White Album

According to several reports now, Leaf's White Album will be getting an anime along with Leaf's other game, Tears to Tiara.



Plot:
White Album (Howaito Arubamu) is a Japanese adult visual novel released on May 1, 1998 for the PC by Leaf. The White Album game centers around Tōya Fujī, a college student dating a rising idol singer named Yuki Morikawa. The game deals with the challenges to the couple's relationship from the other people at Fujī's college, Morikawa's work, and elsewhere.

Premier Date: January 2009
Episodes: ?

No other information except that a PS3 game will also be adapted simultaneously. More news possibly on June 30 when the August issue of Dengeki G's magazine goes on sale.

Sources: Moetron, ANN

Reminds me of Mukodono and REC. But for now, I shall stay away from this and wait for more info, since, I usually get excited over almost everything.

Premier Date is set for January 2009: Winter 2008/2009 anime season.

Aya Hirano and Nana Mizuki have also been confirmed to take on the two leading roles ^^

Seems like a decent VN adaptation from ep. 1. Haven't had a good one for years. Well, there's still a multitude of ways for them to screw it up, but at least the cast and the music is good, and the animation quality is real cool too. I'm loving Mizuki Nana's OP for the thing.


PS. BTW I don't think the title is correct, the game isn't "ancient", it's been re-released in 2003 for PC, and is supposed to get a PS3 adaptation this year. So I guess anime is used as a promotion for the upcoming game or sth.

after watching the first episode i am optimistic about this show. Ausdoerrt said exactly the big plusses for this series: music, animation and cast. Somehow the story still wasn't as good as i hoped. I hope that they can improve on that point to make it really a catching story about the guy and his girlfriend who somehow wants to be with him but also wants to be an idol. I hope they somehow mix up an external factor that keeps them apart. Just this ain't strong enough to my opinion. and not like ii's pure which seems a bit similar. Maybe a bit of REC with the problems which featured there would spice up the story a bit.
In all for me it was a good start but to make it more interesting for me it needs to improve on the story.

My impressions of the first episode were that it just lacked something to...not quite sure how to put this but...grab hold of the audience if you get what I mean. The standard of the artwork and vocals was very good but for a first episode I just felt that there maybe should have been something for the audience to latch onto. The relationships with the characters seems a little vague at this early point but if they can get it right the show has a lot of potential given the different factors that can contribute towards various problems both the main characters face. I'll be trying to keep an eye on this and hoping it will live up to it's potential.

QUOTE (Gustav1976 @ Jan 05 2009, 01:43 PM) My impressions of the first episode were that it just lacked something to...not quite sure how to put this but...grab hold of the audience if you get what I mean. The standard of the artwork and vocals was very good but for a first episode I just felt that there maybe should have been something for the audience to latch onto. The relationships with the characters seems a little vague at this early point but if they can get it right the show has a lot of potential given the different factors that can contribute towards various problems both the main characters face. I'll be trying to keep an eye on this and hoping it will live up to it's potential.
I support this post 100%.

nothing really caught my eye about this show, its lacking that "something" i need in an anime to keep me into it... but since it was only the first episode i might give it another week

anyway, does anyone think the anime might take a... more dramatic path (bad ending?) than the manga is? the two seem like completely different stories...

I'm an alien when it comes to things of this nature... I'll be the first to admit that. However, there's something about this series that has caught my interest. An action junkie who thrives on comedy and punchlines... actually captivated by the showcase. There weren't no outstanding points in this episode... There weren't no Earth-shattering circumstances that really made me want to scream out, "Delve Deeper!"

However, the lack of these elements makes this one that I'll follow. Call me strange but this is totally reverse psychology at work! Putting out an episode... with no redeeming qualities except a little contempt... and then the promise of a little drama on the side... might be the key for this getting more fans through word of mouth.

I'm ready to give this one my full attention because I did not read the manga of this. Maybe, that'll work in my favor seeing as I don't want to be doing comparisons at this juncture yet... I'm a cart before the horse kinda anime watcher anyway. ^_^;

If I had to grade the first ep... it gets a 75 out of 100... for it's average ideals and presentation. But this grade has potential for improvement given the punch of next week's episode. Give it a chance... that's my plea for the moment. ^_^;

QUOTE (AnimeWiz07 @ Jan 05 2009, 02:07 PM) I support this post 100%.

nothing really caught my eye about this show, its lacking that "something" i need in an anime to keep me into it... but since it was only the first episode i might give it another week

anyway, does anyone think the anime might take a... more dramatic path (bad ending?) than the manga is? the two seem like completely different stories...
I haven't read the manga, and haven't played the game, but given that it's based on a Leaf game, I'd expect the ending to not exactly be... optimistic. Now, I am really wondering what route they decide to portray.

