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Youngsters in lots of international locations stay up for the day they get the liberty of their driver’s license, letting them discover their more and more widening world. In rural and suburban Japan, the place trains and busses is probably not dependable or frequent, this freedom is given kind in a moped, scooter, and bike license, obtainable on the age of 16. Present anime Tremendous Cub, based mostly on a novel collection of the identical title, is a love letter to this primary flush of adolescent freedom.
The Tremendous Cub anime opens with most important character Koguma, a quiet and lonesome lady who lives alone on a meager revenue in a really rural a part of Japan known as Yamanashi. This space is thought for its pure magnificence, together with being one of many prefectures that comprises Mount Fuji. Even if 27% of Yamanashi is designated as nationwide parks, Koguma has seen little or no of it past the route she takes on her bicycle from her condominium to her highschool and again once more.
By her personal admission, Koguma has little curiosity in her world or the folks round her. She has no household, no mates, no hobbies, and no possessions past primary furnishings, kitchen home equipment, faculty clothes, low cost meals, and her bicycle. She’s an orphan, although we’re by no means informed and what occurred, and we will see the impact it’s had on her life. Maybe part of her died when her dad and mom did, her trauma turning her into the strolling useless.
The animation is straightforward and clear lower, with colours which can be washed out however not disorienting. The animators do a superb job representing rural streets, fields, and hills, in addition to the standard modifications essential to precisely painting actual manufacturers of comfort shops, supermarkets, and automobile dealerships. This actually appears like the agricultural Japan I do know from dwelling in Kyoto and Gunma prefectures.
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The primary spark of persona we see from Koguma is within the first episode, as she struggles to experience up the hill to her faculty on her bicycle and appears irritated on the ease with which a classmate passes her on a contemporary moped. Unable to shake the thought, she pedals to a close-by scooter store however is dismayed by the excessive costs (within the 100s of 1000s of yen, or 1000s of US {dollars}).
Noting her unhappiness and resignation, the shopkeeper suggests an previous, restored Honda Tremendous Cub bike that prices 10,000 yen, or simply below 100 bucks.
Clearly tempted, she takes a seat on the Tremendous Cub. And her world (and ours) adjustments. A breeze blows, and the colours wash again in, vibrant and vibrant. Only for a second, there may be an consciousness that there’s one thing magical about this previous bike. Koguma can really feel it; so can we. This variation in saturation will probably be repeated all through the collection every time Koguma discovers one thing new.
The world fades once more. She’s understandably suspicious and asks bluntly why the bike is so low cost. The shopkeeper informs her sadly that the car was in a deadly accident and that nobody within the small city will purchase it. Koguma is nonplussed and agrees to buy it. Maybe her circle of relatives loss made her numb to emotions different consumers may not have the ability to shake.
After Koguma will get her license, and carrying a brand new set of helmet and gloves, she takes the Tremendous Cub for its first official experience. The world is in shade for her and for us as soon as extra. The place earlier than she had nothing—no household, no mates, no hobbies, and no genuinely liked possessions—now she has her Tremendous Cub. She’s not above looking at it like a pet. She’s barely gotten it dwelling earlier than she’s fallen in love.
Tremendous Cub isn’t actually in regards to the Tremendous Cub; it’s about what the Tremendous Cub represents. It represents freedom and selection, journey, and a world of risk and exploration. It represents that to Koguma’s friends as properly. Koguma rolls into class, her satisfaction palpable, and loudly declares, “I HAVE A MOTORBIKE NOW!” And never solely do her friends react with shock that she speaks, nevertheless it makes her immediately common. A few of her classmates are dismissive—it’s solely an previous Cub—however others are clearly jealous of her newfound mobility.
I keep in mind once I bought my driver’s license at 15, a provisional license that had restrictions on how far I may go, who I may have with me within the automobile, and what places I may go to. Regardless of all this, it was nonetheless a lot farther, a lot quicker, than I ever may have gone earlier than. I keep in mind how triumphant I felt the primary time I drove to highschool, pulled as much as a parking spot close to the busses in my almost-new 1998 emerald inexperienced Ford Escort ZX2 (with Revolutionary Woman Utena rose crests on it, no much less!) in entrance of all my friends, and watched their jaws drop as they exited the yellow tube of horrors. I’d have all types of issues with that automobile, however on that day, I’d as properly have simply pulled in with a McLaren. Any wheels are good wheels once you’re 15 and your pals can’t drive but.
My very own world turned much more colourful that day; it’s when my love affair with vehicles began. As Tremendous Cub progresses, we see Koguma have this similar expertise. Realizing the total extent of her freedom is available in suits and begins. She meets her first pal, a assured Cub “otaku” named Reiko. Reiko has a modified Postal Cub, a Tremendous Cub sibling utilized by postal carriers in Japan. She rapidly turns into Koguma’s information to the world of Cubs and helps Koguma broaden her consciousness of her new-found freedoms.
When talking to Kotaku’s Brian Ashcraft in regards to the collection, we shared considerations that Tremendous Cub will flip into nothing however animated commercials for Honda. To date, although, I feel our considerations had been misplaced. Previous the midway level within the collection, the main focus primarily appears to be on the outcomes of a rise in mobility. Certain, the present’s aspirational high quality can also be frequent in promoting, (“use our product, and good issues will occur!”), however there are a lot of potential substitutions for a Tremendous Cub, and the collection doesn’t appear to be arguing that the Cub is healthier than every other bike.
That stated, Cubs are now not made in Japan, however I’m wondering if Tremendous Cub will drive gross sales of Cubs in Southeast Asia or worldwide, in addition to encourage youthful folks, like Koguma and Reiko, to hitch Japan’s strong and vibrant Cub subculture. The subculture facet, and the best way it brings Koguma and Reiko collectively, is a big a part of the collection to date.
Not solely does Koguma’s friendship deepen with Reiko over their shared connection of proudly owning Cubs, however by means of Reiko and her Cub, Koguma meets others. These new mates embody a trainer at one other highschool, the place her Cub permits her the part-time job of shuttling paperwork between faculties, and a classmate named Shii who requires Koguma and Reiko to do a final minute run to select up provides for the college’s tradition competition. (Reiko finally replaces her Postal Cub with a Hunter Cub after she wrecks it making an attempt to drive it up Mount Fuji.)
I personal a 2009 Honda Match RS, and after the primary episode, I wished to expire and buy a Tremendous Cub. Admittedly, I’m a Honda fan, however with every subsequent episode, my want for this decades-old scooter has solely grown. There’s plenty of Japan I nonetheless haven’t seen, and because the months develop hotter and summer time comes, there are far worse methods to see it than on the again of a Cub. I think about many 16- and 17-year-olds watching the collection would possibly really feel the identical.
With Yamanashi being the proper backdrop for these emotions, I’m wanting ahead to seeing Koguma and Reiko putter across the roads, by means of mountains and valleys, alongside rivers and seashores. There’s a lot for them to find; a lot freedom to be felt. I can’t wait to see the place their Cubs will take them—and take us within the course of.
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