First Impression – Absolute Duo
Here we have our first crop o’ Winter 2015 First Impressions…But….I am so certain I’ve written about this show before…
Well, you can hardly blame me for my sense of deja vu, having done Dragonar and an attempt at Blade Dance. Also, from our Winter Catalog, I pretty much point out how many shows are using this sort of narrative device (this is the first of three!) So with that in mind, how does 8-bit’s foray into the Exceptional Boy in the Exception World stack up?
Blaze
Gotta have that cool protag shot!
Well, given my introduction, and indeed, my past with this sort of show, you can guess my expectation level. But, as I sat down to watch it, I gave those expectations directions to another part of town, and went on without them. I like giving a show it’s far due, despite what should be a washed out premise. I’m pretty sure that I’m not a big fan of the premise given some unfortunate connotations in it’s formula. Girls, it seems to say, you can be just as awesome as the boys, but at the end of the day, the dude get’s the attention. I’m being heavy handed there, I know. But, for me, as long as the girls give the boys a kick up the backside and level competition, I can agree to watch this narrative device unfold.
I hope we see more of Evil!?Julie…
So we start with the cold open, and it looks like eventually our principle characters will clash. What differences they have will be something to explore, especially given the growing bond they share by the episode’s after credit scene (underscored in both the OP and ED). They are doing a good job so far, as I do love combat that doesn’t treat gravity and a set camera as necessities. And they kept the lines very clean without a confusing mess of overdone shots. Something they derp at later on in the episode.
Our next entrance exam is a mini-boss
Bow down to your GOTh LOLi LOLi Overlord!
So there is something sinister and dangerous happening in this world, or at least that is the impression that we are given from our primary character’s background. Tooru/Thor (yes, really…they both work) has a fairly straightforward background, being the guy that wants power to help defend the people close to him. I was expecting nothing but exposition about that, and was surprised they kept it low key.
Something something something X years to early…
So the prestigious and lofty Kouryou Academy is the place to be. This is where Blaze users learn to manifest and control the power at their command. Blaze is an extension of the soul, and the weapons produced only damage the soul, not the body (What the what? You better explain that more in the upcoming…) Users get this power from some injections, so what sort of magictek Lucli is here is probably going to be a major part of the plot. The Academy is pretty harsh at the offset, with the newly entering students getting right down to the business of eliminating each other in the Qualifying Ceremony. Most of the students are taken aback, but those with the moxy waste little time getting into the mix.
Action! Fighting? Looping background! Stuff! Visual Mud…DERP!
So, yeah, I thought that getting a Shield as a Blaze instead of an outright weapon wasn’t much an exception to the rule, it’s useful. But then he pulls out sneaky martial arts Chi move #1, something which he insists will wreck girls if they try to use it. So, yeah, there is that bit. Exception met!
Asuna and Kirito have it out….
But you have to give a guy some credit. He did try his level best to be a gentleman at first. Good for him he realized sooner rather than later you don’t bring a chivalrous heart to an equal opportunity ass-kicking party.
School Life and Staring
So with the eliminations out of the way (and Imari set off packing….bet she’ll be back later), it’s time to settle into this crazy school life. Well, this is where our new girl, Julie Segtuna (It’s a town in Sweden…but she’s from Gimle) pulls out all her silent charms. I loved her deep interest in Thor, and especially the shy bit. It was a welcome change from the typical crash into naked hello tsundere absurdity we’ve come to expect.
Given how much ass she can kick from both the cold open and the Qualification Ceremony, I really like this side of her. With her battle dancing and GAR! dual wielding, you can tell this is a bit of a wild side to her, one that she measure and controls. But still, that initial shyness was so darn cute.
And then we get into the school proper. Given to us no less by a genki-damaged bunny eared self-absorbed sensei. I guess the world needs someone like BunBun, who looks like she might crash and burn after a bit. It looks to be a dangerous world out there, and a team of two is better than a solo, so our students have to learn to be part of a Duo. I’d like to know more about this Dawn Agency, and hope they give more information on it that they did the Civil Agency in Black Bullet. With a GOTh LOLi LOLi Superintendent such as Sakura Tsumuko (Yay! Yui Horie) leading the way, it should be much more interesting.