As for the people looking for the intriguing plot, I doubt there really will be one, but I'm fine with this being just a slow slice-of-life drama. On the other hand, the end of the episode was good and leads me to expect more new things.

First episode was more or less what I had expected. OP was okay, better than the other ones I've heard so far. As for the series/episode itself, I wonder how far they'll develop each character. I really want to see Haruka's plot adapted despite not being the most attractive one out of the group, but her story is really interesting.

I love Rina Nana Mizuki just continues to shine for me lately. As for Yuki, she might not be the smartest girl around, but her character played by Aya Hirano is rather nice and better than I had expected given her previous roles lately (Minato in the hideous Akane-iro, Misa in Death Note, Konata in Lucky Star, etc...). Speaking of Akane-iro, so far this does not look like it's on the path to destruction. It would be nice if they made this a 24 episode series, but for some reason I don't see that happening. I'm curious as to which of the three main paths they take though....

The ED theme song didn't really hit me. It's nice but nothing particularly striking. The artwork was nice though. Anyways, best series this season so far as well as one of the few series that I had been anticipating since last year...and it's as if I knew Eclipse was going to sub this...just seemed like their type of series As expected, I'll definitely be sticking with this series, of course with some decently high hopes for it.

The first episode was really difficult to follow, I felt. The dialogue exchange between characters seemed awkward, especially the main character's odd monologues and stream of consciousness. As expected, I like the way Nana Mizuki voices Rina more than Aya Hirano voices Yuki, who sounded more or less along the same lines of how she did Minato in Akasaka. I like how the series is set in the 80's though, since very rarely are anime these days set in the past, especially more than 20 years ago.

I think this'll be one of the best this season with Marimite.

QUOTE (Gustav1976 @ Jan 05 2009, 12:43 PM) The relationships with the characters seems a little vague at this early point but if they can get it right the show has a lot of potential given the different factors that can contribute towards various problems both the main characters face.
I would say the same thing Gustav1976 said(he said it already so there is no need to say it again), not much romance there even though their dating. ANY WHO... they might show a better side of their relationship later, so will be looking forward to the unfolding of events that come. Am goin to stick to this one, I haven't read the manga or played the game, though I wouldn't compare it even if I did read it or played the game. JAANE~

QUOTE (Juhachi @ Jan 06 2009, 01:25 AM)The first episode was really difficult to follow, I felt. The dialogue exchange between characters seemed awkward, especially the main character's odd monologues and stream of consciousness. As expected, I like the way Nana Mizuki voices Rina more than Aya Hirano voices Yuki, who sounded more or less along the same lines of how she did Minato in Akasaka. I like how the series is set in the 80's though, since very rarely are anime these days set in the past, especially more than 20 years ago.
I am glad I am not the only one who had a hard time following it It has excellent potential!! VA, Animation, and Music is quite excellent. The series gives a mature feeling that is heightened by the fact that it is set in the past. (I was wondering why they weren't on cellphones ) Yet I have to disagree and feel the awkwardness and monologues between the characters added mystery and layers which will need to be peeled.

Aya as Yuki again is borderline with me, it's only one ep in so I'll save my opinion for a bit later. But Aya pleeeeese add depth and passion to Yuki!! I can't take another Minato!!

Story wise, it feels like the show has just jumped into the life of the characters. We will slowly learn about them and there interactions as time goes on. It is a different approach which will imho lead to a lot of "oh i get it now"

Overall I am very impressed, I am captivated but do not know why. Something about it is very alluring and I feel this series might be a real tear jerker or tragedy. Definitely on my watch list now!!

QUOTE (damienstryker @ Jan 05 2009, 09:11 PM)Call me strange but this is totally reverse psychology at work! Putting out an episode... with no redeeming qualities except a little contempt... and then the promise of a little drama on the side... might be the key for this getting more fans through word of mouth.

If I had to grade the first ep... it gets a 75 out of 100... for it's average ideals and presentation.
You're an anime producer's dream. Make a first episode that doesn't really shine in any manner but that's enough to leave you curious. Your thinking man this was soooooo carefully planned out pedestrian that there has got to be something ready to explode from the surface that will eventually lead to anime nirvana. You're a true optimist I want to shake your hand lmao.

