View Full Version : SaiKano (Saishuuheiki Kanojo) Discussion
7thMethuselah
2003-11-15, 18:42
and I must say this one really got to me.
This is by far the saddest, depressing, haertbreaking anime I've ever seen. A very sad but realistic story about people in extreme circomstances.
I especially liked the way characters acted so "real-life", no hero-stuff but showing people the way they really are, showing the weak points of one's personality under great pressure. There are soo many examples of this, Take's girlfriend who immediately dates other boys but still only truly loves him (as seen at the moent of her death), Akemi that gives herself away to a person she doesn't love just to be conforted, fuyumi sempai, shuuji who breaks his promises.
And then the almost impossible love between the two main characters, they start out slow, shuuji full of doubts actually but comes to realise he really loves her after all...
The festival was also a great moment, one of the few hopegiving ones in the entire aniem), about how people in desperate, no win scenario's, still try to accomplish something because no matter how futile, for a mometn they'll feel ok again.
I'm gonna stop babbling here, just a note to anyone who hasn't seen this yet, go watch it now.
PS I should have listened to the warning they gave me :)
That show has lost one potential viewer...I try to avoid all sad/sob story..
Ah, finally a Saikano post in the new forum! :)
I concur with 7thMethuselah: This is a truly heartbreaking story. And I mean that in the best way possible; the characters are all finely portrayed, and through them the story cuts right through your defenses.
If you like tragedies, this is surely the one anime to watch. So painful, yet so beautiful. Gah! Words fail me. Watch it!
Yeah, SaiKano was a great series. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget it. The music was nice too, very fitting. First anime series that made me cry the entire time. ^_^
Go-lytely
2003-11-15, 19:56
I didnt find it sad because you never really got to know the side characters that well so I didnt care if they died or not. Also, I was desensitized to all the death and violence. By the end, I knew everyone was going to die and I was like "oh well"
I read the manga first, then tried to watch the anime, but the anime felt too pretentious. Like it was trying too hard to be sad and human and meaningful instead of just letting things happen naturally. It's not like the manga was fantastic either, but the anime was really pulling out all the stops in a very obvious manner, trying to wring out an emotional response from the viewer by any means possible. "Hey, it's a new episode, let's kill off another undeveloped and pointless side character, yay!" That kind of feeling. It's not a BAD anime per se, just kinda meh.
is this serie licensed ?
You can always look at some of the more obvious places to check this for yourself.
On the AnimeSuki font page there is a link called Licensed List (http://www.animesuki.com/doc.php/licensed/list.html)
Or in the forum (the one this post used to be in), there is a thread that not only lists number of episodes but if the series has been licensed or not, How Many Episodes: Answered here! (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=157).
As well as places such as AnimeNfo, AnimeOnDVD, and so on, and so on.
Shenlong
2003-11-16, 05:21
Saikano anoyed me by trying too hard to mess with my emotions, subtly works wonders.. I like sad animes as much as the next person as long as there is a point.. needless to say I think saikano is overrated
The SaiKano anime did a lot of things wrong, but the story itself was strong enough to pull it out of the gutter.
First of all, they killed off too many important characters without telling you anything about them, then killed off more characters... and that scene in the mountains with the chick (who's boyfriend never died in the manga... *snoopy spits at the production crew*) never even should have happened. All in all, the most heartbreaking parts were watered down more than most of you would believe if I bothered to explain it, and some of them were skipped entirely.
But see? The story was still there, so people are still talking about it. It's a testament to Takahashi Shin that not even animators could ruin SaiKano.
For a guy, I found it real sappy and rather unreal. Too much freakin' emotions involved. I can understand why a lot of people like that's what convinced me to watch it in the first place but I think the male lead is just retarded.
PocariSweat
2003-11-18, 21:42
I'll always fondly remember this anime as setting a new record in "projectile blood vomiting". Seemed to be a up-and-coming anime trend at the time (think Mohoromatic and a few others), but SaiKano had so many "dramatic" upchuck and die scenes it kind of lost its shock factor.
blackXkatze
2003-11-27, 14:01
eheheh.. =[
jackass jimm
2003-11-28, 23:40
great anime...the boring parts at the beginning paved the way for all the killing in the later episodes...
and what about non developed characters.....they all had enough to make you feel sad for them dying.
the purple haired girl was that she went out with the guy that died at the beginning....and that she felt that she betrayed him..or at least others think that.
the bet friend had always supported the main character........and then it turns out that it was cause she liked the main guy too.sheesh..and she was too nervous., you just see all that work she put into it to put the two main guys toghether and then she was really suffering inside.
the friend that died in the war was nice...how form calmness to the havoc happened. and that he didnt get to se the main character suked..i was hoping for it.
the main guy kinda suked...didnt like him much..his conflicts didnt seem to be too big..........
the main characters problems were wierd and stuff...but nice.....
to me, the side characters deaths were what made this good...and the final part wherethe main character tried her all to protect...and the ending...wow..just white.....i feel sorry for the main guy
sorry for all the main guy, character, purple hair.....dotn remember names.......
I liked Saikano, although the ending had an air of grandiose vanity ... in a negative way. But anything with such a storyline is damn hard to ruin. Perhaps some of the side characters killed were a tad underdeveloped, but their demise fitted the plot otherwise. The way that everything gradually went to shit regardless of what anyone did appealed to me ... overall, enjoyment value was damn high. Well worth the purchase, I´d say - perhaps something that I should do too.
I just finish the whole 13 episodes in one seating.
To describe my experience, I was knocked totally speechless and exhausted after watching the characters thrash out their problems in the grim apocalyptical settings and I'm very sympathatic toward their feeling of pessimism and helplessness.
A truely depressing series we are looking at here. :upset:
Some parts that I don't understand...
In the second last episode, why is Chise repeating the words that she first said to Shuji when she confessed her feelings? Shuji was so agitated and kept shouting that Chise is alive.
1) Is the consciousness of the original Chise locked somewhere inside the programed mind of the weapon? Then who is in control during the times when they lived together? Chise's real mind or the weapon's program?
In the last episode, before Shuji and Chise had their last makeout, Chise was like totally clueless about herself and her relationship with Shuji. She even refer to herself as Chise, as though she is a third person.
2) I am guessing that that is the programed mind of the weapon, is that right? What happen to the original Chise that is supposed to be alive in my first question? I can't find any useful Saikano articles on the net.
Can someone fill me in?
Thanks... :)
I just finish the whole 13 episodes in one seating.
To describe my experience, I was knocked totally speechless and exhausted after watching the characters thrash out their problems in the grim apocalyptical settings and I'm very sympathatic toward their feeling of pessimism and helplessness.
A truely depressing series we are looking at here. :upset:
Some parts that I don't understand...
In the second last episode, why is Chise repeating the words that she first said to Shuji when she confessed her feelings? Shuji was so agitated and kept shouting that Chise is alive.
1) Is the consciousness of the original Chise locked somewhere inside the programed mind of the weapon? Then who is in control during the times when they lived together? Chise's real mind or the weapon's program?
In the last episode, before Shuji and Chise had their last makeout, Chise was like totally clueless about herself and her relationship with Shuji. She even refer to herself as Chise, as though she is a third person.
2) I am guessing that that is the programed mind of the weapon, is that right? What happen to the original Chise that is supposed to be alive in my first question? I can't find any useful Saikano articles on the net.
Can someone fill me in?
Thanks... :)
I believe that she "evolved" into soemthing that was too large (remember all those spike-like things coming from the skies) I believe that the body of Chise was made by her real conscious, so essentially its still her, though a small part, which had all her memories. But she also surpressed human emotions from herself so she wouldn't feel pain anymore, but listening to Shuji brought out her subconscious emotions, but consciously, she didn't know why she was feeling that way. Basically, she forced herself to forget, but Shuji made it all slowly come back. I believe she refered to herself in the third person because thats what an automation would do, since it wouldn't consider itself as a person or entity.
PocariSweat
2003-12-07, 00:45
I believe she refered to herself in the third person because thats what an automation would do, since it wouldn't consider itself as a person or entity.
I got the feeling this was the case here too. Still it seems like referring to yourself in the third person may not be as strange in Japanese as in English. A lot of Anime characters seem to do it from time to time (like when a girl is trying to act cute). The translators will sometimes replace it with just an "I" or "me" though.
Go-lytely
2003-12-07, 01:25
Most of the time when you speak Japanese in the third person it is a) you're trying to act like an idiot or b) you're trying to act cute.
I believe that she "evolved" into soemthing that was too large (remember all those spike-like things coming from the skies) I believe that the body of Chise was made by her real conscious, so essentially its still her, though a small part, which had all her memories. But she also surpressed human emotions from herself so she wouldn't feel pain anymore, but listening to Shuji brought out her subconscious emotions, but consciously, she didn't know why she was feeling that way. Basically, she forced herself to forget, but Shuji made it all slowly come back. I believe she refered to herself in the third person because thats what an automation would do, since it wouldn't consider itself as a person or entity. Hmmm... that's an interesting take. I hadn't realized that the big spikes could be magnifestations of the ultimate weapon. Come to think of it, one of it did flew down and try to protect Shuji from the tsunami. :D
This post I read also say something along that line with his comparison between the anime and the manga... http://pub9.bravenet.com/forum/fetch.php?usernum=747947436&msgid=126046&mode=/
And check out this poster's interpretation of the ending... http://pub9.bravenet.com/forum/fetch.php?usernum=747947436&msgid=10438&mode= I think I should get my hands on the manga one of this days. :D
I saw this series has been licensed but I was wondering how much eps it has and if it is finished (not gonna *you know what* if it isn't finished). I saw that ANBU had 13 episodes of it, are those all?
It is 13 episodes and it is licensed.
7thMethuselah
2003-12-26, 10:17
yes 13 epi is all, it was licensed a while ago to a company that releases mainly in region 4 i believe (australia and new zealand), don't know if it allready has a north america license. The manga is available allready, in europe i've only been able to find it in french (called l'arme ultime).
StarCreator
2003-12-27, 18:18
Viz is scheduled to release the first DVD (of 4) in April, with the manga coming soon after in June.
http://www.animeondvd.com/news/pr.php?pr_view=257
whyjnot420
2004-01-03, 00:29
about the big spike things in the sky, i was confused about them for a couple of minutes (about what they were) but then comes the one that protects Shuji, and also remember that after everything he starts hugging one of them saying something about Chise, thats when I came to the realization that they were a part of her
one other thing, did anyone find it really weird that the military would chose her
and also that her parents wouldnt know
little question here what do people think was the most depressing part, spoiler, highlight to read --- I think it was when Akimi died---, I actually shed a tear on that, NEVER IN MY LIFE have I ever shed a tear of sadness for a movie/book/series
SirCanealot
2004-01-03, 11:47
I really liked Saikano... I watched it in one sitting a long while back. It perhaps is a little over the top in some ways, but you could argue when aiming for an aspect of realism Saikano was not over the top as death in real life is frequanltly not a pretty or subtle thing. Especially when dealing with the horror that Saikano dealt with. At least thats how I consider it. I think the series would have benifited from another few episodes, perhaps pulling the episode count up to 15 or 16 episodes would have been better. Still, putting aside what has been cut from the manga Saikano still has brilliant pacing. It's imo put together very well, nothing is too long or too short, everything is merly perfect... the direction and pacing in this series really hit a good spot with me. I also liked the music and the artwork and the use of widescreen.
So Saikano also hit it off for me in a technical way too.
Allthough the anime was a tight sqeeze in at 13 episodes and some cuts had to be made, there's still no doubt in my mind to the brilliance of Saikano in almost every way.
I've been wanting to write and rip off Saikano for a long while now, basically take two characters, have them fall in love, develop them and then kill them in as horrible a way as possible, but I don't think I have the bother for it...
Confusion
2004-01-03, 12:57
hi,
im new to these forums and i am debating with my girlfriend on the scene at the beginning of episode 10 hopefully someone here has helpful insight.
my question is ,is chise trying to have sex with tetsu while he is dying or is she just easing his(and her own) pain at his dying .maybe the manga has better perspective on the scene.
thanks for any input....
confusion
stormy001_M1A2
2004-01-03, 13:18
Chise is trying to ease Tetsu's pain, IIRC.
Confusion
2004-01-03, 13:24
thanks,
that was my take on it as well.i just wanted to entertain other opinions.
confusion
stormy001_M1A2
2004-01-03, 13:38
The SaiKano anime did a lot of things wrong, but the story itself was strong enough to pull it out of the gutter.
