Arte

Being completely honest, it has been a while since I last felt so hyped up waiting for the next episode of an anime to release each week. Arte was a breathe of fresh air, giving me the impatience for another episode that I used to have back when I first had started watching simulcast anime. I had never felt an urge to just read the manga to an anime so early on in the show, and I will 100% be binging the manga after this. Story (8/10): The story was simple yet so well thought-out. Revolving around what it would be like to be a noble girl aspiring to be an artist in that time period. In the Renaissance era, it was very uncommon for women to be working in most fields, including art. The author did a good job at showing the scrutiny and questioning, along with the trials and benefits, a woman would get when trying to make a profession out of art in that time. Not only did they bring attention to that but they also brought attention to what being a noble was like, what being poor was like, being a prostitute, and went into factual details about being an art apprentice/artist in the Renaissance era. I really enjoyed seeing other factors of what living in the Renaissance is like, it made it more authentic and the story wouldn't have had the same impact on me if it was just about what a woman would face being an artist then. If you believed this was a shoujo where the main character falls in love, has others fall for her, and focuses solely on romance then I would like to inform you that that is false. At the beginning (around two or three eps in) Arte does develop a crush on Leo, but her dream and work comes first and the story puts its focus on her art journey rather than having her pursue Leo and have romantic shoujo moments (at least in the 12 eps given). None of the other boys in the show fall for her and have romantic moments with her, if they did develop feelings for her it was not focused on or clearly admitted. Art (8/10): The art was fairly good, wasn't spectacular, but nothing to hate. I believe it had some moments where it looked off but otherwise it stayed consistent. Animation quality was decent as well, something you would see out of an average slice of life anime. Sound (8/10): The opening and ending songs were lovely, and I made sure not to skip the songs a couple times throughout the anime just to listen to them. The ending song was my favorite, the composition fit the anime and gave me a Renaissance like vibe. The voices of the characters fit well and the voice acting was good. Character (7/10): The characters were all enjoyable, they all had different personalities and backgrounds that stood out from one another and were fleshed out well. While the characters would learn and grow, they never really changed in personality. They remained the same person they were before with small changes (Ex. Arte getting physically stronger, better at art, and learning more about what it truly means being a noble woman aspiring to be an artist. Angelo's kind personality stayed with slight changes of him realizing women can do things themselves.). I also had a problem with the way Darcia showed up, she never really had her own episode or any moment centering around her character. She just kinda popped out of nowhere at the beginning of an episode. Enjoyment (9/10): Like I said earlier, it had been a while since I had been so hyped up for another episode each week and it was the first time I felt so compelled to read the manga while the anime was still around its third episode. I loved the concept, the trials, the characters, the art facts, the time period, etc. and I am excited to read the manga. Overall (8/10): I had a blast going through this series and would definitely recommend giving this anime a chance. It isn't a ground-breaking anime, it isn't a horrible one either, but it will give you a breathe of fresh air. It is especially a good watch for someone someone bored, wanting a short well-written show to watch and relax to. I hope this review helps!

Story 8/10 An enjoyable historical anime Arte is a young noble who manages to become an apprentice to an artist despite many challenges her determination and hard work wins her many friends and allows her to defy the odds and follow her dreams. Art 8/10 I really liked the portrayal of Renaissance Italy with all the buildings the art and the characters looking very good. Sound 7/10 Everything here was solid from the sound to the music and the voice acting. Characters 7/10 I liked the characters here with everyone being really likable, Arte is such a kind and determined person and you can’t help but want to cheer her on and the support characters fulfil their roles well with most of them being somewhat antagonistic to Arte at first but most being won over by her hard work and determination. Enjoyment 8/10 I really enjoyed Arte I felt it was a real journey following Arte chase her dreams and I found it just a real happy fun experience despite the challenges that Arte faces. Overall 8/10

