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[Geneijin]

I feel like we're starting to get into the Madoka speculah stage of the discussion now. :lol

I never participated in that so I wouldn't know!

Spoiler

Check out Episode 1 too when Yukiatsu talks to Jinta. He already has a watch by then.

That would certainly put a very different spin on things if it works out that way.

Spoiler

That 'girl' also looked like she had a pink wristband just like Anaru.

We'll find out soon enough in any case.

Yep. I can't wait. Also,

Spoiler

Like I said to firehawk, Yukiatsu already has a watch since Episode 1. I forgot to add that when I replied to you until a late edit. Look back at Episode 1 when Yukiatsu speaks to Jinta.

 

[Haly]

I think Shinbo (as he is now, i'm not so sure of his past works), strikes a good middle ground between stylized stuff and conventional stuff. Kaiba was pretty out there, not that I didn't enjoy it but it's not very accessible I guess?

 

[Cwarrior]

lol i just notice i posted in the wrong thread

 

[Hitokage]

Maybe, but you guys talk as if Shaft/Shinbo had a monopoly on relatively stylized anime direction.

See, this is how crazy Shaft fans are. They lead to 7th making sense.

 

[Branduil]

Maybe, but you guys talk as if Shaft/Shinbo had a monopoly on relatively stylized anime direction.

Of course not. But I think Madoka was nearly a perfect fit, writing/direction-wise. I'm not saying other directors and studios can't make a show as good as Madoka, but it wouldn't be the same show.

See, this is how crazy Shaft fans are. They lead to 7th making sense.

One could make the counter-argument that Shaft haters end up so delusional they start thinking 7th makes sense.

Of course I'd like to think I'm not in either camp. Shaft makes a lot of total crap, like most studios. I try to avoid watching it. There are things they are particularly good at, though.

 

[firehawk12]

Maybe, but you guys talk as if Shaft/Shinbo had a monopoly on relatively stylized anime direction.

He's the only one who gets to "direct" (herpderp, yeah, I know) 1 or 2 shows a season anyway.

That would certainly put a very different spin on things if it works out that way.

Spoiler

That 'girl' also looked like she had a pink wristband just like Anaru.

We'll find out soon enough in any case.

We must start a speculation wiki page!

I never participated in that so I wouldn't know!

Spoiler

Check out Episode 1 too when Yukiatsu talks to Jinta. He already has a watch by then.

I guess this is my fault for not really remembering anything about the episodes after they're done.

Well, except that dude always has something written on his shirt. :lol

 

[jman2050]

The only conclusion to draw is that Madoka would have been a different show without Shaft at the helm. Whether it'd be better or worst is up for debate but kind of pointless to figure at this point. I personally think Shaft and Shinbo's involvement was a net positive for the show as a whole and has a tone that would be difficult to replicate from another studio. That's all I really can say.

I don't think it's worth arguing about because the show we got was of great quality anyway, so we just take what we're given

 

[Hitokage]

One could make the counter-argument that Shaft haters end up so delusional they start thinking 7th makes sense.

Another reason why Inception is better than Paprika is that I can make a reference to the former here.

 

[firehawk12]

Another reason why Inception is better than Paprika is that I can make a reference to the former here.

Ggggrrrrrrrr. :lol

 

[Lafiel]

Madoka is pretty conventional though.

Yeah direction-wise this is exactly how i feel, the material itself is pretty good, but it really needed to be more stylishly executed then what it was.

Episode 10 is actually closet to the kind of direction i wanted from the series, if only the rest of the series were like that.

It also would likely have been a different show.

It would have most likely being a better show. I really doubt it would have been that much different, assuming gen urobuchi remained the writer in this scenario.

 

[Branduil]

Another reason why Inception is better than Paprika is that I can make a reference to the former here.

I though Inception was better than Paprika because it was a more coherent story.

Spoiler

And because the idea of a dream-invading machine is much easier to believe in than a beautiful female scientist falling in love with a disgustingly obese nerd.

The only conclusion to draw is that Madoka would have been a different show without Shaft at the helm. Whether it'd be better or worst is up for debate but kind of pointless to figure at this point. I personally think Shaft and Shinbo's involvement was a net positive for the show as a whole and has a tone that would be difficult to replicate from another studio. That's all I really can say.

I don't think it's worth arguing about because the show we got was of great quality anyway, so we just take what we're given

That's more or less my position.

Can't we all just be happy that they made Madoka instead of Vampire Bund 2: Electric Boogaloo.

 

[firehawk12]

Yeah direction-wise this is exactly how i feel, the material itself is pretty good, but it really needed to be more stylishly executed then what it was.

