Kurogane Communication

Kurogane Communication is definitely a show that had an interesting premise, though it wasn’t able to skillfully follow up on it. It follows Haruka—the last surviving human in the aftermath of a vague, catastrophic war—as she lives her days with her 5 robotic friends. The series can be divided into two narrative halves: the first, more episodic half which focuses either on a specific character or a certain dilemma per episode; and the second which focuses on a longer narrative arc. Though initially interesting in the beginning, the series never becomes very captivating or does much to hold one's interest. The main reasons for this arethe lack of interesting characters, story, and substantial worldbuilding. The series sets itself in a somewhat slice of life, episodic rhythm, without a real overarching narrative. Due to this, when the second half introduces a new, focused narrative, it fits oddly with the first half and doesn't feel as if it is going towards a conclusive ending. In addition, some main issues lie with the way the series approaches certain aspects, which generally makes it feel off-putting as a whole. This can be attributed to the series' bare-minimum approach to worldbuilding. First, Kurogane Communication has a very, very vague plot background which doesn't adequately explain what really happened in the war. Questions like "What parties were involved?" and "How were all the humans annihilated?" pop up, but are not answered. The show only explores this at the surface level. This is only becomes a concern as the characters repeat again and again how certain they are that everyone has been wiped out and that Haruka is irrefutably the last human left alive. This isn't really convincing however. For one, they are only living in a one city and they haven't explored outside of it, so how can they account for the entire world? Also, since Haruka was able to survive, why can't anyone else? It's not like her survival method was particularly complicated or unique (literally anyone could have survived the same way she did, like, she just got in a random safety pod). Every character seems to share this viewpoint of the world, even when they’re clearly presented with info that should disprove this. It doesn't really make sense why the characters should think like this. This could have simply been solved by actually addressing what happened in the war and how every human could have been annihilated. However, the series never tries to. This really wouldn't have been that much of an issue if the show didn't bring it up so much. (Really though, did someone press a "human delete" button or something?) Secondly, the robots in this series are incredibly non-robotic. These robots cry, sweat, blush, get tired, and sleep. They even feel pain, have complex dilemmas, and are troubled by painful memories. It's all very... human. This only becomes a problem when the show starts to address its own definition of robots. While it's common for fiction to portray complex robots and deliberately blur the line between robot and human, Kurogane Communication never makes it clear what kind of robots we're dealing with, nor does it intend to focus on such themes (i.e. it is not trying to be that type of show). The series just introduces us to these human-like robots without much background and merely explains that the robots are "intelligent" and meant to serve humans, but this doesn't even come close to how they can be so human. This becomes a bigger issue when the series tries to raise various themes of living with robots and such, for instance, how lonely Haruka must feel. These attempts fall flat as it never truly feels like Haruka is surrounded by robots given how they act. Other times, superficial aspects are attached, such as the set of specific robotic rules that they must follow, but these merely feel tacked on to fulfill some narrative goal. Again, it would only be a minor annoyance if it wasn't for the show trying making it a central issue. As a whole, these problems are due to the series' lack of exploration and worldbuilding. KC doesn't cover enough of its more interesting aspects, throwing in only in bits and pieces but not much beyond that. This is also what makes what the series decides to focus on a bit irritating. Characters are somewhat more enjoyable, though they too are a mixed bag. Initially, the cast of characters are quite fun and interesting to follow, but as the series develops, they fit into certain molds that they don't grow out of. Spike becomes the series' worrywart, making him quite annoying and whiny; Trigger is initially decent comedy relief but his shenanigans get a bit tiresome; Reeves and Cleric don't get much exploration and aren't distinguished enough, so it feels they could have been merged into one character as they seem to serve the same role. Our main character Haruka's development isn't very interesting. More annoyingly, she's often used as a damsel in distress, as if the writers couldn't figure out what else to do with a female character. Angela, the series' badass, is probably the most fulfilling and entertaining character due to her deeper and continual development. Later characters bring the same sort of mix as the main cast; some are explored well, some shallowly, and others not at all. Production-wise, the series is decent. I enjoyed the varying designs of the robots though the backgrounds and art were just perfunctory. While I enjoyed the opening and ending songs (I mean the OP is an underrated bop!), they are essentially love songs that don't really fit with the series' themes at all, although sections of the lyrical content can. The opening animation unfortunately gives away parts of the second half of the series, which takes away some of the surprise. Background music is perfunctory though pretty repetitive, as if there is only one track for each mood. Animation unfortunately is subpar, and action scenes suffer in particular and can be quite muddled in presentation. KC overall needed more world-building and exploration of both characters and setting. (originally written in 2018/2019)

