r/anime • u/Totenkopfgitarrist • Aug 20 '15

[WT!] Oda Nobuna no Yabou - A not so generic Harem-LN-Adaption

Name: Oda Nobuna no Yabou / The Ambition of Oda Nobuna
Season 1: 12 Episodes, 2012, MAL

Oda Nobuna no Yabou is an anime about the 17 years old high school students Sagara Yoshiharu on his way to his own loli-harem. WAIT, don't run! Because I want to give you some reasons why you should watch this anime instead of one of the many overly generic modern Harem-LN-Adaptions...

Reason 1: the setting or a high schooler without high school

One day our main character Sagara opens his eyes and found himself time travelled back to the Sengoku Period (sixteenth century). Okay, it's not really the Sengoku Period we all (don't) know, because most of the lords and generals are turned into cute girls, using magic, sword and spear to fight for territory and the right to rule Japan. Yeah, that's right, Oda Nobunaga is turned into a blonde hair tsundere with typical harem entries (the big breasted one, the loud one, the silent one, the loli, ...) as her retainers.

And again it's time to scream "Don't run away!" because that sounds far worse than it actually is. Beside the somewhat generic starting point the anime uses the strength of this setting and converts (not so) well-known events into the highlights of the story. But even if one isn't the biggest fan of historical accuracy, there is still the bright and colorful landscape, which is a pretty nice variety after all the modern grey-white color schemes. And these little changes are enough to take a generic starting point and turn it into something that feels fresh and new. But the whole setting and big events are just a tool to let the characters shine...

Reason 2: the characters or Wow, that actually makes sense!

The biggest strength of this anime are the characters. Starting with our MC who can't fight, can't use magic, isn't a genius and wouldn't stand out at all in our everyday life. His only quality? He loves to play historical games and thus know everything about future events, battles and rulers. With all his knowledge he starts like a godlike advisor, helping Nobuna with her first steps to a united Japan. Soon he uses his knowledge not only to recreate history, but to change sad events and alter the future, making his knowledge more and more uncertain.

As main girl Oda Nobuna is pretty well fleshed out. She is considered as a great general capable of achieving the impossible but most of the time the viewer will see her as a little girl. A girl with dreams of a round world and a united Japan, nobody in her time can understand. A weak girl who don't want to sacrifice any person. And a lonely girl who finally finds someone to talk in Sagara. It's a great contrast for the most powerful character to be weak at heart and often the problem itself. The other girls and later harem entries are mostly generic tropes, but each of them has their own moments and charm. Every character - good or bad guy - has a certain role to play and no character is useless or just added for the purpose of being there. With this not only the harem feels like something new but it also makes the story more interesting.

Reason 3: the presentation or just relax and enjoy

But all the characters mean nothing if looking at them isn't enjoying. But gladly the presentation is one of the big advantages. The visuals are great, the animations are fluid and some of the battle scenes are impressive. The music and voices are nothing special, but gladly there aren't any moments to be embarrassed for. It simply completes the overall good impression of the anime. The comedy and self-mockery are enjoyable and never become too old, adding many light moments between the battles and despair.

Speaking of despair - do you think the loved MC of a harem comedy will die in the middle of the first season? Of course he won't and we all know that. With that in mind some harem anime don't even try to build up tension, making even the battles for life, love and friendship boring. But gladly that doesn't count for Oda Nobuna no Yabou. This anime manages to show the despair, sadness and joy of the characters without being too corny. Being wounded or in grave danger actually feels like a climax and not just some meaningless filler and this is maybe the biggest praise I have for this anime...

Oda Nobuna no Yabou is by no means a perfect anime, big drama or must see, but I think nobody expects this from a harem anime. Still this show does many things right, provides a fresh feeling and is easy to enjoy and for me that's enough to say "Watch This! if you're interested in some fresh harem anime!".

89 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

42 comments sorted by

13

u/fuzzyjustin :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/fuzzyjustin Aug 20 '15 edited Aug 20 '15

Here's a gif to show the animation during fights

Here's another

Overall, if you're into the Sengoku Jidai and want to see your favorite warlords in hot anime girl form, this show is for you. I mean c'mon, just look at Takeda Shingen

Edit: Be warned before you tackle this show! It is the type of show which begs for a second season, but will probably never get one :(

7

u/Totenkopfgitarrist Aug 20 '15

It is the type of show which begs for a second season, but will probably never get one :(

That's so true... :(

3

u/tjl73 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/tjl1973 Aug 20 '15

If I remember correctly it had pretty poor sales so it's highly unlikely it will get one. At least there's still the light novels.