But with that sort of monthly expense account, it looks like consolation pay…
An emerging Duo
But that can’t have a “third roommate”
So yeah, following more exceptions, it looks like Julie and Thor will be shacking up. Just not “shacking up” as that was clearly dismissed as a no-no. Stupid school rules! But despite that the show wastes no time getting to some of the more suggestive bits.
ZOMG! So…who would be expelled?
This scene contains that growing bond I mentioned that contrasts the cold open. Her natural curiosity is not at all blunted, but, she got over her initial shyness around him fairly quick. I rather liked this scene, and not just because of the ecchi bits. It felt very natural. We’ve had shows give us brute force reluctant couples before, so it’s refreshing to see them go in another direction here. After a few ZOMG bits, Thor settles into something that resembles a comfy zone, even making apple tea when neither one of them can sleep. Nice, calm, relaxing. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Extra Blazes
Absolute Soul
Konomi Suzuki (No Game No Life「This Game」)
Believe Χ Believe
Nozomi Yamamoto (our Julie Sigtuna….Ja!)
I really loved both these pieces. The OP is dynamic, doesn’t devolve to simple “from the show” sorts of shots (a few look like they might come from the show itself…but they are more iconic than anything else), and is very upbeat. The ED is something I have fallen instantly in love with. I think I’m really loving Julie….
Hey look, I’m no longer Fresh Meat. Thanks Meta Team! And thanks to Ness for some awesome cute livery. Well, by abandoning expectations for the first episode, I was able to meet it as it needed. A fresh start. Having said that, I’m happy to find the show didn’t go the more typical route that shows like this express early on. <IS> felt stale to me on arrival, and I’ve had enough say on Blade Dance to let you know that I didn’t really like that show at all. So far, I’m liking the character development, as Yohshitsugo Matsouka’s (Kirito from SAO, Sora from No Game No Life) Thor leads with very calm, collected exchanges with Nozomi Yamamoto’s (Yukimura from Haganai) Julie. Overall, I’m quite pleased with it, and the emerging story behind the academy itself and the magictek Lucli looks to be interesting. Will I be posting on a regular basis? Honestly very few things jumped out out my that demands me was tune in next time other than for curiosity, and the show seems to be telling more than showing. So, it’s a bit to soon to tell. I’ll see if the second episode can inspire me. So, what did you folks think?
Tuning in next time? Ja!
About skylion
All around nerd that enjoys just about any anime genre. I love history, politics, public policy, the sciences, literature, arts...pretty much anything can make me geeky...except sports. Follow me @theskylion
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Yeah, expectations met to me too. I only expect actual major fights to have the same animation quality from the OP. I just fell in love with Kusari Tomoe using her whip/chain in the OP at 0:24. I kept going back to that while watching it. And the sequence where he’s burning until he becomes pure flesh to be saved by Julie was really well done, too.
And are you really calling Toru “Kirito”? Isn’t the other guy from his memories a lot more like Kirito? I could swear it was him for a second.
Talking about Toru, I think it’s better to call him Toru for the meantime. Thor was just a reference that’s going to be relevant in the future and then maybe it will be appropriate to call him Thor.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah, love the OP. But for me it’s all Julie….all the time. Well, there is a demon LOLi succubus coming up in another show…
Waiting for Kirito? Only if you’re Estragon…
Yeah, some subs are so calling him Thor right of the bat. I was being cheeky.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Astarotte no Omoha? 😛
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Something something demon something…you know?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
You should watch Astarotte no Omocha or at least pick up the Lotte no Omocha manga. >_>
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’ve done both…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
You know you secretly want Asuha as your daughter. 😛
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, I was 13 once…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
btw…I was referring to Shinmai Maou no Testament…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You’ll take what’s there and like it!!! 😀
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Ja. I saw Kirito in the OP (and later the flashbacks) as well.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, both Tooru and Kirito share a VA…
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Hmm, I meant character likeliness. As I was going through the OP, I spotted a Kirito! I was pretty happy with myself (like when you find Waldo).
