Nodame Cantabile ep.03

January 25, 2007 | 18 Comments

Well, this is more of what I had in mind with the first two episodes. I just think that this is generally funnier than the first and second episodes. I am still not used to the voices especially Nodame's but I'm slowly getting used to them. Masumi's voice sounds a lot like Madarao (of Kekkaishi) to me but I'm not sure if they share similar VA or not. Animation-wise, this is also a lot more vibrant and consistent much to my surprise. Especially considering that this is already the third episode in the series. In other series, this is where things usually start to fall apart. But then again I remember that apart from Kyoto Animation, J.C Staff is also quite good at spreading their budget evenly throughout the entire run of a series. Because of this, I can't recall a particular episode that looks really bad.

The episode begins with a Timpani player practicing the instrument but after a while the guy runs out of the room in terror, claiming that he can't stand it anymore. After the guy left, a girl wonders what's wrong with him. The nearby person tells her that the girl who ran out from the room is Masumi-chan, a Timpani player. Apparently 'she' has a claustrophobia and as a result always ends up running away from it. However, 'she' is also a good Timpani player and is considered "The queen of percussion". Upon hearing this, the girl is confused because the person who just ran out of the room is clearly a male. Meanwhile, Masumi-chan already runs out of the school, telling himself that he'd like to go back to Yamagata. However, he can't leave the school because he's has a crush on Chiaki. Because of this, Masumi becomes upset when he sees Nodame running towards Chiaki, thanking him for waiting. Of course Chiaki denies that he was waiting for her.

Nodame, however, is not the type who'd take "No" for an answer and continues to follow Chiaki around despite his order not to do so. Behind a tree, Masumi-chan is fuming upon seeing this and declares that Nodame has become the first person of people he'd like to curse. Meanwhile, Chiaki is slowly composing a music much to Nodame's excitment, who claims that the music is romantic. She even wants him to call it "Nodame Rhapsody". Chiaki immediately orders her not to give a name to his composition and besides, he creates this for an orchestra to perform. Nodame is impressed to hear this and wonders if Chiaki is writing a piece for every single instrument. Chiaki confirms this although he realises that he doesn't even have an orchestra to perform it. Upon seeing Chiaki looking depressed, Nodame tries to cheer him up by saying that they should make Nabe tonight. Unfortunately for Nodame, she gets a huge bump on her head as an answer.

Despite the bump, Nodame is happy because Chiaki had asked her to do his groceries. Her happiness ends up being short-lived because someone dumps a bucket of water on top of her and then drops the empty bucket on top of her head. That afternoon, Nodame receives a letter without an envelope, ordering her to write the same letter to 100 people within 2 days or else she'd die. The letter was apparently sent by someone referring to himself as the Death committee. In her panic, Nodame asks Chiaki to help her writing the letters but Chiaki refuses, telling her that she's stupid for believing in prank like this. He then asks her if she bought the groceries that he ordered. Nodame claims that she did but because she got splashed by water, the paper which specifies the items she must purchased got washed out. Much to Chiaki's horror, Nodame had purchased a bag of Inago (Grasshoper/Locust), Zaasai (Szechuan pickle), and a pack of Spring rolls.

Chiaki immediately scolds Nodame, telling her that he was asking her to purchase Nabe ingredients such as Konbu, Hakusai, and Shungiku (edible Chrysanthemum). Nodame points out that because the kanji are washed out she ended up buying those things that she bought. She then suggests that they have Inago Nabe but Chiaki produces his trademark "Hiiee!" in response to the idea. That afternoon, Nodame happily walks around campus when she accidentally steps on a banana peel. Later on, someone throws exploding fireworks around her, drops a blackboard eraser on top of her head, and aims her forehead using toy arrow. Nodame immediately apologises to Maki-chan, one of the girls from whom she often steals lunch from. Maki is surprised to hear this since she didn't know it was Nodame who stole her lunch. Therefore, she's not the one who bullies her. Having said that, she hopes Nodame won't be stealing other people's food again.

Nodame admits that she can't make that promise but today she has Aisai Bentou (Bentou made with loving care from someone's loved one) from Chiaki. She explains how Chiaki made it for her last night, leaving the part where Chiaki looks horrified while doing so. When Nodame opens her lunchbox, however, she finds out that someone has eaten all of her lunch except the Inago, of course. She becomes angry upon seeing this and sets out to find out the perpetrator. That night, Nodame can be seen sleeping peacefully on the school park's bench when someone approaches her with a black marker. Before he can mess Nodame's face with it, however, Mine appears and captures the guy. Mine immediately recognises him as none other than Masumi-chan, who was his classmate. In retaliation for pulling his hair, Masumi calls Mine "Ryuunen-tarou" (a play on Mine's first name, Ryuutarou. Ryuunen is someone who has to repeat class due to failure).

Nodame decides to confront Masumi, asking him why he's been playing pranks on her. In response, Masumi orders her not to get close to Chiaki. Upon hearing this, Mine realises that it must be 'that'. Nodame doesn't understand what Mine meant by this so Masumi explains how how Chiaki is his prince who gives him energy to live. Because of this he's pissed off to see Nodame being close to Chiaki as of late, pointing to a set of photographs that he took. Unfortunately for Masumi, Nodame is far more interested to get the photographs that he took instead of listening to what he has to say. Nodame, however, becomes depressed when Masumi tells her that Tagaya Saiko is far more suitable for Chiaki. In retaliation, Nodame reminds Masumi that Chiaki is a man but Mine points out that Masumi is a man with 'that kind of hobby'. Not wanting to be outdone, Masumi challanges Nodame to a battle. He wants to prove that he's a better 'woman' than Nodame.

