Chasmish

Genre : Music anime, Drama

Language : Japanese, English

Episodes : 24 (Seasons: 2)

Released : April to July 2018 (Season 1)

               January to April 2019 (Season 2)

Rating : 4.4/5

Synopsis : 

Forest of Piano is a story that follows Kai Ichinose, a boy who lives in the red light district but escapes at night to play the piano in the forest. Shuhei Amamiya, the grade-school son of a professional pianist, transfers to Moriwaki Elementary, Kai's elementary school. But it doesn't take long before Shuhei is picked on by the class bullies, and gets involved in a dare to play the mysterious piano in the forest, leading to his meeting with Kai, who seems to be the only one capable of getting sound out of the thought-to-be broken piano. Kai's ability earns him the respect of Shuhei and his music teacher, former master pianist Sosuke Ajino. Both Shuhei and Ajino try to get Kai to take proper piano lessons, but Kai is at first resistant to refining his piano-playing technique. However, after hearing Sosuke play a Chopin piece he just can't seem to play himself, he relents.

Review : 

I was always obsessed with Piano. I don’t even know how to play, still my desire for piano never evanesced. That’s my indispensable reason for choosing this music related Anime series.

Forest of piano is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Isshiki. This manga was serialized from 1998 to 2015. This story also adopted to anime movie in 2007. This Manga received the Grand Prize for best manga at 12th Japan media arts festival in 2008. After that, it made into an anime series on the global platform of Netflix and also on Japan broadcasting station, NHK. 

Kai Ichinose – he is an elementary school student. He often plays mysterious piano in forest. He is a child prodigy. He can replicate any piano music after he heard it for once. He is a nonchalant person. He accepts and lives his life as it comes. 

Shuhei Amamiya –  he is a friend of Kai. He loves playing piano and he yearns for his father’s appreciation, who is a famous pianist.  After he knows about Kai’s talent, he torments himself to become a better pianist.

Sosuke Ajino – he is a music teacher in Kai’s school. He is one of the famous pianists in Japan. He won so many awards. He injured his left hand during an accident. After that, he left everything behind and become a music teacher. Later, he comes to know about Kai’s talent and he becomes his coach. 

Story mainly revolves around these three characters. First season covers up the childhood days and the development in the story progressions are tremendous. Makoto Isshiki embellished a well anomalous story. Second season covers up the competitions and the participants' stories. 

Music is the soul of this series. Their choice of music is efficacious in most of the places. Harumi Fuuki done a stupendous work in music. She deserves all our recognitions and appreciations. She brings down all the classical music with the touch of modern. Her dexterity with piano is indubitable. 

Animation works are not upto the mark in few places. That’s the main blunder in this series. That irks the audience for sure. 

On the whole, this anime series is the combination of exquisite music with deep-seated narration.

I highly recommend this series to the admirers of music (especially Piano) and of course to the fans of Makoto Isshiki. 

Happy watching!!!