DrForester
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Utena is fairly grounded by comparison. There is still a ton of symbolism but it's a bit easier to follow.
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Ikuhara's Yuri Kuma Arashi |OT| Lesbian Bear Storm
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Utena is fairly grounded by comparison. There is still a ton of symbolism but it's a bit easier to follow.
Utena is a lot more grounded as others have said. Penguindrum is somewhat more grounded at the beginning.
Both are worth a watch I'd say. You'll know if you like either within the first handful of episodes.
Protip: that's not what the fanservice is there for.
Lee Chaolan
Member
Kinda funny to see the words Utena and grounded together, but let me echo, Utena is a really good watch.
UberTag
Member
Utena overkills with the insanity but at least it works its way up to it so you're completely invested in the outcome once it arrives.
Everyone's advice is right on the money. I wouldn't recommend that anyone watch this show or Penguindrum without having experienced Utena first.
Ikuhara doesnt use fanservice as a selling point.
DiscoShark
Banned
I can't speak for anyone else but I genuinely and non-ironically enjoyed it. Looking forward to see how it develops.
Basileus777
Member
Utena is no joke.
Ikuhara is the real deal, no joke.
Ikuhara's legit.
Ikuhara is not for everyone. I'm beginning to think everyone in AnimeGAF is bandwagoning on him though just to appear "legit".
ZombiePlatypus
Member
Watch Utena and Penguindrum. First one put him on the map, next one reaffirmed him as a goddamn savant. I will say though, taking these shows as a whole is important. You have to be in it for the long haul to see how things develop and escalate. With that in mind, I'm really, really curious to see what Yuri Kuma Arashi turns into considering how batshit crazy it started out.
That's fair. But, I don't think it's accurate to dismiss him as a hack of some sort with bloated praise on one message board. Especially if you haven't seen the stuff that turned him into a godfather of an anime staple.
Ikuhara has made only one good series and Yuri Bear sucks
so far
how's that for legit
maniac-kun
Member
You had me at Lesbian.
Ikuhara has made only one good series and Yuri Bear sucks( ≖‿≖so far
how's that for legit
The best moments of Penguin Drum were leagues above most "good" anime. That's speaking to the general low quality standards of anime itself. ( ≖‿≖
the worst moments of penguin drum were leagues below most good anime tho ( ≖‿≖The best moments of Penguin Drum were leagues above most "good" anime. That's speaking to the general low quality standards of anime itself. ( ≖‿≖
DiscoShark
Banned
What does this even mean? The guy asks a question, gets 4 responses within the span of 12 hours before your post, and suddenly we're bandwagoning something to make it seem better than it is? He could just as easily go through the thread to see the dissenting opinions of people who didn't enjoy it as well.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Huh same creator from Mawaru Penguindrum? Watched the youtube link in the OP and definitely enjoyed the music, not sure what I'm expecting plotwise though (i.e. will it be similar to Mawaru Penguindrum in terms of mindfuckery and an overarching theme?). Will definitely watch out of curiosity though.
Werewolf Jones
Member
What does this even mean?
This is what it means:
If you watched the first episode and didn't "get" it then I'd recommend retracing your steps and watch Utena, the Utena movie then Penguindrum by then this show will have finished and you'll come back into it without being bewildered by what you're seeing.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Yurikuma Arashi - 01
Yeah, well um.... the music was nice? I dunno compared to Mawaru Penguindrum I was thrown into craziness pretty damn early and looking back on this thread it seems alot of people had the same experience; lack of initial grounding.
Yeah, well um.... the music was nice? I dunno compared to Mawaru Penguindrum I was thrown into craziness pretty damn early and looking back on this thread it seems alot of people had the same experience; lack of initial grounding.
bababouille
Member
Oh my god, this first episode totally exceeded all of my expectations. The fact that it is an Ikuhara anime that is one-cour makes it that much more interesting. Penguindrum's first episode was so much tamer compared to this, this is basically already Penguindrum's last episodes' level of Ikuhara abstraction.
