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[Nafe]

Yozakura Quartet

Episode 10

I would just like to further emphasize how well done this episode was on all fronts. Really great stuff! duckroll took the time to write a bit longer post on the episode which you can read here. (Others still posted about the episode so make sure to still read them as well. )

I haven't been posting about the show but have been watching it since it started airing and have been enjoying it right from the first episode. I saw others mention the OVA's in previous seasons and that they had good animation and decided I'd like to put them on my list of shows to take a look at some time in the future.

I decided to enter the series then when this show, Hana no Uta, started airing. The first episode was already well animated and just wacky fun. For me it just got better and better as the show went on and would again have to agree with others that it's up there for one of the shows of the season and even the year in general. I really came to like all the different characters and their quirks and this world they inhabit. It's also nice how each episode seemed to sometimes casually or sometimes more shockingly reveal different things about different characters. This person is really a demon character or these characters you know are demon types but have this power or can look like this type of thing.

I noticed two or three obvious panty shots an episode in the earlier parts but reading peoples comments in seemed more like there were 12-15 per episode. I don't know if it's people's typical internet behaviour to exaggerate or hyperbolize things or if they were serious. If it was the latter then I guess I was too busy paying attention to something else on screen. Lately its been kind of hit and miss. Sometimes it can take away from things a little bit and other times they're maybe more discrete so one can ignore or be more easily indifferent to them.

Anyway, I'm just really enjoying the show and look forward to whatever it is that comes next.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

KENN is joining samumenco, samumenco just got even better than ever!

 

[Rayearth]

Damn, I'm going to have to reverse my show watch order for Mondays now. Arpeggio 10 is stepping up its game (OP and ED jettisoned, hah) and punching me in the gut hard enough that even Build Fighters 10 can't heal the hurt.

I'm a little worried that Build Fighters can maybe finish in 3 episodes. Those will be the greatest episodes of Gundam ever, but what will I do next season?

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Damn, I'm going to have to reverse my show watch order for Mondays now. Arpeggio 10 is stepping up its game (OP and ED jettisoned, hah) and punching me in the gut hard enough that even Build Fighters 10 can't heal the hurt.

I'm a little worried that Build Fighters can maybe finish in 3 episodes. Those will be the greatest episodes of Gundam ever, but what will I do next season?

But Build fighters is not ending in 3 episodes.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Damn, I'm going to have to reverse my show watch order for Mondays now. Arpeggio 10 is stepping up its game (OP and ED jettisoned, hah) and punching me in the gut hard enough that even Build Fighters 10 can't heal the hurt.

I'm a little worried that Build Fighters can maybe finish in 3 episodes. Those will be the greatest episodes of Gundam ever, but what will I do next season?

No, Gundam Build Fighters is 25 episodes.

 

[duckroll]

KENN is joining samumenco, samumenco just got even better than ever!

Anji Kuroki - KENN
Sakura Momoi - Yukari Tamura
Soichi Aoshima - Shotaro Morikubo
Hekiru Midorikawa - Toshiyuki Toyonaga

 

[ZachDeKoromaru]

Sakura Momoi - Yukari Tamura

Interest somewhat risen.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Anji Kuroki - KENN
Sakura Momoi - Yukari Tamura
Soichi Aoshima - Shotaro Morikubo
Hekiru Midorikawa - Toshiyuki Toyonaga

Not even any time to color the designs; I wonder how long it'll be before there's no time to color the episodes.

 

[duckroll]

Not even any time to color the designs; I wonder how long it'll be before there's no time to color the episodes.

Don't worry, since their names are color coded, the audience can color the characters themselves in their head while watching!

 

[Branduil]

Coloring book anime. It's a new innovation.

 

[cajunator]

Something Something Quartet - 01

Ok so I literally started this show based solely on that cat girl hair rubbing gif. And I instantly love it. The animation fits the setting and story so damn well, I love all the characters, the fanservice is tasteful, and never at an expense to what's happening around it.

Two big thumbs up so far

Yeah that gif and Ao in general makes me really want to watch it. I have a lot of other stuff at the moment though so Im trying to catch up.

 

[Theonik]

Coloring book anime. It's a new innovation.

Toei's already been sort of there with crayon backgrounds.

 

[Rayearth]

But Build fighters is not ending in 3 episodes.

Oh, good. Sorry about the misunderstanding. I hope the next season of this can continue to be awesome after this national tourney ends.