First of all, they killed off too many important characters without telling you anything about them, then killed off more characters... and that scene in the mountains with the chick (who's boyfriend never died in the manga... *snoopy spits at the production crew*) never even should have happened. All in all, the most heartbreaking parts were watered down more than most of you would believe if I bothered to explain it, and some of them were skipped entirely.
But see? The story was still there, so people are still talking about it. It's a testament to Takahashi Shin that not even animators could ruin SaiKano.
Amen :cool: (Nice job on scanlastion on Saikano btw)
SirCanealot
2004-01-03, 16:56
Yes... trying to ease his pain. Pretty vague scene though...
That show has lost one potential viewer...I try to avoid all sad/sob story..
You should watch Grave of the Fireflies
Snuble07
2004-01-14, 05:17
I tried to start watching this, but the character designs turned me off too much. It looks promising tho...
babbito2k
2004-01-15, 09:58
I enjoyed this when I watched it, I remember it getting a lot of love at the time, and it still seems to attract people.
Regardless of its qualities vis a vis the manga or other titles it is accessible to people who don't pay attention to or get interested in other low-key or tragic series that I have enjoyed, and I have to give the show some props for pulling that much off anyway. I hope it sells over here in the US, maybe it will create more interest in this sort of thing.
Weissent
2004-01-17, 11:40
[...]The manga is available allready, in europe i've only been able to find it in french (called l'arme ultime).
The manga is also available in Germany; it's called "She, the ultimate weapon" here. Three of seven volumes are out already (by Carlsen Comics), €6,- each ...
(Just in case you understand German and need your saikano fix in printed form :) )
it says in the manga that chise will live forever even when shuuji dies eventually at age 100 or wutever :)
when shuuji dies, it says that chise will have to make it up (to who i dunno, maybe god or nature :P) for the enormous amount of sins that human species had committed over the history of their existence.......therefore chise will hav to live and suffer til the end of time....but i believe tat it'll b shuuji's turn to stay in chise's essence/heart by then :D
about the question of y chise is being picked....maybe its bcuz chise is awesome at history stuff (remember when she memorized all human wars...including the cities she had destroyed?)........she was the most suitable (in god's point of view) to pay the sins back for the human kind because she's like a recordbook which contains every war crime that human beings had committed.....therefore she's the best representative....kinda sad :(
then y did "the military decided to choose her"? i guess it's just the way things r gonna go....the way they're meant to b...
just taking a guess~~dun reply in rage^^|||
about the big spike things in the sky, i was confused about them for a couple of minutes (about what they were) but then comes the one that protects Shuji, and also remember that after everything he starts hugging one of them saying something about Chise, thats when I came to the realization that they were a part of her
one other thing, did anyone find it really weird that the military would chose her
and also that her parents wouldnt know
little question here what do people think was the most depressing part, spoiler, highlight to read --- I think it was when Akimi died---, I actually shed a tear on that, NEVER IN MY LIFE have I ever shed a tear of sadness for a movie/book/series
Leonidas Tzu
2004-01-24, 05:28
A delightful series. Reasons of which I'm too lazy to go into right now.
At any rate, I was curious as to the survivial of Shuuji? He's still in his physical carnate form, whereas Chise has been reduced to some pseudo metaphysical energy. Has the entire world been destroyed? Chise mentions a few times throughout the anime, that the other half of the world has been completely annihilated and that the attackers (Americans, I assume) have nowhere to go back to. So how will Shuuji go about attaining his daily dietary supplements for survivial? Or was that merely sand washed up from the beach as a result of the tsunami? I'm under the impression humanity was eradicated from the earth. How Shuuji will survive, I haven't the faintest clue.
As to why Chise was chosen. I don't think any logical reason can justify anyone in particular being chosen for such a position. Perhaps they required an adolescent, developing body? Perhaps they just wanted a innocent young girl, yielding the element of surpise as a result of her physical form. The theories are myriad, meh.
and that scene in the mountains with the chick (who's boyfriend never died in the manga... *snoopy spits at the production crew*) never even should have happened.
Interesting. That's the only part of the story I liked. It consisted of what, 2 minutes of the show's time? I hated the rest of it. I love a good tearjerker/ romance story, too. I just had no attachment to the main characters. I thought they were both idiots.
7thMethuselah
2004-01-24, 14:09
Originally Posted by snoopy
and that scene in the mountains with the chick (who's boyfriend never died in the manga... *snoopy spits at the production crew*) never even should have happened.
That was one of the most impressive scenes imo, fits perfectly into the story ...
I am, admitedly, a manga purist. I believe that animators should stick to the manga when at all possible, and if they can't then there should never be an anime at all. I thought when I first heard about the SaiKano anime that it shouldn't be made, for obvious reasons of nudity, sexuality and gore (unless it was a made for video release and could bypass the television censors, I would have accepted that). If you add a character then kill them, or kill someone off rather than telling their story to save airtime for the main characters, you do a disservice to everyone that doesn't know better. That said, if I were to take the SaiKano anime out of context from the manga, that scene with the girl and the enemy pilot would have been perfectly good, and I would have liked the story aspect. But it isn't SaiKano. Like I said in some other saikano thread (I think it was deleted when the forum went down...), the anime played down many of the most poignant scenes and deleted a handful of them completely. Meh, just wait for Viz to release the manga and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Leo_Otaku
2004-01-25, 23:08
I didnt find it sad because you never really got to know the side characters that well so I didnt care if they died or not. Also, I was desensitized to all the death and violence. By the end, I knew everyone was going to die and I was like "oh well"
Me too I totally agree. T Nothing was sad there was no meaning (if there was it was lost) they killed the idea of me getting emotions because it was like yeah ur gunna die. It is like watching scream in a sense you don't cry in that LOL. Anyway in short not sad.
Leo_Otaku
2004-01-25, 23:10
Interesting. That's the only part of the story I liked. It consisted of what, 2 minutes of the show's time? I hated the rest of it. I love a good tearjerker/ romance story, too. I just had no attachment to the main characters. I thought they were both idiots.
:topicoff: I love ur avatar :) Kanon rulz :)
Cagalli Yula Athha
2004-03-11, 03:13
Shuuji and Chise are third year student at a high school in Hokkaido. The shy Chise is finally confessing to Shuuji, and finally two of them are starting to exchange diary awkwardly.
One day, Shuuji tried to escape from a sudden enemy air raid on Sapporo. While desperately escaping from the air raid, Shuuji saw a scene that he could not forget for his life. He saw Chise, with a huge weapons which looks is part of her hand, shot the enemy fighters one by one. Apparently, Chise is the ultimate weapon with destructive power which is important for the war.
How can Shuuji face the reality that his love is actually the ultimate weapon with destructive power?
Source: http://animenfo.com/animetitle,934,lyvgvq,saikano.html
Anyone see this anime? Its a couple of years old. Its definitely the most dramatic and saddest anime i ever saw. This anime is just so dynamic. It just blowed away my admiration to Kimi Ga nozomu eien and Evagelion but i still enjoy those! If anything I would believe that is an "alternative Kimiga Nozomu Eien story with a small feeling of Evagelion" in the mix. One of the best anime i have seen. An anime that differs from most.
NoSanninWa
2004-03-11, 03:43
Great show! The only problem is that with a show this good you should have realize that someone is going to have created a thread about it already. I would suggest that you join the discussion in one of the following two threads I just finished SaiKano...
Saishuuheiki Kanojo
Also, this show was licensed so you should have posted in the DVD & Licensed Forum
SKoRPioN9x
2004-04-17, 01:34
Yeah, so I was at the mall in Milford, CT today, and in the store called "FYE," they had the Saikano vol. 1 dvd! This isn't supposed to be out until Apr. 27! Well of course I ended up buying it (as well as the Narue no Sekai box set thing) and I think it's really good so far (I haven't seen it on fansub and have been waiting for it to be released so I could see it). The unfortunate part about getting it early is that I have to wait even longer for volume 2 to come out (unless that store gets that one early, too).
I also have one question about this dvd: Disc 2 contains the "Japanese TV special 'All about SAIKANO.'" Is it safe for me to watch this now, or should I wait till I've seen the whole series? It sounds like it may contain spoilers for the show. And of course, if it does, then I don't know what the hell Viz was smoking when they decided to include it with volume 1.
Yamano667
2004-04-17, 02:01
My advice is that you SHOULD watch the series first and then watch the special
The specials are the MAKING of the series ..I never buy VIz or any licensed dvd so I wouldnt know what VIZ smokes before they edit a DVD for their anime fans..
Yeah, so I was at the mall in Milford, CT today, and in the store called "FYE," they had the Saikano vol. 1 dvd! This isn't supposed to be out until Apr. 27! Well of course I ended up buying it (as well as the Narue no Sekai box set thing) and I think it's really good so far (I haven't seen it on fansub and have been waiting for it to be released so I could see it). The unfortunate part about getting it early is that I have to wait even longer for volume 2 to come out (unless that store gets that one early, too).
I also have one question about this dvd: Disc 2 contains the "Japanese TV special 'All about SAIKANO.'" Is it safe for me to watch this now, or should I wait till I've seen the whole series? It sounds like it may contain spoilers for the show. And of course, if it does, then I don't know what the hell Viz was smoking when they decided to include it with volume 1.
Mr_Paper
2004-04-17, 07:43
SKoRPioN9x, it would be the safeset bet to watch the 'making of' special last. Although sometimes they don't contain any spoilers, most often the contain many audio and visual spoilers. I remember watching the Fruits Basket Eyecatch special, if i hadn't already seen the series that special would have spoiled a great deal of the series. Despite not spoiling anything major, there was more than enough information given to spoil about half of each episode.
The disc being included was most likely just a sales gimmick. "Look! It's got a bonus disc! Buy it!" That sorta thing. :heh:
SKoRPioN9x
2004-04-17, 09:09
Thank you for your recommendations. I think it was stupid for Viz to include that with volume 1. I wonder how many people are going to watch it and be spoiled :heh:.
The extras are essentially the same extras that were on the R2 DVD only this time subbed. Having watched them already nothing really exciting about the supplementary disc. Didn't like how Viz didn't sub the OP and ED songs and the case that the first volume came with. Can't even fit all the volumes in the R2 box now. Other than that the release was alright.
The extras are essentially the same extras that were on the R2 DVD only this time subbed. Having watched them already nothing really exciting about the supplementary disc. Didn't like how Viz didn't sub the OP and ED songs and the case that the first volume came with. Can't even fit all the volumes in the R2 box now. Other than that the release was alright.
Yeah. I don't think that 'making of' special is anything bad to watch before watching the whole series. They simply talk about how they adapted the manga to the anime. I think it's a good idea to watch that special after you watch at least some of the episodes on DVD 1 though.
I have this on preorder, so I guess I should be expecting it to arrive soon! I will watch the making of extra since I was able to catch the entire series on fansub.
SirCanealot
2004-04-20, 20:31
Letterbox! Booo! Hisss! Growl! Honk, Honk! Whirl, whirl, whirl! Hohoho! Bah! Gagggh! Tick-Tock, Tick Tock!
Thank you very much.
Shinobu_Maehara
2004-05-23, 14:26
Well I got an eye on this anime because I found a wallpaper, then got curious, and found a teaser (which doesn't show much) and got more art and a summary of the anime.
Since it's licenced and I can buy the anime I just want to know if it's worth buying.
Have you people seen it? and is it good? since I haven't seen any episode yet.
thanks.
I found it very good, everyone I know also loves it. Just for me the mood of the anime and ending was ruined because I heard so much about it I was expecting something which obviously didn't happen in some sort of way but still I enjoyed watching it all the way through and would recommend it to others.
7thMethuselah
2004-05-23, 15:02
SaiKano is a very emotional and tragic romance anime in a very unusual setting
The story in short (some spoilers from episode 1 in it but essential to know what it is about):
It revolves around the relation between Chise and Shuuji. Both are high school students and they have only just started going out together. For Chise this is a very emotional experience and she has high hopes about it while Shuuji seems more annoyed but they do like each other.
Then the unthinkable happens, Sapporo (capital of Japan's Northern island of Hokkaido) gets bombed by unknown aircraft), and alot of casualties are a result. The bombers however gets destroyed by some highspeed weapon. At the end of ep 1 Shuuji discovers that Chise is the weapon (she's some kinda cyborg apparently).
What follows is NOT a story about the war BUT a story about the relationship between Shuuji and Chise in the background of this very destructive war. Their doubts and worries, their small pleasures , etc...
I must warn you that it gets very very depressive and emotional, and a box of tissues is definatelly recommended. However it is a beautiful anime and kept my mind occupied for days and days after, I saw the entire show in 2 days I couldn't stop watching it.
This is a series I think is a must-see if you like drama and a good story. If you are into romance stuff then you cannot afford to miss it.
