All posts by draggle

Puella Magi Madoka Magica 06

Puella Shoujo Madoka Magica,

Damn, I really didn’t see that one coming. So it turns out that the souls of magical girls are transferred from their bodies into their gems, and the bodies are just shells which shut down when the soul gets a hundred meters away. Apparently Homura knew this as well but didn’t tell them – one would think this would be a good way to convince them not to become magical girls, no? Even Kyoko wasn’t aware of this, and it seems like she’ll be a bit less combative for the time being. We also learn that Kyuubey eats the grief seeds after they absorb the darkness from the gems (souls) of the magical girls.

Kyuubey also seems to have some ideas as to who Homura is. My current crackpot theory: Homura is actually Madoka, who made a wish to stop people from becoming magical girls (including herself and her friends, and maybe Mani too) and was able to go back in time to fulfill her wish. Hopefully the truth will be even less predictable.

It seems like Mani isn’t actually dead too since her gem wasn’t broken. I wonder if Homura has her gem, or does Kyuubey? And we still don’t know what the other purpose of the grief seeds is for magical girls. We know that Kyuubey eats them, but why do Mani and Homura want to find them? Sayaka didn’t seem to benefit from Kyuubey eating the grief seed. I guess they want more power, but still, it seems there is something more to it…

Madoka’s mom gave quite the pertinent advice this episode. Although Madoka’s best idea at doing something bad was pretty laughably non-bad. But the effects were certainly quite good…

Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka? 05

Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka,


This episode continued in the good trend they started in the last episode of more humor and less actual plot and fanservice. Well, there was a lot of fanservice, but it was more directed for humorous purposes (i.e., the opening scene, Haruna’s attempt at transformation). Surprisingly the plot isn’t as horrible as these things usually go though.

The show this reminds me of the post is Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaoh – it has the same random sense of humor. That show started out really strong but then got bogged down with a terrible semblance of a plot and increasing levels of GARness – especially that superhero guy. We can only hope that Kore wa Zombie Desu ka won’t take the same path and will continue not to take itself too seriously.

The comedy continues to be top-notch- Ayumu’s cuteness jokes, Haruna’s obliviousness and Sera’s (accurate) insults. They are using the same jokes over and over again, but it hasn’t gotten old quite yet. Ayumu’s choice of date spot was classic, and Sera’s stab through the middle of Ayumu’s chest sealed the icing on the cake.

It was pretty obvious that Kyoko would end up being a psycho, but still, I applaud all usage of insane girls. And the way they kept piling titles on her was pretty funny. She also knows Haruna except Haruna doesn’t know her (that phone conversation did have a purpose, but it was still way too long). I really hope this doesn’t follow one of those “let’s all get along plots!” and she joins Ayumu’s harem, but I have a sinking feeling that she will…

Star Driver 18

Star Driver,

The jokes in this episode all really hit the right spot! The sequence with the class rep was the best part. After she told Takuto that wanting to be an idol was childish, and it cut to her singing at Karaoke, complete with dancing and hand motions, I was completely cracking up. This was funny enough, but after a minute of dancing when Takuto walked in as a waiter was just priceless. The timing was just perfect.

One thing that still bothers me though is those two new villains. I just can’t take them seriously. So far the most villainous things they’ve done are challenge Wako to a volleyball match and crash a party. It’s not really their villainousness that I can’t take seriously though; it’s more their entire existence. So far all they’ve done is play pranks and act like lesbians.

But really, the best part of this episode was the trolling.

Onii-chan no Koto… 05

Onii-chan no Koto,

This episode was an enormous improvement over the past two. We have a new character Kondou who is into BL magazines, runs into Shuusuke in the middle of the night, exchanges magazines and blackmails him into becoming her pet. By far the best part about this episode were the reactions of Shuusuke and Nao though – Shuusuke begging Kondou not to tell his sister because she would disown him. As Nao is watching and drooling about her brother becoming Kondou’s pet. And later when she pieces together the BL magazine and then worries that he would get into that was the perfect setup, I thought she was serious, until she broke down rolling around laughing on the floor and then began drooling over what Shuusuke would look like buying a magazine.

Nao certainly drives the humor in this show, but Shuusuke is starting to get his time in the sun too. The scene with the AGE’s meeting to plan a counterattack against Mr. X was funny as well, as was Kondou’s letter she stuck on his back and Shuusuke’s unknowing counterplot. Shuusuke’s delusions were entertaining as well.

I love the facial expressions in this show.

My main complaint though is still Iroha – she doesn’t really contribute much and is more of a one joke pony. I mean, we get that she’s a stalker already, can’t she do something else? And why does she suddenly seem somewhat friendly with Nao? Didn’t they hate each other before and were just acting friendly?

Hourou Musuko 04

Hourou Musuko,

I just love how this series does its storytelling with showing and not telling. In most other series, after Momo tells Takatsuki that she looks very womanly, Takatsuki would have somehow ended up telling Nittori that she wished she wasn’t as feminine or getting into a fight with Momo. But instead, Takatsuki just sinks to the bottom of the pool and curls up into a ball as Nittorin watches from the distance. It’s little touches like this that really bring out the potential of anime as a visual medium, which are so often neglected by shows which seem to think their viewers are idiots who needed to be pounded in the head with a fifty pound hammer to get a point across. (in defense of the creators of these shows, their assumptions may not be entirely wrong)

And I must sound like a broken record here, but the way the show continues to portray the relationships between the characters continues to be fantastic. I loved it when Ana was worried that she made Shuu cry, and Maho just told her not to worry because he does that all the time. Now this is what an actual sibling relationship is like! The way Maho rudely interrupts Shuu’s daydreaming in the bath was great as well. Same with everyone’s complete misinterpretation of Ana’s gift strap.

Chiba = Win

So I am shipping for the Chiba x Mako-chan ending. And Shuusuke would do well to remember: