament, on injury, in the limitation on the level of conflict, the duration, the fuzzy objectives… It’s like some sadistic sandbox where the audience is just not given enough information to be satisfied, but enough drama to make the show worth watching.
It’s like playing house. But with war.
I like the show quite a bit, but it seems that Froth-Bite/Menclave has either stopped or slowed waaaaaaay down on the subbing. I’m stuck at ep06.
Oh yea, I remember you promising a Shugo Chara post a while back. Hope you get around to it =D
The Toshokan Sensou anime does not deserve to be bashed for the ridiculous premise, at least not until people have seen what they’re missing out on in the novels. I’m still reading volume 1 of the novel, and I’m pretty confident that even the Toshokan Sensou anime haters atm will find it an insightful and enjoyable read, especially with how other trivial details are no longer elaborated (the scenes during battle, how the Defense army makes the most out of their ammos etc. which the anime made so glaringly obvious).
For the anime, you just have to enjoy it for what it is :)
I wouldn’t mind giving the light novels a go if my Japanese is up to standard, or it becomes licensed somehow. Fact is, adapting a light novel is a feat for any director compared to a manga. I guess the director probably intepreted the novels for a more general audience, very much like what KyoAni did for Haruhi.
This is overall a weird series. I too was initially put off by the completely ridiculous story, and in many ways I still am. Still I do like the characters, and in the episodes where the military stuff is not present, I do enjoy this show quite a bit. I think if they just replaced the military stuff with more armed guards or unarmed conflict, this would have been a significantly better show.