First Impression – Owari no Seraph
The world has ended, but the school uniform lives on.
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Ah, I really like the school uniforms in this anime though, so that’s fine with me! Anyways, here it is: Owari no Seraph‘s first impressions. It was pretty much what I thought it would be (as of episode 2, that’s as far as I’ve read in the manga), though I think they might have extended what was shown of the virus killing everyone off. Also, I don’t remember them mentioning that there was a vaccine or something that allowed everyone to live past 13? Oh well. |
The kids from Yuuichiro’s probably could have had a higher survival rate if they actually ran when they encountered the vampire instead of standing there scared for a long time. Or maybe not, since Ferid was inhumanly fast and whatnot. But this seems like it was a good enough motivator for Yuuichirou. At the beginning of episode one, he was moody (of course), and probably would have killed the vampires if he had the chance, but still really seemed like a kid acting tough. With his family dead -or at least most of them, (thanks, OP spoilers), he has a rather personal reason to hate them now. Even now,Yuuichirou seems like a kid with a chip on his shoulder (probably since he’s pretty much a tsundere with an attitude problem), but maybe he’ll mature as the series goes on and he gains battle experience. Ichinose might have a personality problem as well, but what he says about team work seemed like it was important. Especially since the vampires all seem pretty powerful.
…Also, they all seem equally arrogant. Which makes sense, given with how much more powerful they are. But at the same time, the human livestock thing might have worked better if the humans weren’t so obviously mistreated. Yuuichirou probably would have been upset even if the kids had decent living spaces, food, and weren’t stepped on for being in the way. But maybe the vampires could have systematized things better? Though they probably don’t care, because what are kids going to do? They didn’t stand a chance against one vampire. So there’s not really a downfall to mistreating them… Or is there? Are the vampires thinking about the long term affects of this system? Like, when the first episode started, it had only been 4 years since the virus and I vaguely remember them saying that the virus is only existent in the outside world, so they’ll have the current supply for a while. If the children are malnourished, weak, and die early though, eventually the vampires are going to run out of food, aren’t they? And are the vampires going to introduce breeding plans for the older kids eventually to create a replenishing supply? Though if Yuuichirou kills them all first, I guess none of this will be an issue.
Even the OP animation ships this.
The kids themselves didn’t plan the escape really well either, since nobody seemed to give any though about what they were going to eat or how they were going to survive. However, I guess this was kind of realistic for them being kids. They were probably just so excited to leave (as seem by them chatting about hamburger steak) that they didn’t think about any of that. The snow that Yuuichirou tumbled out in to after his escape probably would have dashed those hopes pretty quickly if they had managed to get out and if it turned out that they were the only people alive on the surface. Though obviously, that wasn’t the case. Being a kid probably explains a lot about Yuuichirou too, since he’s still pretty young and he hasn’t really had a great atmosphere to grow up or mature in. Mikaela was probably kind of a good influence and the brain to Yuuichirou’s brawn, but he’s dead (but apparently not really). Maybe Yoichi’s more kind and airheaded personality can mellow Yuuichirou out, but we’ll see.
It’s exactly what it looks like.
The rest of the team seems pretty interesting too. They haven’t shown a lot of them outside of the OP yet, but Shinoa and Yoichi seem like good character foils to Yuuichirou. Or at least, both of them seem like they’re capable of being voices of reason. Yuuichirou is supposed to be some chosen one, but he obviously has issues he needs to work out first. In fact, it seems kind of weird that they would just leave the chosen one to (what seems like) his own devices for 3 years if he’s so important, but given his personality, this was probably the best way not to get Yuuichirou killed.
I get that they were going for something artsy with the backgrounds, but the animation seemed almost too simplistic and kind of off compared to them. It’s like the characters moving and the backgrounds were two different worlds that only occasionally worked together (and that was only really when the backgrounds were simple). However, the fight anime is nice (in my opinion anyways), and the action seem really fluid. The backgrounds look pretty nice by themselves too. It would just be nice if the two forms of art weren’t like completely separate entities so much. Or maybe that’s the point?
Well Yuuichirou is a little hot blooded for me to be attached to him right away, but the action seems interesting, things are depressing, and one of the final bosses just may be a pink haired loli, so this fits right in with my interests (Oh, also the BL hints). Though being hot blooded is pretty much a shounen trope, so I’m just going to have to get used to his personality. The vampires maybe don’t seem too intimidating though. They’ve definitely established that they’re faster and stronger than humans, but at the same time they seem maybe too human to invoke fear. The titans from Attack on Titan and the parasites from Parasyte all had an element of inhumanness that allowed them to seem like a real threat, and also there were moments of helplessness that main characters faced that also gave that impression. Maybe the vampires will seem more fearsome once the actual battles start, but seeing a bunch of kids killed or struggling against vampires just wasn’t that intimidating. Or maybe it’s just me, since Yuuichirou did kind of struggle in episode 2. We’ll see once the people trained in combat (with the right equipment) actually have a real battle against one that’s not just a one-off villain the main character attacks to prove himself. But in any case, I did like what I’ve seen so far. Some things work for me and some things don’t, but overall, I’m entertained. Plus I already like this more than my last vampire anime (Strike the Blood) since it seems like it will be slightly darker themes as opposed to Yuuichirou building a harem of overpowered women, so I’ll definitely be sticking with this.
Shinoa seems like a pretty awesome character, at least.
