Ya Boy Kongming!

I take great pride that I watched this Anime right when it just started and before the OP craze … NO, it’s not like I just watched it because I thought it was an isekai … Baka. In all seriousness, it's a show that is about Up and coming musical artists, the trials of the music industry, and most importantly what makes music sell And it is a mind-blowing fact since what sells this Anime to most people is its absolutely insane music, especially Ciki Ciki Bam Bam (Man I can't get this OP out of my head !), I swear they spared no budget whenit comes to the music, art, or animation in the OP! Also, Do not sleep on the ED, The art is simple, but goddamn the music slaps! The focus is clear and pure, and characters rarely get sidetracked from music the first half has a bit of the party culture of Modern citizens thrown to light but after that, it turns into a serious Music Anime. The pacing is perfect there is an optimal amount of character development and a very healthy cast wh are really talented but just need a single catalyst that will finally make them the real deal, koumei is said catalyst a Chinese legendary general (or so they say I have no clue) actually quite flexible with his plans, he more often than not just nudges things in the right direction except of being a perfect Kirito Kun and this is not unexpected of a general that was in charge of thousands of brave men (especially since they were the weaker side). The premise is wack (as expected of isekai) but it immediately feels like all the characters are right where they belong! As for the review Plot (8/10) It's about music, no romance no action no bs, it's straight-up an actual representation of the current music scene, there are already so many distinguished and talented artists that making a newcomer actually debut takes more effort than picking the next star player of Barcelona. There are certain plot twists that are predictable yet they remain healthy and affect the characters in a realistic way which was quite nice to see. Each episode begins with one of Koumei’s legendary stratagem being cleverly adapted into the real world and I will admit, I would never take an interest in Zhuge Liang kong ming if it wasn't for this anime. Characters (9/10) As a typical isekai start, Kongming does enjoy the benefits of coincidence in the first three episodes xD like Eiko picking him up and her singing to him, the manager being a Chinese history nerd, etc, but the later parts have clear and absolutely perfect attention to detail on the music peeps the fact that they have their mutual admiration and stories of what inspires them is quite nice to see. Development of the main cast is a huge focus and is done in a very wholesome and inspiring way, hence many who aspire to do the same can actually take notes. The final music battle and the rap battles were like watching a sports match where both sides gave it their all while admiring and appreciating the skills of their foe. Art and animation (8/10) A good depiction of modern Tokyo is a rare sight! The cityscapes in anime look really dull compared to how Tokyo really is, and hence it was awesome to see an actual good background and vibrant nature of Tokyo being reproduced in this anime.The character design is not original by all means but it is consistent throughout the whole show. The animation of the songs and the natural soft expressions of Eiko when she sings conveys to the viewer perfectly that she loves to sing, and the art and body language of the rap battles also makes for a really tense and exciting atmosphere! The art in OP gets the highest budget and rivals that of Kaguya sama, the ED doesn't have the best art but it's better than most corner-cutting EDs we see these days. Sound and VA (10/10) Ok this should easily be a 10 but some may say that the repetitive nature of some of the music used does hurt the anime a bit but, it is to be expected since they have singers that are not the VAs sing for the character and licensing multiple songs is going to be no easy feat , yet that is also a strength of paripi koumei, the songs are sung by actual singers and are really good, Not to mention the 90s inspired absolute banger of an OP which I am sure is in everyone’s playlist by now. A great anime that is a must-watch. it really revives the dying (fuck covid) party culture and is a great depiction of the music industry! Everyone should give this a try.

