Koe no Katachi vs Kimi no Na wa

 

Kimi no na wa and Koe no Katachi was shown around the same timing (about a month different?), and so there were many people who actually mistook Koe no Katachi as Kimi no na wa's 2nd season. So I thought I would do a little comparison of the two.

________________________________________

Firstly, they are both made by very popular anime studios. CoMix Wave Flims (kimi no na wa's studio) is very famous for producing many breath taking movie animations like Kotoba no niwa, and Byousoku 5 cm (please do check them out if you haven't already watched them). They are usually known for their distinct art style with beautiful sceneries, and very touching story lines. They are also known for producing animation commercials. In this aspect, Kyoto Animation (Koe no Katachi's studio) is also very similar. However, unlike Kyoto Animation, CoMix Wave Flims do not produce animation series, and only limits to movies, short OVAs and single episodes.

Kyoto Animation is also known for their distinct art style, and recently, the realistically of their 'camera' work (which CoMix Wave Flims lacks in). Kyoto Animation is known for producing a lot of many popular anime series like Lucky Star, K-ON!, Hyouka, Kyoukai no Kanata, etc. Majority of their works were huge hits. Unlike CoMix Wave Flims, they do not have any specific set of types of works they produce, and range over comedy works like Nichijou, to mysteries like Hyouka, and action shows like Kyoukai no Kanata. Although Kyoto Animation focuses more on animation series, their movies are all very well received. Most of their movies are sequels to their animation series, but Koe no Katachi is a stand alone movie, which makes things a little different from their usual.

________________________________________

While the two studios are known for their artistic backgrounds, and animation, the two are very different from each other. For me, CoMix has nicer backgrounds with more refined background effects and angles. However, if you are talking about more realistic-looking backgrounds (especially water effects), it's Kyoto Animation. There were times during the movie that I found myself staring at the background and wondering if it was real or not. Kyoto Animation also has a better animation of camera angles, and they add in scenes where the angles follow the character's line of sight, it gives it a very 3D effect. 

CoMix makes backgrounds looking more towards the fantasy side, and focuses more on the beauty of the animation as a whole. You would wish backgrounds in the movies exist in real life. The animation of the mentor in Kimi no na wa was really beautiful and you could only wonder how is it possible to produce such backgrounds.

________________________________________

The casting of the two movies are also different. In Kimi no na wa, most characters are not voice actors but actual actors. Although Taki's voice actor - Kamiki Ryunosuke - has voiced in many popular movies like Piano no Mori, Summer Wars, etc. Some regular voice actors were also included in the movie (Shimazaki Nobunaga, Aoi Yuki, Ishikawa Kaito, Hanazawa Kana), but didn't quite play a big role in it. Which kind of follows studio ghibli's style. They try their best not to find voice actors to act in movies because they feel that voice actor's voices are too nice, which makes it less natural than non-voice actors.

On the other hand, Koe no Katachi was made up of popular regular voice actors. Of course Koe no Katachi was a lot harder to act because Nishimiya is deaf and can't really speak properly.

________________________________________

As to which one is more popular...

The number of tickets sold in the first 2 days of release is as follows:

1. Kimi no na wa - 800,000+ Tickets sold - 1.76 Billion yen Box-office

2. Koe no Katachi - 200,000+ Tickets sold - 283 Million yen Box-office

Although some argue that Koe no Katachi didn't screen in as many theaters as Kimi no na wa, it is true that Kimi no na wa was more well known by both anime-watchers and non-anime-watchers. There was many information and social media coverage for Kimi no na wa because many people where talking about how good Kimi no na wa was, and many went to watch it a few times. For Koe no Katachi, however, was very popular amoung the anime-watchers. Many, like me, have been eyeing the movie since the day the PV was released (and we had to wait for like a year).

Kimi no na wa had a story line that makes people excited, while Koe no Katachi touches your hearts deeply (although it leaves you with a very heavy heart). Which also explains why Kimi no na wa was more well spread than Koe no Katachi.

