Bartender

The anime “Bartender” is about a bartender with unrivaled cocktail mixing skills. He recalls every drink he's ever served to someone, and he's an expert on all things alcoholic. He can figure out which drink is best for his guest based on their behavior and outfit.

Bartender takes you on a sophisticated journey through the realm of alcoholic beverages. The show has a slice-of-life theme and differs from other anime shows, which are either boisterous in tone or rely on accentuated components to tell their tales. Bartender takes its time to immerse you in an appealing and sensual setting with its overtones, like Antique Bakery for pastries and Yakitate Japan for bread. However, it lacks wit and flair.

Ryu Sasakura, our primary character (and occasionally hero), is a bartender whose ability with cocktails is so tremendous, so exact, that he is referred to as "serving the Glass of the Gods." He works alone as a bartender at Eden Hall, a high-end restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo. It's the embodiment of the upscale bar — massive wooden doors, a modest plaque with its name that's easy to see if you're not looking. It's all harsh oak and moody lighting on the inside. There's an enormous storage of bottles behind the bar that reaches the ceiling and is polished to a high sheen.

The story of the glories of alcohol in Bartender is told in an episodic fashion. In each episode, someone (or occasionally a pair of people) walks into the bar amid a personal crisis. Ryu notices this with his almost Sherlock Holmes-like powers of observation and concocts the right type of drink to soothe the nerves.

Is a man concerned about losing his job? What he needs is a Hemingway-style daiquiri. A guy regrets never reconciling with his lost love? Ryu serves him with a margarita. Is a professor of fluid dynamics depressed because he lacks worldliness? That dude is in desperate need of a Black Velvet.

The show doesn’t promise action or adventure. The overall tone is casual and laid back, as if one were attending a quiet, unfrequented tavern with a purposefully subdued ambiance. For such short and silly stories, the storytelling is somewhat adventurous.

Throughout Bartender's episodic array of episodes, various characters are featured, each dealing with an intricate method of how their back story, personality, or particular scenario complements the respective cocktail of choice. The series gives its characters a lot of attention, but it doesn't develop them over time so that you can connect with them. The show’s only main character is Ryuu, who is seen in all episodes, so let’s just talk about him.

Ryuu Sasakura is a young bartender/bar owner who has an uncanny ability to read people's minds and feelings, as well as what they desire (and frequently need) to drink. He's the ultimate bartender because of his ability and his friendly and honest demeanor.

He’s always willing to help those that enter his establishment. Ryuu manages the bar by himself, and Eden Hall was his first bar, though this information was not initially disclosed. Before opening Eden Hall, he worked as an assistant to a senior bartender, which provided him with the necessary skills.

Throughout the anime, Ryuu keeps his cool and makes a valiant and earnest effort to help his clients. He is well-versed in the history of the beverages he serves. Ryuu is also known for serving the "Glass of the Gods," which made Eden Hall a pleasant destination for customers looking for the cuisine of their dreams.

The show’s ambiance is pleasant and appropriate for a bar. However, since there is no variety, you will have become accustomed to seeing the same compositions repeatedly. They shouldn't have used CGI for the beverages because they look odd.

There is a lot of CGI, and while none of it has the horrible cluelessness that plagued a lot of early-2000s anime. However, it's noticeable. The backdrop and bar are appealing, but the character animation is small. Except for the description of the drinks, which all appear to be excellent, this is not a visually stunning piece.

Bartender's strongest feature is its music. The jazz and piano music fits the bar's atmosphere perfectly – it's just what you'd expect from a quiet drinks lounge. The opening scene is off, but the finale is spot on, with live-action footage of a bartender instructing you how to make a new drink each episode while musicians perform. It could be worthwhile to purchase this soundtrack.

Is It Worth Watching?

Bartender follows a set of rules. Each episode begins with a fresh character experiencing the effects of their lives' obligations. They always seem to end up at Eden Hall for a drink. But it's not just any drink. It must be the "correct" one. Ryu is able to help his customers in making critical decisions by bringing them the right drink. The show's attention to detail is what makes it so good. Ryu's cocktails are thoughtful and methodical, taking into account how the drink was made, why it was named that way, and why people consume it. All these elements are arranged logically.

This anime is not for everyone. If you are looking for some thrill, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. On the other hand, if you are a sucker for a slice of life, Bartender will intrigue you for sure.

Bartender isn't exactly riveting, but there’s a lot of slice of life. The show is best suited to those who enjoy a decent character study without being bogged down in needless nonsense. Overall, due to the episodic nature of the series, no character is allowed to stay at Eden Hall for too long. Ryuu is fun to see on screen, and he adds a nice touch to each episode.