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When I heard about this series I thought ‘oh, another
fanservice-laden high school series’ and put it to the back of my mind.
However, the series was one that proved the old adage of never judging a book by
its cover – rather than the shredding clothes and magical powers of
Ikki Tousen, Bamboo Blade brings a
style of fun and light-hearted drama familiar to fans of
K-ON!. |
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I must be honest and say that my synopsis doesn’t do this series justice. What on paper is a pretty straightforward sports anime with a team of no-hopers that face impossible odds, is actually a fantastic character piece which is both highly enjoyable and quite interesting. The interest comes from the focus on Kendo, the traditional Japanese art of swordfighting which is practiced with bamboo swords called shinai and heavy protective clothing. Whoever wrote or made this series seriously likes Kendo, and that love of the sport permeates |
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through the whole thing. The series explains a great deal about the sport and there's a lot of care and attention given to the training scenes and competition bouts that run through the core of the story. The series goes to great lengths to show how the characters grow as the series progresses, learning new skills, making new friends and broadening their horizons. It's cheerful and carefree for the most part, and not as dry or cheesy as it could be. What I really liked about Bamboo Blade is that
it doesn't follow the standard path that most school-based anime do.
Despite all of the attractive female characters there is a refreshing
lack of fanservice when compared to the likes of Negima or
Ikki Tousen, a fact perfectly summed up by one episode which shows
the characters entering a bath house after practice but then just cuts
to them leaving afterwards. Most other anime - even those about
giant robots - manage to crowbar in an unnecessary bath scene as an
excuse to show the characters partially naked, but not Bamboo Blade.
It's really refreshing to see the series keep the focus on the
characters and the activity they love rather than resort to cheap
titillation, and it's a testament to the creator's love of the subject
matter. There's a real sense of earnestness and enjoyment in the
series which is probably best encapsulated by the enthusiasm of team
captain Kirino, although the series focuses more on Tama and her growth
Kirino is the heart of the team and is the focal point that brings
everything together. |
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As with everything there are downsides to the series as a whole, in particular the swift resolution to some of the more interesting crises the team faces and the increased focus towards the end on the 'Blade Bravers' anime series Tama watches. The series builds up some interesting situations and doesn't always explore them fully, and whilst the female characters grow and change throughout the series their past - with the exception of Tama's - is largely glossed over. This means that not a lot of explanation is given for the dark side of |
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Miyako's character or Saya's absence, whilst the male characters like Yuji and Dan are nearly completely sidelined. Yuji is initially posited as a male lead or possible point-of-view character but is largely anonymous, with marginally more attention paid to Dan and his relationship with Miyako. This said it does make a good job of setting up some rivalries and challenges for the characters to face, and retains its character focus throughout. Bamboo Blade was truly not the series I expected it to be, and that was no bad thing. Instead of a formulaic tale of romance and rivalry resplendent with underwear shots Bamboo Blade is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining series with a strong central cast (Yuji notwithstanding) and an inspiring story. There is a feeling of earnest joy that underpins the plot and makes kendo seem a lot of fun, but the series does also show the downsides of the sport with injury, defeat and even running gags about sweaty armour. It gives the impression of a story written by someone who loves the subject, and this lends the series a similar air of joyfulness and enthusiasm as that of the similarly entertaining K-ON! I would thoroughly recommend this to fans of that series, and in fact to anyone. Bamboo Blade is a highly enjoyable series which wears its heart on its sleeve, and nowadays that's quite rare. Extras Textless opening and closing sequences. Could be better. Ratings Feature:
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