Episode 10 is actually closet to the kind of direction i wanted from the series, if only the rest of the series were like that.

Wha? Really?
IF anything, it was the material that ended up being more conventional than the direction/animation/"animation".

Can't we all just be happy that they made Madoka instead of Vampire Bund 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Hey, I just wish we'd get SoreMachi 2. Or more Arakawa.

 

[Haly]

Some of the lines that came out of Madoka's mouth in the earlier episodes was really gag-worthy. I had flashbacks to Mahou Shoujotai Arisu.

I'm glad it stopped after ABSOLUTE DESPAIR.

 

[jman2050]

You know, if you think about it, Inception seems very much like something Shaft would direct.

Christopher Nolan = Shinbo?

Also, speaking of Inception

 

[Branduil]

Wha? Really?
IF anything, it was the material that ended up being more conventional than the direction/animation/"animation".


Hey, I just wish we'd get SoreMachi 2. Or more Arakawa.

We're not getting any more SoreMachi with the way it sold. Japan has spoken, they prefer their humor composed entirely of non sequiturs.

 

[Risette]

I shudder to think what PMMM might've been like under Yuasa.

Maybe it would've been good.

Some of the lines that came out of Madoka's mouth in the earlier episodes was really gag-worthy. I had flashbacks to Mahou Shoujotai Arisu.

I'm glad it stopped after ABSOLUTE DESPAIR.

The writing/dialogue in the whole series was pretty gag-worthy.

 

[Haly]

Maybe it would've been good.

The writing/dialogue in the whole series was pretty gag-worthy.

No.

 

[firehawk12]

We're not getting any more SoreMachi with the way it sold. Japan has spoken, they prefer their humor composed entirely of non sequiturs.

Yup, both SoreMachi and Arakawa bombed. I'm assume Natsu no Arashi bombed as well. Nerds just want to buy nerd pandering shit and I kind of wonder if Shaft will go full pander mode now.

You know, if you think about it, Inception seems very much like something Shaft would direct.

Christopher Nolan = Shinbo?

Also, speaking of Inception

In that it would be completely boring and full of action scenes connected together with bad exposition and a sad attempt at characterizing the main character?
Yeah, I guess that's Maria Holic in a nutshell.

 

[Lafiel]

Wha? Really?
IF anything, it was the material that ended up being more conventional than the direction/animation/"animation".

I don't think the writing of madoka is anything special, but it's pretty solid and consistent for what it is, now if only it had a higher level of execution behind it!

 

[Geneijin]

That would certainly put a very different spin on things if it works out that way.

Spoiler

That 'girl' also looked like she had a pink wristband just like Anaru.

We'll find out soon enough in any case.

A different reply:

AnoHana spoilers

Spoiler

She does but it's not a pink wristband. But you know I never considered her a possibility until you mention it. Since Episode 2, I have a suspicion Tsuruko is the most emotionally repressed and distraught about the separation of the group the most unlike everyone else. But I don't think she will be the one who dresses up unless AnoHana decides to reveal Tsuruko does have feelings for Yukiatsu, and she decides to put on a facade to redirect Yukiatsu feelings toward her, even if they aren't mutual. Also, I don't think it would be really consistent since Yukiatsu is the only person we know who's in possession of that piece of clothing. AnoHana would be even weirder if other people had one too. :lol

I guess this is my fault for not really remembering anything about the episodes after they're done.

Well, except that dude always has something written on his shirt. :lol

Eh, they're minor details. I wouldn't worry about it. It's like me extrapolating stuff in HanaIro Episode 1 like before.

If you want minor stuff to talk about, we could talk about female body language in AnoHana Episode 2 or something, specifically Anaru at WcDonalds :lol

 

[firehawk12]

I don't think the writing of madoka is anything special, but it's pretty solid and consistent for what it is, now if only it had a higher level of execution behind it!

I think this is one of those agree to disagree situations. :lol

A different reply:

AnoHana spoilers

Spoiler

She does but it's not a pink wristband. But you know I never considered her a possibility until you mention it. Since Episode 2, I have a suspicion Tsuruko is the most emotionally repressed and distraught about the separation of the group the most unlike everyone else. But I don't think she will be the one who dresses up unless AnoHana decides to reveal Tsuruko does have feelings for Yukiatsu, and she decides to put on a facade to redirect Yukiatsu feelings toward her, even if they aren't mutual. Also, I don't think it would be really consistent since Yukiatsu is the only person we know who's in possession of that piece of clothing. AnoHana would be even weirder if other people had one too. :lol

Eh, they're minor details. I wouldn't worry about it. It's like me extrapolating stuff in HanaIro Episode 1 like before.