Buuuuut then there are those who are critical (like me!) who can only feed off what is put right on the plate in front of them. The term I want to use for this first episode is LACKING. The ingredients didn't add up to a suitable meal in other words. I was already to sit down and sample a fat juicy steak or cut of grade A beef piping hot from the butcher's shop -- pardon, my vegetarian friends ^__^ but the cook didn't care to add the proper seasonings to the meat. It was basically raw with no side dishes. No potatoes, peas, or macaroni and cheese?! It was almost like I was watching one of you guy's real life. Suffice to say that is not really appealing to me lmao.

With all that being said, for some reason that I cannot fully grasp, I have fallen victim to damienstryker's hunch. Yes, a simpleton's logic (no offense! I just mean the whole it has to get better thought process since it wasn't very good to begin with logic lmao) has easily swayed me. I'm now officially rooting for this anime to be spectacular! or good, eh, alright at least watchable since I just realized I've spent 10 minutes of my life posting this geezus wth?...

I'm not sure what's up with the people flaming ep. 1 >____< I thought it was average and pretty decent, promises to be something Nana-like. It's true, it wasn't anything special, but hey, I liked it. Maybe I'm just a sucker for good music/soundtrack (hey, I watched the whole Yozakura Quartet just for that)...

Anyway, just my 5 cents.

QUOTE (Ausdoerrt @ Jan 07 2009, 12:30 PM) I'm not sure what's up with the people flaming ep. 1 >____< I thought it was average and pretty decent, promises to be something Nana-like. It's true, it wasn't anything special, but hey, I liked it. Maybe I'm just a sucker for good music/soundtrack (hey, I watched the whole Yozakura Quartet just for that)...

Anyway, just my 5 cents.
You're not alone I actually went and did some serious digging after this was announced for adaptation in June...this thing is damn old (1998) so it's expected to have a few cliches and such that the usual audience may not be use to. Plus, as Juhachi stated, it's set in 1986, something that doesn't happen very often nowadays. So it's nice to see a change of pace different from all the supernatural series we've been seeing.

In fact, I could see this being the next Kimi ga Nozomu Eien if they take the route I'm thinking of. Then again, we have yet to be even introduced properly to half of the cast

I'm not actively against this anime, just for me I wish there had been something to lend me a hand getting to know the characters. It's rather difficult to describe...I just felt from my perspective that something wasn't quite right. I'm really hoping they handle the show well regarding character interactions and plotline, the potential for drama in the various relationships is pretty big but in that first episode I only got emtotional content from 2 of the characters (the guy who didn;t go to the library and the girl who gave up tennis), the others seemed just a bit off.
Anyway I'll be watching with my fingers crossed I'd like to see a more mature anime and hopefully if this is done well it'll be it.
To sum I WANT them to do a good job with this, it's like knowing something can shine brightly but not seeing it just yet.

QUOTE (Kit-Tsukasa @ Jan 07 2009, 02:39 PM) You're not alone I actually went and did some serious digging after this was announced for adaptation in June...this thing is damn old (1998) so it's expected to have a few cliches and such that the usual audience may not be use to. Plus, as Juhachi stated, it's set in 1986, something that doesn't happen very often nowadays. So it's nice to see a change of pace different from all the supernatural series we've been seeing.

In fact, I could see this being the next Kimi ga Nozomu Eien if they take the route I'm thinking of. Then again, we have yet to be even introduced properly to half of the cast
Well, hey, it's hard to find a good VN that doesn't have some cliches. The genre isn't supposed to be full of originality anyways.

But yeah, it's true that it's cool to have some retro feel to it - and I guess it plays quite well with the general mood, if you think about the world and Japan in late 80's.

W00t! Episode 2 had so many plot twists that my head is spinning, lol! Looks like this will get interesting - although I do already adore Haruka and feel bad about how the main character is just a total @$$ to her.

(I need to get that game and finish her route NOW!!!)

Wow, the plot is starting to get a bit thicker now. I have to say my gut feeling about Rina's brother isn't good, he seems rather calculating and that scene with Rina crying just seems suspcious to me.
Interesting that Rina wanted a certain somebody's phone number though.
Things look like they might come to a head pretty soon regarding Misaki though, damn that Fujiki needs to start actually saying what's on his mind, I feel i want to smack him about it abit after this episode. He just can;t seem to say what's important. AAAARGH!