Noragami – 04-05
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It’s long over now, but a belated happy birthday to Kamiyan, who turned 39 on the 28th. Hopefully he sticks around for many more voice acting years to come~. …Maybe not Wakamoto-level dedication (Wakamoto is like, 70), but even 5 more years would be amazing. |
Once again, we’re introduced to another god and their shinki and once again, the relationship seems to be a bit different. Taking into account Sawashiro’s character too (who said maybe 3 words in episode 5), it seems like all gods have different kinds of relationships with their shinki. Sure there are the basic rules underlining how the shinki are allowed to act, but for the most part, it seems to rely on the individuals involved. Kofuku seems rather close to Daikoku (and he seems like the most mature person in the relationship, which is kind of funny), Tenjin has a more formal relationship with his shinki, and Sawashiro’s character seems like this as well. As for Nora (who’s name literally means “stray”), she seems to have a complex relationship with Yato. Actually, she’s had a complex relationship with a lot of people, but that should be explained in time. The same goes for the reason why Hiyori and Yukine went to meet Kofuku.
They went off the manga for a good portion of episode 4 (or maybe just out of order; this probably could have still happened in the manga), but it was fine. Where the story went straight into the Bishamon/Yato/Nora story and Yukine having issues, this was a good break while still covering core concepts. For instance, Yato’s ability to to cut relationships. I guess it’s not as complicated as I made it seem in the last post, but I didn’t want to try to explain it without some kind of example. The ability isn’t so much cutting memories as it is emotional attachments (if the first chapter of the manga is anything to go by). Also, I guess some memories associated with the emotional attachments will disappear, but they’re filled in On their own by the individual. Kind of like how people don’t notice anything suspicious about the gods and set them to the back of their minds. (Or as seen in episode 5, totally ignoring them.) Oh and I guess the ability can cut even more than that though. If the misfortune by the guy in this episode was caused by him hanging out with Kofuku, I guess cutting that relationship also stops the misfortune.
Could Hiyori have feelings for Yato? She certainly does have a lot of concern for his affairs (even outside of him helping her), and she was blushing around him. Or maybe it’s just because she’s an innocent teenager and Yato can get pretty close (physically) to people. Also, would it work out if she does feel that way about him? After all, Yato seems like a helpless guy, but he’s recently proven that he is a deity and has completely different views on life due to that. A human like Hiyori would probably be the least of his concerns, seeing what he has to deal with on a daily basis. On the other hand, there’s Yukine, who most likely gave Yato hell the entire time he was at Hiyori’s house. If he does develop feelings for Hiyori, there’s the fact that he’s dead, and can’t act on his feelings at all. They could probably downplay all of the relationship stuff by passing it off on the character’s being teenagers, but if they do try to develop any kind of actual romance in Noragami, it seems like it will be rather difficult given the character’s circumstances.
The relationship between a shinki and a god seems both fair and unfair at the same time. Er, if you consider the chance at a second life (ish) ‘fair’. The shinki can’t really do much outside of their job, but on the other hand, sinning is considered bad just about everywhere and if you believe in the inherent good in people, they shouldn’t be tempted by anything in the first place. But honestly, were on earth would you find a perfect human like that? At the same time too, there’s also a bit of unfairness in treatment since while the shinki’s sins affect the god, the god is a god, and therefore is allowed to take whatever the hell they want when they want with no repercussions.That could probably cause some discontent from the shinki depending on the individual. Adding on to that, anything negative the shinki feels directly causes some sort of pain for their god. …Let’s just say that there seems to be a lot of room for things to spiral downwards pretty fast.
These circumstances seem pretty harsh even for an adult, so it must be pretty hard for Yukine considering that he’s still a kid. Yato seems to have a good reason to keep him around, since he’s apparently really powerful, but there also seems to be a threat in the fact that Yato’s killed a shinki before. After the events with the girl being taken over by the ayakashi, Yukine seems to be a bit mentally disturbed, which probably isn’t going to make his relationship with Yato any better. Actually, Yukine is being rather well behaved compared to how he was in the manga. I do believe that he was totally stealing from people (even Hiyori) around this time. Maybe that will pop up later.
