General Anime Discussion

So, it seems I was wrong about a certain plot point in Occultic;Nine due to misreading a key piece of dialogue last episode. 'Emperor' is not Nikola Tesla himself but just one of the patriarchs. I mistakenly read the line about being Emperor's granddaughter as his actual daughter and assumed they were talking about instead.

My own misunderstandings aside though, this was probably one of the best episodes of this show yet. After a rather lethargic middle, it feels like it's finally caught up with the manic energy and enthusiasm that hooked me back in the beginning. That, and Yuta finally got a chance to be badass and demonstrate his protagonist credentials after spending most of the show moping around. While I didn't mind Ryotas' cutesy airhead shtick as much as others probably did, I have to admit that seeing her affectations mixed up with 's stoic intelligence makes for a far more amusing (even shall I say 'moe'?) character. Seriously, she's pretty much the best girl in the show at this point.

Was pretty obvious the was going to turn out to be a villain at some point (as the ANN reviewer said, "") but seeing him act all psycho when his cover got blown was pretty entertaining. It felt like that was the moment this show kicked back into high-gear.

Still not sure how Ria and devil onee-san fit into the bigger picture yet. They seem pretty much like an extraneous wheel in what's already a very chaotic plot, only serving to detract time with their pointless cutaways that otherwise could've been spent on more important characters. With the revelations as to Kiryu's I wonder if the heroes are somehow going to in time to prevent everything. Not sure how that'd really work though since, unlike Kiryu, they only in the first place after already dying when the lake incident had come to pass.

One thing's for sure, I'm definitely looking forward to the next episode!

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

Oh, thank god for that episode 13 preview in Flip Flappers. Since so many anime consist of only 12 episodes I was seriously worried for a moment we'd be left with that cliffhanger of an ending. I guess they crammed in so much craziness and plot development that they needed one more episode to really wrap things up.

Things didn't quite progress how I expected them to but frankly, I think this way works better. I was expecting Papika and to have a big fight where Papika eventually drags the latter out of her mental shell and convinces her to reject 's control (calling back to their fight back in episode 3 with another mind-controlled Cocona). However, that'd still have Cocona take an ultimately passive role which defeats the entire moral of letting her make her own decisions and not have everything decided for her. Having her reject the on her own (with a little help from the true , confirming that whatever the thing that took her shape was, it's not ) works a lot better thematically.

Also, I just realized this now but, Dr. Hidaka's actually surprisingly handsome and bishonen with those goofy mad scientist glasses off. Sexy voice, too. I could easily see him becoming a fangirl favorite if he spent more time like that.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

What the heck even happened at the end of Occultic;Nine? This episode managed to at least be fast-paced and entertaining to watch, but by the last few minutes of the climax it felt like so many events and plot-points were smashed together at once that I only have a vague outline of what was even going on. Yuta turned out to the to stop the Emperor's ill-defined plans of world domination, and flew off to Odd Eye (which apparently ghosts can do?). Then , time stops for some reason(?), , rewinds his radio and somehow goes back in time to just before Odd Eye fully activated(?) and , thusly saving the day.

I'm pretty sure that's what happened, but the details beyond that are lost to me, and this episode crammed in so many new revelations regarding what ghosts can and can't do (the answer to the former pretty much ended up being 'anything') that it felt like whatever kind of (sparse) internal logic had been maintained thus far was thrown totally out the window.

Plus I have no idea whatsoever how certain characters like Ririka and that creepy white-haired kid fit into the wider scope of events, or even what Emperor's plan was beyond some vague notion of an 'eternal reign'. Ria and Kiryu still contributed so little to the storyline as a whole that they feel like extraneous characters. Seemingly their only effect on the overall arc of events were letting Shun figure out the , which the show could've easily had him discover on his own given how good a detective he is.

And the ending was so abrupt it wasn't even funny. Is this seriously the last episode? Even a cheesy Shonen-style battle between Yuta and Emperor would've been more satisfying then this...