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah, that background character did have a bit more Kiritoness (yeah, guess that’s a word for now) too him.
POWUH: 800-899 and Flying Sage with 856 comments
I’m Glad I didn’t try this one when I was bored yesterday. It really isn’t my genre, and I just would have felt frustrated.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
So..how did you relieve the boredom?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
What’s more your genre?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Seirei Tsukai Season 2!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, so far this doesn’t have the “forced by numbers” characterization that Blade Dance shoved down throats the first episode. Which isn’t to say they aren’t leaning on the tropes; they are, but in a casual way….
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Why it’s not catching my attention: No obvious Tsunderie and the only reason Seirei Tsukai still catches my attention:
A Scarlet Is Fine Too.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It did bring over one character from Seirei Tsukai: Est.
I guess it was alright. It was really low key, even the fight parts, so much so that Tabane Shinonono, sorry, Professor BunBun (did 8-bit just completely reuse that model?) was too fast for the show.
I liked Imari. Much better than any of the other characters. So I hope she’s not gone, but she probably is, or she’ll come back as some enemy or something.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
To quote someone: Est is bEst.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
But Julie ain’t Unruly….yeah…I nailed that.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I never made it to Tabane, but after a’googlin’ I can see what you mean. She’s in the manga, and she’s totally like that from print to screen….
Imari was pretty darn cool…and I think she’ll be back. I don’t think the Dawn Agency just tosses away any prospects like that…
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I think it slightly missed my expectations. The opening battle animation/direction seemed kinda weak and didn’t really catch my eye. And the omg-so-many-spins Blaze intro for each character was just too much, I started to roll my eyes. Except Imari didn’t get a spinning introduction (poor Imari).
I think that after, my expectations got reset pretty low, and was able to somewhat enjoy the episode. I thought they were going the Harry Potter route and then decided to do an elimination round instead, which was alright for me.
Bun bun-sensei and the class’ reaction was pretty amusing to me, because I had the exact same expression when she appeared, haha.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
These sorts of narrative tropes can’t please everyone….
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
An entrance like hers was out of the blue and “eccentric”. You expect a teacher to be greatly or at least moderately disciplined. I don’t think anyone could go along not having such an expression on their face.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
And then you get someone like Becky-sensei from Nourin. Which should be like every teenager’s dream, right? Right? I alternated between horror, amusement, and pity.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Sorry, every male teenager’s dream.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Depends on certain male teenager’s taste in girls.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
So prefer pettanko, some prefer oppai, some prefer young, some prefer old.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Would a male teenager say no if an attractive teacher came onto them?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
@akagami: He’d be too busy stammering to give a direct answer because his mind has trouble processing the fact it’s actually happening in front of him.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
@BB: Haha, very true! It would probably be like a porono film come true =P And then deer in headlights look.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I give Becky 30% comedy, 70% pity. The old girl lives in despair over being single for the rest of her life.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
Well, they removed the girl-next-door from the running in the first episode.
Seriously, what is with the shounen hate for girl-next-door types?
