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[Ultimadrago]

Moe Nobunaga is best Nobunaga.

Spoken like a true villain!

 

[Branduil]

Meh, the Lupin OP seemed like a transparently pretentious attempt at depth to me. None of that nonsense actually applied to the characters in the show. Which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but let's not pretend there was some kind of secret thematic depth present.

 

[Articalys]

Moe Nobunaga is best Nobunaga.

Better than this? That's quite impressive.

 

[Risette]

Meh, the Lupin OP seemed like a transparently pretentious attempt at depth to me.

Sounds like you're describing your own posts.

 

[Branduil]

Sounds like you're describing your own posts.

The pot called the kettle black.

 

[Envelope]

This sums up what this show is all about

Better than this? That's quite impressive.

True, a moe Nobunaga voiced by Norio Wakamoto would be the pinnacle of Nobunagas, but as of yet it has not happened.

 

[Risette]

The pot called the kettle black.

I don't do that, though.

 

[RurouniZel]

Sengoku Collection 01

Awful anime is awful.

 

[Branduil]

I don't do that, though.

That's fair enough. You just do drive-bys on other people's posts and act like that proves something.

 

[Hitokage]

I don't do that, though.

It's ok. You wouldn't be pizzaroll if you had self-awareness.

 

[Basileus777]

Sengoku Collection 01

Awful anime is awful.

It was more entertaining than Medaka.

 

[Branduil]

It was more entertaining than Medaka.

So was Black Rock Shooter TV.

 

[Risette]

It's ok. You wouldn't be pizzaroll if you had self-awareness.

I do have self-awareness; I'm not the one writing drivel like this:

Lupin III whatever 1

Well they certainly have a unique visual style and high production value, but I didn't really like any of the characters, or the bland and cliched plot.

 

[7Th]

It was more entertaining than Medaka.

What isn't?

 

[Branduil]

If you don't like a show that pizzaroll likes your opinion is pretentious.

SUCH CONVINCING ARGUMENTATION.

 

[Lafiel]

Meh, the Lupin OP seemed like a transparently pretentious attempt at depth to me. None of that nonsense actually applied to the characters in the show. Which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but let's not pretend there was some kind of secret thematic depth present.

Does it need to have any real depth or meaning? style for the sake of style is awesome, heck especially since the master of it (seijun suzuki) worked on Lupin III in the past.

 

[Risette]

If you don't like a show that pizzaroll likes your opinion is pretentious.

SUCH CONVINCING ARGUMENTATION.

People dislike things I like all the time, they just do it in ways that make sense. If they don't, then I call them out on it.

You really are obnoxious.

 

[Branduil]

Does it need to have any real depth or meaning? style for the sake of style is awesome, heck especially since the master of it (seijun suzuki) worked on Lupin III in the past.

No, it doesn't need to, if you like that. I don't care for it though. I get bored watching shows where I don't sympathize with the protagonists.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

It was more entertaining than Medaka.

So is ramming a ten inch pink throbber up your ass with no lube.

 

[iavi]

He should have watched it on a Vita.

Haha, nope. 1280x720 at 4.65 (Galaxy Nexus) vs 960~something at 5? The DPI, with it being native res but on a OLED that small, literally made it seem like I was watching a painting. I wasn't exaggerating. I was that blown away.

Meh, the Lupin OP seemed like a transparently pretentious attempt at depth to me. None of that nonsense actually applied to the characters in the show. Which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but let's not pretend there was some kind of secret thematic depth present.

It was transparent, incredibly so, but that's what makes it great. Unless, it being clear-cut makes it somehow less than something obfuscated--which is what's usually considered pretension... Also, be fair, it's there, and only doesn't apply to the characters if you don't view the OP as part of the text. It's like you're given a quick base to start from, and that made Fujiko so much better with me. Or in example: Much like the effort that went into Fuu and the Samurai Champloo ED, it's a little extension, or delving into the character, and an amazing use of screen-time. Who's to say that it won't be explored more?

