Tayutama

Synopsis:

You ever have one of those days? You know, the kind where you accidentally crash your motorcycle into an ancient relic and end up releasing powerful spirits into the mortal world that have a distaste for the human race. No? Oh... me neither. But that's just the kind of day Ameri Kawai is having when she loses control of her scooter and in smashes itself into a land relic that contained spirits called Tayutai. It might not have been so bad if she hadn't rammed the scooter headlong into the relic while Yuuri Mito, a resident of the local shrine, was performing a ritual to transfer the spirits to another location. So, not only are hundreds of mischievous Tayutai released but also the goddess that keeps watch over them, Kikuramikami no Hime, that materializes as a young girl as most of her power is lost upon her arrival in the human plane of existence. Although Kikuramikami is able to catch most of the Tayutai, three of the most powerful escape with the intent to destroy the human race. Not only that, but Yuuri now finds himself having to care for the god that his shrine worships as Kikuramikami claims Yuuri is going to be her husband. Yeah, it's going to be one of those days... years... lifetimes...


Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 12


Review:

Just what is it about about taking a good looking woman and adding wolf or cat ears and a bushy tail to match that drives most of us anime fans wild? I... don't know... but I do know this, it works and Tayutama is no different. Throughout the series Tayutama tells a story of Kikuramikami (later named Mashiro for her love of sweet foods) in her human form fighting to bring all Tayutai's to co-exist with humans with the help of Yuuri as the son of a shrine owner who is learning to use his family's hidden powers at the same time. While this is all well and good there is a parallel story being presented here... that of a relationship between a god and a human and the jealousy it causes amongst his friends. While Yuuri simply accepts Mashiro's self proclaimed marriage to him this seems to stir up some unrest with Ameri and brings about a jealousy streak that almost destroys the human race as she finds herself unwillingly helping the enemy. This also provides a third story element that, while very minuscule in presentation, plays a big part in the overall outcome by showing the viewer that it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside, it's what is on the inside that counts. Now, most everyone in the show may be calling Mashiro a "monster" or a "threat to humanity" even though she wants to save the human race, the fact remains that she's so damn cute while sporting a set of wolf ears and the tail that it makes Yuuri's so-called "dilemma" seem more like a blessing to me.

The main downside to this anime is that while all this sounds intriguing it's put with some very stiff looking animation, almost to the point where it sort of seems completely computer generated. Although this probably is not be the case you can't help but thinking that while watching this anime play out. Even though Tayutama has it's schmaltzy plot of trying to get humans and spirits co-existing, and scripted fight scenes where our heroes, Mashiro and Yuuri, take a beating then get a second wind and destroy their opponent in one fell swoop, the main reason most anime viewers will watch this is for the romantic conflicts that are involved in being loved by a god and what the greater outcome will be. With nothing new to offer, Tayutama is still a decent show but not one that will have you coming back for a second viewing.

Tayutama (opening)

Recommendation: |Average|