Kimi no na wa's story line was more light hearted, while Koe no Katachi was more mature and had very deep contents. So Kimi no na wa catered to a wider range of audiences, both young and older, while Koe no Katachi was best related to the people above 16 years old, and the duration of Koe no Katachi was long so people who don't like long stories would probably find Koe no Katachi hard to sit through.

But for anime-watchers, Koe no Katachi seems to be a lot more popular.

After watching both shows, I feel that at first I preferred Kimi no na wa. But after awhile, I feel that Koe no Katachi left a stronger impression as some goes by. I found myself thinking a lot about the plot lines and meanings behind the different scenes, while Kimi no na was was just a 'very nice and touching story'.

________________________________________

Kimi no na wa won many many different awards, their voice actors even won awards in the annual voice actor awards.

List of awards and nominations
Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
2016	49th Sitges Film Festival[37]	Best Animated Feature Length Film	Your Name	Won
	60th BFI London Film Festival[38]	Best Film	Your Name	Nominated
	18th Bucheon International Animation Festival	Best Animated Feature Special Distinction Prize	Your Name	Won
		Best Animated Feature Audiences Prize	Your Name	Won
	29th Tokyo International Film Festival[39]	Arigatō Award	Makoto Shinkai	Won
	6th Newtype Anime Awards[10]	Best Picture (Film)	Your Name	Won
		Best Soundtrack	Your Name	Runner-up
		Best Theme Song Category	ZenZenZense	Runner-up
	41st Hochi Film Award	Best Picture	Your Name	Nominated
	29th Nikkan Sports Film Award	Best Film	Your Name	Nominated
		Best Director	Makoto Shinkai	Won
	2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards[40]	Best Animated Film	Your Name	Won
	Women Film Critics Circle 2016[41]	Best Animated Female	Your Name	Nominated
2017	44th Annie Awards[42]	Best Animated Feature — Independent	Your Name	Nominated
		Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production	Makoto Shinkai	Nominated
	21st Satellite Awards[43]	Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature	Your Name	Nominated
	71st Mainichi Film Awards	Best Animated Film	Your Name	Won
	59th Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Film	Your Name	Nominated
		Best Director	Makoto Shinkai	Nominated
		Special Award	Your Name	Won
	11th Asian Film Awards	Best Screenplay	Makoto Shinkai	Nominated
	40th Japan Academy Prize	Excellent Animation of the Year	Your Name	Won
		Animation of the Year	Your Name	Nominated
		Director of the Year	Makoto Shinkai	Nominated
		Screenplay of the Year	Makoto Shinkai	Won
		Outstanding Achievement in Music	Radwimps	Won
	36th Anima Festival[44]	Audience Award for Best Animated Feature	Your Name	Won
	11th Seiyu Awards	Best Actor	Ryunosuke Kamiki	Won
		Best Actress	Mone Kamishiraishi	Won
		Synergy Award	Your Name	Won

Compared to Koe no Katachi who was overshadowed by the release of Kimi no na wa.

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2017	71th Mainichi Film Awards	Best Animation Film	A Silent Voice	Nominated	[21]
	40th Japan Academy Prize	Excellent Animation of the Year		Won	[22]
		Best Animation of the Year		Nominated
	Tokyo Anime Award Festival	Anime of the Year (Film Category)		Grand Prize	[23]
	20th Japan Media Arts Festival	Animation division - Excellence Award		Won	[24]

________________________________________

In the end, different people have different impressions and opinions on the 2 animes. Although they maybe similar in terms of their outlook, but they are 2 very different works which are both very well-loved.

Which one was your favorite? 

________________________________________

Pictures from:

http://akibatan.com/2016/09/koe-no-kitachi-long-promo-and-cm/

https://myanimelist.net/anime/32281/Kimi_no_Na_wa/pics

Credits:

https://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=1555488

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Name

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Silent_Voice_(film)

Working!! vs WWW.WORKING!!