Oh well, at least she was removed from the running early on before we could be fussed to care about her. Hopefully they won’t bring her in later as some sort of villain twist or something.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I’m hoping she’ll be back, maybe, hopefully. It’s not like she’s dead. And she really filled out that bustier-uniform…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m sure she’ll be back. Probably based on some technicality that may be cooked up. “Untapped potential” or something of the like. Because even for an opening episode, it doesn’t feel like she’s meant to be shut out for long.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Leaving that “Fresh Meat” status behind was long overdue if you ask me. About time someone returned to their former glory. 😀
Yeah, the Dragonar vibes were felt right away but since Blade Dance has yet to get a viewing from me, I’d replace that feeling with the sense that there’s some Unbreakable Machine-Doll in the mix. I had no choice but to facepalm at the lead’s name. Thor, of all names. If that’s the case, where’s his hammer, Mjionir? He must not be worthy yet. 😉
Fortunately, I went in with no expectations at all since I wasn’t even conscious of what this was supposed to be about. We’re only at the start so right now it’s all standard procedure when a student enrolls into a magical school with the lead destined for greatness, which leaves little to say that hasn’t already been said about similar series. Except maybe one or two differences. One: this one school has an oddball system of screening those deemed unfit to take part. Barely a foot in the door and everyone’s immediately put into a proving ground. That’s a hell of a way to get things done. Two: They have an over peppy bunny-eared homeroom teacher who to me, seems she may be a closet sadist given the way she shamelessly admitted the school is not normal.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I think it’s best not to mention UMD…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s because of the scenario of the lead enrolling into an out of the ordinary school with an apparent object of revenge that I brought up that similarity.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
It is very similar, almost too much, which is proably why I subconsciously didn’t allude to UMD. That and it was just awful….
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yeah, noone wants to think about UM-D.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I liked Unbreakable Machine Doll =P
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I watched the entire series and concluded it was below average. If not for the doll, Yaya, persisting to get in the lead male’s pants, it would’ve been completely forgettable.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Actually, that was one part I felt could have been toned down a bit (Yaya wanting to bed Raishin 24/7). I started to sigh after a while. Although it’s better than my reaction from watching Oreimo. I finally cajoled myself to watch the unaired (?) last three episodes of s2, and I think it was one of the few rare times where I kept cringing, and then during the confession I literally started banging my head against my couch. I think that’s only happened once before.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I didn’t think they were that similar, to be honest. I feel they give slightly different vibes, and I liked Machine Doll pretty much from the start. This one, I’m tentatively leaning towards drop.
I liked Raishin and Yaya, (although his motive back-story should have been expanded on more) along with a number of the side characters, whereas here I’ve yet to be won over by any character.
Maybe because the direction feels a little unfocused, I can’t tell where this series wants to go (in a bad way). Feels a little wishy washy. Like one moment he’s terribly uncomfortable with being in the same room as a girl, and the next moment he’s having tea with her wearing just a shirt like it’s an everyday occurrence. Wut.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yes, the backstory for UM-D was so darn lacking, why didn’t the writers realize this is the thing that makes us care about the character. I hope they don’t make the same mistake with Tooru, here.
Who the heck am I kidding, this show is a bit of a rub-out already…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I don’t think we can take the subs using “Thor” as canon, since other sources say “Tooru”. That could just be Julie’s misunderstanding since they’re pronounced the same way… in Japanese. If she was really from somewhere else, she wouldn’t pronounce it “Tooru”, she’d pronounce it “Thor”.
I really connected it with Blade Dance a lot more than Dragonar, which always seemed to have a better story. I felt the reactions of the students in this one were a bit too contrived. “OMG WE HAVE TO BE TEMPORARY PARTNERS WITH THE RANDOM PERSON WE’RE SITTING NEXT TO!” It’s not that big of a deal, folks. It’s for less than a week.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Definately Seirei Tsukai after sampling it. Definately also has the same exact issues as with Seirei Tsukai. Except with more budget to hire VAs. Like Horie and Misha. I mean Yukarin in the Misha voice….
The animation is a notch up from Seirei Tsukai but just only. Battle sequence again, would be just a notch up from Seirei Tsukai. So it would be safe to say that it’s similar to Seirei Tsukai, and if it goes that way, it would mean you’re better off reading the LNs. Which I am going to attempt to see if there are any translations out there. (This coming from someone who marathoned all 13 volumes of Seirei Tsukai in 72 hours).
As for the Tooru/Thor – I think they are using Thor because of the beefcake with a hammer that looks like Mjolnir. Anyway, I do not care. I might give this another episode or two but it looks like even the pulling power of Nanoha might be insufficient…
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
The weird thing is, the hiragana of his name is とおる(tooru) but the official website has his name as ‘Tor’. It’s weird.
