PES: Peace Eco Smile
(Five episodes watched):
Is this an anime or an auto commercial? This work by Studio 4C seems to have been exclusively sponsored by Toyota, with the effect that praise for Toyota products often finds its way into the dialogue and a driving safety tip appears at the end of each three minute episode. Otherwise, the artwork is pleasant and the basic premise is kind of interesting. Whales seemingly swimming among mechanical gears are an example of the bizarre animation which is included even though it has nothing to do with the story itself. But the blatant advertising is annoying, and if I'm going to watch something that is half an ad, then the other half had better be pretty good to compensate. So far it seems that more trouble is being taken to slip in compliments about the Toyota Camry (even aliens capable of interstellar travel are amazed by it) than to develop the personalities of PES or Kurumi. With a priority like that, I doubt if this will ever be much more than a whimsical, simple tale with far-out animation and a few so-so jokes. Three minutes isn't much time to begin with, and when a chunk is bitten out of that to plug cars, not much remains. The obvious praise for Toyota products grabs more of my attention than the plot itself, and makes it difficult to enjoy these shorts. I feel that this is mostly an ad with a little anime thrown in, rather than the other way around.
Last updated Friday, August 10 2012. Created Sunday, July 08 2012.
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