Omohide.com » Cross Game

Cross Game Review

Theowne — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:08:05 +0000

After a nice, long 50 episode run, we’ve come to the end of Cross Game, the anime adaptation of a manga by a relatively well known author – Mitsuru Adachi. If you’ve read other articles on this site, this name might also be familiar as he is the author of one of my favourite anime series – Touch. Back in the 80s when Touch first aired, it garnered relatively massive ratings (still undefeated by any anime series, if I recall correctly). After watching Cross Game, it seems that while the times have changed, Adachi certainly hasn’t. I’ve often heard people jokingly say that Adachi merely keeps retelling essentially the same story over and over again. While I’ve only experienced two of his works, it isn’t really all too difficult to notice the immense similarities between Cross Game and Touch. Yet while Touch was basking in popularity in its heyday (in Japan and parts of Europe, that is), Cross Game passed by relatively quietly, with fairly small ratings and not a great deal of attention. Perhaps what I consider to be one of Cross Game’s strength’s resulted in its weakness in the ratings – and by that I mean Adachi’s old-fashioned approach to his story, characters, and setting.

Yes, if you’re like me – a huge fan of classic shows in this genre like Maison Ikkoku which took a slow and steady approach to character development and plot, Cross Game is really an exceptional treat. They just don’t make a lot of anime anime of this sort anymore – it seems most longer shows are reserved for popular shonen franchises like Naruto and not for character-oriented “slice of life” shows like this one. Cross Game itself isn’t nearly as long as the two shows I have mentioned above – both of which ran for over 100 episodes. Yet I feel that I have a sense now of what it must have been like to follow the cast of Touch week after week for years, as their original audience did. We (fans of the show) followed Cross Game week by week, eating up all of the gradual developments in each episode, for nearly an year until its end, and that process builds an attachment to characters that rarely occurs when you consume bite-sized anime season by season, moving from one to the next without much impact.

As with Touch, Cross Game combines elements of sports drama, comedy, romance, and school life into one youthful, down-to-earth package that’s easy to love. Adachi repeats a lot of ideas that defined that earlier story, the most noticeable being dedication to the memory of a loved one and the devotion to fulfilling a promise made to them. In Cross Game, the two main characters are Kou and Aoba, two high school students who love baseball but have slightly more ambiguous feelings for one another. Cross Game is a lot lighter on the baseball and heavier on the friendship/romance drama. Whereas Touch often transformed into a straight baseball drama for long stretches of episodes, matches rarely go very long in Cross Game and are very clearly a secondary element to the story. After watching inventive baseball series like Ookiku Furikabutte! , Adachi’s sportswriting doesn’t feel quite as compelling, so it isn’t exactly an unwelcome change. Filling in the holes caused by the minimal sports sequences is an abundance of heartfelt and charming character moments, which is really where Adachi’s strength lies. Furthermore, the series also exudes a greater sense of polish in its pacing and storytelling – a clear improvement over the sometimes rough (though charming) execution of Touch.

Where Cross Game also has an advantage over Touch (sorry, I just can’t help making the comparisons) is in a more well-defined extended cast. Touch had many supporting characters who would often disappear and reappear after long stretches – or merely pop up in the sidelines for an occasional insight (I’m looking at you, Harada). In Cross Game, however, you get the feeling that Adachi has a firmer idea of where every additional character fits into the grander scheme of things, and their appearances are more consistent, excluding one – a cousin of Aoba’s who seems to be a misguided idea by Adachi to introduce a love triangle into the series. Having said that, I will make note that the second half of the series introduces a character named Akane whose presence and impact on the story originates around a coincidental quirk, and I was left feeling a little bit uncomfortable at the role that the character quickly assumed based at least partly on what was essentially a meaningless coincidence. That’s not to say she is a bad or purposeless character – I just have to wonder if that one particular aspect of her needed to be emphasized as much as it was. (This is of course purely subjective – as well as difficult to communicate at all without revealing spoilers).

