Author Archives: Josh

Shakugan no Shana III – Episode 2

By | February 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm | No Comments

Sydonay destroys Shanghai’s Outlaw organization and the Flame Haze leading it, but cautions not to celebrate yet, as the other Flame Hazes will unite under the leadership of Sophie Sawallisch. Yuji then arrives to give his orders to his followers. Meanwhile, Satou heads out toward his Outlaw base, but detects a Crimson Denizen headed back toward Misaki City on his way…Yuji.

I'm all cool and wearing armor and hanging out with Hecate and stuff

I'm all cool and wearing armor and hanging out with Hecate and stuff

We see a couple of instances of Denizens, including Bel Peol having some slight doubts about Yuji-Silver, so to this point their worries seem to be alleviated. Exactly what the relationship between Yuji and Silver is hasn’t really been revealed. So far it seems like Silver is just using Yuji’s body, which is entirely possible, but Yuji’s behavior in the first episode suggests that it’s not as clear cut as that. In any case, there is no indication that there is any resistance from Yuji against Silver so far.

Shana gets a somewhat cryptic message back from Sophie, though she seems to revolve what it means by the end of the episode. Anyway, I’m interested to see what Yuji’s visit back to Misaki City will be like. Will he reveal that he’s Silver or pretend to be normal Yuji. In any case he’s going to have to explain what he’s been up to.

Tamayura: Hitotose – Episode 2

By | January 31, 2012 at 5:00 pm | No Comments

Fu has now lived in Takehara for a month and is hanging out with her childhood friends Kaoru, Norie, and Maon. We also meet a couple other characters, including their odd teacher, a nice man in a nearby photo shop, and Fu’s grandmother, who owns a cafe in town. Kaoru then says she’s going to be alone the next night because everyone is busy, so Fu suggests a sleepover to keep her company. We finally meet Kaoru’s older sister Sayomi, who snuck out of what she was doing to spend the night with them as well.

Back together again

Back together again

Another good episode, I thought. Again, pretty slow paced, so if you don’t like episodes that kinda laze along, you may not like this series, but I think it’s a good pace for this show. We finally get to see what Fu’s childhood friends are like. Kaoru is kind of the leader and most mature. Norie is extremely excitable and hyper. Meanwhile Maon is silent, but will speak up when she wants to. She also often responds by whistling.

So this episode was mostly about the four friends catching up and introducing some of the other side characters in the show. We got a hint of this in the first episode, but we hear more about “tamayura,” which are flicks of light that show up on a picture, and how Fu enjoys taking pictures with them on it. Once again, I’m looking forward to seeing more from this show.

Working’!! – Episode 2

By | January 31, 2012 at 12:00 pm | No Comments

Aoi is frustrated at Souta for not telling her that she’s cute, even though she’s not much bigger than Poplar. As a result, she decides to focus her attention on Hiroomi instead, deciding to stalk him (with Poplar’s help) to find out what he’s so secretive about. Hiroomi, however, uses this as a chance to freak Aoi and Poplar out every chance he gets. Meanwhile, Poplar tries to talk up Mahiru to Souta. Jun harasses Poplar again to take out his frustrations about Yachiyo and Poplar wants to take revenge.

We aren't stalking you. For realz we aren't!

We aren't stalking you. For realz we aren't!

This was a rather disjointed episode that had a ton of stuff going on. I realize that’s not uncommon for 4-koma based series but it seemed to be that way more so than usual this time. The main threads were Poplar trying to help Souta and Mahiru together and Aoi seeking attention from various people.

I’m not sure if all the Aoi stuff is really going anywhere other than her being cute or annoying, depending on her point of view. The Mahiru/Souta thing is where it’s at, but, of course, Souta is still focused on Poplar because she’s so cute, and because Mahiru still can’t get over her punching guys.  Overall this was an OK episode I guess, but it didn’t seem to progress the plot very much.

Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing – Episode 1

By | January 30, 2012 at 5:00 pm | 2 comments

This Last Exile sequel, or spin off, or whatever it is, is, after Shana, the 2nd series I’m most looking forward to watching. The original Last Exile was probably one of the first five anime series I ever watched, and probably one of the first five I ever bought (back in the days when anime series came on 7 discs!). Needless to say it’s one of my favorite series, so I have very high expectations for this show as well.

Fam, and her co-pilot Giselle lead an Sky Pirate attack on a ship, capturing it. Back at the base, they run into Dio (!!), who is as lazy as usual. Meanwhile, two rival nations, Turan and Ades have agreed to sign a peace treaty. However, the treaty is a ruse by Ades in order to attack the Turan fleet, which has stood down in preparation for the treaty. Fam and the pirates then decide to save the princesses of Turan…in exchange for their flagship.

Hey look! It's Dio! What..what?

Hey look! It's Dio! What..what?

I was under the impression that the amount of time that had passed between the two series was more, but I guess not with Dio not only alive (apparently surviving the events from the end of the first series) but pretty much the same age. Meanwhile, it looks like this series is taking place on earth, though with a similar feeling with the two nations going to war against each other. The Sky Pirates are essentially acting the part of the Sylvania. So far there isn’t an overwhelming controlling organization like the Guild yet, at least that’s been revealed.

I’m interested in knowing the relationship between Earth and Prester. Presumably the people who lived on Prester and Earth were separated for quite a long time, which makes it interesting that they should have similar technology, unless everyone who is on Earth now came from Prester (though it seems like these nations have existed for quite a while). I guess that was just something nagging at me.  Also, since we’ve seen Dio, does that mean we’ll see (or at least hear about) any of the other original characters at some point?

Shakugan no Shana III – Episode 1

By | January 30, 2012 at 12:00 pm | 2 comments

It’s finally here…the series I have been waiting four years for (yes, it’s been that long). The final season of Shakugan no Shana. The first season was one of the early anime series I watched, and of course I blogged the second season and the OVA. Now it’s time for Shakugan no Shana III (or Final). I hope this ends up being worth the four years I’ve been waiting to see it…

Shana is fighting a horde of Rinne when the Crimson Denizen appears and…is Yuji. We then flash back to the end of the 2nd season when it appeared Yuji and chosen Shana. Instead, he vanished as if he ran out of power of existence, though Yoshida still remembers him. However, Shana and the other flame hazes don’t believe he’s gone and think his disappearance is part of a major plot by the Bal Masqué. Meanwhile, Yuji, apparently trapped in the Midnight Lost Child, tells Silver that he wants to “change it” and takes his place as the leader of the Bal Masqué.

But Yugi...what about our threesome!?

But Yugi...what about our threesome!?

So…something happened to Yuji, probably caused by the Bal Masqué, that caused him to become somehow trapped inside the Midnight Lost Child. There he is having a conversation with Silver about the cycle of Flame Hazes and Crimson Denizens, and then at the end says that he wants to “change it.” Presumably this means he wants to change the cycle of never-ending battle between the two sides, though I’m not really sure how Yuji would think this would be accomplished by becoming head of the Bal Masqué.

Otherwise, this episode was kind of a catchup. We are reminded that Satou wants to work for Outlaw now, and that Tanaka and Ogata are an item. It also appears like we’re about to be introduced to yet another Flame Haze: Sophie Sawallisch. One other item of note is that Shana is learning to use her Flame Haze powers much more effectively, which I’m sure will come in handy later.

A fairly interesting, and plot twisting, first episode of the third season here. Interested where this series will go now that it looks like Shana will have to fight Yuji instead of be his guide.

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