You're gonna need to change that avatar.lol and you said kamina sunglasses couldn't work over visors
Also fixed the original post to include the two newest Kamina's
-
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Summer 2013 Anime Thread Zero: grown men playing with dolls/who but WB Masochism
- Thread starter Mandoric
- Start date
- Status
Lavalamp1138
Member
Kino's Journey 7
The previous episode was another look at the darker side of human nature, but this episode actually focused on the other side.
The previous episode was another look at the darker side of human nature, but this episode actually focused on the other side.
The woman competing didn't get involved out of personal greed or hatred towards her own place in society, but rather to honor her familial bonds. Though the King's son sought revenge, he became free from the vicious cycle after Kino struck the tyrant down. The thrill of the fight didn't necessarily reflect immoral behavior, as it's shared between three totally different the characters. The king lusted after killing; the gunslinger fought to relieve boredom, harboring no ill-will towards his opponent; and even Kino encouraged the King's son to enjoy the fight rather than obsess over its outcome. I totally didn't expect Kino to alter the system the way she did, but it makes sense. It coincided with the cultural perception that already existed since she realized it'd be impossible to change over night, and it freed the innocent from becoming involved unwillingly. But this can all be traced back to the woman who first encouraged Kino to travel to that country, her distant smile and words of encouragement peaking Kino's curiosity. The small, interpersonal effects this system had on an individual gave way to sweeping social change, like the ripple effect made when the King's son dropped a rock in the pond.
peaceiscloser
Member
dakkumauji
Member
Magical☆Star Kanon 100% OVA
Kanon becomes a magical girl.
Elise stays useless.
Singing solves everything.
Eh.
Kanon becomes a magical girl.
Elise stays useless.
Singing solves everything.
Eh.
FelixOrion
Poet Centuriate
lol and you said kamina sunglasses couldn't work over visors
Also fixed the original post to include the two newest Kamina's
i was half expecting you to just color the visor :3
peaceiscloser
Member
Magical☆Star Kanon 100% OVA
Kanon becomes a magical girl.
Elise stays useless.
Singing solves everything.
Eh.
Wait I can watch this
I CAN WATCH THIS?!!
O:
brb watching my favorite show
fuck wakaki
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
[Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon SuperS] 139
Also in this episode, Tiger's Eye stoops to a new low. I don't know who is worse, he or the Pegasus.
Sailor Moon has had its fair share of crazy bonkers episodes, but I think this one takes the cake. Loli swordsman with an abusive samurai mother? How the hell do they get these ideas? Even the dinosaur episode was somehow more believable!
Also in this episode, Tiger's Eye stoops to a new low. I don't know who is worse, he or the Pegasus.
Awful Falafel
Banned
Aww, I hate being lttp. Now every 2007 joke has already been made and Kamina glasses are probably no longer retro hipster trendy.
YES! Middle of the bell curve at 23. Suck it old folks and ankle biters, you guys are outliers and extremities and are no match for my typical age! TYPICAL!!!
beautifully intriguing. Hopefully they can build things up properly without being a mindless gorefest. If so then I need that in my veins! Between this, my typical age, and Senyuu today I can almost get over Corvo hating on Juri, almost.
YES! Middle of the bell curve at 23. Suck it old folks and ankle biters, you guys are outliers and extremities and are no match for my typical age! TYPICAL!!!
beautifully intriguing. Hopefully they can build things up properly without being a mindless gorefest. If so then I need that in my veins! Between this, my typical age, and Senyuu today I can almost get over Corvo hating on Juri, almost.
gashikunFLCL
Member
Yeah, I know like at the beginning of every Metroid I wonder how they gonna make Samus lose her powers, but it's really nice to see a good ending in anime.
Did you sleep at the beginning of the episode when
Majo Rika play cards with Dela, and lose the shop?
Bring your squirrels to us. =)
I just look at Adachi works, the high school ones show the best years, striving to realize their dreams, and his stories about adult life are almost all about regrets of the characters early years.
===================================================================
Ojamajo Doremi # - 01
Is Ikuhara in anyway involved in this? Noooo?
The Queen was
really cold in the last episode of the first series, to then choose Doremi as the mother of the baby
The new transformations *clap clap* and clothes are nice *clap clap* and
an all new MAHOdou
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
No, but Takuya Igarashi and Junichi Satou are! I think.
The Nanami's Egg of Sailor Moon?
