Kiniro Mosaic – 01
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「ふしぎの国の」 (Fushigi no Kuni no)
“…In Wonderland”
Megaton levels of cute. Toxic levels of cute. This was one big stream of adorable from beginning to end, spliced with a fuwa fuwa atmosphere that made it all go down super smooth. And it’s funny too!
Super Cute!
Not to toot my own horn, but I so called it – cuteness reigns supreme in Kinmosa, and atmosphere is number two. First of all, let’s talk about the cute. It’s at dangerous levels, people! I don’t know how to actually explain it other than link a bunch of pictures and let them do all the work, but it definitely has something to do with the characters. Alice Cartelet (Tanaka Manami) is weapons-grade adorable, but ditzy, genki, and silly Oomiya Shinobu (Nishi Asuka) does a great job at playing the natural boke in the most adorable of ways. Plus it’s hard not to get swept up in her own enthusiasm for all things cute (and Alice!).
Next, atmosphere. As expected, Studio Gokumi has done wonders using their A-Channel magic to give this a light and fluffy atmosphere that gently swept me away. I’ll admit, I’m predisposed to like this kind of show – this is the kind of thing that will relax me, and then send me skittering around squealing about the adorable characters and laughing heartily at every single joke – but I think this one was done especially well. Put it down to good source material and a good studio – this really was a natural fit.
Flashback to England
The pleasant surprise for me (since I’ve read some of the manga) was that they started off with an extended flashback to Shinobu’s home-stay in England. First of all, I was impressed by how good the English we heard was. Oohara Sayaka (playing Alice’s mother) was especially good, but Alice’s Manami Tanaka did a respectable job as well. I appreciate that they took the time to find seiyuu who could do speak good English, because it undoubtedly contributed to the “foreign” feel that a Japanese viewer would get from this, and just wasn’t completely laughable for those of us who are fluent in that particular tongue. Touyama Nao (playing Karen Kujou) could use some work though. Ah well, two out of three isn’t bad.
Anyway, I liked that they went back and thoroughly cemented how the friendship between these two girls began…and it didn’t hurt that it was, once again, completely and utterly adorable! Special mention goes to the fact that neither of them really had a clue of what the other was saying the entire time, to the point where they were yelling “Hello!” and “Konnichiwa!” at each other when Shinobu was leaving. How cute is that? *dies*
Bonus points go to Studio Gokumi for using the black bars to show when we were in flashback-ville, which were then taken away when we went back to the story’s present. It truly is the little details that count.
A Blonde Girl in Japan
Of course, this all leads up to Alice arriving in Glorious Nippon. Surprise! Having read this part of the manga, these were all gags I had seen before, but let me just say that they truly were enhanced by being on the screen. Not only Alice and Shinobu, but Komichi Aya (Taneda Risa) and Inokuma Youko (Uchiyama Yumi, i.e. the woman in every major Studio Gokumi anime…I’m starting to think she lives there) were greatly enhanced by both the animation and the seiyuu backing them.
Looking Ahead
Of all the slice-of-life shows I have introduced to you this season – which is approximately all of them – this is the one I enjoyed the most. Personal preference definitely plays a part there, but if this is your kind of thing then it’s a very good example of the form. I don’t plan on covering this weekly (sorry, even good slice-of-life shows are hard to talk about week after week), but I will be watching it avidly, so follow me on twitter if you’d like to chat. Until then, thanks for reading!
tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – Adorable, adorable, so fricken adorable!! Plus the atmosphere was spot on & the animation was fuwa fuwa amazing. Loved it! #kinmosa
Random thoughts:
- “The time will very.” Ohhh, so close!
- You all knew I would have to get a picture of the English people drinking beer, out of what looks more like a stange glass – suitable for a local Cologne Kölsch – rather than a proper English imperial pint. But what do I know, its been a while since I was drinking beer in England, and was sober enough to remember it.
- This scene reminded me of the time I made cookies in the shape of my nieces’ and nephew’s names, from scratch and without cookie cutters. TOOK FOREVER! (The A’s and the R’s were the hardest.) I say this mostly so you’ll all know that I’m the best uncle in the world, and also a total masochist. But we all knew that already.
- “I don’t taste very good.” False. That’s a lie and you know it. You taste delicious.