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: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
! !! !! !!!!!!!!!!!! *roars* Yes, yes, YES! It’s finally here! All those insatiable and agonizing months of waiting have finally come to an end! The pain couldn’t be tolerated any longer. It has begun! A world where vampires hold the upper hand against the humans. They’ve achieved what the Shiki strived for but failed. Man, could they have used someone to give some pointers. And this post… what took so long?!! The third episode is in a few hours so I was beginning to lose hope.
So the Megane-chan is tackling yet another vampire anime. That’s a nice streak you’re building! Hahahaha!! Still, hook, line and sinker! I bet most didn’t see this coming after reading a couple of chapters. So I targeted three lady writers and one lady commentator with the manga a season early to give them a taste of what was coming. Is it so wrong that from the bottom of my heart I wanted to corrupt some people? I think not.
As I said once before some time ago, I first came across the manga when it began in 2012 with only a single chapter available. Upon hearing the adaptation announcement, I was overjoyed yet skeptical at the same time. Skepticism over the possibility of not having enough chapters but word of mouth had it that there were a fair amount of volumes already released so that put some ease. But finding out the creator Takaya Kagami (Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi) himself was directly involved, drafting future parts of the story that were yet to be serialized in the manga, I felt thoroughly assured of it turning out great. After this, I don’t want any excuses on why there isn’t a Bloody Cross or Yougen no Chi anime yet. Mangas that came at the same time and/or after them have already gotten their due:
Bloody Cross: Released 2009 (No adaptation)
Yougen no Chi: Released 2002 (No adaptation)
Dance in the Vampire Bund: Released 2005 (Adaptation: Winter 2010)
Blood Blockade Battlefront (Kekkai Sensen): Released 2009 (Adaptation: Spring 2015)
Blood Lad: Released 2009 (Adaptation: Summer 2013)
Strike the Blood: Released 2011 (Adaptation: Fall 2013)
Seraph of the End: Released 2012 (Adaptation: Spring/Fall 2015)
Jitsu wa Watashi wa: Released 2013 (Adaptation: Summer 2015)
All mentioned names are manga I came across in the past prior to their adaptations.
It’s easy to see where WIT Studio has been concentrating its budget. The animation is top notch. Sawano proves his badassery once again with his awesome music. Once his name flies around, you know the OST is sure to be gold. Personally, I don’t need to worry about the story but the star-studded cast is another strong point worthy of note. They’re a perfect fit for their characters. Also, the show is debuting new voices to the industry.
Miyu Irino is a lesser known seiyuu for me. The only other roles I know he’s played are Captain Earth’s Daichi Manatsu, Monogatari’s half-vampire named Episode, Nazo no Kanojo X’s Akira Tsubaki and the younger version of Kiritsugu Emiya in Fate/Zero but he gives Yuuichirou a voice that works well within my imagination.
Takahiro Sakurai breathes life into the despicable, sadistic bastard that is Ferid Bathory. Just looking at his face makes you want to rush in and beat him within an inch of his life. Considering the appalling conduct he paid the orphans who tried to escape, he deserves no mercy. If I had to pick another seiyuu aside from Sakurai for this, Mamoru Miyano would be a viable choice. Pay close attention to his last name: “Bathory”. As in Countess Elizabeth Báthory, labeled the most prolific female serial killer in history and is remembered as the “Blood Countess” or “Countess Dracula”.
Long live the Queen! My bets were all on Aoi Yuuki voicing the pint-sized vampire royal and Third Progenitor Krul Tepes before the confirmation came. It would have simply felt odd if she didn’t. Given her priors as Mina Tepes and Sunako Kirishiki, Krul’s role had to be hers and hers alone. That’s a pattern for you. For a non-loli vampiric role, she was the hacker-turned-Magius Akira Renbokouji from Valvrave.
Episode 01: Awesome first shot. No time was wasted on anything meaningless. The opening was in majority faithful to its source material save some differences that were noticed during the episode:
First: The title “Founder” that was in the manga has been replaced with “Progenitor”
Second: The viral outbreak scene which should have been flashback of 4 years ago when the children were already in the vampires’ custody was put at the start, making everything go completely in order.
Third: A part of the orphanage scene that’s considered important before the viral outbreak and the orphans’ extradition to Sanguinem (the vampire city) was removed. When Yuuichirou said he was there after his father tried to kill him and his mother committed suicide, Mikaela was supposed to ease his inner turmoil telling him that he was abused by his parents followed by the other orphans telling turn by turn how they’ve suffered similar cruelties, showing why they stuck together, calling themselves a family. Though I wonder if it wasn’t intentionally displaced.
I’ve seen the death scene a number of times in print but having movement and sound added in brought the feel up a notch. Aside from that, the entire first chapter was decently covered with a few pages of the second.
Oh, how good it feels to be back within my specialized territory. So I give fair warning: expect some ranting throughout the season. 😉 I hope you’re able to blog this on a regular, episodic basis, Kara, and hopefully as frequent with your replies. I’m sure you’ll have some questions waiting.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Based on what I’ve read from the manga, especially from what the first and second episodes showed, Seraph’s story isn’t using the media trend that’s become popular with vampires these days. It’s full on predatory nature and kind of refreshing to see again after all this time. They even brought back that soft and low tone “haaah” sound made just before the vampire is about to bite down on their target’s neck. Not that what was said before is bad, by the way.
A bite scene from Black Blood Brothers should put into perspective on what I meant by popular media trend.
Oh, but people, trust me, that was just a lone bullet. Here’s the heavy artillery. Courtesy of Strike the Blood:
Yukina
Sayaka
Yukina (2nd time)
La Folia
Yuuma
Sayaka (2nd time)
Yukina (3rd time)
Yukina (4th time)
A word of advice: Unless you’re alone, wear headphones!!!
