Sankarea – 10

Episode 10 –

You could say that this was another filler episode of Sankarea, but oh man was it good. Unlike the previous filler episodes with Mero and Wanko, this episode was relevant to the plot even though it focused on Rea’s mother (or if you prefer the real relationship, mother-in-law). The key thing that this episode did was provide some detailed backstory to the father, a figure whom up until now had been demonized in every single possible moment he was on screen. This episode does admittingly reinforce his image as the demonic villain, but at the same time the episode seems to say that there was more to the father than we currently know. It’s only later in life where his eccentricities manifested into something far more twisted.

If anything, the episode shows that the father was actually quite the talented individual in his youth, albeit, rather disconnected from people around him (including his family). Sanka Aria (Rea’s “mother”) even notes that people had doubts as to whether the father held interest in any women at all, that is, until he met Rea’s mother. His upbringing seemed to be very much along the lines of your typical rich successor-in-line, which begs the question as to where exactly things went wrong with him. Was it that he disliked how all the maids around him were there because of their hopes to be his marriage partner? Did he find disgust in the pampered lifestyle he lived? Did he hate how everybody appealed to him for his status and riches?

We never do quite find out what the father’s motivations are, but what is clear is that he clearly has his mind set out only for Rea’s real mother and Rea. It’s actually kind of tragic seeing the father’s romantic “love at first sight” tale twist and turn into a disturbing story about an overprotective father, and just goes to show how tragedy and fortune can be a mere breadth away from each other. This episode does also ratchet up the sympathy for Sanka Aria, where it becomes quite obvious that she was simply hoping for a happy life, only to be tragically stuck in a cage of false marriage and jealousy. While she certainly hasn’t been the best role model, at the same time I can understand exactly why she drinks all the time and acts the way she does. Chihiro’s “I’m only into zombie girls” was unintentionally one of the cruelest ways to reject Aria, and just adds another detail to her rather tragic story.

In the end, this episode did something that is good in terms of proper storytelling; it actually developed upon the villain more, making the main villain seem even more cruel and dastardly than we had previously thought. Surprisingly enough, if you think about it we didn’t really learn anything new about the father’s actions towards Rea. Rather, we saw how he has been a strange person throughout his entire lifetime, even more so after he began treating both Rea and his deceased wife as his focuses of interest. The episode does also seem to point towards the notion that the father treated both his deceased wife, as well as Rea, almost like “dolls” that he owned. This possessiveness is what makes him such a terrible person, and we shall soon see what Rea and Chihiro can do about it.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.0/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Eureka Seven Ao – 09

Episode 09 –

Eureka Seven Ao, so far, has pursued a rather unexpected direction with its plot and story elements. For one, there is a generational divide that is made increasingly obvious, with the politically-charged story exemplifying this divide between the old and young. Another idea that popped up would be that the younger generations aren’t exactly concerned with what’s going on around them. This is a theme which I assume eerily reflects upon the current situation in Modern Japan, especially if you are familiar with current social issues in Japan such as the rise of Hikkikomori, Parasite singles, low birth rates, and so forth.

The big takeaway from this episode is that, for one, this world is undoubtedly different from both the original Eureka Seven world, as well as our own world. This is made obvious by the fact that Nagoya is the “Japanese capital”, due to the destruction of Tokyo in 1955. Japan seems to have been relegated to a second-class citizen of sorts, where so far this show has emphasized how both Okinawa and Japan are being pushed around by bigger powers (such as America and the “Allied” forces). The end result of this would be the very ugly politics and power plays between adults of the cast, where we see Japanese politicians secretly trying to develop weapons, as well as Generation Bleu acting as a deterrent force. This situation is actually strangely reminiscent of the current situation in the Middle East between Iran and the United States, so I can’t help but wonder if the creators are trying to make a statement here.

