Kurogane’s Anime Blog

Finally finished this series, after quite some time and persuasion by some quarters. While the quality of the animation looks pretty dated, but the underlying setting and story was absolutely engaging, once I got past the first 4-5 episodes, where emo Youko almost turned me off. Nevertheless, after that, it has been an awesome show and I really enjoyed it very well, mainly for the unique and interesting setting of the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, especially for the Kirin system.

That said, rather sad to see that the series was abruptly ended, and I would’ve like to see more of the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, mainly for the hanging story of Taiki who disappeared.

Also, I really, REALLY want to see Tonan no Tsubasa getting the anime treatment. Syusyou, The Queen of Kyou, was easily the most awesome and memorable character of the whole series, despite her short appearance time. Wonder if this wish of mine will be fulfilled :P.

Ahaha~ sorry for being late with this post. Seems like I’ve made some of my fans wait XD. I’ve been recovering from the past week, where I was involved in an event and I basically had to make sure it ran well, therefore causing 12 hour work days, leaving me with generally tired and backlogged.

Going along the Fuko path, this episode follows on last week’s depressing end, with Fuko unable to be noticed at all by her beloved sister. Still, this doesn’t dampen Fuko’s determination and she continues on her quest to give out starfish sculptures to everyone in the school. Along the way, Tomoya and Nagisa learn about Fuko’s past and ask Koumura-sensei to help get the school hall for Ibuki-sensei’s marriage ceremony, as it was one of her dreams. The episode ends on an even more depressing note again, with the physical Fuko’s condition worsening and Sunohara notices that Fuko’s existence is getting weaker and weaker.

Hmm.. what do I have to really say about this episode… Well, firstly, KyoAni has done a very well job to connect the audience with Fuko’s feelings, determination and story, from the initial “happy-go-lucky” episodes where I felt they tried to focus on to too much in too little time.

Aside from that, I still appreciate on how they manage to tastefully add in humorous scenes in the episode, without detracting from the overall mood of the current Fuko path. It just makes me realize how much I’m going “BAWWWWW” when they reach the end of this path :(. Hilarious of all, must be Tomoya finally achieving the rank of Fuko Master, with his swapping of Sunohara. Poor fellow.

Congratulations!

Cute. Very cute.

Yes. I wanna do her too :<. Man, this production studio definitely knows their stuff real good.

Warning: Eyecatch is not representative of episode content.

Entertaining, yes, but they screwed up Ike’s character and stripped him of his coolness.

Nothing else to say….

Nurse Mayu. Suffering never looked this cute.

I now fully understand why this show is named “Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun”. I retract my earlier statement somewhere that Ikuto from Nagasarete Airantou is the most abused male harem protagonist. His suffering hasn’t even come to 10% of Shungo’s.

Basically, Shungo hasn’t been feeling too well, since returning from the island, and subjected to more mistreatment by, er, basically everyone else. He finally conks out with a bad fever, and as luck would have it, the only person available to care for him is Mayu, which is not exactly the best person to be a nurse, even if she looks hot in the uniform. Much hijinks ensue, involving some reeeeeallly bad cooking (I can almost taste it across the screen), huge needles (oh my god) and a lot of physical contact which almost makes Shungo snap and attack Mayu, but he’s faints before being able to do anything more than just a hug (he sure needs one, though). He wakes up later feeling better, dressed in only boxers, sleeping next to Mayu, surrounded by everyone else, who are worried about him. I’ll leave the rest out.

Oh god. Oh. GOD.

Sigh, poor Shungo. He really needs to “rest in peace”. Poor fella doesn’t seem to get any breaks from being harassed one way or another. I wonder why does he bring out the “bullying” side of everyone.

This week’s episode 30sec starter was damn LOL though. “Binyuu Sokushin Kyokai” had me in stitches. Reika’s talent and power really, really makes me wonder why she hasn’t taken over the world yet for herself. Seriously.

Delicious strawberries, I must have them.

A rather more serious episode this week on Pronouns.

First, we are introduced to Yuzuki-sensei, whom Sana has met before in the past once. A rather cool-type, she has this cute habit of giving out caramel sweets to people as a form of encouragement and thanks.

There’s also a bit of story for Syuuri, who is leading an opposition movement against the development of a nature park in their town, because of her attachment and memories to the place, where she once visited with her brother and her mother, presumably dead now. The irony is that the one in charge of the project is her father and we discover the Wakatsuki twins household isn’t a very harmonious one.