Anyone wondering why the women are behaving in such a manner, it’s due to an old vampire myth. The lore where being bitten and drained of blood by a vampire is a sensual exchange of bodily fluids. And according to that lore, it’s to be the ultimate pleasure where even the feeling of sexual intercourse pales in comparison. Some say vampires would release endorphins into their victim to make it more pleasurable but their body would be numbed, making it difficult for any resistance so feeding wasn’t a struggle and it was easier and quicker.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, Funimation has gone and grabbed this up among various other titles for simulcasting this season which I feel halfhearted about.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t doubt their dubbing prowess, that’s a fact. It’s that I can’t stand their choice of subtitles. At times, it’s like watching a wall of text in front of you when it should be the anime instead and that makes it frustrating.
On the other hand, it’s real nice catch considering they are in no way strangers to acquiring vampire anime. Already under their belt, they have: Black Blood Brothers, Blood-C, Blood-C: The Last Dark, Dance in the Vampire Bund, Hellsing, Hellsing Ultimate, Moon Phase, Rosario + Vampire (Season 1 and 2), Shiki and Trinity Blood. Now they have Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign (That’s the show and manga’s full English title) and Blood Blockade Battlefront (Kekkai Sensen). No wonder I like them so much.
Taking up Seraph has created another pattern. Attack on Titan was the previous work of WIT Studio and Hiroyuki Sawano and Funimation took that as well. Each show’s story creator/author is different, though.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
More kudos to Hiroyuki Sawano and the job he did on the awesome OP and ED for the series! I’ve been listening to them nonstop!
OP: “X.U.” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Gemie
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
ED: “scaPEGoat” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Yosh
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Okay, no surprise there’s some pandering to a certain group in this. That’s it, just pandering. I mean Shiki had it, too but boy, did I facepalm seeing that in the OP visuals. Now fujoshi are sure to flock like vultures to a recently dead corpse.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Dat OP spoilers so much! Blonde guy that “died” in episode one wearing the vampire uniform, but I know most people are simply going to say that It’s just an opening nothing more! Then again I sort of figured that he was going to be turned into a vampire to play off the MC’s emotions and what not for DRAAAMAAA.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
For the people who haven’t seen the PVs or read the manga, I can understand but anyone frequenting Metanorn should’ve seen Mika’s return coming a mile away. You guys have a “Seraph” Metanorn banner using a green background with both Yuuichirou and Mikaela grown up on it!! One right next to the other.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Four comments, all four from BB… Hardly surprising hahaha
So, short comment again because I’m out of time.
Weird start, but the anime revolves around a beautiful world, artstyle-wise, with those castles, those backstreets, the eternal night feeling, are they inside a gigantic cave or is it just me? The world building is weird, as the vampires just seemingly pop up to destroy humanity, but that’s probably something they are going to explain later.
Uhh… I would like to say “yeah, nice characters”, but they died exactly on the episode they were introduced. Opening unfortunately have those dreaded spoilers, so we know Mika (is that it?) is still alive and will probably be on the side of the bad guys. And yeah, Yuuichirou is hot-blooded for no reason, which makes me dislike him. On the other side, Mika is just too passive (or was) which makes me annoyed as well. The side characters were much better, in the first and second episodes.
That’s it. Ciao o/
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You might want to check that number again. One comment was previously held hostage by Spammy. 😀
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The entire vampire city is underground. Remember, as Yuu escaped to the outside, he was running through a mine shaft.
POWUH: 900-999 with 915 comments
Woah, is that spammy?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
We both have a common question. I had a run-in with him, myself.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
BB, darlin’, you are so excited like a kid on Christmas morning! Take a breather! 😀
As to the series itself. The plot intrigued me the moment I was told about the manga. I hadn’t had time to check it out, and I’m glad I didn’t as I like to come in to anime series on a clean slate as much as possible. If not, I end up spending the whole time comparing things. 😛
I really enjoyed the backgrounds and the art very much. Sawano’s score is always good. Our two leads, Yuu and Mikaela, are also interesting. I don’t know which one will be my favorite yet though. Yuu I like a lot in the first episode, he reminded me of “Eren lite” if you can think of it that way. I thought I wouldn’t like Mikaela as I don’t care for doormat characters, but he showed a lot of inner strength by the second half and now I love him too. How his change into becoming a vampire changes him, I don’t know, but it will be interesting to watch the progression.
It will be interesting to see where this story goes next and this prophecy they talk of. Also did the virus dissipate? What was up with it anyway? That virus seemed totally suspect to me. How does a virus spread to a population and kill them all at the same time?
The age thing of it only affecting those over the age of 13 was actually okay for me. Viruses can affect different population differently depending on the virus’ pathogenesis. My biggest issue was the fact that every adult practically died all at the same time, and not just died, but died violently and practically instantaneously. This would mean that the virus has little time for infection or incubation, so little time to spread from person to person, killing them before they could really spread the virus to another host. And for this all to happen at the same time, that would mean that everyone in the world would have had to have been infected at the same time, and everyone’s immune systems would have had to be similar as well, as they all “gave out” at the same time.
All of that is more ridiculous and hard to believe than the age issue.
Actually, it would actually make more sense if this was some sort of biological or chemical weapon like nerve gas, one that could spread pretty equally and evenly over a population practically at once, and kill all at once.
I’m pretty sure that the vampires planned this considering how ready they were, but if you really think about it, it was a stupid plan. Their entire food supply would now rely on children, and children they don’t even care for all that well. They killed over 6 billion people that were all potential food sources.
