Random Curiosity

Kurotsuchi Mayuri has always been the most sadistic character in Bleach. If you recall his fight against the arrancar mad scientist Szayelaporro, then it is clear that Kurotsuchi doesn’t simply outmaneuver his opponents with superior planning and gimmicky techniques, but he actively tries to fuck with their minds and make them suffer mentally. He really takes mind control to the next level, applying some proprietary drug discreetly to Hitsugaya before he can attack. They skirmish for a bit, and Hitsugaya releases his bankai. The twist is that just as he strikes the fatal blow, the entire sequence begins again… and again every time it seems he’s about to win. Supposedly the drug causes him to replay his short term memory over and over, though the two of them are also able to carry on new conversations in that time. Regardless of what is happening to him, the drug apparently also alters reality bit by bit through the many iterations, and the poor kid is never actually able to kill Mayuri. Eventually his mind becomes too disoriented and he collapses.

My question though is how this is was possible if he isn’t controlling his own will and consciousness. Since the drug was only applied to Hitsugaya, do the people around him also perceive the time reset? This type of theme isn’t uncommon (see Naruto or the recently adapted All You Need Is Kill), but Kubo never explains his crazy powers completely. Kurotsuchi does seem to be somewhat aware of the progression through each sequence, but since Giselle, who doesn’t show up at all this week, is the one actually controlling Hitsugaya’s mind, it makes more sense if she was one trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Perhaps, putting him in some sort of Inception limbo state has disconnected Giselle’s mind control, and he’s has regained some of his own awareness. Alternatively, she will just abandon his broken mind and find some other way to fight Kurotuschi. Either way though, Hitusgaya has been screwed over pretty hard by both sides.

This week on Naruto… we change the title to “Kakashi” instead. Because he’s a boss. And well, because he pretty much steals the entire chapter away for the most part. Last week’s awkwardness regarding his power-up still carries over, but it doesn’t change the fact his spamming of Kamui Shurikens, Raikiris, and letting objects pass right through him makes for some great entertainment. It only helps that he made Sasuke look rather meager while he was at it, and there’s much to be said about how this all ties back to their Team 7 days. Kakashi’s in charge again, and it’s all about what seems to be Team 7′s “final mission”—one that seemingly ends with a rather satisfactory three-pronged attack from all its members.

Considering, the suspension of disbelief necessary for this week (and last), this is one of those chapters where you really had to roll with things as they were happening. Boil it all down and Naruto is what it is—for better and for worse—and I can’t help but wonder if Kaguya’s really going to be defeated within the next few chapters. The signs are there for sure, especially with the revived Hokage still hanging around in the background, and the fact that she’s been such a generally underwhelming enemy makes me kind of want this to be the end for her. Knowing the series for what it is though, I just can’t see it happening anytime soon, which makes you wonder if there’s another fairly major plot twist (or a bunch of story oriented chapters) coming soon.

Either way, pretty straight forward chapter here with Kakashi strutting his stuff and the rest of Team 7 following him. Bit underwhelming development-wise considering the two week wait though.

「ツミ×ト×ツメ」 (Tsumi × to × Tsume)
“Sin × And × Claw”

Author’s Note: Please be very careful to avoid divulging any information about upcoming events from the manga. When in doubt, don’t post it – and even if it’s remotely possible to view it as a minor spoiler, please spoiler-tag it. Thanks for your cooperation.

I just wish this series would go on forever. Is that really so much to ask?

I’ve been operating under the assumption that Hunter X Hunter 2011 would be ending at Episode 148 or 149 (for logistical reasons I’m actually happier it’s 148), so this week’s announcement by Han Megumi really didn’t come as a surprise. It’s probably for the best, in fact, as I would hate to see this unimpeachably great anime suffer from a decline in quality, as it surely would if it transitioned to original material. That doesn’t change the fact that hearing the news quasi-officially really brings home the immediacy of the situation, and Hunter X Hunter’s absence is going to leave a pretty big hole in my life – it’s been a part of it for three years. After today, five episodes left.

It’s funny how the “Election” arc feels almost light-hearted after “Chimera Ant”, because there’s an alarmingly high body count here. Tone means a lot with Togashi – while violence is nearly a constant with Hunter X Hunter, there are times when it carries a heavier weight of consequence and tragedy. One might even say that the series has tended to alternate between arcs with a more action-driven “shounen” tone, and those that are more reflective and melancholy – Hunter Exam-Zoldyck Family-Heaven’s Arena-York Shin-Greed Island-Chimera Ant-Election – with the even-numbered arcs being the graver. I suppose the D*** C*** arc will be the one to put that to the test.

This episode packs a lot into 22 minutes (maybe even a little too much, though that’s a minute quibble), but what really stands out for me is the reminder of just how crazy – and crazy strong – Hisoka and Illumi are. I think they’re a different sort of crazy, even if it’s interesting to speculate on which one is the crazier. Hisoka is more of a true psychopath – he’s quite rational and even-keeled. It’s just that he’s operating from an incredibly venal set of priorities. Illumi is more delusional, more the straight-up nutjob – he has much less of a grasp of reality than Hisoka does, and seems convinced that what he’s doing is perfectly normal and for the best interests of everyone (and the ones he sacrifices aren’t worthy of factoring into the equation). For that reason (among others) my money would be on Hisoka if he ever decided to take Illumi out, but we’ll touch base on that shortly.

The election is continuing, with Pariston continuing to more than triple his nearest rival (Cheadle) but not seriously threaten 50%. It becomes clear pretty early on (and much more clear not much later) that the so-called “Seirin Group” is no match for Pariston strategically, even if Loupe fancies himself a smarty-pants. It’s also clear that the troops they sent off to do battle with Illumi and his army (in truth, an army of one is all he really needed) are no match for them – they’re wiped out, to a man (including Bushidora – so much for ambition), by Hisoka and Illumi. Hisoka tips his hand that he plans to pull a double-cross on Illumi after finding a map on one of the victims, but Illumi is already ahead of him, because of his “bird” in Killua’s camp. And it turns out that bird isn’t a Canary but Kikyou herself – who’s planted a spycam on Tsubone, and used it to see everything she sees.