If you liked Hoshi no Koe, you'll probably like this one. I'd recommend watching it subtitled rather than dubbed.... some of the dub VAs sound marvelous, but a couple of them are pretty mediocre. The artwork has a "rough" feel to it, which I find really nice since so many shows nowadays look overly polished.
Viz's release excels in some areas and is absolutely horrible in others. The packaging and extras are to die for; the subtitles, however, made me want to kill myself. Grammatical errors and typos are unforgivable in professional releases. So is typing "Shuji" when the Japanese voice actress clearly just said "Shu-chan." Ignoring honorifics and neglecting to add song subtitles are the kinds of things that give American anime DVDs a bad reputation (which, for the most part, they really don't deserve).
Innotech
2004-05-23, 21:51
I can see why some people dontl ike Saikano, as it does have imperfections and may be uncomfortably depressing, but in my personal opinion it is my #1 favorite anime, even above Haibane Renmei, and that is quite an accomplishment. I also found Akemi's death and the final scene of Chise's spirit in Shuji's hands to be the very saddest scenes in any anime (including GOF) that I have ever witnessed. Howeve,r I loved the story, I loved the characters and the very realistic depiction of war (even though Chise isnt realistic) and hwat it does to people even those uninvolved. An incredible anime by my standards.
Darkling
2004-05-31, 11:00
Some of the dub VAs sound marvelous, but a couple of them are pretty mediocre.
Viz's release excels in some areas and is absolutely horrible in others. The packaging and extras are to die for; the subtitles, however, made me want to kill myself. Grammatical errors and typos are unforgivable in professional releases.
Magux IX, could you possibly go into more detail about the particular VAs you found convincing / mediocre? I wouldn't mind if some of the secondary characters weren't done that well, but Chise and Shuji have some pretty tough emotional scenes to pull off... I was actually blown away by how well the Japanese seiyuu performed the intense dramatic scenes.
I read that Viz actually commissioned the voices from a voice actor school somewhere, rather than hiring 'professionals', so the variance in quality isn't entirely unexpected.
I have the R2 version and the English subtitles are very good. Were the typos (and removal of honorifics) in the Viz subtitles the only issue you had with them? Or were there times when the meaning was changed?
I just finished watching this serie...
You feel happy? It's annoying you? Got nothing against total mental crushing?
Then watch saikano..
h3lldiver
2004-09-20, 04:48
is the world destroyed by chise or because of the war? there was a big tsunami right? did chise created the tsunami? or something else has happend
7thMethuselah
2004-09-20, 14:07
is the world destroyed by chise or because of the war? there was a big tsunami right? did chise created the tsunami? or something else has happend
Your questions are quite hard to answer as they aren't really adressed in the anime. These things remain very vague for a reason : this anime is not about the war but the anime is about the relationship (and it's problems) between Chise and Shuuji.
In the entire anime (or manga for that matter) very few references are made towards the war. To answer you questions : take the following stuff into account
OK, I'm walking on thin ice here, it's been a little while since I've read the manga so don't kill me over these assumptions.
1. Chise mentions she's growing, both in power and size, the huge things floating in the air at the end is Chise's body I believe, while the Chise standing near Shuuji is merely a part of it to make it easier on him.
2. Chise obviously uses a mass destruction tactic, she fights what she can with more conventional weapons but when a battle has been lost she always resorts to full destruction. This is "proven" by the fact that she destroys city after city thereby killing of the opposing army but her own troops as well.
3. Despite this strategy the japanese are still losing the war and with each lost battle more of japan is turned into ashes.
4. So what exactly seems to happen at the end, I think we can safely assume that Hokkaido is about the last little piece of japan still in existence. And Chise is obviously at the height of her power, she is more machine that human now and during the later parts, she seems to have difficulties remembering her human life at all.
Chise must have seen the last battle as a lost cause and went on to destroying the place again, I think the tsunami is a consequence of that. Did the planet get whiped out? I don't know and we can't know but nothing is said concerning this, but some details in the manga seemed to suggest that it was an all-out war which was led over the survival of the species, which each faction trying to survive, maybe because some kinda disaster happened which made people flee to japan, and then wage war over the last piece of the earth still liveable (I'm guessing here)
After Chise destroys the last piece of japan it seems to me that the entire human race is whiped out.
I hope this answers some of the questions, but remember Saikano is not about the war but about their re'lationship, the war is simply the background against which this beautifully and tragic story takes place, in fact the war isn't all that important.
PS I assumed a few things in this post so feel free to post opinions.
h3lldiver
2004-09-21, 02:45
Your questions are quite hard to answer as they aren't really adressed in the anime. These things remain very vague for a reason : this anime is not about the war but the anime is about the relationship (and it's problems) between Chise and Shuuji.
In the entire anime (or manga for that matter) very few references are made towards the war. To answer you questions : take the following stuff into account
OK, I'm walking on thin ice here, it's been a little while since I've read the manga so don't kill me over these assumptions.
1. Chise mentions she's growing, both in power and size, the huge things floating in the air at the end is Chise's body I believe, while the Chise standing near Shuuji is merely a part of it to make it easier on him.
2. Chise obviously uses a mass destruction tactic, she fights what she can with more conventional weapons but when a battle has been lost she always resorts to full destruction. This is "proven" by the fact that she destroys city after city thereby killing of the opposing army but her own troops as well.
3. Despite this strategy the japanese are still losing the war and with each lost battle more of japan is turned into ashes.
4. So what exactly seems to happen at the end, I think we can safely assume that Hokkaido is about the last little piece of japan still in existence. And Chise is obviously at the height of her power, she is more machine that human now and during the later parts, she seems to have difficulties remembering her human life at all.
Chise must have seen the last battle as a lost cause and went on to destroying the place again, I think the tsunami is a consequence of that. Did the planet get whiped out? I don't know and we can't know but nothing is said concerning this, but some details in the manga seemed to suggest that it was an all-out war which was led over the survival of the species, which each faction trying to survive, maybe because some kinda disaster happened which made people flee to japan, and then wage war over the last piece of the earth still liveable (I'm guessing here)
After Chise destroys the last piece of japan it seems to me that the entire human race is whiped out.
I hope this answers some of the questions, but remember Saikano is not about the war but about their re'lationship, the war is simply the background against which this beautifully and tragic story takes place, in fact the war isn't all that important.
PS I assumed a few things in this post so feel free to post opinions.
Yeah i had the same idea with you before, just wanna make sure of it. this series is so depressing, the manga side story makes it worse, well it was a good one.
7thMethuselah
2004-10-09, 16:21
Woohoo, seems we are gonna get more Saikano
Saikano to Rise Again in 2005 (01:40 PM EDT): While 2003 was the big year for Saikano in Japan and 2004 has been far too quiet about it's US release, 2005 looks to be another big year for the property in Japan. According to Shin Takahashi's official site as linked and informed about from Little Harlock's Newslog, a live action film starring Aki Maeda is scheduled for Autumn 2005. In addition, the existing TV series will finally receive a rental release, something that has not occured for it yet by all appearances, that will allow for a wider dissemenation of the show. In addition, two new OVA releases will be released in 2005 for the property.
I wonder what exactly they will show in those OVA since they've covered pretty much the entire manga in the anime...
MakubeX2
2004-10-09, 17:47
I wonder what exactly they will show in those OVA since they've covered pretty much the entire manga in the anime...
Most likely a summary of what happened with fillers for parts of the TV series that still need to be explored.
But what really interest me is the movie and the CG they're going to use. A male cast for Shuuji comes to a second. Takeshi for Shuuji anyone ?
Ok, I juuuuust finished watching the anime, can anyone tell me ....
why Chise was saying the same phrases as she said in the first episode when they first met? This was in episode 12 around the beginning when those tentacles start bulging out of her chest while she is sleeping.
I believe that she "evolved" into soemthing that was too large (remember all those spike-like things coming from the skies) I believe that the body of Chise was made by her real conscious, so essentially its still her, though a small part, which had all her memories. But she also surpressed human emotions from herself so she wouldn't feel pain anymore, but listening to Shuji brought out her subconscious emotions, but consciously, she didn't know why she was feeling that way. Basically, she forced herself to forget, but Shuji made it all slowly come back. I believe she refered to herself in the third person because thats what an automation would do, since it wouldn't consider itself as a person or entity.
Ok then...
why would she supress the emotions after they lived happily for 3 weeks, from what kind of pain was she feeling? She wasn't really killing anybody right? Neither did Shuji make her feel uncomfortable?
I am really confused... Maybe I need to watch the anime series 10 more times or something, or read the manga...
If anyone can clear up the confusion... Thanks alot, cuz this is sticking to my mind.
EDIT** Ok, nevermind I figured it out...
NarutoHead
2004-11-17, 04:11
I also found Saikano overated, and filled with alot of loops and wholes left to be explained. Should have been 24 episodes, gotten more into the other charactars(you know supporting roles are pretty important) and mabey added more depth than the usual everything's going bad but we love each other relationship Shuuji and Chise had.
As far as getting me sad or cry or any of that, No. Could have been the expectations, but that would only accoutn to part of the problem. The anime didn't make you care too much about the charactars. Also the scenes of their deaths, weren't that long. You see it for mabey a second of two, then it moves to a total different feeling scene.
As far as the ending, some people will like it, some won't.
As far as the story? I watched the Anime and I'm thinking where's this great story that carried the Anime everyone speaks of? Original yes, deffinetly. I didn't witness anything outstanding.
Good Anime, Ups and downs.
but i strongly feel it failed at the tradgic attempts, and just left me with an overall
"meh. so that's saikano?"
That's just me. but I had to post. Thank you?
NarutoHead
2004-11-17, 04:44
Yes... trying to ease his pain. Pretty vague scene though...
then why does she ask "why didnt you once say my nam."
almost as if she was jelous he picked Fuyumi instead?
Also why does he make love to her in the first place, he was married. She also let him.
*blarg* confusing.
then why does she ask "why didnt you once say my nam."
almost as if she was jelous he picked Fuyumi instead?
Also why does he make love to her in the first place, he was married. She also let him.
*blarg* confusing. As you quoted, she's attempting to ease his pain, and he's accepting it. It might not be behaviour that you or I may engage in (personally I think making love to a dying man, who's likely haemorrhaging internally if he doesn't have a gaping wound somewhere, is quite morbid ^^; ) but he was thinking and speaking of Fuyumi during his last moments. I thought this ironical and rather sad for Chise who believed at that time that he was the only one left who acknowledged her as a person/girl, hence her asking why did he not call her name (rather than her being jealous).
NarutoHead
2004-11-17, 19:36
As you quoted, she's attempting to ease his pain, and he's accepting it. It might not be behaviour that you or I may engage in (personally I think making love to a dying man, who's likely haemorrhaging internally if he doesn't have a gaping wound somewhere, is quite morbid ^^; ) but he was thinking and speaking of Fuyumi during his last moments. I thought this ironical and rather sad for Chise who believed at that time that he was the only one left who acknowledged her as a person/girl, hence her asking why did he not call her name (rather than her being jealous).
yeah but, if she was just easing his pain, she still obvouisly felt betrayed that he was thinking of fuyumi not here.
there's alot of things that weren't clear to me. All in all it wasn't bad but i just wish instances like these were explained.
I thought Kimi Ga Nozumu Eien(sp??) did a better job at draggin you along in the tradgy.
yeah but, if she was just easing his pain, she still obvouisly felt betrayed that he was thinking of fuyumi not here. Well I don't think she really begrudges him thinking of Fuyumi in his dying moments, but she just wanted him to acknowledge her by calling her name too. At least that's how I interpreted it, but goodness knows what they're really thinking. Some of the characters are really weird eg Shuuji's willingness to "do it" under the most disturbing circumstances (eg with Fuyumi while still mourning Akemi and having that wine dripping like blood :eyebrow: )
NarutoHead
2004-11-19, 01:06
Well I don't think she really begrudges him thinking of Fuyumi in his dying moments, but she just wanted him to acknowledge her by calling her name too. At least that's how I interpreted it, but goodness knows what they're really thinking. Some of the characters are really weird eg Shuuji's willingness to "do it" under the most disturbing circumstances (eg with Fuyumi while still mourning Akemi and having that wine dripping like blood :eyebrow: )
yeah what the hell was that lol.
He mourns over akemi and betrays her by "doing it" or wanting to with Fuyumi,
while he still loves Chise.
LMAO- if that's not a contradiction I don't know what is.
I think that's just some of the things that made me go huh?? explain in Saikano.