Update:

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

Pretty damn great ending to Flip Flappers, IMO. While the big fight scene with 's shadows did seem a little choppier then usual for this show's typically extraordinarily fluid animation, it more then made up for it in emotional content and some ridiculously cool-looking apocalyptic imagery. After 12 episodes dedicated to the surrealistic beauty of Pure Illusion, seeing it just all fall apart like this was pretty eye-catching. The fake-out with Cocona's final Pure Illusion world was clever, though a little obvious given how different things were. Uexkull's return to save the day in his humanoid form was also hilariously badass, and unexpected.

Some parts seemed a little on the nose by this show's standards though, like basically turning into a demonic lizard monster and then a stereotypical evil queen when Cocona rejects her. was probably an underdeveloped villain in general, since while she gets some cool and creepy scenes, we're never really left with an impression of her other then 'Cocona's yandere who sometimes acts like a generic Mahou Shoujo villainess'.

Seeing our heroines finally declaring their love for each other before rushing off to the final battle was just great though (and was it just me or were there final battle outfits clearly styled after wedding dresses?). Their final freefall through the air upon returning to the 'real' world, just soaring through the air smiling joyously and holding each other's hands before Buu-tan's hoverboard came up to catch them was also an absolutely perfect way of ending the show. Just great. I'd love to dream up a possible second season that's just Cocona & Papika's wild adventures through Pure Illusion (seriously, you really could have a whole show off of just that, overarching plot be damned), but I admit as an ending, this is pretty top-notch.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

So, I just finished watching the second episode of Hand Shakers. I have to say, it's a lot less obnoxious then the first one. The camera isn't constantly twirling and moving around while characters stand in place, so those who suffered bouts of nauseua from the self-indulgent camera tricks in the first episode will probably find this one a whole lot more palatable.

That said, aside from some cute moments with Koyori and Tazuna's parents (probably the best characters alongside goofy professor guy, they really do feel like two adults who love each other), there was nothing terribly original or interesting in this episode either.

Most of the episode consisted of exposition (livened up by the professor's silly attitude), setting up for future conflict and by-the-numbers romcom antics with Koyori. The idea of Koyori needing to hold Tazuna's hand 24-7 has potential for some creative scenarios (both fanservicey and dramatic), but so far all we get out of it is a cliché bathing scene that's nothing one hasn't seen in half a dozen harem/ecchi anime. (And done better too, since this was neither particularly funny or titillating)

It doesn't help that Koyori herself is such an enigmatic cipher at this point. She's obviously intended to evoke the concept of 'moe' as somebody Tazuna (and by extension, the audience) wants to care for and protect, but even by those standards her total lack of any kind of discernible personality or emotions makes it pretty much impossible to form any kind of attachment to her at anything but the most superficial level. Having the primary heroine be such a non-entity completely drags down the narrative, and even scenarios featuring her that could be cute or entertaining just come off as bland and lifeless due to her total lack of personality. I'm aware Koyori might get better later on (the pictures of her smiling in the ED credits did tug at my heartstrings) but as of now, she ain't doing it for me.

I'll have to check out the next episode to see if the fight-scene in it (and I presume there will be one) is any less lackluster then the first. If not, then I'll almost certainly be dropping this show, as much as some elements of it do interest me. At least the OP is one thing that's unquestionably good.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

So, I watched the third episode of Hand Shakers tonight and... I probably won't be finishing this series. While there thankfully wasn't nearly as much of the ridiculous swirling camera tricks which plagued the first episode, the CGI animation in battle scenes still felt very flat, sluggish and lifeless.

Even though some scenes individually looked cool (such as boss girl running along the side of a building), they didn't fit together into any kind of exciting or energetic whole. Nearly every action is performed as if the characters were pushing through molasses, which isn't exactly the vibe you want for a heart-pounding Shonen action show.

The episode also felt absurdly dragged out with almost nothing of note happening. Pretty much the entirety of the "date" and (mostly pointless and uninteresting) banter between the MCs and the new rival characters should've been cut down to brief montage shot, or at least severely abridged instead of eating up more then half of the episode with its inanity.

