Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta

This anime sure has lots of potential.

The world is interesting and I like the aviation theme.

I like that Kal-El and his sister actually act like normal siblings would instead of being sickeningly sweet.

Kal-El and Claire are such a breath of fresh air. No stupid antics here.

In general the cast seems colourful. But what's with those stereotypical evil nobles guys?

All in all pretty interesting.

Stereotypical evil nobles seem to be a staple of this universe. There were a bunch of them in The Princess and the Pilot too.

I'm enjoying the show so far. The cast is full of interesting characters, and Kal-el and Claire's little romance is cute I can't wait for him to learn that she's the white-haired chick he hates. Things are still in the set-up stage, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the plot threads develop.

My only real complaint is that I wish they'd gone with the aesthetic of the film instead of keeping the more Light Novel-esque designs.

edited 14th Jan '14 4:25:28 PM by Ruthek

It feels like this show is making it blatantly obvious that what we've seen so far is just a prelude to oceans of suffering and misery. Not that I mind - slice of life in this setting would just be a waste.

That OP hypes me way too much man, I don't even know anymore.

After finishing reading the earlier Toaru Hikuushi e no TSUIOKU, I gotta say I'm even more hyped for this now. The plot structure seems rather different, but hey I like the romance in this.

x3 Crap. Saw the spoiler.

So since I've been spoiled anyway...so what's her deal? Split personalities? And did she actually kill his family, or did she just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Gotta approve of how proactive Kal-el is.

I think Slice Of Live in this settings would be awesome. I especialy liked pacing in second episode (though I am starting get annoyed by Claire by this point).

The spoilered part is just my opinion/speculation, I don't know if it's actually true. It seems incredibly likely considering the two share a voice actress and have the same color eyes. It'd also be a good source of conflict and drama. But who knows, it could turn out to be a giant red herring.

If it is true, then her 'Claire' identity may be a sort of civilian cover to let her experience a normal life as a teenager.

Oh.

But then again, seiyuu usually aren't shared if the characters are completely unrelated, unless one of them has so few lines the studio thinks it's a waste to hire a different VA for it. Also, considering that Viente and Karl appear together at the end of the OP...well, can't say it bodes well.

edited 16th Jan '14 4:55:49 PM by HanabiraKage

Maybe it turns out to be a big misunderstanding and things go well? :)

i.e. Code:Breaker all over again.

I wouldn't mind though. They need a happy ending. And Karl needs the throne back to rub it in that arrogant dick's face.

So far, so very Dieselpunk.

A little note — if the subs are correct, you know that "Jupiter-type" radial engine mentioned in Ep2? It's a Bristol.

edited 17th Jan '14 10:30:30 AM by Greenmantle

I like this series so far. Seems to have a better story and setting than most series this season.

I really like the camaraderie shown at the dinner. And as mentioned, the interactions between Kal-el and Claire in the beginning, and between the siblings are good. Seems more real, and less idealised or played up for whatever suits the plot/comedy. The water scene is probably my favourite thus far.

Probably not gonna write my usual commentaries, though. Doesn't seem like a series for that. Don't think I'll join speculating either. Just gonna enjoy this.

Yeah, I liked the dinner scene, the camaraderie is pretty great and yeah Kal El interactions with his sister are still as true to life as ever.

That being said...

The back story is pretty confusing. The people were manipulated by the Generic Evil Duke guy, who in turn was manipulated Magic Loli Nina (huh?), and her evil plan was... to turn the empire into a republic? Seriously, there are less violent methods than that.

I know they were probably going maximum tragedy quotient with his back story, and it made me hate Nina just fine but it's still very confusing. And if she's really Claire then all of this just becomes bizzare.

BTW, screw forgiving, he deserves some justice.

And what's Ignacio deal? He appears to hate Kal El for some reason but mainly he's just anti-social dick who does precisely nothing.

Oh yeah, in any real piloting school that stunt would get Douchebag Brigade expelled.

Dude, you are in the sky, just keep going straight, it's not like you'll run into anything!

Why would Nina have been manipulating anything? She was just another tool the duke was using to prove the legitimacy of his revolution. Which was more of a coup really: the system of nobility remained in place and I wouldn't be surprised if only they got the right to vote. Karl's anger is directed at the wrong person because he was just a kid at the time, and saw the figurehead as the real villain.

edited 20th Jan '14 5:17:29 PM by Clarste

I think there's a lot that's just not explained yet. Just about everything about Mr. Incognito for one. I'm also not sure we're supposed to hate Nina. In the flashback, she seemed kind of not all there. And in historical conflicts, who's evil and not is often very grey. Said conflicts are also often quite bloody. I don't think this was excessively so.

Okay, so maybe a little speculating and interpreting.

I'm pretty sure that the emperor outright said that Evil Duke Guy is being tricked by Nina. You could ask how can she do it being a child but then again how can she be some super important magic using priestess at six?

And it really easy to call historical conflicts grey since they are well... history. But when you family is killed just so some asshats can take over you just want some motherfucking justice.

edited 20th Jan '14 5:22:23 PM by Shlugo_the_great

The king asked why the duke was defiling the name of some Saint by giving the title to a commoner. IE: he thinks she's a fraud being puppeted by the duke. Maybe you were confused by the word "tricks"? He thinks she's a fake, not a mastermind.

edited 20th Jan '14 5:27:32 PM by Clarste

Well, of course it's like that if you look at it from his point of view. From that view, yes, we should definitely hate her and everything she stands for. But I don't think the story is quite that black and white, and it does little for understanding the actual conflict and what it was about. In particular considering what his mother spoke about.

edited 20th Jan '14 5:27:38 PM by AnotherDuck

I assume Ignacio is somehow connected to Nina simply because of hair colors.

(considering that he knows Kal-El's true identity it seems likely he's a spy sent to keep tabs on him)

See, the way I interpreted it as was that the original empire treated the commoners the usual way, and they rebelled. Regardless of whether or not the new government is better, Kal-el is understandably upset that they killed both his parents, his mum in particular. It's not that he agrees with the class system, or wants his throne back, or thinks the new government is corrupt—he just wants to avenge his mother.

I'm pretty sure Ignacio was the Street Urchin in the flashback.

edited 20th Jan '14 8:33:33 PM by Rem

Also, it's pretty rare that there are less violent ways to turn an absolute monarchy into a republic.

Are we sure that this is really a republic, though? It certainly seems like the hereditary class system is in full force. Violently overthrowing an absolute monarchy just so that you can put a slightly more constitutional monarchy in it's place isn't really something that makes you a good guy.

It's explicitly a republic, and Kal-El does mention in episode 2 (I think?) that theoretically there is equality before the law.

Theoretically, that is.

Oh, wonderful. Turns out that that was one of the more blatant examples of combining all the negative tropes of The Revolution into one nice cheery episode. Yeah, good guys this "Republic" ain't. If our protagonist forgives those slimeballs, it's because he's a fucking saint.

edited 20th Jan '14 11:38:49 PM by HighVelocityPointyThings