7thMethuselah
2004-11-19, 09:03
Well, in order to explain all these "weird" events you have to take in mind the situation most of the characters are in. They are all extremely lonely and far away from the one person they love the most, it's not that unnatural that they will seek comfort or at least the impression of being happy/not lonely with someone they can relate too. I think the best example of this is Fuyumi, she the perfect example of a girl that can't handle being alone, and when she finds a person from her past with whom she shared intimate moments, she completely focusses her feelings for her lost husband onto him.
NarutoHead
2004-11-19, 17:47
Well, in order to explain all these "weird" events you have to take in mind the situation most of the characters are in. They are all extremely lonely and far away from the one person they love the most, it's not that unnatural that they will seek comfort or at least the impression of being happy/not lonely with someone they can relate too. I think the best example of this is Fuyumi, she the perfect example of a girl that can't handle being alone, and when she finds a person from her past with whom she shared intimate moments, she completely focusses her feelings for her lost husband onto him.
Yeah, they all need a backbone. I don't see how they keep screwin up and yet no one seems to care.
oh well.
Just finished watching Saikano yesterday, and I thought it was too emotional. When I saw the description of the anime, I was hoping Chise would be more like Kosmos from Xenosaga. Plot was allright overall, but not enough explanation in terms of cause of the war, why are they after her, the chnages in personality. It would have been better seeing her in battle as a weapon, and would have been better if everyone has died in the end, Shuji should have killed her like promised.
7thMethuselah
2004-12-10, 13:13
Just finished watching Saikano yesterday, and I thought it was too emotional. When I saw the description of the anime, I was hoping Chise would be more like Kosmos from Xenosaga. Plot was allright overall, but not enough explanation in terms of cause of the war,
Well the war is not important, the story is about their relationship, so the reasons of the war and who are involved doesn't add anything, in fact it'll only distract from the actual story.
why are they after her,
And the japanese are after Chise because she is their ultimate weapon, she is their last hope, they see her as the only way to survive.
the chnages in personality.
What in fact happens to Chise is a bit more clear from the manga.
At the start of the anime she is a regular girl. But when the first attacks start Chise's cybernetic implants (the things in her chest) take over. However this change in Chise doesn't happen over night. Chise slowly changes from a regular shy schoolgirl to a cyborg weapon.
This change and the effect on her love relationship with Shuuji is what the anime is about, everything else is of second importance.
As Chise changes and slowly loses her Humanity, she struggles with her feelings, at first they are the only thing she can rely on in her life, it's her only support to get through the changes, later on in the anime she starts to doubt if she can actually "stay human" in her new destiny. Eventually she chooses to be human and not a weapon (the parts where they run away and go live in a small remote town). However when the pills suppressing her symptoms are gone, the cyborg part comes back. As you can see these changes in her personality are only natural when you realise what she goes through.
In the final 2 episodes we meet Chise as a complete cyborg, however due to Shuji she remembers her memories that she seemed to have forgotten.
It would have been better seeing her in battle as a weapon, and would have been better if everyone has died in the end, Shuji should have killed her like promised.
Again, the war is NOT what the anime is about but it's about the changes she goes through and her relationship, and the consequences of the one on the other.
At the end of the anime everyone does die, it's not explicitly mentioned but Chise mentioned several times that everything would be destroyed and that everyone would die.
PS Yes you may have noticed that I absolutely love this show :)
HUGE SPOILER BASED COMMENT. DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS
I watched all of Saikano today. You know, I watched this on the premise thinking that it was a happy show. Sure, I thought there would be casualties here and there, but the ending would be ultimately :D. However, like 7th said, welcome to living hell. It got pretty depressing, and I was aching all over but after some thought I've found resolution for myself.
First, the anime was of rather mediocre animation quality, etc, and if people are looking to find a science fiction story, look somewhere else. Although it's about Chise, the ultimate weapon, the emphasis of Saikano is NOT on the weapon/technology part of it. It's merely *the* major plot device upon which Chise and Shuuji's relationship is built upon, and that relationship is the true core of the anime. Side stories and all are pretty dramatic and significant, but nothing matters more than their relationship; so don't go around poking for plot holes because very little is full and complete. For example, we don't even know why Chise was chosen for such a task, or how it could be that some part broke and she can't go back to being a normal human being. Nothing is given away about the enemy except that they speak American English.
If you watch this, you're investing your time in the love story and see how a relationship is torn by war, separation and change.
In all honesty, I loved the emotional intensity of the show (I kind of feel like Genshiken's Saki.. loving the torture and pain)... but the whole anime itself is pretty ridiculous. Like some previous poster mentioned, it was quite pretentious, and things just felt unnaturally skewered to produce more pain. Character interaction and behaviour *might* be quite realistic, but trust me, the situation and plot progress isn't. It just feels so falsely doomed that I felt so cheated. In the middle, I also greatly dislike all the "mini-affairs" going on; not that I feel that thing like these don't happen, but that they're so deliberate and contrived. I don't know, it might also be my intuitive reaction to it; I am HIGHLY sensitive to stuff like someone cheating on another. But apart from that, I also just felt.. emotionally manipulated. I don't know, I just didn't feel too much from it, and again felt quite cheated from feeling sad and hurt from all that activity going on.
As a whole, is this a good anime? From the first few episodes, I thought it was going great... and I even considered collecting it. But after finishing it, this is just going to go into the "Grave of the Fireflies" corner. In other words, into the "stuff-I-keep-but-will-never-watch-again-unless..." corner. It doesn't have any fabulous lessons or masterful aspect such that it deserves repeated viewings, but there were some really intense emotional segments that makes it memorable. I'm probably not going to lay awake tonight and feel troubled about it; and that's not a good sign despite all that drama (and melodrama). I was frustrated over KGNE, had an anxiety attack because of EVA, and have been kept up and thinking by many great shows, but this isn't going to. I liked it, but... beh. It's a complex feeling.
And lastly, the ending was just... strange. Only Shuuji left? How long will he last? Without food and water, probably a few days. :p But of course again, that ISN'T the point of the ending.. what the ending sought out to illustrate was the fact that physical and emotional boundaries could be transcended, that although love wasn't enough to save Chise from her cyborg impulses, it's strong enough to keep them together even if one has no physical form. That power of love is further shown when she (Glowing Chisei Soul Ball :p) is "absorbed" into Shuuji, and "there's so much of her in him". He loves her so much that he remembers enough of her to have her construct a perfect physical mirage of her body.
Now, let me describe how PERVERSE I thought this ending initially was, because you see Shuuji actually doing the physical actions (in the dark background) as if he was talking to himself. It's like, pretty eerie that he's living like that with a soul ball.. You might interpret it as romantic, and I do too, but it's also quite freaky. This reminds me of Chobits (SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), where the main character accepts that Chii is after all, just a complex program able to simulate the *appearance* of emotions. He says, "Chii is alive, and she lives in me. It's in my heart that she truly exists." (translated from Chinese Manga) THAT, my friends, is quite scary as well; it's like a person being so obsessed with a lifeless blowup doll that he loves it, and the doll "lives in him", except in this case Chii is a complex program that's able to give a lifelike impression of being a real person... Oh yeah, what makes it worse is that unlike the blowup doll, he can't make love to Chii. So that was why I thought Saikano's ending was pretty perverse; with Shuuji and Chise living in a recreated mirage, and Shuuji being actually alone in physical reality. I also wonder whether Chise can change and grow in Shuuji's "world", or whether in his world they are infinitely trapped and doomed to replay only the scenes they have spent together. Don't even get me started on the philosophical impossibilities of this, but I think that may be what the creators of the show intended.
On the other hand, after some thought, I thought the ending was.. well.. pretty happy. If you stopped watching after ep 10, then it would be strange, because it was TOO perfect. All their troubles just go away and are solved in an INSTANT, without any resolution.. (KGNE SPOILER NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) A similar comparison can be made to the KGNE game, where if you choose Haruka, everything just magically gels together and is like a fairy tale. In other words, it's an ending for escapists. So I preferred it that it went on...
When Chise first reappeared in ep13, I thought it was a clone of her or something. When her arm broke off I was like "oh for sure she's just a doll" (which would have made it even MORE scary if this doll and Shuuji got together), but I breathed a sign of relief after all that "revival from emotional suppression" plot thingy.
Well.. in the end, despite all the shit both of them went through, they're still truly together, and isn't that what matters? I disliked most of the development in between (with all those mini-affairs as I previously mentioned), but I think I have found some measure of peace in the ending. The destruction of the world could not have been stopped, but Chise did all she could to save Shuuji. And they loved each other truly to the very end, he loved her when she was a machine and of an abnormal physical state (that tower which he hugged onto and cried), and he still loves her when she is WITHOUT a physical state. Chise's essence still exists, and is truly Chise. I was initially afraid that the "soul ball" was just a leftover memory of Chise that.. was basically just memory and couldn't grow or have new experiences. But apparently it is her true soul, so that's okay.
So now the couple are truly together; and although they live in a physical mirage, they can see each other, they can touch each other (I have no idea about sensation), and they can be with each other... forever. All the other stuff about bearing the sins of humanity and all that.. those are really unimportant (and they feel like just a poorly served sidethought). What's real is that they're together.
Anyway, I wrote all these to help understand my thoughts. Just a last side thought after briefing through ep13.. the planet doesn't even exist, so Shuuji's physical form must be residing in some.. unreal physical dimension where he doesn't need sustenance like food and water. My guess is that he'll still age and die, but I wonder how things will play out in his soul. I'm also not looking forward to the OVAs much; because there couldn't be any continuation to the story. Filling in the middle would also be just painful for me.
//edit// Ooh. I just realised that in ep13, those spikes hanging from the skies ARE Chise, and that the girl-looking-Chise was something she created out of herself. Hmm. Pretty interesting.
So those are my thoughts for Saikano. It's a happy, wretched ending.
7thMethuselah
2004-12-11, 22:06
First, the anime was of rather mediocre animation quality
Actually this rather sketchy anime style is intentional, it has an unfinished feel to it which I liked alot. Same goes for the manga, often there are only a few lines present indicating the contours, it creates a soft atmosphere.
It's merely *the* major plot device upon which Chise and Shuuji's relationship is built upon, and that relationship is the true core of the anime. Side stories and all are pretty dramatic and significant, but nothing matters more than their relationship; so don't go around poking for plot holes because very little is full and complete. For example, we don't even know why Chise was chosen for such a task, or how it could be that some part broke and she can't go back to being a normal human being. Nothing is given away about the enemy except that they speak American English.
Indeed, alot of people keep looking for answers about the war and why Chise is what she is, thereby they miss half the plot which the anime is about.
In the middle, I also greatly dislike all the "mini-affairs" going on; not that I feel that thing like these don't happen, but that they're so deliberate and contrived. I don't know, it might also be my intuitive reaction to it; I am HIGHLY sensitive to stuff like someone cheating on another. But apart from that, I also just felt.. emotionally manipulated. I don't know, I just didn't feel too much from it, and again felt quite cheated from feeling sad and hurt from all that activity going on.
Actually some of the side stories actually depict the same relationship Chise and Shuuji have, but the circomstances are different. In Saikano no 2 relationships are the saem, and what is shown is how the dramatic events have a different effect on the different relationships. One theme is however a recurring event in all relationships : people are lonely, very lonely this due to their lovers being dead, away at the front, being unreachable, etc. Each relationship also tries to deal in a different way with the same loneliness, Shuuji's sempai for example seeks the confort of other men, Take's girl just starts roaming the streets looking for cheap kicks, yet another joines the army to escape an impossible love, and Shuuji's secret admirer tries to deny her own feelings. While these distract a bit from the main plot, I never disliked them :)
I was frustrated over KGNE, had an anxiety attack because of EVA, and have been kept up and thinking by many great shows, but this isn't going to. I liked it, but... beh. It's a complex feeling.
I was *shocked* for a few days, but then again I absolutely love sad stories :)
On the other hand, after some thought, I thought the ending was.. well.. pretty happy. If you stopped watching after ep 10, then it would be strange, because it was TOO perfect. All their troubles just go away and are solved in an INSTANT, without any resolution..
Their troubles don't go away but they run away from them. For some people this could be an acceptable ending, but eventually the problems catch up and they are back at square one, with even fewer options ...
When Chise first reappeared in ep13, I thought it was a clone of her or something. When her arm broke off I was like "oh for sure she's just a doll" (which would have made it even MORE scary if this doll and Shuuji got together), but I breathed a sign of relief after all that "revival from emotional suppression" plot thingy.
At that time she is completely cyborg and what we see as Chise is only a part of her I thought.