If you want minor stuff to talk about, we could talk about female body language in AnoHana Episode 2 or something, specifically Anaru at WcDonalds :lol

Maybe the Hourou Musuko/Working!! references imply that

Spoiler

Yakiatsu will dress up as Menma!

!!!!!

 

[Geneijin]

Maybe the Hourou Musuko/Working!! references imply that

Spoiler

Yakiatsu will dress up as Menma!

!!!!!

Spoiler

I am almost absolutely sure it'll be him, which is why I told you that you jinxed Yukiatsu to dress up by joking when you did after my Episode 2 explosion from before. :lol

But Joule confused me even more by introducing other possibilities by saying Anaru and Tsuruko both wear something on their left wrist, which they do. Now that's wild speculation!

 

[firehawk12]

I am

Spoiler

almost absolutely sure it'll be him. But Joule confused me by saying Anaru and Tsuruko both wear something on their left wrist, which they do. Now that's wild speculation!

I dunno... that just seems a bit TOO Asian-ey to me. So much so that it wraps around and becomes a storyline on CSI. :lol
But, we'll see!

 

[Joule]

Spoiler

I am almost absolutely sure it'll be him, which is why I told you that you jinxed Yukiatsu to dress up by joking when you did after my Episode 2 explosion from before. :lol

But Joule confused me even more by introducing other possibilities by saying Anaru and Tsuruko both wear something on their left wrist, which they do. Now that's wild speculation!

I think that

Spoiler

Anaru dressing up would be playing theses sorts of situations straight and that the motivation would be to garner attention from most likely Jinta.

If firehawk's jinx turns out true. All I've got to say is Yukiatsu sure can pull it off.

 

[JKTrix]

It's pretty clear that *all* of the girls liked Jinta. But Menma was dominating the attention of all of the boys so much, even after her death, that they moved on in different ways. Tsuruko chills with Yukiatsu, even though she knows he's still hung up on Menma and it bothers her.

She couldn't win Jinta with Menma around, and she still hasn't won Yukiatsu even with Menma dead.

 

[firehawk12]

It's pretty clear that *all* of the girls liked Jinta. But Menma was dominating the attention of all of the boys so much, even after her death, that they moved on in different ways. Tsuruko chills with Yukiatsu, even though she knows he's still hung up on Menma and it bothers her.

She couldn't win Jinta with Menma around, and she still hasn't won Yukiatsu even with Menma dead.

I dunno, a harem?

 

[JKTrix]

I dunno, a harem?

The first episode had all the trappings of a harem or visual novel love story, which was part of my initial distaste for the show. Was actually surprised that it wasn't based on one.

 

[Geneijin]

It's pretty clear that *all* of the girls liked Jinta.

Spoiler

But Menma was dominating the attention of all of the boys so much, even after her death, that they moved on in different ways. Tsuruko chills with Yukiatsu, even though she knows he's still hung up on Menma and it bothers her.

She couldn't win Jinta with Menma around, and she still hasn't won Yukiatsu even with Menma dead.

Eh, I don't think it's obviously clear all of them do.

Spoiler

There isn't enough revealed for me to say Tsuruko likes Jinta unless you're basing that around how she reacted to Anaru's friends' comments toward Jinta in Episode 2. I thought that scene was indicative of Tsuruko being the most emotionally repressed out of the six friends that she hated their separation the most. It's more like Tsuruko likes Yukiatsu until I see otherwise personally, which is why she addresses Yukiatsu as she does in this series.

 

[Hellsing321]

It's pretty clear that *all* of the girls liked Jinta. But Menma was dominating the attention of all of the boys so much, even after her death, that they moved on in different ways. Tsuruko chills with Yukiatsu, even though she knows he's still hung up on Menma and it bothers her.

She couldn't win Jinta with Menma around, and she still hasn't won Yukiatsu even with Menma dead.

Tsuruko seems more interested in creepy raper guy than Jinta to me. Which would make it only a love triangle for Jinta.

 

[firehawk12]

Eh, I don't think it's obviously clear all of them do.

Spoiler

There isn't enough revealed for me to say Tsuruko likes Jinta unless you're basing that around how she reacted to Anaru's friends' comments toward Jinta in Episode 2. I thought that scene was indicative of Tsuruko being the most emotionally repressed out of the six friends that she hated their separation the most. It's more like Tsuruko likes Yukiatsu until I see otherwise personally, which is why she addresses Yukiatsu as she does in this series.

