Monday, July 8, 2013

Dawnleaf Watches Dog & Scissors: Episode 1


I was really, really dreading watching this show.   In fact, this may be the one anime this season that I wanted to watch the least (well, besides all the ones that I think will bore the hell out of me).  Thus, of course, it’s the first one that I could get my hands on, instead of all the stuff I actually am excited for.   Was my fear justified?  Well… sort of?  Not really?


Our episode starts with the protagonist, who the animators clearly didn’t want to spend too much time on (they wanted to get off on to the dominatrix novelist already), so they didn’t give him any eyes.  He likes books.

He really, really likes books.  And that’s all I have to say about him.  Because that’s literally his only trait.  When he’s not busy liking books, he’s basically the same as all other male school anime protagonists.  His interactions with the dominatrix novelist have the potential to be entertaining (in an Araragi/Senjoghara sort of way), but they’re not great.  They’re okay, but I never once cracked a smile during the entire episode.  Well, except for the opening, which is enjoyably upbeat, cheesy, goofy, and has the voice actors singing parts of it.  And his people going ‘won!’ in the background, which has made me happy ever since I watched Working!!.


So, the main character is at a café that gets robbed.  The robber has a gun, and tells everyone to stand up.  The dominatrix novelist, apparently having caught an idiot ball, doesn’t get up and continues writing.  The robber aims the gun at her, but the main character actually does something and tackles the guy.  However, he gets shot in the forehead for his trouble.  Then, this happens…


…and the protagonist wakes up in a pet store as a dog.  How?  I have no idea.  The show doesn’t offer any sort of explanation whatsoever (even the dominatrix novelist doesn’t have any clue what’s going on), so I’ll just say ‘magic’ and move on.  He doesn’t even seem all that perturbed by the fact that he now walks on four legs and pees on fire hydrants.  His only concern is, well, BOOKS!

Well, then, the dominatrix novelist shows up and buys him (after threatening the pet shop owner, for some reason).  She takes him somewhere and reveals that she can read his mind.  Why can she do this?  Haha, silly audience, you want answers?  There are no answers!  This is an absurd mystery comedy, who needs answers?

I suppose that I should get on to the dominatrix novelist, shouldn’t I?  Well, her personality fluctuates often.  Sometimes, she’s a sadist who likes messing with the protagonist’s head and attacking him with scissors (and I don’t really find doggy stabbings funny).  Other times, she’s a housewife and every man’s wet dream.


She cooks!  She cleans!  She’s athletic!  She’s creative!  She wears a short black skirt and thigh-high black high-heeled boots!  She even has a set of black lingerie, just for you, nameless male audience member!


So, in short, did I like Dog & Scissors?  Well, not really.  I didn’t find the humor all that funny, the animation isn’t blowing any minds, the music’s pretty basic (except for the opening, which has a bit of charm), and I’m not loving the characters.

Was it terrible?  Nahh, I wouldn't go that far.  It’s not really boring me, and it’s much less offensive than I originally envisioned.  In fact, I may stick around for another episode.  I just want to see what happens when the ‘mystery’ part of ‘absurd mystery comedy’ comes in to play.  Maybe the characters will become interesting, maybe they mystery solving will be entertaining.  Maybe I’ll turn into a cookie. Who knows?

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