This quote from Irisiel on animesuki was a hilarious way of summing it up:
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Something that couldn’t be helped. I have been waiting for this for months, agonizingly painful and after the first episode; I began writing out my thoughts, expecting a First Impression not long after (With no guarantee the entire show would be covered). I finally got it out of my system. When it didn’t show up, I put them in drafts then in the meantime, found myself editing and editing in wait until one of them became that monstrosity leading the comment section. Take a look at time stamps from each comment. Most there have been waiting since the first episode. The other shows could’ve taken their sweet time for all I care but Seraph of the End was the one I wanted to talk about the most. Here’s the thing: I haven’t even started on thoughts for the second episode yet. 😀
Don’t underestimate him. Between him and Yuu, Mikaela is no pushover. In the manga, upon reaching the orphanage after the trauma of his father trying to kill him, Yuu got pissed at repeatedly hearing he’s part of a family from Mikaela and tried to pick a fight. Mikaela easily overpowered him then told him he was abused by his own parents.
Yuu’s escape was 4 years after the outbreak so it’s likely more than a possibility. Asking how the virus worked was the most irritating thing I read across various forums. Honestly, people are sooner ready to criticize than put their brain in gear for theories. Hadn’t anyone considered the virus may have been designed? No way a natural plague would be that selective. It would kill indiscriminately in droves, children being the most susceptible due to their young, undeveloped bodies. And you can’t expect everyone to die. A basic idea to assume those who didn’t die were either too young or had a strong enough immune system to tolerate the effects. No matter how small, even the Black Plague in Europe had a survival rate.
How it works? Infects the body that has aged to a certain point. As for the delivery system and reach, my best bet was the virus made in aerosol form and sent as high as the atmosphere with the wind spreading it across for widespread damage. Evidence to this: a plane fell out of the sky and crashed. People began dying one after the other so I’d say it did take some time if they were unconsciously breathing it in. Inhaling and exhaling. Science is not my forte but I can come up with this much.
Like zztop mentioned, the specifics of the virus are being told in a prequel LN the author is working on titled “Owari no Seraph: Ichinose Guren, 16-sai no Hametsu” with the focus on Guren at the age Yuu is now.
I don’t feel that way about it. A risky move, yes, but a sacrifice they seemed willing to make and accept considering their position. Don’t forget, to vampires, humans are a food source but at the same time their greatest enemy who vastly outnumbered them. The vampires would have been annihilated long before they’d get to where they are now. You know that as well and how quickly and mercilessly humans are to destroy things that aren’t like them, regardless of any motives the non-humans may have. Now the scale is tipped in their favor by thinning out the biggest threat and taking in the ones that don’t take much to control. Even if they grow up, handling would never be an issue. To borrow a quote from Ra’s Al Ghul (Batman Begins) “When a forest grows too wild, a purging fire is inevitable and natural”.
Besides, I’m not even sure they are the ones behind it. I mean, it could be them or they took advantage of some form of human idiocy with someone playing with something they’re not supposed to. Something’s not right. It’s too convenient and that bugs me. To me, there’s more going on than appearances show. In the first episode, Krul said “Due to foolish humans, a deadly virus has spread” and I’m not sure she’s lying about that.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I have to say that the “virus” was really stupid. It wouldn’t have affected everyone at the same time like that: Either it acts very quickly, so that it kills people soon after infecting them, which would make the people affected be subject to the amount of spread, or it acts fairly slowly, so that it is more dependent on individuals bodies. If they had to have something that would get everyone at once, they could have come up with something better. I would personally have gone with nanomachines that were programmed to activate all at the same time, if you have to have that corny “everyone died at the same time” thing. Another possibility would have been like the cheesy 80’s movie “Night of the Comet” where passing through the tail of a comet killed almost everyone in a night.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I can only judge what I see, but I did end up really liking Mikaela, especially when I saw his self-sacrifice and how it was his idea to escape in the first place, and how he didn’t want Yuu to change since his speeches allowed the entire group to hope. Him knowingly sacrificing his life so Yuu could escapes clinched it.
I’m interested on how he’s changed now that he’s a vampire? (and don’t say anything, as I want NO clues.)
Okay, let’s start with this. I know this is fiction, but because it’s a virus and viruses are kind of my forte, and I’m a scientist, I can’t help but bring up all my questions.
A virus, whether natural or designed, is still going to act like a virus. (if they wanted it to be something else, they should have called it so) It needs a host and it needs to infect said host to live, reproduce, and spread. Viruses are usually selective in their hosts and what they can infect, though mutation can change that (a plant virus would usually have no affect on a human). However, within a single species that they are able to use as a host, they usually infect indescriminately, it’s not like they can choose to only infect adults. What could happen though is that there viruses can show itself outwardly, differently in adults vs. children. A great example is Varicella which causes causes Chickenpox. It usually affect children with some exceptions and the infection is very distinct, however, reactivation of said virus in a previously infected individual, can cause Shingles, which mostly occurs in adults. Same virus but can affect a population differently across age range depending on many factors.
So the age issue never bothered me. what bothered me was how it worked.
They insinuated that that one night basically almost every adult in the world or at least in the city, died, and all practically in that single night at that single moment. The vampires had no resistance, it was basically only children left.
For a everyone to die at practically the same range of time ( a few minutes or even hours between one another doesn’t count) that means that every single person who died, had to have all been infected at approximately the same time. Even with an aerosol, that just is really fantastical to believe. An aerosol has to travel from high to low concentration, those closest to it, should have been infected earlier than those far away, and would have died earlier. There would have been a lot more warning that what was given. Even people in planes, who would have boarded it from a totally different location? Is it world-wide aerosol? Because that’s even more ridiculous. Everyone in every building? They would have all had to have been infected, the virus would have to encounter the same amount of resistance in every person in order for them to all die within the exact same time of each other, falling out one after another.