A curious series and, sadly, a little known one. The uncommon format of 15-minutes-per-episode might sound as a potential barrier to it, but surprisingly it wasn't the case. In fact, the creators were highly efficient in the use of the time and this allowed a great narrative flow. You have enough time to spend watching the characters, which are definetely the series' main asset because of this. Every single of them is really memorable, be it because they have their own personalities and particular traits, or because they have a more deep background which is explored throughout the episodes. The exploration of their conflicts alsocontributes for them to develop really organic, and also charming interactions, leading this to the creation of great drama. The series conveys a melancholic feeling but at the same time an optimistic message, that despite dificulties like loneliness you can still find companions and happiness, if you accept them. The series never makes their characters to play as victims of their circumstances but instead it shows the viewer how they overcome their situations. Also, a great detail is that even the antagonist has his own (and perhaps) subconscious, personal conflict. You never justify his actions but you understand why he does what he does and this is synergistic with a theme of the story, which is: will against programming. The second most important asset of this anime is without a doubt the music. Every track (even though there aren't that many of these) is really strong and well used, making even more emphasis on the feelings that each scene wants to convey and creating a heartouching atmosphere, or a really tense one depending on circumstances. The animation is almost as well conceived, in the range from pretty decent illustration and character design to amazing fluency on movements and action when the moment requires it. There're inconvenients, though. The first "defect" is wasting the potential that the story itself provides. The setting is just perfect for explorating more existential and deep issues about artificial inteligence, but no questioning nor morals on IA is ever put on the table as other works (contemporaries to Kurogane Communication) have done. I mentioned the contraposition of will to programming but in a practical sense it is touched really superficially. The other "defect" (yes. also with quotation marks) is that some key points of the story's background are left almost adrift; hard to explain without spoiling, but I could say that a lack of information in the environment forces the viewer to assume what these points are like, based on external stuff. I mean, the conclusion of this happens to be of common sense IF you've watched other stuff about humans and machines. Like Kurogane lacks of independence on this matter of the storytelling. At least I personally consider it as an unproper manner to understand the story, when the producers could've dropped at least some subtle pieces of info, for the series itself to make one elucidate, with more certainty, the events that led the world to be like it's shown. Would've been even better if the topic was also more original. Oh, and finally, some robots have a couple of traits that are too humane for themselves; I don't think that putting IA and humans at an equal emotional level is bad, but there's a line beyond which having some specific humane behaviours makes little sense for a machine (like literally crying, for example). Anyhow, the previous paragraph is not really to point out conceptual flaws but to describe how this anime could've been more original and better. YET, it's surely good. A truly enjoyable and memorable experience, you shouldn't miss it. 7/10.

Kurogane Communication is by no means original. The story revolves around the only survivor of mankind, a young girl who has to live in a post-apocalyptic environnement. But she's not alone: a bunch of robots take care of her. Throughout the 24 episodes of 12 minutes, we follow her life in this desolate world: a sci-fi post-apo slice of life. Nothing wrong with it. But not really original. The sci-fi elements are so generic, so you can't caracterize the show. That's why it's so forgettable. The characters are dull, the young girl is a pure hearted lady... Of course, it's japanese so the robots have feelings and they reallywant to protect the girl. If you can't accept that, then you can't appreciate the show. And also the fact that the girl is embarassed being seen naked by the "boy" robot, and that robot to be equally embarassed. And there's character developpement. Still the show offers an overall plot, that makes a nice conclusion to the serie, so it won't abruptly stop after a mundane slice of life last episode. If you like sci-fi, slice of life and that kind of feeling that anime from the 90's gives you, well I think you'll really like this anime. But for me I wish I never watched it.