Lucky Star (Generic Discussion thread)

[Telliamed]

Especially since the OP hints that it'll end up being 99.999999% female-centric.

Hrmm... Watch a bunch of teenage boys talk about stuff, or watch a bunch of cute teenage girls... I know what I'd rather do.

And anyway, we've already got Minoru. He's man enough for the show all by himself.

[Nightengale]

Well, I don't care about genders, so that's why. What's important is writing. While I admit it's going to be a little disappointing most males in LS will be cardboards literally, I'll take what I can. It's just a little disappointing though since I always like a contrasting dynamic of males vs females, in their train of thoughts.

Well, of course Kona has 'male' friends. But I doubt we'll ever see an episode where her MMORPG avatar interacts with other avatars, so that point's moot.

It would be total win though to see that, unless it takes itself WAY TOO SERIOUSLY like .hack.

Well, Minoru's not bad, but character interaction is important in shows like this, and Akira bores me by episode 2.

[Simon]

With television and with sports teams it is hard to tell who the management has running things at any given time. If the person running things is replaced too often, it makes me question the management.

That's what I find so strange about the notice. Golden Week or not, it's hard to believe the KyoAni IT staff wouldn't have noticed a defacement by now, so I'm starting to believe it's legit after all. But while people have commented on it being harsh for Yamamoto-san, it seems to me it's KyoAni who really lose face here. They're either saying "we screwed up" in a very public way (remember, Japanese business runs on at least the facade of collective responsibility), or they come away looking petty for airing their dirty laundry like this.

Either way, I just find it difficult to believe that they'd handle such a sensitive issue so crudely. I don't know what people are saying on 2ch, but I never got the impression that Japanese audiences were baying for blood - of course the show will have its critics, and people who wanted another SHnY were doomed to be disappointed, but were the ratings really so bad as to justify such an abrupt announcement?

Personally I've liked each successive episode more than the last. Contrary to some posters here, I think the quick-cut technique works well for 4koma humour. If anything I'd consider Lucky Channel the weakest bit, yet plenty of people love it - I guess we'll just have to wait and see how ep5 turns out...

[WanderingKnight]

Either way, I just find it difficult to believe that they'd handle such a sensitive issue so crudely.

There's always the possibility of a mistranslation of the first person who read it and started to lit the powder--I think someone over here already cleared that it was a standard and non-blunt way of putting it, in Japanese. I haven't read the original Japanese announcement myself, so I'm guessing many people are being misled (by not reading it themselves). So... Everyone knows about Japanese "corporate face" policies, and thus I think it wasn't a blunt or rush way of putting it.

[Vexx]

Agreed.... the *original* announcement seems to be much milder than some of the translations flying about that are causing much of the stir. It still was handled a bit oddly/abruptly but the wording.. well I trust kj1980's translation:

Literal translation: "We [Kyoto Animation] decided that Director Yamamoto hasn't reached the capacity to direct yet"

Hidden overtone that I feel (of course, it could be wrong): "Director Yamamoto came to us and after a lengthy discussion he asked to be taken off the position as a director of the pressure and that he had much more to learn"

Rationale: Falling under pressure is shown as a weakness in Japanese society. Hence rather putting the blame on one person, the company takes its place and euphemizes the wording that a staff change is being made.This way the company takes the hit for any fallout rather than just Yamamoto who can fade back and continue to hone his skills. Even if he isn't credited, it doesn't mean he won't be shadowing a more experienced senior.

[kenjiharima]

Maybe some of the translators are just slandering the guy. Who's gonna direct now since Yamamoto is gone?

[Skane]

Maybe some of the translators are just slandering the guy. Who's gonna direct now since Yamamoto is gone?
Takemoto Yasuhiro (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9153)

Cheers.

[Kyuusai]

My pondering on the change in directors is this:

Why have an announcement at all? Other shows have changed directors without announcing it (I don't have any examples, but feel free to do my footwork for me!), and plenty of other shows have even planned on multiple directors from the beginning.

Is it as simple as that the annoucement that he would be directing the series was major enough to warrant another announcement that he'd be stepping down, or was there some ruckus that motivated them to take the action and then state it outright?

[Kaioshin Sama]

My pondering on the change in directors is this:

Why have an announcement at all? Other shows have changed directors without announcing it (I don't have any examples, but feel free to do my footwork for me!), and plenty of other shows have even planned on multiple directors from the beginning.

Is it as simple as that the annoucement that he would be directing the series was major enough to warrant another announcement that he'd be stepping down, or was there some ruckus that motivated them to take the action and then state it outright?

Maybe they are trying to influence the train of thought of the viewership somehow. If it has met with Lukewarm reviews up until now, a change in director announcement might help influence the people who are waffling between enjoying the series and not really enjoying it. If that is the case (There is absolutely no evidence, just my theory) it is also gamble, because it could potentially shake the wafflers of the show entirely as well, when the humour continues to follow its 4-Koma styled course.

Honestly though, all the shows viewer problems and gripes could be solved with a beach/bikini episode or a Kagami/Konata shower scene (Maybe together?). Do that and watch the ratings beacon scream to the top.

[Vexx]

Well.. there is a very minor beach trip in the manga published to date... but 95% of the activity is Nanako (Kona's homeroom teacher) and Konata's cousin (and local cop) Yui bantering back and forth under the umbrella. Occasionally, Kona will run by to dispense some oddball comment (she's still using her middle school swimsuit since she hasn't really grown much since middle school).

So far though, the drawing in both the anime and the manga has always focused on their facial expressions more than anything else (unlike say... Yoko in Gurren Lagann where your eyes may keep darting all over her because your brain is frying). The chapter title pages usually have one or more girls in some really fashionable outfit. I'll scan a few and put them in the image thread later (I've seen a few posted but there are others).

[mukansa monkey]

Konata's cousin (and local cop) Yui
Oooh, now I know who that is. I figured she was related to Konata, it's the eyes. The little bit of her in the OP *sooo* gives me moe feeling.
Yui: What's all this now?
Me: I've been a bad monkey. Please take me back to the station and punish me...

:: coughs :: Moving right along now.
I clicked on the link for Takemoto Yasuhiro that Skane kindly provided.
Was already mentioned that he did so much FMP (WOO!)
A bit o' SHny, and of Kanon... bitchin'.
Tenchi Muyo key animation, very nice.
He even had his paws all over the Hare+Guu script? Pure comedy genius!
Nurse Witch Komugi-chan....
::blink::
::blinkblink:: (this time with Zorak's blink sound)
Ummm.....
I suddenly have this image of a middle-aged Japanese guy doing a guilty shrug, and saying, "Hey, I needed the money..."

Oh, and I noticed ANN said the old director's website has been taken down... I'm gonna put my bet on him either having gotten another job, or there being some kind of personal fallout inside the company. If it's the first we'll hear about it eventually, if the second we'll probably never know. I don't expect to see a huge difference overall anyways, although it wouldn't surprise me if ep5 gets an extra-special whizbang treatment in order to endear the show to the waffly fans out there.

[Skane]

~
Nurse Witch Komugi-chan....
::blink::
::blinkblink:: (this time with Zorak's blink sound)
Ummm.....
I suddenly have this image of a middle-aged Japanese guy doing a guilty shrug, and saying, "Hey, I needed the money..."
~
Hey, hey, hey! :p Nurse Witch Komugi-chan is a perfectly fine OVA series (the first season). I found it to be one of the more hilarious gag/parody series. :) The number of subversions in it is insane.

Cheers.

[mukansa monkey]

Well you know what they say about accounting for taste and all that. Even so though, Komugi is a far cry from most of the other shows listed. I think my problem with it was that so many of the gags were way too juvenile for me. It was like Beavis and Butthead, except without the underlying social commentary. Lucky Star has so much that's subversive, that makes a lot of people think twice, stuff that's semi-hidden. Komugi was like Boobs! In your face! Lameass idol stuff! In your face! Magical girl transforms are stupid! In your... well, you get the idea. IMHO Lunar Rabbit Weapon Miina does a better job of making fun of the whole secret superhero girl thing.

[Jiji]

Personally, I thought the best criticism of mahou shoujo ever was Cardcaptor Sakura. Magical tranformation? Naah: she just changes clothes--offscreen, too. Recognisable, same "hero" costume each time? Nope: how about a different one each time, and the first one being just her PJs. Brilliant.

Still, I liked Komugi quite a bit, though that was probably just me being a sucker for Haruko's voice again.

As for L*S being subversive...I dunno. There's tons of otaku references and lots of slice-of-life humour like Azumanga, but subversive? The only subversive thing so far has been Kona-chan's whole character concept. Granted, it's a joke that has legs--it'll run and run and I won't get tired of it anytime soon...I don't know. I'm reserving judgment about subversion and overall themes until there's more eps subbed. But I'm loving the ride so far!

[Skane]

Well you know what they say about accounting for taste and all that. Even so though, Komugi is a far cry from most of the other shows listed. I think my problem with it was that so many of the gags were way too juvenile for me. It was like Beavis and Butthead, except without the underlying social commentary. Lucky Star has so much that's subversive, that makes a lot of people think twice, stuff that's semi-hidden. Komugi was like Boobs! In your face! Lameass idol stuff! In your face! Magical girl transforms are stupid! In your... well, you get the idea. IMHO Lunar Rabbit Weapon Miina does a better job of making fun of the whole secret superhero girl thing.
The beauty of it was that they were very open about it. Blatant subversion, as opposed to the more subtle approach in Lucky Star. It works on different levels. :) One example would be "Super Robot Big Cytron (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD3dtfJ4Vtw)" (where they satire one of the more famous "Otaku" buildings) where Mugi made a comment about how he would not be surprised by anything else in this show anymore. :heh:

The show IS absurd, and they make no bones about it, nor even attempt to deny it. :D

Cheers.

[CrowKenobi]

Well you know what they say about accounting for taste and all that. Even so though, Komugi is a far cry from most of the other shows listed. I think my problem with it was that so many of the gags were way too juvenile for me. It was like Beavis and Butthead, except without the underlying social commentary. Lucky Star has so much that's subversive, that makes a lot of people think twice, stuff that's semi-hidden. Komugi was like Boobs! In your face! Lameass idol stuff! In your face! Magical girl transforms are stupid! In your... well, you get the idea. IMHO Lunar Rabbit Weapon Miina does a better job of making fun of the whole secret superhero girl thing.And you weren't laughing your ass off when Komugi did the Gatchaman parody?? :confused:

I sure was... :D

:cool:

Edit: And just thinking of it is giving me the giggles... :heh: :heh:

[BOZZY]

I came across something interesting in the wikipedia page for Kagami Yoshimizu... Apparently he/she (I wonder which it is) has a website: http://home4.highway.ne.jp/kazumi/index.html

Not sure whether it's the real deal or not... In the self introductory page, a friend of mine translated the name as being Kagami Mukudori.

I'm just wondering if it's the real thing and whether the mangaka is a guy or girl...

[kj1980]

I came across something interesting in the wikipedia page for Kagami Yoshimizu... Apparently he/she (I wonder which it is) has a website: http://home4.highway.ne.jp/kazumi/index.html

Not sure whether it's the real deal or not... In the self introductory page, a friend of mine translated the name as being Kagami Mukudori.

I'm just wondering if it's the real thing and whether the mangaka is a guy or girl...

This is a HP that is run by Mukudori Kazumi, a friend of Yoshimizu Kagami. They co-manage the site under the doujin circle "WaterBird"

[BOZZY]

This is a HP that is run by Mukudori Kazumi, a friend of Yoshimizu Kagami. They co-manage the site under the doujin circle "WaterBird"

Cool! Thanks for the tidbit... It might sound amusing to some to ask this, but Yoshimizu Kagami is a lady, is she not?

[Simon]

Cool! Thanks for the tidbit... It might sound amusing to some to ask this, but Yoshimizu Kagami is a lady, is she not?

I'm not sure myself, but with a name like Kagami I'd guess so - the kanji 美 mi "beauty" is a common feminine ending, although Yoshimizu-san's first name is spelt in hiragana (same as Kagami the character).

One nugget I picked up from the Japanese Wikipedia entry (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BE%8E%E6%B0%B4%E3%81%8B%E3%81%8C%E3%81%BF) is that Yoshimizu attended Kasukabe Co-Prosperity High, which gets thanked in the credits and features in the OP. And this has probably been mentioned before, but the kanji 春日 kasuka in Kasukabe can also be read as haruhi - coincidence or conspiracy?

[Samatarou]

Personally, I thought the best criticism of mahou shoujo ever was Cardcaptor Sakura.
No no, Evangelion is the best Magical Girl skit, the Evas are their costumes which confer the magical powers, and the fact that Shinji is played by the seiyuu who was Sailor Uranus just confirms my theory. Gendo is a skit on the talking animal sidekick that gives magical girls their instructions. Misato of course is Sailor Moon in retirement.

[Fixen]

That's pretty insane. o.o

[Witacume]

I wanted to ask if i am the only one who sometimes doesn't get half the stuff they are refering to and don't find funny most of the time yet strangely unable to stop watching? I can't stop i think i need help.

[Baka-yuki]

Nothin' wrong with ya. just a good, addicting anime.
also-
About the manga link on the first post, do i need anything to view it? says i cant open/download it.

[Kaoru Chujo]

...It might sound amusing to some to ask this, but Yoshimizu Kagami is a lady, is she not?No, according to her entry in Japanese Wikipedia (http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BE%8E%E6%B0%B4%E3%81%8B%E3%81%8C%E3%81%BF), she's a man (男性). Clearly a very observant one. I was surprised, too.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Interesting blog post from Heisei Democracy (http://heiseidemocracy.com/2007/05/05/lucky-star-invades-akiba-stores/): whatever the popularity of the series, it seems that Lucky Star characters have exploded in popularity, and are showing up all over Akiba.

The LS threads are still booming on 2channel. Almost 2000 posts a day in the main thread. The original story on the Japanese Akiba Blog (http://www.akibablog.net/archives/2007/05/rakisuta_pop_070503.html) shows photos of how the characters are being used, and it's not just on ads for LS stuff, but on an ad for memory cards, a "staff only" sign, and an ad for an unrelated CD/DVD that has a pic of Konata with her finger out, I think saying "Konata says it's great," or words to that effect.

Makes perfect sense to me. How can otaku resist Konata, once they begin to get her? It makes me think that if they'd started episode one with a lot of Konata the otaku, instead of the choco-coronet, they would have avoided a lot of grief. But I expect the otaku masses to come around.

[Fixen]

Interesting blog post from Heisei Democracy (http://heiseidemocracy.com/2007/05/05/lucky-star-invades-akiba-stores/): whatever the popularity of the series, it seems that Lucky Star characters have exploded in popularity, and are showing up all over Akiba.

The LS threads are still booming on 2channel. Almost 2000 posts a day in the main thread. The original story on the Japanese Akiba Blog (http://www.akibablog.net/archives/2007/05/rakisuta_pop_070503.html) shows photos of how the characters are being used, and it's not just on ads for LS stuff, but on an ad for memory cards, a "staff only" sign, and an ad for an unrelated CD/DVD that has a pic of Konata with her finger out, I think saying "Konata says it's great," or words to that effect.

Makes perfect sense to me. How can otaku resist Konata, once they begin to get her? It makes me think that if they'd started episode one with a lot of Konata the otaku, instead of the choco-coronet, they would have avoided a lot of grief. But I expect the otaku masses to come around.

Well, to (us?) otakus, she's the most awesome thing to ever descend from the sky. Indeed, most of the people who give LS a bad rating stopped after the first ten, unanimously bad, minutes.

As to her level of consumer appearances, that puts her as currently the Japanese equivalent of Borat.

[Jiji]

"unanimously bad"? Not for me. I liked it all the way through, thank you very much. :P

[Vexx]

I categorized the first 10 minutes as sublime brilliance, but hey YMMV I guess.

[Kaioshin Sama]

As long as they manage to keep themselves under control I'll be satisified. If the show starts raiding my other activities like Haruhi insisted on doing I will begin to be very annoyed with it. I don't like it when things get out of control like Borat. I was sick of that guy before I even knew his name. Please let them keep the commercialism and otakuism in Akihabara and seperate from the subtle humour of the show. I don't need rabid otaku ruining yet another show for me with their antics.

