Bartender: Glass of God - Slice of Life Anime With a Few Too Many Flavors
While trying to stand out from the previous 2006 translation of the manga, the anime Bartender: Glass of God might have done more damage than good. The new 2024 Anime lost some of its identity trying to go "big" with added suspense that it didn't need to start with, while attempting to include both the familiar "Drink of the week" formula and other recurring subplots driven by a larger cast.
From the start, the younger adaptation attempts to include general conflicts that simmer in the background, most famously Miwa Kurushima's attempt to get Ryu Sasakura to staff a new hotel bar. Although it offers a good throughline for the anime, the episodic structure of the 2006 anime reveals that bars don't need residual issues and instead concentrate on laid-back and leisurely slice-of-life themes. Among many other things, the Hotel Cardinal subplot lessens the otherwise intimate experience Bartender should have by emphasizing more of what should have been a series about a customer and their drinks.
Bartender Anime Loses Focus Over Growing Plot
Though both Bartender adaptations center on Ryu Sasakura, his bar Edenhall, and the patrons that visit there, they ultimately go somewhat different directions: The 2006 version episodic set-up tracked the life of many clients, what brings them to Ryu's bar, and why the drink he creates for them is suitable. Glass of God, on the other hand, is more interested in general stories: the anime here wants to go deeply into Ryu's past and the problems making him hesitant to enter a higher-class institution. Although great in theory seems like the new adaption loses on the qualities of the material.
The narrative of Ryu and Edenhall does seem to be disrupted by the problems experienced by other neighborhood bartenders, and they do feel as unwelcome intrusions into the slice-of- life style that the 2006 Anime feels to have perfected. With only 12 episodes, the patrons and cocktails have limited time with events like contests and challenges that seem out of place. The biggest offender, who epitomizes the problem, is Kelvin Chen, whose family drama—complete with cliffhangers—comes and goes at Ryu's expense, which viewers had wanted to see mix drinks instead of Chen's turbulent relationship with his father.
Bartender Reaches Far, and Holds Too Much
Glass of God injects extra personal anxiety and tension that seems pointless between Chen and Ryu. Although general stories are common nowadays, the first anime maintained simple and targeted by having a small cast and circular action. Starting one issue per week and wrapping it off with Ryu's cocktail magic helped to center the show on bartending itself.
There was no need for Ryu to have personal demons to exorcise in an arc, nor for a recurrent cast. These additional tales saps Bartender: Glass Of God's vigor, leaving it split even as it attempts to call forth the "drink of the week".
Bartender: Glass of God - An Original Approach on a Classic
Though Glass of God is formally a Slice Of Life, there are many facets of it that seem more like sports manga and even classic shonen. Glass of God nevertheless manages to distense the core of the original Bartender series despite its shortcomings. It is nevertheless a lovely and engaging investigation of human connection and the influence of a perfectly made cocktail. The song is evocative and the animation is lovely, therefore producing a calm and absorbing environment. The program also keeps exploring the special and varied universe of cocktails, providing a window into the background and customs of several beverages.
Although the general stories could take away from the main strengths of the original Bartender, they also provide the franchise fresh direction. Recurrent characters and subplots give the narrative variety and richness. Glass of God is worth seeing if you enjoy the original Bartender to see how the new rendition reinterpreted the underlying material. Bartender: Glass Of God presents an interesting and perceptive window into the life of people who find comfort and connection in a single glass, even if you are not familiar with the original.
