OP: 「Allegro Cantabile」 by SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH

• A young boy is with a conductor who is rehearsing with an orchestra. The boy wanted to become the conductor’s apprentice but was kicked out instead.
• In the present, this young boy we find out to be Chiaki Shinichi, who is living in Japan and is a student attending Momoagaka Music Academy, but finds all the musicians lacking in talent. We also find out he is the son of a famous pianist Chiaki Masayuki.
• Whilst in lesson, he gets smacked by his teacher with a harisen because Chiaki stops abruptly. The teacher discovers a music score in his sheets, realising Chiaki wants to become a conductor. Chiaki however complains back to his teacher causing him to walk out.
• In fact, Chiaki wants to become a conductor ever since he saw Sebastiano Viera’s performances.
• Walking down the hallway, he hears someone playing Beethoven’s piano sonata Pathétique. At first he thought it was unrefined, but finds it really good. Before he can find out who is playing, he is stopped by his friend Saiko.
• Saiko thinks that Chiaki should apologies to his teacher, but he claims that he doesn’t want to become a pianist and that the only teacher for him is Viera. Saiko suggests that he goes study abroad but knows that he is afraid of airplanes, but Chiaki also happens to be afraid of boats.
• That night, Chiaki’s neighbour finds him sleeping outside. The next morning, he awakens to a girl playing the piano in a trash ridden apartment. Seeing that he has woken up, the girl remembers Chiaki’s name. Running outside, he finds that the girl is his neighbour.
• At school later on, the girl, Noda Megumi, called Nodame by everyone, tries to return his belt that he left behind. But Chiaki tries to walk away from her saying that she made a mistake.
• Chiaki finds out that he has a new instructor, Tanioka Hajime, who happens to be the same instructor for Nodame. But soon discovers that he teaches the students who are falling behind.
• At home, Chiaki is considering quiting music, but his train of thoughts are broken after smelling the odor from next door’s garbage. Reaching his limits of seeing the garbage reaching his side, he goes to Nodame’s apartment and helps her clean up. After finishing he hears Nodame playing the piano. Despite her having big hands, he finds her rather good. However he notices that she missed a note and starts instructing her.
• The next day, Chiaki finds out that Tanioka wants him to play a duet with Nodame but refuses to do it. But Tanioka convinces him by saying that its like teaching a junior. What they will be playing is Mozart’s Sonata in D Major, but the pair don’t know the piece, so they take 8 minutes to read through it. Though Nodame repeatly makes mistakes as it’s revealed that she knows a piece after hearing it but can’t read music sheets.
• Later that night, Chiaki goes over to Nodame’s apartment to practice, but Nodame refuses to let him in. The reason is because her apartment is messy again. Nodame says that she needs another week to remember, but Chiaki decides to play it for her so she can remember by listening instead.
• The continue to practice until Chiaki says to take a break but notices Nodame’s hair stinks, which results in him washing and drying her hair. Nodame feels she’s being treated like a queen, but Chiaki feels like he’s grooming a dog.
• When the time comes for the pair to play for their instructor, Chiaki tells Nodame to play however she wants. He feels that she has something special and only he can match her pace.
• As the two are playing, Chiaki remembers when his parents got divorced, he was supposed to head back to Japan with his mother. At that time, he told Viera that he’d definitely become a conductor and make him a student when he becomes older. Viera responded saying that he’ll be waiting as Chiaki is his student. Chiaki recalls that Viera said that it’s rare for a performance to make someone tremble inside. Almost giving up his dream yesterday, he now feels this tremble inside of him.
• After they finish playing, Tanioka congratulates Chiaki on crossing over the hurdle, as it turns out this was a lesson for Chiaki.
• On the way home, Nodame expresses her feelings towards Chiaki and wonders if it’s love. Chiaki denies it but Nodame is lost in the thoughts of love. Chiaki whispers in his head to Viera that he still has something to do in Japan.

Ending Theme

ED: 「こんなに近くで…」 (Konna ni Chikaku de…) by Crystal Kay

Preview:

Impressions

When I first heard about this, I didn’t think much of it, but after watching this I like it very much. It has that whole Honey and Clover feel to it, and it does since this is produced by JC Staff and directed by Kasai Kenichi, both who worked on Honey and Clover. So it does have it’s funny moments and it’s serious moments so I do hope that later on there will be more of both, but so far since we only have 3 main characters (Chiaki, Nodame, and Saiko) that may prove to be rather difficult.

Having not read the manga, I find Nodame a bit airheaded, but that’s a charming point about her plus it adds to the comedy. Chiaki is a bit different as he is quite serious about his dream of becoming a conductor, but it makes me wonder why he continues to learn the piano. Though I think that will be answered later and most likely related to his father. Honestly so far with Viera, with a name like that he’s bound to be of European background, but why does he look Japanese? Though that may just be the art style.

The OP and ED I like very much, but I like the ED song much more. Just like Honey and Clover, the preview is shown within the ending sequence, but also the animation sequence is composed of silhouettes. I like how the colouring of the silhouettes are different which show how different Chiaki and Nodame are.

Well I enjoyed this very much and chances of blogging this are pretty high.