Finally, Sana helps out at the old folks home again with Hoshino-san. Kaji-san asks them for a favour; to bury a box at the roots of the largest Sakura tree in the area, which Sana conveniently remembers where from when he was a kid. They both bury it, but Hoshino slips a bit, so Sana catches her and tells her to rest a bit. With impeccable timing, Nanaka passes by, spots them and her eyes suddenly turn yandere. Meanwhile, a very ominously-looking Kaji-san looks at the two sister hills, while Poe, the cat at the old folks home is missing.

Hmm, a rather messy episode, even though it was dealing with some serious issues, such as the condition of the Wakatsuki household and the weirdly-acting Kaji-san. Not to mention, yandere Nanaka suddenly thrown in the mix, and I’m beginning to go “WTF are they going to do with this show?”

Next episode, flashback of Sana and Nanaka in the past.

The eyecatches are just so awesome

It’s actually getting awesome!

The rest episode this time, so lots of shots of the group having fun, with Priecia and Hyaweh getting extra special time together. And god, Hyaweh licked Priecia. He LICKED her. Haven’t seen that move ever since Kaze no Stigma. Girls just wanna be licked, lol. I’ll second Aroduc’s call for more licking. Priecia’s reaction to the lick was so cute, it broke my cuteness counter.

Mmm… Priecia-flavored.

Cuteness level OVER9000.

Second half has Priecia getting kidnapped by ninja guy, and Hyaweh goes Super Saiyan to save her, earning him pretty much a lot of rabu-rabu points. Sadly he squanders it all by interpreting Priecia’s invitation to him to go the the beach as “going along with everyone else”, causing her to feel jealous and start crying. Second time I’ve seen this today.

Still, I wonder how will the bring the story along, it’s like, halfway through the series already. Best thing they can do now, is the slim down the story and concentrate on the Priecia x Hyaweh pairing. At least that would be entertaining.

Nanaka TT_TT

Finally, what we have all been waiting for, the Nanaka episode.

As expected, this episode deals with Nanaka’s feelings for Yoshiyuki, complicated especially because Koko is her best friend. This leads her to be distracted and starts to show at their usual band practice. Nanaka decides to practice alone for a change, and heads for the rooftop after the music room isn’t available, but gets trapped there instead, when a storm blows in. Poor Nanaka auuuu~~

Help arrives in the form of Yoshiyuki, who forgot his botebook back in school and heads out in the storm to look for it. While he’s there, he hears a cellphone ringing, which turns out to be Koko calling Nanaka’s as she’s missing. Yoshiyuki manages to save Nanaka from spending the night in the storm, and Nanaka is greatly moved by him. She almost confesses her feelings for Yoshiyuki, but as Yoshiyuki touches her hands, she realizes that he purely thinks of Nanaka as a friend and nothing more, so Nanaka decides not to tell him her feelings, but instead reproaches him for being too kind to everyone, without realizing that it’ll eventually hurt others as well (Nanaka TT_TT) and tells him to treat Koko more dearly.

Nanaka is so strong TT_TT

That settled, Nanaka and Yoshiyuki head back home, along with the worried Koko who came to school looking for them as well.

Oh god, that was a pretty awesome episode for Nanaka there, especially when she almost confessed to Yoshiyuki but held it back instead. I was really touched at that. Sigh, why does the Da Capo series always do this kind of things towards the most awesome character of the series. Then and again, I guess it’s this “awesome but always the underdog” trait that makes me love the Shirakawa-type characters.

One more thing to add before I go, Minorin is doing a good job voicing Nanaka, but her singing in her Nanaka voice is still a bit rough, IMHO. Not bad, but not as smooth as her usual singing voice.

Bonus Nanaka Shot: Embarrassed be-da Nanaka

Three words; EPIC SHOUTA CROSSDRESS! Probably the best episode yet to date. I thought Teru-teru bouzu Chiaki was lulz enough, but Mako-chan takes the cake, for now.

I swear, I almost died trying to hold back my laughter during this episode. I’d gladly crossdress for Haruka-neesama to touch my chest, although I’d probably be found out immediately and thrown in to jail, life sentence, for indecent exposure. God damn you, shouta!

Anyways, Haruka is continues to be superior.

Continue ->

Shana-sensei!!!

Ahhh~~ finally some progress on the love triangle. Arigatou Margery-san! ARIGATOU!!!! One more damn episode of Shakugan Days would probably turn me off the series.

Seriously, I have never felt so much irritation and hatred towards a male protagonist of a harem except School Days. How incredibly dense can Yuji be?! Well, at the least the girls have realized their feelings now, so the impetus is on them now to be more proactive in their love. Thank you again, Margery-sama, for the much needed advice that the girls needed. At least now, that awkwardly frozen situation between Shana and Kazumi towards Sakai has been broken.

Next episode, looks like Meganeman Ike-kun is going to stir things up a little :). He really is the best male character, IMHO, in the series.