I'll give this episode a rewatch

Spoiler

after I finish grieving for Takao, Kongou and Maya

.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

http://i.imgur.com/b92yLaC.jpg[/IG]

Hekiru Midorikawa - Toshiyuki Toyonaga[/QUOTE]

I need him to use the Mahiro Fuwa voice. I hope they thought of doing character cds.

 

[zeroshiki]

Random news:

- The 2nd(?) Lupin 3rd vs Conan movie opened this weekend to smashing results (600M JPY/$6M) which put it as the 6th best anime movie opening for the year (behind Kaze Tachinu, Monsters University, One Piece Film Z, Doraemon, Conan). Expectations are that it will hit 4 billion JPY in the end.

- Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind has been announced as the final movie of the year to be shown in the NTV Friday Roadshow movie timeslot. This will be the 16th time Nausicaa is shown and surprisingly only after a year's absence. This year has also seen the most number of Ghibli movies shown on TV ever at 10.

Btw, in case you're curious, Kaguya-hime's 280 million JPY opening a couple of weeks ago was for 330 theaters and it was the exact same 280 million JPY that the Gintama movie made in 100 theaters. There's no way Gintama will beat Kaguya-hime when its all said and done but that's a little perspective on how poorly Kaguya-hime did.

 

[Haly]

Should've made a revisionist WWII film instead.

Or a furry family film.

 

[Theonik]

Should've made a revisionist WWII film instead.

Or a furry family film.

WhyNotBoth.jpg

 

[Haly]

Revisionist furry film with furries as Nazis and shit.

Wait that exists:

 

[madp]

I am vehemently opposed to all forms of fanservice in anime with the exception of everything that appeals to my own personal proclivities.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Gundam Build Fighters 8

Is Ralph Jackson wearing suspenders? Who wears suspenders these days? I mean, really. Unless you're wearing a tuxedo, which he is certainly not.

Otherwise, the shading on the Sengoku Astray was pretty attractive.

 

[duckroll]

There's no way Gintama will beat Kaguya-hime when its all said and done but that's a little perspective on how poorly Kaguya-hime did.

Are we sure about that though? I expect Kaguyahime to struggle to get to even 20 million.

 

[foxuzamaki]

Yozakura Quartet Hana no Uta Episode 1
Seems like a fun series.

 

[dakkumauji]

Yowamushi Pedal 10

Pretty enjoyable episode. Always nice to get more focus on the other characters and even all that biking was pretty fun to watch.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Even with his last film Takahata gets neglected.

 

[jbug617]

Non Non Biyori 10

So good. The

Spoiler

origin story between Renge and Candy Store was sweet.

 

[Rayearth]

Should've made a revisionist WWII film instead.

Or a furry family film.

That makes me wish Miyazaki did a film version of his Tigers in the Mud comic. You know, the one where panzer commander Otto Carius was a pig.

 

[madp]

Is Ralph Jackson wearing suspenders? Who wears suspenders these days? I mean, really. Unless you're wearing a tuxedo, which he is certainly not.

Farmers, hipsters, Larry King, Tifa Lockheart cosplayers. They've found their niche.

 

[Haly]

That makes me wish Miyazaki did a film version of his Tigers in the Mud comic. You know, the one where panzer commander Otto Carius was a pig.

What's with Miyazaki and pigs?

There's that, porco rosso, and some weird pig transformation in Spirited Away.

And don't forget talking boars and people running around in boar skins...

Oh shit... what hell have I uncovered???

 

[OceanBlue]

I'm hyped for Conan vs. Lupin, but on the other hand, that's a shame regarding Kaguya-hime. The trailers and impressions posted here make the movie sound so good that I'd be really disappointed if it doesn't do very well. I'm definitely anticipating the home release.

 

[Theonik]

I am vehemently opposed to all forms of fanservice in anime with the exception of everything that appeals to my own personal proclivities.

This is the way to go really.

Even with his last film Takahata gets neglected.

I'm ordering Pom Poko to mourn

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

What's with Miyazaki and pigs?

There's that, porco rosso, and some weird pig transformation in Spirited Away.

And don't forget talking boars and people running around in boar skins...

Oh shit... what hell have I uncovered???