Once again a series about what's real and what's not and sexual identity. People who think the first episode was fan service-y really shouldn't watch the series. It IS about sex, real sex, everything ugly about it (desire), everything beautiful about it (love). In other words; an Ikuhara project.
When watching Ikuhara, everything that seems silly is actually super important. It's his way of releaving truths we are scared of, are hiding due to shame, or are too shocking to show as they really are. What I love most about his work is that the mysteries are not only a narrative device, they tie in with the themes.
Also superb music once again as well.
Once again a series about what's real and what's not and sexual identity. People who think the first episode was fan service-y really shouldn't watch the series. It IS about sex, real sex, everything ugly about it (desire), everything beautiful about it (love). In other words; an Ikuhara project.
When watching Ikuhara, everything that seems silly is actually super important. It's his way of releaving truths we are scared of, are hiding due to shame, or are too shocking to show as they really are. What I love most about his work is that the mysteries are not only a narrative device, they tie in with the themes.
Also superb music once again as well.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Episode 1
I don't even know what I just watched.
Mawaru Penguindrum tried to ease you into insanity. This one opens at a relatively low level of insanity but by the time you get to the trial you can see everyone is completely out of fucks left to give. I feel like Ikuhara has consistently tried to improve how much fun you are having with every project he works on, and this one is like trying to give you a fun orgasm from the first frame.
For those of you who shamefully skipped Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA, you should be aware that Silver Link can do it when they try.
I don't even know what I just watched.
Mawaru Penguindrum tried to ease you into insanity. This one opens at a relatively low level of insanity but by the time you get to the trial you can see everyone is completely out of fucks left to give. I feel like Ikuhara has consistently tried to improve how much fun you are having with every project he works on, and this one is like trying to give you a fun orgasm from the first frame.
For those of you who shamefully skipped Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA, you should be aware that Silver Link can do it when they try.
striferser
Huge Nickleback Fan
Yuri Kuma Arashi 1
Lily flower. Check.
Lesbian. Check.
Bear. Check.
Storm. Check
Ikuhara deliver!
I have no idea what i watch, but the visual deliver, so there's that. All i know is that bear want to eat lesbian for some reason.
Lily flower. Check.
Lesbian. Check.
Bear. Check.
Storm. Check
Ikuhara deliver!
I have no idea what i watch, but the visual deliver, so there's that. All i know is that bear want to eat lesbian for some reason.
SliceSabre
Banned
The more that watch the better.
invisible storm
or 2lewd storm
nah, it wasn't too bad, I'm mildly interested to see where this is going. (granted that it won't be a mess going nowhere :u) I especially enjoyed the last part where bears were eating the already annoyingplsdie girl. hopefully that means less cringe dialogues. I can assume that lesbian girls doing lesbian stuff and licking other people's flowers is going to be one of the central themes so I guess I'll have to deal with it.
oh, I'm liking the art so far, the bears' design too.
the opening is quite horrid but I like the ending.
of shit.
nah, it wasn't too bad, I'm mildly interested to see where this is going. (granted that it won't be a mess going nowhere :u) I especially enjoyed the last part where bears were eating the already annoyingplsdie girl. hopefully that means less cringe dialogues. I can assume that lesbian girls doing lesbian stuff and licking other people's flowers is going to be one of the central themes so I guess I'll have to deal with it.
oh, I'm liking the art so far, the bears' design too.
the opening is quite horrid but I like the ending.
Episode 2
I think it's becoming ever more obvious that Ikuhara has an idea here for a much longer TV show. The pace is incredible; the show piles on new thing after new thing and barely gives it any time to breathe (save, perhaps, the sequence where the Bears infiltrate Kureha's home). There's a sense of the plot only just clinging together in coherency; so little is clear as to what's actually happening in the Court of Extinction, for instance, and so many things ARE happening, but I almost feel like I know what's going on despite... well, not. If I took each story thread in isolation it's well crafted and interesting, but the way it's all strung together is just slightly baffling.