KirbYuuYuu
Member
That didn't happen at the beginning for me. It was the typical here's what the episode might feature, and then it went straight into when they're in a different store. Nothing about her losing the deed.
Nope. Not at all. But then I also have a long history of liking western teen soaps as well.
Gintoki313
Banned
On the poll I saw that no one was under 17 and I am 17, so probably.
dakkumauji
Member
Hayate no Gotoku! 09
You have it bad when even Siri doesn't like you.
You have it bad when even Siri doesn't like you.
gashikunFLCL
Member
Don't you remember this?
Actually it was episode 20.
Ojamajo Doremi # - 02
Hana-chan is so cute...
and I love babies
A heartwarming episode
with a little backstory for Doremi's mother.
peaceiscloser
Member
Shiori/Jun/Elsie are best girls
Well that sure is a way to start an OVA. I should have expected it.
Oh hurray, an OP that isn't going to show up in S3! --that's okay it's really not all that good and I need my Engrish. 100%
filler!
Of course, this isn't Season 3. The things I put up with so I can see Els--
But Elsie you already know Kanon! You were probably around her more than anyone else other than Keima-my man, and she met your band and everything two OVA's ago. :I and aww yiss loose soul time. You show 'em, Elsie.
It's the third arc of Kokoro Connect all over again! -- but at least her magical girl transformation sequence started
in the nude instead of going into it.
Why is he still using a PFP instead of the Vita equivalent
DAISUKE KANON-CHAN DAISUKE! ohoho what a tweest. Why is the sad music playing, though...?
Will the real Kanon-chan please stand up? Of course her voice still sounds the same and at the same pitch as her normal voice. Otay.
Wait she jumped in one shot and the next shot she simply walked over to the other little girl. Ooootay. Sigh, Elsie's utterly useless again... it's too bad because she's my favorite character regardless ):
Whaaaat a freaking tentacle attack scene.
NO.And once again, the day is saved thanks to the POWER--of music. Specifically rehashed music from the first season.
NO.Aw lame the rehashed music overwrote the normal capturing song. At least the romantic music is playing again. I kinda missed it. But it's not getting to the emotional high point of the normal version, though.
NO.TEAM ELSIE'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN.
Well, now we know this OVA
has absolutely no bearing on Season 3 at all.
Magical☆Star Kanon 100% receives a score of
1 Sword Art Online
or
0.5 Tenri Arcs
KirbYuuYuu
Member
Oh no, I didn't. I think I ended up going to the next episode sooner than I expected, which I commented on
Gintoki313
Banned
Shiori/Jun/Elsie are best girls
Well that sure is a way to start an OVA. I should have expected it.
Oh hurray, an OP that isn't going to show up in S3! --that's okay it's really not all that good and I need my Engrish. 100%I am so hype for Season 3 guys. You don't even know.filler!
Of course, this isn't Season 3. The things I put up with so I can see Els--
But Elsie you already know Kanon! You were probably around her more than anyone else other than Keima-my man, and she met your band and everything two OVA's ago. :I and aww yiss loose soul time. You show 'em, Elsie.
It's the third arc of Kokoro Connect all over again! -- but at least her magical girl transformation sequence startedBut hey, we get our obligatory shower scene with a transformation sequence in one. Two-for-one! AND THERE'S KEIMA-BRO. lol wtf is he doing in that tent.in the nude instead of going into it.Why is he still using a PFP instead of the Vita equivalent
DAISUKE KANON-CHAN DAISUKE! ohoho what a tweest. Why is the sad music playing, though...?
Will the real Kanon-chan please stand up? Of course her voice still sounds the same and at the same pitch as her normal voice. Otay.
Wait she jumped in one shot and the next shot she simply walked over to the other little girl. Ooootay. Sigh, Elsie's utterly useless again... it's too bad because she's my favorite character regardless ):
Whaaaat a freaking tentacle attack scene.
And once again, the day is saved thanks to the POWER--of music. Specifically rehashed music from the first season.
Aw lame the rehashed music overwrote the normal capturing song. At least the romantic music is playing again. I kinda missed it. But it's not getting to the emotional high point of the normal version, though.
TEAM ELSIE'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN.
Well, now we know this OVAWhich is a shame, because the Tenri Arc OVA was really good and promising.has absolutely no bearing on Season 3 at all.
