Recently, 7:30 PM is an important hour for me. For the past weeks I have been following a series in Animax-Asia called Nodame Cantabile. It has me running back home from wherever I am.
Nodame Cantabile is an on-going manga by Tomoko Ninomiya. The series has been adapted into 2 television shows; a live-action drama and an anime. The first season of the anime was first broadcasted in Japan in 2007. The second season in 2008. It has been announced that a third season will be coming in the fall of 2009. The first season of the anime aired just this February 2009 in Animax-Asia. It's shown every 7:30 PM Monday to Friday and has an encore telecast every Saturdays, 10:30 PM. As of writing, it's already airing Episode 13.
The anime revolves around the lives of Momogoaka College's music students particularly Megumi Noda or "Nodame," and her neighbor/love-interest Shinichi Chiaki. Nodame is a talented junior pianist who wants to be a kindergarten teacher. She plays the pieces by ear and has a tendency to ignore the music score and go on inventing notes along the way. She is messy, disorganized, has a huge appetite, and takes baths several days apart. Shinichi Chiaki is Momogaoka College's top student. He is a 4th year piano major who is also a violinist aspiring to become a conductor. He hails from a musical family and has lived in several music capitals abroad but is now trapped in Japan due to his fear of flying. He is arrogant and a perfectionist, but this does not affect his hearthrob status with the ladies in school.
Chiaki falls drunk one day on Nodame's doorstep and then they discover they have the same piano professor. Their relationship further evolves when Chiaki investigates the mess and stench that's been reeking through Nodame's apartment. He ends up cleaning Nodame's apartment, doing her laundry, cooking her dinner, and even washing her hair. Though Chiaki finds Nodame a pest, who keep coming back to abuse his "kindness," he seems unable to stay away from her altogether for he was impressed with Nodame's cantabile (song-like) style of piano playing. Nodame on the other hand falls in love with Chiaki, to the point of even claiming that they are married. Along the way, they meet several students and professors who become their friends and rivals as they gradually hone their talents and get into several musical adventures.
What is very engaging about this anime is the treatment of classical music itself which is a huge presence in the series. Pieces of Beethoven, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Grieg, and Liszt's music are performed - and there are more impressive classical heavyweights to come. Then there's the hilarious romantic-comedy dynamics between Nodame and Chiaki that's going to leave the viewer in stitches. Interesting funny characters pop in as the anime progresses. Among such characters are Mine, the rock-rebel violinist; Misumi, the gay tympanist who also harbors a crush on Chiaki; and then there's the famous but lecherous conductor Franz Von Stresseman - also known as "Milch" to Nodame. Sometimes appearances by Saiko Tagaya, Chiaki's ex-girlfriend and opera singer, add to the insanity of Chiaki's life. The series promises fun and color with the introduction of more cast members and of course, impressive music.
My only complaint is that it's not dubbed in English, so you have to bother with subtitles. But then it does not diminish the enjoyment of the show. Certainly worth checking out for music lovers out there.
Check this site to view first episode:
http://www.animepile.net/Nodame-Cantabile/Nodame-Cantabile---Episode-1.html