Also, The fact that this virus seems to show no symptoms until you suddenly die vomiting blood is kind of out there too. I’m guessing it’s some kind of hemorrhagic fever considering the spitting up of blood,
but it takes time for a virus to do that kind of damage, and you would start feeling the effects in some way before your body suddenly gives out. You don’t just get a virus and die, it has to infect cells, multiply, trick or destroy your immune system, and cause enough damage to your bodies cellular structure within your tissues that blood is no longer contained and you begin bleeding internally. These people should have had symptoms of some kind before falling out dead, even if the symptoms were short lived.
You’re right that the virus wouldn’t kill everyone as there are many other factors that are involved. However, considering the lethality of the virus and that about 700 Million humans survived, I would actually expect that number to be smaller. Also, I’m guessing that they made some kind of vaccine? Or else everyone there in that city is basically just asking to be infected. Especially all the adults.
As I said it my comments, it would probably have made more sense if they had just made it a chemical weapon instead of a virus. Can kill large amount of people, spread fast, and not so much of a biological mess.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Wow, and here I thought I made a well of text. 😛
I’ll try but this temptation isn’t conducive for my mental health. You do know that, right? This is going to be painful. 😀
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
In this case it very much is lazy writing. But ask, does the average fan even know this much about viruses? I mean, we live in a culture where we debate measles vaccines….
So with that in mind, maybe entertainment should get off it’s ass, eh?
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Ugh, people use viruses in plots all willy-nilly because the are dangerous, scary, can’t really be gotten rid off, and are just overall awesome! 😀
However, many forget how they work and even jumble them in with bacteria.
A virus as a biological weapon is extremely risky, especially if you just wide-spread release it like this. They are hard to control because they and infamous for mutating on a dime. You might have sent a virus out to take out the humans, however, before it’s don’t you could have multiple strain that could infect and kill differently, and even change host species. That virus can just as easily mutate to kill all the vampires. That would teach them to not mess with science! 😛
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, back in the 60s it was radiation for Godzilla and Spider-man, and that got morphed into genetics by the 90s. Colloquial pseudo-science is the magic wand…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
The Gastrea virus is better!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
skyLOLion’s Project Gastrea.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The quickest answer is “no” and probably won’t interest them as much because all that will matter to them is the damage it’s caused. Nothing more.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Seraph’s author is also writing a prequel LN series that covers Guren’s backstory and the plague’s origins.
I’m not sure if the anime will cover this, so I’ll just drop a general summary.
Summary:
Show ▼
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
As for the second episode, well that let me down a little since it seemed to switch tone so fast, and we traded the fascinating gothic underground of the vampires for the boring SOL world of Japanese high school for the 1735th time.
So, basically Earth was only sort of annihilated…
Now for our main character, well Yuu went from “Eren lite” to “Eren 2x” in 4 years . At least with Eren, he was still a pretty good soldier and knew how to obey orders and work in a team. Yuu just seems to be angry at the world and doesn’t want to talk to anyone. I can understand why considering his past with his parents and his adopted siblings. However, his attitude can get pretty annoying after awhile.
We have this new Imperial Demon Army that’s seems okay to me, though I suspect their motives as well. Guren is okay, he gives me “Roy Mustang” vibes. I didn’t care for Shinoa until the end, I don’t really like that female archetype that much in anime, and so she got on my nerves when she was introduced. However, I liked her more later when she was a bit milder.
So basically we have our new Eren/Mikasa/Armin team of three, out of Yuu, Shinoa, and this new wimpy kid that has spurts of bravery, Yoichi. (and it’s no coincidence that he just so happens to look like a brown-haired Mikaela, with a similar personality as well) I think the two WITH Yuu rounds him out a lot more. Just as Eren is better with other characters to support him and rein in his impulsiveness, Yuu is better with Shinoa and Yoichi around him.
I liked the fact too that Yuu’s inability to make friends came from the fact that he can’t stand to lose his family again like he did 4 years ago. Though I wish they hadn’t been so heavy handed in just having Shinoa tell us this. Subtlety? What’s that? 😛
I thought it was funny that Yuu obviously has a lot of strength, as he was able to take down the monster single handed, but was less effective with the vampire, who really seemed weaker to me. However, for someone with an overflowing hatred for the vampires, I wonder how he’ll react to the fact that his best friend who he thought dead, is now one of them? 🙁
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I had thought you would like Yuu’s attitude. When I was watching, I specifically had this thought, based on your preference for Hikari from Nagi no Asukara. The two characters seem very similar to me.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I think I forgive Hikari more because of his age, and also the setting are different. To me it’s not as bad since he’s a kid in school, vs. Yuu who is older and part of the military.
Also Hikari had the other kids to bounce off of that understood him. Yuu is a loner this episode, so when he “bounces” he just ricochets instead off the setting, and it just makes him seem loud and obstinate.
Yuu will probably get better now that he has people around him and he’s healing over his survivor’s guilt, but we’ll see.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That’s just a front, a means to an end for another purpose and you’re going to find out the specifics with this week’s episode. It’s been 8 years between the day of the outbreak and present-day events, people are only in a few stages of recovery so you got to expect them to at least try to regain some of humanity’s former glory. Besides, the planet’s been ruined with demons roaming around after the human presence on a worldwide scale has drastically waned and human population reduced to 1/10. Where Yuu and the others are is just one of many areas, the rest which are much, much worse off. If you honestly believe they’re going to carry on with a regular, every day, slice of life, school-life setting in spite of all that as if nothing at all happened, you’ve really got something else coming to you.