Magical☆Star Kanon 100% receives a score of
1 Sword Art Online
or
0.5 Tenri Arcs
I'm as hyped as you are about season 3. While I don't read the manga I've just finished season 2 of TWGOK just a few days ago. Not sure what season 3 is going to cover but I'm still excited regardless, Elsie in chibi form is the most adorable thing I've seen.
dakkumauji
Member
The official site so far only lists that season 2 has a new ED. Nothing about an OP at all.
So you see they answered those questions. Some in quite an unexpected way! Theres more interesting stuff to come! I think the books episode is coming up.
This show will make you melt into a puddle of joy.
Shiori/Jun/Elsie are best girls
Well that sure is a way to start an OVA. I should have expected it.
Oh hurray, an OP that isn't going to show up in S3! --that's okay it's really not all that good and I need my Engrish. 100%I am so hype for Season 3 guys. You don't even know.filler!
Of course, this isn't Season 3. The things I put up with so I can see Els--
But Elsie you already know Kanon! You were probably around her more than anyone else other than Keima-my man, and she met your band and everything two OVA's ago. :I and aww yiss loose soul time. You show 'em, Elsie.
It's the third arc of Kokoro Connect all over again! -- but at least her magical girl transformation sequence startedBut hey, we get our obligatory shower scene with a transformation sequence in one. Two-for-one! AND THERE'S KEIMA-BRO. lol wtf is he doing in that tent.in the nude instead of going into it.Why is he still using a PFP instead of the Vita equivalent
DAISUKE KANON-CHAN DAISUKE! ohoho what a tweest. Why is the sad music playing, though...?
Will the real Kanon-chan please stand up? Of course her voice still sounds the same and at the same pitch as her normal voice. Otay.
Wait she jumped in one shot and the next shot she simply walked over to the other little girl. Ooootay. Sigh, Elsie's utterly useless again... it's too bad because she's my favorite character regardless ):
Whaaaat a freaking tentacle attack scene.
And once again, the day is saved thanks to the POWER--of music. Specifically rehashed music from the first season.
Aw lame the rehashed music overwrote the normal capturing song. At least the romantic music is playing again. I kinda missed it. But it's not getting to the emotional high point of the normal version, though.
TEAM ELSIE'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN.
Well, now we know this OVAWhich is a shame, because the Tenri Arc OVA was really good and promising.has absolutely no bearing on Season 3 at all.
Magical☆Star Kanon 100% receives a score of
1 Sword Art Online
or
0.5 Tenri Arcs
I think this is a positive review but I really dont know with that review scale...
peaceiscloser
Member
Watch the Tenri Arc OVAs that came out earlier this year or so. They introduce (technically 2) new characters who will be integral to Season 3, and establish the story arc that'll be Season 3.
Also it's only like two episodes.
lol I always rate everything based off of Sword Art Online. I couldn't find the quote for you, but someone a while back said that in the future all animes would be scored relative to Sword Art Online and so I kept the joke up. It's always kinda a stupid arbitrary number because I have an ambivalent relationship with SAO lol. For future reference, my enjoyment of what I just reviewed is better measured by the second thing I mention, in this case the Tenri Arc thing.
Aww.
Awful Falafel
Banned
Thread needs more wideface!
Hidamari Sketch x 365 episode 1
Holy shit both parents of a high schooler being SHOWN in an anime! They also have dialogue and interact with their kid! But what's going on, why are we burning through so many days? And I'm glad that things are moving a lot more so far but these constant hyperactive quick cuts are a little annoying. How am I supposed to relax and enjoy pleasant days of wideface when the show is being edited by a goldfish? Hopefully it's just to get introductions out of the way quickly but I definitely preferred season 1's first episode where it just threw you into endearing and warm friendship and explained things later. On the bright side this episode featured a really great outfit for Yuno that's both really cute and something girls would actually want to wear. In the ED though why did Miyako's symbol get changed from a fox mask to just an animal paw? Love the bouquet of lilies though, can't be too on the nose in a world where noses don't exist!
Hidamari Sketch x 365 episode 1
Holy shit both parents of a high schooler being SHOWN in an anime! They also have dialogue and interact with their kid! But what's going on, why are we burning through so many days? And I'm glad that things are moving a lot more so far but these constant hyperactive quick cuts are a little annoying. How am I supposed to relax and enjoy pleasant days of wideface when the show is being edited by a goldfish? Hopefully it's just to get introductions out of the way quickly but I definitely preferred season 1's first episode where it just threw you into endearing and warm friendship and explained things later. On the bright side this episode featured a really great outfit for Yuno that's both really cute and something girls would actually want to wear. In the ED though why did Miyako's symbol get changed from a fox mask to just an animal paw? Love the bouquet of lilies though, can't be too on the nose in a world where noses don't exist!