I’m… not crazy, right? They’ve added in more animation to the OP. I swear the character cameos weren’t moving before, nor was the trio. Actually, after typing this, I went back through all of the previous episodes and found that no, I’m not crazy (or at least in regards to the OP). The added in more animation in episode 4 and they also changed up a few shots of Yato.
Because this makes a world of difference.
Jokes aside, it’s kind of cool that they put in the effort to do this. Who knows why, but it’s interesting and had me questioning my sanity a bit. As for the plot, things are still going really well. The anime has continued to go off the manga, but like it has done before, the things they put in instead are just as good. Hell, this might even make things better, since Yukine’s character seems a tiny bit more sympathetic right now. Maybe this might have some effects on things to come, but from the looks of it, they might be able to get away with making Yukine’s character a bit less like a brat and still having the main message come through. …As for something totally unrelated (but not quite unrelated), apparently the author designed an anime exclusive character who will be voiced by Sakurai, so that will most likely change things up again as well. Though seeing how things have been going so far, I don’t think it will be bad at all. The anime has been doing well so far, so let’s hope it stays that way.
Yukine seems to be becoming a pain in the neck (sorry, I couldn’t resist)
About Karakuri
University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Anime-original character, Rabo, confirmed for Noragami’s later half.
Design by Noragami’s original creators, Adachitoka.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-05/noragami-anime-features-original-character
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
8 0Noragami will be getting 2 confirmed OVAs.The 1st OVA will be released with limited-ed copies of vol 10 of the manga, coming this February.The 2nd OVA will come with limited-ed copies of vol 11 of the manga, coming this July.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-31/1st-noragami-ova-promo-video-streamed
Full OP of Noragami:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jVEoEpfIMY
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Either the fall was VERY slow or that building was VERY tall…
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Longest fall in the anime history anyone?! xD
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 43 comments
And it was very funny how Yukine kept commenting on that occasionally.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
This specific episode overall was very funny. The sarcastic commenting actually helped and c’mon, exchanging visiting cards? Hilarious.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Business cards, actually. It’s standard Japanese professional etiquette to exchange business cards for first time meetings.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Oh I know. But doing it while falling down really made me chuckle a lot. xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Building? It seemed more like a mountain or maybe someone was manipulating space.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Leaving this here:
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Ahahaha brilliant. I didn’t even notice that parallel. xD
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
It’s my mission this year to spread the Durarara!! virus throughout the fandom in celebration of its 10th year anniversary (of light novel’s).
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Wow, 10 years already? I really need to get reading those LNs. I want more Orihara twins. xD
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
They are going to be the main protagonists along with Shizuo’s brother in Durarara! SH, the sequel after two years time-skip. I hope the translations keep up with its releases. 😉
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 318 comments
OMG, I didn’t notice this. You are a genius!
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I am loving this and as I stopped reading manga after chapter two, I am happy with the adaptation for staff’s decisions regarding pacing. It’s not slow/fast but just right.
Also, all characters have the ability to grow on you. Even that shinki ghost (what happens to shinki that are killed really?), who had just a few lines.
PS: On Kamiyan, may he live a happy and long life because the industry definitely needs his awesome talent!
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
The director is making a lot of great choices all around. Sure the source material is excellent, but all of the changes in the anime so far hasn’t screwed up anything. …Or at least not yet; but I have confidence in them not screwing anything up.
…You mean Nora? She’s an interesting character for sure.
