Posted by OP2 Sequence
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OP2: 「sh0ut」 by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Tielle & Gemie
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「ぼくらが旅に出る理由 I feel painful and so useless that I want to cry but it’s fun nevertheless.」 (Bokura ga Tabi ni Deru Riyuu)
“Why We Travel I feel painful and so useless that I want to cry but it’s fun nevertheless.”
I’m fairly certain once Re:Creators ends that I won’t ever forget it. This show has an uncanny habit of simultaneously inducing aggravation and fascination, intent on repeating the same frustration-inducing stratagems while offering up important and frankly intriguing information. There’s not much point further analyzing the continued use of boardroom presentations and office discussions for example—plenty of that debated in earlier episodes—but going over the intricacies of crossover and universe merging? Now that I can get behind.
We knew the intent previously about defeating Altair via some creative writing, but the surprise for me is how well-thought out the whole concept is. Normally you’d expect matters to end with the story writing and big final battle, irksome problems and plot holes be damned, but Re:Creators went one step beyond by offering solutions to those problems. Powering up the good guys instead of inhibiting Altair? Audience more likely to tolerate the former instead of the latter. Merging different worlds together rather than “writing out” Altair? No creator present to perform the duty. Even the reliance on audience participation is mentioned as the big unknown and the one thing no one has any control over. Funny how simply getting a few million viewers to imagine Altair out of existence could be so suspenseful. It also begs the question just what Souta plans on doing with his proposed character creation, although I can foresee it involving some Altair lobotomization personality replacement. No particular reason mind you, just a wild thought, but I do know I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t involve cat ears in some capacity.
The other interesting aspect regards the Elimination Chamber Festival’s (great name) logistics and planning. Creative differences, disparities in work style and demand, difficulties in merging radically different stories, take away the fictional trappings here and you have a pretty good impression of the average working life. Last week’s recap featured a little of it tongue in cheek, but this episode easily showcased the challenges of getting a diverse group of individuals to agree on a single plan of action. Dislike the way certain adaptations (*cough* Danmachi) came out? Look no further than here for an explanation of production committee functionality. Hell, the show even found time to mention the differences between salaried and self-employed work. Issues with lack of action aside, there’s no denying Re:Creators has forged a surprisingly strong and real world applicable base to work off of.
Speaking of action though, we probably don’t have long to wait on that front. Besides the arrival of Celestia’s compatriot Charon last time—should be obvious where he’s from—there’s at least two more creations which will pop up. The first looks like our cutie pie Mamika replacement—complete with (slightly) pink hair—while the second (from what I’ve read) is another character from Yuuya’s world. Not entirely clear how their allegiances will break down, but it’s a safe assumption our new cinnamon roll will at least side with the good guys, leaving number two for the loving embrace of military pigtails. Considering we have not seen best girl Miracle Maid Magane for a while too, the main question is not if violence breaks out before the preordained date, but when. Does anyone really expect the festival to go off without a hitch? I didn’t think so. There’s a lot of potential twists and turns for Re:Creators to work through, but with only eight episodes remaining, it makes me wonder if this story isn’t just getting started. Could we potentially see a second season? Certainly a thought worth chewing on.
ED2 Sequence
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ED2: 「ルビコン」 (Rubikon) by Sangatsu no Phantasia
Before I get too much flak, yes I watched the recap, and yes I know it had some further information (and fourth wall breaking) regarding the characters. This information alone, however, I felt was not enough for a post by itself, particularly when most of the animation was reused and would result in me taking screen caps I already had earlier.
I feel the snippets revealed there are better brought up later on once the story advances, particularly if we get any more character focuses like with Mamika and Alice. It might be worthwhile reconsidering our recap coverage in the future though to account for such oddball episodes, particularly in terms of screen caps.
@Pancakes: I also watched the recap. FWIW, I’m fine with you passing coverage on it for the reasons you list above. Now off to watch Ep. 14…
understandable… BUT SEXY METEORA SCREENCAPS!!
jokes aside, I hope we’ll see tanned Meteora again, that recap episode was damn funny
Good point. XD How could I forget about sexy Meteora!
there was a tanned meteora?!? Off to watch recep ep then!
I thought that a short blurb about ep 13 would be posted in combination with ep 14. This site has had single posts that covered two eps at the same time, no need to skip ep 13 just because it can’t fill an entire post on its own.
Same.
And btw. what about Tales? Not that I paricularly enjoyed that final ep. that much that I’m missing it, just wondering.