One aspect of the series that deserves a mention is the excellent background music by Kotaro Nakagawa. Generally quiet with various thematic ideas drifting along, it does a great job of accentuating the emotional content of several scenes and left me with a fairly distinct impression, regardless of its technical simplicity. Unfortunately, there appears to be no OST release – perhaps due to lack of mass interest, or perhaps due to the short length of many of the tracks. And then there’s the excellent OP, “Summer Rain” which anchored the show throughout its run. As far as other technical qualities like art go, Cross Game isn’t going to win awards, as it essentially updates Adachi’s classic Touch style to a crisper but generally simplistic presentation. Nonetheless, there are no overt flaws and does its job adequately.

Back when the show was still in the middle of its run, I would complain at the lack of activity online (including blogs) pertaining to Cross Game – and then realized that I myself was guilty of the same thing. This is because Cross Game, in my opinion, isn’t really a show that lends itself to continuous analysis or discussion – most posts I attempted to write about it generally devolved into a laundry list of “favourite” scenes. That’s what you should expect from the show – not exactly unpredictable, but wholly enjoyable and charming through and through. If you’ve seen Touch, or perhaps another Adachi series, Cross Game is probably the most refined version of Adachi’s general style, and it is certainly one of the best series in its genre in the past few years. So why hasn’t Cross Game replaced Touch in my favourites list? In this case, its simply a case of the first exposure having greater impact. The Adachi style was fresh to me during Touch, while I was familiar with it already in Cross Game. I have no doubt that those who watch CG without having seen earlier Adachi works will feel about it the same way I do about Touch.

Cross Game – 19

Theowne — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:26:58 +0000

Great fodder for screen captures in this episode. Kou visits the Tsukashima grandparents’ home, a place he used to visit fairly frequently with Wakaba and her family. This was the first time he’s gone there since that summer. As you can expect, there are a lot of memories that come swimming back to the characters in this episode as they remember their old summers together there. One of the plot threads which lingers throughout involves an inscription Wakaba made on one of the trees of her and Kou’s names. The resolution to this is one of those really charming moments that is a unique property of this anime. In the second half, we see Isami Mizuki enter the scene. He’s a relative of Aoba’s, and from the looks of the preview for next week, might be vying for a closer position in her life. It will be interesting to see more of Kou’s reaction next episode. And Azuma’s comment? Well, watch it for yourself, but that guy really has a sense of humor. Insightful, too.

Music continues to be well-used as always. I like the track which begins right after the midway point, as Kou is in the hills searching for the tree. The gentle piano chords reminded me somewhat of Thomas Newman’s quieter film scores.

Well, Cross Game continues to be as captivating as ever. In other news, Tokyo Magnitude is still going strong, Taishou Yakyuu Musume may not be breaking any boundaries but provides what it promises (as well as a great score), and Sora no Manimani really doesn’t look like it will ever become what I wanted it to be (see my earlier posts). I’m also nearly finished watching Touch. Boy, I am really going to miss that one.

Cross Game 18

Theowne — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:16:52 +0000

A lot of people are calling this a filler episode. I think the main plot of the (not very likable) manager auditioning for a part in a baseball film is from the original manga, while the subplot about Aoba’s rival is made up for the anime. However, this being Cross Game, the episode was still more enjoyable than a regular episode of most other anime. I find myself really engrossed in scenes involving the main characters (Kou, the Tsukashima family), they really are something special. Now, Risa the manager is not exactly the greatest character in the anime so many people might not care much about her ordeals here. I’m not exactly a Risa-fan now either nor did I really care all that much about her ordeal, so maybe I’ll admit that the attempt to make us sympathize with her wasn’t completely successful. I guess I’ll say that this may be the first misstep that the series has taken. I don’t really have much else to say about this one, but I have a feeling that next episode will be a real hit.

Cross Game 17

Theowne — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:05:13 +0000

Cross Game hasn’t had a misstep yet and 17 is one of the best episodes so far. Here we return to the slice-of-life feel after the intense baseball match of the previous episode. Azuma, being the only player to remain on the team after the former coach was kicked out, has to find a place to stay. His older brother asks Kou to let him stay at his house until a permanent location can be found. Thus we have some more personal interaction between the two of them outside of a baseball scenario.

