If you aren’t watching Xam’d, good… save up for the MARATHON!
I swear to myself that I’m going to stick to batch watching the series, but it doesn’t happen. First its “I can wait for a couple more”, then it’s, “well I should watch these 2 episodes now,” then comes the despair when there’s no more… 4 should be the target.
Yes it’s good, it’s excellent, though I’m missing Extrange’s posts about it, and I can’t tell if omo is serious or sarcastic in his commentary on the series progression. OGT, well, he’s obviously head-over-heals, bedazzled by Haru… it’s okay, I accept it, she’s lovely, but I miss that sexy long hair.. yum.
I do enjoy her presence, as the character has a lot to fall for.
Anyway, in light of Haru’s “change,” I don’t believe she has moved passed the Akiyuki ordeal, there’s just no way. Rather, very abrupt action of change says something to her higher-ups; she’s changed.
Why not make them believe it, and even more so, after a few weeks with that short hair, she will likely become faceless among the ranks. In short, I trust she knows what she’s doing…. folloing her heart in the path of least resistance, hoping that she can find the right moment to release.
We all know she belongs with Akiyuki, on the rouge postal ship. See it?
There it is. It’s called longing.
Another mention of Haru connects episodes 07 and 11, where we see the tower. I like the reference, and this is exactly why Xam’d is outstanding atm, this detail is significant, yet, there’s enough going on in the forefront that pondering it is useless; we’ll get the memo when we need to.
Here’s the evidence
What the hell, right? Says so much and so little in the coincidental moment.
I have faith things will be explained as the experience continues, because it’s one of the extremely solid series atm (too bad if it ends in 2009 I’ll have to wait a year to include in the year-end perspective).
I’ve seen up to episode 11, and I am going to try my hardest to keep from watching less than 3 episodes at a time. For a series that feels like the 4-season length is dawning, I think it’s better this way. Eureka 7 was digested in a similar manner, only with larger sets of 8. It definitely heightened the experience, and seeing how the episodes are acting like connectors, I believe they have greater sincerity in numbers.
Perhaps I’m just invigorated by episode 11’s Dennou vibe, but I’m excited no matter the reason.
Everyone could guess that Toradora! was going to get a mass of attention, it was intevitable for a number of reasons. Here’s an Impression Round-up:
Totali’s in love. That’s good, all is fine in the world, “LOVE POWER” saved it. On another note, Michael apparently h8s Taiga, very nice position as well. Calawain knows what’s up. Having read the novel a bit myself, I’m pleased with the display. The Fish took a massive screencap glob. I couldn’t agree with Kuro more. “TAIGA ROLL was awesome.” Maa also agrees on the ROLLING TAIGA greatness, though I like this part:
I try not making it the main reason for watching an anime, or the main topic of discussion (although, it seems pretty popular for bloggers nowadays to compare seiyuus with their older performances in this kind of uneventful first episodes of a series). Right, in the end it’ll just be an additional excuse for my lack of references about those seiyuus.
No, that’s okay, I think 90% of the posts contained some Shana or ZnT reference anyway, and we wouldn’t want to be repeating common knowledge, right? Personally, Shana and ZnT references are weak to Toradora!; Hayate the Combat Meido, now that’s a bit more relevant… take it for what it is.
Aroduc says:
She [Taiga] does get a shout-out because I too am very snotty and would wipe my nose on Ryuuji’s furniture if I could.
That little personality trait of Taiga’s is pretty fantastic to watch… miniature jaw-drops. Washi describes Taiga as “too rude and selfish” and I think that means a good thing for the premier, because that’s just her, but hopefully we’ll see some dynamics (if she changes, she changes you).
So that being said, my impression/reflection thingy is here. Also, I think it’s necessary to note, no matter how obvious, that Toradora! does not contain any magic, mystes, dragons, prodding wands, capes, fusetzu, fantasty castles, etc etc. It’s quite the typical tale of boy meets mugen-rage loli-doll.
In the translated words of Ginpachi….
After Geass R2, it’s necessity to come back to something this sugary good. Nogizaka Haruka is just that, coincidentally, I have a feeling Michael has a similar take. ^^
This should have been posted 3 days ago, but weekend, cycling, work, and semester start were a bog. If I were to choose another series to clean up R2’s mess, perhaps Hayate would fill nicely. When on earth am I going to continue that… eternally paused, you could say (that’s how Mois-dono would put it, she’s adorable).