Quick Google search unearthed the following excerpt from an interview with Miyazaki following Porco Rosso:

Pigs are creatures which might be loved, but they are never respected. They're synonymous with greed, obesity, debauchery. The word "pig" itself is used as an insult. I'm not an agnostic or anything, but I don't like a society that parades its righteousness. The righteousness of the U.S., the righteousness of Islam, the righteousness of China, the righteousness of this or that ethnic group, the righteousness of Greenpeace, the righteousness of the entrepreneur.... They all claim to be righteous, but they all try to coerce others into complying with their own standards. They restrain others through huge military power, economic power, political power or public opinions.
I myself have a number of things I believe are right. And some things make me angry. Actually, I'm a person who gets angry a lot more easily than most people, but I always try to start from the assumption that human beings are foolish. I'm disgusted by the notion that man is the ultimate being, chosen by God. But I believe there are things in this world that are beautiful, that are important, that are worth striving for. I made the hero a pig because that was what best suited these feelings of mine.

 

[Vecks]

Gundam Build Fighters 10

The World Tournament has begun and Sei's new Gundam had a spectacular introduction.
They do a good job of balancing the action and story, but I really wish these episodes were longer so they can squeeze in more action. The battles this ep were mostly just teases since none of the main characters were duking it out with each other, but I imagine the next few eps will be crazy when the actual fights begin.

I really did not expect the show to be moving at such a brisk pace. At the rate they're going, it won't be long before the tournament ends. But I'm guessing that this isn't the real focus of the show since there are still many mysteries to be addressed-- like the plavsky particle and the PPSE, and Reiji's existence.

Yowapeda 10
Man, this ep was hilarious. Nothing much to say here except the interactions between the characters was great as usual. And look! They cut into the ending. That's how packed this episode was. I wish Gundam Build Fighters would cut into their ending... and offer more action scenes.

 

[Haly]

Well now we know what Miyazaki's spirit animal is.

 

[Hattori]

Non Non Biyori 10
So Good!

Spoiler

Kaede and Renchon's backstory is so endearing.

Non Non Biyori 10

So good. The

Spoiler

origin story between Renge and Candy Store was sweet.

XD

 

[zeroshiki]

Are we sure about that though? I expect Kaguyahime to struggle to get to even 20 million.

Well, I am not 100% sure especially since Kaguya-hime has done so poorly that they haven't pushed out numbers since the first week but the advantage in number of theaters is pretty significant (Toho will drag its lifeless carcass over $20M). Gintama made $16.8M so the comparison is not exactly out of reach.

 

[Dresden]

yozakura q - 5

Not digging Hime's backstory - it's saccharine stuff and I'm glad whenever the show moves past it. There are aspects of the setting that I find compelling, but this is not one of them.

Fun episode otherwise, though. Hoping to see Kotoha unleashed, like the second OAD episode.

Cringed at the shot of her butt a second later.

 

[Nafe]

Gundam Build Fighters


When this was first announced I really paid no interest in it. I saw it was more of a kids show based around the models and it seemed like the kind of thing I wouldn't just not watch later but not at all.

When it first started airing though I saw duckroll's post (followed by others) showing off the art, where even though it was based around models, the battles would still look like typical Gundam stuff. Even better was the Gundam's were all hand drawn, really nice looking and detailed as well as being really well animated on top of it all.

I decided to give it a watch and am really really glad I didn't skip out on this show. Right from the first episode it's been fun to watch. Right away I noticed Sei's mom whom everyone loves is voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi (Sailor Moon, Misato in Evangelion). Being a fan of hers I thought it was neat that she was in a Gundam show but then I remembered she already did the voice for Murrue Ramius in Gundam SEED,haha. China's voice was really familiar as well and it dawned on me that it's the same seiyuu for Mikasa in Attack on Titan. At first I just thought that Ral was some enthusiast but people in the official thread seemed to know him so I looked him up and apparently he's some character from the original Gundam. It's both funny and a bit weird how he just shows up everywhere.

Gundam Build Fighters is kind of like Akibaranger to me. I was aware of Sentai but had only really seen a few episodes. Even with all the nods and cameos it was still really fun and entertaining though. I guess that would be the only really kind of negative for me regarding Build Fighter. I've seen a bit more of Gundam with some of Wing years ago (although I don't really remember anything), most of SEED and SEED Destiny and all of Gundam 00, unless there were any kind of specials or reworked movie versions or something. A lot of the different cameos and that unfortunately have been a bit lost on me.

The characters are all entertaining though. With Reiji initially I wondered

Spoiler

if he really was supposed to be from space with the way things seemed a bit more grounded than other Gundam shows. Characters would mention that he seemed to disappear but you would see a door open or something, so I wondered if it was more he just snuck out. He came right out and said it though and with all the Plavsky particle stuff, apparently he really is from space,haha.

