***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Super Sonico the Animation. Reader discretion is advised.***
Series Synopsis
Super Sonico (voiced by Ayano Yamamoto) is a young college student with big dreams and aspirations. A perpetual sleepyhead and a lover of all things cute, Sonico easily puts a smile on the faces of everyone.
Her schedule
is busy. Juggling school and homework along with a rising modeling
career, there are always things for her to do. Yet, what Sonico wants
more than anything is to play her music for everyone to hear. Her spare time goes into improving her guitar skills and practicing with her band, First Astronomical Velocity.
Sonico surprises many people with her dedication and
hard work. For those quick to judge, they're caught off guard with Sonico’s cheery demeanor.
Having
become part of so many different lives, incredible opportunities have opened
for Sonico. In turn, she has built a rock solid support network of friends and
loved ones who will run to her side at the drop of a hat.
The future
is bright for the up and coming eighteen-year-old. Whatever challenges she might face, Sonico will take
them all on smiling.
Series Positives
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| Super Sonico |
Still, upon discovering that Sonico had her own animation, there came a sort of intrigue.
Going in, I had expectations. This series managed to meet every single one of
them. The problem is they weren't at all high.
If you’re
thinking that this might be the thing that will get you on board the Super
Sonico bandwagon, it’s not. The only reason this show exists is because of
Sonico’s popularity (and marketability). Take the same concept, replace Sonico with an “original” character, and this series would never see the light
of day.
Super Sonico the Animation is low brow
and is not trying for standards. I didn’t go into this one expecting to like it and maybe that's the reason I’m not annoyed by its existence. I get why it got made and who it got made for. That person is not me.
With that said, this show isn’t without positivity.
Sonico
She has no
appeal to me. I will never go out of my way to buy anything associated with her. But I total get why Sonico has a
following.
This series,
amongst all the nonsense I either didn’t care about or thought was stupid, managed to make Sonico likable. She has nothing close to resembling a lasting personality other than being cute. Nonetheless, she is
cute.
For how
cookie cutter she was, Sonico did have a few moments where she was adorable.
True they got sprinkled between instances showcasing her other,
physical, highlights. This isn't something I’m the least bit interested in
giving a s@#$ about. If the series wasn’t going to put her in a bikini
every chance it could, then there would be no point in making the damn
thing.
I say that,
but there was one time I couldn’t help face palm. I mean a giant
consumed squid monster showed up…come on, really? You’re not at all trying if
that’s one of your go-to situations. The series did it anyway though.
Sonico was
one of those perfect, can do no wrong characters. So alright, you’re already
boring. Yet this was only a headache when she was around other people.
When left to her own devices, she was tolerable.
There was a
point in the series where Sonico decided to hop on a bus and travel to a city
she had never been to. She didn’t go with anyone and it was out of her own
volition. Colored me shocked when I realized “Hey, I don’t hate this episode.”
On her journey, she met new people, got to try some interesting things, and explored. It was exactly how I travel around Japan and that’s why I think I
was able to find some appreciation for it.
That and the end of this episode did a fantastic job with its starry night
backdrop. Credit it where it’s due, this was a beautiful scene.
I mean
it when I say Sonico had nothing close to a personality. I do have to
give it to the show though, it actually tried. And by try, I kind of mean
succeeded. What happened wasn’t big nor did it come close to enough,
but I was surprised it was even here at all.
Sonico was a
serious musician. She put a lot of effort into her music. She was always
thinking about it, always writing notes, and playing with ideas in her head.
She would go back and try something different to get a different sound. There were
things which inspired and motivated her. Sonico had reasons to get better.
I’m making
it come off as though all this was prevalent; it wasn’t. Still, why is it that
Super Sonico the Animation created a
much more believable hard working musician than K-On; a vastly superior show? That’s not right, but it happened.
Series Negatives
Her name's Super Sonico. I understand that’s what she’s called. Why was she called that in
this show though?
It wasn’t a
nickname, it wasn’t her stage name, it wasn’t her modeling name. It was her
f@#$ing given name and it sounded stupid every time she introduced herself.
What celebrity parents was she born to?
The name
Sonico is bad enough. But at least, you know, I was able to accept that as
whatever. Drop the Super. Or at least, make it her idol name. Make it
something her fans would call her or the media. Don't make it something she gave as a
casual pleasantry to random people on the street or god forbid possible
business associates.
You’re
already a pink haired girl, with big eyes and a huge rack; we get it, you’re
cute. Also…TAKE THOSE F@#$ING HEADPHONES OFF.
Again I know
they're part of her look. It would be okay if she wore
them most of the time. But every waking second of her existence? Piss off. On
more than one occasion, the sheer stupidity of this was mind numbing. YOU'RE
TAKING A BATH, YOU'RE COMBING YOU’RE HAIR, WHY ARE YOU WEARING THOSE THINGS?I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be this hung up about this, but it wasn’t only because of how dumb it looked.
Super Sonico the Animation is also boring. The first few episodes were beyond dull. Things ended up
happening, but neither were they original nor well done. There was a zombie
episode which was silly. There was the already mentioned squid monster moment. Plus there was a
throw away cat episode (I’m going to leave that one without context). There was even a mystery case which included an out of nowhere Detective Conan reference.
If this
series had things to distract from the amount of moronic small details, I’d be
able to look pass them.
Everyone That’s Not Sonico
I mentioned
it earlier, but when Sonico was by herself she made the show not awful. Too bad
it was rare when this happened. Whenever she was talking to her bandmates, modeling colleagues, or the creepy old guys who frequented her
grandmother’s bar, Sonico became this angelic symbol of perfection. To everyone
she was a god damn Goddess and wow was it insufferable.
No one ever
got mad at her, no one ever disagreed with her. Whenever Sonic decided on a course of action, it was
automatically the best choice. Strange considering she would've
gladly accepted any piece of advice.
The two
biggest culprits of this were her fellow band members, Suzu Fujimi (voiced by
Mai Goto) and Fuuri Watanuki (voiced by Mami Ozaki). Urgh…f@#$ these two. I
have never seen a bigger pair of kiss asses. Not once did Sonico ever
demand, ask, or even think of inconveniencing her friends. They just did what she wanted with zero hesitation.
During the
zombie episode for example, Suzu was ready to sacrifice herself to
protect her friends. Admirable sure, but they were never in a position where
that became necessary and no one wanted it either. The only thing that was
putting the group in danger was Suzu’s impulsiveness.
Also, if Suzu and Fuuri were to wear a pink wig, they become identical twins to
Sonico. There was an episode where this happened and it was astonishing how little detailed when into it. Fuuri was in a bikini at one point and there
was no discernible difference between her and Sonico. The only thing they changed was having Fuuri do a few of her character quirks while using Sonico’s character
model.
This kind of garbage happened for twelve episodes and then the show ended.
Final Thoughts
If you are
already a fan of Super Sonico, then you might be able to find enjoyment in this
show. If you aren’t, you have no business watching this one.
Sonico
herself isn’t a bad character and she does have moments that are alright. Yet, if she hasn’t already made you an admirer, this isn’t the
thing that's going to win you over. The entire series is manufactured as hell,
it does nothing remotely different, and what it does do isn’t that great.
Super Sonico the Animation is boring and
feels like an obvious cash grab. There's really nothing more I can say. Call me again once there’s a Miku Hatsune anime.
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