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「さっそく、しよっか？」 (Sassoku, shi yokka?)
“Wanna Hurry Up, and Do It?”
In the first place, let me just say that Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is very good at what it does. That said, I’m a bit more unsure about whether I like what it does than I was after the premiere. This definitely feels like a series where it’s going to take a while to sort through my reactions both instinctual and intellectual. Which is a bit of a problem when it’s only 12 episodes. And that also makes one question the choice in making eps like this one, which could hardly have been narrower in focus. But it’s far too early to worry about that.
I knew the fanservice was going to be pretty heavy with this show. The first episode had a bit, but boy – the volume on that was turned way up here. As I’ve noted ad nauseam I don’t have a problem with fanservice when it’s tasteful and plot-relevant. I guess when you have a protagonist who’s addicted to eroge and another making outfits to feed that addiction, it’s plot-relevant. Is it tasteful? In what’s already a subjective enterprise to begin with (anime criticism) that’s about as subjective as you can get. It’s artfully done, to be sure. But I think I could do with a little less of it than we got this week.
A bigger concern for me, frankly, is Marin. I said last week that she was the reason My Dress-Up Darling works as well as it does. To an extent I still think that, but boy – she pushed the envelope this time. I love the fact that she’s sincerely passionate about what she loves. And that she doesn’t care what people think of her. And I love the fact that Wakana responds to that, especially the part about escaping gender stereotypes. He’s hardly flawless himself, obviously, and he can certainly learn something from Marin. And that fact that he realizes that is a good sign for his character arc.
But that whole measuring scene, wow. I mean, it took up the entire episode for starters. And the entire episode was basically one joke – Wakana’s supreme embarrassment. The first thing I wonder is: what are we supposed to believe about this? Are we intended to disdain Wakana for reacting how he does? Because I’ll be honest, any normal kid his age is probably going to be in the same boat. I don’t mind being kept guessing about a writer’s perspective – it’s interesting to a point. But in extreme cases (like Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso) that perspective can be warped enough to be a deal-breaker. This is nothing like on that level but it is a cautionary note.
Ultimately this is most important for what it says about Marin as a character. And frankly she’s either unbelievably (choice of word intentional) clueless, or a bit of a mean-spirited tease. I find it hard to buy a 16-17 year-old girl who plays 18+ games being unaware of the impact her actions were having. She had to know – come on. All that “what’s the problem?” stuff seemed genuine at the time, but is anyone that obtuse? If she’s not, it was rather cruel of her to keep torturing Wakana like that. And keep. And keep…
Charitably, I want to believe it’s a matter of Marin being so enthusiastic about cosplay generally and Shizuku-tan specifically that she forgets what she knows when she really throws herself into it. She had one moment where she became embarrassed herself – when Wakana held the measuring tape up to her crotch – but never once did she seem to acknowledge his discomfort. She did at least thank him at school – which she damn well should since he’s doing her a pretty big favor, but some anime characters wouldn’t have. But seriously, she needed to pump the brakes a little bit there.
Whatever the case with Marin, I suppose the key factor is where the narrative takes the story from here. The measuring thing might not have been so off-putting if it had lasted five minutes or even half the episode, rather than the whole thing. But if Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is basically going to be 20 minutes of Wakana being humiliated for his innocence every week, that’s going to have a pretty short shelf-life as entertainment – even with some very artful fanservice in the mix. Based on the premiere I’d like to think there’s much more to it, and to this relationship. If there isn’t this series is basically a dime-a-dozen – and what I’ve seen so far has the potential to be much more than a dime-a-dozen.
Preview
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As much as I complain about Western adaptations of comics at least they are willing to change a few things. Adaptations of manga for the most part adapts everything from the source. It is basically the manga but animated. It is why I just stick with the manga. Anime just exist to promote the source and get people to read it.
As far as this series goes, it looks good but like all adaptations it will end whole the manga keep going for years. Long part the point where it shield have ended
Well you know, you need look no further than the currently airing Karakai Jouzu for an example of an anime doing more than simply making manga pictures move. It adds to the experience in many ways, including re-working the chapter order and judiciously adding excellent original material. Those adaptations do exist, albeit rarely.