Came in hoping for a breath of fresh air and the dark horse of the season; left disappointed that the novelty of the premise couldn't save it from being a trite, paint-by-numbers story of musical success. The core failing of Paripi Koumei lies in Kongming and Eiko's relationship. What should have been an interesting dynamic as the two work closely together to achieve a common dream instead feels unengaging and incohesive as, from the very beginning of the show, Kongming tells Eiko to leave all of the strategizing to him. As a result, Eiko's personal involvement in Kongming's plans drops to near zero as virtuallyher entire role is just to sing and follow Kongming's instructions to the letter– this abject imbalance in their relationship made it impossible for me to develop any sort of attachment to their shared struggle. The blind faith that Eiko (and other characters) have in Kongming is not only extremely boring, it obstructs any meaningful development in their relationship over the course of the series as they continue to accept Kongming's decisions without question. Kongming's unilateral decision-making even goes as far as Eiko's singing, as he makes changes to the composition of her music that Eiko, rather than expressing reservations about (like you would normally expect), simply accepts with little complaint or input. That Kongming would be able to shamelessly meddle in something that constitutes the core of Eiko's identity should make it abundantly clear that her subservience to Kongming is ultimately set in stone. Eiko having minimal influence in her own success reduces her character to the upbeat and determined singer whose entire role is to sing at the very end and mysteriously win over the hearts of the crowd. And while I was never a particular fan of her music, hearing her perform the same three songs (and have the audience react in the exact same way) over and over again only exacerbated how clichè and dull the entire experience was. The clichès don't stop at just EIko, however, as the show (particularly the second half) is plagued with a plethora of tropes executed in the most insipid way possible: The genius musician who tells Eiko that her singing lacks her own character; the cynical and seemingly evil producer; the singer whose passion for music is no match for the greed of the industry. These all culminate in the finale of the series, which– without spoiling– is a nonstop series of developments so generic that I was genuinely left aghast at what the show had become. I'll admit that I initially found some enjoyment in seeing Kongming try to make it in modern Tokyo– but once that wore off, I was left with nothing more than a hackneyed narrative, whose themes of "passion in the face of corporatism" is directly contradicted by how entirely safe and bland the entire thing felt.

Our world is a complex place, full of diverse culture, and colorful species. Obviously, the most complex species is the human race and we enjoy the gifts that God gave to us. Through evolution, intelligence, and technology, we have also evolved and transformed our world into what we see today. And that brings us to modern day where the setting of a particular show takes place. Paripi Koumei is an anime taking place in modern Tokyo that is full of pop culture and entertainment. Despite being based on the manga, I've never heard of this series before until the anime announcement. It isn't one of thosemainstream franchises that took the world by storm after all. However, I will say that the franchise really bought in a ton of quality content with its music elements. Let's start with the opening theme "Ciki Ciki Bam Bam" by QUEENDOM. The song became a sensation that captured millions of views on popular platforms such as Youtube and Twitter. While Paripi Koumei isn't carried entirely by its theme song, it suddenly did spark interest for an audience. For me, the show's premise didn't immediately capture my attention because it's borrows from a popular trend in recent years. Yes, I'm talking about the idea of reincarnation, a plot device that has been used in countless isekai anime. However, this show only takes the surface of that idea as it lacks the typical fantasy elements and everything else becomes its own story. Now in a more modern era, we meet Zhuge Kongming who has reincarnated since the third century in China. After a chance encounter with a girl named Eiko, he strikes a partnership with her after witnessing the talent of a superstar in the making. He becomes her manager and together, they hope to become a sensation in this modern world. From this point on, the story pretty much dedicates on how they would evolve themselves and make others recognize them. Watching Paripi Koumei immediately made me realize one important thing and this applies to any place in the entertainment industry. It's hard. No, I mean, it's hard to the point where you must constantly push yourself to be better than others. Sacrifices must be made and they must know how to adapt with any situation. And maybe, just maybe they can become a cultural phenomenon. Luckily, Eiko is hard worker and Kongming has a tactical mind. They come from completely different backgrounds but watching the two work together is inspirational. Eiko has the talent of a