Double episode posts are something we try to avoid. They’re usually done only if the episodes aired back to back, or if a writer had important commitments preventing a quick write up. In hindsight, however, I probably should have, if just to keep the information fresh in my mind and take care of the recap coverage. Still can be brought up later as necessary though considering it’s largely character-related.
@boingman
Utter lack of time on my part. The last episode fell during a bad week where I had seemingly everything school-related due and a sick puppy to care for, not to mention my share of spring season previews to write. Out of everything else I figured Zestiria was the logical one to drop given the delay in its release.
I think a low or no screen cap EXTRA type of post should be available in the limited number of cases a show has something nonnormal episode related come up big. In this case, it is a short bit of screen caps and shorter text on relevant points. In other cases like special press events, audio only events that really make a buzz there would be no screen caps.
To many, this was an extra special very funny recap episode that actually had new content as well so curiosity about Pancakes reaction is involved along with what other random curiosity readers thought.
selesia isn’t weak, it’s true…
she is just an M who likes a good beating, really its more of a powerup for her
For whatever reason that made me imagine her getting off like Kakegurui’s Yumeko. I’m not sure whether to laugh or be intrigued lol.
This episode is a glimpse as to why anime crossovers are so rare or pretty much don’t exist. Trying to mesh different writing styles, artstyles and worldviews into a cohesive good story satisfying enough for most of the fans of involved series is no small task. That’s not even mentioning copyright messes.
Aside from that I pity Kikuchihara, she probably has to explain many times about the whole thing not being a joke. Still is that a romance VN? heroine? Is she even going to be useful?
I bet she is gonna Magane-chans opponent.
she’ll bite her tongue during their wordoff, tumbling her words into something random that will backfire on Magane when she does her “lie becomes truth” thingy
Although Magane doesn’t have to only rely on her magic now that she stole Hangetsu from Yuuya. Personally I’d find it pretty interesting if they actually added a powerless romance heroine to this superpowers arms race, lol.
Not just anime, any form of crossover really. They’re bloody difficult outside of comic books, and even then those have similar problems of continuity, personality, and fan acceptance. Never thought we would have such commentary prominently feature in a show like this. And yes IIRC the new girl comes from a romance/romcom VN. Might be wrong though, have to wait and see.
@Wiley
I’ll laugh hard if she’s actually the Magane cure, it would be such a perfect fit. Cute and naive against smart and crazy. Double the points if she also makes shark teeth lose her mind out of sheer frustration.
Nothing is stopping Magane from killing her outright however.
Yes, she might need a mute tank to keep the conversation verbal.
i bet souta will make character based on setsuna to confuse altair.
He did mention wanting to draw it as Altair was before her militarization, so it’s certainly possible. Still cannot shake the feeling though Souta plans on using it as the replacement for Altair.
Replacement? Or perhaps a way to enrich Altair’s current character? I’m reminded of what Meteora said about secondary creations in episode 8:
“If the changes in the new story fit into the storyline of the original story, then the stories would still be consistent”.
No single proof of that at the time, as typical of Meteora’s Bat Deductions, but it would allow for a way to enrich Altair’s character with sides of her that don’t exist yet. And who better to do that than Sota, who was her author’s friend?
Oh, please let there be a second season! So far this has been my favorite anime of this entire decade.
Hiroe Rei confirmed this episode’s point was to show the possible conflicts in putting together so many franchises, while hinting at what the final battle will be like.
He added the anime’s aim is to show “the stories of Creators, Creations, and the audience, with each complementing the other. Highlights are prepared for each part.”
The creators are based on parts of people he’s seen in the anime industry, but are not modeled after any specific person. Nakanogane is popular with the staff and cast.
https://www.sunday-webry.com/events/re_creators_naked/interview14/
Thanks for the info. That would explain why, for me, the authors feel like real people in this series.
Their reactions, their interests, their worries, all feel natural. And their observations, theories and insights into the meta conflict sound like the type of questions someone with a bit of logic and common sense would ask themselves in such a situation. No Meteora’s Bat Deductions, thank you very much (as expected, Tv Tropes has a name for everything).
Judging by the scenes in the opening, I summarized what I believed they represent.
1) A hand probably belonging to Altair grasped a heart. What this meant could be interpreted in two ways. Altair presumably crushes the heart representing her desire to destroy the world or referring to a theory that might be coming true.