 

[Lain]

What isn't?

Saint Seya Omega.

 

[Branduil]

People dislike things I like all the time, they just do it in ways that make sense. If they don't, then I call them out on it.

You really are obnoxious.

It's not my fault if you can't understand basic sentence construction.

It was transparent, incredibly so, but that's what makes it great. Unless, it being clear cut makes it somehow less than something obfuscated--which is what's usually considered pretension... Also, be fair, it's there, and only doesn't apply to the characters if you don't view the OP as part of the text. It's like you're given a quick base to start from, and that made Fujiko so much better with me. Or in example: Much like the effort that went into Fuu and the Samurai Champloo ED, it's a little extension, or delving into the character, and an amazing use of screen-time. Who's to say that it won't be explored more?

I don't have any problem with an OP adding characterization, I just didn't see anything in the OP reflected in the actual show, so it was disconcerting. I suppose they could address it later, but I don't know if it is that kind of show.

 

[Lafiel]

No, it doesn't need to, if you like that. I don't care for it though. I get bored watching shows where I don't sympathize with the protagonists.

Thing is, only 1 episode has aired for the series so far, we don't even know if the OP is going be thematically applied to the series in a meaningful way; but even if it isn't, there's nothing wrong with it, because "style for the sake of style" is awesome.

Spoiler

I bet you'd hate Branded to Kill

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

I see the Lupin OP as setting the old-school sexy and classy tone of the show (that font!) more than an in-depth character study.

 

[7Th]

Saint Seya Omega.

I dunno, at least Saint Seiya Omega has actual action sequences. Medaka just has Nisio's shit writing and one of Gainax's cheapest, least interesting productions to date.

Hell, Queen's Blade Rebellion had better action sequences Medaka.

 

[Risette]

It's not my fault if you can't understand basic sentence construction.

I don't get what this has to do with what I said at all, nor do I understand why you constantly blame other people for your lacking posts. Can't you take responsibility for what you say?

 

[Hitokage]

Ore no imouto ga konna ni kawaii wake ga nai 1-15

The title is actually fairly descriptive, because Kirino really isn't cute and I can only imagine it would take a heavy interest in BDSM to think otherwise. She really drained all the patience I had for tsun acts, and now I'd much rather see people who insist on being so fucking insecure they cannot let go no matter what rot in their own self-inflicted loneliness and misery. Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. Maybe it should be treated like a condition similar to autism, but then at least everyone can acknowledge there's a problem. All our male lead would do is enable her. Despite giving so many jdrama-style impassioned speeches to other people, I'd love if he'd just say, "if this is how you insist on treating me then you can go to hell". Of couse, that would require him to have actual sense, something he frequently proves he lacks in a variety of scenarios including getting freaked out over something being on his laptop screen when all he had to do was close the fucking lid.

Overall, though, it was pretty much Genshiken updated to reflect current otaku trends, including being structured more like Haruhi with some Freudian subtext thrown in for... fun, I guess. Actual Genshiken-style nerds-being-nerds scenes worked fairly well, and the chemistry and exchanges between Kirino and Kuroneko was frequently amusing if not disturbingly familiar. I find it amusing how Saori is introduced as maintaining this moderately sized club only for her to throw all of them under the bus after she meets Kirino. Oh well, I guess that's just one of the pleasures of

Spoiler

being a 1% in disguise

. Genshiken still remains the better show because it isn't saddled with all the bullshit found here.

 

[dimb]

Meh, the Lupin OP seemed like a transparently pretentious attempt at depth to me. None of that nonsense actually applied to the characters in the show. Which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but let's not pretend there was some kind of secret thematic depth present.

I'm going to keep pretending. It moves fast, but nothing in it is particularly vague.

