Piano: The Complete Collection
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DVD Cover Information
Artist: Artist Not ProvidedDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 240 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-07-11
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Right Stuf
Movie Reviews of Piano: The Complete Collection
Movie Review: A definitely refreshing anime series that probably could have been a live-action drama
Summary: 5 Stars
I decided to give "piano - the melody of a young girl's heart..." a try because of the title. I figured that it should be a series that would feature awesome piano instrumentals and as a fan of Japanese dramas such as "Long Vacation" and "With You", I figured that perhaps I would get the same enjoyment out of this animated series.
Second primary reason for watching this anime series is that its created by Fujishima Kousuke (Ah! My Goddess, You're Under Arrest etc.) and features his character designs. As a fan of Fujishima's work, I'm rarely disappointed and definitely wanted to support his work.
"Piano" focuses on the life of a young teenager named Nomura Miu. She has become somewhat of an introverted teenager and perhaps from playing piano all the time and getting good grades at school, the things that happen to teenagers starts to kick in.
She has an interest in one of the guys in school, she ponders on how her best friend has a somewhat outgoing attitude and has fun, she thinks about her parents and how her father is busy at work, how her mother copes with her father being busy and also her sister who is working as a tour guide and traveling throughout the world.
Of course, these thoughts are now cutting into her love for piano. Her piano lessons are suffering and she's missing classes because she wants to be with friends and she doesn't know if piano is what she wants to do. In fact, her piano instructor has selected her to be the student to represent the class for a major piano recital and it stresses her out.
So, each episode is more like taking a peek at Miu's life and how she views her friends and family and her love or losing love for the piano.
No major cliffhangers, no three-way love triangle, nothing emotionally traumatizing. Just a straightforward anime on how a young teenage girl is coping with life.
And because the anime is done that way, it's actually quite refreshing and I really enjoyed it.
Because really, many teenagers go through what Miu had to experience. Teenage life is never easy and it's like an emotional rollercoaster.
As mentioned in my review, "piano - the melody of a young girl's heart..." is a refreshing anime series, simplistic and primarily focused on a life of a teenager who has to make decisions.
The typical anime cliche storylines of harem or love triangles are also not on this anime.
It's a straightforward series about a teenager who has the talent to play piano but now her personal life, her teenage life of interest in boys, wanting to hang out with friends and be there for them and also to be there for her family has started to become important. Where does the piano playing fit in and what happens when you start losing that interest?
I found myself watching this series in a marathon setting because I was intrigued by the storyline and although there was no cliffhanger that would keep me watching, the strength lies in its well-told storyline and the fact that all of us who have been teenagers have had the situations the main character, her friend or her parents have been in.
From the little things of losing a household pet and searching all over for them. To enjoying a hobby as a child but then as a teenager, you start to lose interest. And most of all, the relationships and bonds you have with family and your friends.
Granted, if you had a crappy life, to watch a series of a somewhat funtional family with a teenager on the straight and narrow may not be your cup of tea. But all in all, I found the series to be enjoyable, background art to be beautiful and just overall, I found myself hooked to the series and how much thought went into the storyline. Again, it's simplistic but yet effective.
All in all, if you are looking for a Japanese animation that is really different from other storylines out there and you want to step back from the action, adventure and emotionally depressing or dark anime out there, "piano" is a series I recommend.
Definitely check it out!
Summary of Piano: The Complete Collection
Studio: Bayview/widowmaker Release Date: 07/11/2006 Run time: 240 minutesSimilar DVD Movies
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