singer with a passion for music. Meanwhile, Kongming uses his cunning mind to plan Eiko's future. To him, becoming successful means thinking of every possibility and responding to them. Thanks to his military talent, this ability seems natural just as his way of adapting with the modern world. Eiko's character is one that I find fairly likable for being outgoing and ability to attract others with her friendly personality. She's also passionate about music and not just making a career to get rich or fame. A prominent example is her relationship with Nanami, a street singer she met and quickly formed a friendship with. Watching their relationship shows how Eiko determines to prove herself while also forming a relationship with someone with similar interests as her. However, I will say that a twist of fate later in the story brings together a more complex turn of events for the two. I won't spoil it but it makes Eiko strive to work even harder. Although Eiko and Kongming are mostly the center of attention in this show, one other character that attracts a lot of attention is the rapper Kabe Taijin. That's right, the art of rap hasn't gone out of style in Tokyo and we witness firsthand with his skills. Similar to Eiko, Kabe has a strong desire to prove himself to others. Watching his performance shows his passion to entertain an audience and be himself. To me, this anime captures the essence of performance arts and allow characters to express themselves. It's what entertainment is about in this world's modern tokyo. If you're starving for some entertainment that stretches beyond the generic idol performances you often see on TV, then you're in for a treat. While the main attraction of Paripi Koumei is its character cast and musical elements, we also can't overlook the designs and overall visual quality of the show. It's something that feels underappreciated because the music and soundtrack often overshadows its animation quality. But judging by its character designs, it's clear that the anime made its cast look like superstars such as Eiko. Kongming still maintains his look from his original timeline although he adapts a more formal way of speaking the modern language. Let's also not forget the most important feature and that is the character expressions. When performing in front of a crowd, we see how passionate characters express themselves through body language and emotions. It's one of the highlights that brings out the best of performances and should be appreciated. If there's an underrated show of the year for 2022, Paripi Koumei is up on the list for a potential winner. This anime is easily overlooked but earns its spot among the most entertaining show of the year. For its character cast, music, and storytelling, it's a show that I can't help but recommend to anyone. Give yourself a treat and tell your friends about Paripi Koumei. They'll be dancing along this show's sensation in no time.

*** Note that the review will be somewhat long-winded and contain a few minor spoilers. It's been a while since a show has managed to fascinate this much, so I went pretty much all out on this one. Hopefully you will bear with me. *** P.A. Works creating a good manga adaptation? The world must be ending! No seriously, this show is fucking amazing. Paripi Koumei is without doubt a little absurd, insane, and chaotic – and it is entertaining as fuck. Unlike what it appears on the surface, it is not just a brainless comedy that solely intends to make its audience laugh at its ridiculousness; assatirical as this may sound, there is legitimate quality and substance to be found behind all the seemingly pointless madness and irrationality. Paripi Koumei radiates promise from one of the very first scenes, showing a decrepit Zhuge Liang Kongming on his deathbed. It is then that Kongming makes his one final wish: to reincarnate in an era without any war and conflict, one where he could live peacefully. Fast forward two millenniums, and we suddenly see Kongming in a nightclub of Shibuya supposedly reborn in his younger body. Initially bewildered, he is shortly mesmerized by the voice of a young singer, later introduced as Eiko Tsukimi. Eiko is facing problems of her own, struggling to find success in the world of music despite her firm, yet slightly wavering determination. She is startled when the oddly dressed Kongming proclaims his love for her voice, but nonetheless delighted that someone has finally taken notice of her music. The next morning, Eiko stumbles upon an intoxicated Kongming on the street and brings him home out of sympathy. There, Kongming learns about the modern world and its technology from Eiko, and subsequently becomes interested in contemporary music. In an odd turn of events, Kongming becomes Eiko's music manager aka "tactician", with the immovable resolve to make the world recognize her name and singing prowess. It goes without saying that Kongming himself is what makes Paripi Koumei; you definitely will not enjoy the show if you aren't fond of his crazy antics, because that's pretty much the driving force of the story. As Kongming devises grand strategies for Eiko to help her accomplish her dream, the plot simultaneously expands in scope and moves forward in a surprisingly steady pace and manner, with almost