Piano | complete

30th August 2006

I was absolutely delighted with this little ten ep series, it really was such a pleasant experience. Simple and uncomplicated, graceful, delicate and subtle, Piano tells the story of a young girl’s life and her ordinary experiences with her friends and family. While there are a couple of boys who appear, their roles are incidental at best. Miu’s mother was my favourite character, exhibiting vibrance and playfulness while being motherly at the same time.
There isn’t any epic drama in this series, and this is what makes it great. I certainly wouldn’t expect most people to get into a series like this, as it will definitely prove far too uneventful for most viewers, both unseasoned and well accomplished anime fans, true enough, even fans of any popular television culture. I thoroughly enjoy things like this though, as the characters and their responses are often quite real. Piano would also be another anime that shows some of the very reserved behaviors of Japanese people, and that many of their emotions are hidden in subtlety; they are not often given to the loud and sometimes boisterous behaviour we’re so comfortable with in Anglo/European-centric cultures. Some I feel might be frustrated at the apparent severity of some of the characters’ behaviours, but it makes perfect sense if you’re sensitive to how the Japanese are. This kind of subtlety allows the show to create a great sense of atmosphere for those who are sensitive to it; an atmosphere full of warmth and charm, hope and fulfilment.

I’m glad I watched this wondeful production; along with such productions as Aria, it joins a small host of anime purely focussed on celebrating everyday life, and the greatness of our relationships.