http://koenokatachi-movie.com/trailer/

Could be good. Shonen is shonen but Ghibli was technically for kids, so, ganbatte I guess. Anyone know anything about the manga?

I read the manga. It's a very good, and it has a bit of a reputation over at /r manga. The mangaka even got an award for it, IIRC. It's called a shonen because it was serialized on Weekly Shonen Magazine (the one that serializes Fairy Tail), but I think the story is well worth it's salt, with themes that revolve around redemption for the male lead.

I'm not sure about how the story will develop, given the manga is 70-ish chapters long, but I'm nevertheless interested to eventually watch it subtitled and the trailer looks good, with many scenes that I could recognize immediately.

How do you guys feel about Bananya? I would rate it 10/10.

Seems I killed the thread. I'm sorry guys, I don't actually think it's 10/10, more 7/10 :/

It does look cute tho

The second season of Utawarerumono was a bit of a letdown compared to the first one. Hopefully the third season, if it ever comes, will be better. Almost finished with ReLIFE, it's got good review average but can't say it has hit the spot with me. Interesting premise but the excecution is a bit on the dull side.

I cannot recommend Non Non Biyori enough. I don't know why people said it's boring; while it's slow and lazily paced, that's an asset. It's funny, adorable, heart-warming, and basically animated antidepressant.

And, also, well... *glances around to make sure Popey isn't nearby* Renge-chan>>Yamada for Best Girl

Also, the show is basically free of all sketchiness. It's pure, innocent joy. The only questionable part--as Chud mentioned once--is the beach scene, and even a twisted deviant like me was able to enjoy it innocently while viewing and only saw some slight shading while reflecting and discussing.

Seriously. http://www.crunchyroll.com/non-non-biyori Go here. Watch this. Enjoy life again.

I've eyed it a couple times, guess I'll add it on my list of to-watch stuff. Finished ReLIFE, currently watching Jormungand. The drawing style isn't really up my alley (dem chins) but it's interesting enough to hold my attention even if I don't much care for this amount of gun action.

Her name is Koko she is loco I said oh no

The name Valmet one of the characters has annoys me because that's the name of a Finnish company that supplies various things for paper and energy industries I guess Koko should annoy me too since that means "whole" and "size" in Finnish but it's the same as Coco basically so I can brush it off.

So, yeah... Non Non Biyori is 12/10: confirmed for nuclear weapon use.

Turns out the Valmet gal was in the Finnish Rapid Deployment Force <.<'

Kantai Collection: highly educational.


Not responsible for getting the song stuck in your head. <_<

[This message has been edited by Moff Yittreas (edited 08-06-2016 @ 01:14 PM).]

Episode 3: The Operation to Capture W Island

**WARNING: ACTUAL PLOT HAPPENS IN THIS EPISODE. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN ABOUT EXPERIENCING THE PLOT OF THIS SHOW AND ARE IGNORANT ABOUT THE PARTICULARS OF THE PACIFIC NAVAL WAR**

0:01 - Several days ago...

0:07 - ...the pervy admiral was ogling Nagato-san--err I MEAN GIVING HER ORDERS FOR THE NEXT OPERATION

0:20 - Flashback flashes forward to the end of the last episode, but still has dreamy framing. So we're still in the flashback.

0:34 - Intro. Huh. Well... admittedly, I don't think the show is set up for "PREVIOUSLY! On Kantai Collection... followed by some quick scenes and some guy shouting "HUP!" over racing taiko drums. Eh, I'll allow it.

2:10 - Aww. Fubuki is nervous about her first mission briefing. I guess her last mission was just "Hey, dumbass! Into the water with ya!"

2:29 - So, we have the Sendai sisters, Kuma (brown hair), Tama (facing away, lavender hair), Yuubari (the one that looks like a melon)...

2:31 - And Kisaragi.

2:28 - Kisaragi is on the mission too. It's been a while since Mutsuki and Kisaragi sortied together, and Mutsuki is pretty excited. Aww.

2:47 - Two ships who I don't know at the time of this writing (they'll introduce themselves) comment on how close Mutsuki and Kisaragi are, even though they are also Mutsukis.