Really wish there was a better full sized shot of the outfit without being superdeformed but that just means you have to watch the episode to enjoy yuno's outfit in all it's glory.
peaceiscloser
Member
KirbYuuYuu
Member
Ojamajo Doremi 25
THATS NOT HOW BUSHES WORK
Anyway, the solution to the problem???
I find it amazing that so many people want to sleep with pop, even the dick kid takes up a whole futon, and goes "You can sleep with me". Kindergarteners get around the block alright.
THATS NOT HOW BUSHES WORK
Anyway, the solution to the problem???
Make Pop an Ojamajo as well. And as expected, she throws Doremi under a bus by starting off better than her. On top of that, she actually manages to sell her stuff. However, Pop causes havok as a form of pay back to the fat kid that was a dick this episode and earlier beforehand, and things get hectic.
I find it amazing that so many people want to sleep with pop, even the dick kid takes up a whole futon, and goes "You can sleep with me". Kindergarteners get around the block alright.
KuroMajo 34
I always knew small hats were the work of the devil but now I know it's a truthfact, so much so they're even sold in magic stationery shops alongside magical candies such as a lollipop where
Yep, you read that right. Gotta subliminally give kids some freaky as fuck inflation fetish somehow.
I always knew small hats were the work of the devil but now I know it's a truthfact, so much so they're even sold in magic stationery shops alongside magical candies such as a lollipop where
all your wishes are granted and then you inflate into a balloon and explode.
FelixOrion
Poet Centuriate
Le Chevalier D'Eon 6
So what exactly
? I mean, even
doesn't even know what's in them. We know that previously
But whatever Queen Marie's plans are
Alright, well
But I'm confused by what robin said about
I'm getting a little Band of Brothers feel from this somber farewell track.
Whoa. I was not expecting that.
Hahahahahaha, gg no re. That's fucking gold, writers. You seriously just made a superhero in 18 century France.
Oh some secret shit huh?
Whoa, hold the fuck up, D'Eon. I'm not into that shit. I know the rest of AnimeGAF is into the one half of that
but you forget
Say your goodbyes, D'Eon. Adventure awaits!
Art-wise, I'm not liking a few of the designs and character animations (especially for Robin and Anna) but when the action is on the animation is quite good and really appreciate them bucking just a ton design tropes that you find in anime. It's a really nice change of pace.
So what exactly
are the Royal Psalms
Queen Marie
Psalms have been used by "Poets," right? That they are some sort of magic or spell? If that's the case, then what could the Royal Psalms be?
it feels like D'Eon is gonna start getting twisted from both sides here soon.
Alright, well
suicide mission to Russia it is, I guess. With Teillagory and Durand saying goodbye to folks, will D'Eon say goodbye to Anna? Robin won't say goodbye to anyone 'cause he's a loser, lol.
unlocking the royal secrets. Again, no one has ever called out Robin for knowing what Poets and their Gargoyles are and how they work.
I'm getting a little Band of Brothers feel from this somber farewell track.
Whoa. I was not expecting that.
I guess I should've when they revealed that Durand was leaving flowers on Lia's casket, but I thought that was cause he knew about what killed her or because of his involvement with Le Secret Du Roi and he was doing it out of respect for a fellow agent. But, damn son.
Hahahahahaha, gg no re. That's fucking gold, writers. You seriously just made a superhero in 18 century France.
Well I guess it makes sense if you're really gonna make an adaption of a real-world transexual person of history. But still, if he has to crossdress in the future to bring Lia in a more controlled manner, you basically just made him a cross-dressing superhero. Seriously. He's mild-mannered D'Eon by day, but when he puts the costume on he becomes the vengeful Lia! 10/10
Oh some secret shit huh?
Even the viewers don't get to see his orders. Well then.
Whoa, hold the fuck up, D'Eon. I'm not into that shit. I know the rest of AnimeGAF is into the one half of that
cause you kissed your sister and shit
that's still her corpse. That's fucking necrophila, dude. Not even the OreImo crowd will vouch for that, :lol
Say your goodbyes, D'Eon. Adventure awaits!
