The shock and appeal of "It Can't Be Aired!": A deep review

"Can't Air!": A unique TV anime that depicts the behind-the-scenes of the TV industry

"Can't Air It!", which aired in 2022, attracted attention as an unusual TV anime that depicts the behind-the-scenes of the television industry. The original work is the comics "Can't Air It!" and "Can't Air It! Deep", which are based on episodes from when Kana Mafune, a current employee of TV Tokyo, worked as an AD during her time in the production department. This work depicts the real face of the television industry with plenty of humor, giving viewers a fresh surprise.

story

The story is set in Tokyo in 2014, and begins when new assistant director Mafuneko is assigned to "Tokyo Hajikko Television." Mafuneko dreams of becoming a TV person who makes programs that cheer people up when they are crying, and she works hard every day to achieve that dream. However, the tasks she is in charge of are all mundane and mysterious, such as "picking up 600 acorns" and "continuously blurring out secrets that are caught on camera." Meanwhile, surrounded by unique characters such as a sharp-tongued, skilled director and an overseas location director who defecates in a wok, Mafuneko grows to become a full-fledged TV person.

character

The main character, Mafuneko, is a 23-year-old new AD who has a bad memory and is not very good at getting things done, but her pure heart and hard work capture the hearts of viewers. Her mentor, Director Onigawara, is a 33-year-old mid-career director who is a skilled director known for his strict guidance and the production of programs with high viewer ratings. Mafuneko's colleague, Yori-chan, is a reliable person in charge of music programs and becomes a close friend of Mafuneko. Meanwhile, Chief AD Yokoyama is 25 years old and in his third year with the company, and is responsible for coordinating the ADs. His attentiveness and calm heart allow him to carry out his duties calmly, but he also sometimes reveals his perverse obsessions.

Background

"Can't Air It!" was written by Mafune Kana, a current employee of TV Tokyo, and directed, composed, scripted, and storyboarded by Aoki Jun. Character design was by Aoki Jun and Liu Yang, art by Fang Qixing, color design by Kichochi, and music by Yamada Junpei. Animation was handled by Jinnan Studio and Space Neko Company, and the series was produced by the Can't Air It! Production Committee.

Broadcast information

"Can't Air!" aired a total of 12 episodes from January 10 to March 28, 2022. The broadcasting stations were TV Tokyo and BS TV Tokyo, and although each episode was only 5 minutes long, it was packed with dense content. The broadcast schedule is as follows.

• BS TV Tokyo: January 10, 2022 to March 28, 2022, every Monday from 1:05 to 1:10
• TV Tokyo: January 11, 2022 to March 29, 2022, every Tuesday from 2:30 to 2:35
• AT-X: January 13, 2022 to March 31, 2022, every Thursday from 22:16 to 22:22

It will also be streamed online, with advance unlimited viewing on Paravi, Lemino and Anime Times, unlimited viewing on Anime Times, U-NEXT, d Anime Store, Bandai Channel, TELASA, J:COM On Demand, au Smart Pass Premium, FOD, ABEMA, Hulu and Animeka, pay-per-view on Bandai Channel, TELASA, J:COM On Demand, Lemino, TSUTAYA TV, Rakuten TV, Niconico Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Video Market, music.jp and DMM.com, and free streaming on ABEMA, Tver and TV Tokyo.

episode

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: Being an AD is tough (2022/01/10)
• Episode 2: It's the production department! Everyone gather together (2022/01/17)
• Episode 3: Running Away is Good for TV (2022/01/24)
• Episode 4: Shouting love in the heart of Shibuya (2022/01/31)
• Episode 5: Wear Runandesu! (2022/02/07)
• Episode 6: The Hero Mafuneko and the Island of Inserts (2022/02/14)
• Episode 7: The Girl in the Mist (2022/02/21)
• Episode 8: Why are you going to a mixer? (2022/02/28)
• Episode 9: God's Tongue (2022/03/07)
• Episode 10: Hyper Hardboiled Director's Report (2022/03/14)
• Episode 11: My First D-Kai! (Part 1) (2022/03/21)
• Episode 12: My First D-Kai! (Part 2) (2022/03/28)

Theme songs and music

There are two ending themes. The first song is "Work out!", with lyrics, composition, and arrangement by Chocho-P and vocals by Izuki Mizuminato. The second song is "Can't go on air!", with lyrics by Ikuko Ebata, composition and arrangement by Toshimichi Isoe, and vocals by Izuki Mizuminato.

cast

The main cast is as follows:

• Mafuneko: Earth Leaf
• Onigawara Director: Yasuhiro Mamiya
• Yori-chan: Riho Sugiyama
• Yokoyama Chief AD: Hirose Yuya
• Narration: Akira Kawashima (Kirin)

As guest voice actors, Yamazato Ryota (Nankai Candies) appeared in the third episode as a music program host, and Mizuminato Izuki appeared as Yukarun.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Can't Go On Air!" was highly praised for its humorous portrayal of what goes on behind the scenes in the television industry. In particular, the realistic portrayal of the AD profession surprised and delighted viewers, who sympathized with the show. The show was also praised for the dialogue between the unique characters, and for the episodes, which were short but packed with dense content.

Viewers' reactions included many positive comments such as, "It was interesting to learn about the behind-the-scenes of the TV industry," "Mafuneko's growth was moving," and "The unique characters were fascinating." Fans of the original work also commented, "I was satisfied with how well the atmosphere of the original work was reproduced."

Recommendation

"Can't Air!" is recommended for people who are interested in the television industry and those who like humorous works. Although it is short, it is packed with dense content, so even busy people can enjoy it easily. Furthermore, the dialogue between the unique characters and the story depicting Mafuneko's growth will surely impress many viewers.

This work has become loved by many people as a unique TV anime that depicts the reality of the TV industry while also combining humor and emotion. Please give it a watch.