Gatchaman Crowds

I don't see it. Berg was logged out and X realized who the real Rui is. It's simply Berg screwing with things as usual because he has the power to do it. Just like he messed with the broadcast of the Prime Minister and took his form and told everyone to use Crowds by making it appear to them all.

edited 20th Sep '13 6:04:51 PM by OmegaRadiance

Yeah. From what it looks like, he apparently didn't even need to steal the power from Rui, since he could just pull that stunt off. Which makes me think he just really likes fucking with people.

Then again, it would be hard not to think that.

Well Berg is really a magnificent bastard, I didn't see that one coming and bonus points because it mess with both Haijime and Rui.

The first half of epiosde 11 is a Clip Show? What is this, Serial Experiments Lain?

More seriously, I'm sad this is ending soon. Kinda hoping for a sequel, though I doubt it.

Definitely sad it's ending. It could be a longer-lasting series.

It's been pointed out to me that this anime might have been an attempt to cash-in on the live-action Gatchaman movie that came out in August.

And from what I've heard, that movie flopped, or at least got bad reviews, which is why I put More Popular Spin-Off on Crowds's YMMV page.

edited 21st Sep '13 2:28:29 PM by universalperson

It did?

Well that's a shame. I really wouldn't mind seeing a Gatchaman revival.

While I liked this series, I would have loved to see something more akin to the original series truthfully.

Or so I've heard. The only reliable source I've been able to find about the live-action movie's (lack of) success was this.

All the reviews I've looked at said it was bad though. Then again, they were all made by English speakers...

I'll report back in about three or four weeks. It's part of the Japanese Film Festival coming to Australia (on top of Madman's Reel Anime festival) and I'll being going to see it.

Though a friend was in Japan recently for the last Yamato 2199 movie and saw it was well and he reckons it pretty good (with the caveat that he doesn't speak Japanese well enough to actually follow the dialogue and was just watching).

Also, I wouldn't say that debuting at #6 is an indication of a lack of success. Given that Miyazaki the elder's latest film is an unstoppable juggernaut crushing all within its path, that's practically a top five debut which is generally a good thing.

edited 21st Sep '13 4:07:01 PM by KnightofLsama

Episode 12.

"Chicken-chan." Both of them knows how obvious the taunt is. Both of them know it's obviously going to work.

Katze's trying to appeal to Hajime's dark side. There's a slight problem with that. She doesn't have one. She's an optimistic force of nature.

Rui's actually rather cute when he's happy. Also, badass.

"Let's set up a game to push the CROWDS back."
"They've already done that."
This is the episode in which people are awesome.

Funny how Hajime made Rui facefault by saying she has no idea what happens next.

And then Hajime talks with her chest. Granted, it's a significant character in the series, but this is the first time we get a vocal.

Overall, I like that in this episode, Hajime, the main character, doesn't really do anything. She's already laid the groundwork for everything else, and just spends this episode letting everything happen, trusting people to do the right thing. Very much in line with the overall message of the series.

edited 27th Sep '13 2:19:18 PM by AnotherDuck

Nice Ending but what was with the last scene with Hajime adressing her mom, I didn't get that...

Did Katze become Hajime's tie or something? What was with that?

Some might have a problem with the ending, but I'm always in favour of anything that punches Humans Are Bastards in the face. Give people something to aim for, and they can be an incredible force for good. In the end, the Crowds ability was only as bad as those using it. Though I do wonder if the ending might come off as too optimistic.

I'm so confused. So many things in this series weren't explained properly and given way too little time. Not that it was bad, I liked it, but It could probably use few more episodes

So what did the anime teach us?

That people will do good if you give them the chance?

That everyone should think for themselves?

That you shouldn't judge based on first impression?

That hierarchical society model is primitive and should be abandoned?

That technology is only as good or bad as it's users?

Huh, those are actually pretty good lessons and relevant to modern world.

For an anime trying to do social commentary while still trying to stay fun, I'd say they succeeded.

This was fun little series with good message and I'm happy I watched it.

What's the message in most anime?

Also, JJ doesn't do anything.

I can agree with all of those, and I'm cool with that. Overall, I would say it had an optimistic message, but with enough realism to make it work. "Just turn it off" what happens next? => I don't know. And alot of the stuff with the PM.