I'm certainly interested in seeing more... but I can't quite decide whether I think the show is actually any good. I suspect not - but then if I'm enjoying it regardless, then who knows?
I think it's becoming ever more obvious that Ikuhara has an idea here for a much longer TV show. The pace is incredible; the show piles on new thing after new thing and barely gives it any time to breathe (save, perhaps, the sequence where the Bears infiltrate Kureha's home). There's a sense of the plot only just clinging together in coherency; so little is clear as to what's actually happening in the Court of Extinction, for instance, and so many things ARE happening, but I almost feel like I know what's going on despite... well, not. If I took each story thread in isolation it's well crafted and interesting, but the way it's all strung together is just slightly baffling.
I'm certainly interested in seeing more... but I can't quite decide whether I think the show is actually any good. I suspect not - but then if I'm enjoying it regardless, then who knows?
Jex
Member
[Yurikuma Arashi] - 2
This really shows every sign of being a two-cour story slapped into a single-cour runtime. I mean, when an episode moves this fast and features two (2!) moments which are supposed to be 'revelations' you know that this story wasn't meant to be told in this format. Still, I can't deny that this was pretty fun. Weightless, but fun.
One thing that I really want to draw special attention to is the sound design. Ikuhara works as a Sound Director and you really notice how effectively he uses not just music but sound effects in this episode. He's one the few directors that really punctuates his visuals with sound effects. This was also very noticeable in Penguin Drum.
This really shows every sign of being a two-cour story slapped into a single-cour runtime. I mean, when an episode moves this fast and features two (2!) moments which are supposed to be 'revelations' you know that this story wasn't meant to be told in this format. Still, I can't deny that this was pretty fun. Weightless, but fun.
One thing that I really want to draw special attention to is the sound design. Ikuhara works as a Sound Director and you really notice how effectively he uses not just music but sound effects in this episode. He's one the few directors that really punctuates his visuals with sound effects. This was also very noticeable in Penguin Drum.
Yurikuma Arashi #2
Yeah would like to echo the comments by Jexhius and BluWacky that the show is moving way too fast. It doesn't even feel like a intentional artistic decision and feels more or less like Ikuhara attempting to deal with the limitations he's been handed down.
Thankfully it manages to remain enjoyable despite that, I personally feel the sound direction will make this worth tuning in every week, even when you don't care for any of the characters because the show hasn't given you the time to make you care, the sense of mood that's captured in isolation with the combination of eye-catching visuals and excellent use of sound and music and Ikuhara signature-style direction manages to punctuate a emotional state that i can't help but feel moved by.
Yeah would like to echo the comments by Jexhius and BluWacky that the show is moving way too fast. It doesn't even feel like a intentional artistic decision and feels more or less like Ikuhara attempting to deal with the limitations he's been handed down.
Thankfully it manages to remain enjoyable despite that, I personally feel the sound direction will make this worth tuning in every week, even when you don't care for any of the characters because the show hasn't given you the time to make you care, the sense of mood that's captured in isolation with the combination of eye-catching visuals and excellent use of sound and music and Ikuhara signature-style direction manages to punctuate a emotional state that i can't help but feel moved by.
This is Lesbian Attack on Titan. Like, seriously. It's pulling the
as much as AoT did. Except AoT didn't have the balls to reuse a metaphorical cunnilingus scene. There's gotta be something to the fact
, and I don't know why, and I'm gonna watch this show to figure it out, and I'm not even sure I'm gonna get an answer.
EVERYONE IS A SECRET BEAR
Kureha seems to die all the time but then turns out she's okay
MetroidPrimeRib
Banned
Yuri Kuma Arashi 02
You better not blink while watching this because if you do you'll probably miss 5 plot details.
Enjoyable nonetheless.
You better not blink while watching this because if you do you'll probably miss 5 plot details.
Enjoyable nonetheless.
