Tokurei Sochi Dantai Stella Jogakuin Koutouka C3 Bu

I'm not familiar with it, but maybe?

So is this series a sort of deconstruction?

Not exactly, but it's kind of rare to see someone who started out in a series so positive go into such a negative spiral. And what's worse about this, she got to where she is — with her current win at all costs, screw you all attitude — largely on her own. You'd have expected Sonora so step in, but because she's been giving so many mixed signals and not actually TELLING Yura anything, well, here we are.

Even after Anno Hideaki's departure, Gainax are still making stories about What Happens When People Don't Fucking Communicate.

edited 6th Sep '13 3:01:21 PM by JakesBrain

Episode 10:

• It finally happened. Yura hit rock bottom. Hard. I wonder why Sonora never spoke to her properly during this period.
• Looks like Sonora's going away. Will she speak to Yura before that time comes? She has to! Otherwise, Yura's going to drown in this sea of despair...

edited 7th Sep '13 11:45:16 PM by Diamite

Both of Yura's mentor figures — Sonora AND Rin — seem to be more hands-off, figure most of it out on your own types. Thing is, Yura's likely the type of girl that NEEDS someone to be hands-on and up-front with her.

Well, Rin is at least up-front about it. And while not in that direction, Ren would probably help too.

So apparently the trip Sonora is taking will be for the US competition she and Rin should have entered before, but this time... she's planning to take Yura with her. Or at least that was the idea before Yura went and jumped into the deep dark pit of WAAC. As it is, Yura is liable to shoot Sonora in the back the moment "fun" comes into the equation, so something has to happen first, especially since the former is likely at the lowest point she's ever come since the second half.

Are those spoilers?

Nope, just extrapolation, especially since Sonora did mention the reason itself.

Ah, okay. I just skimmed it since it looked like it at a glance.

Actually, I think this show really is starting to become a Deconstruction, at least of the whole "person starts doing such-and-such activity to change herself" plot. It's certainly doing a good job of showing how that person can completely change for the worse.

In fact, over the course of this series, Yura has changed a lot with regards to airsoft: she's changed her hairstyle to make it easier to play, she's changed her attitude towards the game, and her skill level of the game itself has changed. However, it's pretty clear to me that it is her desire to receive the approval and praise of others, something that has never changed about her, that is driving her to such destructive behavior. It's as if the show is saying that a person who tries to change through something superficial like doing airsoft won't change in any good ways...

Episode 11. In which there's rain. I love rain.

Ren is awesome. Someone shoots at her, and she doesn't even react. Sure, she had a reason for it, but still...

Game over. Actually one of the best uses for the continue screen. But Ren really did say exactly what needed to be said.

Ren loves her cake strategy.

"You're a bit like her." And then the cat ran away.

That was a rather classy pep talk. And it's amusing to see Rin teasing Sonora like that. But the scene is rather good. Two shooting idols talking about their failures like that makes them much more human. Rin's quite right in that while her strength does help a lot of people find their way, it wasn't what Yura needed. And Sonora really needed to admit to herself that she's just been running away.

I like Rin's content face. It's so relaxing.

It's almost kind of funny how Ren talks about being selfish. Sure, she's not wrong, but I think most people would attribute that selfishness to other things, like being afraid of upsetting the status quo and not wanting to upset others.

Yura has reloaded.

Episode 11:

• Ugh. When Rento told her off like that, Yura probably thought that it really was game over. ...Continue?
• That scene with Rin and Sonora was good. They admitted that no matter how awesome they are, they know they are capable of messing up.
• Rento said it best. The selfishness ends now! And she's still going on about that cake strategy.
• I kinda like how how all the stores were conveniently closed. It was as if they were sending a message to Yura. "You're not supposed to be here, you're supposed to be there! With your friends!"
• As expected, no one could beat Sonora. Well, looks like this is her-A NEW CHALLENGER HAS ARRIVED! Glad to see you back on your feet, Yura.

edited 15th Sep '13 1:50:32 AM by Diamite

Episode 12. In which there's fluff.

Yura got smoked. A little excessively...

But considering the last few episodes, it's kind of odd to see Yura drawn in comical style. Kind of breaks all the previous angst. And by breaks I mean shatters into itty-bitty pieces. There's pretty much nothing of that darkness left.