This, of course, tells us that Kikyou is flat-out working with Illumi here – not a surprise, but I wouldn’t take it as confirmation that Silva is on-board with that approach. In fact, it could be argued that Illumi is working on Kikyou’s behalf and Tsubone – who seems to have been genuinely unaware that she was being used – is working on Silva’s. Unfortunately when Tsubone uses her “Rider’s High” ability to allow she and Amane to take to the air and scour the sky for anyone spying on Killua’s airship, she was actually spying on it herself, and this allows Illumi and his needlemen (and Hisoka, though no one seems aware of his presence) to be present when Killua lands the airship with the intent of taking the car he’s asked Canary to have meet him the rest of the way to the hospital.

This is where we get a good notion of the depth of Illumi and Hisoka’s particular psychoses. When Illumi offers his own life in a trade-off for the rest of the family not being at-risk, he’s genuinely willing – convinced he’ll live on in Killua’s heart forever as his most-beloved person, causing him terrible guilt. Meanwhile Hisoka is nearly orgiastic in contemplating which double-cross will bring him the most fun – should be kill Alluka and earn Killua’s wrath? Or save Alluka from Illumi, earning his wrath? After Illumi makes his offer – which would lead to a boring result for him – Hisoka decides the best course is to kill Alluka and turn Killua against him, than take out Killua and enrage Illumi. Seriously, this dude is all kinds of fucked up. Thank goodness for us.

It’s Tsubone who’s thrown a spanner into the works, though – by revealing herself she re-activated the request-wish cycle with Alluka, which allows her to try and make amends for having unwittingly sabotaged Killua’s mission. At the cost of two more fingernails she earns a wish, which she grants to Killua, and rather than wish for Illumi’s death he tells Nanika to heal Tsubone’s hand. In doing to he turns over one of his hole cards, because this reveals a secret Illumi didn’t know – Something never makes a cruel wish after healing someone. This is a big moment, because it tells us in fact that Something isn’t evil in at least one sense – the ill-fortune that results from Nanika’s actions is laid at the feet of the wish-maker’s intentions.

That’s enough to buy off Illumi as to Killua’s mission to save Gon, but not as to Alluka in general – and each brother makes a threat. Illumi promises that unless Killua tells him everything he’s hiding about Something, he’ll keep trying to kill Alluka. And Killua (who’s turning into a regular Lag Seeing) tells Illumi that if he refers to Something as a “thing” again, he’ll disown Illiumi as a brother. But Killua is a good poker player, and he refuses to show that last card – the “final rule” that if known, Killua is convinced would turn the entire family against him. In the short term, it seems, he’s free to pursue his goal – he can use Alluka to try and save Gon. But in terms of the family struggle this has been a mere skirmish, and the war rages on.

All this has convinced Hisoka that he has no choice but to let events play out for the moment – which frees him up to perform another errand. Teradein has proved a paper tiger, and he goes on the air with news of Bushidora’s death and involves Morel’s name as an ally – which pisses Morel off in a big way, as he’s not interested in Teradein for anything more than his temporary usefulness. Rather than allow his identity as the killer to potentially be revealed, Hisoka calmly takes out Teradein – the news of which hits in the midst of the sixth vote, which ends up reducing the field to four candidates – Pariston (who seems to have a sizable faction prepared to vote against him at any cost), Leorio, Cheadle and Mizaistrom (who actually strikes me as the best of the potential chairmen). Here as with Killua’s quest to save Gon, it seems the rendezvous with destiny is fast approaching.

Preview

「ガール・アイデンティティー」 (Gaaru Aidentiti)
“Girl’s Identity”

The tears are shed, the bonds are formed. Naru or Hana give a speech about not being alone, and another member strengthens their resolve. Another day in the life of the yosakoi club.

Actually, there actually hasn’t been an episode where they haven’t made the emotional drama stand out. Even in the club trip episode, where most of it was good old fun and bonding, it ended with a rather emotional set of scenes. This episode was no exception–the animal ears fanservice was nice plus Sally-sensei being lewd, but that quickly gave way to some angsty Yaya. Some drama is good and all, but the sustained heavy-handed drama each episode may actually be a detriment to proper character development and the comedy.

I was struggling to write a post for this episode because I didn’t want to go off on the “omg the melodrama” tangent; I sense you guys are tired of that direction (myself included).The plot itself wasn’t so bad–the actions that followed fit Yaya’s tsundere nature well. What seemed to be the problem was realizing that the show hasn’t given us a break in terms of doling out tears, vulnerabilities, and constant pep talks. The core message is nice enough, but man, for a show that is about the joys of dancing, for once it’d be nice to have an episode without a joy-killer. That’s perhaps a bias of expectation for more light-heartedness on my side, I admit, but I sincerely believe Hanayamata would benefit from a drama breather, to allow all the afterglow of that drama to sink into some positive development. Although I do applaud the show for being fierce about developing the characters beyond a single round of “character of the week”, it would be great to reap the rewards of that development in a breather episode where we can see purely positive and happy results of their success.

Aside from that main point though, the show is progressing quite well in gathering up the yosakoi team. The omission of Tokiwa’s significance as a yesgirl is seriously concerning at this point, but on all other fronts, development has been steady. The show touched base on the costumes, the music, and Sally-chan’s eventual acceptance of the club, while hinting at their climax debut at the mall. Although I complain about within-episode pacing, the overall pace of the show has been quite well balanced and mapped out. The development of the yosakoi club has been steady and gradual, and I’m surprised they’ve put this much detail into the formation of the club, the recruitment, and the training, all very neatly packed into 7 episodes thus far.

Before we close though, I would like to point out a few weird things that popped up this episode. First, what is up with this scene? When I first saw this, I seriously thought Hanayamata was getting serious and having Yaya rub one out while thinking of Naru. However, it was really just bad scene composition that gave the wrong ideas. Second, Yaya’s band seems to have come and gone without much impact at all. Their only purpose was to highlight Yaya’s success and hurt her pride, without much life beyond that. To me, it was a tacked on anime-original device that was the result of hasty writing. I doubt we’ll be seeing more of them now that they’ve disbanded, but at least we can now focus on Yaya being part of yosakoi.

Anyways, what do you guys think? Did you like the heavy Yaya drama this episode? What do you guys think about the band and the lamp scene? Finally, what is up with Tokiwa and will she get as much development as the other members? Answer away in the comments!

