Dennou Coil: Weird in a Good Way

July 6, 2007 in Anime by Tom Langston (calaggie) | No comments

Over the past few days, I watched the first six episodes of Dennou Coil and have found it interesting and amusing at the same time. This sci-fi adventure anime takes place sometime in the future, one where glasses were produced that allow the user to see an augmented reality and manipulate the cyberspace around them. Seeing a black “No File” segment on a fence in real life would be really strange but this is an anime and I would have to wearing those special specs to see it anyway. Then again, being chased by Satchii with its creepy smiling face and grey claw hands would be stranger.

The fact that sixth-graders have hacker-level knowledge gives the series a lighter tone as well as Isako’s manipulation of the Hacker Club boys. Yasako’s grandmother runs a technology accessory shop and she is one of the most technologically adept elderly people I have seen in an anime. I feel bad for Densuke, Yasako’s cyberpet, even though I know I shouldn’t because (1) it is a character in an anime and (2) that character is a cyber animal, not a flesh-and-blood one. I would feel somewhat odd if I had to update my pet’s software. The Mojos that Isako controls are cute when they squeak and try to move things because they look like dust bunnies with stick figure arms and legs, but they can also fire beams out of their eyes if needed so I wouldn’t get too close.

Among all this technology stuff, there are elements that are based in traditional Japan. The only places Satchii cannot enter are shrines, schools, parks, hospitals and houses – basically anything that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Post. Also, the metatags that are used look very much like sticky paper tags Shinto priests use against spirits. The BGM sounds very nice and I like the character designs – simple and clean, leaving the viewer to focus on the story.