He doesn’t want to be involved with anyone so as to avoid another repeat of the pain of loss. Anyway, this side of him right is short-lived. I think Shinoa telling his reasons was the better choice. Best to get it out of the right away instead of dragging along.
Nope, you’re wrong again. I’ll say this much: it’s a team of five and still lacking members. I’m sure you’ve seen some promo art before the show started airing. http://www.anime-planet.com/images/anime/covers/seraph-of-the-end-6661.jpg
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
BB, hon, you’re getting close to spoilery territory. It’s a good thing I already heard from someone else that the school might not be what it seems and the school thing won’t last, since my genre-savvy mind can easily fill in blanks from such a vague clue. Just be careful and don’t let your excitement get the best of you.
It’s always better to show don’t tell in a visual medium. You might have wanted it out of the way, but they could have done that simply by showing us, we can figure it out. Having her stand there and say it felt clunky.
All you had to do, was have a friend try to get close to Yuu, have him hesitate, maybe have a flashback, and then drive the could-have-been friend away.
In fact, they kind of showed that very well with Yoichi and Yuu’s interactions with him, and they could have done show without the earlier Shinoa dialog. It felt clunky and actually made Shinoa a bit unlikable to to me there.
I’m glad she became more rounded as the episode went on though.
We’ll see, I still think they were setting up those three to be more of the central trio with the others as supporting, which is why they come in later. Especially with the three-hand friend gesture at the end. It’s like how you have the central trio of Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, but you have their supporting friends that get a lot of focus, time, and contributions to their friend group as well, like Jean, Levi, or Reiner.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
No, not like that. They come in one after the other but none are supports. All 5 of them. They’re made to be one functioning unit. Based on the OP visuals, they’ll get together quicker than I anticipate.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
We’ll see, it’s all about how they are presented in the show.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I think you mean “you’ll” see. I’m already ahead of the game. 😉
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
You do know that they could always change things in the anime a bit. It’s an adaptation you know. They do it all the time.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
True enough but so far, WIT Studio has been pretty faithful to the source material. If anything, things might accelerate faster.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
The show was on the good side of ok. I hope the MC gets better, because I found him really annoying right now, and the show is just indulging him, it feels. The other characters, especially Shinoa, were a lot more palatable here at the beginning. Yuu is just all attitude, which is a character type that never appeals to me.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
We’ve been spammed! Spammy not doing job! 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Join the club. He did it to me again a few minutes ago.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…slow down, you’re leaving sonic booms all over the spam box…
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Does that mean that Spammy’s overwhelmed and the rest of us can slip through its traps?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hey! Don’t use me as a distraction! 😛
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
I think skylion’s got the gist of the comment. 🙂
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
My apologies but when I saw the post notification in my inbox, a fuse in mind was lit. I was repressed!! 😀
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Sonic booms? It’s not like I’m Koro-sensei.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
BB’s gone wild! (That was expected though).
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Flattery will get you nowhere!! 😀
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
BB has a boner for Seraph xD
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Oi! Bad choice of words, friend! 😀
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
muhahahaha
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You’re pure evil, dude…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Evil is our middle name.
Show ▼
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, the show gambled with some big stakes, but for me the numbers didn’t come up.
Yuu’s arc in the first episode so was predictable that it made his friends only so much blood-leaking pathos-pandering meat-puppets by the end. In short they were props and little more. But this is hardly surprising since they were set up all along to be nothing but.
The vampires in question are pretty weak tea. I’ll just briefly mention that they look like Code Geass fashion victims. But really the only monstrous or “bad-ass” theme we see to them is that they are thugs to children; little more than sensationalized serial-killers. Now while they may prove to be much more than that in the larger universe of the story, this is the first thing we see of them. Child killing thugs is pretty weak tea.
Post-civilization worlds are not an easy customer. Readers and viewers need something familiar in any story, and this is doubly so with a post-civilization setting. Unless I’m missing something about it; not that they really said much about humans so far. But my complaint about Black Bullet having to much status-quo in it’s setting rings true here. But, like the LOLi Bug Hunt, it’s an action series, not a prosaic world building series, so that’s my bug-a-boo. I’ve said things about folk bringing a butter knife to eat soup, so I have to look and see that I have a fork in my hand and I’m looking at a bowel of broth.
I find the supporting cast among the humans to be far more compelling than the lead. But it’s too bad they are doing all the heavy lifting for his character. So far he’s gone from one callow youth shounen trope to the next. I want to see more back and forth with him.
Overall the show needs a great deal of work, but I find that WITs progression as a smaller studio to be of note. They’ve taken on huge projects and smaller projects and they look pretty diverse and talented. I guess what I want the to do is make the show a little less typical.
Oh, and since BB had every opportunity in his many comments to claim the LOLi VAMp as is own, and didn’t do so. She’s firmly in Camp skylion now. You had you’re chance, sire.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Oh, you couldn’t be more wrong, old man. She was in my custody the moment I made her my avatar at the beginning of the month. Comments were unnecessary. Now renounce that statement with every fiber of your being or I’ll have you arrested for theft.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Awww, a cute avatar…didn’t hear you say anything about it. Actions speak louder than words, but you have to use your words. Old men know this.