2:51 - The taller unknown Mutsuki insists, unprompted, that she is not jealous. Creepy. Also, jealous girl is Yayoi and her verbose companion is Mochizuki.

3:15 - After Nagato and Mutsu enter--followed by the rest of their bodies--Sendai calls for a salute. So, I guess she's the senior non-com? Also, I think their salute is supposed to be IJN... but I'm not sure because I've seen others that follow the American pattern more closely (even in Non Non Biyori).

3:23 - Huh. Nagato introduces herself as though she might be unfamiliar. I never noticed that before.

3:40 - Nagato mentions the mission of "several days" ago when the enemy base was destroyed. Fubuki flashes back to her SHAMFUR DISPRAY and whines. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD NOT BE SO SHAMEFUR Also, Shamefur sounds like some kind of otherkin humiliation fetish

3:45 - So, wait. You're launching a major offensive in a couple days... provided today's mission works.

3:55 - "The target... is W Island." *dramatic music* (+3)

Wait. W Island. As in... Wake Island? Dammit, now I have to set up a Creepy Nationalism Meter, too.

4:02 - The mission is to knock out enemy escort squadrons at night to pave the way for an assault. Sendai squees.

4:18 - So, W Island will provide a nice forward base for more scouting. Remember, the premise is humanity has been completely driven off the sea. The opening battle of this series was destroying an Abyssal base that prevented them from any kind of deep-water operations.

4:34 - Fubuki has a sad/anxious. Well, given she barely survived the last mission and now has to carry out a nighttime sneak attack, so she probably can't slip and slide around and wail in panic... yeah, I can see why she's a bit skittish.

4:46 - Destroyer Division Six (they're more prominent later) shows up to offer encouraging words. They would be like... younger sisters to Fubuki (they're of a distinct class, but it's drawn directly from the Fubuki line). But they very nicely brought a bowl of blueberries to help Fubuki's night vision.

5:05 - TITTY BOAT RETUR--errrm... I mean now Atago, and her sister ship Takao, show up to encourage Fubuki. And I just realized that Takao does not wear pants. (-1)

5:13 - Atago gives Fubuki a charm. When I first saw this, I wasn't too familiar with the nature of it and it just looked like a piece of red carboard with some writing on it.

5:16 - Takao explains. "It's a good luck charm to keep enemy shots from hititng you." It also helps if you don't have a shitwit in a Kirov behind you literally ramming you into enemy fire! Grumpy from World of Warships earlier

5:19 - "Actually, inside it is Atago-chan's--" "TAKAO-CHAN! >_<" This was lost on me for a while... until I read that the charm for good luck is a small little packet...

Containing the pubic hairs of a virgin. Well, there's two pieces of character development about Atago that evaded me previously. (-3)

5:31 - To continue the cavalcade of Fubuki gifts, Mamiya drops a massive parfait and some tea in font of her and tells her to "eat a lot." It's a gift from the nearby Tone, who I still insist sounds like Kadotani Anzu. "Eat up, so you have no regrets!" I thought they were Japanese warships, not Italian. >_>

5:52 - So the crowd leaves, and then Ooi and Kitakami show up. Ooi, of course, orders Fubuki out of her waifu's way. This might be a historical in-joke: in-game, Kitakami is annoyed by destroyers and in 1930, the Kitakami had a bad collision with the cruiser Abukuma... so Ooi, as the faithful yandere, will f**king cut you if you block her beloved KTKM's path. SHE WILL CUT YOU AND RAM KAITEN TORPEDOES INTO YOUR NOSTRILS ON COUNTDOWN DETONATORS

6:04 - Kitakami has noted all of the nice gifts Fubuki got, which Ooi justifies--in front but while ignoring Fubuki herself--with, "She's the one who's most liekly to get hit in the next battle, isn't she?" There is a reason you exist solely as a butt of jokes, Ooi.

6:20 - Ooi's "encouragement" is reminding Fubuki that Kitakami took time away from her to teach the destroyer to fire torpedoes, so at least get one hit in before you die. Then she gives her an open-palmed slap on the forehead. Poor widdle Buki.

