First Impression – Endride
Now with magical pins
Hello, anaaga here. I bet everybody’s surprised with my appearance, assuming those I know two years ago are still lurking here. Even I’m surprised with my own comeback. Anyhow, I’m starting my comeback with Endride, and I’m already regretting it. No wonder Irene bails out on this.
Like the tag shows, Endride is a shounen anime and stays true to its genre…. Except with probably with the first few minutes of the episode. For the first 1 minute, we see two men in the shadow with the other man leaving the other one. Cue luna sea singing the opening sound, where luna sea doesn’t sound like luna sea at all. After introducing Shun, we switch to a Macbeth scene where the main prince tries to kill the king. Doesn’t take a genius to realize that the dude in the first minute was the king and his brother. Such tragedy that doesn’t feel like a tragedy at all because I can’t keep my eyes off from the king’s shoulder pad. It has a terrible design. Also the pin. The magical safety pin.
How to use crystal broaches and safety pins as weapons 101
Speaking about Shun, he has the potential to be a serial killer. Why? Because his father hasn’t come home for more than year, but he’s still all cool about it. I am pretty sure he is plotting his father’s murder behind his smile. Or maybe it’s a generic shounen main character with Gundam-esque family issue, and I think too much about it. Long story short he got thrown off in this world where the moon is a crystal, and suddenly magical weapons come out from his chest. Instead of being all panicked and stressed out like what normal people would do, he’s taking it cool even has the time making joke about his Excalibur. This dude is cool. Despite of the so-called generic tag branded on the main character’s personality, he’s probably the only character so far with the potential to develop. There’s something refreshing about him. He’s very likeable, or more like has a better personality than the prince. Besides, I can’t put too much hope on someone who tries to murder his adopter father based on kitchen gossip. Though I am curious with how the prince is going to handle his father’s murder and how he comes into term with his revenge. That kind of stuff is always fun to watch.
Hey, at least they’re both obsessed with something
Suddenly bam! More actions now with digimons also, and the two escape. Suddenly female! And extremely passive dragon with abnormal big eyes. (Kind of) greenery around. Probably the first good scenery I see in Enrido after 20 minutes. And wow, the episode ends already? That was so fast! Best first episode ever!
If I could leave first impressions blank, I would do that for Endride because nothing can describe this emptiness I feel after watching the first episode. See what I wrote above? Nonsense. I literally didn’t know what to write about Endride. I’ve been abstaining at giving negative opinion concerning anime episodes ever since I found out how hard it is to make 1 episode only, but I know it’s a golden rule to have the first few episodes to be as impressive and as engaging as possible. The first few episodes are the pivotal point of any series because people’s interest and disinterest are sparked through the first few episodes, so it’s logical to have the first episode to be entertaining, right? And yet, I don’t feel that way toward Endride. It feels so bland, dull, unengaging, and… Average. No, it’s not because of the so-called generic characters, setting, or whatever people rant about. In fact, I see those so-called generic things to be the potentials of this anime. People can do so many things with them and develop them into something unexpected. The execution of the story though… It was horrible. Instead of delving further into the world of Enrido or whatever the other world is, we were given dark dungeons and weirdly-shaped castles with convenient secret routes and wells. Instead of explaining further about the world Shun lives in, we got stuck with a happy-go-lucky main character with a strange way to deal with his family issue. If only Brain’s Base highlight those moments, including the revelation of Shun’s broach power, properly, everything would have been fine. But no, Brain’s Base just pass them away, treating them as if they are normal daily activities. Are we still even in a fantasy anime or switching to abnormal slice-of-life anime?
Now, there’s still some hope for this anime. Shun’s character looks interesting, and he definitely has potentials to be developed. Endride is a two-cour anime too, so I have around 23 more episodes to get what I “demand” for. I hope as time goes by, Brain’s Base can execute the story better because if they’re stuck like this until the end, their rating will definitely be in trouble.
Preview: I don’t even know what it’s going to be about. More chasing, I guess?
What Wolverine does when he’s not shooting X-Men
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’ve been around for much longer and I’m surprised you’re active again. How’s it going, anaaga?
For a first entry, this was very hollow and unsatisfying, leaving little to describe. Plain to see things are going in motion but I can’t feel myself getting invested in the story or so much as beginning to like the handful of characters currently present. All around, a bad sign if you’re unable to even recall their names. Plus, it’s already annoying to see how clueless the lead guy is about the change of his surroundings and the failure to determine a dangerous situation.
