Regardless of my intense private aversion to alcohol (for no different purpose than that it makes me nauseous and I hate the style), I nonetheless love the unique 2006 TV anime adaptation of the Bartender manga. In the identical manner that Relaxed camp is meant for followers who don’t plan to courageous the weather and are solely protected by a skinny tarp and a drafty sleeping bag, BartenderThe impeccable environment and reassuringly theatrical presentation attraction to those that do not plan on stepping right into a darkish bar.
These eleven episodes of peculiarly offered animated sequence about soul meals (or drink) display the magnetic storyline that any true “grownup” anime can obtain about any topic, whether or not the viewer is excited by it or not. Bartender (2006) is a set of free tales about adults of all ages, their work and relationship issues, and the way a second of solace in Ryu’s bar, if given the suitable cocktail, is sufficient to heal their psychological wounds.
Ryu compares the occupation of bartender to that of a health care provider, as a result of bartenders can by no means lie. Whereas the alcohol they serve might be poison in massive doses, in cheap doses it’s like drugs. On this earlier sequence, the main target just isn’t a lot on Ryu, however on his prospects and their tales. Every episode is offered like a brief play, with narration, spotlights, and breaking the fourth wall, which provides to the theatrical environment. Even the CG is used quirkily and tastefully to animate the fluid dynamics and the dimly lit bar set. As Bartender If it may very well be described in a single phrase, it will be “trendy”. I’d virtually take into account displaying it to my extraordinarily animation-cynical however Scotch whisky-loving father.
How does this contemporary model of Bartendernow with subtitle Glass of Godexamine? Sadly, not nicely. Gone are the narrative and different theatrical facets of the presentation and construction. That is not a set of vignettes with characters dipping out and in of one another’s tales, however a extra serialized iteration. Whereas it shares lots of the similar characters and conditions, the main points are remixed and reinterpreted in maybe essentially the most bland and uninspired manner attainable. Scenes that had been as soon as offered in flashbacks or by means of intelligent transitions at the moment are instructed in flat dialog, bereft of their which means and emotional efficiency.
Take for instance the backstory of secondary protagonist Miwa. Within the 2006 sequence, Miwa had your entire second episode to herself to inform her tragic household historical past and the enterprise tensions between her father and grandfather. It included her failed try and reconcile the truth that she blamed herself for her household issues as a younger baby and the eventual unintentional loss of life of her father. This was a ravishing, emotionally intense episode with a wonderful and highly effective payoff when Ryu helped her mend her relationship along with her grandfather and resolve her misplaced guilt. Though Miwa would seem in a lot of the episodes, virtually as a co-host, she moved on along with her life.
The brand new model of Miwa is the principle instigator of Bartender: Glass of God‘s new ongoing plot, and he or she’s simply not that fascinating. For one, whereas her character design continues to be interesting, it looks as if it was designed by the committee to be as bland and generic as attainable. This can be a downside with a lot of the different characters – there’s little to tell apart them from their contemporaries within the many different mass-produced mid-budget schedule-filler anime. Bartender: Glass of God has no visible id, which is tragic as a result of the unique design for Miwa was strikingly stunning.
Finally, Miwa’s historical past is not addressed till late within the new sequence, however it may simply be a footnote to the dearth of emotional weight it is given and the extremely flat manner it is dealt with. If there was a phrase to explain the expertise of Bartender: Glass of Godthen it will be “flat”. Like a cocktail, all of the substances are there, however they’re combined carelessly and sloppily, leaving no fizz and solely a touch of the flavour and spice of the unique.
Whereas the unique model of Ryu was principally a plot ingredient, with just one or two episodes delving deeper into his historical past and persona, Glass of Godwe spend much more time with him exterior of the bar. This does have the impact of humanizing him to some extent, however it additionally strips him of his mystique, making him a extra generic “hardworking, good man” stereotype. As an alternative of seeing Ryu residing in a comfortable, darkish, barely mysterious twilight world, we see him wandering round in broad daylight and taking day journeys. Whereas these scenes are nice sufficient, they do little to reinforce an in any other case remarkably peculiar, workmanlike manufacturing. There is not any inspiration right here.
Studio FreeThe one earlier manufacturing credit score is for 2023 The Iceman and his Cool Feminine Colleaguewhich was acquired pretty poorly total. Free‘s view on Bartender is simply that – mediocre. It’s not horrible; it held my consideration, however it not often impressed me. If I hadn’t already seen the 2006 model, I most likely wouldn’t have sought it out after watching the brand new model; I most likely wouldn’t have completed watching it Glass of God after the primary few episodes.
Though there are a lot of similarities between the 2 seasons, there are lots that Glass of God Categorised as a remake quite than a separate entity, almost each manufacturing selection—from character designs to backgrounds to lighting, music, construction, and storytelling—is uninspired and bland in comparison with the unique. I needed to love this as a lot as I did the 2006 model. Nonetheless, I can solely advise potential viewers to go up this imperfect model Glass of God and search for the superior mix of the unique – it is wonderful what a talented pair of arms can produce with the identical fundamental substances.
