So the evil organisation utilizing eggs and going after everyone's eggs.... is called Easter
:L
EggCatch Precure or something. Nice to see romance toned down a bit. And while we had some MotW, we did get an episode where there wasn't one yet again. I can get behind something like this with Precure.
I love how almost nobody understands Death Parade. It disguises itself as this schlocky, overacted drama with great animation and style, and most people lap that part up without trying to dig deeper. This show has an amazing sense of detail, and most of the finer points pass by unnoticed unless you actively engage with the material by reading theories, rewatching the episode once or twice, and really thinking about it.
It's a show that's too deep for most of its audience. Can't say I don't feel a bit of elitism for being in the informed minority. C:
Really though, this stuff is sharply written and I'm glad they haven't lost their edge between this and the original short. Now, the next episode will be a whole other ballgame
I love how almost nobody understands Death Parade. It disguises itself as this schlocky, overacted drama with great animation and style, and most people lap that part up without trying to dig deeper. This show has an amazing sense of detail, and most of the finer points pass by unnoticed unless you actively engage with the material by reading theories, rewatching the episode once or twice, and really thinking about it.
It's a show that's too deep for most of its audience. Can't say I don't feel a bit of elitism for being in the informed minority. C:
Really though, this stuff is sharply written and I'm glad they haven't lost their edge between this and the original short. Now, the next episode will be a whole other ballgame
shows Furuya with the ace number and Sawamura crying. Pretty spoilery for an ED and it sucks because as annoying as Sawamura can be at least he isn't the most boring character in existence aka Furuya.
I just finished watching Patlabor and I have to tell you guys about it. It's an honestly impressive show. It's not, perhaps, as far reaching as some mecha anime, not as bombastic (it's really quite understated, actually), nor as energetic, but Patlabor endears itself to me as perhaps the single best example of the Real Robot subgenre.
Now, there are a lot of kinds of "Real Robots" out there. From your Universal Century Gundams (which begin more as toned down Super Robots before moving on to being Star Fighters with arms and legs) to your Variable Fighters from SDF Macross (which are basically jets that turn into robots in space) and so on. The thing that sets the Labors apart from everything else I've experienced in the genre is the simplicity and yet believability of the concept. They begin as construction machines intended to simplify and aid in the accomplishment of various tasks before specializing into things like fire-fighting and the like. This specialization brings about a misuse for criminal purposes, requiring the institution of police Labors. The police become militarized and that brings on the advent of military use Labors. It's actually a really well thought out sort of set up to how the show begins.
The show itself revolves around Special Vehicles Section II, Division II of the Police Department. A ragtag and eccentric bunch of police officers who we follow from their induction into the Section onward through the show. They all demonstrate a good amount of growth, of characterization and do their damnedest to endear themselves to the audience through their quirks. From the brash Ota to the deadpan Goto, I can't honestly say that there was any character I disliked by show's end.
Some, obviously, were cooler than others.
Above all, though, there was one factor of this show that endeared itself to me more than any other. A factor which connected to all other facets of the show, and without which I don't think I would have enjoyed the show even anywhere near as much. I'm talking about, of course, the show's heroine: Izumi Noa.
If I had to put into a single word what I found so positively stunning about Izumi's character, I'd say it was her reservation. That is, I loved how much they really held back on doing things with Izumi's character. For starters, Izumi is possibly the least sexualized woman to ever pilot a giant robot I think I have ever seen. That alone is quite a feat in a genre like this, but it extends well beyond that. Although she is an accomplished and capable officer, Izumi isn't ridiculously hypercompetent, either. She's just good at her job, not world-class. She's not incredibly intelligent, but she isn't dumb. She's not very feminine, but she's also not out of touch with her femininity. Hell, they even hold back a great deal on her romance with Shinohara Asuma.
The reason I think so much moderation is employed with Izumi's character is that they were unafraid of said character. Sometimes elements are added into a character to prop them up, to strengthen them or to define them. It takes a great deal of confidence in a character's authenticity and genuine appeal to present them as a centerpiece, removed from any distractions. Without any defining appearance trait, character point or relationship to take attention away from her, Izumi Noa stands front and center in the view of the audience, to be tested and tried by them.