6:30 - This lead Fubuki to state she's going to go practice, but Mutsuki and Yuudachi stop her. "But I'm going to slow everyone down."

6:45 - Oh, big character background time. While Fubuki is wallowing in self-pity, Mutsuki grabs her hands and tells her she can make it, reminds her how hard she trained and that her friend believes in her.

7:10 - Kisaragi spies Mutsuki's nice little speech, and gives a soft laugh. Y U CREEP AROUND IN SHADOWS SO MUCH KISARAGI! Surely you don't think your hair looks that messed up!

7:24 - Back at their dorm, Mutsuki talks about how when she started out, she got a similar talk from Kisaragi. As I said before, Kisaragi is something of an elder sister to Mutsuki, even though Mutsuki herself was the first ship of her class. The reason behind this is historical: Kisaragi launched and commissioned first, followed by the name ship of the Mutsuki-class.

Anyway, when Mutsuki got to the naval district, there was a battle where the older girls kicked ass but Mutsuki took a hit. She was understandably bummed, so Kisaragi stayed with her while she was scared and helped out.

8:11 - "She cheered me up." Well, Mutsuki,you were on track to gain some points for your nice story. But then you cut to bathtime hijinks. STOP WITH THE SKETCHY ECCHI ON THE ETCH-A-SKETCH (-5)

8:16 - So, Mutsuki is really grateful to Kisaragi... and Fubuki draws a parallel with herself and her roommate. Mutsuki tries to downplay her role... why must you be the sole relatively normal and decent girl, Mutsuki? It's why you suffer. (+2) Anyway, Fubuki insists that Mutsuki is special and a huge help.

8:35 - *blush* "Fubuki-chaaan..."

8:36 - "Grrrr. Am I just in the way, poi?"

NO SHIPPING OF SHIPS GOING ON HERE!

9:08 - Fubuki practices a little in the wee hours of the morning, when...

9:18 - A WILD AKAGI-SENPAI APPEARS... errm, in full combat gear. Wait, why?

9:33 - "Would you watch this?" Oh, sure Akagi-senpai. The girl who just stumbled on her own feet a few seconds ago and is working her ass off to review what she was taught and make sure she doesn't let down the people who invested so much time and effort in getting her there... she really needs to watch you pull trick shots with your bow and arrow while you stand on the water with your eyes closed.

9:59 - Akagi reinforces the notion that Fubuki's practice will improve her abilities ("Shoot true, never miss"). At least that's somewhat useful... but follows it with, "If you think you trained enough, then just do what feels right."

10:25 - "Your body is sure to remember it." *snrk*

10:45 - To underline what a good friend Mutsuki is... she actually went to Akagi's quarters (who happened to get up early that day, but the implication is she would have waited for the carrier) to get her to reassure Fubuki and help her roommate get some faith in herself.(+1)

11:00 - Now Fubuki is slightly depressed... everyone has done so much for her, especially Mutsuki, and she doesn't know how to repay her friend. Mutsuki, of course, says she's fine and doesn't need to be repaid... but then reveals she feels the same way about Kisaragi. So, I think we're out of love polygons and need to expand into a third spatial dimension and investigate love polyhedra.

11:25 - My screen hung up briefly on, "Nobody wants you," from Akagi. And I stared for a minute before the video caught up to the audio and "...to repay us" came up.

11:23 - Now Akagi launches into a big spiel which sets up the other half of the emotional core of this episode... which is what actually convinced me to finish the series on the first viewing. "Just say, 'thank you.' Say what you think. ...We fleet girls are fated to fight from the moment we're born."

11:50 - Soulful music starts playing and we get shots of the sleeping fleet girls while Akagi talks over it. "If the counterattack operation begins, the battles will get tougher. Who knows how many of the fleet girls of this Naval District will be okay. But... I'm still glad I'm a fleet girl. I can protect the people I care about. I can fight with the people I love. *(12:12) clenches fist over her heart* My steel rigging is for fighting. My passionate blood is for protecting. My hidden heart is to love. 'Thank you. I love you. You're wonderful. I'm so happy.' Don't hestitate to tell the people you care about the feelings you have for them... because they may not be there tomorrow." (+2)

11:54 - Ooi and Kitakami share a bed... but Ooi unconsciously nuzzles closer to her comrade in an intimate pose (while Kitakami is just neutrally sleeping on her back). In case you couldn't decode the "subtle" telegraphing to this point.