My Shyamalan twist would be that

Spoiler

Yakiatsu wants to be Menma because he's in love with Jintan

!!!!

 

[Geneijin]

My Shyamalan twist would be that

Spoiler

Yakiatsu wants to be Menma because he's in love with Jintan

!!!!

Spoiler

Too many tsunderes ruined IS! Have you no shame?

 

[firehawk12]

Spoiler

Too many tsunderes ruined IS! Have you no shame?

Nope, none whatsoever!

 

[Joule]

Moshidora 3: So we get into Yunosuke's problems this episode. Dude just needs to get back on things without worry so much about his errors. I am surprised that only now is the team trying out a new set of routines in a team based situation to improve themselves. All thanks to Drucker's management. Minami also recruited Yuno's friend into their band of managers. I guess we'll just hope along all the team members and apply more management as we go along. Also Minami is doing such a good job all the school clubs wants her to manage their things. Yay management.

I guess a point of note was Ayano and Yuki's pseudo yuri moment. lol.

It remains a quaint little show.

-----

On the AnoHana talk, I'm interested in seeing how Poppo has changed. Is that all that traveling just a means to escape? Or is he just totally chill with everything.

 

[JKTrix]

When I said 'liked', I meant in the past in the context of the show. When they were kids, it was pretty obvious they all liked him. Since we were talking about 'speculation', there are ways to read into the subtleties of characters as well.

Jinta was the leader of their group, and they all admired him to some extent. Tsuruko was always guarded, but you could assume that when Naruko (because I refuse to call her Anal) asked if he liked Menma, she wanted to know too.

The way she acted in response to Naruko's friends in the 2nd episode just built on the subtlety. Maybe she isn't crazy for him now, but there is still that lingering fondness. And as an older person, she's better with how she guards her feelings.

Also I haven't been using spoilers since I feel that anything that happens in the first episode is fair game (with a few exceptions), and nothing has *really* happened yet.

 

[firehawk12]

On the AnoHana talk, I'm interested in seeing how Poppo has changed. Is that all that traveling just a means to escape? Or is he just totally chill with everything.

I'd like to think he's the cool bro who is mono no aware and moved on with his life.

 

[A Black Falcon]

AnoHana spoilers

Spoiler

They're the most emotionally separated from the group. Arguably, Episode 2 depicts Tsurumi/Tsuruko as the one who's the most emotionally damaged and affected by Menma's death and the group's separation despite Yukiatsu's scene. I don't think Tsurumi's reply to Naruko was meant to be taken as a pompous retort but to illustrate the distance of their relationships between the two based on how both of them addressed one another.

Spoiler

Tsuruko even more than Yukiatsu? I don't know, basedo n just the first two episodes I thought it was hard to tell which of those two was more separated from the others. Maybe Yukiatsu hides it a little more, but still, both clearly are apart from the other three.

Spoiler

It's implied Menma drowned for now. I think both Jinta (MC) and Naruko/Anaru (twin-tails girl) blame themselves the most for Menma's death. Yukiatsu to a lesser extent but doubtful.

Most notably, it's why Naruko is my most favorite character right now because I want to see how she develops since AnoHana may be implying she's assuming most of responsibility for not only Menma's death but Jinta's current Hikikomori lifestyle as well; hence, my small speculation if you're interested.

I agree on the first paragraph, I said so too. I was just wondering if in future episodes we'd see ways that the others blame themselves as well; I wouldn't be surprised if we do. Maybe not though, we'll see.

As for my favorite character, I'm not sure really...

Spoiler

But yes, certainly she blames herself for Menma's death, and maybe also for Jinta being hikkikomori (thinking that it happened because of her death, which doesn't really seem wrong).

Again though all of the characters are certainly broken --

Jinta is a hikkikomori not going to school. Blames himself for Menma's death.
Anaru is borderline depressed (I agree that she does act that way sometimes). Blames herself for Menma's death.
Poppo seems happy, but stopped going to school and just does odd jobs and travels... is that sustainable?
Tsuruko is angry with the three above.
Yukiatsu obsesses over some garment (her dress?) that may have been Menma's (is he the most broken of the five?).

And Menma, of course, is dead, so she's the worst off.

I just mean, it's not like Anaru is anything special in having problems, all of them in this series do, it's the whole point of the series I think. It's also a core part of why it's good, watching these troubled people and seeing what they can do to try to get past it, finally... (I mean, I like Anaru's character, sure, but I don't see it as being anything that different from the others.)