It largely deals with the emotions and reasons for Fujiko and Lupin to steal. It sets out right away to make it clear that the act of stealing isn't something they do for gain or to hurt others, it is a "vice". The opening explains that thievery is a practice steeped in strong emotions, and name dropping some Wuthering Heights it is laid out that the thieves in this series after just that: the strongest emotional response attainable even at the destruction of themselves. The sensuality of stealing is of its own world, the desire for more trapping those who chase it by forever stringing them along for more. The imagery sells this point particularly with its bondage themes.

If we want to read more into things that haven't been established yet, the OP ends by suggesting that Lupin and Fujiko are emotionless slaves to thievery, each unable to offer each other anything as empty vessels incapable of regular human emotion, although Fujiko expresses the desire for Lupin to throw that life away and give himself to her.

The addiction portrayed in the OP actually sort of makes the subject matter of the first episode kind of cute. You wind up with two junkies for burglary infiltrating a cult's drug den to steal the source of their narcotics.

 

[Branduil]

I don't get what this has to do with what I said at all, nor do I understand why you constantly blame other people for your lacking posts. Can't you take responsibility for what you say?

I see no reason to take responsibility for your unexplained anger issues whenever you read my posts. I'm doing nothing to deliberately provoke you, so you should probably shut up if you have nothing to add except nonconstructive snark.

 

[Firemind]

I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to be a documentary on otaku culture.

dat kuroneko

 

[wonzo]

Ore no imouto ga konna ni kawaii wake ga nai 1-15

The title is actually fairly descriptive, because Kirino really isn't cute and I can only imagine it would take a heavy interest in BDSM to think otherwise. She really drained all the patience I had for tsun acts, and now I'd much rather see people who insist on being so fucking insecure they cannot let go no matter what rot in their own self-inflicted loneliness and misery. Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. Maybe it should be treated like a condition similar to autism, but then at least everyone can acknowledge there's a problem. All our male lead would do is enable her. Despite giving so many jdrama-style impassioned speeches to other people, I'd love if he'd just say, "if this is how you insist on treating me then you can go to hell". Of couse, that would require him to have actual sense, something he frequently proves he lacks in a variety of scenarios including getting freaked out over something being on his laptop screen when all he had to do was close the fucking lid.

Overall, though, it was pretty much Genshiken updated to reflect current otaku trends, including being structured more like Haruhi with some Freudian subtext thrown in for... fun, I guess. Actual Genshiken-style nerds-being-nerds scenes worked fairly well, and the chemistry and exchanges between Kirino and Kuroneko was frequently amusing if not disturbingly familiar. I find it amusing how Saori is introduced as maintaining this moderately sized club only for her to throw all of them under the bus after she meets Kirino. Oh well, I guess that's just one of the pleasures of

Spoiler

being a 1% in disguise

. Genshiken still remains the better show because it isn't saddled with all the bullshit found here.

Omedetou!

 

[Cwarrior]

Koikelupin ep 1

Dat style, nice rough 70s look similar to the old show but with kokie’s usually flair and beauty, fluidly animated characters (nice body language).
Plot is similar to that of 70s lupin, having that 70s spy flick setting.

-some shots with straight crayon shade look off with it not bending around the characters
-a bit too much sexy even if it is koiketity

 

[RurouniZel]

Ore no imouto ga konna ni kawaii wake ga nai 1-15

The title is actually fairly descriptive, because Kirino really isn't cute and I can only imagine it would take a heavy interest in BDSM to think otherwise. She really drained all the patience I had for tsun acts, and now I'd much rather see people who insist on being so fucking insecure they cannot let go no matter what rot in their own self-inflicted loneliness and misery. Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. Maybe it should be treated like a condition similar to autism, but then at least everyone can acknowledge there's a problem. All our male lead would do is enable her. Despite giving so many jdrama-style impassioned speeches to other people, I'd love if he'd just say, "if this is how you insist on treating me then you can go to hell". Of couse, that would require him to have actual sense, something he frequently proves he lacks in a variety of scenarios including getting freaked out over something being on his laptop screen when all he had to do was close the fucking lid.

