Netlix release date: June 2nd, 2017
Nah they'll release 13 episodes in April. The next 12 will probably only hit in July though.
Netlix release date: June 2nd, 2017
normie services like amazon and netflix should probably stop picking up anime if they are just going to sit on them and not sub them as fast as Funi or CR can
Either way, fuck Netflix for not simulcasting this. I was really looking forward to watching this on a week by week basis with all the speculation and community commentary... Now I have to wait to binge and worry about spoilers :/Netlix release date: June 2nd, 2017
Very good start. The magic show at the beginning was a conceptual retread of the one in the original OVA series but they happened to make it visually a lot more interesting through the use of the special effects, backgrounds, and visuals. I was just blown away from the spectacular special effects, a trademark of Yoshinari. You can feel his key corrections throughout the opening sequence and it made me realize how this show plays to his particular strengths as an animator. In fact, there were multiple parts in this episode that reminded me of Gurren Lagann from an animation standpoint. For example when Shiny Chariot was using her broom as a surfboard, the special effects felt like something I would have seen in TTGL. There's also more variety in the animation styles on display throughout the episode and so the episode feels less like everything is Yoshinari-lite and instead more diverse. The impact frame at the end of the magic show was one example along with the sketchier drawing for Akko when she enters the leyline.
Shiny Chariot is my waifu.
So the premise of this episode was Akko getting to school and establishing the relationship between her and Sucy/Lotte. I'm kind of surprised they made Sucy this cold but it's not really out of character for her. One thing of note is that the song Oshima used for when Sucy is introduced is something out of Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Yoshinari is a huge westaboo so I found this sort of funny as it especially matches Sucy's antics towards Akko. One thing this episode did is give me an appreciation of certain character dynamics and events in the original OVAs. I know they're a separate timeline but seeing how badly Sucy treats Akko here, does give me a sort of appreciation for Akko snapping at Sucy in The Enchanted Parade. Similarly Akko never having ridden a broom before entering Luna Nova would explain why she's so terrible at the riding lessons in the original OVA. Again it's a separate timeline so they aren't really related but I feel like some of this was background info that they're using/revamping for the TV series.
I guess they needed that EU funding after all.
The second half is when Hori goes to work. There's a number of sequences you can tell he was involved in, partially due to the moving camera and background animation. I wasn't wild about the forest sequence unfortunately as there were a number of small bits that weren't as fluid or dynamic as I would have liked. I feel like there were some minor things in the backdrop that could have been animated better but it is a TV series after all. I expect there will be tons of improvements for the BD release because that's just who Yoshinari is. The forest sequence is also the part where the background drawings were the best as there is a creepy atmosphere resulting from the misshapen trees, compared to Luna Nova where the change from Kaneko is more pronounced. Ursula-sensei's office is really cool though as it looks like a traditional witch's lab. I was actually impressed with the VA work for a short sequence where Sucy tells Akko to yell out a line as the way both of them say the line is hilarious.
All this Akko bullying isn't right!
I think the episode does a good job of establishing the characters as well as the relationships with each other. Akko is much more likable than in The Enchanted Parade but you can tell she's still going to have her moments of annoyance. The pacing is pretty solid too, in that the franchise has shifted well into being a TV series. The runtime here was nearly as long as the original OVA but it doesn't feel bloated and does its job as a pilot. Visually it's not as impressive as the OVAs but that was to be expected. I did have some qualms about how the climax scene with the Shiny Rod was handled, in that it felt too disjointed but that's a minor thing. Overall this should be a fun cartoon to watch on Sundays.
I think it had less energy than KLK 1 even though it looks better.
Oh, it's a complete reboot? I didn't expect that. Hopefully it doesn't retread the OVAs too much.
Kind of. Imagine if, instead of the Harry Potter movies we got some extended scenes from Chamber of Secrets and Goblet. And then later they went back to do things sequentially starting from Philosopher's Stone. That's what this project is.
I agree, it's sort of like the Moon to KLK's Sun. They seem to be going for smaller episodic adventures of them screwing around on campus rather than the high intensity 'Save the World' action in KLK.
I'm not sure I like that approach nor am I sure that there won't be some larger stuff at play but this was a fairly lowkey intro.
Kind of. Imagine if, instead of the Harry Potter movies we got some extended scenes from Chamber of Secrets and Goblet. And then later they went back to do things sequentially starting from Philosopher's Stone. That's what this project is.
I'm not sure comparing this to an adaptation is the best foundation for discussion lol.
Wouldn't the Buffy movie -> Buffy TV series be a better comparison?
I agree, it's sort of like the Moon to KLK's Sun. They seem to be going for smaller episodic adventures of them screwing around on campus rather than the high intensity 'Save the World' action in KLK.
I'm not sure I like that approach nor am I sure that there won't be some larger stuff at play but this was a fairly lowkey intro.
I'm not a buffy guy, but sure.
Someone explain this to me in Dragon Ball Z terms.
No, seriously. Use Battle of Gods, Resurrection of F and Super, please.
To me it seems like right now, it would be like getting Ressurrection of F in Super, but with a lot scenes in between to properly make sense of what happend in the movie and understand some of those events better.
Also it helps with worldbuilding
I wouldn't be too sure of that.
Take a closer look at that last warp drive sequence Akko had through the Leyline at the end of the episode. She gets a vision filled with a lot of cryptic imagery among images of Lotte, Sucy, Diana, Shiny Chariot and that mystery man from the OP.
The more notable images include:
- An unknown witch wearing a hat with Shiny Chariot's emblem on it and wielding the Shiny Rod, leading a band of other witches
- An star and two dragons(?) emblem on what looks to be the Moon
- A mushroom cloud/possibly a nuclear explosion
I'll probably be patient and wait until I can get this legally. Not sure how long that will last though...
Looking at some of the pictures people have posted so far, even if the series is a bust, I'll have plenty of fresh reaction faces, which makes it worth in my book.
So, i guess the original movies are not canon?
Netflix needs to remember that you shouldn't treat a CURRENTLY AIRING series the same as one you produced and debut through your service. It's fine to treat House of Cards or Bojack Horseman this way, but when it's actively being aired in Japan - or anywhere really - and you wait on the season/series to finish first it's just going to make people want to pirate. Something that simulcasts were more or less stomping out beforehand!
Ah well. I'll get around to watching the second special whenever, then wait on Netflix to get this in.
Netflix needs to remember that you shouldn't treat a CURRENTLY AIRING series the same as one you produced and debut through your service. It's fine to treat House of Cards or Bojack Horseman this way, but when it's actively being aired in Japan - or anywhere really - and you wait on the season/series to finish first it's just going to make people want to pirate. Something that simulcasts were more or less stomping out beforehand!
Ah well. I'll get around to watching the second special whenever, then wait on Netflix to get this in.
I dunno. They treat Better Call Saul, Black Mirror, and anything else they acquire which airs on other networks in other parts of the world, the same way. Why should anime be any different?
Heh, kind of did say that stuff shouldn't be treated that way actually. It does stick out though when your major competition for that specifically handles that better.I dunno. They treat Better Call Saul, Black Mirror, and anything else they acquire which airs on other networks in other parts of the world, the same way. Why should anime be any different?