no stumbles or hiccups along the way. In case you are wondering what a Chinese military strategist is doing in what seems like a wacky music anime (told you this show was absurd), it's... hard to explain. The thing is, while there is admittedly zero rationale to how certain things play out at the beginning, the series is completely honest about it. Why and how Kongming is reincarnated in Japan and can read and talk in perfectly fluent Japanese – this is all just because the plot demands it, and there's no other reason. This rarely holds back the show however, since the author luckily utilizes the most of Kongming's inclusion in the story. Moreover, the anime does not try to indulge in monotonous self-parody to replace actual comedy; though there are clever self-jabs from time to time, it fully understands that dull and repetitive self-parody is far from any proper entertainment. As a result, what we have here is an anime with genuinely a lot of thought put into the material. Stated briefly, the idea sounds and is ridiculous, but the execution is anything but that. Kongming is most certainly a weirdo, but at the same time, there are few who can even dream to be as nearly charismatic as him. There's a certain charm to him that I have yet to find in any other anime character, and that charm is not limited to him being "a Chinese historical character in a Japanese anime, lol". Kongming's charm in fact comes from his whole character: his intelligent yet amusingly quirky nature, witty and playful remarks, clever and intriguing tactics, flashy appearance, and spectacular voice acting. Kongming is not simply a stereotypical male Mary Sue programmed to do "all according to keikaku" stuff; there is far more to him than meets the eye. With that being said, if you came to the show looking for cleverly constructed strategies, you surely wouldn't be disappointed, because it does have plenty of that to offer. Kongming's so-called stratagems are always a delight to watch, even if one or two can be considered as blatant ass-pull(s). The second episode, in particular, almost entirely detaches itself from any kind of realism – instead relying on plot contrivances and semi-convoluted logic to progress the story. On the flip side however, there are many more occasions where the tactics Kongming comes up with are surprisingly really clever and creative. Although they seem irrational and "totally batshit crazy" at first, in hindsight, you realize that they are actually brilliantly thought-out, albeit still totally batshit crazy. The stratagems Kongming uses in the show reference historical events, and excluding a few errors and glorification here and there, the depictions are consistently precise. The original stratagems and Kongming's own versions of them are obviously vastly different, but they are always built on the same fundamental concepts. At the start of a new episode, a short recap is played of what happened prior; but unlike the sleep-inducing recaps you see in most shounen, a narrator aptly connects the referenced events with the previous episode and provides historical context. While this seems comparatively insignificant, it does, as a matter of fact, add more depth to the story and makes the stratagems even more interesting. Back to our boy Kongming though, remember that I said his charm comes from his whole character? Although that holds true, it's specifically his demeanor and inner personality which makes him so loveable in my opinion. As cunning and eccentric as he is, Kongming is also incredibly soft, affectionate, knowledgeable, and unassuming. He is equal parts wise and hilarious; there will never be a time his words will fail to move you, and his jests and idiosyncrasies fail to make you smile. Even just him appearing on the screen will be enough to keep you entertained. In internet lingo, Kongming is a certified gigachad, one who belongs in a category of his own. I know I sound like an overly obsessive fan idealizing his favorite idol, and I probably *am* obsessive, but I mean it when I say Kongming is wonderful, because he is. Kongming's personality naturally shines the most when he is with Eiko, who helps bring out his most intimate sides. Eiko herself is an extraordinarily engaging and well-written character. It's easy to dismiss her as waifu-bait at first glimpse, but if you actually watch the anime, it should be obvious that she isn't. The show dedicates much time to focus on her growth both as a singer and a person, so it feels extremely gratifying whenever she succeeds in her goals. Keep in mind that while Kongming may be the mastermind behind her success, it is actually Eiko's own singing, her own efforts to improve herself, that ultimately makes everything work, or "does the magic" if you will. Additionally, though only explored in brief sequences, Eiko's suicidal past adds a substantial layer of depth to her character. What's noteworthy is that suicide is tackled with a lot of subtlety and not oversensationalized at all, which makes the backstory all the more effective. Of course, the anime doesn't solely rely on this to flesh Eiko out; her relationship with Kongming is what plays the most important role in her characterization. Similar to how Eiko eased Kongming's heart, Kongming also helped Eiko