Preview

「及川徹は天才ではない」 (Oikawa Tooru wa Tensai Dewanai)
“Oikawa Tooru is Not a Genius”

Week after week, Haikyuu never ceases to amaze me with how multifaceted each episode is. Right when I think it’s going to center around one of Karasuno’s struggles, the story quickly changes gears and touches upon another struggle, and another struggle after that, before finally leaving off on a cliffhanger for next week. This week, we started off with the most obvious one, the battle of the setters with Kageyama going up against Oikawa in an actual match, where we see how experience and hard work holds an edge over raw natural talent. Soon after, that leads into Tanaka’s personal struggles with Oikawa picking on him with his jump serve. After Tanaka overcomes it and shows glimpses of being Karasuno’s future go-to hitter (i.e. “Ace”), the focus quickly shifts back to Kageyama bending under the psychological pressure that Oikawa’s methodically placing on him. We see Karasuno’s first-year setter unconsciously reverting back to his old ways with his reckless sets before finally getting subbed out for Sugawara–a much more experienced setter. All of that in a single episode; what is there not to love about this series?

In terms of developments, I’m really enjoying the “experience vs. raw natural talent” angle between Oikawa and Kageyama for the believability alone. Less experienced players will succumb to pressure much easier, regardless of how naturally talented they are, so watching Oikawa exploit that fact makes me very eager to see how Karasuno overcomes it (if at all). The plan to do so is already in motion, with Sugawara coming in to alleviate some of the pressure off Kageyama; however, as we heard from his inner dialogue and reaction at the end, Kageyama clearly doesn’t see it that way just yet. He’ll likely take it really hard at first, but I suspect that once Ukai gets a chance to remind him that volleyball’s a team sport and he shouldn’t try to win on his own, Karasuno will make a strong push back. Personally, I think the preview spoiled a bit too much in that regard, showing Kageyama eventually subbing back in for Sugawara, but I’m still looking forward to seeing how Karasuno’s third-year players gel together and set an example for their younger teammates on how to deal with pressure. In addition, this will be our first time seeing Sugawara in an actual match, so I get the feeling that we’re going to get to see him shine a bit.

Getting to my favorite part of my weekly coverage of Haikyuu–i.e. volleyball specifics–it looks like Karasuno’s already made the transition to a four-man serve receive where they hide the middle in the front row. They didn’t really draw any attention to this adjustment, but upon seeing their formation, I still feel that Karasuno would benefit drastically from keeping Sawamura in the power position (i.e. left-side hitter) and Tanaka in the offside position (i.e. right-side hitter) like they had in their earlier practice matches, and then playing a three-man serve receive where only Sawamura, Azumane, and Nishinoya take the first ball. This would’ve completely avoided the problem where Tanaka got picked on by Oikawa’s jump serve. What’s more, on the highest level of competition today, the go-to hitter on many teams is actually the offside hitter, so Tanaka could potentially thrive in that position. Another problem I see is how defensive positions are depicted. For a lot of the kills, there never seems to be anyone cover “line” (i.e. straight down either side of the court). When Tanaka made his momentum-changing kill, Aoba Jousai’s defender was in his own blockers’ shadow rather than standing on the line, leaving that area completely open. Likewise, when Aoba Jousai made some kills, we sometimes see Nishinoya diving to the right to try and cover line when someone else–either the setter or the offside–should already be there.

Aside from that, the series is doing a great job at highlighting various strategic elements of volleyball, such as making the most of a free ball by forcing the other team’s setter to take it. This is actually what teams are expected to do if they can’t set up an offensive play, because it drastically limits the offence that their opponent can run in return. More often than not, a team will just set a safe high-ball to the outside, like we saw Sawamura do here. Next up is serving to area where the back-row setter is running toward the net. While I don’t feel this causes as much confusion as the series made it seem, there are definitely some challenges with having to take a serve that goes there. Lastly, I haven’t really seen or heard of any teams trying to fake out their opponents by making cues for plays and then switching them in the middle of the match, but I guess that works well for an anime. In all likelihood, what Sugawara hinted at with Hinata won’t come into play until Kageyama subs back in though, simply because it’ll probably leverage their monstrous quick. Whatever the case, this is definitely something else to look forward to next time.

Random thought: Up until now, I’ve always felt that the height of at which the players are depicted at the peak of the jumps has been fairly realistic, but this week there were some pretty absurd verticals. lol

Full-length images: 32.

Preview

「三匹を斬る -前編-」 (Sanbiki o Kiru -Zenpen-)
“Kill the Three -Part One-”

After last week… I don’t think my heart can take it anymore. No one is safe and death flags are popping up everywhere, mainly over the heads of the Night Raid members. It’s hard to say that I don’t see it coming, so just knowing that next episode could be “it”, makes me feel anxious. Luckily, this week gave us a break and a cool down period between the fights and deaths. As much as I’d love to keep my heart rate high, I think hearing how Sheele’s death has impacted each of the members is equally as important. I think the repeated mention of Sheele and Tatsumi’s friends, reminds the audience that they are humans and they don’t forgive nor forget very easily. Without these moments, you might not sympathize with them anymore and then, the death of a Night Raid member would no longer be impactful. A lot of people probably felt this way when Sheele passed and although I thought it was sad, many people might need more screen time to build that rapport with characters. Now I treat these moments with each of the Night Raid members as a rare treat because before you know it, the next one might be gone.

Up until this point, there are only a few remaining Night Raid members who haven’t had their own dedicated episode. Bulat being one of them and this week we finally get to see where he came from and how he fights in style. It’s hard not to like his character, and I can see why Tatsumi is smitten by his outgoing personality. His history with his former superior, Liver (Nakata Jouji) wasn’t surprising, although seeing Liver in person didn’t have much of an impact as it would’ve because it was literally moments later. I guess given how fast-paced Akame ga Kill is, I shouldn’t expect secrets to be held for long. Was I shocked seeing Liver team up with Esdeath? Not really… but it’s still an interesting story to hear eventually. The final showdown has to be Liver up against Bulat, but I wonder if old feelings will come into play and if not – well then, they are trained killers so it’s not uncalled for. Tatsumi is just a sitting duck out there huh? I hope he doesn’t turn into a liability.

