Nodame Cantabile ep.11

March 23, 2007 | 22 Comments

What's going on here? All of a sudden the concert scene looks really good and is actually animated. It's not completely animated but at least this time around I get the impression that I'm watching a concert instead of static stills after static stills. Oh well, I hope this continues right through the end, especially when R☆S Orchestra starts to perform. Anyway, I still remember how a few people complained about the Rachmaninoff that Chiaki in live-action version played. It was deemed too slow. Unfortunately this seems to be a choice that the author has made since the anime's version of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 is also equally slow at the start. The difference between this one and the live-action is that the anime features the entire score instead of jumping from the first to the last act.

Continuing from the previous episode, the episode begins with Mine and Masumi urging Nodame to come inside the auditorium because Chiaki's concert is about to start. Nodame points out that she is still wearing her Mongoose costume but Masumi tells her that she can go in wearing her costume. He just wants her to hurry up or else they'll have to stand up while watching the concert. Inside the auditorium, everyone claps when Stresemann and Chiaki appear. Upon seeing Chiaki, Sakuma wonders if the guy has his father's talent. Although Chiaki looks good physically, he intends on laughing at Chiaki if he's not a good player. In addition to this, Chiaki is performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2 so the audience will be paying close attention. The concert then begins and the audiences are immediately drawn in to the performance. As he watches the orchestra, Sakuma's eyes are fixated on Chiaki, wondering why Chiaki is not famous yet.

After the concert, Chiaki and Stresemann rest inside the waiting room. Stresemann asks Chiaki to pass him a pack of cigarettes but Chiaki tells the old man to get one himself. Stresemann decides to play the pity party and tells Chiaki that he's going to be leaving soon so his student is not supposed to act like that. In response Chiaki reminds Stresemann that he's an old man so Streseman will be better off if he slows down with the alcohol, cigarettes, and women. He doesn't want Stresemann to overdo it and asks the old man to live longer. Stresemann seems touched upon hearing this but decides to let Chiaki know that he'll die if he doesn't get his alcohol, cigarettes, and women. Outside the building, everyone is still talking about Chiaki's performance. In fact, Sakuma is so impressed that he finds himself unable to leave his seat. When Keiko reminds him that they must leave, he asks her if he can switch his article to a new one.

At the same time, Mine and Masumi are disappointed that they ended up in the second place. Masumi, however, tries to cheer his friend up, saying that they can try again and besides Mine has one more year. Meanwhile, Nodame is in panic after hearing Chiaki's impressive performance. She decides to look for a piano to practice. A few days later, Nodame is still busy practicing Rachmaninoff piano concert No.2 when she suddenly imagines Stresemann coming over to praise her. He thinks what she just played was an interesting but very strange Rachmaninoff. He, however, tells her that she can't possibly perform with an orchestra if she plays like that. Nodame is upset upon hearing this. She tells Stresemann that she wants to play a piano concerto with an orchestra as well. Stresemann refuses to give Nodame a chance and instead tells her that she needs to face music right on. If she doesn't do this, she'll never truly enjoy music from her heart.

Nodame claims that she's enjoying the music but Stresemann ignores her words and instead takes a look at his watch and points out that it's time for him to go. Before he leaves, he asks Nodame to take care and lets her know that he's looking forward to seeing her again. Nodame then wakes up inside her apartment, wondering if it's just a dream. However, she quickly notices that she's been holding Stresemann's watch. Meanwhile, Chiaki also wakes up inside a hotel room and is horrified when he finds himself surrounded by girls on both sides. After the shock, he finds One More Kiss madam greeting him in the living room. Chiaki finally remembers that after the school festival ended, he and Stresemann went on a four days trip around Ropongi, Kyoto, and hot springs. They then went back to Roppongi for more drinking and ended up in Stresemann's room. As for Stresemann, apparently Elise has dragged him away earlier in the morning.