So many seiyuu are older than I thought they were (OnoD, Sakurai, Ishida), so hopefully they all stick around for a little while longer. Especially Kamiyan though. xD
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
This is off-topic, but I was telling my roommate how I would literally marry Sugita Tomozaku regardless of his age, so… Yeah, happy birthday Kamiyan. You need to make sexy-voiced baby ASAP
And I didn’t know that the violent dude was Ono Daisuke. I barely hear his voice these days =/
I don’t know about the whole manga-anime-difference thing, but I’m enjoying the anime right now. I like how it focuses on Yukine and his character development. He was born as a pure shinki, but then this world has to corrupt his mind slowly… And I’m curious how this is going to affect his relationship with Yato. Shipping the two like mad now
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Seems like Sugitaaan might remain bachelor for a few more years because of his wayward ways so you might still have a chance. 😉
Don’t worry about OD though, he has his ups and downs in seasons but he’s always THERE.
For a change, I like Yukine even when he’s being voiced by Yuki Kaji. I don’t hate the seiyuu but because he ends of up voicing some very annoying characters, I get wary. I’d like to see his character grow out of his teenage hormones and interact with more people besides Yato and Hiyori.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Finally a Kaji Yuki character that develops without having his arm cut
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Yet.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yeah, let’s not count injury character development out yet. xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
There’s no guarantee he’ll stay that way.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
So many popular male seiyuu are in the 30-40 age range. …I really hope they don’t all retire at the same time, or the industry would probably experience some issues. xD Sugita isn’t that old. …Kind of.
You follow Jojo, right? I’m pretty sure OnoD will be one of the main Jojo characters this year.
I don’t know if Yukine was born “pure” exactly. He had issues before he died, and the fact that he’s dead causes more issues. Though I guess some of those issues wouldn’t have happened if he didn’t interact with the living world, so in a way you’re definitely correct.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 167 comments
Doesn’t Hiyori always say inioi(smells good) like those phantoms in every episode?
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Yeah, I recall her saying that on several occasions. My guess is it has to do with her being somewhat similar to the phantoms. Like perhaps there is a potential that her soul might become tainted by them. Now that would be serious business.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
They’ve stated that she could become like them, I’m guessing like that little girl did. I’m pretty sure that was the goal for them tying her to the tracks to cut her tail, since that’s what keeps her anchored to her body.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I think in the manga, in that scene when Yato was that close to Hiyori she wondered if she thought he smelled good because she was kind of like the ayakashi. Or maybe it was some other time when Yato was close to her, but yeah.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Eu de kami? 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
If UtaPri can have it’s own line of perfume, gods can too.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
So Yato is basically a deity version of Kenshin Himura with a dark past. Knowing that clashes big time with the way acts now and because of that, one would think he wouldn’t have the instinct to kill.
I’d say Hiyori is developing feelings for Yato but because he has his eccentric ways, she’s not letting it get the best of her and she’s trying to sort things out after what Kofuku told her about him which has put her into uncertainty.
Yukine still clings on to earthly things though he probably realizes he can never familiarize himself with them again. Maybe he still tries because he felt cheated what with his life getting cut short and was unwillingly turned into a Regalia. And because he’s still a kid, he’s not yet ready to accept the harsh realities imposed on his current existence. Like ultimately being forced to kill the little girl since getting consumed by a Phantom means that she’s beyond saving.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
I can’t ever remember Kenshin ever being as pathetic as Yato seems at times, but it’s been a loooong time since I read that, and there are a lot of parallels.
Yukine has a lot of crap to deal with in this “new life” of his. It’s hard enough since he’s a kid who had his life cut way too short, but he has a lot of restrictions too. Once again, Yato was absolutely right in saying that a teenage shinki would probably be difficult. But hey, at least Yukine is powerful. Yato might have grabbed him as a last minute resort, but it will pay off if Yukine isn’t killed by Yato.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
I’m way eager to see more of Yato’s past, he looks like quite the ass-kicker in more ways than one.
And next time I sleep over, gonna make sure I’m not a shinki..cause that business just sucks. How are you not supposed to get horny?
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
By reading yaoi, obviously. Always keep a yaoi manga by your side! They’ll definitely be handy!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10997 comments
Gotcha!
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 318 comments
xDD