Also, spammy caught one of my post.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Tor eh? Then just connect him up to the internets and they can use him to use the net anonymously! 😉
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Where can I get access?
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
That was awful hahahaha
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Not as bad as all the un-kuma-ly things happening in another grizzled thread.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
“I felt the reactions of the students in this one were a bit too contrived. “OMG WE HAVE TO BE TEMPORARY PARTNERS WITH THE RANDOM PERSON WE’RE SITTING NEXT TO!” It’s not that big of a deal, folks. It’s for less than a week.”
That’s because these things are geared at middle schoolers on the emotional level.
WAAAH – panties!
I’m married with four kids, and I can’t tell you how utterly uninteresting panty shots have become. Seriously, it isn’t even attractive anymore.
WAAAH – I walked in on her showering!
At my age, I’d probably look her right in the eyes and yell at her for not locking the door like an idiot (although I wonder how you can be so wrapped up in your own head that you don’t hear the freaking shower running).
WAAAH – I woke up and there’s a naked girl next to me!
That’s when you calmly get out of bed, go brush your teeth and get breakfast started. When your mom/sister comes down, say “there’s a naked girl in my bed, could you go tell her to leave?”
Or, option B – you get up LOCK YOUR DOOR, and then head back to bed to explore whether the morning has some really exciting possibilities.
Either reaction falls within my acceptable range for “being a man” – sitting there like a deer in the headlights hyperventilating falls within my definition of middle school student – which is who these shows are made for as the main audience.
And yet I watch them anyway….
And yet I watch them anyway….
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yeah, I’m with you on the target audience, but that also makes me wish that maybe these could be a little more aspirational or instructive: Why not show more the reaction you SHOULD have, or a reaction that’s good, rather than the freakout. If our target audience is middle schoolers (and like you, I realize that I read and watch things that are aimed at teens) then treating them more like grownups and showing them how grownups react will more likely help their development, rather than imply that the reaction they have now is acceptable.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
Yeah, it’s always been a matter of profound self-irony that I get so much cheap fun out of harem anime and manga. My wife just rolls her eyes – but she likes Ouran Host Club and Fruits Basket, so there.
My dad – a Family Doctor with a PhD liked watching stupid Chuck Norris films after work on TV, so maybe this is filling a similar need for “stupid” in my life too. Something that requires absolutely no mental work from me whatsoever.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I don’t know if it’s irony, but I didn’t realize I liked harem anime until I watched Sekirei. And I’m certainly not above saying I like to look at undressed ladies (and maybe some guys), and that’s just something you rarely see in USian mainstream entertainment. My wife won’t watch any anime. At all. I tried to get her to watch a couple things, like Zetsuen no Tempest and then Log Horizon, but nope.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, as for the actions that favor floumoxing or freakout, blame the Tokyo Met Ordinance….
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
At least Julie is doing the seductive temptress thing correctly. Pretty loli, walking down the street~~
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
And I didn’t know you were another member of the ‘married or formerly married guys’ club here. We should have jackets…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Or do our hair in those delinquent pompadours…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
*flicks out his switchblade comb…*
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
Yeah, my 12 year old and 10 year old daughters have been having a blast watching Log Horizon with me. I read the subtitles for them out loud (which they don’t seem to mind half as much as I would). We’ve also watched K-ON (both seasons), Chuunibyou (both seasons), and Haruhi Suzumiya (first season). My wife has watched the same shows and quite a few others with me after hours.
We don’t have cable at my house. We mess around online instead.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…yoshi yoshi…
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Fixed 😉
And don’t worry, Julie will Show ▼
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Thanks for the repair. I knew I misspelled something.
The question is, how will that finishing move look?
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It’ll look like this.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Ja ja jaja ja jaja jaja jaja ja….
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
BATMAN!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SaalbhuVtw]
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Not as good as the full version of onegai sniper. Watch izuna-tan go desudesudesdudesudesdudesudesudesu.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’d expect recoil from a move like that.