Esdeath is another story entirely and I can’t seem to read her at all. I don’t know if that’s because of how the anime is portraying her or if she’s just a very multidimensional character. We know that she claimed the North, she’s quite feared and well respected around the capital and it builds this idea of a strong kicka** female villain. On the other hand, she wants to find love? I think my face was as shocked as the Prime Minister’s. Say what…? I can’t say that romance is the first thing on my mind when I’m watching an action-packed anime, but it’d be interesting if it was actually incorporated in the story in a not-so-creepy manner. Although she sends this message of being a strong, feared woman (especially with Leone’s reaction while spying on it), to me, Esdeath doesn’t seem like she’s just a crazy maniac killer. She knows that someone is watching her, but she’s enjoying an ice cream on the side? Not only that, but she shows signs of liking the flavor and wanting to share that with her 3 killers – Liver, Daidara (Katsu Anri) and Nyau (Nabatame Hitomi). To me, it sounds like Esdeath doesn’t just think about herself but she’s probably a strong leader for a good reason other than her abilities on the battlefield. I’d have to see more of her before I change my theory, but I’m enjoying the scenes that show her not-in-combat. It demonstrates a different side to her character.

Bottom Line – @RCCherrie: Nooooo… I think I know what’s going to happen and I can’t watch anymore! =( #AkameGaKill

Author’s Note: Once again please be courteous of other visitors and use the spoiler tags (<spoiler> </spoiler>) if you’re going to be referring to future manga chapters or any content that anime-only viewers would not know at this point in time. Also, please keep the comments relevant to the episode and the topic at hand – if I think something is inappropriate, I will delete it and you will only receive one warning before I remove your privilege to comment. Thanks for understanding!

Preview

「Kurenai no Kioku」 (Kurenai no Kioku)
“Crimson Memories”

After a few weeks of almost nonstop action, it would make sense that we would get an episode to slow the tempo down a bit to build up some different types of tension. Also, you know what blew my mind? I can’t believe only one day has passed in the anime.

Real Life Woes

After bringing it up a few episodes ago, it finally feels like the show is trying to drive Kirito’s PTSD home. With the symptoms ranging from recurring nightmares to deteriorated performance during high intensity situations, there’s no doubt that Kirito is going to have to find some way to come to terms with what he’s done. And while I whole heartily believe a hot and compassionate nurse is definitely the way to get the ball rolling, the comments from the previous two episodes made me rethink how I felt about how the show is handling all of this.

At least, it made me rethink the way they’re using it in an attempt to make Kirito’s character more whole. In the comments someone mentioned how introducing flaws into the nearly perfect Kirito is one of the ways you increase the longevity of a character. Something about how being too perfect can be almost as bad as being too derp — and I kind of agree at least in principle. I say in principle because for such a big show like SAO I think it’s best to take what you can get since I know there are a ton of even worse ways to flesh out a character. At the same time I don’t really watch anime with a very critical eye so I can’t say much.

On the other hand even though it was short and sweet, I really enjoyed how Kirito’s nurse handled his biggest outbreak to date. While I can’t remember exactly when she was introduced to us, her first appearance this season rubbed me the wrong way. Due to her actions I assumed she was doing her job more for entertainment than actually helping others — and I couldn’t have been more wrong. If there was an MVP for this episode, it most definitely would be her.

Angry Sinon and Looking Ahead

It still blows me away that in the show only one single day has passed — but I suppose that’s the power of playing online games am I right? Anyways, I for one am excited for the BoB tournament to finally start. Not only is Sinon hopefully going to kick some butt while opening up to us but I can’t wait to see how Kirito actually fares with the top players of GGO gunning him down. Sure he may have plot armor thick enough to shield him from the highest caliber of rifles but with his PTSD flaring up it would be interesting to see him falter a bit.

‘Till next week!

「Masquerade 仮面舞踏会」 (Masquerade Kamen Budoukai)
“-Masquerade- Dance Party”

I feel bad for always expecting the worse out of Sailor Moon Crystal but sometimes it works out in the end because when the episode is not so terrible, I’m pleasantly surprised. This was not one of the those episodes… however, to be fair, it wasn’t horrible. The show still feels very episodic and repetitive, but I like how it’s segregated itself from the original Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon Crystal has really started going down its own path in terms of plot and revelation of events. I actually like how the villains are introduced and now we know who the Four Kings are and what their mission is. It’s also very easy to follow and for younger girls (who are the intended audience), the story is very liner and predictable. As a fan of the original anime, obviously I know what’s going to happen next, but I’d like to think that young girls watching this for the first time would find it suited to their tastes. There’s continuity between the episodes, a clear goal for the protagonists and if you’re still confused, hell – they even give a recap of who’s who at the beginning.

With all that said, Sailor Moon Crystal still doesn’t make me feel connected to the characters in any way. I don’t feel like Usagi, Ami or Rei are relatable for “supposedly” 14-year-old girls. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, they behave more like 17-year-olds with their fully grown bosom and their maturity levels. Tuxedo Mask/Chiba Mamoru also reminds me more of an university student rather than being only “slightly” older than Usagi. Their actions don’t really correspond to how they should behave as (pre)teens to me – except maybe Usagi (but that’s just her character). Which leads to my other point that Usagi’s relationship with Mamoru at this point is simply based off of some teenage crush/love-at-first-sight type of ordeal. Yes, I understand that she’s physically attracted to him and there’s so much blushing! But underneath all that, there’s still nothing that solidifies their relationship for me other than these random flashbacks and this “pull” that they have towards one another. Which, by the way, I can only “feel” because I know what’s going to happen. Otherwise, I would probably react with something like, “Why are strangers lips on her lips?! Is it normal to kiss random sleeping girls?! Must be them drugs…“. Honestly, it feels like the show is speeding through some moments where they should really capitalize on to build that connection between the characters and the audience. Otherwise, what you’re telling me is – you know it, I know it, let’s get through this quickly because we all know it’s inevitable!

I’m only so harsh on Sailor Moon Crystal because I’m expecting so much more out of it. I knew the story would be different, but I was hoping that it would remind me of why this show is so great and reinforce why it’s held so highly in the magical girl shoujo genre. Unfortunately, so far, it hasn’t done either of those things and I keep watching every week to give it an opportunity to prove itself. There’s no chance of me dropping the show (yet) but it’s disappointing when the animation is awkward, the characters are bland and the most enjoyment that I have is actually seeing the differences in the villains’ POV. The original anime actually had a lot of focus on the Four Kings and gave them distinct individual personalities. I don’t mind the way they’re portrayed now, but we’ll see next episode who’s going to face off against Sailor Jupiter.