Still, has the dreaded moment that ruins every Kyoto Animation show for me finally arrived again. I almost wish I hadn't read this last page. Hmm... no I think I see what's going on here actually, the coast is clear. Remind me never to visit Akihabara if I ever visit Japan, such commercialism and lack of shame just saddens me. And yeah I'm a bit of a socialist liberal progressive left wing type. It's my belief that one should not be beholden to any entity in making there lives decisions, be it a government, a corporation or lately it would seem a popular anime character, and for that reason I tend to object to the idea of trying to manipulate a fictional character as a mouthpiece for persuading otaku to purchase your unrelated product. Then again, if the person is foolish enough to be suckered by an image of Konata into purchasing something they otherwise wouldn't have, they are truly a lost cause. That's really what I have to say about this development in Akihabara. Looking at the Akiba blog post, what a shame, that's all I can say. It really makes me sad. I think I want to use another one of my favourite 80's (Me decade my ass, it has nothing on the 21st century) songs to describe this feeling:

There's a room where the light won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do I'll be right behind you

So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world

[kayanezumi]

luckystar seems to be getting really popular. :3 i think it may be the next haruhi suzumiya but a lot cuter ^-^

[Kaioshin Sama]

luckystar seems to be getting really popular. :3 i think it may be the next haruhi suzumiya but a lot cuter ^-^

Actually all that this says so far is that its being used as a tool by store runners in an attempt to rope in extra buyers. It doesn't say how well it's working though, that would require a statistical study that we don't have yet.

The series is already popular though as a talking point, but it can't really become the next Haruhi if it intends to remain a satire. We also don't need another monster like that, we really really don't. There's absolutely nothing healthy for the body and soul that another Haruhi craze would provide.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

We also don't need another monster like that, we really really don't. There's absolutely nothing healthy for the body and soul that another Haruhi craze would provide.

The world need another Haruhi the same way the world need another Super Robot Wars. We can live without them, and it would be better for our quality time and wallets, but damn they are good.

If I want to have healthy body and soul, I will be out swimming 2 miles a day rather than watching anime. Anime and games are for fun.;)

[CrowKenobi]

Still, has the dreaded moment that ruins every Kyoto Animation show for me finally arrived again. I almost wish I hadn't read this last page. Hmm... no I think I see what's going on here actually, the coast is clear. Remind me never to visit Akihabara if I ever visit Japan, such commercialism and lack of shame just saddens me. And yeah I'm a bit of a socialist liberal progressive left wing type. It's my belief that one should not be beholden to any entity in making there lives decisions, be it a government, a corporation or lately it would seem a popular anime character, and for that reason I tend to object to the idea of trying to manipulate a fictional character as a mouthpiece for persuading otaku to purchase your unrelated product. Then again, if the person is foolish enough to be suckered by an image of Konata into purchasing something they otherwise wouldn't have, they are truly a lost cause. That's really what I have to say about this development in Akihabara. Looking at the Akiba blog post, what a shame, that's all I can say.

From Wikiquote.org/Spaceballs (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Spaceballs)

Lone Starr: Yogurt. What is this place? What is it that you do here?

Yogurt: Moichendeising.

Barf: Merchandising? What's that?

Yogurt: Moichendeising. Come! I'll show you. [to the Dinks] Open up the store[Yogurt walks over to a wall filled with Spaceballs merchandise.]

Yogurt: Moichendeising! Moichendeising! Where the real money from the movie is made! Spaceballs: the T-shirt, Spaceballs: the Coloring Book, Spaceballs: the Lunchbox, Spaceballs: the Breakfast Cereal. Spaceballs: the Flame Thrower… [fires a short blast from flame thrower]

Dinks: Oooooohhhh!

Yogurt: The kids love this one. And last, but not least, Spaceballs: the doll, me.[Yogurt squeezes the doll, which says "May the Schwartz be with you!"]

Yogurt: Adorable.:cool:

[Kaioshin Sama]

From Wikiquote.org/Spaceballs (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Spaceballs)
:cool:

God I love that movie. Ahhhh..... yeah I know, it's true, Moichendising (With Jewish accent) is where they really make the money. At least people admit it that its what its all come down to in the case of Akihabara though. The Character Konata singles will be out soon and flying off the shelves for whatever reason. I still think it's kind of sleazy and a bit insulting though to use Konata's image to sell unrelated products. Some of those things looked like Rozen Maiden merchandise.

While we're on the topic of ads and merchandise, I'll let people on a little secret. Wanna know what I think needs to F$%@ Off more than any other ad campaign right now? It's Spiderman 3. Get out of my face Spiderman 3, you make the Summer of Haruhi and the Lucky Star image abuse in Akihabara COMBINED look like a low level school play awareness campaign. And yet even still I don't think anything will ever touch the annoyance of the Star Wars Episode 1 campaign. I think Lucky Star is on reasonable territory compared to these blitkriegs.

And to the person who messaged me saying nobody cares. Stop with the cheapshots already, you don't know that nobody cares. And even if you personally don't care, maybe I would address the issue if I knew who you were. If you want to say something to me I'd appreciate a private message instead of a cheap shot, otherwise I really have no reason to respect anything you request.

[Telliamed]

I still think it's kind of sleazy and a bit insulting though to use Konata's image to sell unrelated products. Some of those things looked like Rozen Maiden merchandise.
It's just a guess, but I'd put my money on a lot of that being blatant copyright violations. Except for the one guy who was taking pre-orders for the Lucky Star DVD. But I don't think Kadokawa is responsible for the doujin seller or the sign with the red-haired Konata.

[Kaioshin Sama]

It's just a guess, but I'd put my money on a lot of that being blatant copyright violations. Except for the one guy who was taking pre-orders for the Lucky Star DVD. But I don't think Kadokawa is responsible for the doujin seller or the sign with the red-haired Konata.

Well I think Kadowaka should press charges then. The ball is in their court.

I've always been curious on the legality of Doujin though. Do these publisher's have permission to use the characters, and if not, why are they selling it in plain sight in a retail outlet instead of distributing it for free underground. I had read that copyright law in Japan was being built and strengthened with a number of recent court cases, although none of them that I read such as the bizarre Konami v. Ichiro Komami (I think) case happened to be Supreme Court decisions that would render them the law of the land.

[Ascaloth]

God I love that movie. Ahhhh..... yeah I know, it's true, Moichendising (With Jewish accent) is where they really make the money. At least people admit it that its what its all come down to in the case of Akihabara though. The Character Konata singles will be out soon and flying off the shelves for whatever reason. I still think it's kind of sleazy and a bit insulting though to use Konata's image to sell unrelated products. Some of those things looked like Rozen Maiden merchandise.

While we're on the topic of ads and merchandise, I'll let people on a little secret. Wanna know what I think needs to F$%@ Off more than any other ad campaign right now? It's Spiderman 3. Get out of my face Spiderman 3, you make the Summer of Haruhi and the Lucky Star image abuse in Akihabara COMBINED look like a low level school play awareness campaign. And yet even still I don't think anything will ever touch the annoyance of the Star Wars Episode 1 campaign. I think Lucky Star is on reasonable territory compared to these blitkriegs.

And to the person who messaged me saying nobody cares. Stop with the cheapshots already, you don't know that nobody cares. And even if you personally don't care, maybe I would address the issue if I knew who you were. If you want to say something to me I'd appreciate a private message instead of a cheap shot, otherwise I really have no reason to respect anything you request.

Gawd, you need a tranquilizer, dude. Or maybe a costume-rape session. :p

[arias]

I've been away from anime for some time and even now am drastically reduced in intake. I'll probably only watch Lucky Star - and some other series if it's truly awesome (but the problem is of course, I don't know which is).

Can someone update me about the director change situation? I've only seen glimpses of things here and there and I'm not all that sure what it's about.

[Fixen]

Has this been posted before?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU6gfdREmkk

By far the best parody OP I've seen.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Has this been posted before?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU6gfdREmkk

By far the best parody OP I've seen.

Yes it's been posted in the Music Video thread, where it should be going. :p

[Fixen]

Yes it's been posted in the Music Video thread, where it should be going. :p

*bows in apology*

Maybe I'm getting too tired.

[Jiji]

I've been away from anime for some time and even now am drastically reduced in intake. I'll probably only watch Lucky Star - and some other series if it's truly awesome (but the problem is of course, I don't know which is).

Without knowing what you like, and despite everyone saying how dissimilar this is than that, I would recommend Hidamari Sketch--a lot. They are different in some ways, the tone and focus is totally different...OTOH, they are both from 4komi, both about a group of quirky and very cute girls, wonderfully voiced by their actresses.

But if you're any kind of fan of adventure or fantasy like Ghost in the Shell or Twelve Kingdoms, then check out Seirei no Moribito (Guardian of the Sacred Spirit).

Can someone update me about the director change situation? I've only seen glimpses of things here and there and I'm not all that sure what it's about.

Best thing you can do for that is just read back in this thread.

[BANANABANANA]

:thinker: LE ZOMG it just dawned on me just today...i think the blue-haired guy in the OP might be Konata's dad. or am i just way behind and this is something everyone already knows..? nurr, dunno if this is the place to post this but i felt like blurting it out somewhere..

[Skane]

:thinker: LE ZOMG it just dawned on me just today...i think the blue-haired guy in the OP might be Konata's dad. or am i just way behind and this is something everyone already knows..? nurr, dunno if this is the place to post this but i felt like blurting it out somewhere..
Yup, he is.

Cheers.

[BANANABANANA]

Yup, he is.

Cheers.

oh ok, thanks for replying :)

[4Tran]

After watching the first five episodes of Lucky Star, I think that it's settling quite comfortably as a "decent, but not great" comedy anime. It's quite amusing, but I didn't come across a whole lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Furthermore, Lucky Star's reliance on otaku in-jokes greatly reduces its accessibility. The Lucky Channel skits are also starting to lose their charm. As a plus, it still manages to generate those Azumanga Daioh vibes. On the whole, I think that Lucky Star is going to end up as a slightly better version of Pani Poni Dash.

[aorta]

I'm not sure it's supposed be a comedy so much as a slice of life show with some comedic elements.

[4Tran]

All of the 4-koma I've ever come across have been comedies. Lucky Star shows its roots very well since the set up for all of the gags is rather discrete, and there's a definite punchline at the end. It's obvious enough that it's possible to seperate each 4-koma segment with visual transitions pieces (I believe that Doki Doki School Hours uses this technique).

Besides, Lucky Star lacks most of the qualities of the better slice of life shows - mood, atmosphere, relaxed pacing, cohesive character interaction, and framing techniques.

[Vexx]

Aye... that's why it really doesn't work to compare it to, say, Ichigo Masimaro ... L*S is more directly descended from Azumanga Daioh (4-koma) except that AzuDa actually covered a specific three year span of time following the gang's adventures through high school and did not have any meta-agenda.

L*S started out life in a seasonal but timeless land more like Peanuts. It had the roots of being a "promotional comic" (designed for display in a product promotional magazine). However, with the increase in popularity, it has since grown out of that little petri dish and now covers the table :) ... more to the point I think it is moving towards a more plot-driven variety of 4-koma as it matures.

[Risaa]

Since we're talking about L*S and Azumanga, I just wanted to say that

this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/Risaa/Tsukasa00071.png

reminds me of all the chibi Osaka pics I've seen in which she's flying. The expressions and art styles are so similar. I definitely see a little bit of Osaka in Tsukasa, but there's one major difference - I could see Osaka suddenly going on a murderous rampage with that innocent, clueless expression on her face (think when she went to wake up Yukari-sensei and she was holding that knife... also that fanart of Osaka as the girl from Ringu - it fits very well). She *probably* would never really do that, but sometimes she makes you wonder. Tsukasa, on the other hand, doesn't seem to conjure up thoughts of murder... at least for me.

L*S started out life in a seasonal but timeless land more like Peanuts.

Ever since you first mentioned it, I've been making little rough Peanuts-style sketches of Kona behind a psychiatric help desk (she charges a bit more than five cents, I'm thinking) and Kagami giving her that Ahh! surprised/annoyed face...

[Ascaloth]

You know, about Hirano Aya-chan...

I'll have to admit, the first few episodes when Amane Misa showed up in Death Note, I kept cringing because Aya-chan's performance as her sounded way too much like Haruhi. However, I just realized that up until now, I haven't really associated Konata with Aya-chan; all the way from Episodes 1 to 5, when Konata spoke, I only ever hear her as Konata....never as Aya-chan.

That's a sign of a good seiyuu performance, right? :heh:

[Sheba]

Yeah, compared to her previous performance as Haruhi, her voice performance as Misa stuck to me as underwhelming. I couldn't kept myself from thinking "ahlala its Haruhi." ad infinitum (while Minori Chihara sounded nothing like Yuki Nagato when she voiced Sumire in Venus versus Virus or Ekitoku in Dragon Destiny).
Then came Lucky Star, I thought of Konata as Konata (sadly, I've not heard Konata by Ryo Hiroashi) not as Haruhi, and I somehow felt that Aya outdid Haruhi as Konata.

[DragoonKain3]

Meh, I guess I'm different. There was enough of a difference in her Haruhi and Misa for me, as Misa sounds 100x more fangirlish than Haruhi. But then again I saw Itsudatte Mai Santa before Haruhi, in which I'd say the way she portrays both characters are almost the same. As such, I guess I can pick up the minor nuances between Haruhi/Misa more so than other people. >_>

[ZippyDSM]

Stupid question but with the all the randomness dosent this fall under parody more than comedy or slice of life?

[4Tran]

Stupid question but with the all the randomness dosent this fall under parody more than comedy or slice of life?
Technically, parody is a subgenre of comedy so it wouldn't make too much difference. Like Pani Poni Dash, parodies can be fairly popular with otaku, but it also cuts down on their accessibility. It also doesn't necessarily mean that they're any good.

Like most comedy anime, Lucky Star has some element of parody and in-jokes, but I tend to see them as a negative point rather than a positive one.

[Kaoru Chujo]

You know, about Hirano Aya-chan... I'll have to admit, the first few episodes when Amane Misa showed up in Death Note, I kept cringing because Aya-chan's performance as her sounded way too much like Haruhi. However, I just realized that up until now, I haven't really associated Konata with Aya-chan; all the way from Episodes 1 to 5, when Konata spoke, I only ever hear her as Konata....never as Aya-chan. That's a sign of a good seiyuu performance, right? :heh:I think Aaya's doing an outstanding job here, but I really don't care if I can recognize a seiyuu's voice or not. I think it's possible to be highly recognizable and highly effective at the same time: Noto Mamiko comes to mind, as does Koyasu Takehito. It's all in whether the sound and the acting work for the character. Even Paku Romi sometimes sounds similar as Teresa in Claymore to what she did as Nana. In my mind, the only real benefits of being able to sound different are being able to get various roles and do dubbing of foreign shows. No matter what role she plays, Meryl Streep is still Meryl Streep, but she's still terrific.

But I agree 100% that Aaya sounds nothing like herself here. I can just about recognize the voice, but it's very different from anything else I've heard her do. However, I didn't think Misa sounded like Haruhi, myself. I didn't like the way Aaya played Misa, but I didn't really blame her, since I was sure she was playing it as the director wanted.

I keep saying this is in different threads, but listen to Aaya as Layla in NANA (e.g., ep35). Heart-breaking. I think that's her best performance, maybe equalled by this one. She's 19 and improving constantly. She just graduated from high school last year and is now devoting herself to her profession more seriously, I think.

On a different topic, I just noticed a little ascii symbol 2channel is using for this show, related to Konata:
(=ω=)
And a variation:
(=ω=.)

[Vexx]

I agree... Aya has really submerged herself into Kona (as have the other actresses). They score well in this regard. I guess I've just reached the stage where I don't go see a "Tom Cruise" movie or a "Will Smith" movie --- where the actor overwhelms the story. A better example for me is someone like Ian McKellen or DeNiro who does a pretty good job of becoming his character to the point I don't think "Ian" or "Robert" when either is onscreen.

Cute emoticons for Kona :)

[Lucky_Day]

Once again comparing show business to sports, the people involved have to work as a team. Although teams depending on one player can win, it is usually not recommended.

[Kaoru Chujo]

It's hard to tell how popular a show is when TV ratings for it aren't available and no DVD has come out. But two little indications make me think this show is pretty popular right now, at least with a certain audience.

On 2channel at the moment, not only is the main LS thread the second-most-popular of this season after Nanoha StrikerS, but at this moment, of the 22 threads with the most recent posts, 11 are about Lucky Star. This is a bizarre situation, and many are anti- threads, but people don't make anti- threads about shows that aren't big topics of discussion.

