Niea_7: ABe's more lighthearted achievement.

Yet another review I should have written weeks ago..... ^_^' But Quite frankly, the last two weeks have really, really sucked for me. I've had things preoccupying mind lately, not to mention a really nasty scratch on my eyeball that needed to heal...... >.>















But in any case, Niea agrees, let's get this review started!!

Well to start things off, I'd say that if I were to make any comparisons between Niea_7 and any other anime series out there, it would have to be FLCL. Basically the idea of my thinking that comes from the fact that this series, much like FLCL mixes a lot of outrageous, over the top humor with some more quiet, deep and contemplative moments. Granted Niea_7 is far more heavy on the latter than FLCL is, and it doesn't get nearly as insanely over the top humorous as FLCL does, but the idea is basically the same.

Niea_7 pretty much is one of the 4 anime series (and I stress the word ANIME) worked on by the legendary Yoshitoshi ABe, known also for his work on Haibane Renmei, Serial Experiments Lain, and Texhnolyze. But let's just be frank for a second here. Niea I'd probably say is dead last quality wise in comparison to his other works. Partially I blame that on the fact that the first 6 episodes, as enjoyable and fun as I found them to be, pretty much sets the series up on the surface to basically be your basic typical slice of life comedy. In fact I myself almost dropped the series after watching the first 4 episodes about a year ago due to this fact. Luckily enough though, not only have I recently been taking more of a liking to those kinds of series, but also the fact that that the revival of the book club thread over on ANN kicked off with this series as one of the series to discuss (though I've only just been reading that thread myself) have both played major roles in me picking this series back up again after so long.

And I'm glad I did. Because at about episode 7 or so is where you really begin to see a lot of the deeper, more analytical and contemplative aspects of this series, and it has now become probably my second favorite of ABe's series, behind only Haibane Renmei (which was really, really tough considering how much I just adored Texhnolyze.....). Fact of the matter is if you look at those other 3 series I mentioned above, it being dead last quality wise really isn't that surprising, because that's some mega stiff competition right there. In it's own right Niea_7 is, without a doubt, the most underappreciated of all of ABe's series.

Personally I'd give it that #2 spot mostly because of the fact that, much like Haibane (which had without a doubt the most profound effect on me out of any of the ABe series, that's why it get's the #1 spot), this is a series that yes, get's very deep, analytical and contemplative, but despite that fact is able to deliver such powerful and profound main themes without being overly cryptically complicated. It's very, very easy to get a grasp on what this series is trying to say, and it does it in such a brilliant way at the same time. In fact I'd say this series has a whole lot in common with Haibane as much as it does FLCL, mostly in that area, but also because a lot of the main themes as well as the particular age group it panders to with them as far as what they have to put up with in that particular time in life.

But part of the other reason why I think it's made such a jump is that if you compare it to ABe's other series atmosphere wise, the dark disturbing horror of Lain, the bleak and violent morbidness of Texhnolize, and the at times depressing and sad aspects of Haibane Renmei, Niea_7 is a much, much different approach. It's more laid back, comedic (in fact it's the only ABe series that has any comic relief in it in the first place I believe..... )and light hearted in nature, and doesn't deal with any dark and serious themes like the other series do. Yet at the same time still manages to deliver such a profound message, probably every bit as much as the other series do.

All in all I'd say that, as enjoyable and downright funny as this series is, just remember that that's only skin deep. It may not seem like it when first starting out with this series, but there really is something special there lying in wait for those who are willing to stick with it the whole way through and are willing to dig deeper past the lighthearted, laid back slice of life comedy that it undoubtedly is in the first place.

Ratting: (out of 4), 8/10