How did I not know about this?! - Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter

Way back in 2007, I went through an anime phase more serious than I’d like to admit. Every week I’d rush to my computer to download fresh episodes of Nodame Cantabile and Code Geass mere hours after they had aired in Japan. Code Geass was easily the more popular of the two, seeing an English dub and syndication on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim a little over a year later. While I have love for the show, I’ll be the first to admit that it was hella dramatic, and I found Zero’s convoluted plans of world domination more palatable when interspersed with Nodame’s foolish antics. I definitely owe the show credit for sparking a deeper interest in classical music in me. When the seasons ended, there was this big fuss over Code Geass’ final episodes being altered so that they could begin production on an unplanned second season, but there was no word on Nodame continuing.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover a few days ago that a second season of Nodame Cantabile aired last fall. Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter is half the size of the first season and, my otaku sensibilities kicking into gear, I polished off the eleven episodes over two nights. My first instinct was to complain that we were robbed of a full season of Nodame hilarity, but I enjoyed it so much. I think the producers had it right with the ‘short & sweet’ approach. While the first season arguably focused on Chiaki’s aspirations to become a conductor and Nodame’s attempts to keep up, Paris marks a shift to focus on Nodame’s hard work and successes. It’s also nice to see Chiaki and Nodame’s relationship evolve in this chapter; the best scene in the entire series thus far has to be when Nodame beats Chiaki’s ass in the middle of the street. Love it. Fans of the show know that to be a huge turnaround from their usual, Chrihanna-esque relationship.


A new season has been announced for this fall, and this time I’ll be all over it. A live-action film is also supposed to start production in May. I prefer the anime series to the drama, but exciting news nonetheless.