I don’t think any known authority would indite me.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
As if you didn’t know my avatar would have a vampire. Well, now you know where you stand. This one is out of bounds and beyond your reach. Enough has been taken from me already and I have anti-mythical creature ammunition if you try anything funny. Understand? 😉
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, Wile E. Coyote Acme Brand surplus is of no worry. Vampires are also considered mythical creatures, so you’d best beware of backfire.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Krul from a known and infamous poacher.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
She was firmly in the LOLi territory before the show even began. So much for whom is poaching whom’s territory.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That would be you poaching from me since I knew her from the manga long before you knew of her existence. Any more objections you’d like to futilely use, sir?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
That is a compelling argument. But we both know it’s a futile one in the long run….
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Heh heh heh… Oh, that remains to be seen. The fact is I have the upper hand this time and I’m not intending on losing it.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
All your LOLis belong to Gilgamesh! Only the BEST LOLis are in his Treasury-Harem!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Silence, heretic or I’ll have you lynched.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I’m not sure it really changes. The main reason I kept with the manga is the supporting cast, and their interactions. Yuu on his own didn’t work for me. He has some interesting aspects, but the story never really delves more into them.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Episode 02: Another adaptation consistent with its source material. The second episode overall covered the entire second chapter.
The animation was good as usual save for the use of CGI during the scene where Yuu went through a stampede of panicked students to grab his weapons. It was badly used and stuck out like a sore thumb.
The scene where the vampire caught the school girl held my attention more than most of the events. Due to the girl basically being looked at like a piece of meat before getting fed on. That had an eerie feel to it.
Among other things, I see the author is taking the liberty to change up a few things. The green striped collar around the neck of the school uniforms is one matter. Another is the vampire getting a complete makeover. Aspects in the anime she didn’t have in the manga: A robe-like shirt with long sleeves, long pointed ears, lipstick and nail polish on her claws. What were they doing with her in that research facility?
The fight between Yuu and the vampire was nice and fluid, too. Showcasing how much of an imminent threat the latter posed to the former. She would’ve won had she not taken the fight outside to end up in a vulnerable state and killed.
Honestly, I really don’t see people’s problem with Yuu’s character. I’m not bothered by the way he acts and it’s easy to brush off because I’ve seen worse. Trust me. In some cases, to my point of view, he’s just one big male tsundere.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Talking about Episode 3, so if you haven’t watched it, I’ll put it in a spoiler tag. Show ▼
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hahaha!! Honestly, there is no pleasing you…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…actually, there is a way to please…Don’t write shithead characters, even on purpose…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yes, as he says, write a better character. In fact, nobody in this whole thread has defended Yuu. If your main character, your main focus, is this bad, it’s going to obscure many good things (if they exist) about your show. It’s also going to cast doubt on the rest of the writing, leaving viewers skeptical that the show can overcome obviously poor characterization.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Yuu ws already a stubborn thickhead in the manga, so blame the author on that one.
As for the plague’s origins, I believe that’s being covered in the LN prequel. I put up a post on it, somewhere above Irene’s post.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
And the truth is I can deal with that easy than a naïve doormat of a protagonist. Especially one like that who’s overly idealistic.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…I’d rather have a well written character, period…devolving opinion to which poorly written one is least poor? You don’t even have to split the difference, man.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yeah, it’s not about who to blame, and it’s not about ‘there are worse characters’. The point is that Yuu’s characterization is the worst thing in the show. It’s laughably bad. Show ▼
It’s poor writing, and the existence of other poor writing somewhere else doesn’t make this not awful. It’s dragging the show down like a boat anchor.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I think the disconnect for me is that Yuu’s hatred for the vampires and his thirst for revenge doesn’t feel authentic to me. I don’t get the sense from the anime (or the manga) that he had any real emotional attachment to the rest of the orphans (even though he says he does).
Sure, we get the early scene where the orphans are all killed, but overall it felt like he was just a stranger who happened to be in the same room when the incident happened.
Every time Yuu sees a vampire, it feels more like “Oh, goody, I can go wild and cut things and show off how awesome and powerful I am”. That’s my biggest problem with his character. It’s doesn’t feel like his thirst for revenge is clouding his judgment at all. Just typical juvenile behavior with “the-world-revolves-around-me” and “I-know-everything-so-don’t-tell-me-what-to-do” type mentality.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
@Highway:
You constantly gripe about Yuu’s character as stubborn, arrogant, rushing into things on his own and disregarding the nature of teamwork. And you honestly expect him to suddenly, out of the blue conform that mindset. That’s asking far too much from a series that barely got any footing. Or have you conveniently forgotten that your dear, precious Cross Ange was guilty of the same faults during her reformation after her fall from grace? Events happening much later in her series. She was part of a team and systematically ignored coordination for her own pride thinking she could handle everything on her own. Did Ange not change for the better later? When I think on how you defend her but reprimand Yuu for identical traits, “hypocrital” doesn’t begin to describe it. It’s complete bias. They are both the type that needs to hit their head against the wall to change perspective because more than simple words are needed to sway people like them. The way you envision the situation for him to just up and act as part of a unit robs consequence for action, the incentive to reevaluate oneself and then, only then begin considering the value of teamwork. In that direction, it comes off as fake, unrealistic and makes one want to roll their eyes for a prolonged period of time. What you’re asking for takes time and things have only now gotten started.
What gets to me is that a handful of viewers are missing that obvious set up for his development. The show is clearly beginning to address the meat of Yuu’s flaws, yet it goes right over people’s heads.