Art-wise, I'm not liking a few of the designs and character animations (especially for Robin and Anna) but when the action is on the animation is quite good and really appreciate them bucking just a ton design tropes that you find in anime. It's a really nice change of pace.
gashikunFLCL
Member
Ojamajo Doremi # - 03
I don't think I can resist until the end, Hana-chan is so so cute,
Pop-chan is the onee-san now,
So Onpu-chan fairy really exist
Am I back in HeartCatch? Is that you Tsubomi?
I don't think I can resist until the end, Hana-chan is so so cute,
she has everything I love about babies until now(shes not mine, so I don't have to miss sleep to take care of her.)
finally takes the witch test and skips to level 6(lol), with her lucky her next test is going to be in the next season.
and now Pop-chan has one too, more fairies to do their jobs.
This is the NicoNico OP for Senyuu S2; the song itself is actually from 2009 though, "Canary" by GRANRODEO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JziwJRNWBpU
edit: more goofy GRANRODEO stuff: the album the song is from is called "BRUSH the SCAR LEMON". If you want to hear the full version of the song here you go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JziwJRNWBpU
edit: more goofy GRANRODEO stuff: the album the song is from is called "BRUSH the SCAR LEMON". If you want to hear the full version of the song here you go.
Crash Station
Member
Yeah, but you can't go wrong with Granrodeo either. Ever since Needless, those guys have become perfect for these kinds of OPs.
the dream is dead
dakkumauji
Member
Oh hell yeah, I love this song. Amazingggggg!
Lavalamp1138
Member
Yeah the show keeps surprising me! I'm really excited to see where things go next tomorrow!
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Seems like DoremiGAF is the new PrecureGAF.
KirbYuuYuu
Member
Who didn't see this coming?
Owlowiscious
Member
I'm... I'm BEAUTIFUL <3
Two for one!
It was really hard finding clean legs to pastehow lewd
Aint one of my favorite anime shows for nothin!
There's plenty of time for everyone to become jaded and slip into disappointment after realizing that the first season that they watched was the best.
gashikunFLCL
Member
Ojamajo Doremi # - 04
Doremi was bound to fail sometime,
I never heard this story about draining stuffed noses through your mouth?
A sneak peak at the future relationship of Hazuki X Aiko. =p
Doremi was bound to fail sometime,
the important part is that her mother was there to give a good slap in the face, wait slap in the face? The parents in this anime.
Was that a mouth to mouth or mouth to nose?
RyougaSaotome
Member
Guys, I have but one piece of advice for you all if you ever choose to come to Japan.
Rock, paper, scissors solves EVERYTHING.
Rock, paper, scissors solves EVERYTHING.
peaceiscloser
Member
Alternatively sword, lance, axe
Aww yiss, all aboard Dai-GAFzen
Revolutionary Girl Utena 39 and Series Thoughts
Well as of the ending I guess this show does have a fair chance of rivaling Evangelion in the mindfuck department and also the realm of
Beyond that, not sure what to say about this episode. It was nice to see
but, and I say this in full knowledge of the fact that people will groan at me when I do,
Moving on to my general thoughts of the series:
If I had to describe Revolutionary Girl Utena with one word, it would be frustrating. This is not a "user-friendly" show. Before launching into that, I'd say that the show does accomplish the goal of evoking a play, its atmosphere successfully completing this through clever staging of the camera, employment of visual cues, and one or two movements with multiple meanings.
I tend to like to get my "negative" thoughts out of the way first, so I'll say what I did not like about Utena before moving on to the things which I most emphatically did. I do this mostly so people's last taste of what I said is positive, and people don't get the impression I only hate something.
Returning, then, to what I said before, this show can be infuriatingly frustrating at times. Visually, there are too many symbols and in general too many things going on on a screen at a given time. It's one thing to have the candles sway this way and that and indicate who is attracted to whom at a given point in the episode. It's another to have the swirling rose symbol pop up every fucking ten seconds and pretend like it matters. I am very certain there is a perfectly good explanation for why this icon was everywhere, but to any first time viewer it is just an annoying, confusing thing that grates as the series continues and its meaning is never made any plainer than "the colored ones indicate the characters who correspond to the color."
As I said previously, I feel there are two parts to any episode of this show: There's the plot, about the girl who's been dragged into this fight and the prince and the end of the world and all. And then there is a load of unnecessary conversations in increasingly erratic places for the sake of symbolism.
