Studio Spotlight: Brain's Base

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Studio Spotlight: Brain's Base

Postby blkmage » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:21 pm

This week, a young studio that produces shows that everyone on this forum really likes. Unfortunately, Brain's Base doesn't seem to have a corporate logo.

Like Bones, Brain's Base was formed in the mid-nineties, but didn't get to producing any anime until the mid-2000s. Their first production was Kamichu, in 2005. It's hard to pin down their style since they have a pretty varied number of works. But there's still this air to it their stuff that's really them. It's kind of like trying to make a serious attempt at defining Canadians (a discussion that is regularly had among us).

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「今日も晴天」 by ゑの


So yeah, Kamichu!. It's a fantastic slice of life show set in the 80s, where a girl somehow ends up becoming a local deity. It's kind of a look at what Shintoism could conceivably look like in the real world. It's also great because even though Yurie is a deity, she still has to deal with the problems that a middle school kid has (read: her crush).

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「バッカーノ!」 by ナムナム


I heard you like Baccano. Gangsters carrying out a train heist in America during the Roaring Twenties combined with an elaborate multithreaded plot and a huge, unique, and eccentric cast of characters? Hells yes.

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「紅-Kureni-」 by ぎん太郎


Kure-nai is an interesting adaptation. It's about a guy working as a dispute mediator who's taken on a job to hide a little girl from her extremely powerful family. It's a nice mixture of slice of life moments as the girl learns about the outside world and action as the guy punches dudes on the job. What's more interesting than its anime-original storyline is the very noticeable departure in art direction from the light novel. Also contains the best musical in anime to date.

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「友とひまわりと先生と。」 by もは


Natsume Yuujinchou is a lot like Kamichu in that it's Shintoism in the real world. The difference is that while Kamichu is about the novelty of the different spirits and deities where such things are commonly accepted, Natsume Yuujinchou is about the social isolation that being the only one who can see these things brings. It's a beautiful series about acceptance, among both humans and youkai.

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「デュラララ!!」 by CHRIS


Durarara!! is Baccano: Tokyo Edition for a variety of reasons, most of them having to do with the fact that Narita Ryohgo is behind both novels. In fact, much of the description can be reused: it's about gangsters carrying a, uh, gang war in Tokyo set during probably sometime now combined with an elaborate multithreaded plot and a huge, unique, and eccentric cast of characters. This one's a lot more popular than its older brother, likely because it's more culturally accessible to its target audience.

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Certainly, Brain's Base is not flawless. After all, they were responsible for Akikan, which, depending on how forgiving you are, is thought to be intentionally awful. Still, they have an excellent track record and did surprisingly good work when they picked up Spice and Wolf from Imagin. In the fall, they'll be working on Kuragehime, a weird show for the noitaminA timeslot. And further into the future? If they like money, more sequels to the above shows (except Kamichu, since that's finished) are incredibly likely (well, except maybe Baccano, because who knows).
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Postby blkmage » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:23 pm

Wondering what happened to the next thread preview? Well, here's what's happening. Technically, I've finished threads on all the studios I planned on spotlighting. Here they are again.

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So what now? Well, the above constitutes Studio Spotlight season 1. These are the studios I consider to have a decently lengthy body of work and are especially good or notable. Doing these threads was pretty fun, so look forward to Studio Spotlight season 2 sometime soon featuring some less known/good studios, where I might end up making someone upset for ripping on a studio that they like.
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Postby Warrior 4 Jesus » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:30 pm

I'm only familiar with Baccano! but it was fantastic (if a bit too violent/bloody for my liking).
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Postby Atria35 » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:43 pm

Brains Base.... I hope they continue to do excelent work! While they do have a mixed review from me, I have to say that I like more than I don't.

I've read Kamichu!- maybe one day I'll watch it. Either way, I think it's fantastic.
Baccano!- top 10, probably top 5! Love it, love it, love it! It's the anime that got me into anime. I accidentally got this for my friend instead of the magical girl she wanted (and I was sooo not interested in, though she kept trying to convert me with them), and I was hooked. Forever.
Kurenai- no. Liked the first half, loathed the second.
Natsume- reading the manga. Fantastic manga, and I'm sure that they did well with it.
Durarara!!- From what I saw, almost as good as Baccano! I loved the ties and storyline.

All in all, great studio, and I can't wait to see their next show!
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Postby Cadence » Sat Sep 11, 2010 7:50 pm

I really like Brains Base. A lot. And I've never even seen Baccano! or Durarara!!. But based on the strength of Kamichu! and Natsume Yuujinchou alone, they've become one of my favorite studios. The artwork in Kamichu! really, really, impressed me. And although I didn't think that Natsume was animated quite as well, the way they utilized stills throughout the series was amazing and contributed to the atmosphere of the show. Also, I loved the lighting and colors they used in both. Awesome stuff.

I should really finish watching Kure-nai someday. Brains Base, Sawashiro Miyuki, and Yuuki Aoi...this is a formula for awesome.
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Postby MightiMidget » Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:39 pm

I've seen Baccano! and Durarara!! and Natsume is on my to-see list (as is Kure-nai now). Cooli! And thank you, blkmage, so much for these threads. I enjoyed them a ton--and learned a heap too. =)
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Postby Falx » Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:46 am

First suggestion for a follow-up "lesser" studio: ufotable
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Postby rocklobster » Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:49 am

Might I suggest the following for season 2:
Xebec (Heroic Age, Zoids, DN Angel, DICE)
Toei (Dragonball, Galaxy Express 999)
Gonzo (Last Exile, Chrono Crusade)
Satelight (Geneshaft)
Anyway, Baccano really surpised me as I am not fond of gangster stories.
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Postby Mr. Hat'n'Clogs » Sun Sep 12, 2010 5:26 pm

Oh, Brain's Base is my favorite studio there is now. I've seen and loved all of the listed anime except Natsume Yuujinchou, as well as one OVA series blkmage didn't mention above, called Denpateki na Kanojo, which is related to Kure-nai in the same way Baccano! and Durarara!! are related.

But yeah, their stuff is pretty great. Especially all the ones I've seen.
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Postby TheSubtleDoctor » Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:26 am

I know Hat'n'Clogs is delighted with this choice, magey.

I've seen three of the titles listed here, and, while I didn't out-and-out love all three, I enjoyed all of them. The Mistakes of Youth Podcast from, I think, January made me really want to watch Kure-nai. So, yeah, Brains Base. Look forward to more good stuff from them. Hopefully they will continue their fruitful partnership with Narita.
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Thanks for doing this blkmage. I think it is a really good idea that has been well-executed. We 'preciate the all the legwork, man. I will now make some requests for you to do more of it: Toei and Tatsunoko Productions would be totes awesome.
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Postby Atria35 » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:52 am

Mr. Hat'n'Clogs (post: 1423812) wrote: as well as one OVA series blkmage didn't mention above, called Denpateki na Kanojo.


I knew I was missing something in my Brains Base love. Yes. This is a fantastic horror/mystery OVA in the vein of Higurashi. Love, love, LOVE! The animation, the colors, the style, it reminds me a lot of KnK. And I don't mind that a bit!
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Postby CrimsonRyu17 » Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:40 pm

Atria35 (post: 1424212) wrote:I knew I was missing something in my Brains Base love. Yes. This is a fantastic horror/mystery OVA in the vein of Higurashi. Love, love, LOVE! The animation, the colors, the style, it reminds me a lot of KnK. And I don't mind that a bit!


... I'll have to check this out then.
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