A better indication is what is claimed in a post on 2channel to be the results of a poll in May NewType of most popular anime, not limited to current shows. Standing fourth after Code Geass, Suzumiya Haruhi and GSD is Lucky Star. (bracketed number is previous poll)

　1（1）Code Geass
　2（3）Suzumiya Haruhi
　3（2）Gundam SEED DESTINY
　4（-）Lucky Star
　5（5）Gundam SEED
　6（15）Evangelion
　7（9）Gintama
　8（-）DARKER THAN BLACK
　9（-）Hayate
　10（-）Toward Terra...
　11（-）Gurren Laggen
　12（-）Shakugan no Shana
　13（10）BLEACH
　14（-）Detective Conan
　15（-）Heroic Age
　16（16）Keroro Sogun
　17（-）Nodame Cantabile
　18（-）Saint Beast
　19（14）Fate/stay night
　20（-）Seto no Hanayome

As for popularity outside Japan, I just noticed how many 10's it has in its ANN ratings (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7222). And the number of posts here (http://forums.animesuki.com/forumdisplay.php?f=51) on AnimeSuki is fairly amazing: already four-fifths of Death Note, which had a six-month head start, and gaining fast.

[MakubeX2]

http://www.trendmicro.co.jp/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM%5FHARADONG%2EAL
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9981/wormharadongalimg2ee8.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[DragoonKain3]

I don't know if I should be happy or sad for LS having a fan make up a worm for them. >_> Though I'm interested as to what its actually saying...

And I'm surprised at Lucky Star getting third place in the polls of new type as of right now. What I'm even more surprised is that Haruhi is still going strong despite it being a year old now and being a non-shounen show. O_O

[Telliamed]

Heh. The irony of that anti-p2p worm is that, while telling you that illegal file sharing is bad, the use of that screen cap is itself a copyright violation.


　9（-）Hayate


Now that I'm surprised to see. And they haven't even gotten to the crossplay episode.

I suppose the first test of Lucky Star's popularity will be the OP single. Perhaps if we knew how many pre-orders amazon has been getting.

Or just take a look at #6 on this list. (http://www.google.com/press/intl-zeitgeist.html#jp) (Also this (http://www.google.com/trends?q=%E3%82%89%E3%81%8D%E2%98%86%E3%81%99%E3%8 1%9F))

[Kaoru Chujo]

As with the SHnY OP, there is a movement (http://wiki.livedoor.jp/lapislazuli01/d/FrontPage) to have so many preorders that the OP single opens at#1 on the Oricon chart when it comes out next Wednesday. I have no idea how realistic that is. I think the SHnY OP or ED opened at #5.

[MakubeX2]

http://xs115.xs.to/xs115/07203/dbghelp.JPG

[bayoab]

http://www.trendmicro.co.jp/vinfo/virusencyclo/default5.asp?VName=WORM%5FHARADONG%2EAL

Here is a video of it in action.
http://nicopon.jp/video/player/sm297254

A better indication is what is claimed in a post on 2channel to be the results of a poll in May NewType of most popular anime, not limited to current shows. Standing fourth after Code Geass, Suzumiya Haruhi and GSD is Lucky Star. (bracketed number is previous poll)

I would think a better measure of the english speaking audience is seen a at the latest ANN poll (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/poll.php?id=128).

However, I always consider those magazines polls to be bogus. The sample sizes are always extremely small and Newtype's always come out in favor of Kadokawa properties. Especially Gundam properties.

[Skane]

If you go by television ratings, the list will be very, VERY different. :heh:

Thread in Question (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=11958&page=6)

Cheers.

[Kaoru Chujo]

If you go by television ratings, the list will be very, VERY different. :heh: Thread in Question (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=11958&page=6) Cheers.Yes, lol, that's why I said the poll represented the opinions of "a certain audience." Prime-time shows for kids totally dominate the TV rankings: Sazae-san, Doraemon, Detective Conan, etc. And in the late-night time-slots, shows aimed at adults and teen girls (NANA, Nodame Cantabile, Hataraki Man) do better than shows for otaku.

Unfortunately, very few ratings are available for the current season. The only new show in the top ten is Gegege no Kitarou, at #6. A show aimed at kids. There is very little info available about shows outside the top 10. With the very partial info I have, Blue Dragon, Lovely Complex, Toward Terra and Hayate are doing pretty well, but those are all daytime or primetime shows. The only two late-night shows that I know are doing "well" (over 2% of the audience) are Ookiku Furikabutte and Claymore, both of which deserve to do well, imo. I haven't seen any info about Lucky Star, but I expect it will not have huge ratings, even for a late-night show.

[Kaioshin Sama]

As with the SHnY OP, there is a movement (http://wiki.livedoor.jp/lapislazuli01/d/FrontPage) to have so many preorders that the OP single opens at#1 on the Oricon chart when it comes out next Wednesday. I have no idea how realistic that is. I think the SHnY OP or ED opened at #5.

Who's doing this? Is it the fans? If so I don't understand the point of organizing groups to blow as much money as possible on a preorder so that something they will see no profit from will debut in #1. Are these people so insecure that if their latest Kyoto Animation show isn't a smash success on its own they will stop at nothing to make it one in a "You scratched my back with Loli-Moe stuff, now I'll scratch yours by soliciting the internet manner". It just doesn't make any sense, what do they have to gain from it.

Perhaps Kyoto Animation's shows (or should I be saying Kadokawa's shows) aren't quite as popular as we are lead to believe, and that their popularity owes itself quite a bit to multiple factions manipulating the market. I frequently find it hard to believe that shows like Kanon, Haruhi and Lucky Star could have such widespread appeal as to make them so phenomenally successful all around. Sure they are good shows, but they are still very niche even within the market of anime.

So all these last few posts have served to show me is that there is potentially some massive rigging going on with the standings of media in Japan as well as manipulation of consumers through a variety of means, and that to no surprise it's Kadokawa's media that is at the centre of it all yet again.

Also whoever is making the virus', what do these idiots have to gain for themselves by doing this. If they are trying to increase the popularity of Lucky Star then I could think of no better way to do the opposite. Sometimes I'm not sure these so called anime fans are thinking clearly.

[kenjiharima]

I HAVE ONLY 3 WORDS TO SAY AFTER READING HERE...

"IAM VERY SHOCKED!!!" :rolleyes:

[Kaioshin Sama]

I HAVE ONLY 3 WORDS TO SAY AFTER READING HERE...

"IAM VERY SHOCKED!!!" :rolleyes:

I don't follow. :confused:

[ZippyDSM]

Who's doing this? Is it the fans? If so I don't understand the point of organizing groups to blow as much money as possible on a preorder so that something they will see no profit from will debut in #1. Are these people so insecure that if their latest Kyoto Animation show isn't a smash success on its own they will stop at nothing to make it one in a "You scratched my back with Loli-Moe stuff, now I'll scratch yours by soliciting the internet manner". It just doesn't make any sense, what do they have to gain from it.

Perhaps Kyoto Animation's shows (or should I be saying Kadokawa's shows) aren't quite as popular as we are lead to believe, and that their popularity owes itself quite a bit to multiple factions manipulating the market. I frequently find it hard to believe that shows like Kanon, Haruhi and Lucky Star could have such widespread appeal as to make them so phenomenally successful all around. Sure they are good shows, but they are still very niche even within the market of anime.

So all these last few posts have served to show me is that there is potentially some massive rigging going on with the standings of media in Japan as well as manipulation of consumers through a variety of means, and that to no surprise it's Kadokawa's media that is at the centre of it all yet again.

Also whoever is making the virus', what do these idiots have to gain for themselves by doing this. If they are trying to increase the popularity of Lucky Star then I could think of no better way to do the opposite. Sometimes I'm not sure these so called anime fans are thinking clearly.

Money and fame are 2 reasons they could be backed by corporate in some fashion either with money or goods or they are just mindless trolls who think paying the man 3-6X the normal cost of a DVD/CD/item is the only way to be worthy of that item...

Ack I rated.... I 'll put it in spoilers so I wont mar the thread up much....



As a gamer for of 20 something years (I am 32) I have become disenfranchised with the in name only quick cash games like hollywood before it shallow and cheap stuff to sale at 5X cost to the gullible tweens is how they make their money they rarly if ever make rich and deep or at least fun games so I boyycott them 220% why buy a new 60$ game when it goes to bargain bin in 6 months.

I am as jaded on anime ,keeping like voices is important for dubbing but also keeping untarnished scripts is another thing half the industry has issues with 4kids and the like is a mess never to release the real product here Illumination the $kids knock off has started with Beet thier "DVDs" are as bad as shaman kings pitiful attempt at a sub/dub domestic release.

Lately the other problem I have is the near 10$ a ep sorry but anythign over more than 3$ a ep is highway robbery ,Its gettign to the point I will wait till they either perfect the subs or release hard subbed DVDs with full fan sub like subs that would be worth 20$(4-6 eps) a DVD to me since dubbing is rarely value added...

blah rantage +120% ><

After 98 or 99 whenever Beast wars ended and 4kids got ahold of fox TV(note I hate normal TV they water fiction down with reality or sex its god awful )I stopped watching to TV anime( I did enjoy Fighting foodons) I switched to fan subs and turned the TV off news now adays is entertainment,entertainment is made for the mindless masses...uhg...

I have been a bit sadden to note that anime has been gettign more and more censored over the years gotta love that American influence" lets censor life so you dont have to"(yes this is a oxymoronic statement) PCisim is going to be the death of the human race ><

[kenjiharima]

I don't follow. :confused:

It's the virus worm thing...nothing biggie. Still in shock XD

[ZippyDSM]

It's the virus worm thing...nothing biggie. Still in shock XD

I wonder if this virus is illegal to make or distro any corporate ties would prove...dishonorable at the least :X

[Kaioshin Sama]

I'd like to share something I've noticed about this series ratings. I've been following the anime's standings on ANN since day one and how the standings seem to flucuate, and I've noticed that the change in rankings seem to be the inverse of how popular an episode was. For example the series debuted at 500 (being new and all it has a massive advantage) and began a climb to about 300. Around episode 4 which was agreed upon to be strong it fell back a bit, but then went to around 250 for episode 5, which I thought was weaker than episode 4, but anyway, the interesting thing is, with the popular episode the series has fallen back even further to about 350 or so. Now I'm not sure I should be paying this much attention to something so trivial, but it just seems really weird, like there's no way to trust these pollings and rankings at all as a gauge of how a series is doing.

[kenjiharima]

There's only one thing you can trust. It's the fan support the ones...us that watch, buy and support any series. Problem is we don't know haw many fans of a certain anime out there since there are many countries. But one thing is for sure Raki * Suta is one of most popular anime as to date. ;)

[Vexx]

Kaioshin... you should read the webcomic Megatokyo. It is full of hyper-conspiracies involving the "system" and "fanboys" (and its full of comedy, romance, satire, homage, pathos, silliness, random whatever, and a robot girl).

In regard to ANN, I have found them particularly *uninformative* when it comes to their reviews and ratings and whether I'd like a series or not.

Who's doing this? Is it the fans? If so I don't understand the point of organizing groups to blow as much money as possible on a preorder so that something they will see no profit from will debut in #1. Are these people so insecure that if their latest Kyoto Animation show isn't a smash success on its own they will stop at nothing to make it one in a "You scratched my back with Loli-Moe stuff, now I'll scratch yours by soliciting the internet manner". It just doesn't make any sense, what do they have to gain from it.

Perhaps Kyoto Animation's shows (or should I be saying Kadokawa's shows) aren't quite as popular as we are lead to believe, and that their popularity owes itself quite a bit to multiple factions manipulating the market. I frequently find it hard to believe that shows like Kanon, Haruhi and Lucky Star could have such widespread appeal as to make them so phenomenally successful all around. Sure they are good shows, but they are still very niche even within the market of anime.

So all these last few posts have served to show me is that there is potentially some massive rigging going on with the standings of media in Japan as well as manipulation of consumers through a variety of means, and that to no surprise it's Kadokawa's media that is at the centre of it all yet again.

Also whoever is making the virus', what do these idiots have to gain for themselves by doing this. If they are trying to increase the popularity of Lucky Star then I could think of no better way to do the opposite. Sometimes I'm not sure these so called anime fans are thinking clearly.

[WanderingKnight]

Now I'm not sure I should be paying this much attention to something so trivial

I personally believe that this is the key out of your hot-blooded rushes against the fandom. Everything you talk about has to do with bashing the popularity of certain shows/animation studios/seiyuu you don't like. But popularity is, actually, a trivial matter. Why should you care, as long as you may turn back and go watch whatever else pleases you? If I had to complain for the popularity shounen series devoid of any content whatsoever, like Naruto or Bleach, get, then I would have to shoot myself in the head to avoid a painful heart attack death.

PS: Then again, I enjoy making fun of whatever series displeases me, but not in the face of that series' fandom, at the risk of being treated as a troll/flamebaiter and getting myself worked up for no reason at all.

[Kaioshin Sama]

I personally believe that this is the key out of your hot-blooded rushes against the fandom. Everything you talk about has to do with bashing the popularity of certain shows/animation studios/seiyuu you don't like. But popularity is, actually, a trivial matter. Why should you care, as long as you may turn back and go watch whatever else pleases you? If I had to complain for the popularity shounen series devoid of any content whatsoever, like Naruto or Bleach, get, then I would have to shoot myself in the head to avoid a painful heart attack death.

Merely curiousity, but now that I've gotten to the bottom of a number of things I'm bored of it, I now know how the game is played and well, it's just kind of silly like you say.

Either way, I guess this is an uncomfortable topic of discussion and people feel I'm doing a rant on the fanbase, but I'm really not, I haven't been for a long time. It's going to take some effort to prove this, but by god I will.

Anyway, I thought it would be a point of interest that people may want to look at (An inverse correlation is intriguing to somebody who likes looking at statistics, but maybe not to others), but it probably isn't worth considering after all. No worries.

[Claies]

Kaioshin... you should read the webcomic Megatokyo. It is full of hyper-conspiracies involving the "system" and "fanboys" (and its full of comedy, romance, satire, homage, pathos, silliness, random whatever, and a robot girl).

In regard to ANN, I have found them particularly *uninformative* when it comes to their reviews and ratings and whether I'd like a series or not.

It's also notorious in particular for the huge like/dislike schism that formed out of its storyline fashion, which is, I guess, weirdly relevant to Lucky Star:heh: . Personally I like the comic, but I hate all the discussion and crazy fanboyism that stems around it.

[Samatarou]

I've been following the anime's standings on ANN ... the series debuted at 500
Where are these rankings? I've only seen top 50 lists at ANN.

I've noticed that the change in rankings seem to be the inverse of how popular an episode was.
How do you know the people rating the series have reached the same ep. as you? Unless the rankings are tagged somehow by episode number, many people who are rating it may still be at an earlier episode. Right now torrent stats suggest 25% of viewers haven't started to download ep.6 yet (assuming same final audience size as ep.5 which is of course a big assumption). Also the figures show a steady stream of people still fetching eps.1-5.

Finally, rankings are relative so you need to look at what other series are coming out and whether they just had a very good or bad episode.

[Nemo_N]

I was running an image search (ゴルフ フィギュア :p ), looking for one of Konata's figurines (on the top of her PC), and I think I found it (Figure at HobbyStock) (http://www.hobbystock.jp/item/view/HBY-GCF-00000302):

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4154/pangyakp7.jpg...http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6541/konapcxw2.jpg

The colors dont match, of course (there are two versions, but the other one doesn't match either (http://www.hobbystock.jp/item/view/HBY-GCF-00000659)), but the pose is the same, and the golf club is a dead giveaway. Maybe there is another version out there, or they messed with the colors.

This makes me think that the other figure does in fact exist (but maybe the colors are off?). Sadly, the pose is very generic, so it's difficult for me to pin point it (the one I found was very recognizable because of the golf club).

[Kaioshin Sama]

I was running an image search (ゴルフ フィギュア :p ), looking for one of Konata's figurines (on the top of her PC), and I think I found one at HobbyStock (http://www.hobbystock.jp/item/view/HBY-GCF-00000302):

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4154/pangyakp7.jpg...http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6541/konapcxw2.jpg

The colors dont match, of course (there are two versions, but the other one doesn't match either (http://www.hobbystock.jp/item/view/HBY-GCF-00000659)), but the pose is the same, and the golf club is a dead giveaway. Maybe there is another version out there, or they messed with the colors.

This makes me think that the other figure does in fact exist (but maybe the colors are off?). Sadly, the pose is very generic, so it's difficult for me to pin point (the one I found was very recognizable because of the golf club).

