"Nodame cantabile" (2006) TV series

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Directors:

Hideki Takeuchi
Kawamura Yasuhiro

Writer:

Rin Eto (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

16 October 2006 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Cast

Juri Ueno	...	Megumi 'Nodame' Noda (11 episodes, 2006)
Hiroshi Tamaki	...	Chiaki Shinichi (11 episodes, 2006)
Cynthia Cheston		(11 episodes, 2006)
Eita	...	Ryutaro Mine (11 episodes, 2006)
Yuya Endo	...	Mamoru Ookouchi (11 episodes, 2006)
Masatô Ibu	...	Ryuken Mine (11 episodes, 2006)
Mayuko Iwasa	...	Reina Ishikawa (11 episodes, 2006)
Keisuke Koide	...	Masumi Okuyama (11 episodes, 2006)
Koen Kondo	...	Keiji Tamaki (11 episodes, 2006)
Emiko Matsuoka	...	Kaoru Suzuki (11 episodes, 2006)
Rinako Matsuoka	...	Moe Suzuki (11 episodes, 2006)
Asami Mizukawa	...	Kiyora Miki (11 episodes, 2006)
Masahiko Nishimura	...	Hajime Tanioka (11 episodes, 2006)
Saeko	...	Sakura Saku (11 episodes, 2006)
Makoto Sakamoto	...	Youhei Hashimoto (11 episodes, 2006)
Yukina Takase	...	Makiko Tanaka (11 episodes, 2006)
Kosuke Toyohara	...	Kozo Eto (11 episodes, 2006)
Misa Uehara	...	Saiko Tagaya (11 episodes, 2006)

Runtime:

47 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Certification:

Japan:PG-12

Company:

Fuji Television Network

Amazingly funny comedy and romance revolving around students at Japan's top music school

When I started watching this I didn't have very high expectations. But this is without a doubt one of the most enjoyable TV series I've ever watched. It is based on a manga, and a lot of the manga aesthetic -and even acting- comes through.

Chiaki is an extremely talented, motivated, efficient and arrogant piano player whose real dream is to become a conductor. However, his fear of flying means he cannot travel to Europe to study under the masters. Oh, Chiaki is also extremely handsome, making him the hottest boy in school.

Nodame is his next-door neighbour. Although she is equally talented, she has no inclination to be a professional. She would rather raid people's lunch boxes, play silly songs on the piano and live a carefree life in her extremely messy bedroom.

They study at the same music school, and alongside them are a whole range of characters: Chiaki's girlfriend Saiko, perverted conductor Strezemann, the eccentrically gay Masumi, rock violinist Eita, calm & cool beauty Asami, and at least two orchestras' worth of characters.

As the story develops Chiaki learns to become more human, and Nodame learns to appreciate her exceptional talent.

The series fits into the "achievement" genre, a bit like all those sports films where the underdog eventually wins. But the fact that it's done through comedy makes it much more enjoyable and far less presumptuous. The use of music is also inspired, and if I may say so, very informative. Until I saw this series I really thought a conductor simply moved the stick to the rhythm of the music. I have also learnt to appreciate classical music much more than I ever did before. I may even go to see an orchestra now.

Anyway, all in all a very enjoyable series. Overall the acting was excellent, technically the film is great (apart from some odd sudden changes in the colour correction), and it is a delight for the ears.