12:00 - Huh. Apparently the Nagato-class sisters wear their radar headbands to bed. This amuses me, if only for the wanton pillow slaughter that Nagato's rear-swept antennae would lead to (she would have trouble sleeping on her stomach <_<). (+1)

12:08 - This is the "I can fight with the people I love" part, and it immediately goes to Kisaragi stretching on the athletic area with Yuubari, Yayoi, Mochizuki, Kuma, and Tama. She smiles as she finishes a stretch and looks off in the distance.

12:38 - During "they may not be there tomorrow" the camera cuts to this and slowly zooms in.

Even having seen exactly one anime before this, which actively eschewed romantic and life-and-death themes... I could tell what was coming. >_>

12:41 - Of course, Fubuki cheers "Hai!" and then streaks over to Mutsuki, who runs to the edge of the dock. They clasp hands, and Fubuki professes, "Thank you, Mutsuki-chan! I love you!"

12:54 - "I love you too!" This moment is used to illustrate the HoYay page for Kantai Collection on TVTropes.

12:58 -

Yeah. Totally platonic.

13:03 - And of course, Fubuki tells Akagi how much she admires the carrier and wants to fight alongside her some day.

13:46 - The shipgirls have gathered to launch on the mission, and there's some light banter between the cruisers that Kisaragi giggles at (I think that's 90% of her dialog to this point). Mutsuki comes up to her and says she has something to tell her... but falters and says she'll do it after the mission. Onee-san teases about a declaration of love, with light airy music. Mutsuki gives a kneejerk refusal, followed by, "Well, maybe..."

D'ya geddit yet?

So, Mutsuki can't spit it out, and Kisaragi says she understands and Mutsuki is now promising to tell her after the sortie. Oh dear.

14:42 - Apparently, Naka making hand-binoculars actually works like binoculars. I'm going to just blame Naka for this.

15:33 - So Mutsuki tells Yuudachi, "Daisuki!" which leads Yuudachi to fall to her knees in shock and then shout at Mutsuki about "getting so nervous that you suddenly broke." Mutsuki then admits that, yes, she has... that morning (referring to Kisaragi).(+1)

16:22 - Yuudachi is about to reciprocate when Fubuki sees enemy planes, which spot their squadron.

16:50 - So, now the entire enemy fleet is bearing down on Torpedo Squadron Three. Nagato orders them to fall back...

17:18 - And then Jintsuu spots incoming carriers and orders a defensive, anti-aircraft formation. Now, if you're not a complete navy otaku like me... this is very bad. They were originally going to do their mission, which was to engage and destroy the Abyssal escort fleet, which was two light cruisers and four destroyers. Torpedo Squadron Three has three light cruisers and three destroyers, plus an ambush set up with Torpedo Squadron Four with the same general breakdown. They could have taken on the escort element... but now two carriers have entered the fray. While destroyers and light cruisers are quick and maneuverable... they're not faster than a plane, they're not more maneuverable, and they're also not large enough to carry heavy defensive armament to repel serious air attack.

Were this World of Warships and the sky were darkening with torpedo and dive bombers, you would slam the rudder hard over and run for the protective AA umbrella of the nearest pack of heavy cruisers while hoping your collection of machine guns and light autocannon are enough to keep you alive until someone who is built for AA combat can get close.

Still, this is just a fun, silly anime show about warship lolis. What can go wrong, eh? It's like Miho hanging out of the tank in the middle of a battle. You know she's not gonna get blasted to a fresh coat of oxide paint on the turret.

17:44 - Of course, it doesn't help that anti-aircraft fire is delivered by pointing the guns in your hands and along your arms (for the Sendai-class) skyward and squeezing your gats till your clips is empty.