And it is at this juncture that I must say: there is such a thing as too much symbolism, and RGU suffers because of it. It's highly distracting, and leaves the feeling that rather than being focused and thematic, the work is instead simply scrambling to stuff as many symbols into an episode as it can. A good example of the complaint I am making would be the Student Council scenes. Each and every time they are there, the Student Council is surrounded by a cacophony of symbols and seemingly inane things which are apparently fraught with some significance. The baseball game going on around them, the riding a bike in place, the train that passes by without ever being seen, the balloons flying around etc. It's too many symbols with meanings too obscure to the plot to matter, yet there they are, jumping and swirling and floating and dancing and distracting the viewer from what is actually going on. On occasion such distraction may be necessary, but I cannot at this moment accept that that much is relevant, meet, or vital to this show. Its positively maddening at times, and feels more like a Junior High English Teacher's Wet Dream than a play with important symbols for the careful viewer. Your plot should not be the Waldo in a sea of symbolic sunbathers.
Moving along to the plot, for the most part I have no complaint, bar that it gets weighed down by the absurd overuse of symbolism. It makes sense, and the show does its fair part to reveal the crucial information as it goes. It takes breather episodes centered on Nanami when it needs to, and yes, the clip episodes are somewhat better than other episodes. I'd like to point out, though, that I consider myself justified in
In all, though, the plot is more or less okay. I assume that my lingering questions would be answered by the movies, and so I don't lay those at its feet.
One final negative point would be the use of stock footage. The show does its fair share of trying to make that cooler, but in all, I cannot say I was wholly appreciative of just how much of the show was comprised of stock footage. Supposing this show was made on some sort of budget, though, I can understand it, and it wasn't as horrible as the words "stock footage" lead one to expect.
That Said, I'd like to talk about what I did enjoy from this show.
The Cast In spite of complaints I have heretofore given, I did come to like the cast quite a bit. Some were loveable the whole way through, like Wakaba and Miki, and others took a long time to be ones I truly enjoyed, like Touga and Saionji. The badminton scene softened me up a fair amount, too. While I feel that
and Jury are the weak links in the cast, and
, other characters really shone to me. Particularly Nanami, who, in spite of being a cold hearted bitch and
, was also a very sympathetic character who did the "demon trying to escape from a young person's body" infinitely better than Lelouch of Geass fame ever could. Nanami was really the star of the show in many ways, especially after
If nothing else, the cast is extremely memorable, and for positive reasons.
The Music in this show is something else. Especially the instrumental parts. A good score is always one of the best things you can do for a product, and Utena's shines. Where the visuals are burdened with too damn many symbols, Utena's score is spot on when it comes to being focused thematically. The songs were enjoyable, unforgettable, and a large part of what I will look back on fondly with regards to this show. They are without a doubt the first thing I would recommend about it, too.
The Duels each duel is a simple, structured process. They're well paced, and manage to maintain tension throughout the project, in spite of the fact that they all almost always end in a predictable way. I found myself asking, the entire show, whether or not Utena would win her duels. Definitely the best parts of many an episode, and usually a much better chance to get to know a character than the five million symbolic monkeys traipsing around the rest of the episode. The best duel in the entire show, though, was most certainly
It's a pity it did not have more lasting consequences.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the show. Not as much as many here, I suppose, but it was a worthwhile experience and I do not regret watching it. I would call the Evangelion comparisons fair on all accounts and discount the claim that it explains more than Eva does about the wackiness that goes on. But then again, I've seen Eva more times and spent more time reading and thinking about it than this, so I'm not a fair judge on that.
Condensed version of this post: I still have no fucking idea what Mickey's Watch was about.
Well as of the ending I guess this show does have a fair chance of rivaling Evangelion in the mindfuck department and also the realm of
inconclusive endings.
Utena's ideal Prince torn down before her eyes
by the end of the show, I had come to care so little for Utena and Anthy that really, it had less effect on me. Undoubtedly for those who did care, this finale must have held a huge emotional impact, but for me, not as much. It was nice to see Anthy do things for herself and get something in the way of a vague explanation for why she's been so blank the entire show, however.
Moving on to my general thoughts of the series:
If I had to describe Revolutionary Girl Utena with one word, it would be frustrating. This is not a "user-friendly" show. Before launching into that, I'd say that the show does accomplish the goal of evoking a play, its atmosphere successfully completing this through clever staging of the camera, employment of visual cues, and one or two movements with multiple meanings.