- I still don’t get the weird fascination Shinobu has with foreigners. Okay, actually I do – Japan is a fairly homogeneous island, so foreigners are pretty rare. It’s just really weird to my American point of view. I guess what I’m really trying to say is that I want to go to Japan. A week or two of my 6’7″ blond ass running around the place and they’ll get used to foreigners! Or not. I don’t really care, I just want to go!!
For more from yours truly, check out my blog on writing, art, and the book I’m working on at stiltsoutloud.com.
Full-length images: 33.
OP Sequence
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OP: 「Jumping!!」 by Rhodanthe*
ED Sequence
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ED: 「Your Voice」 by Rhodanthe*
Preview
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July 8, 2013 at 2:30 amLuxrays
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I may be stuck with a permanent smile after this episode. I was expecting cute but this.. This was simply dangerous on so many levels that it simply was not fair by any means. xD
July 8, 2013 at 2:49 amStilts
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I know, right?? It got me weirdly pumped up too. I need to come down from this cuteness overload so I can go to sleep :X
July 8, 2013 at 3:11 amLuxrays
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Haha sleep is but a dream so far gone that I have all but given up on it myself. Watching anime till you pass out seems like a practical option though, Stilts :x
July 8, 2013 at 2:11 pmAni_BEE
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This and Genshiken totally permanent smile for completely directer reasons. This series it just to adorable.
July 8, 2013 at 2:35 ambaseone
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THIS IS . . . . DEATH BY MOE!
July 8, 2013 at 2:46 amIzzard
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I can’t help but notice the similarities…
http://randomc.net/image/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee%20The%20Animation%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2009.jpg
http://randomc.net/image/Kiniro%20Mosaic/Kiniro%20Mosaic%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
http://randomc.net/image/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee/Ikoku%20Meiro%20no%20Croisee%20The%20Animation%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2014.jpg
http://randomc.net/image/Kiniro%20Mosaic/Kiniro%20Mosaic%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2024.jpg
July 8, 2013 at 3:05 amStilts
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I really oughta finish that show.
July 8, 2013 at 9:30 amGermanguy
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yep me, too. It like transfered in our Time
July 8, 2013 at 10:54 amKarutaku
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Yune also has a red umbrella similar to the one that Alice is using in the OP. Or at least the umbrella comes with Yune’s nendo
July 8, 2013 at 2:34 pmLuxor
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It was pretty similar! I absolutely loved the beginning half when she went to Europe… that was just so nice. >.<
I hope we get more flashbacks of Euro-land, otherwise I'll go re-watch Ikoku or something in my off-time.
July 9, 2013 at 9:19 pmChalryn
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For real. It’s like Yune and Alice in reverse. All I kept thinking throughout this whole premiere.
July 8, 2013 at 3:25 amxiao32615987
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Having read the first volume of the manga I was also pleasantly surprised by the extended flashback of Shino’s homestay that showed rather well the foundation of her and Alice’s friendship and the quality of the English must be amongst the best I’ve seen, with only a few small mistakes (desert/dessert). Although, since the official site announced last month that they had gone to the trouble of getting British English language instructors to help them, I did have high expectations.
It’s adorable enough that it should come with a health warning and a good adaptation so far of the original 4koma. Looking forward to episode 2.
July 8, 2013 at 11:35 pmStilts
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They really got British English language instructors? That’s really cool! This is just another reason I like Studio Gokumi – maybe they don’t go for the meatier shows (though I’d love to see them try), but whatever they do they do it well, and lovingly slather it in that lovely atmosphere.
July 8, 2013 at 4:33 ambolton
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really cute and adorable! looking forward to the second episode. the broken english was both impressive (by anime standards) and cringe-worthy at the same time, but i’m definitely following this one through based off character designs and the superb quality it’s shown so far. it’s a shame no one here will be covering it.
July 8, 2013 at 4:41 amKevin Yamagata
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I wonder if I could sustain my heart after this and Tamayura…
July 8, 2013 at 5:25 amKarmafan
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As someone who enjoyed A Channel, K-On, and Ikoku Meiro I was looking forward to this show and was not disapointed. Have not read the manga but from the preview I figured this was going to be good. Glad I wasn’t disapointed.
I was shocked at how good the english was.
