Nokotan: A Deer Girl Adventure That Misses the Mark
If you were online around June, you probably heard the catchy tune "Shikanoko nokonoko koshitantan." This earworm is from the anime "My Deer Friend Nokotan," an adaptation of Oshioshio's manga. Although it started strong on Crunchyroll this summer, it ended much more quietly.
Meet Nokotan
"My Deer Friend Nokotan" revolves around Noko Shikanoko, affectionately called Nokotan. She's a deer-girl whose chaotic personality disrupts the life of Torako Koshi, aka Koshitan. Koshitan is an ex-delinquent turned model student who wants to keep her past a secret. The series is set in the "deer club," a quirky setting for all the comedic chaos.
Humor and Characters
The humor in "My Deer Friend Nokotan" is all about the "wtf" moments. Each character has a unique personality. Nokotan is a deer-girl, Bashame is a rice fanatic, and Koshitan is the "normal" one. Many jokes revolve around deer, like Nokotan's love for deer biscuits and her antics with her antlers.
This random humor isn't for everyone, and the series often executes it poorly. Gags are too long or overdone, making them less impactful. The main joke, Nokotan's deer-girl nature, gets old quickly. After the first few episodes, it becomes tiresome.
Technical Aspects
Despite its flaws, the series has some technical merits. The character design blends moe style with the show's extravagant humor. The voice acting is top-notch, especially Megumi Han as Nokotan, who delivers a wide range of tones.
WIT Studio put in effort to support the comedy visually. The experienced director, Masahiko Oota, known for "Gabriel Dropout" and "Yuru Yuri," ensures the visual style complements the humor. The 3D deer, which stand out in a good way, are a nice touch.
Adaptation Choices
Some adaptation choices are questionable. The pacing of gags, which work in the manga, often drags in the anime. The humor that fits in a single manga panel feels stretched out in the anime.
The writing also struggles to adapt the manga's content into episodes. The repetitive jokes about Nokotan's nature wear thin, especially since many come from the manga's early chapters. This makes later episodes feel stale.
Character Integration
The anime introduces some characters earlier than the manga, like Bashame and the student council members. While this brings them into the spotlight, it often feels forced and underwhelming. Bashame's character, in particular, feels underused despite her frequent appearances.
Internet Memes
One of the best things "My Deer Friend Nokotan" has produced is internet memes. The catchy opening song haunted our brains, and the "wtf" scenes are meme-worthy. Koshitan's dance parodying Peter Parker in "Spider-Man 3" is a standout.
Verdict
"My Deer Friend Nokotan" started with unexpected hype but ended in anonymity. Beyond its initial concept, the series offers little. The pacing and writing issues only highlight its shortcomings. While some original gags and episodes are enjoyable, it's hard to see it as anything but a poorly executed adaptation of an uninspired manga.
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