Overall, though, it was pretty much Genshiken updated to reflect current otaku trends, including being structured more like Haruhi with some Freudian subtext thrown in for... fun, I guess. Actual Genshiken-style nerds-being-nerds scenes worked fairly well, and the chemistry and exchanges between Kirino and Kuroneko was frequently amusing if not disturbingly familiar. I find it amusing how Saori is introduced as maintaining this moderately sized club only for her to throw all of them under the bus after she meets Kirino. Oh well, I guess that's just one of the pleasures of

Spoiler

being a 1% in disguise

. Genshiken still remains the better show because it isn't saddled with all the bullshit found here.

I'm impressed you finished it, I'm not good at finishing shows I don't like. I agree Kirino is a very unlikable character and Kyousuke's a fucking dunce at times, but I like the rest of the cast so I like the show.

And you've reminded me that I need to get around to watching Genshiken. After Sailor Moon.

 

[Jarmel]

Just rewatched the first episode of Eureka 7. I'm not ready for this.

 

[Hitokage]

I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to be a documentary on otaku culture.

I'd rather not entertain the idea of it trying to be something else because then that would be too depressing.

Actually, scratch that, I did rather enjoy the idea of watching Kirino's double life crumble before her eyes, but it ended up giving the show too many hamfisted scenes for it to be really satisfying. Besides, she still kept her secrets for the most part.

 

[Trojita]

It's sort of funny when I'm not even sure which show you could be referring to anymore.

:lol

I was talking about Medaka Box.

 

[iavi]

Thing is, only 1 episode has aired for the series so far, we don't even know if the OP is going be thematically applied to the series in a meaningful way; but even if it isn't, there's nothing wrong with it, because "style for the sake of style" is awesome.

Spoiler

I bet you'd hate Branded to Kill

The point I'm trying to make is that it's not 'style for the sake of style', or substance-less eye-candy, it's a snippet of characterization, actual weight, that just happens to be delivered stylistically. There is a diff!

And the more I think on it, it not being explored any further would actually make sense, given that it was seemingly written to be self-contained. Like an accounting of development already charted, hardly in progress. I got caught up on the conflict of it all, but the closing lock actually kind of works not to just close the OP, but show that she just said fuck it and accepted whatever issues the other half was to represent, and is ready/wanting to accept the consequences. Also, Lupin noted her masochism in this very first ep, quickly, but did bridge it if you felt that needed.

I'm going to keep pretending. It moves fast, but nothing in it is particularly vague.

It largely deals with the emotions and reasons for Fujiko and Lupin to steal. It sets out right away to make it clear that the act of stealing isn't something they do for gain or to hurt others, it is a "vice". The opening explains that thievery is a practice steeped in strong emotions, and name dropping some Wuthering Heights it is laid out that the thieves in this series after just that: the strongest emotional response attainable even at the destruction of themselves. The sensuality of stealing is of its own world, the desire for more trapping those who chase it by forever stringing them along for more. The imagery sells this point particularly with its bondage themes.

If we want to read more into things that haven't been established yet, the OP ends by suggesting that Lupin and Fujiko are emotionless slaves to thievery, each unable to offer each other anything as empty vessels incapable of regular human emotion, although Fujiko expresses the desire for Lupin to throw that life away and give himself to her.

The addiction portrayed in the OP actually sort of makes the subject matter of the first episode kind of cute. You wind up with two junkies for burglary infiltrating a cult's drug den to steal the source of their narcotics.

Said it better than I did. I didn't catch the irony in the ep either. Though I wonder if that particular bit is supposed to apply to Lupin all the same, or act simply Fujiko's secular ideology.