Koyori still manages to be the most utterly uninteresting heroine I can recall from recent anime, simply for the fact that she never freaking talks or expresses anything but the most rudimentary emotions. There's a difference between being a cute fragile girl meant to inspire protective feelings in the audience and being simply a blank doll with no personality whatsoever, and Koyori, alas, falls squarely in the latter camp.

I mean, I appreciate "moe" as much as any good otaku, but I do have some standards. Even the most bargain-bin genki girl or tsundere would be more appealing then this vacant non-entity.

While the overall chuuni atmosphere kind of interests me, at this rate it definitely looks like the show won't be getting very much better then its lackluster opening.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

She was obviously intended to fit that archetype, but that doesn't stop her from feeling incredibly boring as a character. The best kuuderes hide personal quirks and foibles behind their cold exterior, while Koyori has just about nothing. She vaguely likes the protagonist, smiles occasionally and eats food. That's pretty much it.

Admittedly, you'd probably have to see the show to really understand how much of a non-entity she is.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

How can hentai subtitles be so dumb, poetic, and hilarious the same time?

Have to say, I'm really liking Akiba's Trip so far. Aside from the obviously raunchy humor and parade of perpetually half (or more) naked girls, the zaniness and broad-brush style of humor actually reminds me a lot of Saturday morning cartoons and the like. I can't think of any anime this season that exemplifies unbridled dorky fun better then this one.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

This anime scene was really sexy and had lots of tension.

poptepipic/pop team epic anime confirmed

there is no need for any other anime, even digimon
dispose of everything else

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Hack・Ports・ASM・"Uploader"

Just watched the second episode of Clockwork Planet, and I'd say it's shaping up to be a pretty good show.

RyuZU really is adorable. The scene of her trying on new clothes with Naoto was easily one of the d'aww worthy moments I've seen in a while.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

Just watched the second episode of Rage Of Bahamut: Virgin Soul. That scene of Nina trying to walk nonchalantly by Azazel while whistling and pretending not to notice him was comedy freaking gold.

Nearly everything about their interactions this week is hilarious, really. Azazel is trying to give Nina this big dramatic lecture on the hypocrisy of mankind, and meanwhile she's just thinking "Who is this crazily hot guy and why is he shouting at me?" while trying to keep her raging hormones in check enough so she doesn't explode into a giant dragon. Seriously, that girl needs to enter a convent or something. I'm pretty sure her unchecked libido is literally a threat to all humanity at this point.

...And what's with that ending theme? I was happily nodding along to the happy-go-lucky visuals of chibi Nina strolling through an RPG-styled environment while cheery music plays until I suddenly realize... are these lyrics about suicide? The singer talks about "saying goodbye to everything" and "killing her past self" and I'm all like... is this metaphorical? What is this?

...Rather disturbingly dark lyrics for such an outwardly bouncy song and accompanying imagery, in any case.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

Wow, the 2nd episode of Re:Creators was really something. I have to say, while Rage Of Bahamut might be better objectively, when it comes to a show that's just an absolute blast to watch from beginning to end, this one's hard to beat. The premise is absolutely perfect- both allowing for all kinds of ridiculous and over-the-top scenarios with characters from all different genres clashing but also moments of surprising depth and reflection on the nature of fiction, reality and the creative process.

When Meteora outright admitted that the "real" world Sota lives in could also be a story told in a "higher" layer of reality, I knew this would be a show that does its premise justice rather then just using it for cheap thrills. It also brings up fascinating- and somewhat disturbing- questions on the morality of creating stories of suffering and despair if you know they actually exist out there somewhere in the multiverse.

Of course, it's still not entirely clear whether the "gods" are even in fact truly creating the worlds in question, as opposed to merely describing parallel worlds that already exist. You could imagine either that certain creative minds are born more attuned to the wavelengths of other worlds (insert some pseudo-scientific explanation here), or that the act of describing itself establishes a connection between two worlds that existed independently of each other. If you were to view it in terms of a broader multiverse theory (like Tegmark's mathematical universe or Lewis' Modal Realism) then all possible worlds already exist and so every (consistent) story is true somewhere, after all.

...This is all probably looking at it way too closely, but the fact that the show's got me speculating this deeply says quite a lot about how fascinating the premise is.

