Nodame Cantabile Review
When I heard there was an anime about classical music students, you can imagine how excited I was to see it. I was somehow led to the live action series, which I promptly downloaded and started viewing. It immediately became a favourite of mine. I hadn’t ventured too much into the live action (drama) realm before this, mostly due to a prior experience with a drama which turned out to be the equivalent of a western soap-opera, but Nodame Cantabile was a welcome change. And then I returned to the anime series, not sure if there was any way the anime could trump the live action version. Now that the series is completely, and I’ve had more time to think about the live action, I don’t think either is far better then the other. Just different. The use of classical music in the live action was definitely better - it was interspersed as background music as well as being in the OP and ED themes. But the anime wasn’t half-bad at all. The characters are even a bit different. For example, in the anime, Chiaki seems to mellow a bit quicker then the live action Chiaki (is it just me?).
For the uninformed, Nodame Cantabile is a series starring a main character named Chiaki. Chiaki lives in his apartment and goes to the nearby music academy. One day, he meets the girl who lives next door, an absolutely crazy, loud, and messy girl named Nodame, who also happens to have a brilliant talent for the piano. As you may have guessed, this will have a great impact on Chiaki over time. He starts out as a stern and musically conservative conductor-wannabe who is afraid to get on a plane and thinks he is far better then anyone else at the academy. You’ll have to watch the series to find out what happens. 
I guess the inevitable comparison is with Honey and Clover, which is one of my favourite series. Nodame isn’t quite at H&C level yet, for me, but it’s a lot closer then many other series out there. It has likeable characters and a certain light-hearted atmosphere about it. The technical quality, the artwork, music, etc, were all done very nicely. The biggest complaint I’ve heard is probably the orchestra stills - a lot of the time, when the orchestra plays, there is simply a still frame of the orchestra being displayed, rather then animated movement. And when there is animated movement, usually it is of separate instruments. In other words, the live action obviously has a more realistic orchestra, but budget would have to be pretty high to animate an entire orchestra for the sequences. As for the story itself, as I said before, it’s a light-hearted romance/comedy. The addition that separates it from all the others is it’s setting, in a music academy. So as the story moves along, it is being propelled by events like competitions. Chiaki grows as a conductor, and Nodame grows as a pianist, each of those linked in some way to the other. Although many people would claim that the romance is the main plot point in the series, I think it takes a backseat to the character development and change.
I think it’s safe to say that a fan of H&C will enjoy this series. If you like slice-of-life shows, have an interest in classical music, or like light-hearted, fun shows with some depth as well, this might be the one for you as well. Chalk this one up as another success for the Noitamina block on Fuji TV.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
OMG! where did u download it??
i luv classical music and i like anime very much!!! please tell me how u downloaded it and where i can watch it!!! =D
thx soooo much for telling me!!!
April 20th, 2008 at 6:10 am
(aha~ I don’t know if the website thing or email thing will help 3=D)
I love Nodame Cantabile too! Though it never occurred to me to compare it with something else. S’special. XD
I’ve only watched the live action drama, can’t wait to get my hands on the anime. =D MILCH! hahahaha XD
I play the piano… do you know where to get the sheet music of the pieces used in the live action drama?? Please say you do! 8D
OH! One last thing. Try its sequel! Nodame Cantabile Shinshun Special in Europe =D =D It picks up from where they’ve left off. AND.. the romance blooms (somewhat) somemore!! =D
Alexandra