2)Several scenes showing the characters. Selesia’s medical robe blown away shows how never ending the battle between good and evil is going to be but Selesia pushes forward despite this presumably pointlessness. Aliceteria’s reflection show how she reflecting back in her past actions and is returning to her old role as protector. Yuya’s shadow in the form of Hangaku meant to be how his sins will always be with him till his own death and beyond. Blitz hiding within shadows but lights shone on him meant to represent him seeking hope or atonement which explains why hes loyal to Altair.
3) In relation to no. 1, Setsuna and Altair’s relationship could mean they are one and the same. Setsuna disappears meaning her old life is gone and she’s now Altair. Altair wanting to take hold of Setsuna shows despite all that has happened, Altair or Setsuna regretting and wanted to be her old self once more.
4) Altair grabbing a White Lotus which means enlightenment of mind and soul.
It’s very likely that it’s the main character from that story–the recap mentions Yuuya betraying their group and killing MC’s sister.
https://randomc.net/image/Re%20Creators/Re%20Creators%20-%20OP2%20-%20Large%2004.jpg
https://randomc.net/image/Re%20Creators/Re%20Creators%20-%2014%20-%20Large%2023.jpg
Even professionals feel inadequate sometimes. Marine and Souta don’t interact much, so this scene is quite welcome.
Syo’s the MC of Yuuya’s manga. The recap also mentioned Yuuya also killed their mutual friend.
I think you’re right, remembering that and considering the OP scene heavily suggests it.
Also agreed on Souta and Marine, I particularly liked how Marine’s opinion and her resolve encouraged Souta to broach his idea of creating a character. Really shows the kid is committed to improving and moving beyond his regret regarding Setsuna.
If that new character is really Syo, Yuuya’s rival, things might get interesting. From his point of view, Yuuya may be a toxic friend, traitor and murderer. Why should he trust whichever side he’s in? Another idological clash incoming.
Yeah. It’s 99% confirmed that that’s Syo. Since if you read the spin-off manga. The main character is a Syo fanatic and you can see her “shrine” has the same clothing.
https://www.sunday-webry.com/comics/re_creators_onemore/
Also, Syo is probably a perv too base on this shot, lol
https://randomc.net/image/Re%20Creators/Re%20Creators%20-%20ED2%20-%20Large%2004.jpg
Recap mangas #12 and #13:
http://imgur.com/IYHEcu7
http://imgur.com/9pdj55f
Maximum Clickbait: The Quest for Audience Acceptance.
Maybe Meteora can get a magical transformation to become Sexy Meteora?
Normally I’ve got a fairly high tolerance for exposition – including this show, but have to say that this was starting to push things. I guess on the one hand props for going into detail about the various working parts. OTOH, maybe a bit too much detail.
I did like the fact that the anime addressed the question about trying to weaken Altair. That being said, not sure if I buy that “the audience wouldn’t accept it” since there is backlash against OP/hax characters and such. You could use some moderation and it might very well take with audience. Besides, what’s the downside of trying? Anything? Alerting Altair to the plan? Only think I can think of. So they will not try at all to limit her powers since it seems they are based upon fan-fiction? What if someone writes a new piece that amps up her powers even more? I can go with things as presented, but still…
I also kind of wonder about giving out the true details on the situation to apparently just about everyone involved in the process. More people who know, harder it is to keep a secret, and I think this isn’t something you’d want to go public being that the world’s at stake and all. Do ALL these people really need to know? Do all of them buy into such a fantastic story anyway? I guess the answer to that last question is yes. Still, the mass meetings expressly stating that “the existence of the entire world hinges upon this” was bit of a surprise to me.
Lastly, personally I’m still on the fence about Souta as a character. He’s not technically superfluous – he has a few moments (he must after all as the MC), but to me too often it feels like he is, viewer surrogate or not. At any rate, seems he’s going to be more involved going forward which I hope is a plus.
Overall a decent episode, but not one of the best for the show either IMO.
Although they have addressed it somehow, the elephant in the room is that Altair is a fancreation beloved my many and whose author was a bullied teenager who killed herself. What would be the reaction if the audience believes that the “Elimination Chamber Festival” is a corporate cash-grab that ridicules a character that belongs to all the fan community?
In Western terms, it would be as if the USA government sponsored a giant Marvel-DC event where the superheroes team up to beat Slender Man. As Mr. Matsubara points out, any faux pas can render the crossover null and void.
Also, I guess Altair’s OP status is naturally accepted because she’s an Evil Copyleft Hatsune Miku. Or a twin-tailed Chuck Norris from Chuck Norris Facts. They are meant to be overpowered. To pretend they’re not would break suspension of disbelief (“acceptance”, they call it), not the opposite.
