New Gainax Anime: Dantalian no Shoka

Is anyone translating the novels? Relatedly, are the novels any good?

episode 2 of the niconico broadcast.

I really like the art, but the plot is far too fast-paced to enjoy. Probably a side effect of condensing elaborate books into a 12-episode anime, but it makes it really hard to understand what's going on and ruins the impact of the plot. It probably would have been better if they split up both of the episodes that are currently up in 2-episode arcs.

Other minor things that bug me: Dalian is a cookie cutter Tsundere (Short? Check. Long hair? check. Thrown at the protagonist as a side-effect of the plot? Check. I'm willing to bet she sports Zettai Ryouiki under that dress of hers.), no one can properly pronounce their own names, and this whole 'unlimited library of magical books' feels like New Powers as the Plot Demands to me.

In short: It's no good, but at least decent enough to watch. I wouldn't even consider actually buying it, though.

edited 22nd Jul '11 2:34:50 PM by Kayeka

Only 12 episodes?

Fuck.

13, actually. I just looked it up. Those 12 where an educated guess on my part.

That's odd. It'll be ending after the season is over, barring a double episode

I got it off wikipedia, which isn't the best of sources for this sort of thing.

...I wish the fight scenes were a bit more dynamic...it was fine the way they did it the previous episode, but I'm hoping they defeat future monsters with methods asides from reading a book...

It's bugging me how they randomly use English words, like saying "yes" instead of "hai".

Otherwise episode 2 was okay, but I agree with others on how the fight scene was just so-so. Then again, I would probably complain that the fight was generic if it just consisted of Huey running around punching and shooting things.

This one wasn't as good as the first, I have to admit.

Did we have the food recipe book story yet? That was the first story in the Light Novel and my favorite so far.

Episode 2 is about a golem and a family of homicidal women.

Huh, that wasn't in the first volume. If it was following the novel, it should have been something about werewolf.

I, for one, actually enjoyed the "fight" scenes. There's something deeply mystical and enjoyable for me hearing the (long ass) incantations that Huey uses.

On a side note, that stone tablet looked like in was written it Cuneiform, the story on it mixed Gnostic demonology and Norse mythology, and (in-universe) was mentioned as being from Canaan. Thats... a lot of mix 'n' match.

edited 24th Jul '11 1:15:23 AM by redcynic

Which volume was that in then?

It definitely looks like Cuneiform, but it seems too arrowy.

edited 27th Jul '11 10:09:57 AM by Pokénatic

Finally strated watching this, after hearing about it for a bit, Got to say, I'm liking what I'm seeing so far. The animation is exactly the type of stuff that I enjoy, and what plot I've seen so far is nice.

Dalian reminds of Index and since I'm an Index fan, I can get to like her too.

Really looking forward to this.

The very second story of the first volume, which is the only one I read.

At the very least, I'm glad she's not biting off Huey's head.

Am I the only one who likes the opening theme and its BGM version?

Episode 3 from Niconico.

A double episode?

edited 29th Jul '11 12:42:50 PM by dmysta3000

This show occupies an unique niche in that it always comes out when I have nothing to do, so I end up watching it anyway despite not really liking it. It's refreshing to see a tsundere who's largely subordinate to her more mature co-star than vice versa though.

On the subject of the new episode, though... What, even the childhood friend and her friend know about Phantom Books? Is it a genuine mythology term or just something that the show didn't care to explain is apparently common knowledge in-universe?

Also lol @ how you can apparently just burn Phantom Books. Pretty lame for paranormal tomes that have their very own sealing system designed into a little girl if you ask me.

So what are Phantom Books, exactly? Aren't they supposed to be mysterious stuff? Why does it seem that everybody knows about them?

I must say that the two-half-episodes format works well for me.

Camilla's a fun addition to Dalian's tsundere antics.

I think that they just gave a Shout-Out to Hercule Poirot at the start. At least, I recognise the solution to the second mystery novel Dalian spoiled as one of Poirot's cases.

I watched the first 2 episodes on crunchyroll I like it so far. I think the second episode was good, despite some peoples complaining, but I do agree/wish that the second episode had been dedicated to Huey and Dalian's relationship and what the heck they actually do. It sort of seemed more like an episode 4 or 5. It's still better then the manga though which I couldn't make any sense out of so I stopped reading it early in.

edited 30th Jul '11 3:56:07 PM by NoirGrimoir

Huey, you bastard! Why in god's name did you burn that book?! There're more people in the world than you and Dalian and your friends, you know! Some of us might want to read it!

He burned the book for the same reason the kids let him have it.

edited 30th Jul '11 9:27:20 PM by Funnyguts