 

[Femmeworth]

Ore no imouto ga konna ni kawaii wake ga nai 1-15

The title is actually fairly descriptive, because Kirino really isn't cute and I can only imagine it would take a heavy interest in BDSM to think otherwise. She really drained all the patience I had for tsun acts, and now I'd much rather see people who insist on being so fucking insecure they cannot let go no matter what rot in their own self-inflicted loneliness and misery. Maybe I shouldn't be so harsh. Maybe it should be treated like a condition similar to autism, but then at least everyone can acknowledge there's a problem. All our male lead would do is enable her. Despite giving so many jdrama-style impassioned speeches to other people, I'd love if he'd just say, "if this is how you insist on treating me then you can go to hell". Of couse, that would require him to have actual sense, something he frequently proves he lacks in a variety of scenarios including getting freaked out over something being on his laptop screen when all he had to do was close the fucking lid.

Overall, though, it was pretty much Genshiken updated to reflect current otaku trends, including being structured more like Haruhi with some Freudian subtext thrown in for... fun, I guess. Actual Genshiken-style nerds-being-nerds scenes worked fairly well, and the chemistry and exchanges between Kirino and Kuroneko was frequently amusing if not disturbingly familiar. I find it amusing how Saori is introduced as maintaining this moderately sized club only for her to throw all of them under the bus after she meets Kirino. Oh well, I guess that's just one of the pleasures of

Spoiler

being a 1% in disguise

. Genshiken still remains the better show because it isn't saddled with all the bullshit found here.

I don't know how you made it through the whole thing, unless money was involved.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Medaka Box 1

The OP song and visuals is pretty bland, otherwise I thought it was just a decent and entertaining anime. Visuals are nice even though some choice for scenes was awkward (we need an camera angle fixated behind of her underwear?, she can hold the world, what?). Zenkishi is really the star of this for me and was pretty cool. His key scene was actually really epic. I was more excited to see his parts than hers as right from the start she just seems to be pretty dull personality wise and such. Will keep watching.

 

[Hitokage]

I don't know how you made it through the whole thing, unless money was involved.

An exchange was involved.

 

[Branduil]

An exchange was involved.

But was it equivalent exchange?

 

[Lain]

Space Pirates 13

Good episode despite Omigawa doing her best to try and ruin it.
Marika was able to add another princess to her harem, which is nothing to sneeze at.
The end would imply that Ririka will

Spoiler

go back to pirating? Wonder if that means Marika will end up competing or fighting her in one of her jobs.

Every time the ED isn't the usual one, I go from happy to sad.

 

[Hitokage]

But was it equivalent exchange?

Both of us were made to watch something we've previously refused to, so probably.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

I liked the Lupin OP because it was both sensual to an extreme and very revealing of how she thinks, if a little bit melodramatic overall (which may be the point!). She's got this instinct to steal precious things, and to deceive all who stand in the way of what she wants. But she's still so naive and inexperienced, something that gets further developed in this first episode alone. I like that analysis, Dances.

A Woman Named Fujiko Mine, ep 1(Great Thief vs. Lady Phantom Thief)

First things first: I haven't received the best impression of Ben from Anipages, though he seems like a nice guy.

Review by Ben Attinger.

Not a very well-written review, though I like the details he went over (and respectfully disagree with his notion that this isn't Lupin, and that only the sillyness and kookiness of, say, the Red Jacket and Pink Jacket stuff can ever get his attention).

To me, anyway, he misses the point of the overt nudity and setting contributing to use of said nudity (in that it shows that Fujiko has no standards when it comes to tricking men, whereas Lupin acts fashionably and gentlemanly, always using more abstract reasoning to outwit her and get the McGuffin into his mittens). And I like the opening a lot, in that it lays bare Fujiko's obsession with stealing and seduction, so vile and outrageous to the point of gratuity that the opening reflect that with overly-dramatic music and prose. She's a bit self-absorbed, really, but not in a healthy, experienced way at all. This is likely to be rectified gradually, as her character develops into a more subtle, more clever species by the end of the production. Another thing he likes to focus on are the various animators and styles of medium and animating technique used throughout anime productions—he sure didn't like the way Fujiko was presented, saying she was just bland and inflexible. Inflexible, of course, is sort of the point: she looks soft, innocent, naive, and the emphasis on these qualities provides a real-noticeable contrast to the hardy shading and looks of Lupin and Zenigata. Also: she does not realistic. Detailed might be more fitting, but even then she's rather spare on the details, as are the other characters. Don't know why he said any of that, because glossy ≠ detailed.