Working!! first starting airing in 2010, and consist of 2 other sequels. The 2nd season aired soon after, in year 2011, while the 3rd season aired in 2015.

Working!! Has a fixed set of characters which they focused on. Side characters are then slowly added on throughout the next 2 seasons as they go deeper into the story line. The anime is also popular for their love lines (mostly that one love line which everyone likes). The anime has a very structured development and the story line flows very well (even though it's a comedy.)

In 2016, they decided to air another anime called 'WWW.WORKING!!', which is an alternative setting to the main series - still unsure if it's the future or the past (or if it's even related to the parent series at all). It's taken from the web series of Working. The new series consist of a whole new set of characters which seemingly resembles the parent series.

The characters all have a new unique point themselves, and doesn't clash with anyone in the parent series, which makes it seems like a whole new series. But the strong similarities in the relationships between the characters makes it connected.

Firstly, in Working!!, Takahashi's family was one of the main points in season 2 and 3, which they actually expanded a lot throughout the whole series, and his family was also the cause of his obsessions with small and short things (or people). Which was one of the reasons why he started working in Wagnaria - because he couldn't refuse his cute senpai who begged him to work at Wagnaria.

In the WWW series, it started out with Higashida's - whose voice actor , Nakamura Yuichi, also voiced one of the side characters in the original series - reason for finding a part-time job. It was due to his dad's business failure. Higashida's family was also shown throughout the whole series, and played a huge part in the anime.

While in the first Working!! series, they focused more on how the characters get together (which may require more patience from the viewers), the WWW characters get together pretty early in the anime (not because of love), and they show more of their progressed in their relationships.
In the original series, it can be seen that all the characters interact with each other, while in the WWW series, the characters are paired up and they usually only interact within their pairs.


Overall, the original series focuses more on the character developments (where the 'slice of life' genre is stronger here), while the WWW series gives a more flexible view to the story, while more jokes (where the 'comedy' side in stronger here). They are both wonderful series, and I recommend viewers to watch both.

Psycho Pass vs Psycho Pass Extended Edition

After Psycho Pass had aired and ended, the start of a new Psycho Pass series was announced a few seasons after. In respond to that, they started airing a "Psycho Pass Extended Edition".

It's not unusual for animes to air a recap episode(s) / movie before the start of the new season / movie (usually limited to animes which are amazingly popular e.g. Kyoukai no Kanata). But I'm sure most people just don't have the time to watch these 'recaps' or have just finished watching the first season when the 2nd season starts.

So do you watch Psycho Pass Extended Edition? How is it different?

Well, for the most part, yes - Psycho Pass Extended Edition is a recap, but it also serves as a more in depth explanation of feelings and ways of thinking. 

________________________________________

At first glance, the both look exactly the same; with the same opening scenes and everything. Not to mention, each episode is 45 minutes long, with 12 episode - which means it takes up about almost the same time as how long the whole original series of Psycho Pass would have taken.

But the Extended Edition is indeed a recap of the original series. But then why would it take the same amount of time?

This is because of the additional scenes which are added into the series, which makes up the time lost in the summarized scenes.

The scenes include a lot more talking, and features a lot more of how Makishima and Kougami thinks. These scenes are probably the more 'boring' scenes which got cut out in the original anime because it 'lacks impact', and doesn't play a huge role in the anime.

An example of what those 'scenes' are would be in the first episode, where they showed the meeting of Makishima and Kougami.

In the original series, they went straight into the battle scene, whereas in the Extended Edition, we can see a little bit of Makishima's thought process, which tells you a little about the way he thinks, and also a little about his character.

There are also some scenes which are connected to the 2nd season in the Extended Edition (very little though).

So, do I watch the Extended Edition?

For people who don't really like long winded talks, I'd say that you shouldn't watch the Extended Edition because it would feel like the same anime with more added talks.

However, for people who like to see a more in-depth showcase of the different thought process, or people who simply LOVE the way Makishima talks and thinks, I feel that you should watch the Extended Edition.