There's multiple colour versions of Kooh, the general loli powerhouse golfer of the Pangya series. It's a Korean online PC game that was good enough to earn a North American Wii release, that Tecmo apparently botched the difficult on. I'm not sure of it's popularity in Japan, but there is a good chance the figurine on Konata's desk is a knock off of a Pangya one (It can't be identical or it constitutes a breach of Copyright law of course). Note not only the difference in colour, but the fact that the actualy figurine of Kooh has the club postioned at an approximate 45 degree angle, while the one on Konata's desk has the golf club held at a perfect 90 degree angle (or if we want to get technical, 0 degree angle)

[Nemo_N]

(It can't be identical or it constitutes a breach of Copyright law of course).

Gah, yeah, I forgot about the law :p. They probably wanted to play it safe since it's Korean as you say.

[Ascaloth]

Gah, yeah, I forgot about the law :p. They probably wanted to play it safe since it's Korean as you say.

I can't remember them exactly, but I'm pretty certain Rakisuta has been doing a lot of copyright-dodging throughout its six episodes so far. Most obvious of which, at least to me, would be the BGM they used for the Initial D parody; it started off almost exactly like M.O.V.E.'s Noizy Tribe (the second OP of Initial D Stage 4: Project D, for that matter), but then quickly became its own song altogether, although clearly inspired by M.O.V.E.'s style. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that that BGM is actually an Aaya original.

[Vexx]

I guess I thought it was obvious it was Kooh (worship the Kooh) from Pangya (or the Wii port of the game) and didn't require pointing out :)

Much fun playing the game on the Wii (despite some "bugs" at the harder levels). I keep hoping that they experiment with expansions downloaded via the Web connection of the Wii (ah well... I suppose I could Pangya again).

[Nemo_N]

I can't remember them exactly, but I'm pretty certain Rakisuta has been doing a lot of copyright-dodging throughout its six episodes so far.

I was thinking more like, since it is a korean trademark, they might not be as relaxed as the japanese are (at least most of the time).

I guess I thought it was obvious it was Kooh (worship the Kooh) from Pangya (or the Wii port of the game) and didn't require pointing out :)

Argh. Well, at least it wasn't a very long, difficult search. :) .

[chrno]

Ok, I'm having a hard time getting through this show. Of course the sad thing was the group that subbed it. I don't know who they were but their name wasn't listed as I saw the show on 'VEOH'. But again as much as I love 'Azumanga Daioh', I'm having a hard time with this show. But I'll admit it is very moe-moe. And the damn OP is addictive. But I'm still checking it out here and there. Maybe something will grab me.

[Risaa]

L*S isn't for everyone - I liked it right away with the first episode, but it seems for others it was a bit of an aquired taste that got better and better with each episode... and there are always those who flat-out disliked it and dropped it. L*S also has a lot more references in it than AzuDai ever did, which may be why it's giving you a little trouble getting through.

If you dislike the subbers, why not try a different group? A nice thing about L*S is that there are a few different groups doing it. :)

[ZippyDSM]

LS is a litely random "slice of life" anime,at first I thought it would be more parody but its a fun show and I love "out of character" Akria.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Speaking of hatred...http://terminal71.com/blog/index.php?blog=2&blog=2&title=anime_fans_are_turning_into_retards&page=1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single

Okay while technically what he's saying appeared to be true for a while it really isnt anymore (I made a post about this there, but it isn't up yet). There are still other good shows of varying genre's this season despite the apparent push for moe, and they are getting their kudos and what not, and you know the people watching Lucky Star aren't all zombies (maybe some of the stranger ones) and it's just meant to be fun. It's funny because all those shows he's posted are as popular and highly regarded as LS right now if not moreso.

You know what this is, it's like I'm staring at an image of my past self in this blog post, and I'm here to comment and reflect on things.

[Skane]

Speaking of hatred...http://terminal71.com/blog/index.php?blog=2&blog=2&title=anime_fans_are_turning_into_retards&page=1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single

Okay while technically what he's saying appeared to be true for a while it really isnt anymore (I made a post about this there, but it isn't up yet). There are still other good shows of varying genre's this season despite the apparent push for moe, and they are getting their kudos and what not, and you know the people watching Lucky Star aren't all zombies (maybe some of the stranger ones) and it's just meant to be fun. It's funny because all those shows he's posted are as popular and highly regarded as LS right now if not moreso.

You know what this is, it's like I'm staring at an image of my past self in this blog post, and I'm here to comment and reflect on things.
Nah, you're not that bad. If I may use an analogy, you are the door-to-door Jehovah Witness, while that blogger you linked to is a Television Evangelist.

The fatal mistake he made was assuming that everybody who enjoys Lucky Star thinks the same. Once a person starts generalising, his credibility starts to fall apart.

Cheers.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Nah, you're not that bad. If I may use an analogy, you are the door-to-door Jehovah Witness, while that blogger you linked to is a Television Evangelist.

The fatal mistake he made was assuming that everybody who enjoys Lucky Star thinks the same. Once a person starts generalising, his credibility starts to fall apart.

Cheers.

Honestly, I've got to say, I'm glad Lucky Star exists, because it's the perfect time for it to exist (With a mix of genres this season, both in terms of the types of shows airing and within the confines of some of those shows themselves) and it's the perfect show to calm some of the tensions that exist between different groups of anime fans with its everything or nothing, in your face yet subtle approach. It stands somewhere in the middle, the perfect olive branch/bridge series that everybody can get interested in if they are willing to try.

The type of series that will have the Kyoto Animation/Moe Hater's saying "Hey they aren't so bad, they even make fun of themselves and moe fans" and the Kyoto Animation/Moe Fans saying "Hey, they aren't so great, they just do what the fan's want, they don't have the high moral standards I thought they did, but they have a fun series here". The other series airing this season can then take care of the mirror side of the equation. For things to work though, everybody and every show needs to do their part. It can't be done by any One person, Bloc, or Studio alone.

Then these two groups can finally come together in the space between the two extremes and my dream will finally be realized. I hope it happens and I cross my fingers. We're staring directly at the gate's of a second golden age of anime for both the medium and the fandom, if only people are willing to turn the handle and open the door.

[arkon]

Wow. I have to say I'm sorry I ever followed that link. I didn't check to see if the bloggers previous comments were similar but it seemed like a cheap way of getting comments. Won't be returning to that site in a hurry.

[DragoonKain3]

I Rotfl @ that link.


1. LS who? Shounen shows > all in popularity. One Piece, Bleach and all the other shows are known to a lot of anime fans. And in the end, Naruto is still king.

2. LS who again? I'm pretty sure that the most popular series of this season would be StrikerS. Sure it has moe (then again, which anime doesn't have at least some?), but from what I get of the fans of that series, it's really 'badass'.

3. 'Moe-focused anime existed, it was fun to watch, but once people got serious they always ignored it and focused on more Serious anime, Badass and serious storyes where respected' Yes yes, everyone watches anime for the same reason and the same way you do. XD

4. 'Then Kyoto animation came. and everything just went to shit.' Here he implies that KyoAni is responsible for the moe craze? ROTFLMAO. Stop it, it hurts to laugh anymore. I'm pretty sure, if it's anything, it's either Love Hina or To Heart that's responsible for the 'popularity' of moe focused shows.

5. 3 Moe series for every badass anime? Uhh, I dunno about that. Let's see, this season alone. 'Moe-focused' shows (8): Hayate, Seto no Hanayome, Touka Gettan, Kono Aozora, Nagarasete Airantou, Kamichama Karin, Lucky Star, Sola.

Badass, judging by the shows he considered badass, aka mecha, guns (I'll consider this as ANY weapon, since Seirei no Moribito does not have any guns IIRC), and/or 'philosophical' stories (16): Gurren Lagan, Heroic Age, StrikerS, El Cazador, Idol Master, Claymore, Kiss Dum, Gigantic Formula, Koutetsushin Jeeg (yes, its subbed), RomeoXJuliet, Koutetsu Sangokushi, Darker than Black, Seirei no Moribito, Shining Tears X Wind, Terra e, Bokurano, Kaibutsu Oujo.

Badass to Moe is 2:1 lol!

And in the last half of his 'review', with it just ranting how people can like Lucky Star, all it did was prove one thing: he's just another person who can't grasp the idea that (gasp!) people have varying tastes.

I think I'll leave LS in my best or second best anime of the season list JUST because of that post. Even though I agree Darker than Black is better than LS. ^^;

*giggle* Oh God, what a riot that link was. XD

[Vexx]

He sounds... very young. Of the "big guns, explosions" kind of immature ... that's just so pathetic, I can't decide if he needs a hug or a thump on the head.


((wow, considering me tearing into a recent poster in another thread - that's downright diplomatic ... and I'm sorry I gave terminal71 a hit by looking))

[Furudanuki]

Speaking of hatred...http://terminal71.com/blog/index.php?blog=2&blog=2&title=anime_fans_are_turning_into_retards&page=1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single
<snip>
You know what this is, it's like I'm staring at an image of my past self in this blog post, and I'm here to comment and reflect on things.

Kaoshin Sama - No, I don't think that you and the author that blog entry are cut from the same bolt of cloth at all. I may sometimes get the impression that you are acting as a spirit-medium for either Don Quixote or Marvin the Depressed Android, but I have never once felt that you could be classified as a mouth-breathing semi-literate juvenile. It is possible to have wide differences of opinion about a great many things and still engage in a civil discourse. An ability which, unlike youself, I doubt the blog "writer" possesses in any measure.

Regarding the blog entry itself...

"Anime fans are turning into retards". Hmmmm, judging from the content of that "article" I would have to conclude that the author's conversion process has succeeded entirely too well, though he does still claim to enjoy "Philosophic storyes [sic]". The fact that my taste in entertainment varies greatly from someone who has difficulty composing a sentence fragment without including at least one misspelled profanity gives me a warm comforting glow that will stay with me for the rest of the day. If this is an example of the thought processes engendered by watching "badass" anime then I shall have to seriously consider dropping any shows of that nature I am currently following in order to avoid contamination. I passed through adolescence a long time ago. I have grown beyond the point where everything I watch must include fights, explosions, or a car chase in order to be considered worthwhile. And I don't harbor a secret fear that enjoying the presence of femininity in anything other than the crudest sexual context will sap my manly vigor and give me cooties as well. :)

P.S. to everyone - Wow, longest rant from me in a while. :heh: Sorry I haven't had much presence on AS of late. I'm undergoing treatment for damaged disc in my neck which puts pressure on a nerve leading to my left arm. Lots of fun - sort of like having carpal tunnel from the shoulder down to the fingertips - and not very compatible with long keyboard sessions. Plus the drugs I sometimes have to take are not designed with coherent writing ability in mind. :eyespin: But my doctor has finally convinced the health insurance company to let her do an MRI, so hopefully they can pinpoint the problem and fix it before too much more time goes by.

[Ascaloth]

Speaking of hatred...http://terminal71.com/blog/index.php?blog=2&blog=2&title=anime_fans_are_turning_into_retards&page=1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single

Okay while technically what he's saying appeared to be true for a while it really isnt anymore (I made a post about this there, but it isn't up yet). There are still other good shows of varying genre's this season despite the apparent push for moe, and they are getting their kudos and what not, and you know the people watching Lucky Star aren't all zombies (maybe some of the stranger ones) and it's just meant to be fun. It's funny because all those shows he's posted are as popular and highly regarded as LS right now if not moreso.

You know what this is, it's like I'm staring at an image of my past self in this blog post, and I'm here to comment and reflect on things.

It's times like this when I give thanks for the relative sanity of Animesuki forums, and at the same time make me question why I ever pick fights with "non-mainstream", yet relatively reasonable characters like you in the first place, when there's far more ridiculous things in the world out there. :heh:

[Vexx]

There's a reason I'm here instead of several other anime forums and it mostly has to do with the community response to the kind of lame thought processing exhibited at that site. Strangely enough, I enjoy most of the shows he likes AND shows from many other genres (just as I'm capable of enjoying music from more than one genre). He appears handicapped in that regard.

[Ffenix Rising]

Speaking of hatred...http://terminal71.com/blog/index.php?blog=2&blog=2&title=anime_fans_are_turning_into_retards&page=1&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1&disp=single

Okay while technically what he's saying appeared to be true for a while it really isnt anymore (I made a post about this there, but it isn't up yet). There are still other good shows of varying genre's this season despite the apparent push for moe, and they are getting their kudos and what not, and you know the people watching Lucky Star aren't all zombies (maybe some of the stranger ones) and it's just meant to be fun. It's funny because all those shows he's posted are as popular and highly regarded as LS right now if not moreso.

You know what this is, it's like I'm staring at an image of my past self in this blog post, and I'm here to comment and reflect on things.

Judging from the author's ramblings, I highly doubt he'll allow any comments that is remotely pro-Lucky Star.

Anywho, he thinks that being an anime fan for 10 years makes him an authority on anime.

/me laughs hysterically.

/me wipes tears from laughter.

If Lucky Star's popularity is giving him such a nervous breakdown, then he should quit watching anime. I mean, seriously, it's only entertainment! Sure you can have an intelligent anime series or movie, but at the end of a long stressful day from work and life, I need an anime that'll make me laugh, and a series like Lucky Star is one such anime.

Granted, I had the same "passion" as this blogger when Naruto was making its stride. I really hated that series, but at least I slugged through the first 30 episodes of the series (I reviewed it on an Internet radio show), before I knew I really hated it. This guy watched only 7 minutes of Lucky Star and proclaimed it's the "worst anime EVAR."

Well whatever, knee-jerk reactions are everywhere on the Intertubes anyway, and it'll never go away. So I say, "meh" to the blogger.

Oh man, thanks for the link man! If Lucky Star is oh so wrong in this effed-up world, then I don't want to be right!

[Sheba]

What can I say? Back in the early 1990s, I used to scorn, and I mean it, what the random /a/non would call lolipedomoé shows, I could only enjoy my anime if my episode have its mandatory fights and yells (yes the likes of Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya), later I thought I could put myself above the average anime fan by watching very wordy, vaguely philosophical anime like the Patlabor movies or Serial Experiment Lain (I still love the patlabor movies and Lain tho). Then came the likes of Kanon (2k2), and here I have come to enjoy what I would never thought, the warming feeling of looking at a female character (like Sarah Crewe in this 1980s anime) or down -to-earth relationship like in Orange Road. Someone tried to get me into Naruto, but I just couldn't stand it, it doesn't have the same well crafted fights of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, it doesn't have the same vibes of awesome that Saint Seiya or Yuyu Hakusho had. I have grown up tired of shonen and action anime.

I am pretty sure that if my old self of early 1990s looked at my self of 2007, he'd laugh in disbelief. Maybe it is myself who got tired of the machism or chauvinism of what I used to watch, or maybe I've played too much of MariBato or EFZ.

I am sort of glad I've grown as an animefan to what I am now, I don't think I'd enjoy shows like Aria if I had the same tastes as 15+ years ago. And I would have never thought that a cute 9 y/o like Nanoha Takamachi can be badass =D

[Kaioshin Sama]

What can I say? Back in the early 1990s, I used to scorn, and I mean it, what the random /a/non would call lolipedomoé shows, I could only enjoy my anime if my episode have its mandatory fights and yells (yes the likes of Dragon Ball and Saint Seiya), later I thought I could put myself above the average anime fan by watching very wordy, vaguely philosophical anime like the Patlabor movies or Serial Experiment Lain (I still love the patlabor movies and Lain tho). Then came the likes of Kanon (2k2), and here I have come to enjoy what I would never thought, the warming feeling of looking at a female character (like Sarah Crewe in this 1980s anime) or down -to-earth relationship like in Orange Road. Someone tried to get me into Naruto, but I just couldn't stand it, it doesn't have the same well crafted fights of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, it doesn't have the same vibes of awesome that Saint Seiya or Yuyu Hakusho had. I have grown up tired of shonen and action anime.

I am pretty sure that if my old self of early 1990s looked at my self of 2007, he'd laugh in disbelief. Maybe it is myself who got tired of the machism or chauvinism of what I used to watch, or maybe I've played too much of MariBato or EFZ.

I am sort of glad I've grown as an animefan to what I am now, I don't think I'd enjoy shows like Aria if I had the same tastes as 15+ years ago. And I would have never thought that a cute 9 y/o like Nanoha Takamachi can be badass =D

I too would have never believed I would have comed to enjoy these "Lolipedomoe shows" as a a guilty pleasure, but in a little less than one year I have. My main love of course will always be Mecha in a tier above, but these LPM shows are seeing more and more of my viewership lately. I still need a certain intangible quality in these LPM show's to enjoy them and it can't just be like Manabi Straight or Crescent Love, which I couldn't find much reason to watch (But damned if I do happen to have that games CG Pack).