regain confidence in herself, giving her the push to continuously do better – which brings me to the prime reason why I find their relationship to be so profound. Almost any fan would attribute mainly Eiko and Kongming's interactions to why they enjoy the show, and I'm no exception. The arrangement is strange for sure, but their relationship is at heart incredibly wholesome and uplifting. Why? One of the key things to consider here is the wish that Kongming made before dying, which was to be reborn in a more peaceful era. But even though his wish was fulfilled, Kongming remained dejected since there was no familar face around, and later, it was Eiko who brightened him up and enchanted him with her music. Similarly, Kongming was the first person to genuinely praise Eiko's singing, someone she could call "a true fan", and that motivated her to strive for greater lengths. These simple aspects pave the way for a dynamic, heartwarming relationship, what would have been regarded as utterly stupid and nonsensical otherwise. Despite Eiko's name being a direct reference to Kongming's allegedly real wife, there's not any implication of romance between the two. Their feelings toward each other is portrayed as platonic more than anything, which is evident through the obvious parallels to Kongming and Liu Bei's relationship – and I would be lying if I said I wasn't relieved thanks to that. I believe the primary reason why their bond doesn't feel forced is because it is platonic, and any attempts at romance would make their relationship overly awkward and unnatural. The later chapters of the manga presumably don't contain any romance either, and I hope it stays that way until the end. While I could never see this being even a remote possibility, if you think the anime will become stale and formulaic with only those two in spotlight – don't worry, the viewers are quickly introduced to more compelling characters: Kabetaijin, an average Joe with no remarkable qualities except his knack and devotion for rap, and Nanami, the vocalist of a girls' band stripped of their passion and ingenuity. As cliched as their origin stories might sound, they are nevertheless inspiring and should strike a chord with the audience, particularly those who have been in the music industry themselves. Kabe and Nanami's individual character arcs peak respectively in episodes 6 and 9, which solidify the two as staple characters of the series. Most of the supporting characters are equally or almost equally endearing. "Owner" Kobayashi sort of serves as a loving father figure to Eiko, and his penchant for Three Kingdoms has never failed to at least put a smile on my face. Sekitoba is a worthy rival of Kabe and a rather compelling character even on his own, and the same goes for all the members of Jet Jacket and the other two girls of Azalea. In spite of his short appearance, Tsuyoshi Kendo immediately left a vivid impression with his unconventional accent, and so did Steve Kiddo with his unhealthy pudding obsession. Karasawa is a decent antagonist, albeit not very complex, but more than believable and interesting enough to get invested into. Music has always played a vital role for me when it comes to the enjoyment of any piece of media, and Paripi Koumei has honestly been astounding in that regard. The music production of the anime is spectacular; I'm not using the word lightly at all. In fact, what really got me invested in the show was not the randomness, but the short guitar song Eiko plays for Kongming in the first episode – which unironically stole my heart immediately. 96neko's voice is mesmerizingly beautiful, even though she mostly sings in English, which is notable because Japan is notorious for producing awful Engrish songs. Lezel's singing is also excellent, and Shouya's rapping is more than up to the mark (for the most part). Other relatively "minor" artists aren't negligible either, and the background music is superb as well, especially the tracks that play during the emotional scenes. Some people have complained about the fact that certain songs are frequently repeated throughout the anime, which didn't particularly irk me to be honest, because there's a fairly solid reason behind why this decision was taken. One of the major themes of the story revolves around growth, whether musical or inherently personal, and I think the continuous repetition of a song to highlight that growth has been executed very well. This would have been an entirely different case if the songs themselves had been subpar or ordinary, but when the performances at display are remarkably better than most of the stuff that come out these days, I don't really see much room for concern here. Regardless of what you think about their writing quality, it's difficult to deny that P.A. Works' productions have always looked visually impressive, and I feel like they have even stepped their game up a notch with Paripi Koumei. The animation in the show is strikingly good, boasting completely fluid character movement and vivid background art. The concerts in particular are splendidly animated, and the atmosphere is exceptionally unique. In a period where lifeless and mediocre anime are commonplace, this show feels and looks incredibly refreshing. Without any hint of exaggeration, it