Anyways, real life parallels aside, what is quite evident is that the overall situation amongst the adults is messy. There is political scheming, power grabs, behind-the-scenes plotting, and so forth. Everybody from Japanese officials to Generation Bleu members all have their own sort of agenda, some more hidden than others. What’s surprising here is that Ao is the only pilot amongst the Pied Piper group who seems to be taking all of this seriously. This is evident in his desire for to seriously train (a stark contrast to the laid-back Fleur), and his brash declaration that he would go stop the “secret” (and thus, once again disobeying orders) shows that he is doing more than following orders. Ao is a good main protagonist in the sense that he sticks to his guns and follows through on what he believes in, and doesn’t simply take things for granted. Based on how Fleur and Elena are nonchalant about ongoing events (as seen in their carefree sunbathing and swimming), it’s quite obvious that they simply live from job to job. They just work for their superiors and get their job done, nothing more and nothing less.

Hidden amongst all of the politics and hidden agendas there does seem to be another crucial plot element at work here, represented by the anomaly “Truth”. Truth seems to see everything in this setting as “fake” in some shape or form, which is a bit unsettling considering how we know that this world is very different from both the original Eureka Seven’s setting, as well as our own real world. What exactly about it is fake, and what does Truth see that others cannot? It seems that whatever the reality may be, it may actually be physically impossible to see unless you have different eyes. This is just speculation on my part, but Ao was the only one able to see the trapars and catch the secret this episode. Back several weeks ago, one of the scientists said that Ao’s physical condition was “normal except for his eyes, which could see beyond what regular people can see”. Perhaps this is a hint saying that seeing the “truth” may have more to do with Ao’s special existence as the son of Eureka. That would explain Truth’s obsession with both him and the Nirvash, as well as why others couldn’t see what ao saw in the water. All in all, the story does have a complex political story underneath the mech battles and teenage goofball moments. This show has done a solid job with building it’s foundation, and the buildup has been handled quite well. Now let’s just see where all of this leads…

Overall Enjoyment: 3.7/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Lupin III – Mine Fujiko to Iu Onna – 10

Episode 10 –

Have you ever run into one of those moments where you have no idea what the heck just happened? Well, that’s exactly how I felt at the end of this episode. Let’s just say that I don’t even have a guess as to what precisely happened in this episode, but it’s quite obvious that the overall focus was on Mine Fujiko’s childhood. The specific scene-by-scene transitions in this episode were mesmerizing and surreal, so much so that I have no idea exactly what happened. My vague guess would be that Lupin was constantly alternating between a dream-like state due to exposure to drugs, and reality where he was exploring an old factory/running away from the “owls”.

What made this episode particularly dazzling was the style in which the story was told, where this episode went crazy with completely random scene changes, tons of dream-like sequences, and lots of changing between color and grayscale. You could say that the episode tried very hard to blur the lines between reality and dream, which does beg the question as to exactly why Mine Fujiko’s presence is so crucial. The obvious answer is that she was a scientist’s daughter who was experimented upon by her own father, all in order to test some crazy new hallucinogens. She was a victim, and it’s quite evident in how there seems to have been some traumatic effects left upon her psyche.

The more significant question this brings up is why Mine Fujiko is being pursued by the “owls” who previously experimented on her. Why are they chasing after only her? Is she the only one they can test the drugs on? However, based on the incident in the first episode involving this drug, it seems that it can be tested on anybody. So if that option is out, perhaps the owls simply desire for her return? What for? Is it because she could leak information or something? And precisely what did these owls do to Mine Fujiko? Did they merely restrict her freedom and test drugs on her, or did they do something even more drastic? Based on the traumas that Fujiko bears with her, there seems to be more to the situation than meets the eye.

While this episode seems to be fairly straightforward with its goal (revealing Mine Fujiko’s past), the episode actually prompts far more questions than answers. Why are the owls chasing after her? Why did they try to capture her via Lupin? What do the owls see in her that we don’t? The mystery continues to deepen and get more disturbing, all while we slowly get a fuller picture of the woman named Mine Fujiko. These more recent episodes certainly haven’t held off on elaborating on how depressing her past was, and it doesn’t even seem like it’s over yet. We may have a long road ahead of us, and it looks like Lupin doesn’t have his work cut out for him either.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.0/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Regarding the Aniblog Tourney (and some feedback)

Well, first off, I should mention that the Emory Anime Club blog is currently up for vote in Round 3 of the Aniblog tourney (which I admittingly forgot about until only a few minutes ago). Don’t worry, we are fully expecting to lose this round, and considering the competition we’re up against, I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m actually surprised we even made it this far, which means we might be able to do better if we make it to the next Aniblog tourney (if there ever is a next one, that is).

