While Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino - left a lot to be desired, I’ve long been a fan of the ass-kicking girls of the Agency, and in particular Triela. As a result, watching her battle a formidable enemy – and lose! – in the 3rd episode of the series was an entertaining plot twist which reminded me of one of the reasons why I like the Gunslinger Girl franchise overall.
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Unfortunately the series was licensed by Funimation before the fansubs were finished, and since it’s my policy to quit watching fansubs of series once they’re licensed, I have yet to actually finish this series.
Nevertheless, the fact that one of my favorite ass-kicking chicks got defeated for the first time, proving that not even governmentally-brainwashed cyborgs are perfect, was a “wow” enough event to include it on my list of 12 Moments of Anime 2008.
The 12 Moments of Anime project is the brainchild of CCY.
My stance is the same on the fansubbing issue, so I guess I’m as far into this season as you are.
Il Teatrino was treated unfairly I think – it doesn’t look nearly as slick and shiny as the first season but in terms of storyline content I think it maintains the standard, if not exceeds it.
The problem is, the first series excelled on pretty much every level so when viewers realised that the same creative team weren’t working on the second season the only outcome would be disappointment. I absolutely loved the first season but I think I’ll enjoy seeing this through to the end too.
Agreed on Triela though. Her character is more mature in terms of attitude and her outlook on life, which probably makes her the easiest one of the girls to relate to. The fact that she wasn’t protrayed as invincible here was painful to watch but it took the story onto a new level – the first seaso introduced the characters and the dynamic of the fratello, while the second gives them a formidable opponent who survives longer than an episode or two.
I think I pretty much agree with you on all the stylistic and story points. I think the animation is kind of bad, even just compared against average, and I think to start with the change in animation shock was so much that it kind of overrode the story, but I think now I might be able to go watch it with a better eye on the story.
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It was (and like you, I’ve only seen a few episodes) one of those shows which suffered by comparison to its predecessor (like Minami-ke:Okawari or Kyou no Go no Ni (the series, not OVAs) which are the two examples that spring to mind).
If you’d seen it first with nothing to compare it against, there’d be nothing to complain about. As it was (and like the two examples given above, especially the second) it improved the more you saw of it.
It’s definitely on my ‘to buy’ list once it’s out.
I’ve only read this scene in the manga, not watched it in the anime, but one thing I liked about it is it’s another example of just how well GSG does juxtaposition, noting how odd the situation is without being self-conscious or self-parodic about it. Henrietta slips on a spent casing but Guiseppe’s there to catch her as she falls; Angelica and Marco look as though they’re having a cuddle when he’s adjusting her aim. Here, Triela blubbers to Hilshire, “Th-they stole the SIG you gave me…”
Heh. Some girls get Barbies for their birthday. Section Two get lethal weapons…! 8)