xxxHOLiC

I've started coming to the conclusion that anime adaptations of manga that are done too early are going to be awful. That's because things that make the manga special get tossed in favor of a anime writer modifications to accommodate a series that will be wrapped up in a single season or series. Such is the case with xxxHOLiC

The first story was a non-manga story, but I found it interesting just the same because the writers appeared to be taking a manga that is sorta dark and sinister at times and made it seem more so. However, I was immediately disappointed that there would be no linkage with the Tsubasa Chronicle anime, though to be fair, a good adaptation of xxxHOLiC could be done without it (but not a great adaptation). With the second episode, I saw that the writers were not going to make things darker or more sinister, but rather less so as the ring story from the manga was softened.

With the third episode, I realized that the anime writers had abandoned the main arc of the manga, "Watanuki Transforms," in favor of just telling stories from the manga (or making up their own stories) in any way they saw fit. This lead to bizarre changes in the story from the original manga that didn't improve things but made them worse. So the sweet Valentine's Day story (with a dangerous element) that introduces the Zashiki-Warashi is cheapened because the writers decided not to have it take place on Valentine's Day. Yuuko-san is changed from an all-knowing powerful seer/witch with the power to grant wishes for those who need it to someone less in control at times. Indeed, in a non-manga story (episode 17), the writers had Yuuko-san do something so out of character that I just wanted to scream.

I could go on and on about the things I didn't like and the random way the episodes were told (and sometimes retold with some changes to setting and guest characters). I'll just say that if you loved the manga, the anime isn't going to do it for you. If you've never read the manga, it will be a much more enjoyable experience.

That's not to say everything was bad. The end of episode 23 was clever in that the viewer is the customer of Yuuko-san's shop with Watanuki greeting you in the yard, Maru and Moro greeting you inside the house, and all three escorting you to Yuuko-san's chamber. I liked that. I also liked the ED animation where (mostly) SD Maru and Moro jam out on air guitars to the ED theme before Mokona joins them on air drums. Its cute and made me enjoy the ED theme a bit more.

Bottom line: No link to Tsubasa Chronicle, random story telling that removes the big arc about Watanuki (and the sub arc about Himawari-chan), and other changes to the manga story will make fans of the manga none to pleased with this adaptation. If you've never read the manga, watch this first because I think you'll like it better without knowing the manga story. Then you can read the manga and see just how superior the manga is to the anime without going through the frustrations of that revelation as you watch the anime.

Last updated Tuesday, February 27 2007. Created Tuesday, April 11 2006.