This was my favourite scene – Azuma enters Kou’s room and sees a picture on the wall of Kou and Wakaba when they were kids. He mistakes the girl for Aoba this leads to a small exchange between them about who Wakaba was, and what relationship she had to Kou. It’s a perfect example of the kind of moments that make this series so charming – touching while not being overtly sentimental in a manipulative way. At the end, Azuma says “You guys sure have it tough” before exiting, leaving Kou wondering who “you guys” is referring to. It reminded me of Harada from Touch, who has a habit of voicing ideas that are living under the surface of the main character’s own mind.

Another amusing scene resulting from their cohabitation is picture above, as they eat instant noodles. Aoba has left on a so-called “date” (another entertaining subplot in this episode). Kou acts as nonchalant as ever at this news but Azuma finds it strange that he is eating his noodles without putting in the seasoning. (Don’t worry, unlike some other shows, the joke isn’t painfully exaggerated, and Kou brushes it off with his quick wit. How often is a lead in this sort of a show given that ability?).

We also learn a bit more about Azuma and his older brother, who is shaping up to be a very likeable character and most likely a permanent member of the immediate cast. It seems like Azuma was responsible for his brother’s life-changing injury as a child, and that his own dedication is a way of atoning for that guilt. And so the character that entered as a one-note villain-type (Azuma) has come to the point where I’d assume he’s earned most of the audiences sympathy.

By the way, if anyone else is discussing or blogging the show, let me know because I would love to read other people’s thoughts on this series. As of now my only outlet is the Star Crossed Anime Blog who is regularly blogging the show, as well as the thread on Animesuki which unfortunately isn’t buzzing with popularity. Looking over the anime ratings, Cross Game seems to average in the lower end of 2-3 percent range, which is quite far from the record-setting 30+% that Adachi’s first baseball-romance-epic, Touch, enjoyed at its peak (and which has never been surpassed since) but, of course, the times and the audience have changed. The online anime community is just a microcosm of the Japanese audience, and Cross Game is neither a clear-cut children’s show nor an otaku show, which eliminates a fair portion of the anime audience in Japan. Nonetheless, it’ll go on being one of the best shows airing. And if you’re coming across this post randomly, don’t let the baseball frighten you, this is well worth your time whether you’re a sports fan or not.

Weekly Episode Roundup – Cross Game 16, Tokyo Magnitude 2, Sora no Manimani 2

Theowne — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:06:29 +0000

Cross Game 16

This episode features the baseball game between the two teams which will end up deciding which team is allowed to stay under which coach. It’s a brilliantly conceived episode, the pacing is phenomenal, and the use of music is extraordinary. I especially liked the Summer Rain background music which played towards the end. It really is quite a charming song. In the episode itself, there was not a big dramatic, suspenseful, or climactic moment, but that’s the way the series is. Cross Game is the sum of individual touching and charming moments, and there were plenty here today as well. One of the appeals with Cross Game for me is that it allows me to enjoy the pleasure of an old-fashioned setting and style – an age before text messaging and internet and what have you, when life was a bit gentler and slower. Of course, technically, I think the series does take place in the current time, but Adachi chooses to make it feel more like a Touch-era series, which is fine by me, because both of my favorite series in this genre (Maison Ikkoku and now, it seems, Touch) took place in that kind of environment.

Kou is such a refreshing main male character. You’ll know what I mean when you watch the series. The entire dynamic between the leads is just refreshing.

Tokyo Magnitude Episode 02

Tokyo Magnitude looks like it’s heading down the right path. The voice acting is phenomenal, the animation is expressive , the dialogue is well-written, and the pacing is fantastic. This is an episode that engrosses you from beginning to end. It revolves mostly around Mirai dealing with the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, which is searching for her lost brother. Her desperation sounds honest and I want to commend the voice actor for her fantastic job – the viewer can really grasp the magnitude of her despair by how drastically different she sounds compared to just a few moments ago (last episode).

