Takt Op. Destiny “A Symphony of Sci-Fi and Music” Is there a glut of anime of every type and style? It is also safe to assume that if you are reading this blog, you are well aware of the many genres and themes that exist in anime, so there is no point in listing them here. I will say that isekai, shonen, and rom-com anime dominate the spectrum, with comedy action and ecchi being the driving forces. Honestly, I am a fan of all of those, and when they add music to the mix, that makes it better. Having dined on a steady diet of the Macross franchise, though, I am always up for an anime that mixes sci-fi with a dose of music, so I had high hopes for the fall 2021 release of Takt Op. Destiny is an anime featuring a plethora of music presented against the backdrop of music-hating aliens. Some fans will say it didn't live up to the hype, but that depends on which fandom site potential viewers glean their reviews from. Maybe it didn't; nevertheless, I'm always in the market for the next escape, and having sat through Azur Lane: The Animation, an anime panned for its thin storyline and the fact it's associated with a video game, I figured I'd take on Takt op Destiny. Takt op Destiny has its detractors for a myriad of reasons, the first being that, like many game-related anime, the stories can be a little weak. I'm looking at you, my beloved Girls Frontline. The second is that the actual game was unreleased at the time of release, so it may have appeared as a cash grab to some. For me, it was the fact that I might never see a second season—a missed opportunity, if you ask me. Did you ask me? No, well, you're reading, so just follow along. Sheesh! Takt Op, also known as takt op. or tákt: op., is a mixed-media project by Bandai Namco Arts and DeNA that focuses on classical music. The project includes an anime television series and a mobile game. On March 26, 2021, Bandai Namco Arts and DeNA announced the Takt Op project. The project demonstrates the power of music in multiple forms, including an art exhibition showcasing the power of Musicarts. The project also includes an illustration novel released in 2022. MAPPA and Madhouse created Takt Op. Destiny. It aired between October 6 and December 22, 2021. The series is divided into 12 episodes, each lasting 23 minutes. The series was rated PG-13, suitable for teens 13 or older. Ouji Hiroi was the mastermind behind the project, with LAM doing the original character design, Reiko Nagasawa as the character designer, and Kiyoko Yoshimura as the series composer. The anime series' genres are action, fantasy, and sci-fi, with music as its theme. Game Studio created the mobile game titled Takt Op. Symphony. It was initially scheduled to be released in 2021 but was released on June 28, 2023. Takt Op Symphony has achieved impressive results, with revenue reaching $3,400,000 (July 2023) and downloads reaching 500,000. The game is a mobile RPG where the player plays as the Conductor and conducts the "Musicart" girls to battle against the D2. So what are the D2? According to the anime, “One night, when many shooting stars rained down, many beautiful stones fell onto this planet. These stones had a mysterious power that no one had ever seen before. People all over the world tried to study them and discover their secrets. But then, on another night filled with shooting stars, many years later... " “This time, onyx stones as dark as night rained down. Many terrifying creatures appeared from the black stones, sending everything into chaos and destroying this world's people, animals, flowers, and trees. Just when everyone was about to give up hope, they appeared.” The opening exposition from episode one explains the entire story in one drop, and paying close attention to it is essential. Don't do as I did. I became sidetracked and had to rewatch it to determine what was happening. In the first episode, the mother speaks to her daughter via a picture book. To her daughter, she explains the Musicarts and the Conductors. The duo possesses the power of the mysterious stones and fights using music. The Broken Hero Takt Asahina is the epitome of a broken young man. A man who, in a different year, not the 2047 we find him, would have spent his days ponying up to the nearest vice. The son of a Symphony conductor, a younger Takt, imbibed the same passion that was his father’s first love. When D2s attacked the concert hall in what would be called the Boston Tragedy, Kenji Asahina (“The Rooster”) was playing while conducting a symphony in Boston, and he would perish. The Takt we meet bears the burden of witnessing this tragedy when he was ten and has yet to recover. Takt has become a brooding hikikomori awash in a sea of despair. The piano that his father left behind is his only outlet. Takt reminds me somewhat of Prince from the movie Purple Rain, who, after his father’s suicide, struggles with his craft and searches for meaning. There is no Apollonia for Takt, nor is there a Lake Minnetonka, but there are Cosette and Anna, the love of music, and the memory of his father. Though not blood-related, Cosette is very much his little sister: bubbly, passionate, and, to a recluse, annoying. In many ways, she was similar in passion to his father. A student of the piano, a gift she