It can be as small as anything imaginable though, like Lucky Star seeing a part of myself in the LS characters. I see my Anime/Gaming Fandom in Konata, My Ability To Inflict Self-Injury Through Clumsiness in Miyuki, My Shyness When First Being Introduced To Someone In Tsukasa, and My Preachiness And Constant Commentary in Kagami.

By the way, Sheba, your Avatar is really really distracting like DeathKillz's usually are.

[Mirrinus]

Wow...can't you just feel the love and togetherness in this thread now? This is why I like the AS community. ^_^

I think I've grown somewhat stoic towards fanatical bloggers, because I've seen so many opposing viewpoints to my own that it no longer really phases me; I've come to almost expect it. When your other interests include political and religious discussions, and when you're a conservative student at what's reputed to be the most liberal university in America, silly anime rants and criticisms suddenly seem so trivial. It's a great feeling, to be able to read a vitriolic blog and then derive a good, hearty laugh from it for its ridiculousness.

[Deathkillz]

Wow...can't you just feel the love and togetherness in this thread now? This is why I like the AS community. ^_^

heh quite true :)

personal opinions is the main issue here ~ from what i can see the guy in the blog is just as stubbon when it comes to "hardcore Gar series" as Kaioshin_Sama is to his oldskool mecha :heh: (not a stab btw) ~ but at least you of all people are beginning to understand the joys of moe (if done in the right way :))

[Risaa]

Wow...can't you just feel the love and togetherness in this thread now? This is why I like the AS community. ^_^

*warm fuzzy feeling* :) I decided to start posting here instead of a host of other forums I'm registered at because for the most part, people are pretty civil here and the mods aren't completely and utterly useless like they are at other MBs.

Judging by what I've read in everyone's posts... I don't think I'll be visiting that link.

[ZippyDSM]

Love LS,and most people who don't prejudge things will at least like it ^^

Cute silly and slightly random.

[Sheba]

I too would have never believed I would have comed to enjoy these "Lolipedomoe shows" as a a guilty pleasure, but in a little less than one year I have. My main love of course will always be Mecha in a tier above, but these LPM shows are seeing more and more of my viewership lately. I still need a certain intangible quality in these LPM show's to enjoy them and it can't just be like Manabi Straight or Crescent Love, which I couldn't find much reason to watch (But damned if I do happen to have that games CG Pack).

It can be as small as anything imaginable though, like Lucky Star seeing a part of myself in the LS characters. I see my Anime/Gaming Fandom in Konata, My Ability To Inflict Self-Injury Through Clumsiness in Miyuki, My Shyness When First Being Introduced To Someone In Tsukasa, and My Preachiness And Constant Commentary in Kagami.

By the way, Sheba, your Avatar is really really distracting like DeathKillz's usually are.

I don't mind the other genres as long as they have that extra flair that get me griped right on the spot (Nanoha series had to get me to Fate's introduction to get me hooked).
I am a heroic fantasy junkie since I've seen Conan the Barbarian as a toddle, but I am still very picky on what heroic fantasy anime I've seen (so far, Lodoss, Kaze no Tairiku, Scrapped Princess and now Seirei no Moribito. Otherwise, I avoid the cookie-cutter Final Fantasy/Dungeons & Dragons/Lord of the Rings at all cost), hell I am a very picky person on a lot of domain be it literature, movies or food.
Even as one who can appreciate moé shows for what they are, I am still discerning enough to avoid things like Crescent Love, Manabi Straight just doesn't appeal to me.
Regarding Lucky Star, I can find my trivial knowledge or ENCYCLOPEDIA TIME grooves in Tsukasa or Miyuki, I can get as easily annoyed as Kagami and like a lot of people here, I can recognize myself in Konata and her burning passions in things that are usually not acceptable to 'normal' people.

As for the avatar, I picked it for this very reason, it is distracting and I have a fetishist liking for the overknee socks and miniskirt combo.

[Ascaloth]

...did I just start a "I love AS" trend here? :heh:

[ZippyDSM]

naw that happened 60 pages back :P

[Risaa]

...did I just start a "I love AS" trend here? :heh:

Truth is, I don't love AS... it's just that there are five or so people who keep me coming back. :)

[Kaioshin Sama]

Truth is, I don't love AS... it's just that there are five or so people who keep me coming back. :)

*Does A pirouette* Woooooo! :heh:

[Ascaloth]

*Does A pirouette* Woooooo! :heh:

*passes Kaioshin his hyperactivity medication* There there, be a good boy and take this, then go to bed. :p

[Vexx]

Truth is, I don't love AS... it's just that there are five or so people who keep me coming back. :)

yeah.. the love would die really quickly if you tripped into a few certain threads on animesuki that shall rename nameless .... it makes my head hurt just to read the thread titles in them.

[Mirrinus]

Maybe I should have rephrased my earlier quote to refer only to a specific circle of posters then. >.>

Meh, still beats ANN. Although all the dorama going on over last weeks Answerman column is rather hilarious...

[Telliamed]

...did I just start a "I love AS" trend here? :heh:
It's been sucking for me, since they dropped Shin-chan. But if Adult Swim were to show Lucky Star, that would be pretty cool.

... oh, hey what? :confused: ... nevermind :uhoh:

Meh, still beats ANN. Although all the dorama going on over last weeks Answerman column is rather hilarious...

eww... their staff writers are annoying enough. I can't imagine the sorts of comments they attract.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I was going to say "love" was not the right word, but the more I think about it.... Of all the boards I sampled, AS had the best combination of lots of posts, lots of different posters, and good discussion. As far as I know, there's really no alternative.

There are some blogs I go back to, but generally I just use animenano and read posts that sound interesting.

And the mods here are great: a light touch, but a certain one. And they certainly made the right choice in giving Lucky Star its own forum: closing in fast on Death Note; only 300 posts behind.

[aorta]

Episode 1 - end of March 2006 (baseball is fixing to start)
Episode 2 - April 29 - May 5 (Golden Week)
Episode 3 - June (month of the wedding)
Episode 4 - July 7th (Twins' Birthday)
Episode 5 - July (Summer vaction)
Episode 6 - July (Summer vaction)
Episode 7 - July/August

Does this seem right? The only problem is that in Ep 4 Konata watches Episode 9 of Haruhi after the Twins' birthday (the episode was broadcast in May).

[Baka-yuki]

Episode 1 - end of March 2006 (baseball is fixing to start)
Episode 2 - April 29 - May 5 (Golden Week)
Episode 3 - June (month of the wedding)
Episode 4 - July 7th (Twins' Birthday)
Episode 5 - July (Summer vaction)
Episode 6 - July (Summer vaction)
Episode 7 - July/August

Does this seem right? The only problem is that in Ep 4 Konata watches Episode 9 of Haruhi after the Twins' birthday (the episode was broadcast in May).
Could be a re-run. Great job by the way.

[DJ_RockmanX]

Could be a re-run. Great job by the way.

Doesn't make much sense that a flame war was going on over at 2ch if it was a rerun. Everything else makes sense though.

[Risaa]

Episode 1 - end of March 2006 (baseball is fixing to start)


Oh my... where are you from? For a little while I lived in a place where people were all fixing to do things.

The time line seems all right to me... I didn't even think about the Haruhi episode as being the reason a flame war started...

[Kaoru Chujo]

On 2channel, Lucky Star is now on its 100th thread (http://anime2.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/anime/1180188083/), which is to say closing in on 100,000 posts, which it will reach in a couple of hours. Wow.

Nanoha StrikerS is continuing to grow its lead, however, at 144 threads. Gurren-Laggen is slipping further back in third place, at 71. Just for comparison, Death Note, a popular show that has been on for almost eight months, has 80 threads total. Moe wins on 2channel.

[Kaioshin Sama]

On 2channel, Lucky Star is now on its 100th thread (http://anime2.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/anime/1180188083/), which is to say closing in on 100,000 posts, which it will reach in a couple of hours. Wow.

Nanoha StrikerS is continuing to grow its lead, however, at 144 threads. Gurren-Laggen is slipping further back in third place, at 71. Just for comparison, Death Note, a popular show that has been on for almost eight months, has 80 threads total. Moe wins on 2channel.

The fact that Gurren-Lagann is even being discussed on 2channel amazes me, as it isn't moe at all. Also it's kind of hard to gauge the positive popularity of a series just by the number of threads it has. Keep in mind 2channels tendency for spam and nonsense compared to the quality discussion here. The true impact of a series should be measured by the quality of the discussion relating to it, not the quantity of discussion. In fact they seem quite content to just mention the fact that they are posting on the 100th thread over and over again for like 1000 posts with a bit of discussion on the CD's, the games and maybe just maybe the series inbetween. This is why I don't have a very high opinion of 2channel.

[DJ_RockmanX]

Also it's kind of hard to gauge the positive popularity of a series just by the number of threads it has. Keep in mind 2channels tendency for spam and nonsense compared to the quality discussion here. The true impact of a series should be measured by the quality of the discussion relating to it, not the quantity of discussion.

The amount of spam is directly proportional to how popular the show is? I dunno. :heh:

[Kaioshin Sama]

The amount of spam is directly proportional to how popular the show is? I dunno. :heh:

You know I don't know either. I'd say the amount of spam is directly proportional to itself and whatever fodder is there to generate it. You can get quite a few meme's and inspirations for ascii art from any episode of Lucky Star, Nanoha and Gurren Lagann and it will just kind of build upon itself, but with something like Darker Than Black there isn't much you can spam about. The fact that Konata's face is like a piece of ascii art itself contributes just as much posting fodder to the threads as any joke the episode delivers.

[Kaoru Chujo]

We don't have very many ways to judge the popularity of a series. In fact, what does popularity mean? That more people like it? That more people are interested in it one way or another? That more people watch it? That more people will buy the DVDs, the CDs, the ancillary goods? "True impact" is totally impossible to judge, except subjectively, and by some expensive survey. From a producer's point of view, the important thing is how much stuff (DVDs, CDs, game, telephone straps, comics) people will buy.

I'm not sure how this relates to 2channel posts, but so far, the number of threads on 2channel and the sales of the OP seem to track each other fairly well. 2channel just has its own style. Sure, they can post for 25 posts about getting to the 100th thread, but there are lots of more interesting posts, too.

The threads are well into 103 now. As a recent poster said, the threads jump very quickly right after an episode has aired, with people reacting to the episode. He checks at work and by the time he gets home it's on the next thread.

I don't know if it's true (I think it is), but I was interested in what one recent poster wrote about how things have changed in the marketing of a title:
In the past:
anime (manga) ---> manga (anime) ---> toys based on them
Now:
anime (manga) ---> manga (anime) ---> DVD, CD (character songs, small goods such as telephone straps, cards, etc.) ---> game.

Oh, and by my observation, the amount of "spam" and negative posts on 2channel do tend to be proportional to the popularity of a series, but not just to that. KyoAni, Hirano Aya, and Mizuki Nana all seem to have a lot of detractors, as well as fans, whereas I don't see that many negative posts for Hocchan or Nanoha, which are true 2channel favorites. LS had negative posts running about 1:7 to positive, but it is now falling closer to the standard number I've seen across a number of popular shows of 1:10.

[Mecha_Trueno]

oh wow, cant believe i didnt notice until now! nanako-sensei has tsuruya fangs!:D

[Risaa]

oh wow, cant believe i didnt notice until now! nanako-sensei has tsuruya fangs!:D

XD I wouldn't call them "Tsuruya fangs" because countless anime and manga characters have them, not even considering the vampires and monsters. Kuu-chan from PosutaruWORK for instance has them and she could be considered a "normal" character (as "normal" as one can get accessorizing with kitties).

But yeah... love the fangs. :)

[Kaoru Chujo]

The first time I noticed that sort of fangs was on Tina Foster in Ai yori Aoshi a few years ago, although I'm sure that was far from the first time they appeared. I think of them as symbolizing that a woman has a wild streak of some kind -- is a little closer to a predatory wild animal than other people. Is there more to it than that?

[aorta]

more examples:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CuteLittleFangs

[Vexx]

The first time I noticed that sort of fangs was on Tina Foster in Ai yori Aoshi a few years ago, although I'm sure that was far from the first time they appeared. I think of them as symbolizing that a woman has a wild streak of some kind -- is a little closer to a predatory wild animal than other people. Is there more to it than that?

You're pretty much on target .... a kind of "feline or kitsune" spirit. A lot of japanese have a snaggle tooth (or fang) but the ones really comfortable with their appearance and "living life to the fullest" (aka Tsuruya) don't mind laughing with mouth open and exposing it.

The first time I remember seeing it a few eons ago was with Mitsune/Kit from Love Hina.

[Mecha_Trueno]

XD I wouldn't call them "Tsuruya fangs" because countless anime and manga characters have them, not even considering the vampires and monsters. Kuu-chan from PosutaruWORK for instance has them and she could be considered a "normal" character (as "normal" as one can get accessorizing with kitties).

But yeah... love the fangs. :)

oh yeah, thats right. the first time i ever saw them was on ryoga from ranma1/2

btw, can anyone point out all the songs at the end? i only recognised fumoffu and dbz...

[DJ_RockmanX]

btw, can anyone point out all the songs at the end? i only recognised fumoffu and dbz...

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_Star_%28manga%29) is your friend.

[ApathyEcstasy]

lucky star is definitely a must-see..it ranks among my top favorites of the season along with seto no hanayome, sola, bokurano, hayate no gotoku, and darker than black

anyone who doesn't love konata, is out of their minds..she's the lynch pin of the series

[Samatarou]

anyone who doesn't love konata, is out of their minds..she's the lynch pin of the series
Whereas Kagami is the lynch mob.

[aohige]

About the whole Lucky Star popularity on the internet thing...

Are we talking mostly english speakers blogs and such?
This show has so much in-jokes that non-Japanese would have very hard time even "getting" it.

Hell, the first 3 seconds of the first episode was a joke referencing to the 80s Fujiko Fujio's Kaibutsu-kun anime intro (at which point I spewed my coffee out, even before the insane dancing OP :heh:), and not a single person in AS forums seems to notice or mention it.
I'm sure there are tons of missed stuff like that.
I think by missing out on those jokes, the show is at somewhat of an disadvantage among some bloggers.

For example, many Simpsons jokes are completely lost to Japanese people, simply because some of the references they make are completely native to americans. Any jokes made about TV commercials, for example, would be hard to understand.

[Samatarou]

About the whole Lucky Star popularity on the internet thing...

Are we talking mostly english speakers blogs and such?
This show has so much in-jokes that non-Japanese would have very hard time even "getting" it.

Hell, the first 3 seconds of the first episode was a joke referencing to the 80s Fujiko Fujio's Kaibutsu-kun anime intro (at which point I spewed my coffee out, even before the insane dancing OP :heh:), and not a single person in AS forums seems to notice or mention it.
I'm sure there are tons of missed stuff like that.
I think by missing out on those jokes, the show is at somewhat of an disadvantage among some bloggers.

For example, many Simpsons jokes are completely lost to Japanese people, simply because some of the references they make are completely native to americans. Any jokes made about TV commercials, for example, would be hard to understand.

Yes. However not always, e.g. Timotei was understandable by anyone over a certain age, irrespective of culture (though I didn't realise it was age related until people started saying they didn't understand it, it had seemed obvious enough to me as a European: I hadn't noticed that Timotei was no longer considered a household name).

[Vexx]

Me live in America... me love Raki*Suta, ugh. Japanese culture requires some study -- it isn't impenetrable and many of the humorous aspects carry over nicely to British types of humor (which in turn is accessible to Americans, even the ones who the whole world is like their neighborhood).

I've gotten quite attached to the manga/4-koma so I'm watching to see how much they animate (the track sequence comes straight out of the manga, though the way they present it is another level of in-reference).

I used to help catalog Animaniacs references. People loved the show though they completely missed all the vaudeville, Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, 80s references... why? Because it was still funny. Monty Python relied heavily on class humor and topical British politics -- yet it is revered in the US because the themes are universal. Catching the sly references is just another level of enjoyment. Paniponi Dash is much more reference-laden (using all of japanese history and pop culture, movies, etc) yet people find the show hilarious.

Lucky Star reminds me of a sort of Peanuts/Calvin&Hobbes kind of piece with heavy japanese flavor and otaku stirred in. It is quite appealing on a human comedy level.

The food sketch in the first episode reminds me of one of the late comedian George Burns long-rambling-stories-with-mild-punchline.

About the whole Lucky Star popularity on the internet thing...