We are also introduced to Mari, the biker who allowed Yuuki to buy the present he wanted earlier. She helps Mirai and Yuuki despite Mirai’s skepticism (she expected her to leave and never come back when she went to her bike to retrieve some food). But she does return and reveal that she has a daughter of her own at home. Her guilt for not paying enough attention to her daughter certainly may affect her disposition towards these two kids stranded from their parents. She does not, however, allow herself to be worried about the fate of her daughter. Some people claim that this is unrealistic. As far as I can see, Mari is a very collected person and she may indeed be worried on the inside. But right now, she cannot do anything for her daughter. What she can do is try and reassure the two children in front of her by acting calm and not panicking.

I don’t know what the extent of the damage done by this earthquake will be. The series could go anywhere – it could be the story of two orphaned children like Grave of the Fireflies, or it could be the story of a family rebuilding their lives after the disaster and perhaps rekindling familial love which may have gone stale due to the tensions of every day life. Either way, I am very much anticipating the next episode. This really does have the potential of reaching great heights.

Sora no Manimani Episode 02

So far, Sora no Manimani has been a series that has a clear goal in terms of what it’s trying to accomplish, and does so without any hitch. It isn’t gripping or life-changing stuff – it’s a straight comedy series which borrows many elements from other anime. It isn’t unique and doesn’t stick in your mind, but it entertains you for half an hour. If that is enough for you, then you’ll like this show.

But I have to admit I feel a bit cheated. The trailer poster made me think of a peaceful, gentle slice-of-life series. Just look at it:

The series description also sounded fairly unique – I don’t think many series revolve around astronomy clubs. And then there was the part about an injury during childhood separating two friends. Surprisingly, in the episode, that injury was not much more than a passing joke and things are pretty wild for an astronomy club. It’s a comedy, no question about that. Of course, it’s completely my fault for projecting my own expectations onto it, and to be fair, it has a likeable cast of characters. And, naturally, there is the potential to heighten the seriousness as the series progresses. In the end, I don’t have much of an opinion on this series yet – it’s entertaining, fun, but forgettable at the moment. Basically my point is that while I will likely continue watching, I don’t expect to write about it unless there’s a drastic increase in scope.

Cross Game – 15 & Touch Update

Theowne — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:46:38 +0000

Excellent. Just Excellent.

Are you okay being center fielder, then?

There’s something about this scene that is just perfect. The pacing, the interjection of the music (which always appears only when it drastically contributes to the sincerity of a scene), perhaps just the way that it’s carried out so quickly instead of being stretched out to fill time like a series of less quality might.

We also learn that there’s more to both Azuma and his superficial-at-sight brother, as many of us have expected.

This is such a great show. If only I had all the episodes at my fingertips instead of having to wait a whole week for each new one.

Well, at least I have Touch. Which is equally as wonderful. Speaking of Touch, I’ve become addicted to the show in ways that have only occurred in Maison Ikkoku and Honey and Clover. And for all of the faults that the main character and the show itself may have, it is hard not to sympathize with the main character. And yet what I love about the show is that he doesn’t wallow in his own despair. He keeps his exterior seeming carefree as always, and somehow that accentuates the air of sadness around him. I usually watch one episode on my way to and back from university (I ride a one way, one stop only bus directly to my university) and on days when I don’t have class, usually I sneak in an episode before bed. But lately I’ve felt like staying up just to watch the next episode.

Cross Game (2-4) – I’m in

Theowne — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:05:59 +0000

Earlier, episodic, and all posts regarding Cross Game can be found here

The fourth episode has settled it - I am following Cross Game, for sure. Particularly, the low-key, gentle but moving dialogue between Ko and Osamu at the end. Everything about this series has made me feel that I am in for another Maison Ikkoku, which I would enjoy to no end. The personable, charming characters who are familiar but not cliched, the dramatic moments which linger just long enough to be effective but not long enough to seem manipulative, and a slow but steady pace which neither forces plot twists down your throat nor stretches scenes beyond their welcome. I can usually predict anime series well by the fourth episode, and this looks like another restrained but warm, touching slice-of-life story. I can't wait to continue this.