Wednesday’s are peculiar, I’m not at home, but I only have half-day. Tuesdays and Thursday’s are full days, but I’m staying downtown for midweeks until December, thus I have little access to seasonal objectives; hopefully I’ll be able to stock up on Mondays and Fridays.
Rather than seasonal, I’ve round up another 20 episodes of Keroro and Gintama to enjoy, since serialized comedy is quite relaxing, but I’m moderate with them (no reason to marathon for these things). When I return Friday, the agenda is Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu and Xam’d HD.
It will be soon, the last aired episode of true tears, I will experience it… and end this “crunch marathon“. Basically, I found the series wonderful, for a number of reasons, but not perfect personally (what is these days).
These are perhaps the most noticeable attributes of true tears. The nature of the series begins as simple, un-fantastic life; it is a normal story, and continues to be so. One implication of this is that it is not relying on anything other than reality to get the message across; normal slice-of-life. Not every series can accomplish such a story well, but in trade of solid, realistic storytelling, the story lacks some dynamics, though the characters make up for variation. Of course, if the experience holds interest+intrigue, the dynamics are secondary.
The nature may be semi-bland, but true tears came with excellent animation for a seasonal production. I was entirely astonished at the 720p, which seemed to bring shining sequences every episode (see here), as well as fashionable character design. From the ANN page, P.A. Works has had some experience with notable series (recently Darker than Black), so I would say this is a great solo result. (It would be wise to look forward to more of their stuff.)
If I were to choose the brilliance of true tears, it would among these particulars. Regular story, regular characters, but the presentation, the ordering of details, the timing… bravo! Really, everything in it’s right place. These writers had a great vision, and the harem result doesn’t matter after that; there has be good reasoning behind whatever the final may hold.
With notable execution, it is inevitable that the series had good characterization (light, moderate depth, and good flow). I believe I most enjoyed Aiko/Ai, simply for her ‘S’ appeal the progressive picture she came to be. The other two girls were pleasant. I didn’t latch to either of them, but their developments were awesome. Noe was a kaweirdo, and progresses as a weirdo that is cute, while Hiromi started as this coldish girl and became a colourful, tear-shedding beauty [with a slightly intimidating defensive side]. It’s great.
I shouldn’t pass off Noe as such a weirdo, she is perhaps the most intriguing character of the circle. Her expressions, ideas, and statements open a window usually seen in KyotoKey projects, but she dances worldly meaning and symbolism around Shinichirou. Innocent, yet innately mature at times, she was a good focal point for the story (is she the final girl).
I did enjoy the moments of moe and little bits of fluff, but the previous points are worthy of the experience. Though, my personal key flaw, was lack of connection, I did not feel strongly compelled for the overall result (heart connection).
This may have to do with story dynamics (compare to H+C), but I just didn’t FEEL that definitive TUG (identification). I would imagine it’s not universal, because the story is so very real and understandable, and beautiful, that it should be widely identifiable. I believe the last series which game me a similar feeling was, mmm, Irohanihoheto. And that’s about my only minor gripe.
At this point, I’d like to elaborate on what is learned from this series; from my point of view, it is an enforcement of a discipline. One of the true tears drivers is the notion of dishonesty. It sounds bad, but most of the characters aren’t honest with themselves, by way of action and in emerging circumstances. They aren’t lying to themselves, they know their respective truths and accept, but they have not acted upon the path from the start or announced their feelings; lying is the driver, courage is the solution, but then no story, and no true tears.
My own idea about paths is simple, “weigh properly, the bits of doubt; honor the unwanted path; step forward or do not step at all.” Ai is the clearest example, as she not only stalled her wanted path (Shinichirou), but took a path of doubt which she did not want (Miyokichi). Looking at Hiromi, this is also the case, but misinformation was her stall point, though I think she was reaching her limit of suppression; a love so great, it would explode.
Remarkably, I find the truest character to be Noe, but again, the end girl? It’s possible, acceptable, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Ryan A
For reference: my definition of “crunch marathon”, is probably better said as a lead-up marathon, where it is timed so that the final episode is released and view shortly after all previous episodes. Yea, it’s made-up.
Moyashimon begins with an interesting premise, there is a boy who can “see” microbes. From the initial screens I found of the episode 01, I had little idea what the animation was like. After a couple good mentions among the anime bloggers, I had to give it a shot; hooked first episode.
Melative Current Anime