17:49 - And in the midst of it is a determined Mutsuki expressing her desire to "Go home together."

18:20 - Fourth Squadron finds the enemy torpedo squadron and gets to the surface battle fun.

18:38 - But we do cut away to see 3D Naka (only really noticeable with my constant rewatching of short sequences and pausing for commentary) getting shot up. So, that's a plus! (+1)

18:51 - "Listen, Fubuki-chan! Let's make sure we go home together!"
Totally platonic! (Okay, that one is actually delivered in the midst of pitched anti-air battle... but I'm a dirty old man)

19:05 - Abyssal planes are capable of hitting running torpedoes with strafing runs to pre-detonate their warheads before they get too close.

19:31 - An enemy plane swings around and starts blasting Mutsuki. She's shot multiple times during the run... followed by the plane doing into a dive on her. And that is a very American-looking bomb fitted under the wing of the plane...

19:42 - Zoom in on Mutsuki's right eye, with the diving, er, dive bomber reflected... YOU HAD TO TRIGGER ALL OF THE DEATH FLAGS, DIDN'T YOU?

19:43 - "UWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

19:45 - Fubuki stops right in front of Mutsuki and vaporizes the plane with her twin 127mm/50 battery. 'Cause no one is tearing up Mutsuki's clothes but Fubuki--ERR I MEAN... to save her friend! But it is pretty badass.(+2)


20:05 - And then, at Mutsuki's urging (since her torpedoes were all shot up), Fubuki fires her torps at a nearby carrier. And, having practiced and Mutsuki invoking, "Shoot true, never miss!"... she disables the carrier and allows the entire squadron to dump their launchers at it. So, scratch one flattop. Even though... its top is not flat. It's kinda like an evil alien frog thing that vomits planes.

20:38 - Mutsuki celebrates... and is promptly cut off by an explosion just off her port stern. Er... behind and to the left; dat girl ain't even got no stern. Because, well, you dropped one carrier. There are two, remember? And a shit ton of very angry planes. Sendai snaps at her not to let her guard down...

20:45 - But a series of shells streak from above and behind our heroines and explode in the middle of the enemy planes.

20:52 - "Type 3 shells? From beyond the horizon?" But that can only mean... battleships.

21:00 - KONGOU DESU, MOTHERF**KER (+2)

21:31 - The enemy torpedo squadron is retreating away from the Fourth Squadron as they're now under fire and have no way to respond to the major threat.

21:41 - Kisaragi gives a happy sigh, and mutters that everything is okay now.

21:47 - Well, except that stupid wind that's going to mess up her hair!

21:50 - An ominous smoke trail appears in the sky above her...

21:53 - And we see it's coming from a damaged Abyssal dive bomber... that still has a pair of bombs on its hardpoints.

21:54 - And it apparently sees in Terminator-vision.

21:56 - The bombs release, and shortly after the bomber succumbs and explodes. But the payload is already whistling in on Kisragi.

22:02 - Meanwhile, a smudged and bruised Mutsuki is looking into the distance, a little smile on her face. She's thinking, "Just wait, Kisaragi-chan!"

22:06 - We cut from Mutsuki's profile to an enormous explosion on the sea.

22:08 - Now the perspective is underwater, with lots of cavitation and hard-to-determine shapes slipping by.

22:11 - But one of those shapes is very... humanoid.

22:14 - And we see Kisragi's hair clip falling amid the bubbles.

22:16 - Are those anenomes? Seaweed? There's a large, waving mass of pink-purple strands and... and oh no...

22:18 - That's not a rock in sea weed... that's a chin. And we can make out a torn blouse, as well. (Perspective is horizontal relative to the surface of the Earth, but along the vertical axis of a human body, with the camera just off the sternum and pointed toward the face)

22:22 -

Her hand reaches toward the fading light, but she slips further into the Abyss...

22:26 - "Don't forget about Kisaragi." Her eyes close, the dark water swallows her form...