legitimately seems like the staff handled the series with immense care and love, with the genuine intent to make something of actual value – which I have yet to see in any of P.A. Works' other works besides Shirobako. When you compare the anime to the manga, this intent becomes even more palpable. The manga of Paripi Koumei is not bad by any measure; it's actually amazing, but it doesn't exactly equal the anime. Music is obviously a big factor in this (manga doesn't have any sound, duh), especially when the level of quality is this outstanding, but to merely pass it off as that will be a great disservice to all the people who contributed to the project. You see, the art of the manga is frankly uninspiring; most of the panels are rather colorless and generic, and several are completely barren of any proper background. The characters are drawn very simplistically, with little emphasis on accentuating their expressions, for which they somewhat lack the emotional impact of the anime. The writing of the anime also differs from the manga in many directions, which may seem trivial at a cursory glance, but are much more significant if you sit down and compare the two. I think one of the most prominent examples of this is how Eiko tends to subconsciously belittle herself by saying "watashi nanka" (translated to little ol' me), something Kongming notes immediately and tells her to stop using. This is a subtle way to add nuance to the characters, hinting at Eiko's modest persona and Kongming's thoughtful nature concerning her. A lot of their conversations are also expanded upon, consisting of more heartfelt and substantial dialogues, amplifying the effectiveness of the said scenes. To further emphasize my point, there's an additional 3-minutes-long sequence in episode 9 of the anime, which presents a flashback of Azalea in their high school years, discussing what name they should pick for their band. The following scene shows Azalea performing in their debut concert, and subsequently, the three girls promise to keep making music together. What's merely touched upon in a single panel in the manga, has been expounded substantially and turned into an immensely meaningful backstory. Modifications like this have been made throughout the entire storyboard to enhance the experience, including the dramatic sequences as well as the comedic bits. One of the few minor drawbacks of the show in my opinion is the unnecessary fanservice, which – despite just being few and far between – does leave a little bit of a bad taste. This occasional fanservice includes showing relatively risque scenes of Eiko taking a shower, changing her clothes, bathing with Nanami, etc. The anime is slightly less guilty of this compared to the manga though, which generally contains more lewder shots of Eiko doing the aforementioned things. However, this is simply an insignificant issue I personally found with the series and shouldn't affect your enjoyment that much, if at all; these scenes only appear occasionally after all. Although everyone already knows about it, I just have to talk about the opening of the show, which I can't stress enough about how groovy it is. Fun fact, the original version of the opening is a Hungarian pop song released 9 years ago, and while it's not bad, the Japanese version completely overshadows it. The ending is also a cover of an old Japanese song called "Kibun Joujou", and again, the newer version is exceptionally better. I actually think the opening and the endings are more or less equally good, and the ending played in episodes 5 to 7 is probably the catchiest, particularly because of 96neko and Shouya's solo performances. To say Paripi Koumei has a bit of something for everyone is misleading, because it clearly has elements that not everyone will enjoy. Does that mean I'm gonna stop anyone from watching the show? No, of course not. There's a reason why this is irrefutably the dark horse of this season, and I will go as far as to say it is easily the best anime of the year so far – and potentially even more. Well, the third season of Kaguya-sama *could* be better, but I haven't started watching that yet, so yeah. The point is, do certainly give Paripi Koumei a try, even if it doesn't seem like something that's up your alley. I was thoroughly surprised myself, and chances are you will be too. Although I ended up using over two thousand words to write this review, I still don't feel like I have done Paripi Koumei any justice. I may never be able to fully convey how much I actually love the show; I think it is simply that good. This is all the more impressive when you consider the clusterfuck of ideas this anime works with, which should have been an easy recipe for a disastrous failure, not something as extraordinary as this. To reiterate myself, even if it sounds overly cliched, all this has been possible because of the tremendous effort put in by the creators – starting from the manga's author to everyone involved with the series' production. Paripi Koumei is in a word P.A. Works' newest passion project, and I can't wait to see more of it in the future. It would be a gross understatement to say I will just miss this show, as it is not often you come across something truly special, and Paripi Koumei absolutely is special.