With that being said, with our participation in the tourney probably drawing to a close, I would like to leave some feedback with regards to this supposed circlejerk of a competition. It’s been rather fun and interesting, and I would certainly like to see it again in the future. As for the feedback, continue reading…

Hyouka – 06 + 07

Episode 06 + 07 –

Well, it looks like Hyouka won’t have another major arc for at least a few episodes, and will simply focus in on small-time mysteries again.

I did mention in my previous episode post that the first major arc was obviously all about developing Houtarou as a character, mainly via his internal conflict regarding “gray vs color”, and how he saw his own lifestyle as something he wanted to break away from. I also mentioned how, even if this series returns to small-time mysteries, that the series would probably focus in on different characters outside of Houtarou. In this case, it seems that the show has decided to explore Chitanda’s character.

Admittingly, I would much prefer a more grand mystery as opposed to the small ones that we’ve seen in the past two episodes, but these episodes have provided some intriguing insights into the curious girl we know as Chitanda Eru. She is a contradictory character of sorts, where she seeks out answers to mysteries yet she innocently has high expectations of everything around her. Mysteries are fundamentally human constructs that are due to some sort of secret being hidden away (as seen in the yukata incident), or at least, an unexpected after effect due to some sort of error. Mysteries imply that something is fundamentally wrong with the situation hand, so her ideal expectations of the world (as seen in her desires for a younger sister) do form a sort of contradiction.

Of course, this series doesn’t really take these things too seriously, and is far more focused on the slice of life part to this show. It is a real shame that the talent behind this show is used up for a simple slice of life series, because the animation quality is still absolutely stunning. This show has some amazing levels of detail and intricate coloring that is superb, and is consistent across nearly every single scene. Small little body movements capture a level of emotion that is difficult to find in anime, and everything from the sunlight to the steam in a hot spring, all add a certain atmosphere to this series. There is something that is just appealing in the art and animation style to this series, where the series almost feels like a poem describing reality. Poems are idealized and unrealistic of course, which is similar to what I feel about this series; it sometimes feels too real to be real.

The mysteries themselves are still clever but simple, so the story obviously isn’t meant to be the standout detail here. The strengths to Hyouka are its intricate animation quality and character relationships. The relationships have a feeling of simple complexity to them, as contradictory as that statement may sound. It’s easily seen in the bantering between Houtarou and Satoshi, Houtarou’s vivid daydreams of Chitanda in the hot springs, and Chitanda’s moments of curiosity that suck in the attention of everybody around her. I’m actually starting to like this series a lot, even if it’s story doesn’t seem as ambitious as some people may have hoped for.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.7/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Quick Impressions – Aquarion Evol – 22 + 23

Episode 22 + 23-

…What in the world is going on in this series? Aquarion has never really been the epitome of storytelling, but the story is really going crazy with its plot twists and unexpected plot developments. I mean, Amata and Kagura being the reincarnations of an ancient dog? Zessica being taken over by Mikage, the ominous reappearance of the Golden Aquarion, and Schrade going nuts over music in the dimension gate? The story literally feels out of control, but perhaps it’s because it’s out of control that makes these episodes feel like an intense buildup story segment. The stakes are being raised to gargantuan proportions, where the balance between Altair and Vega is only part of the tremendous events that are taking place.

Well, at this point, I’m having serious doubts as to whether the series will be able to cover everything (there’s still the story with Andy and Mix”y”), the love triangle amongst the main cast, the fate of the world, and the issues with Amata’s mother. All in all, things are just getting crazy, and I guess we should just revel in this craziness and have fun with it. Geez, somehow this makes me think of Code Geass R2…

Screenshots are later in the post.

