Ask John: Will Fans Embrace Tsubasa Chronicle?

Question:
I’ll start this question with just two words: Tsubasa Chronicle. Will this anime, which is neither a sequel nor even a spin-off of any particular series created by CLAMP, be well received by CLAMP fans? By uniting many characters from different CLAMP series into a unique and epic storyline, coupled with the relatively good success of the manga release in America, this has proven to be a highly anticipated series. In your opinion do you think it will live up to various expectations, or will it just end up as another series trying to cash in on the success of well established character designs?

Answer:
I don’t think I actually have to answer this question because I think it’s already been answered. As you point out, the Tsubasa Chronicle manga series has become a best seller in America. And there are more than 20 different international fan translation groups working on translating and distributing the anime television series for viewers worldwide. Considering its massive popularity in the fan community, I don’t think Tsubasa Chronicle even needs to live up to anyone’s expectations. The title is already such a juggernaut that nothing short of an absolute catastrophe in the animation could likely diminish any of the show’s present momentum and fan support. And even a sudden horrendous decline in production quality may not be enough to make the title fall out of favor considering that the Mahou Sensei Negima anime TV series was apparently bad enough that its Japanese director even acknowledged disappointment in it, yet, even so, it’s still fairly popular among anime fans. Regardless of other factors, and regardless of whether or not it actually deserves its acclaim, Tsubasa Chronicle is undeniably popular among CLAMP fans, and fans of anime and manga.

Since I’ve read only the first volume of the manga but watched the TV series up to episode 5, so far, I have more familiarity with the TV animation than the manga. Over the past few years director Koichi Mashimo has fairly reliably proven himself capable of helming reasonably successful and fan friendly anime including Noir, .Hack, and Meine Liebe. His work with Tsubasa seems to be on par with titles like Avenger and .Hack in the respect that the Tsubasa Chronicle anime is merely adequate. The show isn’t unusually progressive or unique. There’s little about it that stands out as exceptional or memorable, expect perhaps its soundtrack. But at the same time there’s nothing about the Tsubasa Chronicle anime that’s noticeably bad either. So, I think the fact that the Tsubasa Chronicle anime is mediocre, combined with the pre-existing anticipation surrounding it, will be enough to maintain the series popularity.