I also wonder what role that girl who threw herself off the train platform in episode 1 is going to play... she even shows up in the OP so she's clearly important somehow...

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

Armed Girls' Machiavelism is really shaping out to be my guilty pleasure for this season. It should by all rights be ludicrously objectionable from a feminist stand-point, from the depiction of make-up as inherently "emasculating" to the matriarchy of warrior-like girls that seem to take sadistic pleasure out of dominating hapless men, but the show somehow manages (at least, in my uneducated opinion) to be far less offensive then its premise would suggest.

There's no trace of puerile revenge fantasy here, and the MC never expresses any desire to humiliate or get back at the female characters for their treatment of him. He's just a genuinely nice, friendly, laid-back guy who finds himself in crazy situations, and his likeability goes a long way to soften the show's admittedly skeevy premise. (And I have no issue with people abstaining from this one on premise alone; objectively it is hella' problematic)

The characters also aren't as much one-note archetypes as their initial appearances would suggest. Choko's obsession for all things Italian for instance, or how Rin seems to be a bit more self-aware of her feelings then most bargain-bin tsunderes of her type. Of course most interesting is the mysterious "Empress" character with ties to Nomura's own delinquent past, who indisputably steals the stage in any scene she shows up in. Of course, (mild spoilers for episode 3)

The characters and their interactions are entertaining enough, and the mystery surrounding Nomura's past adds an element of intrigue that makes me curious as to what will come next.

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

Just caught the third episode of Clockwork Planet. Though it was played for humor, anybody find a little disturbing the insinuation Naoto valued meeting another cute robot girl over saving the lives of millions of people? It'd be fine if it was just an extra motivational boost, but the way the scene played out actually implied he might've refused Marie's request outright had RyuZu's "sister" not come into the equation.

That kind of goes beyond being an endearingly dorky gear-nerd and more into outright sociopathy, IMO...

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

You know... the more I think about Re:Creators, the more I realize how existentially horrifying its premise is. How could anyone create a work of fiction in good conscience knowing that any suffering they inflict on their fictional characters is happening to a real person somewhere out there? It's even worse when you consider how far-reaching this is. Is every character somebody thinks up real, even if it's only an idle thought lasting a few seconds? If I happen to think of a character getting raped or tortured say, then does that mean I've done something equivalent to raping or torturing somebody in reality? And mind you, I had to think of that merely to write the previous sentence...

Unless Re:Creators finds some philosophically satisfying way of resolving this, it's really going to become a show you have to turn off your critical thinking to fully enjoy. Not because it's dumb or brainless, but because thinking too deeply into the premise quickly turns it from a fun romp about fictional characters coming to life and into an exercise in cosmological horror...

Similarly, it's kind of disturbing how blasé Selesia is to learn about deaths and betrayals in her home-series, but that reaction is pretty much necessary in order to preserve any semblance of the light-hearted atmosphere. The only condolence is the possibility that the "creators" are merely channelling pre-existing worlds rather then truly creating them outright, but I suspect that'll become harder and harder to maintain as the show persists on the "creators can reshape their creations" angle. (Even if it turns out to be thankfully more difficult then just scribbling something down, which would bring in even more disturbing implications)

Breaking away from the ontological horror and going back to regular plot speculation, I'm betting that the "Setsuna" Gunpuku refers to in the last scene is the same girl who threw herself off a bridge in the show's opening. Both of them seem to be somehow tied to Sota, so maybe Setsuna is a discarded creation and Gunpuku a future one, coming to avenge her fallen "sister"?

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!

So, now it's been revealed that is Mugaro's mother, I wonder who the father is? Presumably (if you'll excuse the pun)...

Also, just about every scene with Nina and Azazel together is a freaking treasure. Especially when Azazel just cavalierly suggests she make love to him to activate his powers (can't decide if he's a perv or just really oblivious, since I don't remember him showing any real interest in sexuality back in the first season). Though, that'd certainly bring a whole new meaning to the combat couple archetype...

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Evil flower of Pure Illusion... we're going to pluck you out!