Are we talking mostly english speakers blogs and such?
This show has so much in-jokes that non-Japanese would have very hard time even "getting" it.

Hell, the first 3 seconds of the first episode was a joke referencing to the 80s Fujiko Fujio's Kaibutsu-kun anime intro (at which point I spewed my coffee out, even before the insane dancing OP :heh:), and not a single person in AS forums seems to notice or mention it.
I'm sure there are tons of missed stuff like that.
I think by missing out on those jokes, the show is at somewhat of an disadvantage among some bloggers.

For example, many Simpsons jokes are completely lost to Japanese people, simply because some of the references they make are completely native to americans. Any jokes made about TV commercials, for example, would be hard to understand.

[krln99]

Has anyone noticed Kagami's motherly nature? Not just in relation to her younger sister, but to Konata as well. I would argue that Kagami is probably the closest thing Kona has to a mom. Behind her combative nature, she really does love her friends (especially Konata!)

[Risaa]

I used to help catalog Animaniacs references. People loved the show though they completely missed all the vaudeville, Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, 80s references... why? Because it was still funny.

So true. :) I used to watch it when I was too young to understand ANY of the references... yet it was my favorite cartoon. In the past couple of weeks I've been watching bits and pieces of Animaniacs on YouTube and have found that it's a completely different experience for me now that I'm older (I actually get references now, though there's no way I'm catching all of them).... and I love the 'toon even more now. :)

Has anyone noticed Kagami's motherly nature? Not just in relation to her younger sister, but to Konata as well. I would argue that Kagami is probably the closest thing Kona has to a mom. Behind her combative nature, she really does love her friends (especially Konata!)

Yes, definitely... Kagami does love her friends even if she'll never admit it. :) Randomness: at this point I can't say that I think Kona misses having a mom though (as she seems so content with life... except during baseball season).

[aorta]

Hell, the first 3 seconds of the first episode was a joke referencing to the 80s Fujiko Fujio's Kaibutsu-kun anime intro (at which point I spewed my coffee out, even before the insane dancing OP :heh:), and not a single person in AS forums seems to notice or mention it.


http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=915858&postcount=1589

Too bad Kagami doesn't say "Urusai!"

[Telliamed]

Are we talking mostly english speakers blogs and such?
This show has so much in-jokes that non-Japanese would have very hard time even "getting" it.
For that matter, how many Japanese viewers even catch all the references?

Too bad Kagami doesn't say "Urusai!"
I think she's said it a few times. Or do you just mean in the intro?

[aohige]

For that matter, how many Japanese viewers even catch all the references?


Well, stuff like the Top o Nerae! Gunbuster references, and the Star cruiser Yamato joke in ep4 are probably not gonna go well with everyone, especially the younger crowd.
And the heavily otaku-oriented jokes like the Kanon joke, and the Tsuyo-kiss kani fan are gonna be lost to most people in general. :heh:

However, aforementioned Kaibutsu-kun intro is too much of a "national icon" (like all the other Fujiko Fujio kids cartoon like Paaman, Ninja Hattori-kun, Doraemon, Kiteretsu, etc), that it's hard to believe any Japanese over the age of 20 to not be familiar with it.
The Crayon Shin-chan impersonation goes in this category as well.

Imagine an american who's never heard of the Loony Toons and Simpsons theme song. It's very unlikely.

Also, it's not just the parodies and references... Talk about common Japanese every-day life consists most of the show, very much like Azumanga daioh. While both LS and Azumanga are fairly popular among american fans for many reasons, a lot of the humor and atmosphere are lost to those not familiar with it.
I'm just mentioning these as contributing factor to certain reviews that aren't showing much interest in the show.

[Mecha_Trueno]

does anyone know what the figurines in konata's room are?

btw...
Well, stuff like the Top o Nerae! Gunbuster references, and the Star cruiser Yamato joke in ep4 are probably not gonna go well with everyone, especially the younger crowd.
when was there a gunbuster reference? me didnt notice...

[aorta]

I think she's said it a few times. Or do you just mean in the intro?

In the intro. In the Kaibutsu-kun intro, after the banter, "Urasai!" is yelled out and then the theme song starts.

[aorta]

does anyone know what the figurines in konata's room are?


It's been speculated that the one with the club is Kooh from the game PangYa.

http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=951401&postcount=1833

[aohige]

when was there a gunbuster reference? me didnt notice...

The "dandandandandan" drum sound that plays every time the Comptique festival is mentioned is the music lifted from Gunbuster's entrance in episode 4 of Top of Nerae!, and they also play the OP "Fly high!" of the show when Konata imagines the dentist with cute nurse and Exelion in the background. :cool:

[JediNight]

Anyone whose interested, if it hasn't been mentioned yet:
http://lantis-net.com/rakisuta/backnumber/radio.html

Link to the Lucky Channel radio show. I couldn't get it working atm, but it may just be a problem on my end. Anyone else able to play them, or do they block anyone outside of Japan maybe?

[Risaa]

Anyone whose interested, if it hasn't been mentioned yet:
http://lantis-net.com/rakisuta/backnumber/radio.html

Link to the Lucky Channel radio show. I couldn't get it working atm, but it may just be a problem on my end. Anyone else able to play them, or do they block anyone outside of Japan maybe?

I doubt they block anyone outside of Japan... I mean, how many people overseas are even aware they have radio shows for popular anime? And how many people who are interested in the shows are able to understand what they're saying?

(Actually, I don't understand much, but I've been downloading segments of the Utawarerumono radio show... good stuff, good stuff. "MOU!!" :) )

[Vexx]

They're not blocking.. but they're using some damned DRM crap on the WMP side that breaks it because their license server isn't answering before it times out.

Perhaps the Real side works better. Stupid DRM crap ... makes no sense to DRM a radio show for the sake of Shoggoth.

[aorta]

the realplayer version works fine for me (in the US)

[Risaa]

Started watching WinD's subs... IMO, they're well worth the wait. I like the style of the subs and the color (they're nice and easy to read), and I really like that they tuck translation notes neatly at the top without being over-excessive about them. They don't grab too much attention or distract from the actual episode itself... I also like that they're not translating words that don't *really* translate, like "gochisousama", for example. It's obvious they do a ton of research, too.

My only real complaint is that the text is kind of floating far up from the bottom... it's not a problem during Lucky Channel, but it is during parts such as this one (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/Risaa/Picture1.png). I know no matter what the sub group, with the way L*S is, subtitles are inevitably going to cover some key parts, but it feels like WinD's is a bit *too* high.

I'm also a little confused at the inconsistency of the translations when Kona is mumbling while playing her game during Golden Week... if I remember right, one group didn't translate it at all, another group mentioned her obtaining a loincloth, and now... there's no mention of her obtaining anything in WinD's version (I was really looking for the loincloth bit :heh: ).

What's got me squirming with delight right now is their note in episode 2 about Tsukasa's grade.... :rolleyes:

I've also been keeping track of the number of times we see each of the girls with something in their mouths... will get back to that once I'm caught up, keke.

[aorta]

One of the problems with any subs on the bottom is that they end up covering Konata's head in some shots. :heh:

[Ronin Aquila]

This week`s Lucky Channel was just fucking scary...

Akira threw an ASHTRAY full of cigarettes at her assitant... no bloody wonder she has such a coarse voice!! :twitch::heh:

[Michael Hopcroft]

This week`s Lucky Channel was just fucking scary...

Akira threw an ASHTRAY full of cigarettes at her assitant... no bloody wonder she has such a coarse voice!! :twitch::heh:

Is Akira legally old enough to smoke, not that that particularly matters?

what next -- jokes about alcohol binges, paparazzi and sex scandals in the idoru community? Although I would not want to e a paparazzi trying to get dirt on Akira-chan -- not if I happened to enjoy my blood remaining in my body where it belongs....

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

This week`s Lucky Channel was just fucking scary...

Akira threw an ASHTRAY full of cigarettes at her assitant... no bloody wonder she has such a coarse voice!! :twitch::heh:

Actually, her extreme "habit" was hinted at within the first three LCs, though I am not sure which one...:heh:

[Ronin Aquila]

Though really loved the adorable sequence in the actual episode where:

Tsukasa imagines herself as the big sister, whom imaginary Kagami runs after calling out affectionately `Oneechan!! Help me do my homework.` Simply adorable. :)

[Vexx]

Started watching WinD's subs... IMO, they're well worth the wait. I like the style of the subs and the color (they're nice and easy to read), and I really like that they tuck translation notes neatly at the top without being over-excessive about them. They don't grab too much attention or distract from the actual episode itself... I also like that they're not translating words that don't *really* translate, like "gochisousama", for example. It's obvious they do a ton of research, too.

My only real complaint is that the text is kind of floating far up from the bottom... it's not a problem during Lucky Channel, but it is during parts such as this one (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/Risaa/Picture1.png). I know no matter what the sub group, with the way L*S is, subtitles are inevitably going to cover some key parts, but it feels like WinD's is a bit *too* high.

I'm also a little confused at the inconsistency of the translations when Kona is mumbling while playing her game during Golden Week... if I remember right, one group didn't translate it at all, another group mentioned her obtaining a loincloth, and now... there's no mention of her obtaining anything in WinD's version (I was really looking for the loincloth bit :heh: ).

What's got me squirming with delight right now is their note in episode 2 about Tsukasa's grade.... :rolleyes:

I've also been keeping track of the number of times we see each of the girls with something in their mouths... will get back to that once I'm caught up, keke.

Kagami definitely spends a lot of time with something in her mouth (pocky, pens, chopstix, etc). I suppose one could psycho-analyze that...

The variance in translations is problematic to me. Usually I'm mulling over the *shading* of a phrase or the choice of an idiomatic bit or a slang term ... not wholesale differences in dialog. I end up listening to a sequence repeatedly and then consulting the manga to see what was originally intended. I'll grant translating the show isn't easy at all (particularly the Konata mumbles) but the often total lack of consensus leaves me wondering if I'm watching Lucky*Star humor or "fansub team" humor at times.

[Risaa]

The reason I want to keep track of how many times the girls are seen with stuff in their mouths is that I want to know if Kagami really is more *oral* than the other girls, or if we think she is simply because she is seen more often than the others as having something in her mouth when the focus is on her - no one seems to mention anything about something being in Tsukasa's or Kona's mouths when they're in the background, after all.

Currently (through episode 4) Kagami's in the lead, but Kona's not far behind. Tsukasa also has a good few points for her, too.

Also, I've noticed a few more completely different translations (between LC, a.f.k., and WinD... I can't watch EnA...) at certain parts throughout L*S... I'm leaning towards WinD's interpretations because of their massive notes on each episode.

Episode 4 of WinD's contained *no* translation notes at the top at all... they've provided the link to their forums for notes. This, IMO, is even better than the already good translation notes they stuck at the top in the previous three episodes...

http://www.windfs.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=175
(You can really learn a few things about Japanese culture and language from reading through the thread... So neato, kyaa~)

I find it *totemo* interesting that the picture after the OP is actually the real mascot of the swim team of the school Miyuki dances in front of... (and in the ep 2 notes, the cowlick and ribbon (signifying Kona and Tsukasa) on the game is so cute! I didn't even notice it!). Ah, and WinD also claims that the earrings Miyuki gave Kagami and Tsukasa in episode 5 are from Tiffany.

BTW... In episode 4, they switch back from Poppy to Pocky..... .... .. D:

[Claies]

Just to let you know, EnA has begun posting translation notes on their own website since episode 6.

http://www.e-n-m.net/projects/lucky_star/

[Risaa]

Just to let you know, EnA has begun posting translation notes on their own website since episode 6.

http://www.e-n-m.net/projects/lucky_star/

OH! I looked, but apparently I looked in the wrong place... I found their site to be a little frustrating to navigate. :heh:

[Vexx]

yeah, the earring catch I saw in another forum... the damn things are apparently about $4000 a pair (they had a real picture) so Kagami and Tsukasa actually have no idea just how wealthy Miyuki is :)

Maybe I'll give WinD another shot if I can (whoa... storm just moved in....).

[Samatarou]

OH! I looked, but apparently I looked in the wrong place... I found their site to be a little frustrating to navigate. :heh:
I can't get EnA's site to work at all. It just freezes my browser for 20 seconds at a time when I try to scroll the page or do anything at all. I'd like to watch their fansubs but H264 at 1024x576 is for me as bad as their website... I did download one of their eps but ended up watching LC's version instead, I've filed the EnA one away to watch when I buy a new computer....

[Vexx]

I don't go to EnA's site usually.... the torrents are taggable on the AS torrent lists. You might try that.

[Risaa]

Hnn, http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=932900&postcount=165 ... sorry, he spent hours browsing through the catalogue of overpriced earrings to find it, so I had to give him a little credit.

I'd like to watch EnA's releases, but that's going to have to wait until I figure out a good way to transfer them to a windozey compy...

[Claies]

I can't get EnA's site to work at all. It just freezes my browser for 20 seconds at a time when I try to scroll the page or do anything at all. I'd like to watch their fansubs but H264 at 1024x576 is for me as bad as their website... I did download one of their eps but ended up watching LC's version instead, I've filed the EnA one away to watch when I buy a new computer....

If you can't watch their h.264's (which aren't that big and CPU-intensive for videos that use this codec), then yes, their site probably isn't good for you. They have really heavy amounts of CSS and transparency settings. I guess it's fair for them to assume that those who can watch their works can view their site.

[Samatarou]

If you can't watch their h.264's (which aren't that big and CPU-intensive for videos that use this codec), then yes, their site probably isn't good for you. They have really heavy amounts of CSS and transparency settings. I guess it's fair for them to assume that those who can watch their works can view their site.
It's probably the transparent layers, I've never known CSS cause a problem. In fact this is the only website on the internet I've had trouble with in a long time, it's much worse than those stupid sites that decide to put a million word essay on a single page or somesuch nonsense. I would tell them but I'm afraid of dying of old age before I manage to find their comments page.

[Telliamed]

Just to let you know, EnA has begun posting translation notes on their own website since episode 6.

http://www.e-n-m.net/projects/lucky_star/

I'll add this to my bookmarks. Except, they say the girl at 18:10 in episode 8 is from Kanon. :rolleyes: Really, now.

Lately I've been using JEEB's translation, which isn't all that great. But he releases the soft script. (I also suffer from an inability to play h264.) I'd like to watch WinD, if they weren't so far behind.

[Risaa]

Yeah.. I feel kind of stuck in a rut. I'm discontent with watching the raw and a.f.k.'s releases (don't get me wrong, they're not bad at all... I just heavily prefer more literal translations). I want WinD subs, but they're quite a ways behind... and I'd like to try EnA's but h264s will never play decently on any mac I own (I'm retarded and can't figure out the mplayer tutorial for the life of me -_-).

[Claies]

That seems to be the dilemma...none of the translation groups got this perfectly. ^^;;

[Vexx]

Go harass someone who owns a PC and make them watch it with you :)
(don't forget to make them install the CCCP pack and watch it on the classic player, not the WMP)

@claies: that's usually my dilemma ... I'll like parts of one group's work, pieces of another, a particular line.... hell, sometimes I don't like *my* interpretation :)

[Risaa]

H... Haa?! But that would be the obvious easy thing to do! It's entirely do-able now that I'm on break... the dad still has to go to work and leave his precious lappy unguarded...

Thanks. *swt* :heh:

[Samatarou]

H... Haa?! But that would be the obvious easy thing to do! It's entirely do-able now that I'm on break... the dad still has to go to work and leave his precious lappy unguarded... This is where you discover he plays ero-games and you realise life really is like Lucky Star....

[AVPlaya]

Well in honor of Lucky Star, I walked into our local Japanese market yesterday and bough me some Choco Cronet (it's French so the t is silent) and the copy of NewType with the Konata Postcard. Then I enjoyed it just like what Tsukasa/Miyuki said, taking the bottom bits (the wide end is head to me) and smother it with Choco cream. It IS better this way! Same goes for Custard Cronet as well! I'd always enjoyed cronets but this is the first time I've ever eaten it this way. I think Choco Cronet is going to be just as big as Melon Pan was, an Official Otaku Pastry. I can just imagine the looks of the faces of all those bakery owners who thinks to themselve "Why are all those damn otakus buying all our choco cronets?" And being otakus, not a single of of them will attempt to explain it.

I'll tell you what's suck about the US - almost no one knows anything about Melon Pan and Choco Cronets and it's difficult to find. Why don't we have all those wonderful bakeries and patrie shops? You know the kind you need a tray and a tongue and pick whatever you want? I can't sigh enough about.

