Another fun episode of Dog Days. The characters in this show are just such a joy to watch. In this episode, Ricotta’s appearance was spectacular. First she apologizes for not being much help. Then Shinku and Eclair begin a charge against the enemy fortress by themselves, as Eclair tells the story of a lone knight who defeated an entire army. Then, right as they are about to engage the enemy army, Ricotta blasts the living daylights out of the enemy army with artillery. And later she does a combo move with the ninja and drops grenades on them. I’m always partial to explosions, and explosions caused by cute mad scientist dog girls can only be an improvement.

Shinku and Eclair continue to be a great pair, equaling each other in both hotheadedness and idiocy. The part where they both told the other to go ahead while they take on the enemy themselves was a great take on that overused device. The ensuing argument and complaints from the enemy leader only made it better.

This show is the funnest thing I’ve seen in a long while. If I had any complaints, they could stand to make the princess a bit more interesting in comparison to the other characters. Right now she is comparatively boring. Also, why did Shinku and Eclair suddenly become so weak looking when they were fighting in the castle courtyard? What happened to their energy beams and crazy Parkour moves? Their fight with the guards through the princess’ mirror looked rather pathetic.

This episode took a step back from the non-stop action of the first two episodes to better explain the world and introduce more of the supporting characters. It wasn’t quite as crazy and fast-paced as the first two episodes, but definitely did have its good moments. You can tell that the creators are really having a lot of fun making this. The entire world is centered around enormous games of capture the flag with explosions and ninja obstacle courses.The characters are just fun to watch— this has to be one of the shows with the smallest amounts of angst I’ve ever watched.

The part where the dog showed the summoning circle was hilarious. Always read the fine print! Who would have thought that a show involving giant explosions and a war between cats and dogs would be making fun of software EULAs…

We also learn about the economics of war. To be honest, I’m surprised they even bothered explaining it (who wouldn’t want to fight in these “wars”?) but it was amusing nonetheless.

I’m loving our resident mad scientist as well. Almost making me wish I had a tail so I could be this enthusiastic. Speaking of the anthropomorphism of dogs and cats but only tangentially related, I’d like to mention this one verse from the fabulous translation of Ecclesiastes by the LOLCat Bible Translation Project:

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

— Ecclesiastes 1:14, NIV

Teechurcat haz see lolrus n cheezburgerz n longcatz n awl dat is st00pidz, lyke chasing aftur tail. Nevr can catch teh tayle and even whn yu doo it hrtz srsly.

— Ecclesiastes 1:14, LOLCat Bible

Chasing after wind —> chasing after tail is perhaps even an improvement over the original. Anyway, regarding tails: I approve.

The episode ends with the princess being kidnapped by a very formidable looking ninja.  It looks like we’re in for another battle in the next episode. 🙂

Ok, this show is officially awesome. This is what a fighting show should be like. None of that preachy touchy-feely stuff or people getting hurt. Just hundred kill combos, humongous explosions, and combo attacks from thousands of feet in the air. That’s the kind of fighting show I can get behind.

The characters are great as well. This episode focused on Eclair and the other princess King as they join the battle. Eclair and Shinku have some great chemistry— even though they fight with each other they’re really two birds of the same feather. Shinku’s obliviousness made for a great effect in the scene where he groped Eclair, and a twist on the usual “falling on top of each other” cliche which I’m still laughing about. Shinku and the princess also go together well with their obliviousness, such as in the last segment where they both realize Shinku can’t go home.

I often don’t like fanservice because it serves to substitute for actual humor or plot, but Dog Days has been able to use it to great effect in furtherance of its jokes. In particular Eclair’s falls, the King’s armor and Eclair’s loss of clothes were all hilarious. When the fanservice is as funny as this I really can’t complain.