Snapshots: Casshern Sins, Rosario + Vampire CAPU2, Hyakko - 02 October 10
To further make use of the Snapshots section, I thought it would be beneficial to showcase some of the second episodes for all the new series. Since neither Omni nor I have enough time to cover everything in full, I figured this slimmed-down format for the second week would be better than nothing. However, please note that I’m by no means planning to keep this up on a weekly basis after the second week, and it will likely only feature series that I’m continuing to watch, but don’t have the time to cover in our usual way. As such, this is more of an impressions type of post, which I may adopt in the future if it proves to be popular. So without further ado…
Casshern Sins - 02
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Wow, if there’s one series that I wish I had time to cover properly, Casshern Sins would be it. I was simply blown away by how captivating this episode was, which was mainly due to the eye-opening portrayal of the hopelessness in their desolate world. While we’re only dealing with robots here, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the ones that embraced their impending deaths and tried to live their last days peacefully, rather than struggling against their fate until the very end. I find that there’s something very human about such a resolve, which coupled with the fear that they experience made me feel like I was watching a group of humans suffering from an epidemic. Seeing robotic limbs fall off and disintegrate only emphasized this notion more, as did the relationship between Root (Ishida Akira) and Wrench (Minaguchi Yuuko), whom I was sad to see eventually killed off (…by Casshern). Desperation was another prominent theme here, as they showed how even good robots will turn astray when it comes down to a matter of self preservation — another very human trait. I was so drawn into its depiction that I actually got goosebumps at some points, a reaction I consider to be extremely good for an anime. It doesn’t hurt that the production quality was top-notch this time around too, and actually looked a bit better than the first episode.
Story-wise, things revolved around Casshern’s ongoing attempt to discover his past and what he did to bring the world to ruin. They also revealed that there’s a rumour floating around claiming that those who “eat” Casshern will be saved, which explains why everyone’s been after him. This even caused all the death-accepting robots to turn on him after he saved them, which left us on a really nice cliffhanger when Casshern instinctively defended himself and wiped them all out. Judging by Casshern’s dismal reaction though, I get the feeling that his automatic defensive mode may be related to what happened in his past. Of course there’s only one way to find out, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of this one.
Rosario + Vampire CAPU2 - 02
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OP: “DISCOTHEQUE” by Mizuki Nana (水樹 奈々)
Watch the OP!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Show Streaming ▼
ED: “Trinity Cross” by Mizuki Nana (水樹 奈々)
Watch the ED!: Mirror 1, Mirror 2, Show Streaming ▼
Is it just me or is Mizuki Nana switching her Moka voice to her Allison & Lillia one this season? It could just be me after hearing her as those characters for the past six months, but every time I heard one of Moka’s outbursts, a picture of Lillia popped into my head. Anyway, despite being one of the few fans of this anime adaptation, the second episode was admittedly kind of weak. As such, I don’t think it’s going to win over anyone who was on the fence about this series, which is a bit of a shame for a second showing. Visual-wise I had no complaints though, but the end of the episode where they revealed that Kokoa loves the vampire-released form of Moka only (to the point of masochism) was kind of anticlimatic. Tsukune and everyone else’s reactions pretty much sums up my thoughts on that turn of events, which made everything from the previous episode feel moot. That’s alright though, since Moka was adorable as hell when she was a kid and the opening sequence is still awesome, especially given how god damn catchy DISCOTHEQUE is. The new rainbow colored staff credits stood out a bit too much during the regular opening sequence (see above), but at least it’s something different. New this week is the ending theme, Trinity Cross, which is performed by Mizuki Nana as well. Having listened to her Trickster single for a while now, I was already a fan of the song, so the only real surprise was how bland the ending sequence is. It basically features a naked Moka in a vampire cloak and not a whole lot else, aside from some scenes of all the girls tearing up. Ah well, at least the song is still really good.
Hyakko - 02
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Much like I was expecting, Torako (Orikasa Fumiko) really drives the comedy in this series and this episode was a prime example of that. In what was an escapade about joining new clubs, it comes as no surprise to me how much of a comedic pair Torako and Tatsuki (Neya Michiko) make. When you mix stupidity with logic only a huge headache results. Luckily for us though, we can just sit back and enjoy all the humour while Tatsuki’s patience is completely driven up the wall. With Torako’s knack for constantly disregarding other people’s opinions, it was hilarious to see Tatsuki finally snap and start going at her pace. Who the hell considers famous player names positions anyway? Torako apparently. As I mentioned before, Torako really reminds me of the stupidity found in Miu from Ichigo Mashimaro, whom Orikasa Fumiko also plays. The only thing missing in Hyakko is someone smashing Torako over the head for every stupid thing she does — which if happens, is going to floor me laughing. Production-wise, everything still continues to look sharp and lush in my eyes, so no complaints there. For a comedy, everything’s already visually better than needed to please me, so I’m only looking forward to more laughs from here on.