Fate/Zero – 22

Episode 22 –

Fate/Zero’s second half has had some great episodes, but it’s more recent episodes have been more lackluster. Much of it would probably be due to how the show has begun focusing in on Kotomine Kirei and Emiya Kiritsugu, two characters that are difficult to fully understand. Their motivations and ideals are still quite the enigma, and their lack of any strong personality has somewhat detracted from what Fate/Zero has been acclaimed for.

On the other hand, this felt like the first episode in a while that had the strengths of the earlier episodes of this series. There was a level of emotional poignancy and accuracy that was easy to understand and relate to, and unsurprisingly, was a superb buildup episode that beautifully brought in a sense of impending doom in the upcoming weeks. This Holy Grail war will obviously be ending really soon, and all hell will break loose before that happens.

The most noticeable aspect to this episode was undoubtedly the character interactions between Waver, Rider, and Waver’s “grandpa”. The Rider-Waver duo is perhaps the only servant-master pairing that gained goodwill from me over the course of the series, where they grew close together through countless battles and arguments, along with plenty of goofy and odd moments. Waver has definitely matured over the course of this series, with his “I can change the world” attitude transitioning into a more humble attitude after seeing the powers at work in this Holy grail war, a battle with forces far beyond what his imagination had probably expected. He seems to have realized he was foolish to get in on this Holy grail war, and feels a need to learn more. The chat with the grandpa was also rather poignant, especially when you realize that this may be the last time Waver may ever see the old couple that have been taking care of him. This chat between Waver and Rider has a finality of sorts to it, where it’s obvious that from this point forward, one of them may not come back.

As for the rest of the characters, there’s the impending Berserker-Saber confrontation on the horizon, as well as a strange change in Irisviel’s situation after her death. I’m guessing that her being alive or dead has no impact on her ability to be a vessel for the Holy Grail, but something seems off about the grail’s effect on her. For a omnipotent, all powerful object, the Grail seems to be quite dark and dreary. Perhaps this is an indicator that the grail is also not all that it seems, and perhaps is a indicator that one should tread carefully when the grail makes its appearance. The Berserker-Saber relationship will also probably come to a close really soon, though this relationship is arguably the least developed out of every single relationship in the series.

And finally, there’s the Kirei-Kiritsugu conflict, and quite honestly, it feels a bit fake. It kind of feels as if Kirei is targeting Kiritsugu for the heck of it, and Kiritsugu’s fear seems a bit irrational. But it is certain that the stakes have been upped with this recent episode of Fate/Zero, and I suspect that there will be several deaths by the time this is all over and done with. With only a few more episodes left to this series, I’m expecting quite the bang of a finale. Whether the series will be able to wrap up every single plot line and character relationship is much more debatable, though I do hope the writers have something in mind with regards to this pacing issue.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.1/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Mouretsu Pirates – 22

Episode 22 –

…Woah, where the heck did this episode come from? I think this is arguably the first episode out of this series where it feels like the main cast is genuinely in danger. Up until this point, all the conflicts have been safely resolved with little to no genuine threat to the danger of the crew. But heck, this episode seems to have finally broken away from that trend, and actually placed the crew in an extremely precarious position.

But, with that being said, the crew is still safe at the moment from the terrifyingly powerful “Pirate Hunters” that appeared this week, and it does seem that a rescue team may have conveniently arrived. The stakes are certainly higher here, but I have reservations as to whether I should expect an actual intense battle of sorts. This show has almost always had its main cast resolve things in a more peaceful (and convenient) manner, and there’s no reason why that trend would stop here.

On the plus side, it does look like the hints from the previous arc have been acted upon, and we are starting to see a more heavy focus on Marika’s internal debates on her own future. She is explicitly asked about what she wants to do after graduation, and considering the end of that non-aggression treaty up right after her graduation, she will eventually have to choose between becoming a full-time pirate, or pursue something else (perhaps an education at that Space University). This is a refreshing change-up from the usual themes to this series, even if the outcome seems rather obvious. I mean, after all, she wouldn’t abandon her pirate duties.

