<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="gb_player" align="middle" height="360" width="640"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> </param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> </param><param name="movie" value="http://www.animevice.com/video/video.swf"> </param><param name="quality" value="high"> </param><param name="flashvars" value="paramsURI=http%3A//www.animevice.com/video/params/124/?w=1"> </param><param name="videoURI" value="http://media.animevice.com/video/av_090803_kannagi.flv"> </param><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <embed wmode="transparent" src="/video/video.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" name="gb_player" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="paramsURI=http%3A//www.animevice.com/video/params/124/?w=1" align="middle" height="360" width="640"> </embed></param><param value="transparent" name="wmode"></param></object>   Vital Stats: Title: KannagiJapanese Title: かんなぎStudio: A-1 PicturesLicensor: Aniplex/ Bandai EntertainmentDirector: Yutaka YamamotoBased On: Touka Takei's light novel series (illustrated by Eri Takenashi &, Kasumu Kirino)The StoryA boy named Jin carves a statue out of what had once been a tree at a shrine that was torn down. The statue turns into a goddess, Nagi, who freaks out because her sacred tree was torn down and no one but she really cares. She declares that an array of “impurities” will now invade the town and moves in with Jin so that he can help her defeat them with his heretofore unknown mystical abilities (he can see spirits).Nagi is demanding, selfish, and somewhat tsundere...nothing particularly new about her, nor about the much put-upon Jin, although at least he's usually more inclined to amusing sardonic remarks rather than wide-eyed incredulity. His childhood friend, slightly shy but cheerful, friendly, and ultimately Normal, doesn't add much of a zing. Of the primary cast, only Zange-chan-- Nagi's sister, whose sacred tree still stands –provides much interest. It's clear that (SPOILER ALERT!) she's taken on a human's body in order to accomplish her goals, a feat which disgusts Nagi (whose 'body' was provided by the wood of her tree). Zange-chan is rather two-faced, one side being a sweet would-be idol and the other being a manipulative and conniving bitch. Like I said-- she's actually interesting.Nagi decides to take on Zange-chan's idea to accrue followers-- and by extension, their faith and therefore more magic power –and it is this goal that sucks up most of the seven episodes, once the intro is out of the way. Actually, it's amazing how little time Nagi spends on impurities and how much she spends on her own random whims, though occasionally she tries to avoid being too much burden on Jin (like when she got a job to buy her own clothes).More interesting than all four main characters combined are Jin's art clubmates, especially the two fetishist senior girls. These characters exist primarily for comic relief, although the heavy dependence on otaku in-jokes-- references to character archetypes, for example, or the entirety of Akiba-kun's persona (he's an otaku who refuses to let others lump all otaku into one, at the same time proving all those stereotypes true) –will probably be uninteresting at best to fans who aren't in the know, and old hat to some of those who are. I will confess that director Yamakan's appearance in the show was pretty cute though.All in all, I found Kannagi overwhelmingly mediocre. I've said a million times that I'm not into moe, and though I watched the entire DVD, I found little to peak my interest in the adventures of Nagi and company. IF, THENIf you like these shows, you might like Kannagi.- Kanokon (but with less fanservice)- Wagaya no Oinari-sama (but with less action, more romance)- Toradora! (but with more supernatural activity)DVD Info:Released: July 16, 2009Length: 7 episodesFeatures:- English subtitles (no dub)- Creditless OP- Creditless ED for episode 7 (Lolikko Cutie's ED)- Bandai previews- Staff & Cast and DVD Credits
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