Aoi Bungaku
Alternate Titles: Blue Literature
Original Japanese Release Date: 2009
Episode Length/Run-time: 12
Summary:
Aoi Bungaku is the adaptation of six classical literature pieces into anime form:
No Longer Human (Ningen Shikaku) by Osamu Dazai
Run, Melos (Hashire, Melos) by Osamu Dazai
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom (Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita) by Ango Sakaguchi
Kokoro by Natsume Souseki
Hell Screen (Jigoku Hen)
The Spider’s Thread (Kumo no Ito) by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Review:
Every story arc is done in it’s own voice and style. While I have not read the original pieces I can imagine that they have remained fairly true to their stories. As a result each story is different and interesting, a full condensed version in only a few episodes. The great part is if you don’t like the style or story skip ahead and you’ll be onto a new one. The longest arc is the first one, No longer Human. But after those four episodes no singular arc is longer than three. While it doesn’t necessarily get points for -original- story telling the adaptation is very well done.
Also, on the Japanese versions at their start they had a guy giving historical background to the literature, authors and so on before the opening/episode began. I found this to be cut out of many later episodes by the people producing the episodes. If you can, I recommend finding episodes with this in tact and subtitled, because it gives very interesting information and perspective.
[starrater]