Bottom Line – @RCCherrie: #SailorMoonCrystal is trying way too hard to force Usagi’s relationship with Tuxedo Mask =S ugh.

Preview

Picture may not be indicative of podcast. You decide.

A new podcast brings a brand new podcast virgin to put through the paces. I promise it’s not as weird as I make it sound. (It’s weirder.)

Let it not be said we’re kind, because we’re totally not. Passerby has barely been here a month, but we dragged him onto a podcast anyway and prodded him until good conversation came out. And lo and behold, good conversation is what we got! I think this may be our best podcast to date, and while I say that all the time, this time I actually meet it. (Suck it, Enzo! Just kidding, you rock <3) We ended up going over fewer topics than normal, but with three of the most-watched shows of the season on the docket, this isn’t a podcast to miss. You know what? If you’ve never listened to one of our podcasts before, I suggest you give this one a try. I feel like we’re finally figuring this whole thing out.

Remember to subscribe to us on iTunes if you want this podcast to technomagically appear on your mp3 playing device, and enjoy!

• Stilts – @StiltsOutLoud, MAL profile, stiltsoutloud.com
• Passerby – MAL profile, thestrangersroom.com
• Zephyr – @ZephyrRC, MAL profile

• 00:00:00 – Intro
• 00:03:39 – Zankyou no Terror
• 00:22:03 – Sword Art Online II
• 00:40:35 – ALDNOAH.ZERO
• 00:51:58 – Anime Villains and Akame ga Kill
• 01:07:46 – End

Opening: Turbonugget by Jake Kaufman. Ending: Pamgaea by Kevin MacLeod.

Download 160 kbps (119 MB)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB)

「ひさんいを / 高級な魚」 (Hisan-Iwo / Koukyouna Sakana)
“A High-Grade Fish”

There have been a lot of great episodes of Barakamon, but this one definitely took its rightful spot as one of the best.

Remembering The Small Things

While it may not have been the flashiest of episodes, I felt this week’s story resonate extra clearly with my soul. Living in a 24-hour city that basically throws the notion of patience out the window in favor for the ability to get just about whatever you want whenever you want it, it’s tough not to get caught up in all of it! And from what all my out of state friends tell me, it’s literally the best thing that you could have. I mean, who wouldn’t want 24-hour everything right?

But every now and then there’s something that forces you to stop and smell the roses — and I think those moments are the best in the world. Sure, most of us will never be forced out to the boonies but I think this episode did a fantastic job of showing us just how much serendipity exists in the world when you take a little time to see it. Who would have thought something as simple as a fishing trip could turn into the prime example of learning how to enjoy the simple things?

Growing Little by Little

Something that caught my eye this week, well every week if I’m being honest but more so this week, has been Handa and the way he’s demonstrated just how much he’s matured since he first came to the island. Even though he barely resembles the mess that we were introduced to during the first episode, it surprised me to hear that he’s apparently grown a lot more than we could have ever imagined. Judging from Kawafuji constantly surprised face whenever serious talk started to come down, it makes me smile when I think about just how much Handa’s life has changed for the better.

Return of Naru and Looking Forward

After a couple weeks of Naru getting sidelined, it’s nice to see her get some well-deserved screen time. Besides that, I must say that the show has been doing a great job at keeping my attention filled with awesomeness each and every week. While the overall pace feels like it’s been turned down a notch, I get a feeling the next few weeks are going to get things pumping again! No matter what happens though, you can bet I’ll be anxiously waiting for it.

「マンガ家脳野崎くん」 (Manga-ka nou Nozaki-kun)
“The Manga Artist’s Brain, Nozaki-kun”

The romcom elements return as Nozaki-kun and Chiyo go on a date. Pffft, who am I kidding, it’s still all comedy here!

It’s Not a Date, It’s Research

No part of me ever expected Nozaki & Chiyo’s daito to be in the least bit romantic, nor was I phased by the pump fake at the end that led to Chiyo eating Nozaki’s delicious cooking. Comedy is best when it’s toying with and defying expectations (or telling truths, or…well, comedy is complex), and the fact that I’m starting to pick up on Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun’s beat does mean it’s liable to have less punching power. That’s usually what happens when a comedy reaches the middle of the season. Fortunately there’s more going on her than pure comedy – the characters are so lovable I’d watch it for them alone!

Seems Perverted, For Manga Reasons

I say all that, but while I’m picking up and anticipating some jokes, others are still hilarious and out of nowhere. This week we get a new (but entirely reasonable) side of Nozaki-kun – his secret perverted side! Not – what made those gags so great was that Nozaki-kun looked like he was being perverted, but he really wasn’t. It’s like gap moe for the comedic side – the different between how Nozaki-kun’s action appeared and how they actually were was hilarious! Though for my money, the onee-san’s gossiping about how Chiyo and Nozaki-kun are a great couple was the best. Stop toying with me, guuuuh!

Nozaki-kun Knows Naught But Manga

The other new side we got to see of Nozaki-kun (though it’s been hinted at before) is how he has no hobbies outside of manga. Which was funny in its own right, but it made me wonder…will they ever develop this? Nozaki-kun’s lack of other hobbies seems like a joke they’ll keep going with for a while, but it could actually be a nice way to develop him further as a character.

Compared to a differently hilarious show like Hanayamata, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun appears to be taking the comedy route of having fairly static (though in this case above average in depth) characters and rubbing them together in different combinations for laughs. But I’d like to see them change and grow, and Nozaki-kun’s workaholic tendencies are one place that could be great…and Chiyo could get closer to him. Or just have him really join the art club instead of just taking it over for a lark! Though honestly, I’m probably just wishing this was a slightly different show than it actually is.

Writing Checks Mikorin’s Body Has To Cash

Mikorin continues to be the best in all things. The whole modeling bit, oh man! Shy characters are one of the elements the stories Dogakobo chooses to animate have been doing well lately, first in Mikakunin de Shinkoukei and now this. You don’t get shy or introverted male characters often, or at least not in a role like Mikorin’s. His bluster covering up a lonely, shy, and insecure soul is…it’s…it’s. There’s no two ways about it. It’s MOE! Mikorin best heroine of all anime forever, case closed. And now Nozaki-kun and the art club get to draw Mikorin naked. Mikorin’s life is zetsubou!