Did Katze get banished to be Hajime's tie? Honestly, that's actually a pretty good punishment all things considered. Overall, a fun and unique series. Glad I saw it.

Well that was an interesting ending... but yeah a lot of questions left like OD, Katze and Mess-chan.

Anyway it was a nice ride.

And that reminds me. Does no one care that OD FUCKING DIED?!!!

That seems like a pretty important thing don't you think?

Well, that was underwhelming. The last few episodes in general were, really. Felt very confused as to what it's trying to do, particularly with the Gatchaman characters

Galax represents social media and gamification. Crowds represents the internet. The Gatchamen represent positive social forces and positive social authority, other social authorities directly represent things that they are in-show. JJ represents God and inactive authority. Berg-Katze is an internet troll.

To be more direct: - People, the internet and social media are all inherently neutral forces, capable of both good and evil. The important thing is how you harness them. - Positive social authorities aren't enough to solve all your problems. Neither are gods or powerful forces that aren't willing to use that power. - There's always a small subset of people trying to ruin anything. However, they're always a small subset, and that means that empowering, motivating and trusting a wider range of people, eliminating power monopolies, means things will usually turn out okay... But not perfect (as the Crowds crime rate talk at the end is supposed to show).

edited 27th Sep '13 4:56:14 PM by Einander

I don't know about the Gatchamen (is that the plural?) as social authorities. The others are all considerably more obvious. Particularly since the middle arc was about how they were outsiders to the whole media thing

It might be better to say that they represent the idea of "heroes," or in a broader sense geniuses — that is, people of extraordinary capability and drive, who can accomplish things that most people can't. The Gatchamen are there for the show to point to to say, "Yes, these people are amazing and useful and definitely applicable to some modern problems... But they're not big enough to solve modern issues. When people think they're the answer, or when they think that they and their friends can't solve problems because they're not heroes, then heroes are part of the problem."

That's why they don't actually solve the problem of the last few episodes. They're too few in number to stop the negative side of humanity... But they're absolutely integral in motivating people and moderating some problems (OD fighting Berg-Katze and incapacitating him) long enough for the rest of humanity to get their shit together and actually solve them. A part of the answer, but not the answer itself.

That's also why Hajime doesn't defeat Berg-Katze! He's defeated before they ever interact again in the last episode. Hajime is another example of a genius, a hero, and while she solves the smaller problem of the MESS and motivates the rest of the Gatchamen, her role in the show is to set things in motion and then step back while humanity handles it.

I said "positive social authority" because the idea that heroes are venerated and held up and set apart is key to their depiction in Gatchaman Crowds. People know about the idea of Gatchamen before they know that Gatchamen actually exist, and they're immediately recognized when they do show up. If they were unknowns, then they wouldn't work for the purpose of the show.

edited 27th Sep '13 6:08:14 PM by Einander

I really, really want a second season! That was such a good anime, but so confusing! Did OD really die? How did Berg-Katze get stuck as Hajime's breasts (or tie, or blouse, or bra)? Why couldn't Hajime see Katze? Something to do with being 100% pure? I thought everyone already had access to the CROWDS ability from last episode, but maybe Rui and X just went with it and made it more legit? Did Mess-chan do anything other than show up? JJ showed expressions but never got characterized (so the god interpretation makes sense for him), and I thought the cat would turn out to be a Gatchaman but she didn't do anything. Also I was hoping for some sort of group shot at the end with the entire team.

OD, I love you!! Come back!!

....

That makes a lot of sense. Am I the only one who thinks that makes sense?

Kinda rushed and mediocre ending.

The message was interesting and all but the ending was kinda underwhelming

If there's one thing I love about this show, it's that it constantly says, "yes, but..." Does it right up until the very end, where Crowds saves the way (but also enables new and dangerous kinds of crime). It's not afraid to make it's messages complicated, and it does this with both the positive and the negative.

I'm gonna miss it.

I am slightly disappointed that after all that build up over OD spreading his wings, there was barely much of a fight.

He did accomplish more in the end than any one else, and in retrospect, fighting Katze with violence didn't really seem to work, but still.