シャニアニ2話 (thoughts)

This is will be done in english, so spoilers abound. There were good things and poor things that happened, and I was overall dissatisfied with how the intro/focus episode of L’Antica in Shinyani turned out, so if you don’t want to come across anything critical or see my views, then turn back now. I don’t blame you.

First the good things…

I choreo used in the MV itself, I liked. It was quite different from the normal choreo used in Babel City Grace; under the rain, L’Antica looked quite explosive. Their faces and expressions underneath the rain demonstrated their will and strength amidst adversity. The camera shot to Kogane’s leg sweeping and cutting through the water at the start of the performance impressed me so much that I was looping it.

I also liked the director in a way. Mob characters in enza shiny colors generally have a good presence to them, and this character has his own charm. …分かるな？ (You know what I mean?)

Mamimi doesn’t know what he mean, though— which was funny. It was still affirmed in the follow-up commu in Shiny Song for EP2 too, which made the commu a touch comedic. There have been cute interactions in the episode too, like Mitsumine covering Mamimi’s mouth.

What I also liked was about this episode was a portrayal of L’Antica’s “hope.”

"Turn the rusted key of fate"

A revolutionary unit of the New World. The flame smoldering in their hearts becomes a 'Song', their lonely tears becomes a 'Wish'. Clad in gothic dresses, they sing on for hope.

L’Antica unit description 

That is the concept of the unit and also is the intended effect of their songs towards the in-universe audience. Through the analysis of the lyrics, the idols of L'Antica were able to craft a story and come up with roles in the setting of Babel City Grace.

Kiriko and Mamimi are nobles "who go with the flow and are oblivious to the desires within themselves." Mitsumine a "jester who is unable to tell jokes", Sakuya a "knight who took up the blade and forsook her heart in the process". And last but definitely not even the least, Kogane is a "resistance fighter who wants to change the world of Babel." Kogane's role is to set fire to everyone's hearts.

The MV story itself does not go into much detail, but Kogane acts as a fiery liberator who will make Mamimi and Kiriko discover their inner desires, make Sakuya earn her heart back, and make Mitsumine be a jester who can tell jokes.

The parallel to this was when it was raining and L'Antica wouldn't be able to perform outside to film their music video; however Kogane, just like in the story, acts as the unit's leader and "ignites the hearts of the other members (and the producer)" to convince the Director to allow them to film in the rain…

And that's as far as what I'm able to compliment about this episode. It did a good job emphasizing the role of Kogane as the center and leader of L'Antica, but to its detriment, it did not establish what the others' role in the unit and how they contribute to L'Antica as a unit that is meant to portray dark, dreamy, muddling world-views and settings but add on a glimmer of hope. (now for the bad things…)

To me, it failed in this aspect, as to me it asserted that Kogane is L'Antica and not that the five of them are L'Antica. The girls are meant to be gears that move, but only Kogane's gear is the one that is described and made for a lasting impression. Kogane is one that leads the unit, but the roles of the other girls are heavily downplayed. It gave the wrong impression to me that the charm of L'Antica as a unit is because of the Kogane that leads them. 

What about the Mamimi who is actually attentive? Sakuya who is great at organizing? Yuika's role as the "lubricant" to actualize plans? Kiriko being Kiriko and inputs her world-view? These are sadly missing in L'Antica's intro episode. While the roles they've received do indicate a bit of their individual character, it is a passive role that waits for Kogane to "inspire them." What needed to be shown is that the other four can be inspiring as well… That's what makes all five of them L'Antica.

The stakes being the tired-old "we cannot perform due to inclement weather, do we do it anyway?" is so overdone. It wasn't the correct stake to use to display the color of L'Antica. Not only that, it is a LARGELY missed opportunity for Yuika (the RAIN idol) to have her own input about performing in the rain, and they spend extra time cutting to what the other units are doing…

If we look at L'Antica events… "Kaibutsu no Uta" and "Time of Goodbyes"… These events are core of what L'Antica's purpose as a unit. Just like the lyrics in Babel City Grace, L'Antica in these events seek to relate and understand people who are in bad situations or in low spirits or other trauma AND DELIVER HOPE IN SPITE OF IT BECAUSE L'ANTICA HAS BEEN IN THEIR POSITION BEFORE.

Each of these girls have been through quite a lot before becoming idols. It's why these FIVE have the capacity to "ignite a flame in the hearts of others." But newcomers to Shiny Colors don't need to know that (yet).

I think the best route to introduce the power of L'Antica as a unit is to make the director a jaded person. Or someone who is relatable to the audience in such a way that L'Antica's performance and spirit is able to ignite a flame into the director's heart and in turn OUR hearts. The Director then can, in a monologue, talk about each individual girl and give compliment to the Producer who gathered them together.

THEN PLAY THE MV IN THE CREDITS SCENE

Make something like the director decides to work with L'Antica because the president or the producer wanted L'Antica to ignite the flame in the director's heart. We would be able to see the impact of L'Antica this way, and pave way for why they'll eventually become 283pro's MOST FAMOUS UNIT.

The storyline for Babel City Grace isn't wrong, but the roles themselves should change up in order for Mamimi, Sakuya, Yuika, and Kiriko to showcase each of their own active roles on how to "give hope to others with song."

The display of the unit model in the Shiny Colors anime reaffirms my distaste for the "unit concepts" in media, as most of the time, there is emphasis of the leader of center while the other members are more delegated as supporting or seemingly inconsequential cast members to make make the center/leader shine. It was hard for me to see what made Mamimi, Sakuya, Mitsumine, and Kiriko essential to the unit L'Antica through this episode.

Kogane's presence to me was too much. A sun that was too close such that I couldn't see just how bright the four other stars were.

I did not see 5 stars…

I did not see 5 gears…

I did not see L'Antica…