It's okay. It doesn't make sense, but it's not a mystery I'm longing to get to the bottom of, like a David Lynch film or Penguindrum. It's just camp nonsense, so there's no real emotional element to it. On the other hand, it's too vague and slapdash to work on an intellectual level.
I think this show suffers from an identity crisis. Elements like 'KUMA SHOCK!' and the sexy court suggest it's meant to be taken as a comedy, as does the visual style, but the main drama consists of characters moping around or spouting metaphorical babble and is the opposite of funny. When the show does seem like it's trying to be outwardly humorous the jokes invariably fall flat, if they come at all. After the amazing juggling of moods and anarchic comedy of Ikuhara's last three series as director, it's frustrating seeing him unwilling or unable to fully commit to a tone.
I think this show suffers from an identity crisis. Elements like 'KUMA SHOCK!' and the sexy court suggest it's meant to be taken as a comedy, as does the visual style, but the main drama consists of characters moping around or spouting metaphorical babble and is the opposite of funny. When the show does seem like it's trying to be outwardly humorous the jokes invariably fall flat, if they come at all. After the amazing juggling of moods and anarchic comedy of Ikuhara's last three series as director, it's frustrating seeing him unwilling or unable to fully commit to a tone.
MetroidPrimeRib
Banned
Also I must say tie pulling is amazing and it's good to see Ikuhara understands that
It is rarer then you would think it would be.
Episode 02
She's got the magic honey that makes the bears gao gao.
The plot is accelerated in an obvious way as others have said but it hasn't put me off so far. Yeah it would have been nicer if there could have been multi-episode buildup to some of the reveals but he's got to work with the amount of episodes he has. Sumika
but I'm still on board.
Now I'm wondering...who exactly were the two bears nibbling on in episode 1 behind the shed? Was class-pres-chan shocked to figure out
She's got the magic honey that makes the bears gao gao.
The plot is accelerated in an obvious way as others have said but it hasn't put me off so far. Yeah it would have been nicer if there could have been multi-episode buildup to some of the reveals but he's got to work with the amount of episodes he has. Sumika
having been eaten by class-pres-chan (or whatever she is) was a reveal that could have come in a separate episode from the reveal that she's a bear for sure, even with the episode number restraints
Now I'm wondering...who exactly were the two bears nibbling on in episode 1 behind the shed? Was class-pres-chan shocked to figure out
that they were bears, or shocked at who it was they were nibbling? Her dialogue suggests that she's shocked to find bears eating people...but...why would that be shocking to her? I guess because most bears choose to be invisible and not eat on this side of the wall?
SliceSabre
Banned
Yuri Kuma Arashi 02
I will finish this because I must see where this all leads. ~kira kira
SMUT
Alright so I'm going to operate on a couple of assumptions here. Kureha is a particularly tasty person so like any good meat or wine they bears want her aged to perfection. That aging process is isolating her which apparently makes her even tastier to them. However for whatever apparent reason the bears can only attack people on school grounds. Other girls in the school are probably bears, teacher for sure is a bear. However not all bears have the same motives. i.e. Konomi Not only that it seems they may not know each other are bears either. And not only do some bears not have the same motives they all have different speech quirks except for Lulu and Ginko who both simply say gao.
I will finish this because I must see where this all leads. ~kira kira
Turin Turambar
Member
This is what it means:
If you watched the first episode and didn't "get" it then I'd recommend retracing your steps and watch Utena, the Utena movie then Penguindrum by then this show will have finished and you'll come back into it without being bewildered by what you're seeing.
If "get" here is getting the plot or the characterization or the meaning of the symbolism, I doubt anyone have "got it" after watching the first episode.
Even the people who didn't dislike it are more waiting a few more eps to judge.
Jex
Member
I don't think it's nonsense, really. I wouldn't really describe it as camp, either. It's not tonally dissimilar to PenguinDrum either, it's just a bit of a mess.