But of course, we haven't seen as much of Tsuruko or Yukiatsu yet, so it's not exactly balanced in its focus.

AnoHana spoilers

Spoiler

Nope, but it's a possibility she strongly blames herself for what happened to Menma more than anyone else in the group, not to mention she could be accepting responsibility for Jinta's current self as well. Really, it's the potential conflict they're hinting at between Menma, Anaru, and Jintan. Anaru being the one who asked Jinta in the confession scene if he liked Menma, Menma hating how badly Jinta was speaking of Anaru, Jinta and Anaru's conversation between each other and she saying he should be disappointed at himself or something like that, Anaru saying she should be the one ashamed instead and a picture of the six of them are together is seen with the glare obscuring Menma - I'm curious what AnoHana plans to do with Naruko's character the most based on those events in Episode 1. AnoHana might even be implying Menma considers Anaru her closest friend with the way Episode 1 progressed. AnoHana could even throw in a convoluted love triangle and have Anaru with unrequited feelings of love toward Jinta. Don't get me started how Menma's presence could make this emotionally manipulative. I'm sensitive and gullible I guess...

Spoiler

Most of this I address above, but on the latter point, and the "harem" speculation that has come up, I didn't see that... probably because there are three male characters in the group, and not just one with a useless friend, so "three and three" doesn't really make me think harem... as for whether it partially is, though, I don't know. It isn't so far anyway. Does Tsuruko like Jinta? I have no idea. Clearly the other two (Anaru and Menma) do/did, though, yeah. As for Anaru and Menma being friends, probably so, yeah.


Also, Yukiatsu dressing up like Menma? That's an interesting idea... :lol

Spoiler

Too many tsunderes ruined IS! Have you no shame?

Spoiler

I think that IS obviously had bigger problems than just having too many tsunderes, though it was a little silly that most of the girls were tsundere.

On the AnoHana talk, I'm interested in seeing how Poppo has changed. Is that all that traveling just a means to escape? Or is he just totally chill with everything.

I think more towards the former of those explanations.

 

[firehawk12]

Spoiler

I think that IS obviously had bigger problems than just having too many tsunderes, though it was a little silly that most of the girls were tsundere.

Actually, I think IS is the first show that I've seen with yanderes who were funny. Although I guess they aren't "real" yanderes.

 

[Joule]

Actually, I think IS is the first show that I've seen with yanderes who were funny. Although I guess they aren't "real" yanderes.

Does Kampfer count? That was a pretty funny show.

 

[firehawk12]

Does Kampfer count? That was a pretty funny show.

Was that yandere or just very aggressive tsundere?

 

[zeroshiki]

Was that yandere or just very aggressive tsundere?

It depends on whether you think Senjougahara wanted to poke out Araragi's eye or was just being playful.

 

[firehawk12]

It depends on whether you think Senjougahara wanted to poke out Araragi's eye or was just being playful.

Oh, she was definitely tsundere. I mean, dude can't die after all!

Then again, yanderes can also be like kuuderes, when they go all dead-eyed and emotionless like they do on IS.

 

[zeroshiki]

Oh, she was definitely tsundere. I mean, dude can't die after all!

Then again, yanderes can also be like kuuderes, when they go all dead-eyed and emotionless like they do on IS.

You and your dere-fetish sicken me.

First time Senjougahara met Araragi, she didn't know he was immortal so she very well could have killed him from that point of view.

 

[Haly]

With a stapler to his mouth? Not likely.

 

[Risette]

Bought Sword of the Stranger on Blu-ray. What am I in for?

 

[Dresden]

Yup, both SoreMachi and Arakawa bombed. I'm assume Natsu no Arashi bombed as well. Nerds just want to buy nerd pandering shit and I kind of wonder if Shaft will go full pander mode now.

Are you implying that Shaft hasn't been in full pander mode for a while now?

Bought Sword of the Stranger on Blu-ray. What am I in for?

Badass action.

 

[Branduil]

Bought Sword of the Stranger on Blu-ray. What am I in for?

A Slice-off-life anime.

 

[JKTrix]

Bones doing what Bones is good at.

 

[Branduil]

Bones doing what Bones is good at.

But the ending is actually good.

 

[Haly]

Flaming slash.

 

[firehawk12]

Are you implying that Shaft hasn't been in full pander mode for a while now?

I dunno, SoreMachi and Arakawa are fairly high concept slice of life pseudo-moe comedies for the monocle nerds.

Bakemono and Madoka are explicitly panderbait for the alpha nerds. And to a lesser extent, Maria Holic.

I guess SZS is sort of in between panderbait and monocle porn.