In the end, it seems that Mouretsu Pirates is starting to up its ante due to the final few episodes to this series fast approaching. I still have qualms with the poor storytelling up until this point in mouretsu pirates, but that doesn’t necessarily mean this finale will hold the same flaws. I can only hope at this point, I guess.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.3/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Accel World – 08 + 09

Episode 08 + 09 –

After the side story from the previous episode, it looks like we’re getting back into a more meaningful story setup. Admittingly, it doesn’t seem like it’ll be related to the Level 10 goal that the show emphasized in its earlier episodes, but it does seem to be focusing on an entirely different (but no less important) aspect to this series. That is, the show seems to be focusing in on Kuroyukihime’s past, and her regrets with regards to her own history as a burst linker. She obviously has some history with the first Red King, and there are strong hints at her having regrets with her actions back in the day.
With that being said, the show hasn’t forgotten about its main protagonist, and also seems to be focusing in on his insecurities with regards to his fighting capabilities. He clearly feels he isn’t strong enough to fight properly in battle, which would explain his rather extreme training with the gun in the opening moments of the episode. What makes this particularly significant is that Haru seems to be measuring his own worth solely through his fighting abilities, a flaw that can be quite problematic in the future.
These episodes do bring up one other detail worth noting; the fact that the two “kings” we are now acquainted with will eventually have to fight each other if they intend on pursuing level 10. It’s quite clear that the two are simply young middle schoolers, so having the Accelerated World as an obstacle between the two is a shame. This does also bring up the notion that if Haruyuki is to strive for level 10, he will eventually have to fight against his precious Kuroyukihime. Of course, these are both things that we won’t see repercussions from for a long time.
I somewhat wonder how the involvement of the Red king can change things for both Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime. They both have their own insecurities to overcome, and I don’t really see the new Red King (and her somewhat irksome personality) can affect that. But I guess the “Chrome Disaster” antagonist is both related to Kuroyukihime’s past and can prove to be a challenge for Haruyuki to overcome.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.1/5

Screenshots are later in the post.

Sankarea – 09

Episode 09 –

Well, erm, it looks like we got ourselves another completely out of place filler, once again obviously meant to prolong the main conflict with the father. With that being said, I didn’t really mind seeing an episode focused on Mero, a side character whom up until now didn’t really get much screentime. Sure, the story was completely unrelated to the main plot, but it did reveal some interesting little tidbits into the life of the Furuya family (as well as how Rea’s presence has changed things up).

It’s the small details that are worth noting from this episode. Simple little details we would normally overlook are given some perspective by both Mero (and Wanko in her episode a few weeks back). There are details such as Mero noting how she’s never seen her brother “so serious” about something, uncanny resemblances between Rea and her own mother, and glimpses into the daily life of the Furuya family. Some details are more noteworthy than others, but at least this episode wasn’t completely filler. It does help that Mero has a strange charm to her, with her mature but straightforward attitude bring an odd humorous vibe to this entire affair.  It was also a bit heartbreaking to see her reflect back upon her own mother and run away in embarrassment, which is a stark reminder that both her and her brother have grown up without one of their parents.

But yea, there is one clever little detail to note here that will probably have relevance in the future. It starts off with a very strange coincidence; Mero’s mother and Rea both had cold hands. It may seem like a coincidence at first, but when both Rea and Mero’s mother note how they cannot measure temperature properly, it becomes evident that the two may have far more in common than we might have initially though. Considering how the old grandpa sometimes mistakes Rea with someone else (my bet would be the mother), the implication here is that Mero’s mother may also have been a zombie. It would fit with the fact that the grandpa previously engaged in zombie research (family connection), and the bandages on her hands may have been a hint at her trying to hide her decaying fingers.

Of course, at this point the main issue is the conflict with Rea’s father, with this little detail about the Furuya family obviously meant for much later in the story (which I’m guessing would have to be covered in a season two). While I can’t say this episode necessarily contributed at all to the current ongoing story, at least it felt more engaging than the Wanko episode from a few weeks ago. One thing that does worry me is that this Mero episode has set a trend where filler is randomly interspersed into a series. It’s a smart move in some ways (you don’t need to have many back-to-back filler episodes), but it is also disconcerting because it forcibly branches away from the main story, only to return to it in the next episode. This is a trend that can quickly get annoying if overabused, which I hope won’t be the case with sankarea.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5

Screenshots are later in the post.