The destruction of the world could not have been stopped, but Chise did all she could to save Shuuji. And they loved each other truly to the very end, he loved her when she was a machine and of an abnormal physical state (that tower which he hugged onto and cried), and he still loves her when she is WITHOUT a physical state. Chise's essence still exists, and is truly Chise. I was initially afraid that the "soul ball" was just a leftover memory of Chise that.. was basically just memory and couldn't grow or have new experiences. But apparently it is her true soul, so that's okay.
I don't think Chise saves Shuuji, she only softens his death, at that time it' been mentioned that everyone will die and the world will be destroyed several times allready. Personally I'm cinvinced that Shuuji dies, but the anime and manga are pretty unclear about that.
Is what we see after the destruction a still living Shuuji? Is it some form of afterlife, or are they just a long version of Shuuji's final thoughts, I'm not sure, but I'm convinced he dies. And they are indeed together in his thoughts and feelings. It's a bizarre way but they are together.
//edit// Ooh. I just realised that in ep13, those spikes hanging from the skies ARE Chise, and that the girl-looking-Chise was something she created out of herself. Hmm. Pretty interesting.
Yeah it took me a while before I figured that one out too ;)
You're right in your suggesting that Shuuji might be dead, but let's allude to two pieces of clues..
1) The fact that she says in the anime, at least in my version, that "you're the only one left."
2) That they showed one of her spikes saving Shuuji from the tsunami. Now, you might refute this because it doesn't prove anything but this scene IS shown for a reason, and it does support the idea that Shuuji is "saved".
Still, whatever form of existence Shuuji is in now, it definitely is not "life" as we know it on earth now, hence why I claimed it was an "unreal physical reality".. bizaare. Chise also says "everyone will die" but she's no prophet, right? There's no underlying theme of prophecy in the anime, and that was just a display of her surrender to the inevitable fate. But she still protected Shuuji; and that might've changed things. Still, no disagreement with you that the "life" Shuuji is having now.. is not really "life".
You know, it would be really sad if that was Shuuji's afterlife, and that soul ball Chise he was holding was just the incarnation of his memories of her.. and that he's imagining all of that by himself. >_<; But probably no, the story is such that they stay together.. in a very strange circumstance.
By the way, I thought the animation *quality* was mediocre, as in fluidity of animation (except for some cute/funny animation from Chise), and not animation *style*, which I understood why it was used because I've read some of the manga. Gyahh..
7thMethuselah
2004-12-15, 20:12
It's now official there is going to be a 2 episode OVA to Saishuu Heiki Kanojo :D
for more information, check this official site (in japanese) http://www.saikano.net/ova/
The title of the OVA : Saishuuheiki Kanojo ~ Another Love Song
Again, the war is NOT what the anime is about but it's about the changes she goes through and her relationship, and the consequences of the one on the other.
At the end of the anime everyone does die, it's not explicitly mentioned but Chise mentioned several times that everything would be destroyed and that everyone would die.
meh, lost interest in replying.
dreamless
2004-12-20, 03:38
well, my only complaint about Saikano is that it seems it's a victim of its own tragedy... The Akemi and Tetsu scenes are simply too powerful and emotional that they overwhelms the final climax, making it more like an anti-climax IMHO... Side-stories overwhleming main plot, side-characters overwhelming main characters... Somewhat like the Asahina Hiroko scene to RahXephon...
Also the environmentalist message seem a bit too sudden and just put there for the sake of... being there...
overall, it's a show about different people at the end of the world.
Personally, I'm just sad that Tetsu doesn't get to sleep with Chise, while Shuji repeatedly sleeps with his wife... such a tragedy.... :p
It's now official there is going to be a 2 episode OVA to Saishuu Heiki Kanojo :D
for more information, check this official site (in japanese) http://www.saikano.net/ova/
The title of the OVA : Saishuuheiki Kanojo ~ Another Love Song
Sounds great! So I guess we can have "another love song" besides the "last love song on this little planet" :heh:
Points well observed, dreamless. ^_^.. I do agree that the impact of the Akemi/Tetsu side-story is HUGE, but I disagree that it overwhelms the main plot. In fact, things just move on.. it's not like at the end of the final episode you're still hankering on the Akemi arc; there IS a reason why she isn't mentioned after her part ends. Everything just revolves around Chise/Shuuji after that. You'll probably find this happens in many anime; the saddest arc doesn't necessarily happen at the end of the story, it could happen within it. I can think of Ninku, Bleach, and FMA as examples.
At the same time, I think that the later half of Saikano was pretty messy; and perhaps too improvised. Like how you thought the environmental theme was, which I totally agree with.
And I also completely disagree with your RahXephon comment, because structurally it should *aid* the flow of the story rather than diminish the impact of its end. (MINI SPOILER FOR RAHXEPHON) RahXephon ends on a good note, so it's kind of a " U " structural formation, where the Asano arc could serve as the lowest point..
Meh. I think the OVA might suck.. but who knows. Let's wait and see..
dreamless
2004-12-20, 04:21
well, personally I don't really think RahXephon ends on that good a note... but it's quite open to interpretation... However for me the Asahina Hiroko scene manages to be the single saddest scene in anime history, while at the same time making all the death scenes in the following episode feel a bit lackluster... especially Haruka's... actually Haruka's death scene at the end feels more like funny :heh:
The problem about the saddest and most emotional scene not being in the end of an overall sad and emotional story is that it makes the ending feel a bit bland and lackluster IMO... especially for Saikano... :eyespin:
I don't see how RahXephon ends badly even if it was open to interpretation.
Anyways, I think most people didn't see Saikano that way ^_^.
dreamless
2004-12-21, 03:26
I don't see how RahXephon ends badly even if it was open to interpretation.
Anyways, I think most people didn't see Saikano that way ^_^.
well, I'm not too sure what "I think most people" you are talking about... but I know a lot of people tend to agree that Chise and Shuuji seem bland after Akemi and Tetsu, and Saikano a victim of its own great tragedy :p
Of course RahXephon ends GREATLY. Surely it doesn't end "badly". But it surely doesn't end that "happily" as your "U" structure theory seem to suggest ;)
Wow lots of posts here...I'm trying to avoid spoilers so maybe this is already answered:
how's the anime/manga comparison for this series? Would you recommend one over the other or would you get both? How similar/different are the two?
I know the anime has 13 eps, so far I've seen 7 mangas posted on the official site.
Thanks for all your help.
...goes off to read first manga...I love the art for this!
AzureSky
2004-12-28, 18:52
More questions: What is the OVA about?
sadly i can't understand what's in the website (www.saikano.net/ova)
Will we see some kind of recap with some filler to the plot or just entirely focus on another different relationship like the title suggest (Another Love Song) ? and who's the girl in the website? i'm guessing she will be the main character?
Can't wait for the OVA
well, I'm not too sure what "I think most people" you are talking about... but I know a lot of people tend to agree that Chise and Shuuji seem bland after Akemi and Tetsu, and Saikano a victim of its own great tragedy :p
Of course RahXephon ends GREATLY. Surely it doesn't end "badly". But it surely doesn't end that "happily" as your "U" structure theory seem to suggest ;)
Well, in RahXephon I don't think
Haruka's death was even meant to feel as tragic and horrible as Asahina's. For me, it was more a case of WTF!?--there's no way they're killing her like that, and then feeling immense relief when she turned out to be alive at the very end. I mean, more time was spent on things like Kim's grief and Itsuki/Sayoko/Makoto kicking the bucket than on Haruka dying, so I'm not sure that they actually intended for it to have a huge emotional impact. It just added to the sense that things were being set right at the very end, since Ayato sort of erased it.
Saikano is different, because the last few episodes spend an incredible amount of time dwelling on the tragedy of Chise's situation and all that. By the end, it felt kind of redundant. Shuji was an alright character, I guess, but I found Akemi, Tetsu and even Fuyumi to be much more interesting than Chise. So I definitely do agree with you in that sense--I felt let down by the ending, particularly after pretty much having my heart broken during
Akemi's death scene
7thMethuselah
2004-12-28, 21:33
Wow lots of posts here...I'm trying to avoid spoilers so maybe this is already answered:
how's the anime/manga comparison for this series? Would you recommend one over the other or would you get both? How similar/different are the two?
I know the anime has 13 eps, so far I've seen 7 mangas posted on the official site.
Thanks for all your help.
...goes off to read first manga...I love the art for this!
Hard to say which is better, manga or anime. I think it'll depend on your personal preference (in essence do you prefer books or movies) since both of them are very very good. Usually for a series either the manga or anime is superior but for Saikano I wouldn't know, just get both if you have the chance (I did :D )
There are a few minor differences between the anime and the manga though. And I did feel that the manga explained a few things better, but that is usually the case for manga as they have the time to do so compared to the anime.
There are only 7 manga btw and the art is indeed gorgeous !
dreamless
2004-12-29, 04:19
Well, in RahXephon I don't think
Haruka's death was even meant to feel as tragic and horrible as Asahina's. For me, it was more a case of WTF!?--there's no way they're killing her like that, and then feeling immense relief when she turned out to be alive at the very end. I mean, more time was spent on things like Kim's grief and Itsuki/Sayoko/Makoto kicking the bucket than on Haruka dying, so I'm not sure that they actually intended for it to have a huge emotional impact. It just added to the sense that things were being set right at the very end, since Ayato sort of erased it. Hmm... considering the ending scenes of RahXephon, I don't think things have been being "set" as "right" as what you seem to imply. :confused:
For Saikano manga and anime, I think plot-wise manga is better, but emotional-impact-wise anime is better. mostly because of the improvements on the Akemi character.
thanks for the reply. yea, seeing that the manga will take until end of next year (2005) to finish releasing, I'll probably end up picking up the anime. (all DVDs are out!) I finished the first book pretty quickly and only found the second book on the bookshelves when I went back to the store for more. oh well...
I look forward to this anime's merchandise at the next convention.
Hard to say which is better, manga or anime. I think it'll depend on your personal preference (in essence do you prefer books or movies) since both of them are very very good. Usually for a series either the manga or anime is superior but for Saikano I wouldn't know, just get both if you have the chance (I did :D )
There are a few minor differences between the anime and the manga though. And I did feel that the manga explained a few things better, but that is usually the case for manga as they have the time to do so compared to the anime.
There are only 7 manga btw and the art is indeed gorgeous !
Freakman
2004-12-29, 18:37
Azure : The page says the the OVA will be focused more on Chise's actions and point of view (i'm guessing it'll take place in the same time frame as the main series). And the character is just something they added that comes from the manga.
7thMethuselah
2004-12-29, 18:44
thanks for the reply. yea, seeing that the manga will take until end of next year (2005) to finish releasing, I'll probably end up picking up the anime. (all DVDs are out!) I finished the first book pretty quickly and only found the second book on the bookshelves when I went back to the store for more. oh well...
I look forward to this anime's merchandise at the next convention.
Well, i have no clue where you are from but if you are able to speak/read french then you could take the SaiKano manga releases by Editions Delcourt. I have those and am quite happy with 'm, the frnech name of the manga is L'Arme Ultime btw.
Freakman
2004-12-30, 07:54
As a small note, the french manga is titled Larme Ultime, which is an interesting translation, since Larme is a tear, thus making the title "Ultimate Tear". But of course, if you read it "L'arme Ultime", then it means "The Ultimate Weapon".
7thMethuselah
2004-12-30, 08:47
As a small note, the french manga is titled Larme Ultime, which is an interesting translation, since Larme is a tear, thus making the title "Ultimate Tear". But of course, if you read it "L'arme Ultime", then it means "The Ultimate Weapon".
hey you are right, I didn't notice that, but that might be because my french isn't the best :D
The story was interresting till the end, the only thing I though it was litte to much was that Chise everytime was excusing all the time about every little and wothless things .
Trailer OVA
http://www.saikano.net:80/ova/promo/saikano_ova320.mov
7thMethuselah
2005-01-03, 17:04
Trailer OVA
http://www.saikano.net:80/ova/promo/saikano_ova320.mov
Interesting seems we'll get more info on how Chise was created and possibly an explanation about the war, these things were not included in the manga however so I wonder if they involved the original creator for this.
Also the art is unchanged from Saikono, which is a VERY good thing :D
And I really wonder who that one woman is :)
dreamless
2005-01-03, 17:19
Hmm... I think the TV series has explained about the war pretty clearly already?
7thMethuselah
2005-01-03, 17:26
Hmm... I think the TV series has explained about the war pretty clearly already?
Oh really?
I'd say they hardly explained anything.
What do we know?
1. At the beginning of Saikano, the kids say they are bored because of no tv no cell phones no internet, all of these have been banned, it's a first signal something is really wrong but I think most hardly noticed it when mentioned.