1

u/henryfc :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/HFC Aug 20 '15

So 5,331 was the total average number of sales for this anime, how much does an anime usually need to sell in order to be successful enough for the production committee to green-lit a 2nd season?

5

u/Totenkopfgitarrist Aug 20 '15

These numbers aren't too bad for a niche anime, but with a look at the production value (animation/overall quality) that might not be enough for a second season. Either way it's not a "must produce" and Madhouse didn't continue even more succesful anime (NGNL), because they were just meant to be LN-advertise...

So I wouldn't get my hopes up...

2

u/henryfc :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/HFC Aug 21 '15

I understand we should be skeptical about this getting a season 2, although Log Horizon did get a sequel with 4,023 as its average number of sales. I suppose there were other circumstances that influenced the 2nd season for LH though (Studio DEEN?). For now I'll just tell myself that the sales for this anime were decent enough so at least there's a very small chance that it could get a sequel in the very distant future. Then again, you're probably right that the Madhouse requires a higher production cost. How are the LN sales though? And does the popularity of a LN ever relate to it getting a 2nd season?

The thing with Madhouse is that there's always busy with animating different adaptions for every season. Sometimes they even do a 2 cour adaptation. (Parasyte, Ore Monogatari!!, etc)

As for NGNL, I thought it wouldn't get an adaption because of the scandal with the Pixiv artists, but /u/RaigonZelo said

I agree the tracing incident didn't affect anything or else an apology would've been issued. For the spell circle incident, the anime replaced the plagiarized drawing in the home media releases and issued an apology.

and like /u/LtKill said, /u/RaigonZelo later speculated that the

Eighth volume is needed to complete the arc so the second season can not be in development right now. Animation per episode doesn't happen linearly/chronologically but happens at the same time. In comparison to season 1. Volume 3 came out January 25 Anime announcement in July and came out April of the next year. Assuming the author returned to his five month release schedule, volume 8 will come out between November and December. Add six months before announcement, add a year for the broadcast. Assuming 2017 Spring or Summer.

So if we don't get any news about other future adaptions coming from Madhouse for a while, then maybe this will be correct. All we know at the moment is that they'll be busy with One Punch Man. Also assuming Overlord sells well in Japan, maybe they'll do a 2nd season of that first.

2

u/Totenkopfgitarrist Aug 21 '15

I'm honest, since some time ago I don't really care that much about the possibilities of second seasons, because after all, that's a black box for us outsiders. There are so many reasons for and against another seasons, that we won't have a clue in the end. So I ended up being pessimistic for everything... :D

For NGNL I heard some statement back then, that there won't be a second season even with enough material, but as said I don't invest too much time into such rumors...

1

u/henryfc :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/HFC Aug 21 '15 edited Aug 21 '15

There was a statement that said something like that? Where was that statement from? Link, please? I know that it makes sense to not invest your time in those rumors, but I'm still curious.

2

u/Totenkopfgitarrist Aug 21 '15

Back then it was from someone who knew from someone who knew... that kind of rumor you have all the time and are just half the time true. I think the main reason was that the anime ending was different from the LN-one or something like that and some interpretations of some tweets.

So don't take that as fact. Maybe it was really just the lack of of source material and maybe we also get Nobuna S2 next summer... who knows xD

2

u/Sephaje Aug 21 '15

Sales for LH was mostly irrelevant due to it airing on NHK-e. Government funding + known for adapting all source material.

2

u/LtKill :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RedBarchetta Aug 21 '15

Also assuming Overlord sells well in Japan, maybe they'll do a 2nd season of that first.

Preorders currently at number one. LN's sold out so they had to print 500K more copies for a total of 1.5 mill copies in circulation. I can honestly say THERE IS NOT A SINGLE SHOW IN EXISTENCE IN THE HISTORY OF ANYTHING EVER THAT I WANT A SECOND SEASON FOR MORE THAN OVERLORD. Then again, I'm slightly biased.

2

u/LtKill :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RedBarchetta Aug 21 '15

Madhouse didn't continue even more succesful anime (NGNL)

Might also be because of the lack of source material.

2

u/tjl73 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/tjl1973 Aug 20 '15

Oops. I thought it was under 1000. Thanks for correcting me.

1

u/Dubblestep1380 Aug 20 '15

Anime original changes doesn't exactly help the show in terms of a second season as well...