learned while in France when music was permitted, she bears the love of others who have scribbled their hopes on a piano waiting to be played. As she puts it, what good is it if the world can't hear your music? Music, which is banned as it attracts the D2, is humanity's saving grace and a running theme in the anime. So all that aside, the trio—Anna, her sister, and Mr. Hikikomori—are heading to New York from Oregon, the location of the Symphonica, Anna, and Cosette’s family, and the hero’s journey. That was the plan, which will require a couple of spoilers. So the Symphonica decided to host their version of a musical traveling circus, the Symphonica Party. It’s the event that basically gets Takt off his a** to play piano for someone other than himself. The D2s arrive to crash the party, and Cosette is mortally wounded. As fate would have it, Takt's right arm is damaged. However, Cosette's white stone pendant reincarnates her as Destiny as she dies. Destiny bites off Takt's damaged arm as she transforms and presents him with a golden conducting baton. The hero's journey begins with more tragedy: the loss of a friend. While breaking him out of his shell. The heroine is thrust into the spotlight. Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, also known as the Fate Symphony, transforms Cosette from a bubbly young lady to the stoic Destiny. So, fate brought them together, and she has a few goals in mind: destroying the enemy, stealing Takt's right arm, and an apparent sweet tooth. My kind of girl! To say that the theme of tragedy runs through this anime would be an understatement. Unfortunately, Takt has little time to grieve but plenty of time to brood. He and Anna take it hard, even going so far as to continue to refer to Destiny as Cosette. Destiny becomes his right arm, the closest thing to him, even if it means wiping out your hero slowly but surely. Unlike others of her kind, she is not entirely independent of her Conductor. Lenny, who arrives on the scene to save the dynamic duo, develops into a mentor and occasionally a flirtatious friend. He is the series' sexiest Spaniard, standing next to the vibrant, upbeat Titan, his "Musicart." Must I Really Care About the Antagonist? One constant thing in anime is that, in the midst of chaos, an organization will emerge. They come in many flavors, like the Black Order, Scepter 4, the CCG (Doves), or the “Party of Words.” The Symphonica is no exception. The Symphonica, located in New York, is the bullhorn that keeps the peace. Bolstered by their order of Composers and Musicarts, they have, for the past four years, kept the D-2s asleep. They banned music, only allowing it to be played in small doses. Enter the Symphonica Party, a small event that allows people to enjoy at least what music used to sound like. Again, back to episode one’s exposition, the mother reading to her daughter had never heard music, so I guess this could be a mind-blowing experience. As far as antagonists go, these are par for the course, and, unfortunately, the anime does little to expound on them. The most I can say is that power corrupts, and there is the tendency to play god when bestowed with such power. In their defense, Sagon should have been expanded upon. As the head of the Symphonica, Sagon respected Takt’s father, and ultimately he wanted peace. Sagan's motivation seems to be to gather all the D2 monsters in one place and seal them away, even if it means destroying the continent they are on and killing countless innocents in the process. He thinks the only way to protect humanity from the relentless D2s is to take this drastic measure. As the anime's conclusion reveals, his mindset changed to these extremes as a result of the repeated deaths he sustained while battling the D2s over the years. This caused him to snap and quickly devise a poorly justified plan of mass sacrifice to completely eliminate the D2 threat, which he sees as for the "greater good." The other antagonist is Schindler, a pompous, high-ranking Symphonica member attached to the Musicart Hell. Schindler uses Hell's powers to draw D2s to populated areas to "cleanse" those he deems unworthy of living in his ideal world. His motivations stem from a hatred of anyone not living on the fringes of society and jealousy over Sagan's fondness for Takt and his father. His own ego surprises Schindler. A conductor thought he despised music; his own Musicart overshadowed him. I'm just here for the Musicarts!!! If you believe, I came here just to watch Takt; I have a team to sell you in Oakland. The reality is that I’m just here for Hell. No, not the place of damnation, but a catch like her might have a novice considering making the trip. What's not to like? Her beautiful brown skin and sadistic attitude might be reminiscent of Eartha Kitt, but beware; she certainly gives off those Grace Jones (Mayday) vibes with just a hint of Gazelle for good measure. Takt might disagree, though, directing me to fem fatale Xenia Onatopp. Two additional Musicarts join the fun in Heaven and Walkure. It is unclear who the former is based on, but the latter is based on Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries. I'm not sure if she took anyone to Valhalla, but Hell, who has a knack for sexy talk, instructs