Maybe I'll go back and post more about it but this I think might have been my surprise of the season. For a show that I was initially just going to ignore and probably pay no attention to at all, to one that I now watch every week having tons of fun and consider to be not only one of the best of season but best of the year is really something!

 

[firehawk12]

Spoiler

still Gravity.

Madoka Magica Rebellion!

The elevator pitch back of the poster marketing quote: "Madoka Magica Rebellion is what Rebuild of Evangelion could only imagine achieving."

Now, I enjoyed Madoka back in the day, even if the Shaft-time delays ruined a lot of the hype (after Bakemono, I learned my lesson), but I feel like this movie revitalized my interest in the series.

To be spoiler free as possible, it's a movie that both retells the original series but also serves as a sequel to the original series, revisiting the same themes and character arcs, but doing something slightly different to make it more than just a rehash of old events. Perhaps it's because it has a definite

Spoiler

well, maybe not definitive

ending that it is a much more satisfying film that 3.33, but whatever they case is, as a film that very much goes back to the well - purposefully so - it just works.

Then there is just the strangeness of watching Shaft on a big screen. Maybe I still have my Shaft-goggles on from the Bakemono/Arakawa OPs, but fuck if this movie didn't look amazing. For me, it's very much a case of "style IS substance", where you can't really fault Shaft for being cheap this time around and trying to impress with surrealism and flashiness because all of that weirdness just looks good. And, I don't think this is a spoiler, but seeing a fucking Shaft-head-tilt on a movie screen is just glorious.

I do have a problem, and it is with the fourth act. If you've seen any myth heavy syfy bullshit movie, you know that the fourth act is the worst act of this kind of film.

Spoiler

This time around, you get Kyubey infodumping all of the bullshit about Homuhomu and what happens after the series finale

. It's a show stopper, but I will say, the animation (YES! I KNOW!) makes it bearable. They turned a scrubbable moment into something that I actually didn't mind watching.

But that said, the fourth act sets up the - quite frankly - amazing fifth act. I don't want to say anything more, but that even if you have read the spoilers, you really need to watch it to truly understand it. It was glorious and took the franchise to an amazingly unexpected place. If anything, it actually trumps the original ending and makes the series better as a whole.

Also, there's a little bit after the credits, if you're so inclined.

Anyway, I was fairly cool on this movie... I almost didn't go watch it tonight. But I'm really glad that I did. Even the loud anime nerds who were talking the ENTIRE FUCKING MOVIE didn't bother me because the sound was loud enough and the film was good enough for me to just ignore them completely and bask in the pure Shaft-ness.

If Kizumonogatari looks anything like this film, it's going to be fucking amazing.

 

[Envelope]

Spoiler

still Gravity.

Madoka Magica Rebellion!
http://i.imgur.com/3HTZGQ0l.jpg[/MG]

The elevator pitch back of the poster marketing quote: "Madoka Magica Rebellion is what Rebuild of Evangelion could only imagine achieving."

Now, I enjoyed Madoka back in the day, even if the Shaft-time delays ruined a lot of the hype (after Bakemono, I learned my lesson), but I feel like this movie revitalized my interest in the series.

To be spoiler free as possible, it's a movie that both retells the original series but also serves as a sequel to the original series, revisiting the same themes and character arcs, but doing something slightly different to make it more than just a rehash of old events. Perhaps it's because it has a definite [SPOILER]well, maybe not definitive[/SPOILER] ending that it is a much more satisfying film that 3.33, but whatever they case is, as a film that very much goes back to the well - purposefully so - it just works.

Then there is just the strangeness of watching Shaft on a big screen. Maybe I still have my Shaft-goggles on from the Bakemono/Arakawa OPs, but fuck if this movie didn't look amazing. For me, it's very much a case of "style IS substance", where you can't really fault Shaft for being cheap this time around and trying to impress with surrealism and flashiness because all of that weirdness just looks good. And, I don't think this is a spoiler, but seeing a fucking Shaft-head-tilt on a movie screen is just glorious.

I do have a problem, and it is with the fourth act. If you've seen any myth heavy syfy bullshit movie, you know that the fourth act is the worst act of this kind of film. [SPOILER]This time around, you get Kyubey infodumping all of the bullshit about Homuhomu and what happens after the series finale[/SPOILER]. It's a show stopper, but I will say, the animation (YES! I KNOW!) makes it bearable. They turned a scrubbable moment into something that I actually didn't mind watching.