He was comparing these character models to the ones used in the GJ and RJ series, and I think the new character models have a really good balance of pliability, unique anatomy, and a real unique, edgy look that feels Koike-like in a lot of ways. Fujiko, understandably, is the less edgy of them all, relying on other external qualities to deceive and seduce. Not to mention he's all about how the old models "left more to the imagination", especially regarding how transparent Fujiko's character and attire is in this first episode. If he wants to think that the character is more subtle, and that the story is less about showing boobs than he thinks it is, then he should listen to some audio dramas. This is a visual medium—let them do something that might seem gratuitous at first, before realizing how subtle and fitting all the nudity is in the grand scheme of her character development.

Zenigata is his next disappointment, which is actually harder to argue against. In all of the other anime productions, at least, he's shown to be stark raving mad because he can never catch Lupin, yet he needs Lupin in his life to give him a goal and finality that, secretly, he never wants to fully realize (see one of the earlier episodes in the Green Jacket series, which subtly develops this concept with perfect pacing and amazing script-writing). Here, though, Lupin and Fujiko are both relative newcomers to Zenigata's inquiries, Lupin being young and undeniably-successful while Fujiko's just starting out. So, honestly, I don't think Zenigata sees Lupin as a major threat yet, and I expect Mari to develop him into a more bumbling, extreme persona as the series continues. After all:

Spoiler

when Lupin rides off of the island on top of the Fraulein Hoyle crystal Buddha, using a whole bunch of high-power rockets to literally surf on the ground and out to sea, Zenigata looks a little puzzled himself

! What actually insulted me is the reviewer's insinuation that there's some homoerotic connection between Zenigata and his aide-de-camp, who looks very androgynous and blushes when given orders. That statement is a fallacy of its own, considering that Oscar is the wild-card recurring character we're likely going to see more of, and this is just the first episode anyways. Who knows how any of the MCs in this production are going to develop? Given that this series is episodic and short, a lot of the emphasis is likely going to be on putting the characters in unique scenarios meant to develop and capitalize on their internal and external traits, and we just don't know anything about Oscar's thought process yet to know what his position is with Zenigata, whether there is a relationship, or if any sentiments he has for a guy like Zeni are reciprocal too.

Aside from failing to mention the music at all, he doesn't really approve of the action sequences, mainly because "they don't feel exhilarating". Excepting one short sequence right before the first half of the ep ends, they all felt really well-paced and composed, with the final action sequence being a really-great example of the Fujiko/Lupin interplay I want to see more of in the succeeding episodes. True enough, there's a great mix of Monkey Punch-like insane scenarios (

Spoiler

surfing on a crystallized Buddha statue made out of a hallucinogenic substance!

) and subtle interactions between the two most important characters to so far appear. Furthermore, it's a surprisingly-humorous trip to behold, with terribly-witty dialogue, classy and typical Lupin stunts and tricks, and a decent satire of men who lead religious cults. Overall, though, the most ridiculous thing he said was that it simply wasn't Lupin. Sure: I can understand that it's quite different, an edgier and more-outlandish variation of the early-Green Jacket Lupin formula. But it's got a lot of amazing visual design, silly concepts and set-ups delivered with panache and precision, and the episode succeeds at being a more-than-robust integration of Lupin elements old and new. Having just watched a subbed version, I can also say that, for the time being at least, Mari Okada is under control and seems to know what to do.