But my recommendation would be that if you have watched Psycho Pass in the past, and feel like re-watching it, I feel that it's better if you watch the Extended Edition instead. It gives you a little a bit of a different experience.

Never try to watch the original series and extended edition back to back.

________________________________________

Should I watch the Extended Edition instead of the original series?
No. Even though they both have the same feel, and all the important scenes, I do not recommend anyone doing that. Even though they maybe similar, in the end, the Extended Edition is just a recap, some scenes are cut short or totally cut out to make the series shorter, and because of this, certain scenes doesn't flow and have gaps in them.

Ikemen Anime Special: Inu x Boku SS

Inu x Boku SS is probably one of the most visually pleasing animes out there (that is not an idol / otome type of anime). Filled with random fan service for both female and male watchers out there. But today, I'll only be focusing on Ikemen characters.

I think one of the huge selling point for this anime is they're chibi art. They're cute chibi art really takes you in.

________________________________________

1. Miketsukami Soushi

First off we have the main character - Miketsukami Soushi, Voiced by Nakamura Yuuichi. He works as a butler and security guard at the same time. Who doesn't like a hot butler who serves you and even protect you?

He has a platinum blonde hair, and a very pale and translucent skin colour. He is always seen wearing all black, which contrasts very much against his skin colour.

His natural soft colours really makes him look very kind and gentle, but his dark coloured clothes tells another story, which is very much like his character.

Even his first appearance in the anime was cool and elegant, surrounded by sakura petals, against the soft morning light... as how every other anime goes like.

His eyes are double coloured; right side blue, and the other yellow / gold.

He is always seen tearing infront of Ririchiyo, even though to others, he doesn't have much expressions and is usually only seen smiling.

Because males who only show emotion to his true love one always seems cooler (just joking (✧ω✧))

He is always seen with white and black sparkles, which is something different, since it's not everyday you see black sparkles in anime. Those black sparkles are really eye catching, and undoubtedly a huge contrast to his appearance.

When he transforms into his demon side, his eyes glows, rimmed with a red glow. Quite the beauty isn't it? (╯✧▽✧)╯

His demon form is a fox - as like how all ikemens are in animes. Foxes are usually one of the most elegant-like and pretty demons out there, despite being well-known for their cunning-ness. In this demon form, his hair turns totally white (which, in my opinion, doesn't do any justice to his skin colour).

He is rarely seen in his casual clothes, but as you can see, he wears glasses and his wardrobe is probably all dark colours too.

Miketsukami is always compared to a dog, even though he is a fox (well close enough I guess?), because of his 'loyalty' towards Ririchiyo. And there are many scenes in the anime where that reference is being brought in.

He does many things for Ririchiyo, even though she doesn't really want that type of treatment; like taking food for her, de-boning her fish, massaging her shoulders, etc.

He also drives her everywhere - to school, to shopping, etc. I don't think anyone can look as cool as Miketsukami when driving. (I mean look at the side view, I'd die if I was sitting beside him (≧◡≦))

Teenage Miketsukami looks even more pure and innocent (✧ω✧) (even though he is totally not).

Since he is a fox, he is able to transform. He showed us that he was able to transform into a cute fluffy child...

... and also a hot woman.

Miketsukami's Chibi Collection

For those of you with megane (glasses) fetish (≧◡≦)

No one can mess with Ririchiyo, if not they will be facing an angry Miketsukami. Though an angry Miketsukmai sounds pretty sweet. (✧∀✧)

Other random screenshots of Miketsukami.

All in all, Miketsukami has many different sides to him, and he is willing to do anything for Ririchiyo. He is a character who doesn't have a pride (because of his past. However, later on, it was seen that he actually has a more playful side, and likes to casually tease Ririchiyo.

________________________________________

2. Sorinodzuka Renshou

Although known to be more lazy than an Ikemen, I feel that Sorinodzuka Renshou is has the looks (you know, like the term 'cool beauty'). Voiced by Hosoya Yoshimasa.

