First Impressions / Series Introduction / Snapshots

OP Sequence

OP: 「Koko」 by Pan Tamura

「予習篇」 (Yoshuu-hen)
“Recap”

I’ve seen all this before, and I’m still not sure what’s going on. I do know one thing, though – it’s totally awesome!

Like the OVA, But Better

And when I say like the OVA, it’s the exact same thing, save for one scene after the OVA’s ED sequence where (spoiler alert) Koto is crying about her yuri kiss with Lady Koto. What a shame, that was funny! This does mean if you’ve seen the original OVA, there will be no surprises here, save that it’s now on TV, and consequently, the visuals are gorgeous. For those of you who never watched the OVA, consider yourselves lucky, because this will give you the perfect introduction to the series, but be a lot prettier than it was when I first saw it.

I Still Don’t Know What’s Going On

Okay, that’s not precisely true, but you are forgiven if you watch this and don’t have the faintest idea what’s going on. Here’s what I love about this show – it’s doesn’t matter. This is a spectacle in the best meaning of the word, “a visually striking performance or display” that, honestly, does not require understanding. Sit back and enjoy the show! Matters such as Koto (Kugimiya Rie) wanting to go back to real Kyoto, her relation to Lady Koto (Hisakawa Aya), those crazy siblings, and why Shouko (Saito Chiwa) is always getting so angry can wait for another day.

I’m Seriously Phoning This In

I do apologize if this is a bit light on content, but I first watched this episode a long time ago, so whatever initial impressions I had have long since receded into memory. Don’t take that as a signifier of quality, though – Kyousogiga is pure, uncut, unassailable fun. Look at the screenshots if you’re not sold, or really, just watch the episode. This is one of those shows that only anime could do properly. Bask in its illogical beauty.

Looking Ahead

I don’t have any plans to cover the rest of this show, if only because the same things that are making me type this at 400 WPM are conspiring against me picking up all the shows I’m interested in (which are, broadly speaking, all of them…FML!). I’ll most certainly be watching it though, and I’m excited to finally get into some details about this strange family, which is something Kyousogiga has never given much information about before. And if we get more of Koto, Ah, and Un (Hidaka Noriko and Shiraishi Ryoko respectively) running amok, that will be fine by me!

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – This is a retread of the original OVA, but getting to see it in glorious detail is reward enough for me #ksgiga 00

Random thoughts:

  • An aside: I’ve always loved Kugimiya Rie in this role. I think she was the first seiyuu I ever learned the name of – Shakugan no Shana and Zero no Tsukaima were very formative to my anime-watching career – but her acting here is so much different, much like her role in Freezing. Her wrathful loli is a mainstay, but I like her in this kind of role too.

I’ve made a change of focus on my other blog to focus more on storytelling + the book I’m writing, so check it out at stiltsoutloud.com.

 

ED Sequence

ED: 「疾走銀河」 (Shissou Ginga) by TEPPAN

Preview

32 Comments

  2. I loved this when it was a ONA, and now that it’s a TV series, there’s only more to love! It is kinda hard to follow at times, but it’s just incredibly entertaining and oh-so stylish. Looking forward to it. ^^

    katsudon
    Reply

    1. How so? I compared them back-to-back, and other than the OP (added to this episode), the ED (more fleshed out here), and that one scene after the ED on the OVA (the only thing this lacked), they’re exactly the same. Oh, and the wildly better quality on this version.

      I’m not judging, I’m just curious. What made the difference for you?

      Stilts
      Reply

  5. refreshing, unique, fun,colorful, ridiculously illogical (in a good way) and very energetic as the ova. but yes, better.
    though I don’t understand why bother with episode “zero”..whatever.

    I guess no one will cover it weekly. but I still hope for final impressions for that show (:

    thedarktower
    Reply

    1. My guess would be to give new watchers a good introduction to the series in a way that they didn’t have to pay the seiyuu and a bunch of other people to do their things again, haha! Or if not that, where they at least already knew the story was solid.

      Stilts
      Reply

  6. Thanks for the information! I was wondering whether it was necessary to watch the OVA’s for story comprehension. Now I know that I don’t have to use my precious time for it.

    Sylpher
    Reply

  9. My stance on this hasn’t changed.

    As much as I wish more people would watch this, if they lack the comprehension or capacity to understand anything and just write it off as mindless entertainment, should they have watched it in the first place?

    Reminds me of the excessive amounts of comments that only pull something like “PWETTY COLORS!” away after watching Gatchaman Crowds.

    Giorno Giovanna
    Reply

  11. I wish I had something to add but… Fuck if you didn’t already express what’s being said.

    Last time I felt this way about a show was the first episode of Penguindrum. The DIFFERENCE is that with Penguindrum, I knew from the get go that I was more in for a mindfuck with odd visuals… Versus an action packed and unrestrained acid trip of an aristic alternate interpretation of Alice in Wonderland with its own social commentary.

    I’m hype as hell for this show and what it has in the works. Knowing the visual pedigree this show has attached to it and the CLEAR intent of visual metaphors and double meaning dialogue being injected into the show, I’m excited to ride the roller coaster that Kyousougiga/Capital Craze is going to be.

    DigitalFowl
    Reply

  12. I want to watch this, but it seems there was another anime out already? Is this a sequel or was there only OVAS of this out before?

    I just don’t want to start watching a sequel before the first one >.<

    Magoiichi
    Reply

    1. There have been three iterations of Kyousogiga so far:

      * The original OVA. This recap episode contains 95% of the material from that OVA save with higher quality visuals, so you’re safe with watching this and skipping that.
      * The 2012 ONA series. While it is possible that the upcoming 5.5 recap episode will go over those, that’s uncertain yet, so you can watch these if you like. If so, I would watch this 00 episode and then seek those out. There are five of them, and they’re all ten minutes each. Note: I don’t in any way think they’re required to watch this series, or else the recap would have touched on them. You can likely skip them and watch them later if you want.
      * This new series. If you want to watch this and only this, you’re probably safe, and it may contain everything produced so far by the end of its run.

      Hope this helps!

      Stilts
      Reply

  15. I thought i’d go back and watch the original ovas to try and get a handle on what the hell i just watched… I’ve only watched the first one and now i’m even more confused.

    qwert
    Reply

  16. pals for Kugimiya!! Shakugan no Shana and Zero no Tsukaima were also one of my first titles. i like her playful role in this one.

    although i still don’t know what’s going on in this episode, more like it’s only craze that happens almost everyday because YOLO is their motto, i think watching the 2012 OVA (right before watching this episode 00) got me into the characters more and i enjoyed this “recap” more than the first time i watched it. like, i realise what they mean by how “mom” is related to Koto, and also about Inari.

    definitely feast to my eyes

    tenshika
    Reply

  17. So I finally got a good subber and I watched this…clearly the creators of this anime were on drugs. It’s like took all the wtf from FLCL and multiplied it.

    I don’t know what I just watched, but I liked it >:3

    Magoiichi
    Reply

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