OP Sequence
OP: 「Stardust Memory」 by Kawasaki Takaya
「優しい止まり木」 (Yasashii Tomarigi)
A Gentle Perch
Over a decade later, we are finally graced with a new anime for Bartender, but this time, it’s a newfangled remake. But will adding a glossy sheen to this sleek, refined culinary show be a recipe for success or lead down the road to ruin?
LIQUOR IS QUICKER
Back when I was writing the preview of this, the first anime for Bartender wasn’t brought up in a lot of the promo material, so it was hard to gauge at what point in the story that this new adaptation would take place. But as it settles into the Spring season, it does a decent job at introducing viewers to both the titular bartender Sasakura Ryuu’s craft and the bartending world that he and other peers are sent through.
Starting off with the interview process for the Hotel Cardinal’s new bartender is a reasonable way to get a gist of what the anime sees as less attentive methods of making drinks. It’s easy to see why the gentleman who messed up a Grasshopper wouldn’t make the cut, but for the other two, there’s a subconscious rejection of how they carry themselves as bartenders.
The first gentleman’s Martini should ideally go as smoothly as Ryuu’s perfect Highball near the end of the episode, but it was presented more as a showcase for a basic drink made well without careful consideration of the guests’ needs. Where they share the sentiment with The Menu’s idea of learning more about a chef by how they handle a simpler request, but that’s where the similarities begin and end.
While Ryuu picks up on as many context clues as possible to craft a customer’s perfect drink, there is a nervous rigidity in how the Martini was crafted. It gives off the impression that a careful patron could tell if a drink was made to pass a test or to fulfill an order.
But the first guy at least has some general idea of what should go into a cocktail considering that the showier bartender is treated with far more contempt. His act is seen as more of a sideshow to attract the ladies who love his looks and techniques, but will likely be unimpressed with the drinks he offers.
You learn less about what his drinks are like because his performance is where the anime believes his skills begin and end. I was reminded of a video that tried to remake the drinks that Tom Cruise mentioned in his Cocktails monologue, and was thoroughly disgusted with what was in vogue before classic mainstays were repopularized. I could probably get some wonderful 80-proof juice from the guy who can juggle shakers, but a simpler drink with a harder kick would have to come elsewhere unless you just wanted a beer instead.
Needless to say that if any of this drink talk wets your whistle, then an anime like Bartender – Kami no Glass is just the right treat for you. Although it was a bit on the slower side, it’s hard not to be engrossed in how Ryuu crafted the drinks at his bar. Whether it be the multi-layered Grasshopper, the lively Cosmopolitan, or the insanely refreshing Highball, Bartender should prove to be a nice, relaxing anime for winding down in the evenings.
ED Sequence
ED: 「スピカ」 (Spica) by Kamishiraishi Mone