Upon hearing this, Chiaki notices a piece of paper left by Stresemann in his pocket. The note basically asks Chiaki to purchase Mei Anzai's photo collection for Stresemann. Back inside Momogaoka's music school, Saiko is practicing her opera role when her teacher tells her that her delivery is not good enough. She suggests that Saiko express her character's feel of insecurity a bit more. When Saiko fails to do what the teacher asks, the teacher asks her to sing the song the way her competitor, Suganuma, did it. In retaliation, Saiko decides to invite the guy that Suganuma likes to have lunch with her. Saiko pretends to invite Suganuma as well but because Suganuma is on diet, the girl refuses the offer. Saiko explains how Suganuma has been her rival in vocal course and stole the role of the Night Queen in The Magic Flute last year when Suganuma was still fat. When Suganuma fell in love Yamamoto, the no.1 tenor singer, she decides to go on diet.

Saiko thinks that Suganuma is a fool because she believes that Yamamoto likes her. Much to her annoyance, Yamamoto asks her if she doesn't like performing Dorabella. As it turns out, Saiko simply doesn't want to perform the character the way Suganuma did it. While walking together with Yamamoto, Saiko overhears Tanioka-sensei talking to Chiaki so she decides to ask him about her ex-boyfriend. Tanioka informs Saiko that Chiaki got a cold so he can't come to the lesson today. Upon hearing this, Saiko decides to ditch Yamamoto and goes to Chiaki's apartment. Much to her disappointment, Chiaki is cold towards her even though she's come to bring him food and medicine. She finds out that Chiaki's sickness is due to hangover after having too many drinks with Stresemann. After offering Chiaki a bottle of water, Saiko tells him that she was impressed with his performance. In response, Chiaki praises her performance in Cosi Fan Tutte opera.

Having said that, he also thinks that the girl who sang Dorabella made a bigger impact. Although Saiko has more technique than Suganuma, Suganuma was bold and fresh even if she's a little less precise. Chiaki thinks that Saiko always acts like a princess when she performs and as a result, her performance is not fun. He also points out that although Saiko has a beautiful voice, her singing will be affected if she lets her malicious personality come through. Saiko is unhappy upon hearing the criticism but Chiaki ignores her and decides to take a bath. After Chiaki left, Saiko remembers how Chiaki always prioritises his music before her. The two apparently always fought as well. Now that she'll be graduating from the university, Saiko can't help but wonder if they can work things out if she quits singing. Meanwhile, Chiaki has just finished his bath but because he doesn't see Saiko in the living room, he assumes the girl has gone back home.

Chiaki is startled when all of a sudden he sees Nodame appearing behind him, asking him to lock the doors. Nodame, who looks like a living dead, suddenly asks Chiaki to let her play concerto with the S orchestra. She especially wants to play the piece that Chiaki played, Rachmaninoff Piano Concert No.2. Inside the bedroom, Saiko can overhear Nodame's voice and decides to take a peek. Back in the living room, Chiaki realises that Nodame smells bad and when he finds out that she hasn't taken any for days, he decides to let her take a bath in his bathroom. Saiko then notices that Chiaki goes to the kitchen to make risotto for Nodame. It seems he is flattered that Nodame has done nothing but practice ever since she heard his concerto. After Nodame takes a bath, Chiaki orders her to eat the Risotto that he's made but Nodame refuses, claiming that she has no appetite. A pissed off Chiaki has no choice but to force-fed Nodame himself.

Impression:

I think this is the first time I've been rather impressed with the anime version of the orchestra scene. I think the animators did try many technique to make the entire scene feels alive. One thing that was missing was Chiaki's look of regret and sadness as he realises that Stresemann will leave soon. Other than that, I'm satisfied with the way they've animated the movement of the players. I'm also surprised that the animators went out of their way to animate Saiko's mouth when she sings her opera song. Speaking of Saiko, I didn't know that her rival, Suganuma, is not fat anymore in this version. In the live-action, Suganuma is still fat and is a lot more obnoxious than the anime version. I actually feel sorry for Saiko in the live-action version. In this version, however, she seems a lot nastier. This will be interesting to see since I always get the impression that she's a bit too nice to Nodame in the live-action version.

© memento 2003