Bartender

...is the title of a recently produced short Anime series (apparently from the fall of 2006).

I just watched the first episode on YouTube.

I'd embed it for you, but the uploader disabled embedding (probably a good idea in terms of keeping it under the "use violation" radar.

In case anyone was wondering, this show exemplifies some of the things I love about anime.

There is a feeling I have about some anime that the creators of certain shows (Kino no Tabi / Kino's Journey is another) are immensely brave, in the same way that filmmakers like Wong Kar Wai and David Lynch are brave. I find them brave because they work in an industry that produces "products" and they add some kind of ethereal, spiritual value to their work that most industrial workers do not even attempt because of the obstacles that have been "institutionalized" into their paths.

Bartender isn't earthshattering by any means, but it makes for a quite lovely and engaging 22 minute diversion into a sort of guided meditation on the world in which we live.

Technically it is very simple: "limited animation"at its most limited - but with luminous, beautifully rendered backgrounds and irresistably attractive character designs.

The story itself is almost like something you'd overhear at a good party - again very simple, but in a small way enlightening and pleasant to witness its unfolding. Also, perhaps more than a little bit far-fetched, but no worse off for it.

If you want to watch it, try this, or go torrent download it at animesuki.com