RmX at 3:03 am on October 10th, 2008
I’m diggin’ this format.
minikui at 3:19 am on October 10th, 2008
really nice idea. Casshern continues to be a good show … but I lost interest in Hyakko, this time the jokes were a bit weak. and Kannagi and Yozakura are funnier to me ^^
Godzilla at 3:22 am on October 10th, 2008
Casshern Sins is a definite must watch and deserves the previous format in my opinion.
anon at 3:24 am on October 10th, 2008
what about chaos;head?
Chicle at 3:30 am on October 10th, 2008
Hyakko was awesome this week. The laughs kept racking up.
@anon: Entire episode can be summed up easily in a two words: “hell yeah.” Wonderful start to a great-looking horror/suspense series.
Paraetta at 3:30 am on October 10th, 2008
Chaos;head will be aired soon and Casshern is not bad as remake. Also Kannagi and Toradora are good shows. Imo.
major payne at 3:45 am on October 10th, 2008
you guys have got to blog casshern sins!!!! It’s to good of a show to pass up!!! And to please the mecha lovers out there!!!!
kayne001 at 3:50 am on October 10th, 2008
go Casshern!
also go Mizore!! (RtV)
Exia at 3:51 am on October 10th, 2008
honestly i wouldnt mind these small kind of snapshots. i never read the summaries anyways and just read the impressions to see if i can relate to them. i think ill keep watchin casshern sins now. I never picked up those other two series due to lack of interest.
reggie at 3:55 am on October 10th, 2008
casshern sins is a must blog, its just to good
AznCoffee at 3:56 am on October 10th, 2008
Divine, your starting to think all azn xD
compact ^^
lol but doing the snapshots like this is smarter xD saving space and all that…
thanks for the OP and ED ^__^ they’re greatly appreciated.
Espada at 4:17 am on October 10th, 2008
@blogger
yah you must blog casshern sins xD
p.s.
when will you blog chaos;head O_o
A Anime Loving Republican at 4:18 am on October 10th, 2008
Hope you keep blogging Rosario Vampire Capu2.
Death at 4:20 am on October 10th, 2008
I like how you do things. This has made me want to watch Casshern Sins
divine at 4:47 am on October 10th, 2008
CHAOS;HEAD will likely be blogged tomorrow, because Thursday has been just too hectic with all the other shows proceeding forward from last week. Neither Omni nor I have even gotten a chance to watch it yet. Omni has expressed interest in the show though, so I was going to leave it to him. Recall that Fridays are empty at the moment (sorry to break the news, but we don’t have plans to continue with Linebarrels of Iron), so it’s a good day to catch up on the plethora of Thursday shows. I’m hoping things will settle down within a week though, after which things should be back to normal with timelier updates.
Today was also the start of the NHL season, so I was busy watching the hockey game on TV. :X
AznCoffee:
Who says I’m not?
You’re welcome on the OP/ED though. As for saving space, it was just an issue with time (or lack thereof), but I feel the Snapshots for each of the series above were sufficient in giving people an idea of what each of them were about. All I hope to do now is help people decide if it’s worthwhile continuing a series.
UnknownVoice at 5:07 am on October 10th, 2008
Casshern was great (as was starter episode of Tytania)
Other two in this mix? meh, I say! meh! Two pointless comedy shows, one about cheesy ecchi vampires, other i do not even want to know :E
Izuru at 5:30 am on October 10th, 2008
I REALLY wish you’d keep blogging Casshern ;_; but I understand it’s impossible to keep up with so many shows. I for one am DEFINITELY looking forward to this second episode.
minikui at 5:32 am on October 10th, 2008
>sorry to break the news, but we don’t have plans to continue with Linebarrels of Iron
not really a surprise. This show is only worth watching if you’re going to make fun of it. v.v
But I’d love for Yozakura to be continued a bit a least (not sure how it will develop) ^^ Chaos Head was so-so, really weird and will probably show its true colors next week …
Espada at 6:15 am on October 10th, 2008
@divine
thx for the info divine ^^
desho? at 7:10 am on October 10th, 2008
Does this mean there’s a low chance of you blogging these shows?
Darn.