Title: Dennō Coil
Episodes: 28
Released: May 12, 2007
Genre: Scifi, Drama, High School
Trivia:
- Written and directed by one of the lead artists (Mitsuo Iso) on Anime such as: Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL, Perfect Blue and Ghost in the Shell.
- Japan Media Arts Festival awarded it an "Excellence Prize" along with Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in 2007.
- The lead voice actor for Yuko (Fumiko Orikasa) also voices Rukia Kuchiki from a little known anime called Bleach.
I don't quite know how to how to describe Dennou coil to the uninitiated. I first saw it at an SupaNova in Perth (screening in one of the theaters at the showgrounds). It was hot as hell and I sat down in one of the shitty plastic seats and was instantly captivated.
This show is unlike any other, in the same way Stein's Gate is unique and beautiful. The story follows a young girl called Yuko in the very near future. A technology not unlike google glass (augmented reality) has allowed children to interact with the world around them in unique ways. This covers everything from owning Tamagotchi like pets, to casting code based spells.
I usually dedicate a paragraph to how I feel the art style works in an anime. Dennou Coil has the luxury of being totally unique. The art style is solid for an Anime, but where it really shines is the glitch art. If you don't know what that is - check it out here. Glitch art is where an image has been manipulated to look like it's broken and it translates perfectly for a show based on an augmented reality.
The show features a host of loveable characters (for me a tossup between Yuko's younger sister who points at everything and shouts "POOP" and Yuko's grandmather called, fittingly, megagranny who makes a living off of selling illegal cyber-goods to midschoolers). They seem real, tangible and funny all at the same time. Though the show does touch on a few more serious issues like death, caring for sick loved ones, revenge, losing friends - it doesn't dwell on them.
If I had to describe watching Dennou Coil, I'd have to say it's like the difference between eating Cadbury and Lindt chocolate. Cadbury is good, but Lindt has layers of softness, sweetness and subtlety that you didn't even know you were missing out on until you had it. This makes it one of the better ones to introduce non-hardcore fans of Anime to, as it's a delightful show that doesn't cease to amaze in depth of character or animation style.
This is one of the few shows I plan on watching again.