2. The war begins with the air raid on Sapporo (I think it was Sapporo) by unknown troops, whoo then are taken out by Chise
3. All we know after that is that Chise is some kind of last resort weapon and that there is indeed a war taking place.
4. It is mentioned that Tokyo and Oosaka have long been destroyed.
5. We find out the enemy speaks english and that it's appears to be a war for survival of the species rather than an actual war of conquest.
6. Chise whipes out enemies by annihilating lost land.
7. in the end everyone and everything dies/is destroyed.
I may have forgotten a few things left and right but I think there are still alot of unanswered questions, not that those really bothered me since the anime was not about the war but about Chise and Shuuji's relation.
Personally I don't think they would bother with the background of the war too much, as this is more about the relationship dramas and dilemmas than the action. Since the message from the trailer and the promotions suggests that this new woman character is another ultimate weapon, I assume the story will be about her and Chise and their experiences through the war. But if anything, I think we'll still get to know more about the whole ultimate weapon business.
dreamless
2005-01-03, 18:47
Oh really?
I'd say they hardly explained anything.
What do we know?
1. At the beginning of Saikano, the kids say they are bored because of no tv no cell phones no internet, all of these have been banned, it's a first signal something is really wrong but I think most hardly noticed it when mentioned.
2. The war begins with the air raid on Sapporo (I think it was Sapporo) by unknown troops, whoo then are taken out by Chise
3. All we know after that is that Chise is some kind of last resort weapon and that there is indeed a war taking place.
4. It is mentioned that Tokyo and Oosaka have long been destroyed.
5. We find out the enemy speaks english and that it's appears to be a war for survival of the species rather than an actual war of conquest.
6. Chise whipes out enemies by annihilating lost land.
7. in the end everyone and everything dies/is destroyed.
I may have forgotten a few things left and right but I think there are still alot of unanswered questions, not that those really bothered me since the anime was not about the war but about Chise and Shuuji's relation.
well, in the last couple episodes, Chise explained that human history is a history of war and pollution, and after a long history of humans destroying the nature with wars and pollutions, finally Earth itself reaches its limit and is about to die. Basically there are less and less natural resources and inhabitable environments, so everyone is fighting for the last remaining resources and inhabitable living places, which depletes the resources and destroying the environments more and more, a vicious cycle that accelerates the death of the planet. So in the end the world outside of Japan becomes terrible and uninhabitable, so everyone is trying to inavde Japan for the last habitable place in the world, and in the end the only habitable place in the world is the town protected by Chise. But as people outside make a final attack on Chise's town, the planet itself at last dies, and Chise can only save Shuuji by merging her immortal body with him, thus granting him immortality so he can live on on this already dead planet.
As for the ban on TV, internet, etc. etc. it's to cut off communication to the outside world, thus hiding the fact that the entire world outside of Japan has already died and become uninhabitable, in order to prevent mass panic.So I think the TV series has explained it quite clear already.
7thMethuselah
2005-01-03, 18:57
well, in the last couple episodes, Chise explained that
<...>
So I think the TV series has explained it quite clear already.
Well I remember something like that but not so detailed, I'll have to rewatch it, but I'll take your word on it, been a while too since I read the manga.and that was in french and frnech is understandable for me but not perfect.
Since the message from the trailer and the promotions suggests that this new woman character is another ultimate weapon, I assume the story will be about her and Chise and their experiences through the war.
Ah now that you mention it, I was under the impression that was Chise being shown, however at closer inspection the face is pretty unclear, so it might well be possible. However that makes me wonde rabout this : The "ultimate weapons" were clearly unbeatable so why did they chase afetr Chise in the end, when there would not have been a need to do so if they had multiple? Just a random thought....
can some one tell me the ending of Saikano the full summary of episode 13..
Was Chise already a weapon prior to the beginning of the story, though her weapon core remaining dormant for a period of inactivity until her physical body reached a reasonable growth?
Remember in episode one when at night Shuji told Chise to meet him the same place for school. Shuji leaves, then Chise goes walking home unawared that three strangers (military) followed her afterwards.
Next morning during break, Shuji is at school's roof and Chise comes having brought juice packs. Shuji inquiries about the bandages below her knees.
Think rationally and make use of common sense.
If the JSDF turned Chise into the ultimate weapon, then how the whole bio-mechanical and surgical process took them only a single night?
Would that had taken them weeks or even months?
And how come Chise unexpectedly was chosen among all girls in town to become said weapon? coincidence, perhaps?
Darkling
2006-05-18, 06:29
I assume that once the procedure was completed (fairly invasively, judging by the scars on her chest), Chise was able to regenerate the damage caused by the surgery. After all, after battles she was able to change the shape of her limbs back to normal. So it's not illogical that she could be back at school the next day.
The OVAs make it clear that the military has tried the procedure on other people before. (However, it could very well be that there is something about Chise in particular that made her more suitable for being turned into an ultimate weapon.)
StarCreator
2006-05-18, 08:16
This is something that people who have read the manga often complain about - Chise was already the Ultimate Weapon before the story began. I believe the manga explains the circumstances as to why this happened. (This is what I hear, as I've never read the manga myself.)
The military men that night are, presumably, just there to summon her for a military operation.
jtstellar
2006-09-29, 07:10
seems like i watched this a bit late.. personally i have decent amount of feeling in the tetsu scene and the ending. the part where tetsu is dying and crying seems pretty real to me.. and he tells chise to kill him but she can't do it.. loved that part. she has just vaporized 3 soldiers just outside the door.. and suddenly she is asked to comfort a dying person.. great contrast there. and the ending.. it's a decent ending in that 1. there is a decent amount of emotions 2. it's not a complete closure.. gives us some room for guessing.
is there any stuff like an interview or some official release regarding the ending tho? as much as I like to think about it, I would like to know what the real answer is. During the ending scene while Shuji is having these hallucinations the anime flashes from his fake world back to the real world where everything is grey and there is no Chise.. so from that point of view I think Shuji is indeed alive in physical form.. otherwise there is no point for the anime flashing us the reality. But if you watch closely just before the tsunami hits Shuji, when Chise tries to block the water with her body, she actually fails. Her body just shatters into part and it is shown that Shuji is swallowed by the tsunami. So.. if you see it from this piont of view.. Shuji can't be alive. Therefore I can't really conclude what really happens in the end.
Overall.. in terms of making me feel really bad over a certain period of time.. saikano certainly doesn't beat eva and haibane renmei. But again I really love the Tetsu's death part. You know what.. I think saikano would actually be 2x better if Chise is forced from time to time to fight her enemies with melee. the white light vaporization thing just gets repetitive and boring. If she could kill enemies with her bare hands and butcher them and stuff it'll add so much to this contrasting feeling thing the anime's trying to express. LOL extremity ftw
Klashikari
2006-09-29, 10:32
Was Chise already a weapon prior to the beginning of the story, though her weapon core remaining dormant for a period of inactivity until her physical body reached a reasonable growth?
...
And how come Chise unexpectedly was chosen among all girls in town to become said weapon? coincidence, perhaps?
i would say you answered yourself somehow ^^
there are some clues that chise wasn't the weapon prior the story. (you said most of them)
since the "technology" used on her was so advanced, it shouldn't be "that" difficult to expect it to be applied in only one night, adding the fact it's a growing weapon, which should be kinda "small" at the beginning.
by the way, i will answer at starcreator : the real issue is in the manga, we have absolutely no explanation about how/why/when did chise become the ultimate weapon. but we can certainly say that chise was pure human as the story begins.
i have just re-read the first volume, and she said clearly at the saporo raid "sorry, my body is now like this", she didn't say she was like that or such, this is also the very first attack in shuji and chise area (which proves somewhat it was recent, since chise was only able to defend at her beginning, before being able to move to other area/cities)
and finally, i really don't think that chise would be able to confess to shuji if she was already like this, since her shyness is so deep that she couldn't be able to bear the possibility of being spotted by shuji under her ultimate weapon form.
and about the choice, there isn't really any answer (the manga mentions nothing about)
i guess takahashi didn't bothered to mention about this fact, since the story was only about the 2 lovers (it also explains why he didn't mention the causes of the earth disasters and wars)
we know only the common quote from uwahara : "we didn't have the choice, it wasn't anyone's fault, nor hers, nor yours or ours"
Deathkillz
2006-12-19, 17:12
...well...i think a part of my soul has just died :sad:
i knew from its reputation that it is a good tragic story...and i have to agree ~ and i finally got around to watching it...
wow...even though it shows some extremes into war on the whole its pretty realistic...people die and get hurt just the same way...one minute you are there and the next you could be blown to pieces...such cruelty :(
i duno what to think now...i still need time for it to sink in what just happened...so i take it that chise brought about the apocalypse except for shuji ~ so hes living in a dream together with chise...man its really painful that they know that its a dream as well...watching shuji patting thin air hurts >.< but i guess thats a small miracle has spwned from their love...
i could feel the pain that shuji must have had to see his friends die one by one...the feeling of being unable to do anything must have suxed...
overall its pretty complex...but still the true ending is there...all they needed was love ~
i blame those stupid humans...whats with the whole war? seriously their brains must be non exsistant...to have a war that pushed in into an apocalypse is just stupid...and to think...that they can actually win against chise...fools T_T
seriously if you think about WW2 and think about the A-bomb i can imagine chise being compared to it...you dont see the japs continue fighting with the A-bomb blew up a whole city...you should know when to quit and just surrender to the consequences...way better than going head first into a lose-lose situation...
ahh well...i must again say that this is a really good classic tale of love and death...im getting that feeling again where a hammer has just whacked you on the chest...and i know...time heals all wounds ;) *cheers to chise and shuji!*
kauldron26
2006-12-19, 17:21
seriously i feel everything u said about this anime... this was unbelievable depressing, yet truly beautiful. And the ending with him being the only human alive and her still existing as a consciousness was so heartbreaking, yet fulfilling. I love this anime so much. Love and War have never been contrasted and illustrated on celluloid so beautifully....
Finaly got around to watch this. Hm...what to say... it was quite an interesting story with rather big plotholes here and there, but overall pretty good. One thing it completely failed at - sqeezing emotions out of me.
I can fully understand the painful and dramatic experiences the characters had to go trough, but i can't bring myself to care about the characters. I wanted to get a heavy dose of depression while watching this (i was told it is more depressing than Air ... it is not even close imo), but that never came. I was trying to care about the characters, but failed at that.
While the events happening to all the characters were tragic and simply sad... it didn't do much to me. The characters were mostly way underdeveloped for me to care about them.
I think the main fault of Saikano is that it tries too much to be tragic. A more subtle approach would work better imo... it was trying to force a whirlpool of tragical events down my throat, which didn't work too well. The fact that the deaths that happened were amazingly predictable didn't help either.
In short - it fails to be tragic by trying too much to achieve that.
The last episode was made of pure WTFness... sure, it was an original ending, but it felt out of place for me. It came too sudden and out of nowhere. Also nothing is explained how Chise became the ultimate weapon.
The character design was rather horrible imo.
Overall a pretty decent show with an original story, but didn't quite live up to my expectations. Based on it's reputation i was expecting more, especialy in the dramatic side. Saikano was definitely a good watch, but it is overrated imo.
*shrugs* 6/10 in my book
Klashikari
2006-12-22, 19:13
Also nothing is explained how Chise became the ultimate weapon.
this is normal : it wasn't answered in the manga either.
in the postface of the manga, takahashi explained he wanted to give the most attention to the relationship between chise and shuji. granted the plotholes are somewhat annoying, but in the other way, the author managed to keep the story around the 2 protagonists.
in fact, takashi said that "how" "why" and "when" chise became the weapon weren't the matter at all. (just like why/how/when did humanity breach such limits to cause earth that kind of disaster)
The character design was rather horrible imo.
well the anime is kinda old (2002 IIRC) but the anime chara design was really great because : it was a fantastic copy of the original manga design.
while indeed it is not conventionnal, give it a try : the manga seems to be done with roughs, but the lines are just emotionnal.
unfortunately, there is no way to reproduct this kind of style in the anime. but gonzo did a good job i believe.
Overall a pretty decent show with an original story, but didn't quite live up to my expectations. Based on it's reputation i was expecting more, especialy in the dramatic side. Saikano was definitely a good watch, but it is overrated imo.