I put this in my list as a filler, something that appeared light hearted to perhaps get me through some of the darker anime. Then the virus happened and all of a sudden anime was getting delayed left and right. But Arte never did. I respect them for that. And then I respect them for telling an impeccable story. Is it lighthearted? Yes. Does it portray a time where sexist attitudes to women were normalized? Yes. "I thought women could only be mums or nuns." -Arte's mother, astonished at her daughter's artistic talent. Arte is a noble woman which gives her a HUGE step in the 16th century compared to any normal woman. And with that opportunity she makes a way for herself and inspires others along the way. She does take it for granted for a while, but when her title is thrown in her face she works ten times harder to make sure that that isn't the foundation she was built on. She wants to create art. Its her hobby, her living, her life! And in trying to step away from her previous life she finds blocked from making that happen. Finding an experienced artist to apprentince her, helping create a mural with dozens of men mocking her, and just trying to establish herself among others that see her as a joke. But does she let it keep her from fulfilling her dream? HELL NO!!! She breaks through every barrier and becomes a well respected artist to many. I thought this show was just some filler anime. No. This show demonstrates the hard work women had to go through to fulfill their dreams and become much more than society's gender roles portrayed. This show is an absolute gem and I'm very happy to have watched it! I'd recommend this anime to women, trans women, and anyone that needs a boost of female power. Also to anyone that loves a character's talent becoming much better over time, to the point where it awes the senses. Its just great. <3

As an artist I find this anime very inspiring, but I believe that it also has a very powerful message for female workers in the art industry and also for women in general. I bet this anime will inspire many woman to chase her dreams regardless their sex and value themselves as individuals with their own achievements and struggle. My concern at the beginning was that there was way to many characters in the Opening so I was afraid to be bombarded with a lot of names and faces, but at the end the show focus the spotlight on the important ones for the development of the story and the main character. Most of them have something to give to the story and end up being enjoyable to watch and see Arte interact with. I appreciate the fact that in the ending you can see frames from the characters and scenes from the chapter in the frames floating around, it caught my attention for some reason.

This anime is overall quite decent and carries many uplifting and progressive messages. It's rare to see a show focused on art, especially one highlighting the role of women in the male-dominated art world of 16th-century Florence. Instead of delving deeply into technical terms or artistic knowledge, the show emphasizes the challenges of making a living and gaining respect as a woman in society. It also serves as a powerful illustration of the feminist movement, not as a fight to dominate or threaten men, but rather a call for equal opportunities for all genders. Arte is the perfect protagonist for this theme: motivated by change and success in her beloved field, yet not harboring resentment toward those who doubt her. Her positive attitude ensures that any obstacles she faces become mere motivation to push harder. The main message of the anime is that, regardless of your actions or whether your goals clash with societal norms, if you work hard, you deserve respect. While Arte’s journey is inspiring, the show can sometimes give the impression that hard work alone can solve all problems and lead to success, which isn't entirely accurate since life is rarely so straightforward. Another critique is the slow pacing of the story, which, while realistic, may not appeal to all audiences. Due to Arte’s personality and her societal position, the story sometimes lacks depth, and it might have benefited from a deeper exploration of the intellectual and technical aspects of art creation.

"Arte" is probably one of the most beautiful, visually pleasing and meaningful animes I have ever watched. While reading so many negative reviews, I was surprised at how much this series was not well understood by so many people. "Arte" is certainly one ambitious project, which aims to entertain but also reflect. Let's start with the plot: Arte Spalletti is a young Florentine noble woman with a passion for drawing. However, she is hindered by her mother and by society in general, which does not accept that a woman of noble origins can become a painter. But Arte doesn't give up, and she finds work in the workshop of a somewhat mysterious artist named Leo, where she will be able to learn more about her passion and work to make her dream come true. The plot is strongly feminist, mostly centered around the main character and her goals, and how hard they are to achieve, and I don't think I've ever seen such a consistent feminist depiction in an anime. Arte is presented to us as an independent woman with a dream to realize, which however requires many obstacles. However, she does not give up, and continues to move forward so that her ambitions become reality. Let's say that I found myself a lot in her character, since being an artist myself I can understand all the ambitions she carries. But Arte is not the only thing that makes this anime a true masterpiece; the supporting characters, starting with Caterina, Leo, Yuri and many more, are all perfectly characterized and realistic, and some of them also receive a solid development in the span of few episodes. The historical Renaissance setting is incredibly accurate and includes numerous details and small curiosities that can be extremely educational for the viewer. As for the pacing, the whole series is pretty light and never boring, also thanks to the fluid animations and the extremely soft and relaxing color palette. The OST is extremely pleasant, especially the gorgeous tracks composed by Goro Ito and the relaxing ending. The whole message of the show is to basically believe in your own art, and most of all, in yourself. Don't let other people define who you are or what you should do, make new experiences, never give up and live your life at the fullest. A truly powerful teaching! Let's sum it up! Plot: 10/10 Characters: 8/10 Setting: 10/10 Pacing: 10/10 Animation: 8/10 OST: 9/10 Message: 10/10 In conclusion, this anime absolutely doesn't deserve all of this senseless criticism. The whole work is criminally underrated and many people deserve to see it, especially those who, like me, and as Arte, dream of becoming successful artists. Keep chasing your dream!