Because Nodame and Masumi can't agree on which instrument to use, Mine suggests that they have a battle to see who can get Chiaki to date them in 2 weeks time. For his part, Masumi plans on inviting Chiaki to a Christmas performance by the King of Conductor, Inzagi. Having said that, he worries about what he would do if Chiaki refuses him. Because of this, Mine tells Masumi that he'd help Masumi to learn how to be Chiaki's friend. At night, Chiaki is surprised when Nodame asks her to go out with her on the 24th of December. Since Chiaki is unresponsive, Nodame promises to clean up her room and make a cake so she asks him to come to her apartment. When Chiaki becomes excited for his composition, Nodame mistook that as agreement. The next day, Chiaki overhears a group of girls talking about Hayakawa-kun, who's studying conducting in German. Much to Chiaki's chagrin, Hayakawa's teacher is none other than Vierra-sensei.

Because Chiaki is depressed, he becomes unresponsive and volatile when Nodame comes over to ask him which Christmas cake he wants. When he gets to school, Mine tries to ask him to listen to his friend's rehearsal. That friend turns out to be Masumi, who's nervous as Hell thinking that Chiaki will attend his rehearsal. Somehow Mine manages to force Chiaki to see the rehearsal so Masumi decides to do his best. Unfortunately his idea to do his best is considered showy by the conductor so he ends up getting the boot. Chiaki himself is not impressed by Masumi's over the top act, calling the guy the worst idiot. Masumi who hears this echoing in the hall is completely crushed to say the least. When he's out of the hall, however, Chiaki admits that the rehearsal sounds better when he closed his eyes. That day, Mine declares that both Nodame and Masumi have failed in their attempt to secure Chiaki as their date, causing the two to weep.

Nodame wonders why Chiaki changes her mind while Masumi wonders why he has to get booted by the conductor. Nodame asks Mine if it's wrong to make Pizza-flavoured cake while Masumi tries to put the blame on the conductor. Masumi is especially distressed because Chiaki thought that he's lower than a human being. Mine tells Masumi that he should have played normally since no one has seen a dancing Timpani player. Nodame reminds Mine that he also dances when he plays. Masumi, on the other hand, is stressed out because he got kicked out of the orchestra and now have to play Timpani on his own. He thinks his only choice now is to return to Yamagata. Mine tries to cheer Masumi up but Masumi points out that neither of them has the same pressure since as Piano and Violin player, Nodame and Mine can play solo. He, on the other hand, can't do this. Upon hearing this, Nodame suggests that the 3 of them play as an ensemble.

Meanwhile, Chiaki is now seen walking with Saiko, who wants to know what he has in plan for Christmas. When Saiko suggests that they should make a cake in his apartment, Chiaki remembers that he promised Nodame the same thing. Because of this, he refuses Saiko's offer and goes on the lookout for Nodame....so he can refuse her. Despite his effort, however, he can't find Nodame anywhere. He overhears two of Nodame's friends talking about how they haven't seen her around lately. Chiaki becomes concerned since Nodame always follows him around before. He wonders if she already forgets about him. While walking around campus, however, Chiaki hears a song coming from a room. He quickly realises that it's the same piece that he composed for an orchestra. Inside the room, Masumi has a fight with Nodame and Mine because he feels that their tempo is a bit too fast. Mine disagrees, claiming that this is supposed to be a Jazz piece.

Masumi thinks the one who's not good is no-dame (dame literally means 'no good'). It doesn't take long before the two start fighting with each other so Mine has to remind them to take it easy. Outside the room, Chiaki is surprised that Nodame can remember the song even though she has only heard it once. To top it off, the three of them have now turn his piece into a Jazz arrangement. Later on, Mine tells them that they need someone to play the bass. Nodame thinks that if she has another set of hand, she could have played the bass. Much to everyone's shock, Chiaki comes in and tells them that if they need another hand, he's willing to join them. Masumi immediately passed out from excitement. Chiaki realises that he can't be envious of other people's world and must change his own world. Fast forward to the 24th of December, it's Christmas night but Chiaki insists that they won't celebrate Christmas until their play the piece perfectly.

Impression:

It's interesting to see Chiaki's insecure nature in this episode. Although he's annoyed with Nodame, it is obvious that he's got used to the attention that he gets from her. Since the anime is very close to the manga, I hope we'll get futher exploration of his character. While we're at it, I must praise Seki Tomokazu for making Chiaki a lot closer to the manga version. His "Hiiiee!!!" when he saw the locust was priceless. Speaking of locust, I still can't get over the fact that some people actually eat the insect. Although I like to be adventureous in the kind of food that I eat, I don't think I'll be crossing the domestic pet, sewer inhabitants, and insects line anytime soon. I'm willing to taste bear, deer, or even Kangaroo (I actually I already had one a few years ago. It tastes like chicken except chewy). Insects, on the other hand, is too gross to contemplate. I do wonder, however, if anyone here has try Inago (Grasshopper).

Anyway, Masumi was really funny in this episode. In fact, I think his interaction with Nodame and Mine provides some of the best comedy in the series. The orchestra scene seems to be handled quite well this time around. Having said that there were some long shots included to trim the budget. On the other hand, I'm glad that the pace slows down a little bit. I felt that the first two episode was a bit too fast and ends up excluding some of the best scenes in the series, such as Nodame stealing her friend's food. I just hope that they won't cut out the Kotatsu scene from next week's episode. Moving along, I was a bit surprised that Chiaki willingly joins the three of them when he can clearly find other people who'd play his song. I always wonder if he actually enjoys his time with them but is too proud to admit it. The thing is, he always has a horrified expression everytime he's with them. It feels as if he's appalled that he's drawn to them.

Preview

On next week's episode: Strezemann the gaijin teacher.

© memento 2003