Looking Ahead – The Prince (Female) Returns

It’s Kashima tiiiiime! It’s great how the cast is strong and varied enough that, no matter the character(s) an episode appears to center around, I’m excited to watch it. There’s not a main character I don’t like, so more Kashima and Hori-sempai is fine with me, even if I don’t believe for a second the ship teasing they were throwing out. Stop toying with my fragile maiden heart!

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – Nozaki is such a no life workaholic it’s almost perverted! Though Mikorin promising to pose in the nude takes the cake by far #nozakikun 07

Random thoughts:

• Nozaki sure knows how to flatter his RL Mamiko. He would be a dangerous man to the ladies if he wasn’t so dense.
• Loved how Mikorin is too comfortable about Chiyo, so he is honest with her and doesn’t go into playboy mode. This is the one situation where sending in someone else works way better. Poor Mikorin!
• I don’t know why, but hearing Chiyo say that Mikorin is such a pain is the height of hilarity to me. The gender swapped comedy never fails to make me laugh.
• Nozaki-kun wants to draw Mikorin nude. LET THE SHIPPING BEGI–wait, no! Nozaki x Chiyo 4 life! Don’t make me stray. Damn you Mikorin, daaaamn yoooou!

Check out my blog about storytelling and the novel I’m writing at stiltsoutloud.com. The last four posts: Completely unbiased, You have to sell free, Different answers, and Compromise.

Preview

「邂逅の二人 -The Boys of Earth-」 (Kaiko no Ni Nin -The Boys of Earth-)
“Encounter of Two -The Boys of Earth-”

Could we be headed for another “Han or Greedo” controversy?

Han shot first.

That was certainly a lot to take in, in a good way. Mostly we got an episode delivered over to some of the best action of any series this season, but it finished by unzipping an enormous bundle of intriguing questions that should have a huge impact on the future direction of the series. And for me, this was the episode where Inaho’s strange inscrutability was most effectively utilized, thanks to those last few minutes – not knowing just what he’s thinking gives him an intriguing air of menace.

After what effectively amounted to a three-minute recap pre-credits (I really dislike those) events picked up right where they left off, and they certainly hit the ground running. It always seemed likely that we were going to see Inaho and Slaine team up at last, though I think it’s fair to say my expectations were exceeded. Not only did their respective brands of genius prove to be quite compatible, but we even got a de facto gattai move. Surely this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship…

Ah, well – alas, for now at least things are a bit more complicated. There’s really nothing too noteworthy about Femianne and her Hellas – we see the exact pattern repeated for the third time. The Martian kataphrakts are strong with a fatal weakness, Inoha exploits it, and they’re destroyed. Like her predecessors she a plot device, but the results are good – not only is the entire battle sequence superbly executed, but it was really interesting to watch “Orange” and “Bat” take the measure of each other and figure out how to work together. Slaine is quick on his feet, instinctive and quick to adjust – Inaho analyzes and deconstructs with calm deliberation. Their combine move was literal and figurative – they made a powerful team. And it’s not insignificant that it was Rayet that took the final shot and killed Femianne, noting that “All Martians will pay for father’s death”. I think that settles any questions about where her loyalties lie.

It’s now that the questions start arising. I don’t think anyone should be surprised that Marito’s buried report turned out to be true, but we still don’t know the full import behind what was discovered at Tanegashima this week. We see a Martian kataphrakt – the “demon” Marito saw 15 years earlier. Presumably the Terran kataphrakts were reverse-engineered from this prototype, but without Aldnoah were nothing more than the walking tanks we’ve seen in action. But what was it that made the Captain and the others gasp in shock when they saw it? Was it the flying battleship that soon made it’s appearance, or something else? And why have the Earth authorities kept the existence of this secret base and its contents secret for 15 years – is it simply a matter of being unable to exploit them because of the lack of Aldnoah?

“Exploit” is a big word in those crucial last few moments of the episode. If Rayet has confirmed her loyalties to us, Asseylum has confirmed her identity to everyone by taking control of the battleship – presumably the only way it could be used unless or until she grants Aldnoah to someone else. It seems natural at this point for Slaine to join the cause officially, but this is where things get dodgy. With the immediate crisis over he and Inaho have time to really size each other up. The most simple explanation for what happened is that Inaho suspects that Slaine is one of the Martian faction that tried to kill Asseylum, otherwise how would he know she was alive? He gives Slaine a chance to explain himself, and Slaine refuses – he simply demands to see the Princess.

Inaho’s sphinx-like nature lends itself to another possibility, though. Slaine asks him if he intends to “exploit” the Princess, and his response is “Would it bother you if I did?” Slaine asks if Inaho is his enemy, and Inaho replies with “You are my enemy.” It’s a fascinating exchange, that, and here’s a question – Inaho has shown himself to be astute to an almost Marty Stu (Gary, if you prefer) level so far. Would he really so badly misread the situation here, after Slaine has just risked his life to help him? Or is it just possible that he has a plan to “exploit” Asseylum to stop the war, and he sees Slaine – whose role in all this he’s correctly sussed out (remember, Asseylum has talked about Slaine to Inaho) – as an obstacle to that plan?

Or, he could just be hot for her and doesn’t want the competition.

I suppose we’re going to know a lot more after the next ep, but it’s certainly intriguing to ponder. As to their exchange of hostilities, if you watch carefully it seems clear that it was Han Slaine that fired first. Also, it seems that Inaho fired a disabling shot rather than one intended to destroy Slaine’s ship. In any event it’s a wild finish, and it leaves Slaine in quite the bind. Saazbaum – who’s happily proving to have at least a modicum of intelligence – has now located Slaine (and seems dismayed to learn that it’s Tanegashima that he’s headed to). It seems there’s no refuge with the Terrans despite his assistance against Femianne, and soon enough he’ll be facing the threat of capture from above (though he does have the advantage in that Saazbaum needs him alive, making him a a far more difficult target). This is the sort of cliffhanger every action series should aspire to, and the anticipation starts as soon as the credits roll. Well played, Aldnoah.Zero.

Zephyr’s Impressions:

Dang. I didn’t see that coming. Regardless of how you feel about Inaho’s personality/development so far, one has to admit it’s that same (generally) emotionless facade that feeds right into the series’ most surprising development so far: Inaho shooting down Slaine despite their successful but short lived alliance. To say the least, it’s interesting to see that Inaho may not be the knight in shining armor he seems to be, and it all boils down to Slaine being the only one without any nefarious intent towards her highness.

