STORY
This series, which basically translates to Princes of Song, is an anime series that has an interesting history and impact in Japan. Prince-Samma started life as a visual novel game that ended up spreading into other media such as manga, stage plays and anime series, music cds and an animated movie which is what I’ve reviewed.
Uta No Prince-Samma is the most unexpected thing I’ve seen in an anime movie, it is literally a concert movie. The movie brings forward plot lines from the anime series. The anime features three bands (Starish, Quartet Night and Heavens). Over the course of the concert the bands stop several times to deliver in character exposition which fills the viewer in on how this mega concert between these three bands came to be and how many of the band members came together. There is a surprising amount of character shown here and it genuinely feels I’m watching a concert come interview. The characters describing their passion for music, their appreciation of the audience and about their camaraderie feels real.
While I’m not a fan of J-Pop, especially not boy band, bubblegum music about feelings I have to admit the songs are really well sung and the music is bouncy, energetic and catchy. It’s not my thing at all but I can see why it appeals so much to a particular demographic. Amazingly given that so many of the songs are about love, feelings and friendship they manage to somehow not sound all the same as there are some pieces that definitely stand out.
ART
The visuals of the movie are all cgi, something that has become a staple in anime in recent years. I honestly lament the lack of hand drawn animation these days when I consider the masterpieces that I’ve had the pleasure of watching since I was a youth in the 70s. But with that aside, I think that cgi was the best way to present this material. The movie works very hard to make this look like a grand pop concert that could compete with any pop band in the real world. The show is complete with costume changes, pyrotechnics, laser lights, transforming stages and costume changes. The character and costume designs are attractive and highly detailed. I’ve seem many a concert movie in my day but the cgi production allows for camera moves that definitely give it a look more like a film, like say the Pitch Perfect Series, as opposed to a true concert movie performance. There are some nice fanciful details like floating stages and hoverboards as well as realistic ones like the performers breathing heavily after a demanding number.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Uta No Prince-Samma is a jaunty and colorful fantasy concert experience, served up as the real thing. Though a it can be very talky at times for my tastes for a concert experience, it does serve the story. Fans of J-Pop should find this enjoyable.
4.5 out of 5
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