Random Curiosity

「マンドラゴラの花言葉」 (Mandoragora no Hanakotoba)
“The Meaning of Mandrake”

And just when I thought we had broken the formula.

「赤い彗星」 (Akai Suisei)
“The Red Comet”

It’s kind of hard to believe it’s been eight months since the release of the first episode of Gundam series that marks the long-awaited return to the Universal Century timeline, but Sunrise sure made it well worth the wait. With each episode being an hour long and production quality that doesn’t disappoint one bit, this is more akin to a six-part movie series like Break Blade and worthy of a theatrical release if the story is broken up accordingly.

「ハナムプトラ」 (Hanamuputora)
“The Runny”

There’s a whole mess of confusion within me from watching this half. Is it the urge to be disgusted from an episode devoted to boogers? That said boogers are so abundant, and shooting everywhere, or that they look exactly like Stocking’s sweets? How about that Stocking eats said sweets, but soon eats those boogers too, but the cognitive dissonance of seeing it still as a sweet, but knowing it’s a booger just rips the mind apart?

「綺羅星十字団の挑戦」 (Kiraboshi Jūjidan no Chōsen)
“The Challenge of the Holy Order of Glittering Stars”

Well, this certainly was a fairly risqué episode, with the formal introduction of Watanabe Kanako (Niina Ayano) bringing with it plenty of sex appeal to the series.

「スキヤキ・ウエスタン・マツサカ」 (Sukiyaki Uesutan Matsusaka)
“Sukiyaki Western Matsusaka”

Not to be overshadowed by the females, Kuranosuke continues to visit the Amamizu complex, for the sole reason of seeing Tsukimi.

「桜井梨穂子編 第一章 オモイデ」 (Sakurai Rihoko-hen Dai Isshou – Omoide)
“Sakurai Rihoko Chapter 1 – Memories”

The childhood friend arc has arrived, and with it a much cuter Rihoko than all the previous ones had me believe. I guess it’s true what they say about how one’s perception of someone can drastically change once you get to know them. As this is only the first episode, I’m nowhere near jumping on the Rihoko bandwagon just yet, but can definitely see some of her cuter charm points.

As a treat for manga readers, the trend these days seems to be bundling Original Animation DVDs (OADs) with volume releases that animate a few parts of the original source material. In the case of ones that had already seen an adaptation like Yozakura Quartet, these bonus episodes also tend to please the purist crowd, who strongly feel that the anime should be an exact moving and talking version of what they read.

「今そこにある聖戦」 (Ima Soko ni Aru Seisen)
“The Crusade Happening Over There”

There’s gamer pride over maintaining one’s reputation and then there’s obsessive compulsive disorder. In Keima’s case, the line between the two blurs badly when’s he’s faced with the buggiest romantic simulation game ever and still tries to get through it. While it wasn’t quite Endless Eight, there was a lot of looping going on as well. For those with traumatizing memories of that Suzumiya Haruhi debacle, don’t worry, it was actually funny here.

「ねえ忠してよ？」 (Nee Chuu Shite yo?)
“Hey, Kiss Me?”

I don’t know what the heck a “Sky Love Hurricane Kiss” is, but if Yukimura is the one delivering it, I’m guessing some air time is involved, much like when she busted out some master samurai abilities of her own.

Summary:
After defeating most of the captain and Vizards, Aizen states that he won’t kill them, but will let them watch the battle as his plans unfold. Yamamoto then releases his shikai, but Aizen says it is too late.