「マヨタマ爆誕」 (Mayotama Bakutan)
“Mayotama’s Explosive Appearance”

It was right around this time last season we got an episode that was just like this. Totally different art style, completely left field subject matter, and somehow it related to the past. But unlike last time, I think this attempt was a complete success.

Brotherly Love

Taking out any of the dirtier connotations that the heading might have made you think of, I never thought I’d feel so strongly about this subject from a tiny three minute show. Tossing us into Youta’s early life from before he became his more otaku-like self, I would have never guessed he was the definition of a normal, everyday kid. Not into anything related to anime or manga, he used to just be a little runt who shared absolutely nothing in common with Hajime.

But as much as Youta’s personality surprised me, the way Hajime was completely blew me away. The way he reacted when he saw his little brother was getting bullied nearly brought me to tears. Standing up to a group of thugs who were about to deflower Youta (okay, probably not deflower but do whatever little kids do to each other), the sense of satisfaction I got knowing that he’d actually stand up to people harassing his family got me right in the chest. Sure, it may have been fueled by some chuunibyou delusions and he may have gotten roughed up, but at the end of the day Hajime did what he had to do.

And if that wasn’t enough to get your feelings going, I’m sure that shot of the popsicle stick at the end hit you right in the gut. Right? RIGHT?

Looking Ahead

So, it looks like we’ve given up episode numbers entirely and just have titles now. Which in itself I guess isn’t a bad thing since it seems the show is gungho about skirting around the whole pregnancy thing. That said, if the rest of the season was as entertaining as this I almost wouldn’t mind if we didn’t get to see Kaoru and Hajime’s baby. Almost. Catch you guys next week when we’ll hopefully get to see stuff in the present instead of the past!

16 Comments

  1. “It was right around this time last season we got an episode that was just like this. Totally different art style, completely left field subject matter, and somehow it related to the past. But unlike last time, I think this attempt was a complete success.”

    Same. Last season’s was jarring and just wasn’t very good. On the other hand, this episode was great. It was very sad in the beginning, and then became quite heartwarming. This little show can do a lot in only three minutes.

    Mormegil
  2. I am sure quite a number of Asians will cry out loud watching this show.
    Most content is based on real stories, makeinu wife, otaku husband, loli wife, shota brother, etc.
    What make me feel strongest so far are episode 6(mostly not because of loli), the episode that changes style back in season 1(10?) and episode 9 in season 1. Sometimes if comedy was part of your life, then you would probably cry.

    AnAsianAuidence
  3. Cool Kyoushinsha being Cool Kyoushinsha. I love his work. It’s usually funny, but it also has this heartbreaking sad edge to it, too. This week’s was no exception. His mangas often feature quirky characters who are fun on the outside, but totally broken on the inside. (Kind of like how a lot of people are in RL.)

    He’s done a really good job continuing this with Ojojojo. Great little manga there, too!

    s_w
    1. Thanks for the heads up!

      Honestly, I didn’t know much about this show besides the fact I really enjoyed the first season. But with you guys dropping the artist name and his other works, it gives me a place to start to read some of his other works \o/

  4. Again, it’s not that the art style is ‘weird’, that’s the art style of the manga. If you have a problem with it, then you have a problem with the anime too, because it isn’t using the manga’s art style. Anyway, I think this is the ‘break’ chapter before delving in to Karou’s pregnancy.

    Tarage
    1. Anime != Manga

      I went through the manga a while back and I sort of enjoyed the style — in manga form. If you were to make an anime like that though, I dunno how I’d feel about it.

      But isn’t that the great thing about anime/manga in general? The more there is (as long as it isn’t shovelware-like stuff), the better it is for everyone!

      1. Anime != Manga is a major problem with adaptations. There is a lot of ‘moeification’ of anime, taking away the styles that made them unique and turning them into mass produced same-face bullshit.

        Tarage
      2. I won’t argue with that one — a lot of stuff does start to look the same especially with more recent shows.

        Some people enjoy moe though and it isn’t our place to put them down. (I like me some moe every now and then too)

  5. I actually really liked seeing the flashback more in the manga style of things. Gave the “then” and “now” even more of a difference, not to mention I am a fan of some of Cool Kyoushinsha’s other works (I too will mention Ojojojo). I do agree the style is kind of hard to pull off in anime form, though.

    Krile
    1. Am I in the minority here when I say that I’m an anime-only viewer for this show? 😮

      Until someone pointed it out last week (or the week before?) that the original style is a lot more messy, I would have never known _(:3>L)_

      But referring to my comment somewhere up there, it’s the comments that help me learn more about a show and I appreciate them \o\

  6. Again I don’t really understand what was wrong with the 1st season’s 11th episode.
    Also if you want to praise somebody for this episode you should praise Imazaki Itsuki since he was the one who had pretty much drawn the whole episode.

    Chipp
    1. Nothing’s wrong with it. It was just a bit jarring since it was such a stark difference from previous episodes.

      Kind of like that one episode in Gurren Lagann (3 or 4?) where it was just different for a single episode.

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