Music: Genji Monogatari Sennenki OST

Genji Monogatari Sennenki Original SoundtrackTitle:
Genji Monogatari Sennenki Original Soundtrack
源氏物語千年紀 Genji オリジナル サウンドトラック (25/02/2009)

Music by:
S.E.N.S. Project

Review/Comments:
This CD arrived at my doorstep at the right time… I’m not sure why but I’ve been feeling down on the weather lately. It’s like… how do I put it? Everything is going on as usual, life in general and work (tho’ I have lots of support from my workmates but there’s just a plain lack of motivation *sigh*) and so on but somehow there’s something stirring and I’m not quite sure what. Stress? Probably… or even accelerated mid-life crisis? lol~ or maybe the economic downturn that is casting a gloom all over… Gaah~ I must snap out of the slump!

Anyway, the anime soundtrack of the classic adaptation has a calming effect on my nerves. I love the main theme which is presented in full-length in the CD. Aptly named “高雅”, meaning “Elegance”, the presence of an orchestra, wind instruments, strings, percussion… ah~ it is absolutely beautiful. The music is mainly performed with classical and traditional instruments, as well as some electronica mixes. I’m not knowledgeable enough in this area but I find that some of the tunes remind me a lot of traditional Chinese music. Continue reading “Music: Genji Monogatari Sennenki OST”

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Anime: Tales of Genji (Sakurai Takahiro, Fujita Toshiko)

Tales of Genji animeTales of Genji (源氏物語千年紀) is an anime based on the Japanese classic and possibly the first Japanese novel “The Tale of Genji” written during the Heian period by Lady Murasaki. It will be broadcast on 15 January 2009.

Comments:
I LOVE PERIOD DRAMAS! So I’m looking forward to this very much… what’s more, Sakupyon is voicing the lead *doki doki* (=^_^=) The art looks very pretty and romantic. Hope it doesn’t disappoint!

Update 17 Jan 2009:
I watched the first episode. It has promise! The narrative flows well and I think this series will be a good introduction for newbies like me to the classic tale. For those who have watched the 1980s OVA and came off confused and hating Genji for his “philandering ways” and arrogance might have a better understanding of the background of his story this time round. I think you may even come away sympathising with him.

Anyway, right at the beginning, we’re greeted with a love scene (sex scene to be exact but nothing explicit) of Genji and one of the women in his many affairs where the couple sprout poetic sounding lines during/after their passionate embrace… Cheesy as it might sound, it was quite beautiful, actually ^^;;; hah~ and with Sakupyon delivering those lines, I think all the fangirls just died right there.

Although the animation and artwork can be uneven at times, the overall animation is still very good. So far, the first episode gave us a rather detailed visual depiction of the setting and environment where the story takes place. There are so many breath-taking, dreamy and artistic scenes which will hold your attention even when it is only a panned talking head or a voice over by the narrator.

The background music is classical and soothing. I enjoyed it. As for the opening and ending themes, I think I’m not the only one who thinks that the opening song by PUFFY is rather out of place in this anime. You’ll understand why when you hear it. The ending song “Ai” by Atari Kousuke was lovely tho’.

With the back story concisely summarised and explained in the first episode, I’m eagerly looking forward to the upcoming ones for the drama to unfold. Continue reading “Anime: Tales of Genji (Sakurai Takahiro, Fujita Toshiko)”

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