And honestly, I believe she stands the test. Over the course of the series Izumi as a person is introduced and examined from numerous angles. She faces repeated difficulty and emphasis is placed on how she overcomes those challenges. She's quickly established as loving her Labor in particular and not wanting to hurt Labors in general. It takes the entire course of the series to truly explore why she feels the way she does. In the final episodes we learn that
Izumi once had a dog named Alphonse, and that the feelings she had for that dog were passed down to a cat and then to her mech. We also see her stopping to help a lost old man while considering for herself a change of careers. Most importantly, she asks aloud: "What good is my job if I can't help other people?"
All of this explains, rather clearly, why she feels the way she does about Labors, people, and herself. This explicit revelation comes, however, after many episodes of carefully building the evidence to support it. Whether it be helping a criminal to safety or putting herself in danger so as to keep others safe, Izumi is shown to be the kind of woman who, above all else, cares about others.
Her strengths are defined in no small part by her vulnerability as well. At several key points in the series we see her sort of falter in her resolve, or cave inward. For instance, at one point in the show her opinion is sought on an economy class replacement for the Ingram. Although her personal bias interferes with her judgment, it also allows her to more boldly point out the flaws of the new machines. As a result of this, she endures some friction in her interactions with the other pilots of Section II, since her opinion ultimately prevents them from gaining new machines of their own. In a way, I feel this is sort of symbolic of the difficulty and social pressure that working women face in the work place from their coworkers. Whatever the case, it lends a depth of humanity to her character which would be otherwise lacking if she were to ever remain an indomitable paragon of cheer and energy.
I can only hope, in light of all of this, that Izumi's character remains as firmly human in other adaptations of the franchise. It'd be only too easy, I think, to sort of tank the qualities that make her the living person she is, but given the amount of effort that went into this original show, I remain hopeful for future entries.
Allenby only exists to make the latter point clearer, so I can't ever acknowledge her as Rain's better. Especially since Rain has more to her than just clinging to Domon.
Allenby only exists to make the latter point clearer, so I can't ever acknowledge her as Rain's better. Especially since Rain has more to her than just clinging to Domon.
eh, been a while but I recall Allenby being after some validation and her big draw to Domon was that they could actually communicate with one another albeit it with fists/fighting spirit/whatever. She's the safe boring choice that would get shot down by fans if this was another show.
eh, been a while but I recall Allenby being after some validation and her big draw to Domon was that they could actually communicate with one another albeit it with fists/fighting spirit/whatever. She's the safe boring choice that would get shot down by fans if this was another show.
To be fair, I don't think I've watched a high school based anime as good as Oregairu since Oregairu... It's disappointing really. If someone can recommend a suggestion I'd be highly interested.
Okay, just finish the show (need to look into the OVA episodes) and wow...I got to say, this is the weakness show in the franchise of the three. Well...where can you start.
Well...let`s start with the big change and it`s the pacing of the story. In the 1st series, the pacing of the story is mix with serious and comedic tone and done it quite well so you don`t feel too overwhelm and the pacing of it was smooth for the audience that you don`t feel like you need to stop watching. Well, they take all the comedic tone of the show and put all serious minus the Episode 0 (but I count this episode as filler really).
I am fine with serious tone drama anime before like Noir but when you change the tone of the show which in the previous season work quite well, you loose quite a bit of the charm of what make the 1st series work and this is where I notice quite a bit. Yes, you have more mech fighting scene here but you loose the other stuff which make the 1st series tick and which make me even more like the 1st series over this one.
Another issue I am having is they try to put too much stuff in a small 13 episodes series (plus two more episodes but it`s like a filler so doesn`t count much). They`re a lot of interesting things happened range from new characters to interesting plot development to storyline which for the character side didn`t develop much at all and become a two dimensional character who you don`t care and feel like a waste opportunity and on the story side, interesting things happened but didn`t explain much in the show. I will list as much as I can here from what I remember.
On the character, the twin sister Xia, Yu Fan and Xia, Yu Lan. They have a good potential of becoming an interesting villain but nothing much have been done to develop them and they die too quickly to even have a chance to develop (or just there and die like other character in the show). Which is pity as I like to see what they can become then what we see in the show.