July 8, 2013 at 5:48 amJ-Luke
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<i.“The time will very.” Ohhh, so close!
http://randomc.net/image/Kiniro%20Mosaic/Kiniro%20Mosaic%20-%2001%20-%20Large%2001.jpg
“What dose ‘bag delivered’ mean?”
Just a liiiittle more practice…
July 8, 2013 at 6:07 amstarss
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K….k….kawaiidesu!
July 8, 2013 at 6:46 amName (required)
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all loli belong to us
July 8, 2013 at 7:16 amNitro
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I literally couldn’t watch this without pausing about every 4 minutes and just sit back in my chair and go “man… that… was really friggin cute…”. To think I’m going to get a weekly dose of this for the next three months…
I… I’m going to have to see a doctor about this.
July 8, 2013 at 11:37 pmStilts
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I mostly sorta flailed my arms around and wigged out a bunch, but I know what you mean. It’s super cute :D
July 8, 2013 at 7:27 amThundershock81
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I would type more but its really hard to type one handed trying to stop the massive cute overload nosebleed with my other hand……
July 8, 2013 at 7:30 amJ-Luke
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To add to the Ikoku Meiro-connection: Karens seiyuu Touyama Nao also voices Yune in Ikoku Meiro…
July 8, 2013 at 7:38 amJ-Luke
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Oh man, I just realized the amount of shows of this caliber this season: Kiniro Mosaic, Ro-Kyu-Bu! SS, Love Lab…
Stilts will really have a hard but intoxicating time…
(so will I by the way)
July 8, 2013 at 11:38 pmStilts
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I know, right? I can’t wait :3
July 8, 2013 at 7:57 amRoguespirit
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I was really impressed by the fact that I didn’t have to read the English subtitles to understand the English ;) The accents were surprisingly good as well, they didn’t sound even remotely British but neutral accent was a good choice.
I’ve often wondered: why do we call it Japan when they themselves call their country Nippon?
July 8, 2013 at 10:43 amstarss
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Countries have different names for their county than others do. It’s the same in every language. Spanish speakers call their country of Spain “España”.
July 8, 2013 at 11:40 pmStilts
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Random aside, that’s always kind of annoyed me. I feel like we all shouldn’t go around renaming other people’s countries (and cities, and individual’s names) just because we want to. What’s wrong with Deutschland and España and Nippon? Might as well call them what they want to be called!
July 8, 2013 at 8:15 amEuzio
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This show is adorable. They are apparently trying to kill us this season…. Death by Moe indeed…. Ro kyu bu and now this….
And Oohara Sayak and Tanaka Manami’s English are pretty good. I wasn’t expecting them to be able to do it that fluently.
July 8, 2013 at 8:45 amImperialGlory
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Rule Britannia, Britannia Rule Moe!
July 8, 2013 at 8:47 amwhywhywhy
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Sadly I’m not 13 years old and I’m not a little girl either , so for all these reason , this show was REALY BAD …. NEXT .
July 8, 2013 at 9:28 amGermanguy
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Kawaii!!! and Good English speaking seiyuns
in Short!!
Germanguy Approved!!
July 8, 2013 at 9:29 amAzuma
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Quite possibly the best English in anime so far?
Really cute, definitely going to re-watch this with my mom and cousin later (My mom prefers to watch the episodes in bulk, rather than waiting for 1 episode per week).
On another note, how in the world did she qualify for a homestay/exchange program with her english skills!? O_o
I mean I’ve never been part of an exchange program but I guess there isn’t any requirements for the programs? Only have one friend who has been on one of these but he already knew some spanish before going to the Dominican Republic.
July 8, 2013 at 9:32 amGermanguy
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It was the other way around, the Homestay Family knows good Japanese/Nippon
July 8, 2013 at 9:59 amBookkid900
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Even better, it was explained when Shinobu was talking with her friends back in Japan about going to England to stay with some of their parent’s friends for a week. I would imagine that since they were from England but friends with people in Japan that they would know some of the language to be able to communicate with Shinobu.
July 8, 2013 at 11:42 pmStilts
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I was originally a bit confused about that when I read the manga, but like Bookkid900 said, Shinobu was only there for a week, so it was pretty much just a vacation. I guess she called it a home stay because she was staying in a family friend’s home without any of the rest of her own family.
