Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile is a musical anime series from 2007, an original manga story written and illustrated by Tomoko Ninomiya. Nodame Cantabile anime series is produced by J.C.Staff and here’s some popular titles behind its studio like Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, Toaru Majutsu no Index and Kaichou wa Maid-sama!. Nodame Cantabile consists of 23 episodes, runs about 22 minutes per episode and aired from January 2007 till June 2007. Opening song “Allegro Cantabile Sound” performed by SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH. Ending song “Konna ni Chikaku de…” performed by Crystal Kay, and “Sagittarius” performed by SUEMITSU & THE NODAME ORCHESTRA. Nodame Cantabile anime series is directed by Kenichi Kasai. 

Shinichi Chiaki is a real first-class musician and dreams about playing among the elites in Europe, Shinichi came from a well-known family and also known as a perfectionist. Shinichi perfectionist is not just applied to himself but also to other people as well, that’s one of the reasons why some people don’t want him in the first place but in terms of talent he has anything to show of his skills that he worked for. One reason why Shinichi is still in Japan is that he’s afraid of flying and as a result he himself is grounded in Japan. 

As Shinichi’s in his fourth year at Japan’s top music university, he meets Megumi Noda, also a student at music school where Shinichi is attending, Megumi is mostly preferred to be called Nodame. At first Nodame is like a no direction in life as she acts most of the time but one day when Shinichi hears Nodame playing the piano for the first time. Shinichi himself is amazed by the kind of music Nodame creates when she starts playing the piano. Shinichi is dismayed as he learns that Nodame is his neighbor and worse Nodame herself ends up falling head over heels in Shinichi.

Nodame Cantabile's story focuses on Shinichi Chiaki, a first-class musician and his dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Shinichi is known as a perfectionist not only for himself but also to other people around him. One day Shinichi happens to meet Megumi Noda or referring to herself as Nodame, an unkempt girl without direction in her life, but one day when Shinichi hears Nodame play the piano for the first time he becomes surprised and awe in the kind of music she played. Nevertheless, Shinichi is a bit disappointed when he learns that Nodame is his neighbor and the worse part Nodame loves Shinichi.

 Nodame Cantabile anime series is produced by J.C.Staff and did a good job for its anime adaptation of the manga story. Character design is a good improvement compared to its original manga counterpart, one reason is the presentation not just the drawing style but also the character attitude style and expression. The animation is smooth and great as what you read is what you see, it’s one of the best parts or the strong point of its production to adapt the story almost same as the manga and a bit of adjustment for its series where J.C.Staff is best in that part. The music choice is entertaining and just listening for the whole music you can tell that this is a music anime series, for the opening series a great start not just an introduction but also interaction to its viewer that this is classical music theme, and ending part a reflection of its main character or the feelings, they have inside or the attitude they have but the music is catchy to listen for its full version when I heard them first on its anime.

Nodame Cantabile deserves a great anime recommendation, in terms if you want to see something interesting and different this is one for its great music story and a fan of classical music is relaxing to listen to in this series. Anime or manga? The anime series is fun to watch. It is one of the greatest musical anime so far and based on classic music and which is more appealing to know what it's like to study a major in music and a bit more educational at the same time. The manga story where everything started but reading it is like an adventure with a sense of things happening inside the manga without the music but the feeling for a music is already in the manga from start till the end part. For the two source is hard what to choose but for a first time the anime series will do, not just because you can listen to the music but also feel each characteristic of the whole Nodame series not just about the story but also hearing its music is relaxing at the same time, but the manga series is made sure you will read it not just for the development but also to know more the other characters that will help to develop the main cast. Is Nodame Cantabile an overrated anime series? Nope, not at all in terms of rating. It's the decent one I read so far from another otaku point of view. One thing we mostly agree is the great adaptation of the whole series is to thank for and Nodame characteristics is one of the fun parts how she clingy to Shinchi is hard to remember in this whole series. Nodame Cantabile is a worth watching anime series if you are into classical music. This anime is for you and romcom is good entertainment and how they find music to love not just to play but to express their emotions while playing a classic music.

Information:

Title:

• Nodame Cantabile

• のだめカンタービレ

Type: Series (23 episode)

Aired: January 12, 2007 to June 15, 2007
Studio: J.C.Staff

Source Story: Manga

Genre: Music, Slice of Life, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Josei

Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Song:

Opening:

• "Allegro Cantabile Sound" by SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH

Ending:
• "Konna ni Chikaku de..." by Crystal Kay (eps 01-12)

• "Sagittarius" by SUEMITSU & THE NODAME ORCHESTRA (eps 13-23)

Director: Kenichi Kasai

Character and Voice Actor:

• Noda, Megumi (Kawasumi, Ayako)

• Chiaki, Shinichi (Seki, Tomokazu)