Dance Dance Danseur

Dance Dance Danseur didn't have it easy with me because ballet isn't exactly a topic that I find interesting. About twenty years ago, I saw Swan Lake at the National Theatre, and although it was a decent performance, it didn't really resonate with me. Right from the trailers, I was annoyed by the character design, which reminded me of another poorly executed dance anime, Welcome to the Ballroom. It was those unnaturally long necks and limbs again, which just didn't look right. Then came the first episode, and I was really impressed by a particular dance performance. I found something to like about the series and a reason to keep watching. Simply put, the depiction of ballet itself, the way every movement is captured, how the emotions are expressed through it, and how wonderfully it is accompanied by music, visuals, and colors, is outstanding. Unlike in Ballroom, there is a lot of actual dancing here, and the series manages to sell ballet even to those who aren’t interested in it by making it look truly magnificent and enchanting. Unfortunately, there were other things besides the long necks that didn't sit well with me, that is, the characters and the story. The romantic triangle and the way it was resolved didn't appeal to me. I still don't quite understand Miyako’s take on this. Luo was a particularly unlikable character. The series did a good job of explaining his motivation, past, and everything that influenced him, but I still couldn't find a way to like him. I could understand him, even pity him, I just couldn't like him. What I admired about Junpei was his enthusiasm and the way he put emotions into everything, however, sometimes he seemed like a loud and almost annoying hero from an average sports anime or shōnen, so it took me a while to relate to him. There were several moments in the story when I didn't quite understand the characters’ decisions. I knew what the authors were aiming for, but I couldn't personally agree with them. On the other hand, I'm sure there will be many people who won't have a problem with this and who will see themselves in the characters. For me, Dance Dance Danseur is definitely an above-average anime, better than Welcome to the Ballroom. It's a great advertisement for ballet, but still, due to the issues I mentioned, it won't get more than 6.3/10 from me. (06/18/2022)