An adult life is tricky, burdensome, and full of struggles that can’t be shared. Perhaps adults feel comfortable sharing their woes only in a dimly lit bar while conversing with strangers.
What if you can see this at work in an anime? If an anime had a bartender capable of delving into someone’s problems. And solve it, all while offering the perfect glass of cocktail catered to them. Excited yet? Welcome to the world of Bartender.
1. What is Bartender about?
The exceptionally talented young bartender Ryu Sasakura is very serious about his work. WIth his proficiency at mixing cocktails and the insight to know which one to serve, Ryu is a boon to all of the loyal patrons that frequent his bar. In fact, he is believed to be the only one capable of serving the ‘Glass of God’.
‘Glass of God’ is the perfect drink for each person. Now, this anime has the original 2006 version and a more recent 2024 remake. The obvious question for anime lovers who haven’t seen either- is which one to watch.
The original 2006 version of Bartender is definitely a low CG, older art version. But is that all that matters? No, it is the story, the delivery, the execution of plot devices, and how the emotions are subtly showcased. The original Bartender manages to do it all exceptionally well, in fact.
The Bartender 2006 is a classy series about a mysterious bartender who works his magic in the dimly lit bar, and resolves the pain and anguish of those who feel the need to drown their sorrows. The characters are beautifully constructed, and the series moves in an episodic manner.
The episodes are each about the patrons of the bar and the subtle interplay and transgressions of each of them. The mystique of the bartender is what keeps the series going. Who is he? What is he doing outside the bar? No one knows; he is gifted and helpful when the dusk passes.
2. Which Bartender to watch, original or 2024 remake?
What about the new version, then? Is it good, with better graphics and art? Well, unfortunately for anime lovers and coming as a huge disappointment to the fans of the original- the reboot falls short of the masterpiece that is the 2006 original.
The reboot takes everything good about the original, chews on it, and spits it out. The mystery around the bartender? Gone, he takes day trips and interacts with people outside. Which might be cute and charming, but it takes away the ‘kakkoi’ feel from the series.
The protagonist becomes just another MC with a good heart. The interactions and character-building are extremely lacking. Unlike the way the history is depicted in the original, through flashbacks and dialogue. Here, it is just thrown in like a fact.
Even the second main character, Miwa, who had an emotionally charged episode for herself and wonderful character building, lost it all in the reboot and became just another pretty patron.
So, yes, you should watch the original, as the remake doesn’t do it justice. The entire series feels like a knockoff that inadvertently ventured into a different genre. The bartender is supposed to heal mental wounds; the remake shows no signs of giving out that vibe.
3. About Bartender
Bartender is a manga series by Araki Joh and Kenji Nagatomo. It started serialization in 2004 and ended in 2011. It received an 11-episode anime in 2006.
Ryu Sasakura, a bartender is called a genius in his field because of his ability to solace his customers with his drinks and kind words. No matter what kind of situation they are in, he always manages to get them to reconcile with themselves.
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