Takt that if he wants her, he should take her by force. He wants no part of that, but he does make Walkure blush. Tengoku and Jigoku, or Heaven and Hell, respectively, are the Musicarts of Sagan and Shindler. The Musicarts were the highlight that made this anime so beautiful, especially Destiny. There are moments when the animation stumbles, but in my opinion, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the viewing. It's a feast for the eyes, from Anna to Ophelia. For those who know the history of Mappa and Madhouse, it must be like a father-son team creating animation together, something that I would like to see in the future, but Madhouse, please tell your child to pay their employees more. I Stuck Around For The Music. Animation aside, the music is a large part of this anime. The very old coexists with the modern and the new. One cannot help but be enamored by the symphonic fusion of "Takt Op. Destiny." This fusion not only propels the narrative but also functions as a pivotal motif that deeply resonates with enthusiasts, especially those who appreciate jazz and classical genres. Yoshihiro Ike, the mastermind behind the anime's score, breathes new life into timeless classical pieces by composers like Beethoven. His adaptations of the iconic Symphony No. 5 "Fate," Moonlight Sonata, and Piano Concerto No. 1 are reimagined to fit the anime’s narrative. These classical adaptations serve as a bridge, connecting traditional music lovers with the anime's contemporary setting. I am also glad Take the A Train and Rhapsody in Blue were part of this anime. The latter is because it is a classic piece that became the centerpiece of “Take the X Train" by Madhouse. Additionally, Duke Ellington popularized the original; however, Ella Fitzgerald sang the best rendition. For Rhapsody in Blue, go with Gershwin. You music heads will appreciate it. Apart from the classical adaptations, Yoshihiro Ike's original compositions, such as "Heart," "Festival," "Struggling," "Tradition," and "With Love," are the heartbeat of the anime. These pieces, written specifically for "Takt Op. Destiny," range from uplifting to somber, mirroring the characters' journeys and the storyline's progression. The opening theme song for the anime *Takt Op. Destiny* is "takt" by Ryo from Supercell, featuring vocals from Mafumafu and gaku. The ending theme song is "Symphonia" by Mika Nakashima. The opening theme and accompanying animation make the intro incredibly heartfelt and inviting. I love how Anna is in her mama role while Cosette is waving and running off to see Takt juxtaposed against Destiny and Takt in the midst of battle. These themes act as bookends to each episode. The full official soundtrack, released on February 23, 2022, by Universal Music, features an impressive 52 tracks spread across two discs. The first disc contains more upbeat classical adaptations and originals, while the second offers slower, more emotionally charged pieces. This soundtrack is not just a collection of songs; it's a journey through the anime’s musical soul, available on platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube for physical purchase. At this point, I’ve said my fair share about this anime. You likely believe that I am merely gushing and glowing, and that I have failed to notice any flaws. Hopefully, I've pointed out some of its flaws, but I'll elaborate a little more. There were some missed opportunities, and Sagan's backstory and motivations should have been fleshed out better. But I'm not sure if that was a necessity, considering that this anime was perceived as a money generator for a game that some fans enjoy and have said that's really part 2 of this anime. That aside, was it entertaining? Yes, I found it to be very entertaining. The ongoing banter between Takt and Destiny was full of humor. Kōki Uchiyama and Shion Wakayama play off each other excellently and are probably one of the best duos I’ve heard in a while. Those two aside, the voice cast was great. In summary, Takt Op. Destiny is an anime that tugs at the heartstrings (Episode 10 got me!!) with its emotional story about loss, grief, and the power of music. While it has some pacing and character development flaws, the gorgeous animation and music help make up for these shortcomings. The series shines brightest in episodes focusing on the bonds between Conductors and Musicarts. In particular, Lenny and Titan's partnership contrasts with Takt and Destiny's more turbulent relationship. Their sacrifice in the final battle is one of the show's most poignant moments. Overall, I recommend giving Takt Op. Destiny is a must-watch, especially for fans of emotional stories and beautiful animation. Just don't expect a perfectly paced plot or complex characters. This story is straightforward but powerful at its core, thanks to excellent production values. It may not be a masterpiece, but it still tugs on the heartstrings in all the right ways. Please Like, Comment, Share or click one of the links below to read another post. https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/random-thoughts-because-mondays-suck https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/on-screen https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/flashbacks