KUMA SHOCK ep2
Some of Ikuhara's flourishes are nice but this ep was even worse than the first, the courtroom scene didn't belong in this episode, the pacing is too hyper so there's no time to build up any suspense or mystery, the dialogue is ridiculously hamfisted and too preoccupied with OMG TWIST *KUMA SHOCK* to actually accomplish anything. What did we actually learn from this ep?
That's it. Boring McBorington has done nothing except shoot bear statues and declare I WILL AVENGE MY LOVE *falls off roof again*. - insert flashback to show how YURI she and her dead girlfriend were -
Some of Ikuhara's flourishes are nice but this ep was even worse than the first, the courtroom scene didn't belong in this episode, the pacing is too hyper so there's no time to build up any suspense or mystery, the dialogue is ridiculously hamfisted and too preoccupied with OMG TWIST *KUMA SHOCK* to actually accomplish anything. What did we actually learn from this ep?
Everyone is a bear who wants to eat Boring McBorington, the protagonist.
Yuri Kuma Arashi (LESBIAN BEAR STORM) - 02
Hoooooly shit those plot twists! So there's a couple things we can take away from this episode that I feel could be fairly important down the line:
Anyway, can't wait for the next episode! gao~
Hoooooly shit those plot twists! So there's a couple things we can take away from this episode that I feel could be fairly important down the line:
There seems to be a correlation with a character's yuri level and their state of being. Both in the first episode and the current one characters were introduced with their name followed by "(yuri)" in subtitles. Maybe these are indicators for those who are bears or will soon become one due to their love for their fellow classmate? For Kureha and Subaki their relationship was light on the yuri, basic hand holding/fingersex. Ginko, Lulu, as well as Konomi and Mitsuko have already far progressed from those stages of affection and have advanced into skinship territory. My guess is once you've gone off that deep end (or shall I say go :sdburton) you become a bear who's main purpose is eating people (both literally and sexually).
Wall of Severance does jack shit, as these were made by humans and bears are not bound by their rules. Considering how everyone seems to be a goddamn bear at the school, we might begin to wonder which side of the wall are we standing in? Are we on the human side or the bears? Sure you have students talking about how the bears are terrible and stuff, but honestly they could just be saying that to keep their own cover. :lol
"Girls who don't follow the mood of the herd get excluded." Mitsuko's comment is very interesting as it can interpreted as girls who don't back down on their love for another become a danger to themselves and everyone else around them. Which holds true as we later find out from her herself that 'invisible girls' simply don't taste like anything at all. Those are the girls who follow the herd. Mitsuko's objective (and maybe to an extent even Ginko and Lulu's as well) is to isolate Kureha from said herd so her love continues to grow to acceptable level before eating her. The question now remains whether Ginko and Lulu's definition of eating is that of sustenance of the body or that of a sexual nature.
Anyway, can't wait for the next episode! gao~
KuwabaraTheMan
Banned
Episode 2:
The sound is really excellent in this show.
I've seen a lot of people saying that this is moving too fast, and while it's certainly moving pretty quickly (I think in a two cour version this could have easily been two episodes, cut roughly in half), I don't think it's going at a ridiculous speed. A lot happened in this episode, but it was all explained fairly well, and it never really felt like we were missing any crucial scenes. The repeated trial scene was the only thing that didn't work. I loved it in the first episode, but here it was pretty much pointless.
There's a lot with this episode, and what we've seen so far in general, that I don't think I can really judge yet. Particularly with the way this episode ended. I think it might take a few episodes for some of the themes to really become clear, and so a lot of scenes might need to be reinterpreted depending on how everything plays out.
I'm intrigued, for sure.
Some further thoughts that came to me afterwards:
It's just one theory, and it could be completely wrong, but it at least fits what we know so far. I think there are a lot of different possibilities, so I don't know if I'll commit to anything just yet.
The sound is really excellent in this show.
