Winter 2019 anime

"Rockefeller's Standard Oil scheme"

Tell me more about that rockafeller skank.

@Red Savant

I tried giving Endro a try too. And it's not bad, I think you just have to get past the In Media Res opening. The moment I saw game ending credits is when I decided to see what it had to offer.

I was expecting some sort of meta humor where we're going to be shown what led up to the fight with the demon lord. Only it turns out the fight already happened, and we're back at the beginning because the MC was an idiot who forgot to save the game.

But I was wrong. Turns out the fight sent the demon lord back in time because the MC was an idiot and flubbed the spell.

Edited by RedRob on Feb 24th 2019 at 9:42:14 AM

I did get past the credits gag, I was just hoping for a bit more substance to it than "here are characters whose names are literally their classes. They have one joke each. Time for non-copyright-infringing RPG jokes." The opening was very much generic The Power of Friendship final-boss stuff, which I figured was part of the joke, but then that didn't really change afterward, either...

One Joke Per Character, excellente.

So I got through ep 6 of Endro, and I'm not as entertained by it anymore.

Went in expecting it to be about the demon lord, or Mao, arranging the adventuring classes to be dangerous for the M Cs as she tried to avenge her past defeat.

But nope. She doesn't do anything past ep.1 and basically just acts as your typical loli sensei character.

At which point, I ask what was the point of the intro of episode one, and even having Mao as a character in the first place?

That said, she's still the best character by virtue of actually having a backstory in ep.6.

Personally, I see it as a deconstruction of the RPG-mechanics and their storytelling in overall.

The Hero and the party are practically "braindead idiots" aka "playable characters" that basically have no player to play them properly, hence why they are such idiots, but still due to how the story goes, moves forward regardless.

Mao is supposed to be the antagonist, but due to the time-loop, essentially enters a New Game Plus and with the knowledge form the last run, tries to avoid her role of fate to be the antagonist, which would in a way ruin the entire game if there is no villain for the hero to defeat in the first place. Meaning that she's actively sabotaging the plot of the "Hero's Story" without actually engaging in real obstruction or endangering the hero's life to do so. All she has to do in order to prevent the hero to become the "hero", is by not becoming the "villain", effectively rendering the entire purpose of the "hero & their party" null. She's actually kind of unique as a villain in that regard, by aiming for a victory over the hero without actually doing anything villainous to accomplish it.

The princess however, feels more akin of a "player" than an actual "playable character" in that she tries to get the story into reaching its destined conclusion. However, if there is no villain to defeat, the hero will never be able to settle down and marry her, meaning that the princess will wait forever for a conclusion that (as done before 998 times) needs to happen. (Meaning that not only is Mao actively sabotaging the hero's journey by trying to become a NPC, she's sabotaging and ruining the princess' dream in the process as well.) So I suspect that the princess would, in this context, assume a more antagonistic role in order to get the ending that she (selfishly) feel that she deserves, by forcing the Mao into becoming the Demon Lord/The villain, against their wishes and will.

In a odd way, Mao is the one that needs to be saved from the princess, instead for the other way around.

All while we get to know all the characters better on the way until the inevitable happens which will determine if the story (999th run) will play out like the others or break the cycle at last.

A deconstruction indeed.

This is the reason I'm still watching it.

It's refreshing, in a odd way.

Late on this, but Crunchyroll released four Boogiepop episodes on saturday, a special broadcast of the Boogiepop At Dawn arc, which is the origin story for the two main characters; the animation really shines and I think that sort of release format was well thought-out.

Oh crap, I have a ton of episodes to catch up on at once, now. >.>

Been playing a lot of Empire at War (with Forces of Corruption) as of late, so here's a bulk rundown of the past three episodes of Pastel Memories:

Episode 06:

• Expected the Hamtaro references... but what I didn't expect was the aloof Rei being a not!Gunpla enthusiast who secretly likes cute things. Also had a chuckle when I found out Rei was voiced by Yurika Kubo, since she previously voiced Eco Turbine in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans.
• Hmm... The girls seriously didn't recognize Maya's real-life identity? To be honest, that feels like a trifle compared to solving the unstated mysteries of who created those "viruses" that invade and Ret-Gone anime/manga/video game 'verses in the first place, and whether Maya is actually a dragon with a mysterious backer.