But that said, the fourth act sets up the - quite frankly - amazing fifth act. I don't want to say anything more, but that even if you have read the spoilers, you really need to watch it to truly understand it. It was glorious and took the franchise to an amazingly unexpected place. If anything, it actually trumps the original ending and makes the series better as a whole.

Also, there's a little bit after the credits, if you're so inclined.

Anyway, I was fairly cool on this movie... I almost didn't go watch it tonight. But I'm really glad that I did. Even the loud anime nerds who were talking the ENTIRE FUCKING MOVIE didn't bother me because the sound was loud enough and the film was good enough for me to just ignore them completely and bask in the pure Shaft-ness.

If Kizumonogatari looks anything like this film, it's going to be fucking amazing.[/QUOTE]
Shaft hype reaffirmed

 

[firehawk12]

Shaft hype reaffirmed

Best hype!

 

[nintendoman58]

I remember back in the last thread when people were ranting and screaming about the ending because of how blatant the spoilers were (along with me). Everybody was screaming it was terrible when they haven't actually SEEN The film (again, along with me).

 

[Crocodile]

According to Newtype, episode 12 of Yozakura Quartet will feature Norio Matsumoto as episode director and animation director (along with Tomoaki Takase). What is happening? I can't feel my legs.

Who?

Yozakura just won't stop being best. Norio Matsumoto is responsible for the first time I ever thought to myself "why does this show look so amazing all of a sudden?" as a teenager watching the Naruto Vs. Sasuke fight scene he did.

OH SHIT! THAT GUY?!

Regarding the topic of fanservice (specifically the T&A variety) its too context dependent for me to make a sweeping generalization one way or another. Not all tits and asses are treated the same way. I've seen shows where the fanservice made me want to fly to Japan and punch everybody involved, I've seen shows where I just didn't give a damn and I've seen shows where I actually liked the fanservice. It has a lot to do with the characters involved, the artsyle, how "grounded" or "crazy" the universe is, how much "sense" it makes, the strength of the characters, etc.

At the end of the day, I have very little to no patience for shows who exist for no other purpose than to provide fanservice (I occasionally get morbidly curious but almost always regret satisfying said curiosity) but I can't think of any show/game I hated that had a lot of fanservice if it actually was good in every other respect (interesting plot, good music & animation, female characters with actual personalities and agency, etc.)

 

[Dresden]

yozakura quartet - 06

I know the source material is supposed to be dogshit, and it's a wonder that it's this competent already, but this would be a better show if tension generated in one scene was able to carry over to the next. Instead, conversations and expository sequences inserted between each setpiece breaks up the pacing and slows everything down. It's a twenty minute episode that feels like forty, and all the action can't quite compensate for that. It feels even sillier when all the talking seems to happen in some limbo where the monsters they fight stand still waiting for them to wrap it up. I know it's common enough to be a trope, but it's not a good one.

Also needed more Kotoha.

 

[ZachDeKoromaru]

So uh, this happened on The Daily Show.

 

[Joe Molotov]

So uh, this happened on The Daily Show.

Everybody doesn't like something, but nobody doesn't like tentacle hentai.

 

[Dresden]

So uh, this happened on The Daily Show.

The worst girl. Fire the Daily Show intern responsible for this.

 

[Pancakes]

So uh, this happened on The Daily Show.

Haha, the look on Jon's face.

 

[CorvoSol]

Alright guys, time to watch some more baby-raping Arjuna. I'll make up for lost episode 6 and try and get through episode 10.

 

[Joe Molotov]

Hey guys, are the Jewelpet shows any good? I kinda wanted to watch Sunshine after seeing that Armageddon parody, but the group that was subbing it died less than half-way through. Are any of the other seasons worth checking out?

 

[Passive Assassin]

yozakura quartet - 06

I know the source material is supposed to be dogshit, and it's a wonder that it's this competent already, but this would be a better show if tension generated in one scene was able to carry over to the next. Instead, conversations and expository sequences inserted between each setpiece breaks up the pacing and slows everything down. It's a twenty minute episode that feels like forty, and all the action can't quite compensate for that. It feels even sillier when all the talking seems to happen in some limbo where the monsters they fight stand still waiting for them to wrap it up. I know it's common enough to be a trope, but it's not a good one.

Also needed more Kotoha.

Good to know you're on the right team.