I tend to like to get my "negative" thoughts out of the way first, so I'll say what I did not like about Utena before moving on to the things which I most emphatically did. I do this mostly so people's last taste of what I said is positive, and people don't get the impression I only hate something.
Returning, then, to what I said before, this show can be infuriatingly frustrating at times. Visually, there are too many symbols and in general too many things going on on a screen at a given time. It's one thing to have the candles sway this way and that and indicate who is attracted to whom at a given point in the episode. It's another to have the swirling rose symbol pop up every fucking ten seconds and pretend like it matters. I am very certain there is a perfectly good explanation for why this icon was everywhere, but to any first time viewer it is just an annoying, confusing thing that grates as the series continues and its meaning is never made any plainer than "the colored ones indicate the characters who correspond to the color."
As I said previously, I feel there are two parts to any episode of this show: There's the plot, about the girl who's been dragged into this fight and the prince and the end of the world and all. And then there is a load of unnecessary conversations in increasingly erratic places for the sake of symbolism.
And it is at this juncture that I must say: there is such a thing as too much symbolism, and RGU suffers because of it. It's highly distracting, and leaves the feeling that rather than being focused and thematic, the work is instead simply scrambling to stuff as many symbols into an episode as it can. A good example of the complaint I am making would be the Student Council scenes. Each and every time they are there, the Student Council is surrounded by a cacophony of symbols and seemingly inane things which are apparently fraught with some significance. The baseball game going on around them, the riding a bike in place, the train that passes by without ever being seen, the balloons flying around etc. It's too many symbols with meanings too obscure to the plot to matter, yet there they are, jumping and swirling and floating and dancing and distracting the viewer from what is actually going on. On occasion such distraction may be necessary, but I cannot at this moment accept that that much is relevant, meet, or vital to this show. Its positively maddening at times, and feels more like a Junior High English Teacher's Wet Dream than a play with important symbols for the careful viewer. Your plot should not be the Waldo in a sea of symbolic sunbathers.
Moving along to the plot, for the most part I have no complaint, bar that it gets weighed down by the absurd overuse of symbolism. It makes sense, and the show does its fair part to reveal the crucial information as it goes. It takes breather episodes centered on Nanami when it needs to, and yes, the clip episodes are somewhat better than other episodes. I'd like to point out, though, that I consider myself justified in
not trusting anything to be real, though, since the show does this once with the Black Rose arc and then again that business about the floating castle in last two episodes.
One final negative point would be the use of stock footage. The show does its fair share of trying to make that cooler, but in all, I cannot say I was wholly appreciative of just how much of the show was comprised of stock footage. Supposing this show was made on some sort of budget, though, I can understand it, and it wasn't as horrible as the words "stock footage" lead one to expect.
That Said, I'd like to talk about what I did enjoy from this show.
The Cast In spite of complaints I have heretofore given, I did come to like the cast quite a bit. Some were loveable the whole way through, like Wakaba and Miki, and others took a long time to be ones I truly enjoyed, like Touga and Saionji. The badminton scene softened me up a fair amount, too. While I feel that
Anthy
I think Utena's character lost her appeal to me when she slept with Akio, but not exactly because she slept with him
kitten murderer
Touga broke her.
The Music in this show is something else. Especially the instrumental parts. A good score is always one of the best things you can do for a product, and Utena's shines. Where the visuals are burdened with too damn many symbols, Utena's score is spot on when it comes to being focused thematically. The songs were enjoyable, unforgettable, and a large part of what I will look back on fondly with regards to this show. They are without a doubt the first thing I would recommend about it, too.
The Duels each duel is a simple, structured process. They're well paced, and manage to maintain tension throughout the project, in spite of the fact that they all almost always end in a predictable way. I found myself asking, the entire show, whether or not Utena would win her duels. Definitely the best parts of many an episode, and usually a much better chance to get to know a character than the five million symbolic monkeys traipsing around the rest of the episode. The best duel in the entire show, though, was most certainly
Utena versus Wakaba.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the show. Not as much as many here, I suppose, but it was a worthwhile experience and I do not regret watching it. I would call the Evangelion comparisons fair on all accounts and discount the claim that it explains more than Eva does about the wackiness that goes on. But then again, I've seen Eva more times and spent more time reading and thinking about it than this, so I'm not a fair judge on that.
Condensed version of this post: I still have no fucking idea what Mickey's Watch was about.
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