This whole episode felt pointless. It was fanservice for fanservice sake. Did we really need an episode of getting measurements especially when Marin could have easily gotten her measurements somewhere else instead of having Wakana do it? Maybe this would haven’t been so bad if they moved on from the measurement scene, but like you said, to spend an entire episode on this when we only get a 12 episode season seems silly.
I understand what your saying, I started reading the Manga at a bar after watching the first episode. When I completed this scenario I was like “Feeling a crap ton of emotions right now and it’s not because of the whiskey.”
The episode follows the Manga for source material and unfortunately a good portion of the chapter in the Manga was devoted to this measuring scene. I mean the production company CAN make alterations to the story and Producers have done so such as the Fate/Stay Night series where some of the arcs are not true to the source.
Alternatively what could also happen is the production company make alterations, the Mangaka gets upset and it’s a replay of Fruits Basket original. (The ones from early 2000s.)
So far, does her friends know she cosplay? Maybe she’s trying to keep it a secret. They also explain measuring yourself doesn’t work. I know it doesn’t work for me for sure.
Since watching the first episode I’ve been reading the Manga religiously at a bar I frequent quite often. I am not surprised this body measuring scene was illustrated, and it took up the entire chapter…I think.
I know I mentioned that from the first episode this Anime reminded me of another Runway de Waratte. After reading the Manga, I was wrong. We have to remember Marin’s premise for working with Wakana in the first place. Marin has a character she wants to cosplay from and this character is from an Eroge title. Understanding this I see why this episode has to be so risky, the Mangaka who wrote the Manga are setting standards and production company is just illustrating what’s on the Manga.
Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru is slowly evolving into a romcom than a story about two characters with WELL cultured hobbies.
I am hoping the source is aiming to use this personal relationship between Wakana and Marin to help Marin enter in the Cosplay industry as a professional. Even if the characters Marin chooses are from Eroge or Hentai. Otherwise, this story will be 1 dimension and we had to wait 12 episodes to realize that.
No you had to wait for episode 2 to realese that.
Yeah, I wanted this to be the next runway de warate, but in reality this is going to be an ecchi romcom, and not even a good one.
This isn’t for me. Good luck to anyone who enjoys this though
The last part was the one that really got me. The game’s audio and Gojo’s serious face, it was inevitable that his grandpa would get the wrong idea. It works real great in anime compared to other media. Should’ve really watched this episode on a home theatre. XD
Episode 1: What a nice romantic comedy anime.
Episode 2: Oh… Never mind… It’s just soft porn.
If I did the math correctly, are those G cups?
>_<
Nezuko +1
Just change one letter in the title: Bisque to Risque…
Don’t miss the point.
The girl is really trusting the doll maker to fulfill her wishes.
She is so enthusiastic about it she is candidly erotic, because her mind is set in the outcome the cosplay outfit.
It takes some time for her to realize what she is doing, and the embarrasment she feels really shows.
The doll maker is suffering because to him the whole situation is a cheese hentai scenario. But he overcomes his judgemental thoughts and gets on with the task at hand. (Which is such a feat).
Ultimately this is most important for what it says about Marin as a character. And frankly she’s either unbelievably (choice of word intentional) clueless, or a bit of a mean-spirited tease.
I think it’s just as much she’s found someone who’s willing to go along with her hobby and a bit too focused/obsessed with finally getting on with it. Even before the swimsuit gets broken out, she basically stalked him down using Google maps, showed up at his door unannounced, and invited herself in because she couldn’t wait to get going. Which is very not Japanese in how aggressive she’s being.
The point where I suspect the implication that him touching her thigh and or brushing up against something else that happens to be in close proximity to that joint while measuring her inseam is a snap-back to reality moment that she’s 90% naked in a boys bedroom.
In many ways, I think both these characters are the same in the sense that their free moments are hyper-focused on their hobby to the exclusion of everything else, But, they exist at the extreme opposite ends of the introvert/extrovert spectrum. Which means Marin charges ahead blindly when faced with conflict – see “oh, I’ll just wear a swimsuit so you can measure me almost naked!” like that’s a good plan – while Wakana retreats into his shell and concedes ground instead of saying or doing what he should.
I started following this manga when it only had like 10 chapters so and even back then this manga was gaining traction for obvious reasons. I was honestly surprised it got an anime so quick and now it’s super popular. Just go to Twitter/Pixiv to see the amount of artwork it suddenly has and boy am I not complaining. My phone wallpaper selection is increasing lol.