*Awaits convenient excuses for her defense*
At the risk of being indelicate, I’ll just say this and get it out of the way: Let “Seraph of the End” go. I once said the lead character doesn’t remain the way he is for long but your impatience for an unrealistically quick change-up in mindset is overbearing and a detriment. To put it bluntly, you really kill the mood. Apparently, you’re not enjoying the series at all. Three episodes in and still nothing has clicked. So why bother torturing yourself watching a show that ultimately just has you nagging at every single little thing incessantly which in turn ruins the experience for those who still have hope for it? Because I see it’s not just the lead where your complaints lie, they’ve gone and extended to the show’s very setting. Or are you going against your principle of leaving a series whose performance obviously isn’t pleasing you? Just cut your losses here and now.
To be honest, knowing Seraph’s set-up from the manga long before the anime even aired, I knew from the get-go a slow building story wise show like this wouldn’t stand a chance in your eyes where you’re looking for faults. And my suspicions hit the mark without fail.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
@akagami
Honestly, when he does show his emotions towards his family, that’s really the only time I DO believe him. Every other moment, you’re right that it does seem kind of just “there”, like he states it but I don’t feel it.
When he does show his time with his family and his emotions do show in regards to them and to Mika, I do believe him then, but other than that, yeah, I have to agree with you.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
*sigh* It would be blind if I were only watching the anime and not reading the source behind it. Everyone else is one thing but you’re especially and unnecessarily harsh without clear justification and story has barely opened up.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Well the author already assigned the titles of “Main Character”, “Prophesied One”, “Harem Attractor”, amongst others. Maybe the author felt he had to compensate with some major character defects.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
“Smartass”, “Stubborn Mule”, “Sukebe”, “Shotacon”, “Suicidal bugger”?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The first two I can understand but I don’t see any evidence of “Harem Attractor” here.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Throwing up the spoiler tags~ Show ▼
To be honest, I don’t know why any of them adore him at any level.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
*hasn’t admitted*
*sighs*
I really should read my posts before posting.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I guess it’s because they admire his strength and determination.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Yeah, I didn’t like Yuu for most of this latest episode either. He was annoying the heck out of me, with his idiotic impulsiveness and his single-minded revenge shtick. It wasn’t until that last moment where he defeated the hallucinations that I kind of liked him again.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
People should let that character’s path play out and then make an assessment based on the whole picture instead of whining over every single little detail when things have hardly started. Though, there are certainly anime that don’t bother to try and set their characters up for development, so I do think this deserves slight praise in that sense. Would you rather have a Gary Stu (Which people would complain to hell and back about) or an arrogant brat that is very clearly being exposed to the path to growth?
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Whoa BB went on a rampage it’s almost like he could start up his own blog and review this series! I have to ask how long did you save those comments? You deserve a high five and thankfully your waiting paid off 😀
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Like I hinted before, *he* should have been writing the review instead. 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hahaha!! “Rampage” is such a strong word but you can definitely see the contrast in anticipation I have for some series. Thanks for the compliments and I didn’t save all the comments very long but had basic ideas for them formulating in my head long before that. 😉
The first three were right after the first episode, the ones with the OP and ED tagged were after the second and the one below that is after reading this post. They were all posted one after the other if you pay attention to the time stamps.
I had a lot to say but never intended for the first comment to be so large. After seeing that the First Impression wasn’t anywhere nearby, I found myself editing and editing whenever something came to mind. After all, I did give a warning in the first comment’s last paragraph.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I’m upset at the hair colors. I thought Shinoa had brown hair and Mitsuba had bright blonde hair. Instead I got purple and dull yellow. Boo~~
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
What’s to be upset about? They’re using the same exact colors used in the manga. That’s being consistent. A lot better than what SHAFT did with the adaptation of Dance in the Vampire Bund by making Mina Tepes a blonde when she’s supposed to have pink hair like her manga cover.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Ahh, my bad. I’ve never seen any manga covers, nor any colored pages, so in my head she seemed a brunette.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Looking at a character from the cover helps you picture them in color when you’re reading through black and white manga pages. If I could, I’d rather have everything in color.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I don’t know… I’ve seen poor color mangas that would have been better off in black and white, because you can see much more detail. I’ve also seen well-done color manga. I guess it’s a trade-off… would you rather have longer publishing periods between chapters but in color, or more chapters but in black & white?
I’m pretty happy with the way it is now, b/w with special color pages every now and then for spreads.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s a trade-off, I’ll agree. But if it’s for the sake of getting more chapters out, I’ll take the black and white version. Right now, for the Seraph of the End manga, I’m at chapter 20. I wonder where they’ll choose to put the cliffhanger for the 12th episode.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Oh really? I would have thought you’d be past the English-translated chapters and already into the RAWs. I think it’s up to volume 8 (RAWs). Right now I’ve read up to the last released chapter in English (32).
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I told myself to abstain from reading more chapters so as to not spoil myself completely but lately the temptation to do the opposite is getting the better of me. I’ll eventually break. You know full well I can’t resist vampire stories.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I’m impressed at your self-control thus far. Although to be honest, I normally stop reading a manga when there is an anime, so as to not (further) bias my opinion of the animated version. That way I can enjoy the anime more, and then when I read the manga, it’s like a bonus!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I thnk I would forgive that as long as the show animates the really good parts. Like what Yuu has to do to get his Demon Gear Black Series. Moreover, I’m looking forward to him meeting his demon partner.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Agreed! Hopefully they do the action scenes justice. This needs more vampires in action to be honest. Like Krul in action!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Looks like the big action scene will be set up in episode 9.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Plus to be honest, sometimes my imagination looks better than how the author intended it to look. That’s one reason why I dread the translation from book to movies, because most of the time the character looks/designs just doesn’t live up to my expectations.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Also, the sour thing about that is due to running time, you’ve got to expect some parts will be cut out. Just pray for the really good ones not to join the group.