I never thought I'd find another anime that hit me as deep as Natsume Yuujinchou did. And then I came across this treasure and was in love from the first episode. It's hard for me to even begin describing it, because it's such a powerful and inspirational series - not to mention highly relatable. I'll start there: Who it's for, and who I would recommend it to: - Aspiring artists - Creative souls - Stigmatized, marginalized, or minority folks (define minority how you like, I am using the term liberally here). The more you have been discriminated against (or faced extreme hardship) to pursue your life's passion, the more you will be able to relate to, and enjoy this show. - People who enjoy strong female characters - Friends of those mentioned above. If you don't fall into one of these categories above, I'd still encourage watching it, but I can't guarantee that you will like it. This is not a light-hearted story like Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, where creative passion is fun and comedic. Arte's story is generally presented in a 'life or death' way. Where there's a few laughs, but a lot more scuffs and bruises. Arte is such a wonderful and heartwarming series. It's an autobiographical account of a noble woman who's wanted to pursue art (painting) her entire life, but has to fight physical, financial, and societal barriers to even consider that life path as an option. Despite the setting being in the 16th century, I found much of the script to be applicable and relevant to today's world. e.g. "My mom burned my sketches" will always make me laugh, because I've lost count of how many times my mother destroyed my work, and threw away gifts from others. But I know that's - thankfully - not everybody's past, so here are some other modern-day topics that the anime covers: - Competition and rivalry among artists - Cultural expectations (especially of women) that getting married is their only purpose and worth in life; without marriage, they are 'worthless' - Family neglect, abuse - Gender discrimination, stereotypes The anime deals with all of those topics gracefully, and respectfully. It's incredibly insightful into the traditional painting / apprentice process as well. If those topics sound interesting to you, and you want to watch a protagonist who keeps going even when life is hard, then you're in for a treat. It's a very encouraging and empowering story, and hopefully will inspire you not to give up, too! I may have cried every episode just from the feels...

Story 10/10 + Renaissance Italy, seems like decent research was done as well to portray the life in this historic time period, comedy, with a hint of romance, no focus on religion or other such political issues (less drama) though they do get mentioned - Not clear which period exactly through other well-known painters/happenings Art 10/10 +Much detail to renaissance style, love for art seeps through the anime, most beautiful hands drawn even in the last episodes - some real artworks renditions for anime don't fit as well (some are adapted to anime style, others not) Sound 9/10 + nice background sounds, some reoccurring theme song for certain characters were fun and recognisable - no real remarkable intro & ending songs Character 10/10 + earnest hard-working girl, much in-depth history and character development, ambiguous actions, - X Enjoyment 10/10 + Perfect for renaissance lovers, not only for painting but life in this historic period in general - Not certain how historical correct it all is ~ Total of 9.8, overall real fun read. I'd even buy the manga if it were available in English, but alas, only in e-book format. I'll still keep my eyes our and perhaps buy the french or italian version even though I might only understand half of it - that's how good it is and how much it's worth supporting its further publication.