July 8, 2013 at 9:35 amAki-Chan
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This looks too cute….this is on my “3 episode rule” list….need some free time….
July 8, 2013 at 9:36 amtom
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Watching this anime= http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/555/519/7ec.gif
July 8, 2013 at 9:49 amkatsudon
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What I have learned from Kiniro Mosaic: you should stab people with hairpins.
July 8, 2013 at 3:19 pmsinkingmist
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Hello!
July 8, 2013 at 4:36 pminanis
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omg.. my eyes have been open… they CAN weaponize CUTENESS!
warning: WMD levels of MOE!
really nice first chap . looking forward for the next cute overload.
July 8, 2013 at 6:57 pmMegu
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I was shocked to find out that Past!Shinobu was a middle schooler. She looked like a seven-year-old at the least.
The power of moe.
July 8, 2013 at 7:08 pmstarss
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“Can you eat that desert?”
“I don’t wanna! It’s hot and dry!”
“YOU’RE GONNA EAT THE DESERT AND LIKE IT!!!”
July 8, 2013 at 11:43 pmStilts
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And suddenly, Kinmosa gets dark O.O
July 9, 2013 at 5:48 pmTheMoondoggie
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It already is. I mean, a Japanese loli stabbing her English contemporary in the neck. Could it be symbolism? But, nah, this show is too sugary for such.
July 8, 2013 at 10:13 pmWanderer
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All of the cuteness that would normally be in every other show this season has been concentrated into this one. It’s the only explanation! ;)
I think this one’s a keeper.
July 9, 2013 at 12:07 amrkzamber
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the english…….the english……..ughhhhhhh………..
July 9, 2013 at 2:42 amGinobi666
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Le me, watching Kiniro Mosaic for the very 1st time.
*1 Hour Later*
Doctor: And you said that you have no history of diabetes?
Le me: Yes….
July 9, 2013 at 5:46 pmTheMoondoggie
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Yes, this show would have us all dying of diabetes. I’m very sure it’s a plot by Japan to have the world population reduced with people dying either of moe or of diabetes.
July 9, 2013 at 8:04 amdeVacto
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wow alice, just in a little time to master nihonggo
salute
July 9, 2013 at 10:05 amGermanguy
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Her Mother know Japanese, too. Perhaps that gave a Boost to it
Perhaps they where working in Japan for an Company, and moved back when they have the Child or something like that. And keep have Japanese Homestay’s because of the Old Feelings
July 9, 2013 at 10:07 amGermanguy
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You Know, Reception Desk in Hotels for “International” Guests and so on
July 9, 2013 at 11:24 amHighway
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This really was a gorgeous show. I liked the OVA feel to it for the opening flashback. I hope that the rest of the series keeps with the longer format stories and topics, rather than too many short skits and vignettes.
July 9, 2013 at 3:09 pmdrzero7
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this reminds me of Yune from Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
July 9, 2013 at 3:16 pmShinji
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This episode was simply filled with adorable cuteness! LOVED it!
July 9, 2013 at 5:43 pmTheMoondoggie
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I see people are reminded, like me, of another SoL anime I liked, Ikoku Meiro.
Yeah but unlike Ikoku, which is about a loli learning to live in 19th(or is it 18th) century France, this feels like “what is Japan now in modern times”.
Anyway the grammar of the English is good, but the accent seems a bit off. You can tell they hired Japanese to talk in English instead of real English-speaking people, which would have added more realism. This is actually the same problem I have when an anime tries to have English in it, like season 1 of Symphogear.
July 9, 2013 at 9:20 pmChalryn
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I’m not entirely sure if I should thank you or blame you, Stilts, but either way, your songs of praise for this series have convinced me to add it to my list. =p Being a slice-of-life fan myself, I’ll bite. So far so good.
July 10, 2013 at 3:37 amLGrey
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hanzai desuyo, Stilts-san.
^^;
July 10, 2013 at 9:48 pmImpetusZwei
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Cuteness is justice, but this.. Chernobyl levels of cuteness radiation? I can’t even watch this without having this warm and fuzzy feeling in me even after going full rage.
July 10, 2013 at 11:21 pmMutare
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Finally got around to watching Kiniro… KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I melted… I melted real gooooood… And knowing there’s plenty more where that came from… This show will stop a few people’s hearts.