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
>read 4 volumes of the LN
You know, I’m pretty forgiving when it comes to the magical-fantasy-harem-action-ecchi-light-novel genre. I eat this sort of series for breakfast(check my MAL). I could always find some things that I would like in a series and get some enjoyment in reading it.
But for some reason, this series is just different. There’s just something about everything in this series that was just…bad(and I hardly say that). The writing, the characters, the plot, almost everything is just not the same as the other ones of the same mold. Sure, the girls are cute and even then that’s pushing it since the girls’ boobs(minus Julie and the director) seem like inflated balloons strapped to their bodies.
I don’t mind cliches and character archetypes but this one doesn’t execute them in a fresh or a different way that would make it stand out. There’s no hook to it and it’s just totally flat. I hoped it would get better as I read on but it just didn’t.
I’m still going to watch the anime just because I can. I’m just the sort of person who would torment myself in watching this. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a tiny thing that I would like in this series. There’s the OP song I guess which is so good as expected of Suzuki Konomi.
PS. As much as I like Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, he’s kinda getting typecasted to voice these kinds of roles. Just this season, he’s in another series of the same genre. And all 3 MC that he’ll voice this season seems to be LN adaptations, though one isn’t a magical-fantasy-action-ecchi series. Next season, he’ll be in 2 more LN adaptations and 1 manga adaptation. He’s the seiyuu in demand currently I guess.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I had a bit of hope for Yoshitsugu Matsuoka early on, because when Sakurasou came out one cour later than SAO 1 started, I was afraid we’d just have Kirito in both shows. But he really differentiated his Sorata Kanda from Kirito. Unfortunately that differentiation has gone away a bit, and now everything just sounds like Kirito.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
So…we have a Yoshisouka Virus?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
We already have a Hanazawa Virus, so why not? Matsuoka is everywhere these days. Same for Yuuki Kaji.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Also, Suzuki Konomi kind of gets on my nerves. Maybe some of it is because of the frenetic, exaggerated, and pretty stupid arm waving and ‘dance’ moves she does when you see her perform. But I also just don’t really like her voice, and I don’t like the songs of the people who write for her.
I have to say that I thought Imari’s figure was great, if you assumed that that uniform was a bustier. The other girls… not so much, and shirts do NOT have an inward crease and hug the body at the top of one’s boobs.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’ve never seen her in performance…What is it about the voice you dislike, I’ve always felt it quite powerful.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Actually part of it is that it’s that powerful. She might have a volume knob, but it only goes from 8 to 11. Sometimes it would benefit from going down to a 5, maybe even a 3. Contrast it with Youko Hikasa’s Utsukushi Zankoku na Sekai, the best thing about Attack on Titan, and Konomi sounds like the high schooler trying to be a good singer, and not doing as well as Hikasa did singing songs for Mio Akiyama.
For the moves, see Days of Dash, probably the song of hers I like best. And compare that to May’n, whose performance is just more professional feeling, full of grace and power and energy, but without the flailing and “what the heck is she doing. Yeah, they’re different performers, but Konomi’s is much like she’s trying too hard to be an idol, and May’n is realizing that stuff’s not necessary. Or compare her to perhaps the consummate idol, Yukari Tamura. She’s there with the crowd, not performing in front of them. That’s the impressions I get.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Nana Mizuki (someone will flay me if I don’t mention her)
Yukarin has a lot of experience for live performances. Afterall, she started out as part of Angel-Tai afterall.
IMHO, the problem is the song and OP dissonance. Watching the OP, I felt that it did not flow with the fell for the type of show.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
This was a fun first episode! Yea dat Kirito/Asuna VA combo! Almost as bad as OH MA SHOE/Inori VA pairing! Which works cause both pairs have good chemistry or is it easier to cast them that way? I always wondered how and why that worked out.
At least the two main characters seem interesting and I look forward to all the fighting later.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I’m sure you’ll hnnnnnnggggg over Julie in coming weeks….