Locodol | Episode 1
Library-chan: Well that was cute. Yukari reminds me Mugi from K-ON. I love how the first time she meets Nanako, she runs and hugs her (then introduces Nanako to her boobs).
Momoka Kibi: Little do people realize this is secretly a K-On! Spin Off starring Mugi. In any case, this may be my favorite 1st episode I tried today among the new shows, but to be fair the others ranged from decent to weak.
GingaDaiuchuu: Decent character designs and soft color palette, but unbearably dull execution thus far. I’ll see where it goes, since the episode was a lot of nothing leading up to the idol situation finally becoming a reality, but the scope and how they’ll go forward is completely up in the air. It doesn’t seem like one that will ever be something I’ll really want to follow, but I’d hope that at least this first episode is the weakest of the series.
EyeOfPain: If I didn’t already enjoy shows like Idolmaster and Love Live, I probably have dropped this instead of giving it the benefit of the doubt.
stardf29: I actually rather liked this episode, in ways different from how I like other idol anime. Here, there’s more of a feel of wanting to do something to help the community and make the locals happy, rather than trying to attain some kind of personal achievement (not that there’s anything wrong with the latter). It makes the show have a more modest, “home-like” feel to it, kind of like Tamako Market with idols.
The crowd going along with “Oh, Nagarekawa!” and the moment where the kid waves to Nanako at the end pretty much sold it for me. I, for one, am very much looking forward to where this one goes from here.
Nork22: This show had a surprising amount of good humour and also one of that doesn’t take it’s premise seriously. I like how Nanako got duped by her uncle to help with the opening ceremony of the remodeled pool. He also guilt trip her that she spent tax payers money for her swimsuit. At least Nanako has a sense of responsibility so she still took on the task. The show was rather pleasant overall with quite a nice relaxing feel. As mentioned by stardf29 – it’s all about being an idol for the community. I started clapping along with the crowd during their singing. Can’t wait to see what they will do next.
bctaris: Huh, I really liked this one, mostly for that easygoing pace and humor. It’s funny to me some found that style instead boring or dull, when the surest sign I liked what was going on was that when it ended I swore it was a half-format show, 15 minutes or so, because it kind of flew by. Far from plodding, I thought it was directed very convincingly for a first, introductory episode, even being so formulaic. (Which is curious to me: the series writer is Yuniko Ayana, whose last job in that role, and for a similar sort of show, Kinmoza, I had just elsewhere criticized for not not grabbing me.)
Without the sly humor (the uncle was a tightrope character–goading enough without getting creepy; loved the tax line Nork22 mentions) I could see it as kind of dull, sure. But even then, right, following on stardf29 and Nork, the angle of this idol story is, well, charming.
Hitsugi Amachi: I found this to be something of a slow start. I think there’s potential in it and there were some pretty amusing gags (the uncle’s guilt trip with taxpayer money was well played), but I think we’re going to need more than just Nanako and Yukari to carry this show.
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Episode 2
EmperorBrandon: Yeah, Yukari is seeming even more Mugi-like this episode. She’s an ojousama with a whole apartment floor, has sweets to serve Nanako, and is also… into yuri manga. Haha… I like the part with Nanako coming over to visit the most, though. That got to be pretty sweet when we found out why Yukari was so nervous over it and things got to easing up after that. The local idol routine earlier in the show is a bit more hit-or-miss for me, but I still think this one is decently enjoyable.
stardf29: This show continues to be really charming. The food report was pretty cool, seeing Nanako enjoying the food naturally and eventually getting along with the store manager.
The highlight was definitely her visit to Yukari’s place, though. Gotta love how Yukari practiced in case Nanako had “special tastes” with yuri manga–that takes some special dedication.
GingaDaiuchuu: Well at least they got out that Yukari is quite the fan of yuri, so that’s sure to have some fans on-board no matter what.
Sensuifu: Hah, Nanako expecting royalties…too bad it’s only a small market…
Funny how Yukari provides a supportive role for Nanako’s lack of confidence in public, while Nanako lends Yukari some tips on ‘normalcy’ in more private settings like home.
Although I was expecting some idol stuff, it’s probably unlikely the entirety of the show will mainly focus on it; at least it feels that way.
bctaris: But like even straightforward idol shows, this was about the background stuff: the grueling or annoying local promotion, the technicalities of salary and contract, and of course the girls getting to know each other outside of performance. Didn’t seem much different at all, really, put that way.
I just really click with the direction and pacing of this show. The comedy or just the characters, though obviously lighter this episode, was still sly and slightly off-kilter. And the balancing out of Yuakari’s character with Nanako was, as EB says, kind of sweet, and developmentally, pretty important.
It’s just a nice, easy, amusing show. How nice, actually, for an “idol” show not to be about winning some major competition, or saving a school, or a town, or the galaxy. It’s simply for the enjoyment, instead. (Go figure.)
Sensuifu: Yeah, you’re definitely right; the simple enjoyment you get watching it is the mainstay of the show- that it’s not about all the aforementioned premises/plots typical of idol genre. I can live with that.
Aikatsu is the one other idol show that I can say the same about. Granted, it does have all the common traits easily identifiable for an idol series, but the underlying theme (aside from the card game/merchandising aspect) is the simple fun and enjoyment you get from the characters. The show might not be to everyone’s liking, understandably so, but it’s the only other one I can think of that’s not heavily focused on drama (or in plot for that matter)…It’s just there for viewers to enjoy. Of course its target audience is not exactly the same as they are for shows like Love Live!, AKB0048, or WUG!, but that’s what you’ll get from it, simplistic enjoyment.
Locodol is completely unlike Aikatsu in many ways, but the feeling is the same. I’m happy to follow regardless the direction it takes, whether it be a slice-of-life with idol bits thrown in, or an idol show that mixes the slice-of-life elements into it. Either way, it’ll make me 🙂