—Ultimately: I don't like the snooty tone of that review very much, especially with the fallacies and semantic failures littered throughout, making it feel like a bad enthusiast review disguised by decent dictionary skills. Bleh~

Getting that criticism out of the way, I must say that this was a very strong opener to what has the potential to be the best Lupin production I've yet seen. It's already started off strong by focusing on 13 well-developed little episodes, focusing on technical quality above episode quantity, and this episode alone melds the pilot film, Green Jacket series, and Monkey Punch manga into one concise package. Off the walls, I must say. Like the music:

The music is definitely not like Yuji Ohno's, outside of period influences in the musical style (a lot of funk and sleazy post-bop, intermixed with experimental atonal and contextual interludes). It all sounds more neutral and even oppressive at times, with little in the way of melodic content and more focus on development of solo material and interesting stylistic contrasts. Indeed, the opening piece itself is a very rhythmic chamber orchestra piece with modern jazz rhythmic structures and modern, pseudo-baroque instrumentation. But it all works really well, and I'd listen to an OST release even if a lot of the music isn't as memorable as the melody-dominated Lupin standards done by Takeo Yamashita and Yuji Ohno.

Kikuchi is an awesome sax player, btw.

What applies for the music also applies to the overall production. Very good pacing overall, considering I never lost interest and the structure itself is rather fantastic (crazy OP > scene of chambers > first action > meeting Fujiko > showing off hypocrisy of organized religion > action before eyecatch, etc.). For an episode that has to have everything that defines the typical Lupin adventure, it really does work out in the end: a lot of panache and clever script-writing, crazy Lupin and his emotional contrasts, a bewildered and less-emotive Fujiko than normal, and an unfamiliar Zenigata seeing Lupin for once (I'm assuming that, this being a reinterpretation of how Fujiko first met Lupin, Zenigata is also relatively-unaccustomed to the way the Great Thief does business). Whatever is going to happen with Oscar, anyway (revealed to be woman all along, student of sorts, involved in some conspiracy against Fujiko, blah~), I don't need to know that right now. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is how Fujiko and Lupin quickly delve into a rivalry around the big thingy, which they both lost at the end anyway (in classic Lupin fashion, aka SS Sirloin Syndrome). Interestingly, she involved herself more with working against the main villain of the story while Lupin waits for her to do the hard work for him—a subtle way to show how cunning and experienced Lupin is, even if still falls for some of her tricks (namely, the part where she calls the guards into their cell to take him away to be executed instead of her—they both escape that fate, of course, with Lupin providing a fake for the guillotine and Fujiko putting a guard in her place instead).

As Dance pointed out, too, there's a lot of symbolism introduced in this episode, making for a clever opening into the world of Fujikoike or whatever. Overall, it's nothing more than a conventional Lupin heist with usual hitches, but done very well indeed.

 

[zeroshiki]

I watched the first ep of Medaka Box and I liked it. Then I became sad because I know it turns into battleshit and cosmicblizzard's wet dreams later.

 

[trejo]

Kaminarineko-tachi 15

It was about time for Raion-O to have a more substantial training arc. Though judging by his abject incapability to ever learn from his mistakes I don't know for sure how fruitful this one's gonna be.

 

[wonzo]

Polar Bear Cafe 1

show of the season

 

[BlazingDarkness]

Usagi Drop 1-3 Y U SO CUTE ლ(ಠ益ಠ&#4314,

 

[Instro]

Meh, the Lupin OP seemed like a transparently pretentious attempt at depth to me. None of that nonsense actually applied to the characters in the show. Which is fine if you like that sort of thing, but let's not pretend there was some kind of secret thematic depth present.

The over the top visual theme is reminiscent of a James Bond film opening. I'd call it gratuitous rather than pretentious personally.

 

[iavi]

Whatever is going to happen with Oscar, anyway (revealed to be woman all along, student of sorts, involved in some conspiracy against Fujiko, blah~),

...Oscar is a woman? I feel deceived. I thought she the was the moe~st man anime has ever witnessed.