Your viewing journal

Gallery Fake (2005 TV): Ep 1 - 5 (out of 37)

TR56oS6.jpg
Click to expand...
So I haven’t watched anything in what feels like a long time, and while in reality it’s probably only been a week or so, with E3 flying by everything feels like a huge blur and with that in mind I decided that it was the perfect opportunity to watch a new show and to get back into the swing of things, and with that Gallery Fake is the show that I decided to tackle.

Gallery Fake is a 37 episode 2005 anime series with episodes 1 to 12 being directed by Akira Nishimori and episodes 13 to 37 being directed by Osamu Yamasaki (Director of Hakuouki 3 and Terra e) and is an adaptation of the 32 chapter, 1992 manga of the same name and winner of the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1996. Produced by Aniplex, Gallery Fake is a mystery drama series that falls under the seinen category. The setup is pretty simple, the main character Fujita owns an art gallery called Gallery Fake which consist of many fake items as well as some real ones. Being a former curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, he’s well versed in the world of art possessing great skills in regards to the restoration of paintings. With a love for art, he appreciates both the art and the artists themselves, and whether he takes paintings from people who treat art as commodities to restoring destroyed paintings, he helps those around him. This show thus far reminds me very much of shows like City Hunter, but where that has 80’s pop music this has jazz and where that has guns and mokkori busts, this has artwork, statues and paintings.

So far I really really like it. The music is effective; with a fantastic opening track and an ending track that I can’t help but shuffle to. Character designs are great too with Sara being really cute and lovable while Fujita reminds me a lot of Goto. The first 5 episode are very much introductory, getting you accustomed to the cast and crew of the series as they all fall into place. I really appreciate how in depth it goes with the artwork and the artists who made them. All in all I really look forward to watching more with the past 2 hours being super enjoyable. I can easily see thing being a favorite of mine when it’s all said and done. Watch this space.

EjvwCDR.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Gallery Fake is total gas. It was super unpopular in the West when it aired as there weren't any fansub groups keeping up with it, but I enjoyed most every episode.
 
ilmaestro said:
Gallery Fake is total gas. It was super unpopular in the West when it aired as there weren't any fansub groups keeping up with it, but I enjoyed most every episode.
Click to expand...

"Total gas", not familiar with that lol, sounds negative. I like what I've seen so far, nothing amazing but it seems fun enough and a change of pace from what I usually watch.
 
qaiz said:
ilmaestro said:
Gallery Fake is total gas. It was super unpopular in the West when it aired as there weren't any fansub groups keeping up with it, but I enjoyed most every episode.
Click to expand...

"Total gas", not familiar with that lol, sounds negative.
Click to expand...
See: "Gas, cooking with". :p

(It's a good thing)
 
009-1 ep 1-2. This is a very 70's style take on spies and espionage, I'm constantly half expecting Charlie's Angels to walk on screen. Looks like it could be an interesting series, the end of the second episode was very well done.
 
BanzaiJedi said:
009-1 ep 1-2. This is a very 70's style take on spies and espionage, I'm constantly half expecting Charlie's Angels to walk on screen. Looks like it could be an interesting series, the end of the second episode was very well done.
Click to expand...

Watched that recently too - there's a couple of pretty good episodes let down by a lot of bloat. The tone is pretty well done, although the art style is pretty weird.
 
ilmaestro said:
See: "Gas, cooking with". :p

(It's a good thing)
Click to expand...

Phew, that's good then! I had heard good things about the show and was excited to watch it, but you kind of worried me for a second haha. I've never dropped a show before so I was hoping that I hadn't gotten myself into a 37 episode nightmare! When you said gas I just thought flatulence lmao *facepalm*
 
Shirobako-Episodes 19-21

Episode 20: Man, Hiraoka is a massive dick.

DanMachi-Episode 12

Good episode. Especially the first half :p

One thing I don't remember is what Bell actually did to annoy those guys who kidnapped Hestia. Like I vaguely remember them but I just can't remember Bell's interactions with them.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
IncendiaryLemon said:
I hope there is a S2 though (Assuming the end of S1 leaves room for one) as I am really enjoying the show.
Click to expand...
Given that it's kind of a slice of life show, I'm trying to imagine what kind of ending to Shirobako would make a second season impossible. Even "nuclear apocalypse" leaves the possibility of trying to re-unite the survivors of humanity with the power of anime made by the now super-powered radioactively mutated crew (spin-off potential? or maybe that could be the anime that they're making next).

I'd say a sequel is possible but not essential. If there is a sequel I guess I'd worry that they might not be able to keep up the quality or come up with good ideas. Still, it might be worth the risk for the possibility that they could succeed in making something at least as awesome. Would a procession of increasingly unoriginal sequels somehow lessen the value of the original though? Maybe that's a subject for season 2 as well.
 
It wouldn't surprise me if they did a Shirobako sequel, or at the very least a film or two. It's sold ridiculously well back in Japan, like crazy good sales.

I have to admit, I'd be interested to see them add a touch of romance to the second season, just because it was an element that was quite obviously avoided in the first.
 
Lutga said:
It wouldn't surprise me if they did a Shirobako sequel, or at the very least a film or two. It's sold ridiculously well back in Japan, like crazy good sales.

I have to admit, I'd be interested to see them add a touch of romance to the second season, just because it was an element that was quite obviously avoided in the first.
Click to expand...
You mean all that Aoi x Erika stuff was in my head? What about Honda x Kinoshita? You're breaking my heart.

I could never decide if romantic elements could be really good (because I like the characters) or really bad (because it could get in the way of the stories). I guess my greatest fear is that they might try to pair Tarou up with someone, that'd be a tough sell. I guess maybe he could go with Daisuke, he's kind of Tsundere.

If they did introduce romance it would probably divide opinion quite a bit. Although maybe that's something that sequels should do (or will inevitably end up doing).

It's good to know that it ended up selling well, it certainly deserved to.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
FST UBW - ep 24

Well that was a little bit of an anticlimax - It kind of feels harsh to say, but the visual spectacle of Ufotable only goes so far. I feel this second half of it really started to lose its way a little after Illya's death - but that said, Shirou's final battle with Gilgamesh was brilliantly done, and with a cracking soundtrack moment to boot. Plus that final arrow to the head was perfect.

I hope the Epilogue ep next week manages to leave things on a slightly more satisfying end.

I still think that even though it was kind of expected, not animating the Shirou x Rin sex scene was a real cop-out, considering the level of the violence in the show, it's not like having sexual content would have suddenly pushed the show up a rating or something
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think any romance subplots in a Shirobako sequel would just have to end with showing how impossible it is to manage your love life and your career on their hectic schedules.

qaiz said:
When you said gas I just thought flatulence lmao *facepalm*
Click to expand...
XD
 
Lutga said:
FST UBW - ep 24

Well that was a little bit of an anticlimax - It kind of feels harsh to say, but the visual spectacle of Ufotable only goes so far. I feel this second half of it really started to lose its way a little after Illya's death - but that said, Shirou's final battle with Gilgamesh was brilliantly done, and with a cracking soundtrack moment to boot. Plus that final arrow to the head was perfect.

I hope the Epilogue ep next week manages to leave things on a slightly more satisfying end.

I still think that even though it was kind of expected, not animating the Shirou x Rin sex scene was a real cop-out, considering the level of the violence in the show, it's not like having sexual content would have suddenly pushed the show up a rating or something
Click to expand...
Less anti climatic than zero.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top