[Ronin Aquila]

Is Akira legally old enough to smoke, not that that particularly matters?

what next -- jokes about alcohol binges, paparazzi and sex scandals in the idoru community?

Well, considering this week`s Lucky Channel, you could very well be correct on the third presumptions.

She was scratching her crotch for like bloody THIRTY SECONDS while Siraishi spoke!! How many blokes` bones did she jump to get THAT big a nest of crabs!?!? :heh::p;):D

[Vexx]

I'll tell you what's suck about the US - almost no one knows anything about Melon Pan and Choco Cronets and it's difficult to find. Why don't we have all those wonderful bakeries and patrie shops? You know the kind you need a tray and a tongue and pick whatever you want? I can't sigh enough about.

Actually, you can find shops close or equal to that in the major port cities at least (SFO, LA, NY, etc). San Francisco has a number of shops near Japantown that specialize in cakes, pastries, and mochi. It really depends on how international the city is. I'll bet Toronto or Montreal might have such things as well.

Hell, I have trouble finding vegetables when I head inland in the US :) (at least ones that haven't been cooked to mush).
Though I did find a kick-ass sushi bar in Albuquerque, NM (of all places) in the early 90s.

[Jiji]

I'll bet it was the Japanese Kitchen. Keiko-san and Jeff-san have run that place forever, it seems like. My favourite place in town for sushi. If you're ever in Albuquerque again, let me know and we'll go for sushi there. ^_^

However, even with a largish Asian supermarket in town (Ta Lin), I can't find choco coronets anywhere, darnit. Nor melon pan. Lots of pocky, though...

One of the things with me and anime is how it manages to have this terrible power of suggestion over me. Are the characters eating hot pot? Of course, I'm suddenly ravenous for hot pot. Nikujaga? Wonder if I have any beef thawed out... Konpira? Of course. And if it's sushi? I'm doomed... :D

[Risaa]

San Francisco has a number of shops near Japantown that specialize in cakes, pastries, and mochi.

[*weeps*] Remember to always get the greener meronpan, not the one colored like regular bread. They also sell those huge boxes of Pocky I can't finish.. And go during the Cherry Blossom Festival to score loads of discounts and be able to play the Hello Kitty game. Be sure to ask for a points card from Kinokuniya Stationary. Tanpopo has the best ramen. In one of the stationary shops outside, the owners will periodically bring out "Kuma" (bear), their overly-friendly, would-never-attack-anything doggie. ;_;

Just a heads up... LAS VEGAS HAS NOTHING! *angst*

[Claies]

I'll bet it was the Japanese Kitchen. Keiko-san and Jeff-san have run that place forever, it seems like. My favourite place in town for sushi. If you're ever in Albuquerque again, let me know and we'll go for sushi there. ^_^

However, even with a largish Asian supermarket in town (Ta Lin), I can't find choco coronets anywhere, darnit. Nor melon pan. Lots of pocky, though...

One of the things with me and anime is how it manages to have this terrible power of suggestion over me. Are the characters eating hot pot? Of course, I'm suddenly ravenous for hot pot. Nikujaga? Wonder if I have any beef thawed out... Konpira? Of course. And if it's sushi? I'm doomed... :D

I suddenly want to make you watch episode 3 of Kanon where Makoto has to eat that konjac.

[*weeps*] Remember to always get the greener meronpan, not the one colored like regular bread. They also sell those huge boxes of Pocky I can't finish.. And go during the Cherry Blossom Festival to score loads of discounts and be able to play the Hello Kitty game. Be sure to ask for a points card from Kinokuniya Stationary. Tanpopo has the best ramen. In one of the stationary shops outside, the owners will periodically bring out "Kuma" (bear), their overly-friendly, would-never-attack-anything doggie. ;_;

Just a heads up... LAS VEGAS HAS NOTHING! *angst*

You live in Las Vegas? O_o

*weeps too* All there is at my place is Pocky. Just Pocky. And Chinese ramen. I really want those fabled warm canned coffee.

[Risaa]

The past couple years, seven months out of the year were spent in SF. Oh man, I love it there. LV is not really a great place to live IMO (the view on education in particular bugs me the most... count the number of universities Nevada has. Higher education just isn't as highly sought after - the money-makers lie within the gaming and tourism industry, therefore there are at least a hundred dealing (card dealing, not *car* dealing) schools. Many kids go straight from high school to one of these schools, and many people who graduate with a bachelor's end up in one of those schools anyways)... Oops, started off-topic ranting... Anyways, one thing I do adore about being in LV is... all the Korean food I can eat, hurrah!

(I may score a trip back to SF this summer though... SF is a great place, yo. Go eat at Asqew at least once.)

Everytime I see Kona eating a choco coronet, I suddenly get a craving for one, too... I credit anime for making me want to try every Japanese food under the rising sun, and I've tried - and liked - a whole lot of dishes so far... Some things, like mochi, are also found in Korea, so I've already had lots of little Japanese snacks and things previously without even knowing they were Japanese. :rolleyes:

[ZephyrMoon]

there used to be a really good mochi store in japan town (in San Fransisco)
but the owner closed shop cuz she was getting too old and no one wanted to make them anymore T___T

[Panzer Bandit]

Now here's an interesting virus (http://www.symantec.com/en/uk/smb/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2007-051111-3704-99&tabid=2)for your computer to catch. :heh:

And no, I didn't link to the virus. It's Symantec's info page about the virus.

[Risaa]

And no, I didn't link to the virus.
lol! I was about to say... :rolleyes: Anyways, I can't help but to snicker at that. Love for Kagami certainly is *infectious*.

[*dodges thrown fruit* j/k, j/k!]

[Mirrinus]

Reminds me of the Kanon virus...

[Coolrush]

so will any of the other girls make it in the show or will it just focus on Kona, Kaga, Yuki and Tsukasa. Have they given a time table on when they will appear? Its almost like the new director doesnt want them in LS.

[Panzer Bandit]

lol! I was about to say... :rolleyes: Anyways, I can't help but to snicker at that. Love for Kagami certainly is *infectious*.

[*dodges thrown fruit* j/k, j/k!]

*groan* :rolleyes:

Still made me laugh, though. Must be the late hours I'm putting in studying for my finals...

Ah, and have you visited Nippon-Ya and Sophie's Crepes in Japantown in SF? I used to go there about twice a month just to buy the confectioneries. Ahh, I miss the Bay Area so...

[Vexx]

so will any of the other girls make it in the show or will it just focus on Kona, Kaga, Yuki and Tsukasa. Have they given a time table on when they will appear? Its almost like the new director doesnt want them in LS.

No, there's been no "timetable" O.o

Its pretty much following the manga (though it jumps around a bit). The other girls start showing up in volume 2. I'm speculating that Miyuki's "zone out" in ep 10 is her last big hurrah and she'll drop back a bit on stage as Minami and a couple of others show up for the next 5 or 6 episodes.

Keep in mind this is *only* ep 10 at the moment. My main concern is that I can look at the time budget for the remaining 14+ episodes --- and I start hating on Lucky*Channel (which is a riff on the little bits of Akira-omake in the manga as realized in the L*C radio show). That's unfortunate because its rather funny in its own way but I look at the funny material in the manga and shake my head about lost opportunities to adapt them all to the anime.

Also keep in mind that KyoAni usually storyboards an entire series beforehand. The "new" director has to work with what is storyboarded... he can shift the emphasis but unless the ratings are crashing they're not going to rework the storyboard. Unfortunately, that emphasis can mean that we see more "product placement" or obvious gags about other corporate products if the people entertained by that sort of stuff create hyperbuzz. I'd hate to see that because it dilutes what, to me, is the core of the show -- the "daily life" as portrayed by a group of very quirky people.

[arias]

Keep in mind this is *only* ep 10 at the moment. My main concern is that I can look at the time budget for the remaining 14+ episodes --- and I start hating on Lucky*Channel (which is a riff on the little bits of Akira-omake in the manga as realized in the L*C radio show). That's unfortunate because its rather funny in its own way but I look at the funny material in the manga and shake my head about lost opportunities to adapt them all to the anime.

I've long disliked the Lucky Channel thing. I mean, it's utterly boring, repetitive and slapstick. I think it's only because I'm a seasoned viewer ingrained in my culture that this is so - I've seen ALOT of slapstick in my life and this degree and execution is just unfunny compared to the more whimsical main cast.


Unfortunately, that emphasis can mean that we see more "product placement" or obvious gags about other corporate products if the people entertained by that sort of stuff create hyperbuzz. I'd hate to see that because it dilutes what, to me, is the core of the show -- the "daily life" as portrayed by a group of very quirky people.

Oh wow, so this is what some children were whining about in episode 10. I think they are being far too hasty - I mean, consider the episode as a trip to KONATA'S HOUSE. It's obvious that they would have to place anime items and merchandize as part of the focus of this trip, and being that, what should KyoAni have done? Created imaginary series? Place products of other companies?

... I'm sure most you get it now.


Now; if they continue product-placement for two or three more episodes, then calling them out for it is justified. Otherwise, I just cannot fathom why this sort of posts here... although I guess I'm used to it by one certain poster.



Anyway, Kagami and Tsukasa's voice actress are top notch. But Hirano for Konata is still unbelievable.. say whatever you like about Kagami being brought to life; the subtle squees and wiggles that Hirano puts to Konata (conveying a SUPERB :3 feel) is amazing.

[Vexx]

VAs score the best with me if I ... FORGET there's someone behind a mike somewhere and just see the character living, breathing, talking.

Its kind of nice to hear the L*C comment.... over on some other forums, you'd think L*C is some kind of hip, completely novel item instead of what is an old fourth-wall sort of bit with hyperbole and slapstick. I do think it has funny elements (watching him slowly level up to take on Akira-boss), but readers of the manga will find it less enthralling since it does directly impact time budget.

[4Tran]

There's a few things that I'd like to note about the series so far:

1. It's a decent show, but it isn't all that funny. I'm not sure if it's the over-reliance on parodies and cutesy moments to carry the comedy, or what, but I've recently watched tons of shows that have been funnier. In terms of humor, I'd equate it to about School Rumble Second Term - not nearly as funny as it should be.
2. While Konata drives the show, Kagami is a much funnier character.
3. The parody gags aren't as amusing as the lifestyle ones.
4. Shiraiishi is much more interesting than Akira is. Once she's done her schtick, there's not much else to her.

On a slightly different note, I found the Maria-sama ga Miteru gag to be far less funny than it could be. I recently saw the episode of SuperGALS with the Oniisama E and Ace o Nerae parodies, and it was much funnier. Part of the reason is that where Lucky Star relied almost purely on the parody correlation to produce humor, the SuperGALS was funny first, and a parody second. What's even more amusing is that Maria-sama ga Miteru, when it's humorous, is funnier than Lucky Star is.

By the way, Vexx's remarks are right on the money.

[Kyuusai]

I'm speculating that Miyuki's "zone out" in ep 10 is her last big hurrah and she'll drop back a bit on stage as Minami and a couple of others show up for the next 5 or 6 episodes.


Oh poor Miyuki
Author hates his daughter, but
I'll always love her

:sad:

[Kaoru Chujo]

1. There are now so many different threads on 2channel concerning LS -- around 150 -- that someone has set up a special page to link to them (http://kanata.s289.xrea.com/luckystar/) as they change. And that is different current topics. The main topic is up to 139 threads itself now (139,000 posts), and is reaching a higher and higher percentage of the number of threads for the leader, StrikerS. I have never seen one show with so many different topics about it on 2channel.

2. Sense of humor is variable. And anyway, this is not a "gag" show. This show is funny in your bones, not laugh-out-loud funny. I guess I'll have to look at School Rumble, which I really found quite unfunny for two eps. As I say too often, Ichigo Mashimaro is my comedy gold standard for anime.

3. I differ with Vexx about VAs. I like them when they are most identifiable, as well as when I forget about them. The "forget there's a person there" thing does little for me, and happens almost never, anyway. Doesn't happen in film, either. I mean, there really is a person there, after all, and it's enjoyable for me to observe their artistry. I actually object when people talk about characters as if they were real people, and ignore the extreme contribution of the VAs (which I know Vexx isn't doing).

4. LC is the least of this show for me, too, but I liked the last one. And I can accept it for the sake of the rest of the show. It is clearly a way of saving money and tieing in with the radio show for cross-marketing. Without the business part of things, we wouldn't get this great show at all, so I can accept it.

[Kaioshin Sama]

1. There are now so many different threads on 2channel concerning LS -- around 150 -- that someone has set up a special page to link to them (http://kanata.s289.xrea.com/luckystar/) as they change. And that is different current topics. The main topic is up to 139 threads itself now (139,000 posts), and is reaching a higher and higher percentage of the number of threads for the leader, StrikerS. I have never seen one show with so many different topics about it on 2channel.

2. Sense of humor is variable. And anyway, this is not a "gag" show. This show is funny in your bones, not laugh-out-loud funny. I guess I'll have to look at School Rumble, which I really found quite unfunny for two eps. As I say too often, Ichigo Mashimaro is my comedy gold standard for anime.

3. I differ with Vexx about VAs. I like them when they are most identifiable, as well as when I forget about them. The "forget there's a person there" thing does little for me, and happens almost never, anyway. Doesn't happen in film, either. I mean, there really is a person there, after all, and it's enjoyable for me to observe their artistry. I actually object when people talk about characters as if they were real people, and ignore the extreme contribution of the VAs (which I know Vexx isn't doing).

4. LC is the least of this show for me, too, but I liked the last one. And I can accept it for the sake of the rest of the show. It is clearly a way of saving money and tieing in with the radio show for cross-marketing. Without the business part of things, we wouldn't get this great show at all, so I can accept it.

My Thoughts:

Point #1: This is why I don't really like 2channel, everything is so rapid it's impossible to even follow it really. Sometimes I have to wonder how much is spam and how much is outright confusion.

Point #2: I really like this point a lot. That's just it, Lucky Star is a quiet type of funny, if one is lauging out loud to it, I think there may be a problem as that doesn't strike me as it's intention in any way.

Point #3: A little bit of both for me in this case. I will notice for example that Tom Hanks is Forrest Gump, but I will also acknowledge the character of Forrest Gump at the same time.

Point #4: Yes and no. There's a limit and it may be approaching it. Things will hopefully start to scale back in terms of the cross-marketing soon enough.

[AVPlaya]

I don't know where else to post this, so here it is.

Anyone here from Europe used a Timotei (http://www.timotei.co.uk/pg.asp?explore) shampoo? I'm going to try to get myself a Kiwi flavored, I mean, scented Timotei Shampoo. I'm gonna check if online UK sites like Tesco ships to the US.

EDIT: The good news is that Westons (http://westons.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Timotei_2473.html#a) does have Timotei and ships to the US, the bad news is that while the shampoos are pretty cheap the shipping is a whopping $89. Gotta keep looking... maybe ask a co-worker to bring a bottle back from London.

Interesting Timotei Ad:

http://www.howpack.cn/uploads/photos/784.jpg

[aorta]

I don't know where else to post this, so here it is.

Anyone here from Europe used a Timotei (http://www.timotei.co.uk/pg.asp?explore) shampoo? I'm going to try to get myself a Kiwi flavored, I mean, scented Timotei Shampoo. I'm gonna check if online UK sites like Tesco ships to the US.

You can get it off ebay. Someone was selling half used bottles, which sounds a bit weird me to me.

[AVPlaya]

You can get it off ebay. Someone was selling half used bottles, which sounds a bit weird me to me.

Yeah it is... I just e-mailed the Unilever Timotei site and ask for purchase info. Probably not going to get it. I'm going to try to get them from Asia though.

I posted the Original Timotei CMs which were source of Kotana's impressions in the Music Video thread. Go check it out if you want to know why she said Timotei 3 times.

[Kaioshin Sama]

You can get it off ebay. Someone was selling half used bottles, which sounds a bit weird me to me.

Probably sold though.

[AVPlaya]

I thought the name of the Kona-chan's High School sounded familar... and then I thought about the OP... they're in cheerleader outfits. Only school in Japan with female cheerleaders are schools with GOOD baseball teams. As it turns out that the Kasukabe Kyoei High School is a Saitama regional baseball powerhouse. Quite a few pro-baseball players calls this school alma mater. This is quite interesting.

Unlike many other otaku, I happen to be a HUGE fan of Japense HS Baseball, the best baseball in the world, in my opinion, to root for as a fan. Last year's Koshien Final is probably the most exiting baseball I've ever watched in my life. I don't follow pro baseball as much, aside from the Hanshin Tigers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanshin_Tigers) (any self-respecting Haruhi fan had BETTER be a Hanshin Tigers fan!)