Oh, and totally agree about Souta’s character. His role still feels shoehorned. I look forward to and at the same time dread his suggestion to Matsubara.
I guess the fact that publicity releases sometimes contain errors is missed by many.
The last episode is joking but Meteora claimed the characters her group and if anyone is the MC Meteora is the MC as Souta inferred about some female in the opening episode.
Still, have little idea how Souta is considered the main character all other characters secondary when clearly so far he has not been the MC and fourth wall introduction states he is not the main character. Still could be a spoiler for his role second half but he is not featured again in the opening or closing.
Yet the translation of the comic strip about the show has it Souta’s group but they might be making fun of that idea as much as supporting it.
I’m with Anime list and what the official website seam to show, a large number of main characters, nine at the start making this an ensemble show no MC.
@Mistic: I’ll address your idea about using “reality” as the story more in your post below. As for the “corporate cash-grab”, other than the government sponsorship, how it any different from any other “RL” event/convention “cash grab”? Those things are chock full of merchandise and are typically not free to attend either. The government sponsorship could easily be viewed as a positive. It’s dumping money into the fans’ industry of choice, supporting said industry which can come on hard times. The analogy I would use is sports. Pick a popular sport where you live. If the government sponsors a bunch of new stadiums, would the fans of said sport complain? More like the other way around. People who are not fans would take issue with the way tax money is being spent on a select group. In your example, if the US Gov’t sponsored a Marvel-DC event, I highly doubt Marvel-DC fans would complain, but I do think there would be considerable backlash from Marvel-DC fans as to why the US Gov’t is using tax money to support such private companies vs. spending it on say healthcare, schools, infrastructure, etc. (or just use to offset gov’t debt).
You make a fair point about how as a villain, readers/viewers tend to be more forgiving of hax/op powers. That being said, I’m not sure if necessarily would “break suspension of disbelief”. There are limits. Too hax/op and one might find the protagonist winning BS/deus ex because there’s such a large gap in power.
@RedRocket: I suppose that Souta isn’t technically the MC, but that’s semantics to my point. Even if he’s not THE main character, he IS a main character, and for me he feels too superfluous to the story too often. Pretty easy to write him out of it. Too easy IMO. Too many times he’s “just there” hanging out. Meh. JMO, but I don’t think he’s a very good character.
The difference is the aforementioned elephant in the room: the fanwork known as Altair. Even when corporations use their copyrighted characters, but use them badly, fans complain. So with a character that doesn’t even belong to them, they have to be extra careful.
Perhaps the majority of fans who don’t know of Altair wouldn’t care. But if those who know Altair, have made videos and fanwork for her, and are literally powering her up, reject the “cage” that the government and the corporations are building for her, it could be a disaster. I’m glad that the series pointed it out.
And then came a day unlike any other where Gods’ Mightiest Heroes assembled to fight a common threat. The Scarlet Princess, Selesia. Meteora, Mage of Wonders. Yuya, deadliest man there is and Rui, the Divine Rider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2CTseVwATc
I think Sota might be planning to create an original character to help the crossover be more easily accepted. Like Super Robot Wars has been doing for ages
So much thinking about the crossover, and the solution is right in front of their faces: why not use what’s really happening?
Make a story about Altair being angry and looking for revenge because her author is dead; it’s a real story and the human factor would help the audience buy it and also justify the government’s sponsorship (it’s not just “powerful companies want to make money”, but “event to honor a dead author’s work and raise awareness about bullying”). And with some luck, it could force an artificially induced redemption arc by hitting Altair with a wave of sympathy. Perhaps that’s what Sota has in mind.
The plot twist will be that what we’re watching has actually been the Elimination Chamber Festival all along!
I keep expecting the government lady coordinating the project (can’t recall her name) to turn to us, the real audience, and implore us to clap and clap louder.
I’m expecting this plot twist or some similar variation.
@Mistic: First, not sure how the “human factor” would justify Gov’t sponsorship unless you’re going public with the real situation which is a BAD idea IMO. Second, the LAST thing you want to do is increase Altair’s fame & popularity – especially giving her some sympathetic tragic backstory (it’s why protagonist so often have tragic backstories. Easy audience sympathy. E.g. “dead parents” cliche’). You’re just asking for more fan-fics and more Altair power-up.