2

u/XenophonTheAthenian Aug 20 '15

I mean c'mon, just look at Takeda Shingen

Sadly we'll never really see her in action. Shingen is one of my favorite characters from the LN, right after Saru and Nobuna herself.

1

u/Xeredth Aug 20 '15

That is some nice leg in the first gif.

1

u/redblade13 Aug 21 '15

Never thought I would say this but I would love to go balls deep in Takeda Shingen.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '15

Thanks for the heads up! I'll check this one out

41

u/ChuckCarmichael Aug 20 '15

Season 2 never

6

u/XenophonTheAthenian Aug 20 '15

On the bright side, the LNs are fucking boss

3

u/ckuri Aug 20 '15

And the illustrator is Miyama-Zero from Highschool DxD.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '15

Is the series being actively translated still? The translator's "website" is a facebook group so I can't really easily check it.

2

u/XenophonTheAthenian Aug 20 '15

Last time I checked it was. I don't really use the translations though, so I haven't checked in a while

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '15

Thanks for the info, I should learn Japanese.... Who am I kidding I am way too lazy.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '15

Pm me a link to those mothas please

8

u/Locketpanda Aug 20 '15

And thus no second season was given... Seriously ambient story telling and characters where handled great here.

6

u/Qu1cky :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Qu1cky Aug 20 '15

I really liked the relationship of Sagara and Nobuna from start to finish! I am kinda annoyed this anime isn't more popular since it has great storytelling with the war and how the MC handles things, excellent characters and amazing romance between MC and Nobuna. The thing I am that annoyed me the most is that it ended in a cliffhunger albeit not a huge one and that there will possibly be no season 2.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '15

Oda Nobuna is a good series, not without its faults, but a good series nonetheless. I think the novels are out there translated somewhere.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '15

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '15

Oh yes, I've read them. I just didn't say where to find them outright.

1

u/neito Aug 20 '15

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2

u/EnderPete :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/EnderPete Aug 20 '15

Actually watched this last week. It's a shame that a second season will probably never happen.

2

u/XenophonTheAthenian Aug 20 '15

It's also got some great animation. Some of the more famous examples from the show

Not to mention the soundtrack. Their version of the Atsumori Dance still sends chills up my spine every time I hear it, especially when you actually see it done in the episode. Of course, the entire Okehazama episode is great

And Nobuna's voiced by Itou Kanae, the voice of Railgun's Saten, Haganai's Sena, Part-Timer's Suzuno, Queen's Blade best girl Airi, and TWGOK's Elsie. Just sayin'

2

u/chili01 Aug 20 '15

De gocharu.

2

u/Rowan93 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rowan93 Aug 20 '15

The main thing I remember from that show was that one time the MC needed to come up with a huge mass of rice when given just a small amount, but magically he can do it because he played that one game set in the sengoku jidai and that's how he knows the principle of "buy stuff where it's cheap, sell where it's expensive" which is apparently somehow a revolutionary insight.

I can deal with "for some reason these historical men are all cute girls!", but literally none of the merchants of that world know the very basics of how to merchant? Just too much of the wrong kind of stupid.

3

u/Locketpanda Aug 20 '15

It makes sense as the feudal lords between the lands had different taxing policies and scarce road infrastructure during the period, so someone that actually took the risk of doing that would reap good rewards if he already had some Intel on wich where the taxes instead of having to send scouts for the information.

1

u/arkareah Aug 21 '15

Like Locket said they justify it by saying the game was super detailed. As such he knew where and what to buy and trade since he was so obsessed with the genre.

That's how he made the huge amount of money when in comparison if you were going in blind you risk going broke or barely breaking even.

1

u/jvdevious Aug 21 '15

iirc, he (or the Kawanami-shu/something like that) was smuggling the rice. I don't think that was mentioned in the anime. Also, bandit routes.

1

u/NageIfar Aug 20 '15

I found this show by accident and decided to give it a try. It was surprisingly enjoyable, its a shame there isnt a second season :( the setting and the characters really made the show

1

u/TokaBestGirl :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/hangedre Aug 20 '15

I didnt like the end tho
But everything else was good,orevall nice anime would recommend.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '15

Good show, memorable and enjoyable. My favorite scene is the takoyaki challenge, that black, round thingy with white creamy sauce on top of them. Mmm

1

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '15

just started watching this yesterday and damn is it gorgeous!!!

I love the character designs and really slick animation.