Shin Sekai Yori

Huh. Well, I get that the epilogue needed some time, but you'd think that the climatic finish to the main conflict deserved more than a single minute at the very start of the episode.

Other than that, good show. I still don't agree with Squealer's methods*

, but I'm glad that they showed him more sympathetic than they've done up to now. There's no such thing as evil. Only people doing what's right to the best of their abilities, including the ability to judge what's right.

A shame only Saki seemed to be willing to look at it that way.*

BTW, do you guys agree that the whole "queerrats used to be human" was rather unnecessary? I mean, this episode already did a fine job showing how the humans were the real monsters, so I just don't see why it was brought up at all.

edited 24th Mar '13 2:15:06 AM by Kayeka

I agree that it was pretty unnecessary. But it didn't really bother me.

Wow, I felt really bad for Squealer. Thank God that Saki put him out of his misery.

edited 23rd Mar '13 7:28:24 PM by kay4today

Wait. You were watching this Kay?

Also, the theory that they were mutated humans was brought up long ago, though not in the story of course. Also, I really doubt that Squealer knew the history of his people. That's very high level top secret information.

Reading what he said metaphorically instead of literally is quite likely not the right way to do so, but I think I prefer that interpretation.

edited 23rd Mar '13 7:53:58 PM by Arha

Oh, that was me, well, I think in this forum at least.

I think it had to be brought up just to tie up loose ends, but I do agree that Kiroumaru's badass moment was too brief. Actually, I think the first part of the episode was rushed. Speaking of loose ends, what exactly happened to Maria and Mamoru?

"If music be the food of love, PLAY ON" - William Shakespeare

Well, it's implied he found a False Minoshiro. While the False Minoshiro does not know what happened to regular humans, Squealer probably just put two and two together.

Squealer Was Right!

"No, the Singularity will not happen. Computation is hard." -Happy Ent

I don't know what's sadder, Kiromaru's death (he was really the best and most genuinely good character on the show) or the fact that the show's over.

And, eh...I think it's fine that they wrapped up killing the not-Akki/Kiromaru's sacrifice quickly to fit everything else in. Although had I thought there was going to be one more episode, which would have tied everything up without anything being cut short. At least Kiromaru and the redhead both died quickly. Though I wish Saki and Satoru had shown more emotion over Kiromaru's death...especially Satoru. Seriously, these people...you owe him more than anyone. He ought to be honored as a saint.

Yeah, Squealer was a lying, pitiless, manipulative bastard but he definitely did not deserve that. Nobody could really believe that he did.

I am glad the show ended with Dvorak's "New World Symphony" and KITTENS!!! Those kittens, man!

edited 24th Mar '13 4:59:01 PM by Ruise

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

I felt it was trying too hard to justify why the superhumans dehumanized the non-superhumans.

Lemme see... I think it was because they shouldn't be killing each other, they created the "death feedback" but WAIT - that meant they couldn't kill the non-superhumans so oh... let's make them look like nekkid molerats instead.

Which is not really surprising since I still have very low opinion about how they like to cull the less talented individuals. (Does this mean that NEETS have higher chances of turning into fiends - le gasp!)

Also, I can't remember if the crazy superhumans (fiends) are affected by death feedback.

Now, for my positive feelings about this show. Characters are pretty to look at! Especially when they turned legal and we got to see more adults. Also, I thought the horror and suspense bits were nicely done. I wasn't impressed by the action bits, but the horror and suspense bits more than made up for that.

I also like the villain, and I don't mean that I want to put leather pants on Squealer. I mean that I can see and agree why the conflict exist and why Squealer did what he had to. I also like that I can say that I agree with some of things Squealer has done and even admire the military tactic bits without being accused of falling for Evil Is Sexy, Evil Is Cool, etc.

edited 24th Mar '13 9:07:56 PM by probablyinsane

Plants are aliens, and fungi are nanomachines.

I don't think "it" (the show) was trying to justify turning the muggles into naked mole rats, I think the people who made that decision in the past were. Although it is a valid point that while the death feedback prevented cantus users from killing muggles, it wouldn't work the other way around, so muggles would have a huge advantage.

