Amagami SS / Final Impressions / First Impressions

「オンセン」 (Onsen)
“Hot Spring”

The omnibus finally parks next to the curb and lets us out. However, a bunch of sweet girls give us parting gifts before we finally end our journey. How bittersweet it is~.

Now that a week has passed from Haruka’s arc, I can now appreciate why the final impressions and poll should reside here. The girls of Amagami have all gathered to give their last minutes of showtime their bare best, allowing us to see much of the cast before we say goodbye.

It was quite nice seeing a more broad range of interactions between the characters. It’s reflective of what the series would’ve been like without an omnibus format. The characters would get into shenanigans with each other, and Junichi would stay on the sides as he eventually would get with no one, but also everyone at the same time. Kaoru and Tsukasa would compete all the time, the flat-chested girls would get jealous of everyone else, would be there to keep the situation stable, and Risa would stalk everyone else from the shadows.

But that’s not what brought me to Amagami. It’s sweet seeing the characters interact like this, and I would’ve wished such interaction was more intertwined in the series, but Amagami is meant to be an Omnibus. It exists to serve as many characters as equally as possible, which is the catch that first caught my attention to the series. During the Summer 2010 Preview, I thought it was a novel idea at the time to tell a bunch of mini-stories like a VN in order to give each main heroine proper attention and closure. It’s like combining the selection a VN gives with the production values of an anime! Yes, it would be a shame that my favorite character wouldn’t get a full show of development, but all the other characters I appreciated wouldn’t be losing out either ^^.

For the most part, the omnibus format worked. Although it did sacrifice time for character development, almost every character received their emotional endings during the first season, living happily ever after with our dear protagonist. Some arcs, like Tsukasa and Haruka’s, wrapped up nicely and were not in need of a second season. Others, like Sae, Ai, and Kaoru’s arc wrapped up fairly well, but left something to be desired in my opinion (illustrating the risk of omnibus). Lastly, poor Rihoko got stuck on a cliffhanger, thus in desperate need of a second arc to rectify this atrocity.

Thus Amagami SS passed, and Amagami SS+ plus came to wrap up the loose ends. Let’s look back at this season and see what’s happened before we close the curtains on this series.

Unfortunately, SS+ plus started off rocky with Tsukasa’s arc. There wasn’t much in the way of developing either Junichi or Tsukasa, and the challenge they faced was resolved way too quickly than I had hoped. I believe that if any of the arcs should’ve stopped at season one, it would have to be this one. Tsukasa just handled the situation way too cleanly, although it kept within the bounds of her character, and Junichi…let’s not even mention it. The only surprise this arc was that Junichi had yet another secret crush tailing him, which I believe would’ve been a better catch to introduce early rather than appended at the end.

However, next we saw the redemption of Rihoko, which worked really well. Their commitment to keeping their childhood relationship alive: admirable. All that happened whilst they still tried to adjust to the romantic feelings they had for one another. To see a Junichi that isn’t a complete blockhead (see above) is one I can bear to watch, making the many subtleties in this arc a treat to see. To also see her final victory in the last episode, making all the other main character cringe, made me smile bunches, as Rihoko always seemed like the underdog.

Next enters Ai. The way I felt about her episodes was how I felt about her first season…lots of potential…but somehow misses it. Her character is great, believe me. Her quiet attitude is alluring, her reflections and daily life setup a workable setting, but her conclusion lacked that fizzle and bang that other arcs manged to produce. It wasn’t that her arc was bad, but that it could’ve been done better to the potential that it contained. I suspect it’s because her type of character requires more airtime to develop properly, but that’s a factor that comes with the package of an omnibus :(.

Kaoru definitely needed this arc to complete the couple’s development together. Their realizations of each other’s attitudes towards one another outside of school was an important topic to explore. Kaoru and Junichi finally started showing their dere to each other whilst also coming to terms with their public friendship. Personally, stories like this where friends have to go through that awkward process of becoming more than friends are such adorable and heartwarming things to see, which is why I feel Kaoru and Rihoko’s resolutions resounded the best. They both explore that aspect of relationships that rings true for many people.

Sae however, misses that boat of changing character. The arc had set itself up for so much potential but yet…the conclusion episode reversed on that. Sae was finally getting independent and getting stronger in her character, Junichi was finally easing off whilst also getting a bit jealous, but all that reversed as soon as Junichi decided to play cameraman again. She did keep those cute moments which provided for excellent screencaps, and the narration was excellent as always, but that ending, though included with timeskip, didn’t feel fully natural.

As for Haruka…I think my last post said it best. Wao~ ^___^

In closure, Amagami’s anime adaptors took a real risk when setting the show up like this, but for the most part it saw success. Sure, not every character arc was as well-executed, so there still existed some imbalances in development, but that’s probably the best you can get without devoting extra screen time to other characters. The show also leaves off a very high demand for the other characters as well, such as Risa, Maya, Miya, Umehara, Kanae, Hibiki, Ze-Jessica *cough*, but hopefully at LEAST one of these secondary characters gets covered in a BD release.

But what Amagami set out to do, it did well. That fatal flaw in an anime where the secondary characters get no ending has been rectified to an extent. Now, after (6×6)+3 episodes, we finally reach the biggest ending of all, something that has been a treat to watch (and in the end blog). It’s…kind of hard to say goodbye :(.

