WARNING: SPOILERS for episode 1.
Story:
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Sakurano Tazusa is a 16-year-old Japanese figure skater, hoping to represent Japan in the 2006 winter Olympics in Torino.
Even though, she is rather talented, her performance is rarely up to standards. Add a positively annoying over-sized ego, lack of ability to smile during performances, as well as a highly uncomfortable position compared to her rival, and you've got veritable package of stress.
As a result, it comes as no surprise that the news of being haunted by a Canadian ghost, with the added bonus of the latter sharing all her 5 senses, for 100 days, does not make Tazusa one happy girl.
Characters:
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Sakurano Tazusa - main character of the series.
Is a talentented 16-yearl-old skater. Attends an all girl Catholic (I think - based on the nuns' appearance) school, currently 'haunted' by a Canadian perv- err ghost (according to Tazusa at least). To the rest of the world, she's just prone to weird unexpected outbursts; stress before the Olympics?!
Pete Pumps - 16-year-old Canadian, who died during an artistic plane flight performance.
Due to some lucky coincidences he can't go to Heaven for 100 days. Consolation prize: haunting a 16-year-old skater with an over-sized ego. Did HE hit the jackpot, or what?
Coach Takashima - Tazusa's coach, who gives the impression of living in constant fear of his skaters' temper tantrums... and occasionaly translate Mishiro-san's 'mixed' signals.
Coach Mishiro - 'lovingly' dubbed Miss Sarcasm III.
She is part of the Comitte, responsible for choosing Japan's representative. She does a much better job at 'coaching' Tazusa than Takashima... unfortunately Takashima seems to be the only one who understands her.
Yoko - Tazusa's sister.
You know you need someone to always to voice uncomfortable truths, especially is they serve to significantly worsen your morale. Other than this, she's quite an adorable younger sister.
Mika - Tazusa's best friend;
As well as 'fortunate' bearer of the brunt of Tazusa's insults (originally directed to Pete).
Shitou Kyoko - Tazusa's ever-so-graceful, perfect beautiful, mature, you-name-it rival in Japan.
Nitta Kazuya - a free writer, apparently only good sports' journalist in Japan.
Ria Garnet Juitiev - 14-year-old Russian girl. Best female figure skater in the world.
Animation:
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Taken as a whole, Ginban Kaleidoskope has a rather average animation. Basically just what you'd expect from most shoujo series.
Regarding the skating aspects, just as elwen said, there are too many static shots, which really don't explain the oohs and aaahs of the audience regarding the skating peformance. This gets especially annoying during a scene where the audience is supposed to be staring at Ria's breathtaking performance, yet we (the viewers) only see slack-jawed spectators or Ria in a divine-like setting(obviously the spectators' perception of Ria).
Also, the character design for the last episode was positively atrocious, for anyone other than Tazusa, Pete and Ria. Misplaced hard angles in people's face giving them a weird, deformed look does not really endear the episode. Rush couldn't have been more clearly emphasised.
Backgrounds and clothes' design were rather well made... though why Italy's representative earned herself only one set of clothes, while everyone else got at least two... lazyness maybe?
Voice acting was good though, no desyncronization... or well, none that I saw (and I have this weird tendency of spotting it).
Sound:
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OP - Dual by YeLLOW Generation
I clearly disliked it, on first sound, but during these 12 episodes, it kind of grew on me. Still, even after having listened to it quite a few times I still don't like it very much.
ED - Energy by Inoue Marina
Very nice, I still listen to it quite a few times... but on the whole not upbeat enough for my general musical taste.
Background music - mostly well-known classical pieces, though I couldn't really name all of them (but I can definitely hum them for you *winks*).
There is one very catchy jpop song, which I really liked. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find its name. It generally plays, as part of the mood, signifying daily activites showed on a kind-of fast-forward (i.e. Tazusa keeps practising various bits of her programme).
Voice acting - Tazusa's voice actress did an amazing job. She just conveyed all her emotions very well. I LOVED listening to her (even if it was her rants).
Unlike elwen, the atrocious English is not the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking about the sound of this anime, but it was definitely part of the entertainment. You'd be amazed how badly one can maul the English language.
Value:
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Hmm... none really. Everything's been done before, in a much better way.
Enjoyment:
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Contrary to what I've ranted about up until now, I quite enjoyed watching this anime. It's true, none of the characters beside Tazusa are being given decent characterisation (even Pete is mostly portrayed through Tazusa's eyes), and the story in itself is not really something oh-so-exciting.
Nevertheless, it has to be said, that static storyline, is most definitely NOT what comes to my mind when thinking of Ginban Kaleidoskope. For its 12 episodes, things moved fairly fast, sometimes even too fast (though not much).
Still, I can't remember an anime which has amused me so much. Tazusa can be quite resourceful, when deadset on exorcising herself. Add to this, outsiders' perception of their (Tazusa and Pete) interraction, and you have one hillarious show (in my opinion).
Conclusion:
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It's a shoujo-fan's must see, with a dash of romance, and lots of humour. Don't expect a life-changing experience.