If the cantus users really wanted to avoid killing normals except in self-defense, they would have made them into cat-people or dog-people...bunny-people...ferret-people...miniature donkey-people...iguana-people...something cute. Then maybe the cantus-users would be more sympathetic towards them while still not seeing them as human. (If the bakenezumi were replaced with kitty-people, nobody would want to see the humans win. I wouldn't even be able to watch the show with cats exploding left and right.)

The real problem with this show's ending is that the bakenezumi will never have "human" rights and are now even worse-off than before. But that's because they acted violently and killed civilians, so. The author really made it so there are no "good" guys.

edited 25th Mar '13 4:20:56 PM by Ruise

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

So, uhh, yeah. Good episode. I appreciate that they dealt with the not-fiend quickly (maybe a bit too quickly.)

Everybody's already discussed the heavy stuff, so...

Look at dem Tainted Kittens. Stuffed toys of which would make a good combo with Libraryslug ones.

I want those so bad! Ohhh why can't this show be merch-driven?

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

I have but one question left aboutt the show. If Genocide-tan couldn't kill the querats, how come Kiroumaru's troops were exterminated?

The "Akki" just disarmed them. They were pretty much helpless against the Robber Fly afterwards.

edited 28th Mar '13 9:59:11 AM by SilentColossus

Was anyone else bugged by the fact that the big reveal over the origins over the Bakenezumi was based on a flawed premise because Saki screwed up the Latin and Greek roots? Specifically she confused the Latin 'homo' meaning man/human with the Greek 'homo' meaning same.

Nope! You may have a point though! But it's meaningless anyway since it wasn't a big reveal.

edited 28th Mar '13 5:45:47 PM by Ruise

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

I was completely meh to the whole reveal.

I'd say that's a Critical Research Failure, but I guess it's also explainable by the fact that the freakin' idiots keep blowing up and burning all reliable knowledge.

"Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri, quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes."

It was arguably not Saki who screwed up the roots, but the people who were naming the rats.

"Canada Day is over, and now begins the endless dark of the Canada Night."

It is indeed Critical Research Failure, but as you say, a justifiable one.

Episode eight is making me uncomfortable.

edited 3rd Apr '13 10:08:30 AM by etatau

Oh you're in for a whole bubbling vat of fun.

I wonder how well this series would work if it changed to the point of view of a different character every few episodes. Either a different character every arc (i.e. two to four Decoy Protagonist s and then Saki in the third arc), or just every other episode. It wouldn't even just have to be the main five; there could be episodes focusing on Squealer, Kiroumaru, Tomiko, Saki's mom...even the Aki. I'd especially like to see Shun's pov while becoming a karma demon.

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

Well, we only got Saki's POV because it was her account that served as the framing device of the show.

I think this series could work just as well with changing POVs, because, again, it all comes down to execution.

Would indeed be interesting to know Shun's thoughts while becoming a karma demon though, but there's also the notion that being only able to imagine his thoughts is more terrifying.

Yep.

edited 24th Apr '13 8:59:32 PM by fillerdude

I wouldn't want to see Shun's perspective. It would destroy a lot of the mystery.

So, I found this on Amazon. Then I looked it up, and could only find results like "possible translation" and "may translate." Of course, part one has already been translated by fans, but it would be amazing to have physical copies of the novel. I wish they would just release the whole thing in one volume.

Loves feel-good animation a whole lot.

Maybe one of the companies are keeping it hush-hush? Right before an announcement? Not sure of the etiquette of these things; I usually just hear about it come announcement.

How many of the novels are there, though? Wiki doesn't say. Edit: Nor does Baka Updates.

Further edit: I could see a potential release be successful with non-anime fans, too, though, if released like Miyuki Miyabe and Haruki Marukami's are. Maybe more like Miyuki Miyabe's in that regard.

I think Viz is doing something similar with Dragon Sword and Wind Child's series as well.

edited 24th Jun '13 5:41:31 AM by HopelessOsakaD

The D stands for Destiny ✰ Rosa Metalglove Dickpuncher (also I just got it from Vampire Hunter D).