Sticking on the character development issue is the main villain of the show (if you can call him that) Gates. I don`t know what to say about him. He isn`t like Gauron even though both are insane. He is more insane in a funny but not scary way unlike Gauron who is literally nuts who will kill anyone for pleasure. This make him less fearful and more like a joke character. Gauron was in this show but it`s very short. Even with this, he is still the crazy guy you know him from the 1st show even though he is bed ridden and got kill too quickly after the dialogue. Wish he stay dead in the 1st show. Don`t like the idea to bring a death character back alive again and again. It get tiresome.
The scene where Chidori was save by Leonard Testarossa from the attack of one of the twin, you don`t really know if he is a friend or a foe and nothing much explain about this in the show. All you know is he bring the dead girl to Gates and he use the dead girl to piss off the other twin girl. From the look of it, he might be working on both side and we kinda know he is the brother of Teletha Testarossa based on the dialogue in the show. Unfortunately, with limited time he was shown, it`s kinda disappointed he wasn`t develop much and he might be one of the better villain than what we have in the show.
Belfangan Clouseau is another character which didn`t develop much and feel like it`s something a lost in the show as he can be an interesting character on the ally side who can be use as someone who can train the team to be stronger. Would be interesting of what he become if they develop more in the show.
The romance feeling toward Chidori and Sousuke (the lack of) is literally non existence. Yes, they did try to push the idea a bit in the show but it didn`t feel right for me. It make Chidori look like a typical female character in animated who is distress and need someone like a knight who will protect her. How they end the series of when she get emotional is something a miss for me. Yes, she did get hurt and got attack by the twin and when Sousuke was gone, she feel threatened now as they is no one there to protect her. Even this and the dialogue between them, it wasn`t much development between them to call it more romantic.
The major issue I have with the show and it`s a big one is going back to Sousuke and his emotional issue. This entire show (or almost 60%) is basically about Sousuke emotional feeling and how he can`t really fight because of this and it all come down to he can`t go back to see Chidori because of the mission. Because of this, you start to see him become the opposite of what he was in the 1st show who is strong will and fight like a tough solider. Even with his big nemesis Gauron who he fear, he didn`t get emotional and still fight.
In this show, his emotion have change him to the point where he feel like a loser to the point where he become like a emo. What make it even worst is how he manage to get out from it which is basically let Chidori be with him. Basically, this tell the audience that if the military didn`t send the order of telling him not to be a bodyguard of Chidori and don`t see her anymore, almost all the emotional side of the show from Sousuke can be avoid.
I know they`re more issue I have in the show but don`t want to drag this too long here. Overall, if you`re a fan of the Full Metal Panic! from the 1st show, do watch The Second Raid as it`s the squeal of the series. It`s still fun to watch but it`s the weaker of the thre show in the series. I have a feeling, if the show push from 13 to the normal 24 episodes from the 1st how, a lot of the major issue like the character development, plot and event will be flush out better. Still, what you got is a show that try to be serious but lose the touch of what make the 1st show click and what make me like the 1st show. That`s all I can say about the show now and going to finish the ova and go back to Fumoffu and finish that.
You're most of the way through the understandings that a lot of us who watched these shows as they aired. I mean, I loved FMP, the first season, and thought it was an interesting franchise... until I read what happens in the story in TSR and, even worse, after it. So yeah, only one step left: Look up the original LNs (or the manga adaptation) and realize that everything wrong with TSR, and as you say plenty is wrong with it, is wrong because the source material went from that same transition towards humor-free grimdark violence and tragedy. It's really, really sad that the author abandoned a good series in favor of such stupid tragic idiocy? I mean, I really loved the first season of the anime, and Fumoffu was pretty great too... and then it was all thrown away in favor of a bad action/drama series loaded with stupid melodrama and an absurdly powerful secret society for enemies? Ugh. This is why I'm glad there isn't another season of the anime; TSR is bad enough, but it gets MUCH worse afterwards.
Do you want me to write up what happens afterwards? I can. I'll say this now though: There is a chapter in the manga shortly after the events of the TSR OVA end that ends with 'after this there will be no more humor'. It's not kidding. When reading that I thought 'TSR is pretty serious and way too dark as it is, how much worse could it get?' ... but it does, almost immediately. It's so sad that such a great series as FMP was in its first season was wasted in favor of stupid massively-powerful-conspiracy-army and rescue-the-girl stupidity. I don't know if I can think of any anime(/manga/LN) that started out so well and then went so horribly wrong partway through! FMP might be at the top of that list for me, sadly.