22:38 - And she is gone. (+5)

This was my first anime death since I stopped watching Bible anime as a kid. After Girls und Panzer--and expecting this show to be the same--I was genuinely surprised. And shocked. There's little blood, and some might even argue the clothing damage is a touch exploitative. But even so, this character has been here since the beginning, has a close relationship with one of the major cast... and she's gone.

And it's historically accurate. The destroyer Kisaragi was struck on her fantail depth charge racks by bombs dropped by the 211 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron stationed at Wake Island. The resulting detonation sank her with all hands.

22:44 - Applause for the conquering heroes, especially the MVP... Fubuki! Oh, by the way, it's sunset now. And even Ooi is smiling.

22:47 - Nanodesu and Khorosho. Of course.

22:59 - As Fubuki humbly accepts the praise, Mutsuki looks around for the Fourth Squadron and Kisaragi. Tone just tells her they're not back yet... which is true.

23:11 - Mutsuki runs off and Fubuki asks where she's going. She's headed to the cape to be the first to welcome back the Fourth Squadron.

23:16 - This starts playing as Fubuki volunteers off screen to join her, and we see a deeply concerned Tone staring at the little, deluded Tier VI destroyer.

23:21 - "And I'm going to say, 'I love you. Thank you!' I'm sure she'll be surprised at first. But I'm sure after that she'll blush, and then smile!"

23:36- Wide-eyed and eager Mutsuki continues to run to the cape, the fading light of the dying sun painting the right side of her face in pink and orange... so I guess that means she's running south? Dammit, someone help me figure out where the naval base.

But yeah, the art and animation in this part is very well done and makes it very powerful. That song is crafted to tug on the heartstrings. (+5)

23:41 - Meanwhile, Tone notes Jintsuu, "won't tell them." Jintsuu counters nothing is certain, and there's still hope...

23:53 - But Tone points out that sometimes, that's the crueler thing to do.

23:56 - Now, Nagato is reporting to the admiral. "Today at 1542, 56 kilometers off the coast of W Island, the destroyer Kisaragi was badly damaged and set on fire by an enemy bomber. The other members of her squad searched for her, but they decided there was no hope and gave up the search eleven minutes ago. She is sunk."

24:24 - Another profile of Mutsuki, mirroring the shot when she was thinking about her sister. Nagato is delivering the last sentence of her report... and the music has gotten to, "And let's not say 'goodbye.'"

Series Kaga Smiles: 1
Episode Nanodesu: 3 (Two came from the blueberry scene)
TOTAL SCORE: +16

This episode and the following one are what made me gut it through the doldrums that crop up later in the show.

Still too much text You have a massive amount of comments AND many comments go on two or more lines, while Pops keeps his mostly on one line. Do you expect me to actually READ on these forums?!

But yeah, I did actually develop a new method for doing these about halfway through. Watch first, take note of noteworthy things instead of trying to novelize it, then fine-tune the bullet points.

And this is another reason to watch Non Non Biyori. This one I will be evangelical about, because it will improve your life. <_<

[This message has been edited by Moff Yittreas (edited 08-07-2016 @ 02:42 PM).]

Started watching, definitely very relaxed with its pacing

Isn't it gloriously relaxing?

Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge is far better in the relaxing department. This is just extremely light, slow stuff with nothing really happening Not bad, just not all that good either, been giving it a six, currently on second season. I'll admit I don't think I'm a big fan of countryside themed animes, though.

I was planning to get a review done during the weekend, but I couldn't manage it. Sorry.

Should be able to get one in this week.

Moff gets +10 points for the time/effort he puts into these reviews. Even though I just read about 2% of them the enthusiasm is invigorating. *allthumbsup*

O-oliver-sama...

[This message has been edited by Moff Yittreas (edited 08-12-2016 @ 06:57 AM).]

*atama-pon*

BAD ADMIRAL

BAD

YOU STOPPIT

GARURU






I found this on a Brony Tumblr. That's right... there's another GuP/MLP/KanColle fan out there. And he apparently lives in Mexico.

[This message has been edited by Moff Yittreas (edited 08-15-2016 @ 07:44 PM).]

Seems I'm past 400 entries and 5000 episodes watched