Name: Nodame Cantabile (live-action)
Genre: Comedy, Music
Year: 2006
Rating: Recommended
Following the manga by Tomoko Ninomiya, Nodame Cantabile is a romantic comedy with classical music theme. We have all heard of the famous composer Beethoven and maybe can even name a few of his pieces however when it comes to classical music the very thought of listening to an orchestral performance can bore and cause many to avoid its presence. However this live-action series like many others puts an interesting spin on a topic that would generally be considered dull. Megumi Noda (Nodame) is a talented pianist attending Momogaoka Collage of music. With the ability to play by ear and a strong passion for music this particular student would have been perceived as a top student, however distaste for sheet music and playing pieces how they were originally written puts Nodame’s piano skills to a level much like her cooking and personal hygiene. Shinichi Chiaki the top student of Momogaoka is a talented pianist and violinist. Although he has the ambition to become a conductor his traumatic experience with flight has left him stranded in Japan unable to study abroad.
The live-action adaptation of Nodame Cantabile actually came before the animated version. This surprised me as live-action serials based on manga usually come after the anime. This series is a winner amongst those who play an instrument especially the piano or violin. However you don’t have to have experience with a musical instrument to enjoy this series. The manga style comedy is quite enjoyable to watch, and there are those serious moments for those who are looking for something more romantic. However what amazes me is how this series shows that classical music is a form of entertainment. I’m sure there are many people out there who cringe at any mention of classical music. Classical music has had a boring connotation attached to it however it is just another form of entertainment that can be enjoyed by people. This however doesn’t mean that after seeing this series you would be able to enjoy listening to hours of classical music but rather you won’t be dozing off in the middle of the many performances featured in this drama.