Episode 07:

• 8-bit graphics, party of four heroes on a quest to vanquish a demon lord, and limited NPC speaking lines? Admittedly haven't played any JRPGs, but it's Dragon Quest, all right.
• Also, that special 8-bit version of the ending song...

Episode 08:

''"♪ Hey (hey), ho (ho), now were gonna rock it, 'till the lights go out (out), there's fire in the kitchen again/ Hey (hey), ho (ho), now we're gonna rock it, 'till the wheels fall off, oh-oh-oh...we got it goin on/ ♫"''

• And here I thought the episode was going to reference Food Wars (or Cooking Master Boy). Turns out it's an older series, Mister Ajikko.
• Man, they had to drag Takehito Koyasu into this, didn't they? Though to be fair, he's no stranger to being cast in a popular food battle anime.
• Maya and her damn Noblewoman's Laugh... (Paging ohohojousama...) Also, she's starting to remind me of SSSS.GRIDMAN's Akane Shinjo with her desire to wipe out a city. Plus, her curry's probably worse than fellow Christmas Cake Ashigara.

+ a brutally honest take on the show: I hope the series' penultimate episode/s has the 12 Rabbit Shed girls in a Final Battle with Maya (and the Bigger Bad backing her, if any) with the eventual winner either erasing (Maya) or restoring (Nejiusa and the girls) Akihabara. I know, I know, this anime is pretty much a discount magical girl anime version of Protectors of the Plot Continuum with lawyer-friendly anime/manga/video game references, but even with an admittedly mediocre Guilty Pleasure show, I can't help but want Pastel Memories to have a decently epic, well-written finale instead of unnecessarily dragging on hoping that there will be a second season which may or may not come (as is the case with most mobile game adaptations). More so with only four (or five?) episodes left.

Edited by IncognitoNinja on Feb 26th 2019 at 8:02:05 PM

@Incognito Ninja I've also watched Pastel Memories. Welcome to the club

Mob Psycho 100 II episode 8: Mob Psycho 100 continues to be a masterpiece and is a strong contender for Anime of the Year

And finally got time to catch up with Mob Psycho II...

(Deep sigh of peace)

Yep, this is one good show. (Once I got past the initial first episode...) My heart is all over the place...

Another added on the list.

Edited by TitanJump on Mar 2nd 2019 at 6:30:22 PM

Pastel Memories Episode 09:

• Well, who would have thought that it was possible to redeem Maya (by having Kaoruko romance her, to boot!) and put her on the path to a possible Heel–Face Turn? Also, that visual novel's Twist Ending reminds me of another fictional visual novel Sena Kashiwazaki played, in which the heroines and Sena's player character were suddenly eaten by a shark.

Slime will get a "continuation" in 2020.

Edited by Lyendith on Mar 18th 2019 at 12:12:38 PM

@Lyendith Well, I started the thread for Slime so yeh

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=15242131450A37807600&page=20#476

Catching up to Kotobuki, with episode 7 and 8. I must say 7 had the best CG in the series so far, they're really getting the hang of this. Both episodes were quite entertaining too, although I'm not sure bombing a fire out would actually work in real life… In episode 8, the barman and barmaid were a nice addition, and boy Johnny has watched too much Equilibrium.

There does seem to be a larger plot occuring this time, which is nice.

PS: This show doesn't quite get enough credit for its musical score. Each music (or lack thereof) underlines its scene perfectly, it's truly a delight.

Edited by Lyendith on Mar 19th 2019 at 11:39:30 AM

Actually, it is a kind of legitimate tactic, depending on how much you can aim an explosion or how little you care about the thing that's on fire. See, when a bomb explodes, it very rapidly displaces air, which can put out a fire that's on the shockwave radius. It's a lot like blowing out a candle, but on a very different scale.

To a degree, it's the same tactic as one would use with a nuke. You don't blow up a nuke inside a city; you blow it up above the city, so the radiation and the shockwave can spread and cause more destruction than the impact itself. It's the same here. Detonate a bomb close enough to a fire, and the shockwave can put out the fire through aggressive air flow, or even by snuffing the fire with debris.

Of course, that was more common before someone came up with the idea of filling an airplane with water for the specific purpose of putting out fires. But it can be done.

But back on the topic, I'm glad to see Kotobuki got some of it's thing back. I don't plan on going back and watching it, but I'm glad to see it recovered.