(Oh, Leonard is pretty much the main villain of the rest of the show, if TSR didn't make that clear.)
I think she's different though or at least her presentation was. I never really thought of her as Allenby so much as generic cyber newtype archetype and so much of her charm was centered around just how dishonest she had to be with Reiji to continue hanging out with him. Show seemed to make it clear everyone was getting paired off too so it's not like she was supplanting anyone either.
That said, it's been a bit since I've watched either and I'll readily admit I may not be remembering things right.
I think she's different though or at least her presentation was. I never really thought of her as Allenby so much as generic cyber newtype archetype and so much of her charm was centered around just how dishonest she had to be with Reiji to continue hanging out with him. Show seemed to make it clear everyone was getting paired off too so it's not like she was supplanting anyone either.
That said, it's been a bit since I've watched either and I'll readily admit I may not be remembering things right.
Nah she's pretty damn Allenby. I mean they introduce her and Allenby in almost the exact same way and her Embody Suit is straight up modeled on Allenby's 3D Fighter costume.
Well, im not sure what reincarnation or the void means - there just isn't enough info. But I think i can say that the wife
wasn't lying. She, to me, was telling the truth and the husband was drowned in ideas of a cheating wife. She eventually got tired and disgusted with the man he truly was and lied to really drive a stake into his heart. The credits showing that the girl the wife was speaking about was real kinda was like the director backing up the wife's story.
I can't really guess on anything else, and im not really sure i want to because this episode seemed pretty insular outside the idea of void and reincarnation, and the actions that took place exclusively in that room. I doubt things like whether a dart hit his shoulder because they touched shoulders once will matter in the grand scheme of this show.
The biggest thing to me is how the Butler reacted.
He seemed surprised/interested by a lot of the girls actions. Leading me to think that the man is the one that is going to hell. Which would mean the masks up top are misleading the viewer on purpose. The reason i say this because when the wife came in, she had the white mask over her. So i would guess that she was assumed to be going to hell. At first, the husband was very nice and was willing to give away his life for his wive's - very selfless. But as the game went on, the husband kept making terrible choices - even deciding to hurt the baby in his wife's stomach because he thought it wasn't his. Finally attempting to kill his wife. So the masks up top swapped, and the wife was the one that ended up going to heaven.
Nah she's pretty damn Allenby. I mean they introduce her and Allenby in almost the exact same way and her Embody Suit is straight up modeled on Allenby's 3D Fighter costume.
Revengeance Domon exists because Domon is a secret dork who thought he could be cool before realizing that being cool came through embracing his inner dork.
Amu is Nagisa, and Nadeshiko is Honoka. Why? It makes sense, outside of Amu not living in an apartment. And Nadeshiko's name is self explanatory. But Amu would totally date her if she (Amu) was a dude. That was the exact same thing Nagisa said about Honoka.
I just hope there's no fight between them.
Guess I'm done for the night. And starting Slayers tomorrow.
Well, as a palette cleanser, this really was an anime-ass-anime, as someone might put it. A whole episode of sort-of-but-not-really bro-con jokes in the first half with a random wrestling match between two bears, a rabbit, and a penguin at the end. Anime at its "finest".
The one thing I will say is that I think this is the first anime where I think the obvious CG parts didn't stand out too much. Maybe Japan has figured out CG giant Penguins, but still can't do CG cars.
Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls
I guess I'm watching this for pedigree and promises of it being like K-On!!. I'm not sure how I feel about it after one episode. It's strange, because Yuri Kuma Arashi is off-putting because it feels like it's just "Ikuhara" for the sake of being Ikuhara. Here you have show that is off-putting because it just feels like a bland imitation of the "mothership" series. You already have the same archetypes being replicated, and it serves as a bit of a reminder that the original Idolm@ster girls have basically become second fiddle because of the popularity of the mobile game.
There's nothing really wrong with it, but I can't say that it stands out from the sea of all-girl shows. Well, outside of the higher production values.
Seems pretty decent. My expectations weren't high, but it seems fairly well written and well produced. Gonna continue watching it, since it looks like this may very well be one of this season's highlights.