Full size: 1, 7, 17, 18, 23, 30

ED7 Sequence & End Card


40 Comments

  1. This series has left me (almost) content. To see the initial series being merely an adaption of a PS2 game (that I still think could use an eng patch, lest I’m blindly wrong.) That sereis alone was very heartwarming. The omnibus format gave me a slight Dr.who twinge, in that after Junichi gets an ending with one of the girls, the story then resets itself and goes for a different girl. References aside, I had some good laughs and shenanigans.

    as to my favorite girl REALLY is. While I’ve had a nice good fix of Morishima and then her blonde counterpart (seriously I’d kill for a threesome doujin), there was also Kaoru’s arc that I also thoroughly enjoyed, and of course my other personal favorite, Nanasaki Ai, yeah I did initially fall for her because of umm…..my fetish of swimsuits (shut up it’s could be worse.) still, both her arcs were really touching, from Junichi tripping out in that egyptian amusement park whatchamacallit, to seeing her feel a bit lonely without him.

    BUT, sadly this is where I claim my personal favorite girl of the series. Kamizaki Riza; (come at me bros.) For more than one reason I found her to be my favorite, her stalking may be deemed unnecessary and creepy to some, but I see someone who’s just merely shy, so shy that she gave me a heart attack. I was able to easily both sympathize and empathize with her, wanting to fill a void that one left, even the fact that she wished to help him from the shadows. It’s a reminder to me that even if girls were to stalk, deep down beneath those habits, there’s someone who just wanted to see someone was alone happy.

    also, PLEASE! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD/MADOKA, PLEASE AT LEAST SHOW ME ONE EPISODE THAT CONTINUES HER ARC!!!!!

    Acario
    Reply

  2. Considering that Ai found a ramen bath, when Miya went looking for a special bath too, the thought crossed my mind of what she was searching for…

    A meat bun bath!

    Please tell me I was not the only one who considered this possibility. ^^;;

    MasterDragonKnight
    Reply

  5. Fully agree that Kaoru and Rihoko’s arcs were the strongest, while the others just gave us some extra doses of what we love about each character. It was a close call between Kaoru and Ayatsuji at the end of Season 1 for me, but Ayatusji pulled ahead by a bit in the end. Kaoru wins hands down this time around though and gets my favorite vote. This ep. was pure win for giving them so much interaction together also!

    Thanks for finishing out the series here on RC Zanibas, enjoyed your posts!

    Xin
    Reply

  14. Even though my fav Amagami girl is Haruka, i’l go this time for Ayatsuji.. Another one of the cutest anime come to an end.. Hopefully there would be an OVA since 3rd season I guess wont happen, though I’m not gonna close my door for it.. ^_^

    Faint Smile
    Reply

  15. Ayatsuji Tsukasa-fanboy here. Ayatsuji-san is a wonderful person with nothing to hide! All Hail The Queen.

    Anyone found it funny/ironic when Keiko and Risa were talking to each other and felt that they could share their secrets with a total stranger? Because they’re not really strangers at all! Both are voiced by Kadowaki Mai, so it’s a case of the “Talking to Himself” trope.

    Maya-sensei > loli Maya. A loli simply cannot compare to the allure of a mature woman who’s just in her late twenties.

    Anyone wish they could replay over and over again the part of the ED Song Kokuhaku where the girl mouths “suki dayo”?

    The_Magus_Killer
    Reply

    1. I found it very funny when both Risa and Keiko talk to each other. They were voiced by the same voice actress, Kadowaki Mai. I can only imagine her laughing between lines since she’s talking to herself.

      Tim217
      Reply

  16. Makes me sad to see them go. Sae was my favorite all throughout until Haruka’s arcs grew on me(Those eyes, so mesmerizing). So now they are pretty much tied. I’m happy they finally wrapped up Rihoko’s because it pissed me off how she didn’t get a happy ending in S1. Once again this was a great series for me and I hate to see it end off here, but I’m afraid I’ll have to live with it.

    InvisibleZombie
    Reply

  17. GOOD NEWS TO EVERYONE!!!!! TO-LOVE-RU will become an anime. We are now waiting for more details as of now. HOORAY for the ECCHI-NESS of the series. HOORAY for the fans( just like ME!!!!….) Just keep in touch.

    So, Good day to everyone!!!!

    Ken Sanders
    Reply

  21. Do I have to pick just ONE favorite (main) girl? =P lol

    It always comes down to a toss-up between Kaoru and Tsukasa followed by Ai.

    I also fully agree on MORE HIBIKI!!!! =D (I think I liked +’s Haruka arc more because of all the Hibiki goodness, especially her blushing and pouting and such! ^_^ )

    HalfDemonInuyasha
    Reply

  22. Ahh, Amagami SS, you were a great ride. May I always hold this series dear to my heart. I hate to see so many series ending these past couple of weeks. Let’s hope Spring is going to be as great as Winter. Well, till I kick off the Spring I guess I will be going back to my amazinng life. Thanks for finishing off the series Zanibas!

    Missingnomer
    Reply

  24. Only thing that disappointed me was, since this second season was mostly original content, they totally could’ve done an ark for all the other characters, like Kaoru’s friend and Rihoko’s friend (forgot their names), Hibiki e.t.c

    YanDaMan
    Reply

  29. My favourite arcs were Kaoru’s and Haruka’s.

    I think Kaoru’s personality developed a lot through her arc and she became my #2 favourite. It was so cute when she was frightened in that guest house and the whole arc was very entertaining.

    Haruka’s arc was so-and-so: Haruka herself is my eternal #1 favourite and I lol’d when her relative called Morishima Sexy Jessica was introduced. Jessica just being a colour-changed Haruka was a letdown, though. Junichi using his school ceremony spech for his personal love message felt quite out of place to me. I wonder if this is common in Japan.

    Like some other commenters I’d also like to see a Riza arc as she indeed is quite cute. I’d also like to see a Miya x Sae arc but I guess this would be out of the show’s concept.

    jreding
    Reply

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