Daijoubu

A young woman in a lab coat peers through a microscope, hoping to solve a difficult scientific problem. She’s not what you’d expect in a typical laboratory. For one thing, her blatant sex appeal belies any science-nerd stereotypes and her stylish and skimpy clothes reveal a lot of skin. But enough about CSI, I want to give my opinions about the anime series Moyashimon. As you can tell from my introduction, anyone who has seen the American crime drama(s) (which really should be classified as “Science-Fantasy”) has been well prepared to accept the three lab babes of Moyashimon. Oh, and there’s also a guy in it who can see microbes with the naked eye, albeit as cute bacteriological avatars fully capable of speech and rational thought. After being introduced in the early episodes, these series mascots and their human friend Sawaki increasingly come to share the stage with a number of other characters and the often bizarre traditions of the highly unusual agricultural college they all attend. Basically, there’s a lot that’s packed in to just 11 episodes. I’m going to focus on three aspects of this series: the characters, the quirky feel to the whole undertaking, and its sadly truncated state.

In an anime world overrun with high school and middle school dramas, college-age characters are a rare and precious commodity. Series like Genshiken and Honey and Clover are real godsends for older anime fans, because they present characters who are at points in their lives where they are mature enough to undertake real relationships and seriously consider their futures, while still being young enough to have a degree of freedom and have some fun. Moyashimon, of course, has fantasy elements that distinguish it from the two series I just mentioned, but its characters are at realistic crossroads in their lives and face self doubts that many viewers can relate to. Another advantage of college age characters, btw, is that it makes the absence of a regular parental presence, so common even in high school anime, more realistic. But family considerations actually are an important matter for a number of Moyashimon characters, including Sawaki, his friend Yuki and the well-proportioned Hasegawa Haruka. I must also note that that, as the series progresses, it shows a marked interest in experimentation “outside the laboratory.” By this I mean that Moyashimon’s bacteriological fermentation includes a notable admixture of yuri and “trap” (think Kohsaka hawking doujinshi at Comiket). Why this show has such a focus on same-sex contact is unknown. Perhaps it is a statement on human society in relation to microbial “culture” where gender differentiation does not exist?

But for me, the great joy of Moyashimon is its over-the-top wacky spirit. I don’t know if it’s based on some real agricultural school, but if such a place exists and is even partly like the one depicted in Moyashimon, it must be quite unique. No one has to resort to cow tipping for fun at this school. Students preoccupied with sake brewing, a professor obsessed with some of the world’s most challenging food, and a school festival that is beyond belief combine to create an atmosphere of zaniness that recalls old anime classics like Urusei Yatsura and Assemble Insert. Even if cute microbial entities weren’t floating around and speaking, this school would have more than enough going on to qualify as unusual. All of these elements create a world that is fun to escape to, but has the potential for serious character development as well. It is therefore especially annoying that, just as you begin to get into the characters and their world, the series ends quite suddenly at episode 11!

As the drama nears its climax, the main character must face personal doubts and troubling questions about the future. This inner psychological turmoil is reflected in a temporary loss of our young protagonist’s special abilities. But enough about Kiki’s Delivery Service (or was that Spider-Man 2?) Moyashimon features a similar plot device, the effectiveness of which is somewhat undermined by the show’s rushed conclusion. We can only hope that more of this series is created in the future. In the meantime, I have an urge to try some high quality sake, although I probably won’t be using to wash down a helping of some rotted bird or fish carcass!