REC is the first mature-themed anime I have seen. This however does NOT mean REC is hentai.. i repeat it is NOT (nothing revealing)! But since it IS intended for mature audiences be prepared for scene(s) that are so.
REC is mainly about the 2 main characters: Fumihiko Matsumaru and Aka Onda.
Matsumaru is an average 26-year-old salaryman (a workaholic!) who works in an advertising department in a snack-making company. Onda is only twenty and quite obviously has not obtained a degree… she is an aspiring Seiyuu (a Japanese voice actress).
What makes Rec really interesting to watch is the fact that Onda’s Seiyu is a brand new Seiyuu to the Japanese anime scene (Kanako Sakai). Rec is her first project, and the first character she does is an aspiring Seiyuu! Interestingly, her voice is perfect for Onda in my opinion. This makes Rec all the more enjoyable.
Onda is the sole reason why this anime is called REC. In Japan, being a Seiyuu is a big thing and you can actually achieve celebrity status. You can really earn big bucks if you’re famous through advertising and talk shows. The most popular Seiyuu in Japan do the voices for mainstream anime, the less popular ones do foreign movie dubbing.
Due to unforseen consquences, Onda is forced to live under the same roof as Matsumaru, who owns a bachelor’s pad. Onda some how managed to get a part-time job at Matsumaru’s company.. but the problem is they have to hide their strange relationship as it may land them in some trouble. What’s more they both need the money really badly, especially Onda.
They go through many difficulties and obstacles together while evading romance, enjoying a more-than-friends-but-not-quite-lovers relationship.
What really makes this good is that it focuses on the 2 main characters, much like Full Metal Alchemist focuses on the Elric Brothers. I can easily see FMA becoming a medivel version of Ghost in the Shell (and being really really dry) if it does not.
The characters are also well designed and compliment one another nicely, like FMA. Despite Onda’s cute and carefree appearance, she is in fact a very strong young lady who can easily take on the burdens of life. She is also rather elusive when it comes to relationships. Matsumaru is a slave to his male… umz… tendencies, And he is one hell of a workaholic, but he’s actually a really kind person and means Onda no harm.
The titles of each episode is are popular American oldie movies released in Japan in the post-WW2 era such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and were dubbed in Jap. Checkout http://gunsightone.net/RECHepburnWorship.html
As such Rec pays tribute to post-WW2 American movies and is targeted at Adults from that generation. America helped Japan out alot after WW2 industrially, and Japanese people absorbed much of American culture, including Square Dancing (this is why u see American Square Dancing in alot of animes).
Definitely worth a watch, and after the first 4 episodes REC has replaced Rozen Maiden as my favourite anime and pushed Bleach out of the picture. They are in 15 minute episodes and there are 9 in total.
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