I've seen a lot of people saying that this is moving too fast, and while it's certainly moving pretty quickly (I think in a two cour version this could have easily been two episodes, cut roughly in half), I don't think it's going at a ridiculous speed. A lot happened in this episode, but it was all explained fairly well, and it never really felt like we were missing any crucial scenes. The repeated trial scene was the only thing that didn't work. I loved it in the first episode, but here it was pretty much pointless.
There's a lot with this episode, and what we've seen so far in general, that I don't think I can really judge yet. Particularly with the way this episode ended. I think it might take a few episodes for some of the themes to really become clear, and so a lot of scenes might need to be reinterpreted depending on how everything plays out.
It seems like bears are a lot less rare than the first episode made things seem. Even if there aren't any other bears present, four (minimum) is still a lot. Perhaps this could even wind up tying into the need to repeat the trial bits. The Wall of Severance probably has a completely different purpose than what we're being lead to believe right now (either that or we're actually on the other side of the Wall all along).
I'm intrigued, for sure.
Some further thoughts that came to me afterwards:
Maybe everyone, including Kureha and Sumika, are bears, but they don't actually remember it until certain feelings are triggered. That would be an explanation for why Yurizono was shocked by seeing Lulu/Ginko last episode, but is revealed as actually being a bear here. Perhaps her desire for Kureha awoke her bear side, and Lulu/Ginko had those feelings all along, so they never forgot they were bears. Kureha doesn't remember being a bear because her feelings for Sumika were strictly pure, rather than having a desire to eat her.
It's just one theory, and it could be completely wrong, but it at least fits what we know so far. I think there are a lot of different possibilities, so I don't know if I'll commit to anything just yet.
Basileus777
Member
Episode 2
This is poorly plotted, poorly paced, and has paper-thin characterization. I'm sure there are interesting things to think about with the symbolism, but the show has failed to make me care enough to make the attempt. If this wasn't from Ikuhara, I'd probably stop watching at this point.
This is poorly plotted, poorly paced, and has paper-thin characterization. I'm sure there are interesting things to think about with the symbolism, but the show has failed to make me care enough to make the attempt. If this wasn't from Ikuhara, I'd probably stop watching at this point.
Cow Mengde
Banned
Lesbian Bear Storm...? I have to watch it based on the name alone, but Penguin Drum was so fucked up man.
I enjoyed the episode and find it pretty interesting so far. The bears like their lesbians. It's a shame the show doesn't have 2 cours to develop its story and characters but I'm thankful they even approved it in the first place, even if it's only for 1 cour. Only thing I didn't like, like the others have said, was the courtroom. Although, I have never ever liked the way Ikuhara repeats certain scenes in all his shows. If there was a certain meaning to it, it was and has always been lost on me. I have always assumed that it was because of budget constraints that he reuses scenes so much.
I was initially afraid that they would go down the "Sumika's love wasn't real" route (I've had enough of class S) when the show implied that
. Turns out she was
so, phew. Disaster averted.
Hearing Yuuki Aoi in this is quite the treat. I particularly enjoyed her lines from the infirmary onwards and her delivery of
. What a delicious role. This show made me realise that there's a certain kind of
that I like and this Mitsuko, I like very much.
. Also, Mitsuko looking forward to the invisible storm has invalidated my theory on what the storm is.
.
I was initially afraid that they would go down the "Sumika's love wasn't real" route (I've had enough of class S) when the show implied that
Lulu and Ginko stand for Yuri and ate her anyway in ep 1
eaten by Mitsuko and was delicious
Hearing Yuuki Aoi in this is quite the treat. I particularly enjoyed her lines from the infirmary onwards and her delivery of
"あなたはとても美味しかった"
evil/crazy
She probably won't last much longer though
She likes them not invisible, so the storm can't be something that would put the outliers back into place
Indeed. I kinda stopped breathing for a while there.
I love just how different it is, and that I can never really accurately guess what's going to come next. Ikuhara always manages to subvert all of my expectations, and I really love it when I just get to be there to experience the ride. It always keeps me drawn in to the end, and never manages to get me to stop thinking about it, or what anything in the show can mean.
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