*shrugs* 6/10 in my book
you can't really excpect much of some sad story if you are prepared for some "things ^^;
the sad thing is : the anime didn't have much choice except to increase the drama emphasis around the deaths and all, since with such tiny amount of episode, there was NO way to depict every thought of shuji and chise (in fact, they skipped chise inner thoughts, just like DEEN did for shion in higurashi ~~)
read the manga, without any expectation or judgement, it would be something different (well, that's how i feel :heh:)
Deathkillz
2006-12-22, 19:30
yea sometimes preparing for the worse causes high expectations that doesnt quite hit home :heh: well the the ova did do a little bit of explaining to why chise was chosen to become the ultimate weapon...basically it was because her body was suitable to become the ultimate weapon how even in 9 hell did they find that out was beyond me :heh:
but seriously i think it could have been anybody and chise was just at the wrong place at the wrong time :( ~
still i found it really touching if you read my post above ;)
Though, it's still quite questionable as to why they chose Chisa... I mean, she's weak, a crybaby. Maybe they didn't know at that time, but seriously they would have been better off with someone else...
snip
Well, that's probably because you got too much information. The same happened to me and KGNE. I've heard all sorts of things, I was expecting pure dramatic genius and although I could see how dramatic things really were, I wasn't touched that much when watching it.
I don't remember what I had heard about Saikano prior to watching it, but all sorts of emotions came up when I was watching, mainly frustration at the characters :p (in the sense of "WTH are you doing?!"). It was so terribly depressing that I haven't watched it ever since (like an eroge I played some years ago, for the same reasons).
Of course, people are different anyway, so, unless someone comes out and says that the whole things was utter crap (which wasn't), I can understand the different views. Although I must admit, I was put off by the animation that I closed ep 1 after 10 secs and some time passed before I decided to watch the whole series :p
I was put off by the animation that I closed ep 1 after 10 secs and some time passed before I decided to watch the whole series :p
Lol, true dat - actualy i watched ep1 three or so months ago, but i disliked the animation so much i dropped it(only time i have dropped a series based on the animation mainly)
Well, i don't think knowing things ( i really didn't know anything besides it being considered tragic) can ruin anything that much. I knew a hell lot more about Air before i watched it, but it still managed to get me misty-eyed one or two times. Never happened here. But then again i am hardly an emotional person :)
Sum-cogito
2007-05-16, 14:59
Like one other guy in this thread, I just saw it all at once. I hate crying, and am physically unable to in real-life circumstances. In spite of this, a rare anime gets the better of me, this is one.
Sure there are a lot of problems (feels fake or overdone/underdone) and can piss you off, but truly, if you have a sense of imagination you can overlook and overwrite these flaws.
--> Has any of you seen "Brothers in Arms"?
(As a Jew, Spielberg financed it, under the instructions to "make a historically correct series about World War II and research the soldiers, so the stories of the characters are coherently as correct as possible.")
Just like “Saving Private Ryan", just 100x worse. It was too realistic for me, especially because... (duh) these things happened.
Although I never cried over it, for me, it was one of the most painful and excruciating things to watch. In the midst of utter hopelessness, the soldiers had to find a reason to live on, with sometimes a vague sense of hope. Everybody kept dying, no better then a dead cat in the gutters. It really made me feel appreciative that Hitler didn’t win the war, not for the typical I-am-from-California-Hollywood-and-blond reasons, but because he functioned as a source to this empty hopelessness. Even see that the Germens back then had it hard with him. It is this feeling that really gets me.
For me, the feelings surrounding the anime are somewhat the same, as they have many of the same themes. This is probably why the anime saddend me to such an extent.
Kaioshin Sama
2007-05-21, 20:32
I've been turning this over in my head for a while, if they can work Tekkaman Blade into Super Robot Wars, it would be cool to have Chise as usable unit.
I am fine with sad stories and the episode about my favourite charater Akemi was so sad:upset:
But I thought this story went a little overboard in the end where everything dissappeares and everybody dies. Just didn't like that at all.
The story itself besides that is pretty good and it makes you wonder about some things.
I just didn't like Shuji one bit. He was so mean vs everyone. Treated Akemi like garbage all the time and also treated Chise with little respect. Selfish person who took out his anger, confusion etc on everyone else and acted the wrong way in so many instances.
CandyVanMan
2007-06-15, 16:21
I just didn't like Shuji one bit. He was so mean vs everyone. Treated Akemi like garbage all the time and also treated Chise with little respect. Selfish person who took out his anger, confusion etc on everyone else and acted the wrong way in so many instances.
After reading the Manga, I suspect that Shuji hated himself for those same reasons. The volume of introspective moments was greatly reduced from the Manga to the Anime leaving Shuji's character quite one-dimensional. In fact, the same could be said about Chise and some others as well.
Ya, I kinda agree with what you're saying
Klashikari
2007-06-15, 16:41
I just didn't like Shuji one bit. He was so mean vs everyone. Treated Akemi like garbage all the time and also treated Chise with little respect. Selfish person who took out his anger, confusion etc on everyone else and acted the wrong way in so many instances.
Treated Akemi like garbage? not really.
there are various hints they respected a lot each other. you know, friends aren't lovey dovey all the time.
as for little respect with chise, i can't think anything else that shuji was pretty much human : he was hating himself because he couldn't consider chise as a human.
afraid of her, and of himself, and he knew that his fear will shatter the remnant of her humanity.
I can't see any guy who would be acting casually with her deadly girlfriend, who can kill him anytime, even without on purpose (as demonstrated on the automated defense, loosely effective on a earthquake). he was trying various approaches, and he ended with the last resolve.
as suggested by CandyVanMan, everyone else weren't white either : chise was seeking her own proof that she is still human (big selfishness with Tetsu), etc.
Heck, Fuyumi was the character who freaked me the most, but she wasn't "mean" or "bad" in the absolute way, though her selfishness was extremely big.
Wosho128
2007-06-24, 16:52
Just got done watching it.
I was expecting a terrible anime. For years, I have avoided watching this. Why? My friends would tell me that it's not worth my time and the reviewers who labeled it "the worst anime ever" didn't help my perceptions on it. However, I was surprised by this title. There are a lot of good themes in the series. (Genuine love, human desires, making mistakes and existentialism)
I really liked how the characters were reminiscent of people in real life. People make mistakes and people can become fragile during certain times in their lives. There were no perfect characters; all of them had flaws and every single one of them had their own motivation for living. Tetsu is my favorite character by far. He was a strong willed character yet he had moments of weakness when he was around Chise. I like how he was a stoic hero on the battlefield and was a complete mess when he was around his "commander". =P
Shuji was annoying at first but I grew to like him. He transformed from an indifferent brat into a caring individual. He really cherished his friends except that he really sucked when bringing his emotions to the surface. (Note: A lot of us males are like this) And about people dying left and right; I wasn't surprised. The series was rooted in war so I kind of expected it.
Ah well, I enjoyed Saikano. Best anime ever? No, not even close. The worst? Psssht, nope. This was a good series and I thoroughly loved the ride. I probably won't watch the OVA as I really don't need more insight on the story but who knows? It's summer and this is the only time I get to watch anime like this. @_@
Masterpiece....I will never ever watch it again.
KholdStare
2007-06-27, 15:59
Masterpiece....I will never ever watch it again.
You just took the words out of my mouth.
aznxbuddha
2007-06-28, 01:38
ahh well...i must again say that this is a really good classic tale of love and death...im getting that feeling again where a hammer has just whacked you on the chest...and i know...time heals all wounds ;) *cheers to chise and shuji!*
Exactly. I feel so depressed after watching this anime, almost every episode after 5 or 6 just made me feel like shit. This is my first omgwtf SAD as hell anime.
*sigh* i really dont want to watch another anime like this but im actually pretty glad that i watched this one, it was very deep.
KholdStare
2007-06-28, 02:00
I found the saddest episodes were 9-10, when Shuji visited Akemi. Wow that was probably the saddest moment I've seen in anime, but I've seen lots of dramatic series.
Masterpiece....I will never ever watch it again.
I agree with the later part - i won't watch it again :) *sigh* once again i am left outside of the fence - I see the series as decent, but nothing beyond that. If there is one supposedly sad anime that failed to make me feel sad, Saikano has to be it, because the tragedy came across as forced, and some scenes were overblown in the melodrama department. But hey - i am happy that people seem to like it :)
I also won't watch it again, because I'm afraid to spoil the memory. I was a few years younger when I first watched it, and it was one of my first anime. Now that I've seen so much more and am also older, I might watch it again and find it forced/melodramatic like a lot of people say. Much better to leave it as a pleasant memory of a series, that affected me a lot at the time.
Deathkillz
2007-06-28, 13:55
^ probably what sky's reaction is towards the series...with experience comes being picky about what you watch and dump the series that wastes your time...but as a good memory this series has to be one of them :)
I agree with the later part - i won't watch it again :) *sigh* once again i am left outside of the fence - I see the series as decent, but nothing beyond that. If there is one supposedly sad anime that failed to make me feel sad, Saikano has to be it, because the tragedy came across as forced, and some scenes were overblown in the melodrama department. But hey - i am happy that people seem to like it :)
Yep. Not really bad but it leaves a really strong aftertaste. At least Gunslinger Girl (the anime) ended with a glimmer of hope and the stories were bittersweet. Saikano, on the other hand, it like eating raw bitter melon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon).
While I don't think I'll be watching the series again like many other people here, listening to the OST is another matter altogether. :p:p
listening to the OST is another matter altogether
Yes, there are a few tracks I enjoyed from the OST. The main theme on piano and the regular version was nice, as well as the music during the first time they walk to school together - a very good flute-guitar piece. Very nostalgic, moody, and reminiscent of the unique atmosphere of the series. Ugh, now you've made me go digging through my soundtracks :heh:
Well, I just finished watching the series myself. One I only recently heard about, and it seemed to have a real interesting ranking on some other boards where it seems to often get best and worst ratings in equal numbers.
While my preference is for a happy ending, I have to say that I thought the ending was appropriate for the story. Once you get two sides in a war who literally can't afford to lose, you lose any hope of anyone winning. I would say the parallels to the MAD stategy of the 50s through 80s may well have been a target of this cautionary tale.
I liked it, and it's bittersweet in a good way as opposed to a certain "Nice Boat" series... :D
KholdStare
2007-12-29, 21:53
Well, I just finished watching the series myself. One I only recently heard about, and it seemed to have a real interesting ranking on some other boards where it seems to often get best and worst ratings in equal numbers.
While my preference is for a happy ending, I have to say that I thought the ending was appropriate for the story. Once you get two sides in a war who literally can't afford to lose, you lose any hope of anyone winning. I would say the parallels to the MAD stategy of the 50s through 80s may well have been a target of this cautionary tale.
I liked it, and it's bittersweet in a good way as opposed to a certain "Nice Boat" series... :D
Yup, there are lots of ways to make a bittersweet ending that doesn't resort to making a nice boat ending. SaiKano and KgNE are the two very good examples.
Sorry if I pass for a idiot, but what serie are you saying by ''KhNE""?
PS I should have listened to the warning they gave me :)
Lol, the editor's note; "If you want a happy ending please do not watch the remaining episodes." When I saw that I continued it even though I knew the ending was going to be sad.
Ah well, I enjoyed Saikano. Best anime ever? No, not even close. The worst? Psssht, nope. This was a good series and I thoroughly loved the ride. I probably won't watch the OVA as I really don't need more insight on the story but who knows? It's summer and this is the only time I get to watch anime like this. @_@
Saikano in general was a good series. Maybe in about 3 years from now I would like to watch the series again. For the OVA I watched it and it was decent. I suggest if you loved the tv series, watch the OVA. In the OVA it gives a few answers you might have in my opinion.
Masterpiece....I will never ever watch it again.
Lol, Saikano isn't a masterpiece but it deserves some recognition in my opinion.
I watched the anime first (since it was available) before the manga on the internet. When the manga was available for viewing, I immedietly started reading the manga. After I finished reading the manga, I was left with the same feelings the anime left me (in my thoughts is good). I'm getting all seven volumes of the manga and currently I have the first four volumes.
KholdStare
2007-12-30, 02:07
I thought it was...well okay it's one of the two anime in my top ten list that doesn't have 10/10 rating (masterpiece), but it came close. I'm not sure if this particular show can be considered "mecha," but it's only of the only mecha that I like, so saying that accomplishes a lot. I found many deep meanings in SaiKano that puts it above most other anime I watch, and it gives me a sense of reality using fiction, if that made any sense.
What editor's note? I didn't catch that. ;)
Sorry for asking, but if someone could post the lyrics of the sayonara song ( the ending song) please ?
Deathkillz
2008-03-24, 09:07
I don't have the translation but heres the romaji~
Watashi no kokoro ni sukima ga aita
Nemurenu yoru tameiki bakari
Kidzukanu uchi ni asa ni natte'ta
Anata no koe ga kikitakute
Nukumori furetakute
Anata e no omoi komiagete kuru
Namida afureru
Sayonara itoshii hito
Mada wasurerarenai anata no koto
Sayonara no hitokoto de owatte shimau nante...
