One thing that I always feel after watching and rewatching this for the second time is : I envy Ivy’s freedom. This is mostly based on my feeling after being a 社畜 (read: corporate slave) for some time. And to said “some time”, I only just been a corporate slave for 3 years. It’s not denying that it’s a short time, or basically, just the beginning. Maybe after being shackled for something that felt already so long that I able to envy Ivy.
But of course, knowing what happened to Ivy is far worse and I don’t want to feel that. Being wanted for dead, expelled, and having huge trust issue, are among things that if it were happen to me, I’ll just give up. But in a way, it might be the “karma” of all the bad things that happened to Ivy. After all, she deserved the happiness, protection, love, and appreciation for all the thing she had been through.
But other than that, Saijaku Tamer is something that although contains some simplistic drama and conflicts, it was effective. I feel that something simple is already enough. I don’t think that something needs to be justified in the most complicated way possible, both philosophically or practically. I do think that being simple and effective is enough. Wait, did I just repeat that? Yes, but it really is my point. I somehow feel that it just a bad complaint towards anyone that think plot and drama needs to be ultra complicated.
Ahem… Back to the series.
Being Studio MASSKET’s first ever full-feature anime, it was amazing. It was simple, the animation wasn’t the best, but it was definitely a step up from just being an animation studio that works under a contract, mostly for supporting the main production. And I think they knew on how being effective. It really felt as the budget was really limited, but it wasn’t an “action” or “flashy” anime to begin with, making it’s enough to have its current animation quality. Looking at the visuals, everything is done nicely with how the visuals able to deliver just enough. Background works were just beautiful, and they went extra mile with Ivy’s design, ngl. I am content with the detail of her eyes, and the cell-shading works were just effective.
But if I want to highlight the best part, is definitely the opening sequence. The chorus drop with how the camera orbits around Ivy, showing the world she’s trying to survive, while happily running and dancing with Sora is just peak. The lyrics, hate no nai tabi e, leveraged the emotion thousand times that I always moved on that scene. Not even enough of 10 seconds but it’s the reason why I never skipped the opening. This definitely goes into my top list of anime which the opening I will never skip.
But can we just talk about Ivy and how she evolved from the first to last episode? The heavy internal conflict of having constant fear of how the world would treat her, how she constantly had trust issue towards the entire world, it’s just both sad and induces empathy. But above those emotions, the positive lookout of her who tried to seek what are the good thing that the world can still offer to her is motivating in a way. Surely, I cannot empathize of being exiled, hated, and being left alone to starve then die. But it was a world where there were basically almost no many options. Not many paths were available. But with only that, she can just… survive. There were downsides, sadness, pain, and sorrow, she just went through it. As a character, she’s one to envy. And I do envy her. I do hope that I can at least have that strength to survive this world.
A fantasy anime carries the word “fantasy” and I think Saijaku Tamer able to fulfil that part of me who want to have a different self, a different world. To fantasize about things that one would desire, isn’t that the whole point of having imagination and fantasy? Also, props to Suzuki Aina, for not only voicing Ivy throughout the series but also sang the opening theme. Watching the opening while reading the lyrics, it was just that nice.
Lastly, I just want to say that you just need to watch this to it’s entirety and enjoy every bits. The relationship, the friendship, and the companionship, the whatever-ship that I have in my vocab, it really grew within. After meeting Sora in the very first episode and being through the entire 12 episodes, the final, after credit scene of the last episode probably one of the reason why this anime is simply filled with love. I urge you, I beg you, to watch until the end, and appreciate it, and maybe, cry with me.