Kari cheats on her boyfriend. And then she begs on her knees for him to return to her.

"Good job, desu," sounds a little strange to my ears. But I forgive her. Because she just won't stop being awesome. She's so clearly The Heart of the team it's not even funny.

And Yura finally invites them all to her world.

"We might be at a slight disadvantage here." But only a slight.

Seeing that that wasn't just a two piece joke that would be forgotten again, I can't help but shudder at the tought of Yura using it while still in her downward spiral.It could be anything from "I'm such a fool!" to "Yet those hands will never hold anything".

edited 20th Sep '13 8:04:23 PM by minusmagniaxe

How on Earth did I miss this anime?

Damn, now I'm itching to try this out for myself. I wonder if people play this outside of Japan?

inb4 someone draws Yura in Sayaka's pose. "I've been...such a fool."

edited 21st Sep '13 9:32:08 PM by HanabiraKage

Episode 12:

• Yes,yes,yes,yes! This is the kind of airsoft you should have been playing, Yura!
• That's no good, Karila. Cheating on your boyfriend like that.
• No way Rento and the others were gonna miss out on the fun!
• Welcome to Yura's World, where fun is UNLIMITED!!!
• Six against Seventeen Ninety Four? I like those odds! BRING IT!!!
• Sonora leaves the C3 Club in high spirits. See ya, ace airsoft player.
• And thus, Yura is now complete.

Episode 13

We get the Honoka fanservice we've finally been waiting for all along....

Why is Rin so cute?

Episode 13. In which girls are cute.

Someone's good at ranting. And I wonder if a certain someone else would've fallen asleep if she was the primary target of the rant once a specific name was named... Well, it wasn't like either was listening.

"Even Sono-chan won." Harsh. And it was returned in the contest commentary.

It must've been a rather crappy field of contestants of all of them got to that stage.

I think Rin's teammates made a very wise choice. Enter Rin, and don't tell her about it until it's too late. And it looks like she's uncharacteristically off balance. Should be fun.

Kinda funny how Ren takes the opportunity to plug her family business.

"You're cute, so it's okay!" Lovely audience. I mean it. They're not judgemental.

Okay, Rin's dere moe wins. I agree with Ren. Rin's cute when she smiles. Well, she's cute otherwise too, just not as obviously. I wanted Sono to embarrass her a little more, though. Would be hilarious.

That fairy outfit was actually rather cute.

I'm not sure I've seen winning through Clothing Damage before...

Hono uses psychological banter! It's super effective!

Hono uses sex appeal! It's super effective!

Rin's such a kuudere... And she may just have overtaken Ren as my favourite character.

What do you mean why? She's always been cute.

Honoka's psychological warfare cracked me up.

Rin going all deredere was a riot.

However, something that can get very jarring if you stop to think about is the result of Rin's first and second fights. Both cases anded up with her opponent surrendering. Remember what Sonora had to say about surrendering?...

Episode 13:

• Honoka must've been channeling Daravon because Yachiyo fell asleep.
• Contests are fun. Commentary with the spice of lighthearted snark even more so. Sonora must have been having a ton of fun.
• Yes, Sonora, Yura's cute. But I like Rento's and Yachiyo's outfits more. And Aira's another successful trap.
• What...is this... CUTE RIN!?!?!?!!? My brain...can't...compu-*bzzzt* Nice job, Rin's teammates!
• Magical Girl Yachiyo, stealing your hearts and sniping the target!
• Yes, Sonora, Rin has strong mental fortitude. But by mentioning memories she doesn't want to remember, even she can be reduced to nothing. Ah, the power of psychological warfare.
• Honoka knows how to win, and she's not afraid to use what she's got. Also, I thought that Yura was going to be in the final round because of main character privileges. Nice shakeup of the usual formula. In fact, she wasn't focused on that often. This time, it was the age of Honoka.

Fun finale.

edited 29th Sep '13 12:14:44 AM by Diamite

I came across this anime via this page, and I just have one thing to say after seeing some of the Imagine Spots and that one pic depicting the Barrett M82: These girls are crazy — in a good way, that is.