Off to a bad start and if not treading carefully, this show might end up with a quick dismissal as a consequence like another recently came across this early in the season. It gets another chance but expectations will be low.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Everything ua good, BB! Finally have time for anime, but now I watch less so I tend to be picky about them.
I think it has many elements that can be developed, plot-wise and setting-wise. Nevertheless, they mean nothing if they can’t be conveyed in a proper way
POWUH: 500-599 with 540 comments
I recognise you Anaaga from reading some of the older Metanorn posts and your comments (which kinda stand out cuz they tend to be a bout yaoi or yuri XD) Nice to see you back, but you really drew the shortest straw with this show. I personally took one innocent glance at the cover for this show and didn’t even consider it lol.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Someone actually reads my yaoi posts! So happy *cries tears of joy*
I’m interested in the setting, that’s why. I mean, their moon is a crystal.That’s pretty cool.I think ai care more about the setting than the characters though (other than the main chara)
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Endride is a two-cour anime too, so I have around 23 more episodes to get what I “demand” for.
My advice would be to wait until nearly half the episodes have aired, then watch them in 1 go to get a better overall impression of the anime.
Shun’s character looks interesting…
Shun was designed by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Rurouni Kenshin’s mangaka. Prince Emilio was designed by Hagiwara Kazushi, creator of heavy metal fantasy manga Bastard!!
The anime softened the original designs, especially Shun – Watsuki’s design had shorter and spikier hair.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-01-27/rurouni-kenshin-and-bastard-creators-design-alternate-world-fantasy-anime-endride/.98027
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I can’t really review them in one go if I’m making a comeback. I’ll probably blog it in evwry 2 episode.
I like the anime design better, it’s more suitable for the shonen genre. The previous design makes them look like apocalypse survivors – grim and serious
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Magical Safety Pin Weapon is literally Best Girl!!!
That is one heck of a hollow world, basically being a cave that’s like any other cave. Bit of a let down. This was like promising a space adventure only to be stuck for two hours in Han Solo’s dank basement looking for his lost yearbook; and he ain’t even gonna make an appearance.
…as my father has said, “Well if this is your best effort first time out, you’ve got nowhere to go but up…”
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
I think Solo’s basement is more interesting than this. We get to see something. Though I’m not sure if I can get the key to his basement since his body kinda fall in this dark space of a blown-up space weapon. I just hope they delve further into the world in episode 2
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
I’ll give it another episode, but not sure I’ll give it a third. Actually, I can say that about more than this show this season. For me it’s shaping up to have few shows worth watching.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Oh it has everything that’s needed to be a good anime. The director has freedom in the setting, and we got characters that are full of potentials to be developed. Also, 24 episodes! That’s enough time for a good pacing. They need to work on their story execution though. This could have been better if this were a prologue/episode 00
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
*wave* Hey anaaga, welcome back!
You’re a better person than I am, I lasted 5 seconds and turned it off.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
You’re still here! *glomp*
Obligation, my friend. Obligation.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
^_^
I decided to participate and sat through the entire episode. But wow, doesn’t he have more than one sweater? And he never takes off his backpack, even when he’s having dinner at home. That must be one precious backpack.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
This episode was okay, but it was pretty generic material. I’m going to guess that Emilio and Shun are actually related (probably brothers or cousins) as if you look close, Emilio has the dagger with the dragon symbol on it, and Shun has an bracelet with the exact same red dragon on it. Also, there’s the fact that they share the reversed hair and eye colors of each other (Shun has reddish-brown hair and navy blue eyes, and Emilio have the same, but flipped.)
It gives me Comet Lucifer vibes, and that’s not really a good thing.
POWUH: and Yaoi Fangirl~ with 2320 comments
Sasuga Irene, you still see the details despite the monotone vibe it gives. You’ve tried your best *pat shoulder*
Everybody keeps commenting that it reminds them of Comet Lucifer. Is it that bad? Is Comet Lucifer bad?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You don’t have the slightest idea how bad. It’s indescribable.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
For me, it had a lot of potential and wasted it. It turned into a slice-of-life show (which kept hinting at a plot but never showing it) with mechs, but lacking impact. It’s a weird combination.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
The genre mashing wasn’t the problem, at least not to me. Comet Lucifer suffered from a very poor script and poorer series composition. Characters just came off as confusing and the B story threatened to take over the A story every chance it got, which shifted the tone around. It was pretty much a mess.