The sad part is Slaine’s gotten the shaft once again, and one could almost see the machinations of Gen in the background (and his laughter) in this regard. I fully expect Slaine to get one up on Inaho at some point in the future though—it’ll be some sweet revenge—but for now, there’s no way Slaine’s going to get close to the Princess with Inaho around, and I’m getting this nagging feeling that Inaho’ll end up persuading everyone to just leave Slaine for dead by the time next week rolls over (just to add to his misery).

With that said, the ending sequence “aLIEz” suddenly comes in as more meaningful because it turns out Inaho x Slaine focus was a foreshadowing of their future confrontations more than anything, and it looks like it’ll be a long way back for the latter. In the meanwhile, our main cast is flying high (literally) with their Martian battleship, and it’s quite the upgrade if I do say so myself. With a third Orbital Knight down—Femieanne really got owned didn’t she?—the dynamics are beginning to change in more ways than one, and there’s definitely a lot of ways things can work out here.

In particular, it’s up in the air whether or not Inaho’s involvement might actually lead to Cruhteo’s death rather than the defection we anticipated, and ALDNOAH.ZERO’s getting more and more interesting despite the occasional questionable development (Asseylum’s sudden regrets this week felt a bit off). Here’s looking forward to next week (and some more kick-ass BGM). Before I go though, who else got that slight Code Geass nostalgia again from this episode? OH HOW I’VE MISSED YOU ORANGE-KUN.

EXTRA: Aldnoah Zero OST Preview

「ナンノシレンデスカ」 (Nanno Shiren Desu ka)
“What Kind of Test Is This?”

So it finally happened. Rejection and the shattering of one’s dreams, spitting in the face of one’s hard work. It must be hard for Izumi to swallow right now, but as an audience member, I can’t help but feel that this path was a little too obvious. While it’s surely refreshing and funny to see Izumi’s skills in this state, there was no doubt from the start that all of Izumi’s happiness would come crashing down when someone sane finally broke the news to him. It’s also not surprising that the person consoling Izumi is Ryouma, considering how eager the rest of his family is to use this opportunity to guide their youngest into acting. Thus, a little of the magic is sort of lost when the path is so clearly laid out. I remember in Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo how similar themes of failure are portrayed, except in that show, it wasn’t so clear who would win and lose in each of their individual battles. Their skills were apt enough by any standard, but the main message–”your best sometimes isn’t enough”–rang bitterly throughout the show. Here in LOVE STAGE!! though, it would be foolish for any of us to cheer Izumi on seriously. If by any chance he’d won, it would’ve been out of luck and convenience, rather than any merit of his skills.

However, it seems the message of the show isn’t about failure, but rather the misguided efforts of one’s dreams. The show heavily hints that Izumi is destined to enter the actor life, as evidenced by his apt acting skills during the wedding commercial. As such, much of the focus is on the subtle efforts of Rei, Shougo, and Izumi’s parents to guide him onto that path. They all are looking out for him without much selfish intent, but it’s also clear that in Izumi’s heart, his passions lie somewhere where his skills do not align. This leads us easily into our next section, because there is exactly one person who still believes in Izumi and, ironically, becomes the only person who really looks out for Izumi the person, rather than Izumi the misguided son.

Considering how Ryouma acted last episode, he exhibited a surprising amount of self-restraint this episode. Save for some uke-seme dynamics towards the end, Ryouma was respectful of Izumi’s situation, especially taking into account how emotionally fragile the poor mangaka is. Seeing Ryouma curled up besides Izumi’s bed was a sight to see and I was really glad that he didn’t steal any kisses that time. He did get rewarded through that bath scene though–fanservice for the audience must be had after all. It’s a bit of a convenient leap how Izumi and Ryouma reunited, but I think this whole setup is leaning towards something much greater and less convenient. With the whole press conference being set up, it’s looking like Ryouma may stand up for Izumi once more, though how exactly is still up in the air. It’s a subtle evolution, but the relationship between Ryouma and Izumi is definitely changing, more so for Ryouma than his crush. He’s messed up a few times, but hey, no one is perfect. What does matter is the respect and diligence that comes afterwards, which is definitely something I’m seeing from Ryouma, and something I want to see more of.

The dynamic of dominance is slowly fading, where instead of Ryouma succumbing to his desires, instead is fueling his love with kindness and understanding, rather than some sexual power struggle. This is great, and I hope the target audience here is enjoying that part of our main couple. After what was a rough tumble in episode 3 and 4, we’re finally seeing the fruits of what this show can be, and it sure tastes delicious.

Preview

End Card

「それぞれの少女、それぞれの思い」 (Sorezore no Shoujo, Sorezore no Omoi)
“Each Girl, Each Desire”

It’s a training episode, but the small things still aren’t there.

It’s All About the Story

Let’s talk about terrorism. The object of terrorism is to terrorize. Obvious, right? It’s in the name. But focus on that. It means the object is not to kill a lot of people. That might be a way to incite terror, but it’s not a requirement. Terror and terrorism can exist when no lives are lost, as Zankyou no Terror has proven.

So what makes an act terrifying? It’s the story. That’s why 9/11 struck so deeply in the American people’s minds, because the imagery of those towers falling is potent. I can still remember seeing it for the first time to this day. And that’s why this terrorist attack is brilliant, regardless of the death toll. That tanker now stands as a testament to their power, and a reminder to people every single day to be afraid of the espers and what they can do. That’s some clever terrorism, and for that, they need to go down.

Discrimination Against Espers

Discrimination is a tricky theme when it’s of the fantastic sort. If you’re setting a story in Jim Crow-era America, yes, I can believe that totally; when the discriminated people are espers that nobody knew about a few days ago, it’s trickier. Not because people wouldn’t be scared. I absolutely think they would be. Even the “good” espers – and like someone carrying a gun, you can’t tell which ones are the good and bad ones at a glance – are capable of feats most people wouldn’t dream of. Take Wolverine Papa. What happens if he has a bad day? Nothing, of course; we know him, and know that he’s fundamentally a gentle man. But the people who don’t know him, and see what he can do? Fear is understandable.

The hatred is tricky though. It seems so abrupt…and yet, remember that we know these people. We know that some are good, and some are bad. I think of that, and then think of how the Irish, and Germans, and Africans, and Chinese, and Japanese, and Hispanics, and every single minority I can think of in my own country suffered from discrimination at one point. Because they were “different”, and because the people who didn’t like them didn’t know any of them.