He has a ganster look, and is usually mistaken to be much older than what he truly is. He is dark skinned, and has long reddish-brown hair. His eyes is are green. For the most part, I think the only reason why he looks like a ganster is because of his tattoo (or is it a birth mark?) and his long dark hair.

p.s. I really like his long wavy hair o( ❛ᴗ❛ )o

Renshou's eye doesn't glow or anything when he turns into his demon form. Unlike the rest, he transforms in and out of his demand and human form back and forth very frequently.

He says that he prefers his demon form because he doesn't have to keep up with appearances. 

Renshou usually puts on a laid back and emotionless face. In reality he is really very laid back and carefree, which is also one of the reasons why he is one of Ririchiyo's few (of not, only) friend since childhood.

He describes himself as "thick skinned", and tells Ririchiyo that it's ok to act normal in front of him because he takes insults very well. But in actual fact, he is actually picks up on people's emotion pretty well, and can usually tell how the other part is feeling. He is one of the few people who is able to understand Ririchiyo despite her contradicting words. Because of this, he gets a long with people pretty fast.

One of his unusual smiles. (omg I swear this melted me (*≧ω≦*), don't smiles look a lot more attractive when you rarely see them?!)

Renshou's serious face.

Renshou's Chibi Collection

He usually seems really laid back and emotionless, but he is unexpectedly the type of person who would play with you. In actual fact, he goes along with Zange's random plays whenever Zange is bored.

Overall, Renshou is a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, who unexpectedly has a very fun personality to him. He cares for the people around him, and gets along well with man different types of people.

________________________________________

3. Watanuki Banri

Watanuki is one of the Kawaii-kei (cute type) of characters, voiced by Eguchi Takuya.

Watanuki has a typical foreigner look; with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Watanuki always claims to be a delinquent, although he doesn't quite make the cut... σ(￣、￣〃) Unexpectly, he is childhood friends with Zange, Miketsukami and Kagerou, and is often bullied and teased by the 2 of them (Zange and Kagerou).

Even though he claims and is striving hard to be a delinquent, he participates in classes, helps people pick things up, and is very honest. All in all... He is just not cut out to be a delinquent, and is just naturally a very nice person. Because of this, he naturally makes a lot of friends and gets close to people pretty quickly despite saying (or at least trying to say) bad things. 

Because of his naive nature, he is easily bullied and teased.

Watanuki is a tanuki (racoon) in his demon form, and similarly to Renshou, he transforms in and out of his demon form very frequently. He said that it was because he can't control his transformation very well.

He likes Karuta a lot, and is training to be a 'delinquent' to protect her. He is also one of the rare people who understand Karuta's actions.

One of Watanuki's cute and 'normal' scenes. ♡(。-ω-)

Overall, Watanuki has a little bit of tsundere side to him, and although the way he talk doesn't sound very elegant, he is a nice person.

________________________________________

4. Zange Natsume

Lastly we have Natsume Zznge, voiced by Miyano Mamoru. More than Ikemen, I feel like he is a mysterious character and also has the role of the 'goth' character. 

He has a dark pinkish red hair and red? eyes (although it's close most of the time). His straight long hair is tied into a low ponytail with a black ribbon... A very classic butler-like hair style (✧ω✧).

He doesn't reveal his demon form... (does he even have one?)

He claims to be close to Miketsugami and calls him "shou-tan", and always embraces him, but Miketsugami always responds in a cold manner (probably a joke though).

Overall, Zange plays the 'shady' and 'mysterious' character in this anime, and his scenes can get really dark (or seem to be). He hides a lot of his emotions and likes to uses bunny drawings for his explanations. Mostly, I feel that he always uses indirect methods to help his friends get along well with each other.

________________________________________

That was all for Inu x Boku SS's Ikemen special!! 

Which character did you like the best out of the 4?

FYI... mine is Renshou σ(≧ε≦σ) ♡