Between war, ethical questions and songs, this anime released in the spring of this year totally seduced us. Available on Netflix, Lost Song is an attractive anime where singing will take center stage, giving rise to conflicts of interest, blessings and even leading to eternity. But wouldn't that be more of a curse?
Original project, this anime available since early October on Netflix, is gradually meeting its audience. An anime that seduced us from beginning to end and that we wanted to present to you in due form. A review likely to contain spoilers.
Lost Song
Original title: Lost Song
Gender: Fantastic, fight, songs
Type: Seinen
Timeframe: March 31 to June 16, 2018
Platform: Netflix
Number of episodes : 12
Animation studio: LIDEN FILMS (Arslan Senki, Berserk)
3D animation studio: Felix Film (Arslan Senki – Fūjin Ranbu)
Original creator: MAGI
Realization: MORITA Junpei
Character design: FUJISAWA Toshiyuki (Nisekoi, SAO II)
Composer: SHIRATO Yusuke
Synopsis
War is at the gates of the kingdom of Neunatia. Bearers of the power of songs, two young women will have to fight to survive a cruel fate. Sometimes blessing, sometimes burden, the power of Song is capable of miracles. But all power, no matter how miraculous, feeds on something in exchange… As the war intensifies and the people survive as best they can, the power of the songs ends up stained with blood.
Destined to meet, will Finis and Rin manage to save the World and change their destiny?
The dream song
The script on paper of Lost Song is not the racoleur or innovative kind and that's probably not why you will want to see this anime. Classic at will, you will have to take your pain in patience and let it settle during the first episodes. But do not run away, because the rest might please you! Orphaned, Rin is taken in by a former army commander and grows up in the middle of a loving family, consisting of Mel, Al and Hawkley, whom she considers her grandfather. Since childhood, Rin has loved two things above all else: singing and… eat! If eating only gives her selfish pleasure, when she sings, Rin makes people happy. And for good reason… His healing song is able to cure a fracture, blindness or paralysis! And she dreams of being able to sing for the inhabitants of the capital!But it is a power that she is not the only one to possess… And which seems to interest the high spheres of the Kingdom and which will quickly cause him some problems.
If Lost Song does not stand out thanks to an atypical scenario, it quickly becomes interesting. The theme of the songs is relatively well exploited and the songs are very pleasant to hear. Worn by singers SUZUKI Konomi and TAMURA Yukari, Rin and Finis, the two main female characters whose story we follow, are destined to meet. But before that happens, we will independently follow their lives, their victories, but also their disillusionment or suffering. The two frames will weave their thread and will eventually mingle to form one and the same destiny, to the rhythm of the songs. And that's where the scenario of Lost Song is catchy and mesmerizing.
The link song
In a fantastic medieval setting, Lost Song reveals itself over the episodes and manages to catch us in its nets. But to get to the climax of the story of this anime, you will have to meet many characters. Some are endearing, others annoying, bland or idiotic, so much so that they will become invisible. Our first heroine is young, cheerful and strong-willed. Despite a birth shrouded in mystery, Rin enjoys what life has to offer her every day. The second, Finis, in his twenties, suffers from the loneliness that monopolizes him and the strong pressure on his shoulders. Endowed with a disastrous sense of direction, he is a character who might not please you for his "silly" and easy side. However, over the course of the episodes, we learn to understand it, and even, to end up appreciating it.
Happy to be able to sing to improve the daily lives of the people, Finis will quickly become disillusioned by understanding that the power in place wants to win the war by all means, regardless of the human lives sacrificed. Which includes his own. Because the power of songs is not free and to be able to create a miracle, something is destroyed in Finis' body in exchange. The more she sings, the shorter her life expectancy becomes, ultimately hanging by a thread. Capable of giving life as well as taking it, Finis is a titanic weapon that is better to have in its ranks. Her encounter with Rin will save her from an infinite and painful loneliness, revealing at the same time the real power of songs.
Among the many other endearing characters, Al, Pony and Leobolt are surely the most striking. The stories of these will be intimately linked with that of Rin and Finis, revealing well-kept secrets in the last episodes. We will admire Al's courage and ambition, Pony's sometimes heavy humor and Leobolt's unfailing bravery. If romance holds an important place in this anime, it is precisely dosed for some characters, but seriously lacks seriousness for the couple Leobolt / Finis. Nevertheless, we appreciate these romantic moments scattered cleverly, not making the anime honeyed.
On the villain side, we regret that the big villain of this story is so predictable and unconvincing. And we will not talk about the crown prince, who despite his many efforts, does not manage to be detestable enough to appreciate his death. Nevertheless, Lost Song allows a questioning of ethical and human dilemmas, which could have been deepened by more sensitive characters and showing human behavior. Because yes, if Lost Song is an anime full of goodwill, beauty and magic, it is also tainted by harmful flaws, making its production bland at times. The lack of depth and realism in the characters' reactions is one of the main black spots. On more than one occasion, you'll be surprised to see a totally inappropriate reaction – the pyre scene is surely the worst of its kind. An anime that, in the end, clearly lacks depth and that would have deserved a few more episodes to offer viewers a better background. Because in form, it's pretty good.
The song of the journey
As stated above, emotions and realism are not the strong point of Lost Song. However, even if this anime divides by its good and bad sides, we came out delighted. The work done around animation by Felix Film and Liden Films studios is excellent. The shimmering colors immediately caught our eye, as did the emphasis on the beauty of the landscapes or the details of each scene. The wide shots are numerous and make us travel with ease, amazing our eyes and making stronger the feeling of diving into the universe of Lost Song.
Our ears also find a most pleasant soundtrack, which effectively dresses the different scenes, reinforcing the feeling of the moment. However, it is not a soundtrack that will enter my favorites, unlike the OST of Made in Abyss or FMA for example. Special mention to the song of the beginning and that of healing, which we particularly liked, including in their lyrics.
From the beginning to the very end, the plot of Lost Song is woven through encounters, feelings and songs. The anime is dynamic thanks to its playful and dreamy characters, but also thanks to its sublime animation. In its second part, Lost Song adopts a most unexpected direction and it was not to displease us, far from it! Your brain will have to hang on a bit, because this part is somewhat surprising. However, it offers a new dimension to the anime which can then afford to disseminate some sporadic explanations. More sentimental, the finale of the anime is grandiose, both sound and visual. It is also one of the only passages that really took us by the feelings and managed to tear a few tears. Let's hope that the work that MAGES is working on will fill in the gaps and continue Lost Song's journey a little longer!
If Lost Song did not convince us 100%, it is an anime that had the merit of captivating us from beginning to end. With his superb animation and the unfolding of his scenario, he knew how to keep us skilfully in his nets. And he deserves to be taken care of!