Edited by TheLovecraftian on Mar 21st 2019 at 4:30:46 PM

It definitely never got as bad as episode 3. It's still walking a tight rope, but it's getting slowly better at keeping a balance in the visuals and pacing. I don't know how much episodes there will be, but I kinda hope it's two cour if it keeps improving.

Even if there's water bomber now, the "bombing your fire" is still a legit way even now because the thing that is on fire is an oil field. You don't put out fire in an oil field with water, just like how you don't soak your burning pan.

One thing I'm sure of, the reason for the CG is because they animate everything to make sure it's realistic (or as realistic as they can get with anime hairs and no oxygen mask). Because you can actually see the pilots emoting, jostling around from the maneuver with their hands on the stick, leaning down to the shitty sights of the Hayabusa to shoot, all from outside of the cockpit. The reason why Girls und Panzer's Das Finale (I think I'll die before I can watch them all, at this rate) takes so long is because Acta is insistent with the 2D animation while working with Mizushima's military OCD. Back then, the original series finale was also delayed because of this kind of shit.

I would rather take 3DCG over having a 45 minute OVA every 1.5 year out of six OVA episodes, all because Mizushima is just that OCD. And I would not expect him doing any less because Mizushima is just that good when it comes to war machines. You don't know how much a torture it is being a veteran Girls und Panzer fan who knows this. It's like being a veteran Madoka Magica fan which only known next projects are that concept movie (which is in limbo for years now) and the mobile game's anime adaptation (I still play the game, tho).

Edited by AlaAlba on Mar 22nd 2019 at 2:34:35 AM

Pastel Memories ep. 10:

• Man, how many shonen manga references were in that episode? Pretty sure there's the "Retired" reference from JoJo, the Kurama Expy, references to Hajime no Ippo (or perhaps Ashita no Joe?), and probably a few more that went over my head.
• Also, Maya potentially having a Heel–Face Turn lasted for about one episode. Never mind that her "Mother Virus" has been going haywire (read: not following her orders) for the past couple of episodes.
• "Discount Hanekawa" is actually a Yaoi Fangirl... Who will lecture you about the intricacies of Yaoi... (*Backs away slowly before hightailing it out of there*)

Pastel Memories ep. 11:

• Izumi's reaction to seeing Akihabara at its prime in the world of Neon Nova Exceed (a.k.a.: lawyer-friendly Evangelion) was pretty much similar to my reaction to visiting Akihabara IRL for the first time.
• Finally, Maya realizes that she can't control her Mother Virus anymore and (reluctantly) joins the heroes—who themselves need backup upon realizing how powerful the berserk Mother Virus is. So all 12 girls (plus Maya and "discount Dr. Ritsuko Akagi") will be in this final showdown.

Watched the final episode of "The Price of Smiles"...

Wow, the beginning of the end of the current anime season is almost over already.

Where did it go?

Where does one nominate "Anime Award" characters?

I would like to nominate Haru-Chan from "My Roommate Is A Cat" as "Best Girl".

And the award for most over the top "transformation"^note that I have seen of the season goes to KakeguruiXX(spoilers obviously)

if you haven't watched Kemurikusa yet, i highly recommend you pick it up, Tatsuki has been nailing the latest episodes and episode 11 is a goddamn masterpiece

And that settles it for My Roommate is a Cat

(Applause)

This was such a sweet series that I was literally in squee at the end of it and crying over it being over. The character growth and development between the two characters was strong and to see a "realistic" anime in change of the others this season felt refreshing. Engaging story, humor in the right places and drama when needed without going overboard. A great feel-good anime and therapeutic exercise for people who struggles with similar issues as Subaru, social anxiety and the like.

I sure felt helped by watching it week after week and it even managed to inspired me to greet others with a smile more often, even if it is just a single "hi", when out for shopping food.

Great show and a treasure of this season.

I vote for Haru as "Best Girl".

Edited by TitanJump on Mar 27th 2019 at 7:38:52 PM

It was the previous season but I finished Run with the Wind(Kaze). Loved it. Heard it did an alternate ending where Haiji leg wasn't permanent damaged and in a wheelchair, though he definitely can't run again and has a permanent limp. Also that the romantic tension between Haiji and Kakeru was anime only. Kakekru being interested in Hana who was into both twins in the novel as well.

Edited by OmegaRadiance on Mar 27th 2019 at 12:08:39 PM