We know some of these espers, and know the truth. The other characters do not, and their reactions – some of them being afraid, others wanting to put them all behind bars – are entirely reasonable. I’m just happy that the police are seeing things as they are. They’ve done nothing wrong and they’re helping, and that’s enough. It’s nice to see the police in a story doing something smart for once.

Execution and the Small Things

This was a training episode, and as such I’m neither surprised nor disappointed that action wasn’t high on the priority list. When you’re doing delicate character building moments, though, you need to build things up skillfully, and Tokyo ESP (the anime) still lacks that. It’s really in the small things that this show falls short, and I truly feel the lack. I’ve read, seen, and even created enough stories to know when there’s a gap, and there are gaps all over this anime.

Take when the three girls walk up, and they’re suddenly talking about espers. It was forced. Or take Rinka & Kobushi-chan. They’re suddenly friends. Why? I know why, because one of you told me, but it’s nowhere in the anime. It’s never shown why they’ve come to peace with each other, and that blasted cold open spoiling the end point isn’t helping. Rush rush rush, why must so many anime rush? I’ll never know. Other than the craven profit-motivated reasons, of course.

Yoda-roshi & CPC

So, references. Martial arts instructor Yodani Roshi (Inoue Kazuhiko) is an interesting one. I think references are best done in passing – the ghost busters – or something that riffs off the original, like Wolverine Papa. Yodani Roshi is just Yoda in a panda suit with a groping problem (so Yoda + Master Yoshi?), and that’s not that interesting. Probably because he has nothing else mixed in. Wolverine Papa is Wolverine (visually) + Magneto (his power) + papa + his own personality, so that’s a new take on old things. Yoda-roshi is just Yoda + Master Roshi + sexual harassment panda, full stop. I’ve seen all this before, so it feels lazy instead of funny.

He does get the job done though, as a trainer. The real crux of the episode is Rinka finding her resolve, and that is…well, sabotaged by the small things not being there, but the point does come across. Rinka herself shines through, no matter the adaptation’s faults, so seeing her overcome her self-doubts and decide to take training seriously was nice. I still root for her, even if I have the undeniable feeling that I should be reading the manga instead.

Looking Ahead – Hello New Guy

I actually kind of liked how the new guy, Oozora Ayumu (Ogata Megumi), was introduced. It felt like Dekomori’s introduction to me. “Oh, she’s my friend from before.” Well, that makes sense. And Yoda-roshi having students (who may or may not be espers) makes sense as well. Quick, clean, and effective. Nice. Now get with the training again!

tl;dr: @StiltsOutLoud – Rinka finds her resolve in the wake of the terrorist attack, though the anime is still missing the little things #東京ESP 06

Random thoughts:

• Why didn’t Rinka just phase the other people through rubble to save them? Ill-explained magic systems are poison to a good fantasy story.
• Suddenly, Koushi-chan stripped. See what I mean about the little things? No, I’m not talking about Kobushi-chan, I mean the act of pulling up her shirt. Get your mind out of the gutter. Besides, she’s not small at al–erh. I’ll stop now.
• Rinka is wearing a BEER t-shirt. Rinka is best hero forever!
• Yoda-roshi is right; Rinka is too reliant on kicks, which are powerful but come with big risks. That’s why MMA fighters usually opt for sweaty nut punching over flashy kicks. Or so I’m told.
• I’ve come around to the hair color thing. Rinka’s hair should be white all the time. If their powers are on all the time, there’s no reason for it to change other than as visual shorthand, and it’s pretty clear when she’s using her power because she goes through walls and stuff. No reason to gild the lily.

Check out my blog about storytelling and the novel I’m writing at stiltsoutloud.com. The last four posts: Completely unbiased, You have to sell free, Different answers, and Compromise.

Full-length images: 04, 21.

Preview

「自転車」 (Jitensha)
“Bicycle”

This week’s episode felt like someone with schizophrenia got a hold of the reigns and decided to drive the damn thing off of a cliff. Because if watching a majority of the characters have a sudden change in behavior that would make you question if you’re watching the right anime, the studio had the gall to put in such a crappy sexual innuendo that it pains me to even think about it.

An Episode of WTFs

The aforementioned title is exactly how I feel about this week’s episode. Instead of building on some of the tension that Kakeru brought into play last week by being his amazingly wholesome self, we were instead subjected to one of the strangest episodes to date. While I’m starting to have an idea behind what the overall “goal” might have been after re-watching the episode a few times, it doesn’t the complete change in behavior.

No. 1

I have no idea when or how Sachi started dating Hiro and apparently Hiro didn’t either. Surprising both the audience and her boyfriend with such a sudden confession that awkwardly came in the form of introducing Hiro to her mom, the whole thing was rather abrupt. But you know, I’m the kind of person who can accept serendipity because I’m sure Hiro was in a state of pure bliss after receiving such a pleasant surprise. So, how do Hiro and Sachi celebrate finally becoming a couple? Well, it involved Sachi creating some elaborate scheme to ruin Touko’s date and using Hiro to do the dirty work. Which of course lead to Hiro finding out and quickly wanting to cry into the nearest pillow.

All that said, I want to believe Sachi just let her passion for Touko cloud her judgment. She obviously understands what she did was completely screwed up and I hope she can somehow make it up to Hiro. Also, did you notice that Hiro’s older sister’s seems to be in a bit of a pickle as well?

No. 2

What the hell is going on with Kakeru and his two clones that are only visible to him? All I know is that I can’t wait to see how P.A. Works tries to explain it. While I’ll be extremely disappointed if it ends up being something magical/fantasy related, I do think it’d be pretty interesting if it ended up being some kind of strange mental disorder. Maybe something along the lines of he projects emotions he doesn’t express as different versions of him that people would probably like more.

No. 3

Sexual jokes about Pianists and their powerfully skillful fingers. Just, no.

Looking Ahead

After going through all of that, I think my favorite part of the episode was probably any scene that had Touko’s younger sister. Not only did the episode title seemed to be focused on her (I didn’t see any other bicycles) but I thought it was kind of cute how her swim team seems to be madly in love with Yuki.

Anyways, I really hope things start turning around soon. Because with five different characters who all have their own unique personalities, I really don’t think side characters are the ones I should be focusing on.

Preview