Kanashii yo
Fuanna toki ni wa anata ga ite
Yasashiku te o nigitte kureta
Watashi o zenbu tsutsunde kureta
Deatta koro ni modoreta nara
Nando mo nando mo omoi
Tanoshikatta hibi ga ima ja setsunai
Don't let me alone
Sayonara itoshii hito
Mada owarasetakunai kono koi o
Sayonara no hitokoto ga kono yo ni
Nakunatte shimaeba ii no ni
Sayonara itoshii hito
Mada wasurerarenai anata no koto
Sayonara no hitokoto de owatte shimau nante...
Kanashii yo
KholdStare
2008-03-24, 10:14
Sorry for asking, but if someone could post the lyrics of the sayonara song ( the ending song) please ?
http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/saikano/sayonara.htm
Kaioshin Sama
2008-05-04, 00:29
I saw the first episode on a whim today and it's a nice slow opener leading up to the abrupt moment that forever shatters the two lead characters notions of what a human relationship is. The end part with the sudden title card after Chise appears in her new form seems to hint that the first episode is only like a prelude and the real series starts with episode 2, and much of the drama I think is coming.
Though one major major problem. The voice actor for Shuji is absolutely terribly abysmally awful beyond even my worst experiences with Japanese Seiyuus. I had a hard time taking the character seriously at all unless Chise was around to pick up the slack in the relationship scenes because of his flat deep voiced William Shatneresque delivery. This was the guys only role ever and probably with good reason as he has absolutely no acting talent whatsoever if the first episode is any indication. I'm actually kind of worried how this is going to work as the story hinges on the narration of Shuji and his feelings as far as I can tell and when they come out like that, again it's really hard to feel anything significant. We'll see....
space cowboy
2008-08-29, 20:40
The manga for Me was beyond amazing, and far far better than that of the anime. It went so deep into humanity's flaws and need to survive whilst constantly reminding you of hope through the love story of two ordinary high school children living two extraordinary lives.
Shuiji and chise for me represented humanity's lust for love and will to exist.
Some moments are very sad in the manga, one especially with Akemi, which if you have read is so fucking sad you will cry no matter what.
Indeed, somehow I had a feeling that the anime had done something very wrong.
The emotions conveyed in the manga is beyond extraordinary. Too bad the anime failed at that :(
GuidoHunter_Toki
2008-08-30, 00:17
Agreed, the manga(which I just started reading recentley) so far is much better than the anime. I've seen the anime first, but it never stood out too much too me. I heard the manga was much better and since I've started reading it thats been true in my case and I'm looking forward to continue reading it.
space cowboy
2008-08-30, 20:51
Yea i read the manga first and the anime didnt appeal to me at all but i still watched it. I noticed they cut out alot of scenes which is understandable.
Is it just me though or is the OAV really good, i love the added love story.
Yea i read the manga first and the anime didnt appeal to me at all but i still watched it. I noticed they cut out alot of scenes which is understandable.
Is it just me though or is the OAV really good, i love the added love story.
I have done the other way; I watched the anime first, and after, I read the manga. I can't say tha I prefer one version over the other ( both versions face strenghts and weekness.
I don't know why but the OAV was a deception for me, I don't think than is only because I expected something better...
well... this is one of those anime series that you either love or hate.....
I must say .. first of all... that it took me a while to find this thread (5 years actually) ... lol ...but now seriously, Saikano scarred me for life. .... not kidding, I mean those songs ... good lord, I remember watching the intros and the endings all the way through and episode after episode it takes a way a part of you.... that Sayonara song is so touching is dangerous ... really ... it messes up with your feelings. Maybe that's why this is the only anime sountrack I've ever purchased (along with the series on dvd) ... yeah I know what ur thinking ... masochist! .. but there is something that compelled me to buy the soundtrack... The soundtrack of the OVA was also very nice and touching....
Its been like 5 years since I last saw it and I know that I can watch it at any time but I remember being so shattered after watching it... I don't want to watch this series until I feel I need to get sentimental and cry some more...
There have been anime series that make me sad... but I have yet to see one that takes me so deep like Saikano did ...
I guess I was able to identify a lil more with the story cause at the time I was making plans to enlist in the army .... and also had a very cute girlfriend.... what more can I say, I am a sentimental guy and I saw this anime at a crucial point in my life.....
yezhanquan
2008-10-21, 01:40
well... this is one of those anime series that you either love or hate.....
I must say .. first of all... that it took me a while to find this thread (5 years actually) ... lol ...but now seriously, Saikano scarred me for life. .... not kidding, I mean those songs ... good lord, I remember watching the intros and the endings all the way through and episode after episode it takes a way a part of you.... that Sayonara song is so touching is dangerous ... really ... it messes up with your feelings. Maybe that's why this is the only anime sountrack I've ever purchased (along with the series on dvd) ... yeah I know what ur thinking ... masochist! .. but there is something that compelled me to buy the soundtrack... The soundtrack of the OVA was also very nice and touching....
Its been like 5 years since I last saw it and I know that I can watch it at any time but I remember being so shattered after watching it... I don't want to watch this series until I feel I need to get sentimental and cry some more...
There have been anime series that make me sad... but I have yet to see one that takes me so deep like Saikano did ...
I guess I was able to identify a lil more with the story cause at the time I was making plans of enlisting in the army .... and also had a very cute girlfriend.... what more can I say, I am a sentimental guy and I saw this anime at a crucial point in my life.....
If you like this type of story, check out Iriya no Sora. The events mostly center on the main couple in Iriya, but it's a series that gets my nod of approval.
If you like this type of story, check out Iriya no Sora. The events mostly center on the main couple in Iriya, but it's a series that gets my nod of approval.
dam... will do.. I've added it to my list... will also have ready some comedy/ecchi/fight type of shallow anime to get me out of the whole this one is going to throw me into .....(maybe I'll watch Family guy ..after all "Bird is the Word"... lol).. who knows... I survived Saikano... don't know if this one has the right "soundtracks" to go along with the story...
I'll report back in a few weeks :p (pushing Clanad further to the bottom of my pending list....)...Chaos;Head also looks good
yezhanquan
2008-10-21, 06:18
dam... will do.. I've added it to my list... will also have ready some comedy/ecchi/fight type of shallow anime to get me out of the whole this one is going to throw me into .....(maybe I'll watch Family guy ..after all "Bird is the Word"... lol).. who knows... I survived Saikano... don't know if this one has the right "soundtracks" to go along with the story...
I'll report back in a few weeks :p (pushing Clanad further to the bottom of my pending list....)...Chaos;Head also looks good
Well, the OP for Iriya is hauntingly beautiful to me, although Your Mileage May Vary. Also, like SaiKano, after the OVA, check out the light novels. Also, a manga is on-going.
Mariko Kurama
2008-10-21, 13:28
Really effective story, although I think the manga's is slightly better. Then again, the anime has a great soundtrack so it evens out somewhat.
Just started to watch this after months of anime strike ( ?? ) :eyebrow: and I have to say i don't need to wait for the last episode to realize how disappointed. I don't really know the reasons, besides of those already mentioned. I remember being a big big fan of the manga some years ago, but I just don't like the waily lines, and the voices themselves. Storyline is great, though, even if completely unlikely.
Anyway, don't watch, read instead! :p
yezhanquan
2008-11-08, 23:11
Orikasa Fumiko and Miki Shinichiro are about the best part of the cast.
Just started to watch this after months of anime strike ( ?? ) :eyebrow: and I have to say i don't need to wait for the last episode to realize how disappointed. I don't really know the reasons, besides of those already mentioned. I remember being a big big fan of the manga some years ago, but I just don't like the waily lines, and the voices themselves. Storyline is great, though, even if completely unlikely.
Anyway, don't watch, read instead! :p
Myself, I enjoyed both, they have their strenghts and weeknesses.
The way the manga end is better, he is more complete but is too mature for being something to be a easy sugestion.
I will agree with ganbaru when I'm finished watching this anime. I actually sometimes gets angry at friends of mine who pretend they know what japanese animation is all about even though they absolutely never read manga. I assume this is an eternal debate. Reading and "thinking" will always be harder but more rewarding than watching your screen and swallow what you're given.
I'll stop here, first because I do not like to make enemies, and then because I'm indeed a big big anime who would never let go of his animated Keroro or Haruhi! :cool:
I hated this anime. Its boring and depressing for 11 out of 13 episodes, a really really bad combination. Probably my least favorite anime of all time.
The childhood friend's (I forget her name) death scene and the ending were good, I will admit that.
I recall being rather moved by this anime, but I do agree that it tried to hard to force sadness on the viewer in certain scenes, creeping towards melodrama territory. Still, it isn't a bad recommendations by any means.
SukyAnime2
2008-11-09, 03:22
Ah. This is the unknown anime DVD I saw sitting at my uncles dvd player many* years ago!
I don't know much about this series (i only saw the dvd cover), but hehe, brought back a little bit of nostalgia :D
KillaManiac
2009-08-19, 21:07
I just finished this anime in one sitting and I have to post something.
This anime definitely has some of the saddest moments in all the ton of anime I have seen.
Episode 9-10 with Akemi and Akemi's dad were seriously heart breaking IMO.
I have never teared up in a Anime before until this one and the only movie that has teared me up was "Pay it Forward".
Cheer on this amazingly sad anime!
yezhanquan
2009-08-19, 21:33
Give the manga a shot. I think of it as an alternate take on the story. Also, check out the OVA.
Seiyu-wise: Definitely a feather in Fumiko's cap. Shinichiro's work as Tetsu also stands out.
Yeap, Saikano is definitively one of the best "Sad" anime series I've ever seen and that closing song "Sayonara" really touches your heart at the end of each ep... I remember sitting there watching that ending all sad and stuff..
I respect this series so much I haven't watched it again, not because I didn't like it but because it really breaks your heart...
yezhanquan
2009-08-19, 21:57
Although as a history student, I do disagree with the anvil that war is bad. Some of humanity's destinies have been decided in the battlefield.
When that WWI vet who died recently said that the war he fought in wasn't worth one life, I disagreed. The direct impact of WWI destroyed 4 empires, and paved the way to a conflict which manages to make Germany and France friends from bitter enemies in the 19th century.
Although as a history student, I do disagree with the anvil that war is bad. Some of humanity's destinies have been decided in the battlefield.
When that WWI vet who died recently said that the war he fought in wasn't worth one life, I disagreed. The direct impact of WWI destroyed 4 empires, and paved the way to a conflict which manages to make Germany and France friends from bitter enemies in the 19th century.
ahh excuse me but ...........WTF? R u talking about? (no offense meant)
yezhanquan
2009-08-20, 05:45
Some viewers correctly pointed out that SaiKano carried an anti-war message. What I'm saying is that I disagree with that notion.
And really, if you think deeper into the military technology of the series, the research is hardly done at all. Of course, I let it go, as this is not a war series. But sorry, I'm feeling fine even after that anvil.
You make it seem as if history could not be made without war. And if that is indeed what you implying, I would not really be proud of this fact, given that it would mark humanity as a definitely flawed species that cannot solve inner conflicts without resort to self destruction.
yezhanquan
2009-08-20, 11:06
I think ol' Plato says it better.
"Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War" -Plato
I have Sun Zi's first line in the Art of War in mind: War, is an important affair for the state. It is a matter of life and death, a matter of survival or destruction. It cannot be taken lightly. The best war is the war that is never fought. 不战而屈人之兵，善之善者也。
Also, I believe in this: If you're flawed, that means you still can move upwards. If you're perfect, the only way left to go is downward.
That's no reason to relish in your imperfection though, which you give the impression to be doing. One thing is to accept war as a matter of fact and as something that eventually happens to most states. (though personally I'm an admirer of long neutral countries and the principle of neutrality). Another is to say anti-war movements are fatally flawed or useless, since I think that by their very nature any movement that at least tries us to get us out of the imperfection that is war is a good one.
yezhanquan
2009-08-20, 11:17
Hence, my frequent references to the Art of War. Despite being named as such, its most important lesson is: Don't start a war. If you must, use any and every means to get it over and done with ASAP. To do anything otherwise is a disaster waiting to happen.
Does the anime cover everything in the manga and is the ending faithful to to it?
yezhanquan
2009-11-11, 23:16
Anime and manga are somewhat different. Do take a look at both.
Solafighter
2009-11-13, 11:27
One year ago, i watched the anime.
2 weeks ago, i finished reading the manga.
They are both very good, but i prefer the manga a bit more.
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