The problem I have with the essentially hand-waving away of doing anything to limit Altair is that there are two sides to the equation – Altair’s powers and those against her. Anime mentioned limits to what they can do for Team Protagonist, and they left Altair’s side as wild card. I’m sure it will work out for the plot, but given the setup, Altair could power up more thus rendering any power-up by the protagonist insufficient.
As for “redemption” as a resolution, you very well may be correct, though personally I wouldn’t be thrilled if the “climatic” battle is ended by a hug and pat on the head.
It’s not only a matter of power-ups. As lampshaded in other episodes, character descriptions include values and attitudes. If elements of sympathy enter Altair’s description, perhaps she can be made to see the error of her ways. Also, they’ll have to introduce Altair in the crossover narrative sooner or later. Once they do, fanwors are bound to appear. If this approach raises the acceptance of the ECF and at the same time opens a door for a Plan B to stop Altair, the risk might be worth it.
As for the “human factor”, it was about poor Shimazaki herself. By using her death as both plot point and out-universe homage, it could lower the aforementioned risk of the event being seen as a souless cash-grab and justify the inclusion of a fanwork as one of the main characters in the all-star roster of the corporate crossover.
@Mistic: Combining your reply to my comment above here since it’s on the same topic. Again, WHY do you want to make the villain MORE popular? Doesn’t that add to her strength? It’s counter-productive from what I can tell.
I just don’t think that any potential “cash-grab” issues are at hand here. Fan-fic, amateur works can be bought out and published. It happens. How would people know that wasn’t the case? Is it really THAT much different than fan-fic/artwork in general? So fans of Altair would rather not see Altair’s character become a published/aired work? Nothing but bad with that? There’s ALWAYS the risk of fan character perception and backlash regardless of story origins.
Just as you suggest that it could be a disaster as planned, I think your strategy could very well backfire and be a disaster as well, quite arguably more so because you’re making the villain MORE sympathetic. AFAIK, the “real story” (that this isn’t fiction, but reality) is NOT public knowledge so you invite an environment where the audience roots for Altair to win because “Eh, it’s just fiction, not like the world will really win”.
Sorry, but I just do NOT see any real “cash grab” risk here at all, but some very real risk making Altair more popular and sympathetic. Also, Shimazaki’s family may not want her suicide exploited and made public like that.
Bah. Typo in last sentence, 3rd paragraph. It should be as follows: … because “Eh, it’s just fiction, not like the world will really end”.
Did Meteora get a suntan?
About ep 13 (recap episode):
What I found the funniest was not Meteora’s MarySue re-imagining of herself, but the meta description (rant from animators) about Altair’s character design (too many lines in outfit, weird rectangular stuff on sides, impractically long battle skirt, pain-in-the-ass to move long hair, looks like a mop-monster from behind).
Oh, the meta rant killed me when it finished with the fervent wish that ALtair’s outfit gets changed to a sports jersey with sandals.
Loved the Recap episode where they doubled down with Meteora running the show. Heck Meteora basically stated that the story is her creation while is sexy Meteora form.
Reviewed TV Tropes “Tropes are not bad” section again where they remind that even the Tropes in the bad writing section are not always bad writing.
Writers knew that their world building required a Spock-like character to determine the goal using the sensors and database, in this case, the magical book to set the plot. They probably also knew that a female doing the job would get extra hate. But I thought they did it as well you could and I think it is building into something great. The advantage of more episodes you can put in some not as fun story building that in the end can result in a way better story.
This episode actually had great action in the word drama sort of way. I really enjoyed it.
Government can do great work, especially when the chips are on the line. Disaster responses have been done well at times. And the government employees that form a great military is a prime example. Civil Servent Armies which are called Profesional drove private business armies called mercenaries off the field of battle.
Here in the story copyrights are created by the government and can be changed by the government when it pulls the emergancy power type powers into play. It will require a actual emergancy for the courts to not raise an objection but if the legislature in closed door season passes a emergancy power bill it will be obayed.
The new girl at the end reminds me of Haruka from Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien.
https://randomc.net/image/Re%20Creators/Re%20Creators%20-%2014%20-%20Large%2036.jpg
Now that I think about it, so far we got super human characters, now I guess this girl is a typical powerless girl from romance anime
I think the New Guy is the MC from Youya’s World, although am basing it off on how he was threatening at the cosplayer who was cosplaying him back in ED1
There’s just something very confusing about how this show is animated, but it’s supposed to be real life right? The creations are supposed to look like normal humans when they enter our world right? Did they say they were going to broadcast the fight, but how would that work if they look like live action people? What?
watches opening 2
sees Meteora summoning fracking F-15s
dies