As it turns out, today is the selection day for the 89th Summer Koshien High School Baseball turnament (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school_baseball_in_Japan) in Japan, and our very own Katsukabe Kyoei (http://kyoeibbc.sakura.ne.jp/) is picked as a Saitama favorite. They lost in the Saitama regional semis last year. Only 1 team per prefecture gets to goto the Summer Koshien Turnament (held at the Koshien Stadium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koshien_Stadium) at Haruhi's Home Town (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nishinomiya), in case you don't know), and there are no bigger sports in Japan. Every HS's dream is glory in the Summer Koshien, and there's a good chance we'll get to witness Kotana's HS in the big dance this year.

I'll be following the team and see how they do; I usually follow Kansai Teams like Osaka Toin HS (http://www.osakatoin.ed.jp/) or Wakayama Chiben HS (http://www.chiben.ac.jp/wakayama/), but this year I'll follow the Saitama regional as well. It seemed that Kyoei has a bunch of good pitchers this year and team captain Saito is known for his long-ball hitting. Can't wait for it to start! I'll post updates here as I get them.

Here's the official Asahi.com Summer Koshien page for the Saitama Regional:

http://www2.asahi.com/koshien/89/saitama/index.html

Man I hope to get a photo of their female cheer leaders! I'll bet it's exactly like the OP.

Don't worry Kona-chan. High School baseball games are always played during the day and they have to end in 9 innings (tie is possible). You won't get your late night anime delayed due to Koshien.

Kyoei HS Team:
http://www.k-kyoei.ed.jp/cdata/baseball02.jpg

[Risaa]

Darnit, AVPlaya, I keep wanting to +rep you for your unique and informative posts, but I have a tendency to want to keep +repping all the same people and being unable to. Gah! DX Letting you know that your posts are appreciated though, even if I have no intelligent reply. :)

[AVPlaya]

Darnit, ADPlaya, I keep wanting to +rep you for your unique and informative posts, but I have a tendency to want to keep +repping all the same people and being unable to. Gah! DX Letting you know that your posts are appreciated though, even if I have no intelligent reply. :)

Thanks for the reply, glad to see at least someone's reading what I post. :)

and BTW, it's AVPlaya, and it stands for Audio-Visual, not the other AV.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Darnit, AVPlaya, I keep wanting to +rep you for your unique and informative posts, but I have a tendency to want to keep +repping all the same people and being unable to. Gah! DX Letting you know that your posts are appreciated though, even if I have no intelligent reply. :)Okay, I'll add the rep for you. So now we can follow the Kasukabe Kyoei team all the way. Like we followed the figure skating championships while Ginban Kaleidoscope was on. I wonder how the students at the school react to their school being featured in an anime.

[AVPlaya]

Okay, I'll add the rep for you. So now we can follow the Kasukabe Kyoei team all the way. Like we followed the figure skating championships while Ginban Kaleidoscope was on. I wonder how the students at the school react to their school being featured in an anime.

Wow, thanks! Eh... what does rep do exactly? :heh:

I'll follow it anyway so reporting it isn't a big deal. I just hope they make it into Koshien since we gaijin gets to watch the games live on the web once the tournament starts. We will get to see live dancing cheerleaders! :) But it's going to be TOUGH... over 4,000 schools each year join the regionals and only 49 gets to visit SOS-Dan's HQ city. Saitama is one of the most populous prefecture in Japan and the fight there is going to be NASTY. I will be rooting for them of course.

As for student feelings... I am guessing that since this is an otaku anime, most of them won't express TOO much joy over it... unfortunately they will be much more estatic if their school actually made it to Koshien. They did it in 2005 so there are big hopes this year. I mean, a lot of Miyuki-ish students (kids who won't even read light novels), would probably find the existence of these (http://cospatio.com/detail/id/0000010287/__sid/08829ffdee6e91dc4c6feba5d20fffac) items (http://heros-paradise.shop-pro.jp/?pid=2279974) pretty offensive:

http://www.cospa.com/images/items/pc/12694.jpg

There's a parent-alimni cheering club for the Kyoei Baseball Team, and they took a ton of photos, but I can't join since I'm not a parent or alumni... :( I'm willing to bet there a quite a few cheerleader photos there...

[AVPlaya]

Been reading a lot of JP Lucky Star Pages. As with past KyoAni anime, fans are eager to find out if the places in the anime are real, so many of them trekked out to seek the truth. According to this blog (http://blog.livedoor.jp/habusan_sa_ai/archives/51138894.html), this is Kona-chan's house in real life:

http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/habusan_sa_ai/imgs/f/e/fe5c8d1c.jpg
http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/habusan_sa_ai/imgs/4/2/423e0fcb.jpg

Wow.

[AVPlaya]

I'm sure some of you have seen this already. Hiiragi Family's Shinto Shrine (http://www.washinomiyajinja.or.jp/index.html) is of course real.

OP:
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_anime/anime_rakisuta_003.jpg
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_rakisuta/P5120034.JPG

EP 1:
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_anime/anime_rakisuta_022.jpg
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_rakisuta/P5120033.JPG

EP 2:
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_anime/anime_rakisuta_048.jpg
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_rakisuta/P5120030.JPG

Hiiragi Family Home:
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_anime/anime_rakisuta_021.jpg
http://twilight-town.sakura.ne.jp/rakisuta/img_rakisuta/P5120026.JPG

I wonder if KyoAni asks for permission before using their homes for anime model? Their house has become otaku shrines...

[DragoonKain3]

Am I reading that right? 17-19 hundred yen for the uniform? That's pretty darn steep.

Just wondering though, are the uniforms of the real Kyoei Kasukabe HS the same as depicted in LS? Because if that's the case, why not just go to the supplier of the real HS's uniforms? ^^;

I do feel sorry though for the girls of KK HS if indeed their uniforms match up with L*S's. This is because they're basicall forced to buy an extra ribbon and skirt for the summer months, because they're of a different color.

And being a baseball manga/anime fan, right behind mecha anime which is right behind romance manga/anime, I have a passing interest in Japanese HS baseball (I blame Adachi). So I look forward to your coverage of KK HS; I mean, at least now there's a reason for me to actually root for a team, lol. How many rounds do they need to win in order just to advance to Koshien in the Saitama prefecture? 5? 6? Same as Kansai?

[robertness]

Am I reading that right? 17-19 hundred yen for the uniform? That's pretty darn steep.

Just wondering though, are the uniforms of the real Kyoei Kasukabe HS the same as depicted in LS? Because if that's the case, why not just go to the supplier of the real HS's uniforms? ^^;

I do feel sorry though for the girls of KK HS if indeed their uniforms match up with L*S's. This is because they're basicall forced to buy an extra ribbon and skirt for the summer months, because they're of a different color.

And being a baseball manga/anime fan, right behind mecha anime which is right behind romance manga/anime, I have a passing interest in Japanese HS baseball (I blame Adachi). So I look forward to your coverage of KK HS; I mean, at least now there's a reason for me to actually root for a team, lol. How many rounds do they need to win in order just to advance to Koshien in the Saitama prefecture? 5? 6? Same as Kansai?
Getting a real Japanese HS uniform is well nigh impossible if you're a non-student. The school uniform is a matter of pride for administration and PTA types. If you could get a Katsukabe Kyoei uniform through the gray market, it would probably cost more than ¥18,000. (Did some research into the subject last summer. That's all I can say at this time. :heh: )

Does the Katsukabe Kyoei have a team name or mascot? Just wondering if we should be cheering for the Wild Wildebeasts or some such.

[AVPlaya]

Am I reading that right? 17-19 hundred yen for the uniform? That's pretty darn steep.

Do not underestimate the purchasing power of an otaku. :)

Just wondering though, are the uniforms of the real Kyoei Kasukabe HS the same as depicted in LS? Because if that's the case, why not just go to the supplier of the real HS's uniforms? ^^;

I'm also wondering about that too, it's just everything else was so realistic in the anime. I am searching for the official uniform for the Kasukabe Kyoei HS; I know from the past local tailors put uniforms of local schools on the web so you can research which school you want to go (some girls makes school decision on the cuteness of the sailor suit).

And being a baseball manga/anime fan, right behind mecha anime which is right behind romance manga/anime, I have a passing interest in Japanese HS baseball (I blame Adachi). So I look forward to your coverage of KK HS; I mean, at least now there's a reason for me to actually root for a team, lol. How many rounds do they need to win in order just to advance to Koshien in the Saitama prefecture? 5? 6? Same as Kansai?

It really depend on the prefecture because the number of school is different. Major metro areas like Osaka and Tokyo are broken into two districts to make it a little more fair. As I recall last year's tourney an Osaka Team (Toin) has to win like 6 games before advancing to Koshien. As for Saitama, we will know as soon as the bracket comes out tomorrow. That's what they're doing today, drawing lots to see who plays who. According to the school page, Kyoei whacked their last opponent in a practice game 18-3. I'm pretty sure everyone in Saitama's trying to avoid them.

But I'm not sure about their power ranking among the elite baseball schools though... It usually take one super pitcher to bring back the Koshien title, like Matsuzaka Daisuke (of the Red Sox) or last year's "Handkerchief Prince", Saito Yuki of Waseda Jitsugyo (Tokyo West). The 2 day, 18 inning dual between Saito and Tanaka of TomaKoma (Hokkaido) is one of the most epic battle in Koshien history. I really don't know if the KK boys has what it take to survive even 2 rounds in Koshien, if they ever made it in; I would have wait and see. Read this English blog on the background of last year's most popular teenager, Saito Yuki:

http://yukisaito.blogspot.com/

You a baseball and manga/anime fan? Boy there's a LOT of GREAT ones out there. You really get to enjoy the medium more if you enjoy baseball, I'll tell you.

[Risaa]

(some girls makes school decision on the cuteness of the sailor suit).
...I would do that. >:3 I've been forming elaborate schemes to get my paws on a uniform... the success rate for any of them is very low, though; they all involve explosives and kitty ears.

... >:3 /end silliness

[AVPlaya]

Does the Katsukabe Kyoei have a team name or mascot? Just wondering if we should be cheering for the Wild Wildebeasts or some such.

Some team has nicknames, most don't. People just call them by their school names. They do have a mascot though:

http://kyoeibbc.sakura.ne.jp/themes/notebook/logo.gif

This little Eagle seemed to be their mascot. Maybe their nickname is the Eagles. :)

[AVPlaya]

I guess Katsukabe Kyoei loves their famous alumni mangaka!

http://www.k-kyoei.ed.jp/hs/news/EEVZElFEyEuNJXyFCz.html

It said:

"Lucky Star", drawn by Yoshimizu Kagami, a new creator who is also a graduate of our school (14 kaisei (year since the school start), Animation Club Member), has broke 500,000 copies in sales. Everyone is watching senpai's activities!"

Looks like she's an otaku back in HS! I'm pretty sure she's just like Konata... and lacking in romance like the girls.

This is from last year, no mention of the anime though... Maybe they're too embarrassed at all the otaku hanging outside their school?

EDIT: the same page I got this info from, posted this link:

http://www.k-kyoei.ed.jp/hs/news/EEZukZpkEkUkbsGZPt.html

The school frigging graduate 3 people to Tokyo University last year! 53 when to top Public Universityes! Over 1,000 graduates went to college! Wowzers! No wonder Konata's dad bought her all the stuff for when she entered the school... this is a pretty hardcore academic school as well as a baseball powerhouse.

[Mirrinus]

I thought Yoshimizu Kagami was male?

[AVPlaya]

I thought Yoshimizu Kagami was male?

I always thought it's a she? Maybe I'm wrong but the drawing is more feminine. Please do correct me if I'm wrong here... I remember reading it in Japanese though, have to look it up.

EDIT: from my search, it seemed that no one really knows for sure the sex of Yoshimizu-sama. The popular opinion on 2ch and other board is that he is indeed male, or that Kotana is actually male, one of the two. One person said that during the final episode the Cat will speak outside the Karaoke in the ED, and the seiyuu will be Yoshimizu himself. We'lll see.

I guess the name 美水かがみ fooled me. First "美水" has "美" which is usually pronounced "mi" in a girl's last name. It means beautiful. Second, kagami is spelled out in hiragana, which usually mean it's a girl name since the Kanji for the name "鏡", meaning "mirror", is a pretty masculine name. Girls usually write kagami in hiragana to differentiate. I guess he fooled me and a lot of people... people were shocked after learning he's actually a dude.

I should have known better... if he's a member of a HS Anime Club, that means he's uber male otaku. Fujoushi would rarely openly join clubs like this; they usually hide in secret. The uniforms he draw were probably his dream uniform for the school when he was attending there. Oh well, I guess to me Yoshimizu is now a dude. Yappari neh.

[Risaa]

The school frigging graduate 3 people to Tokyo University last year! 53 when to top Public Universityes! Over 1,000 graduates went to college! Wowzers! No wonder Konata's dad bought her all the stuff for when she entered the school... this is a pretty hardcore academic school as well as a baseball powerhouse.
Yeah, it's mentioned in the anime (probably in the manga too) that the school is quite good. It's also the reason why Kona questioned how Tsukasa managed to get in (meanie :p ).

The bit about what the school thinks about the mangaka is interesting.. and I'm unsure about the mangaka's gender as well, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say female because of how the name is written.

[AVPlaya]

Well I did find it. I'm not sure if this is summer or winter - from the looks of it it's probably winter.

http://heartfulmelody.hp.infoseek.co.jp/image/pict/pict03-2.jpg

It really look nothing like what the girls are wearing. The ribbon is pretty similar... Yoshimizu-sensei just took it and enlarge it. But they're not really in a Sailor Suit; I've seen some other private schools with this type of conservative look; and Katsukabe Kyoei is an elite private school.

http://heartfulmelody.hp.infoseek.co.jp/image/pict/pict01.jpg

Here's the guys - all boys uni in Japan looks the same so I guess Shiraishi looked about right.

http://heartfulmelody.hp.infoseek.co.jp/image/pict/pict02.jpg

This looks to be their Summer uniform, since this is during Cultural Festival, which is usually in June.

http://heartfulmelody.hp.infoseek.co.jp/image/pict/pict04.jpg

It's pretty similar to the winter except it's has white sweats. This is really pretty conservative, but given what we know of the school - old (over 100 years old), academically strong, and a sport powerhouse, it's not a vocational-related school using pretty uni to attract students. You have to earn your way into this school, so the look doesn't surprise me.

Maybe one of the jokes IS the uniform - the students would look at Lucky Star and say "Wait a minute! We look nothing like it!" It's a boring school made cute and colorful.

BTW this was taken from the Kasukabe Kyoei Chorus Club (http://heartfulmelody.hp.infoseek.co.jp/) home page.

[Claies]

Been reading a lot of JP Lucky Star Pages. As with past KyoAni anime, fans are eager to find out if the places in the anime are real, so many of them trekked out to seek the truth. According to this blog (http://blog.livedoor.jp/habusan_sa_ai/archives/51138894.html), this is Kona-chan's house in real life:

http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/habusan_sa_ai/imgs/f/e/fe5c8d1c.jpg
http://image.blog.livedoor.jp/habusan_sa_ai/imgs/4/2/423e0fcb.jpg

Wow.

That sets it: She's loaded.

[FatPianoBoy]

That sets it: She's loaded.

It's possible that that's actually composed of smaller apartments. Most old mansions around where I live have been converted into four-family apartments, so maybe the same thing happened here.

[AVPlaya]

It's possible that that's actually composed of smaller apartments. Most old mansions around where I live have been converted into four-family apartments, so maybe the same thing happened here.

Plus it's in Katsukabe City in Saitama. It's not exactly Tokyo land prices.

BTW, doesn't Crayon Shin-chan lived in Katsukabe? Well his lower-middle class family can live in a single unit house, so I guess so can Kotana and her pedo father. Plus he has that extra income selling photos of bishojou jumping around in boomers all over Japan. Must be a good business.

[Hilinar]

Lucky Star suprised me a lot. I've discovered that scenes with trivial dialogs don't have to be boring. This whole genre - slice of life - is nice change from plot driven animes, at least no one dies... And like Kaoru Chujo stated, humour is quite ubiquitous, flowing through every moment of the show so it's nice to watch.

[AVPlaya]

So you know that little dragon like logo after the OP, when the annoucer talks about the sponsors?

http://yaplog.jp/cv/oha-lucky/img/9/img20070409_p.jpg

It's now public knowledge that it's the mascot/logo for Katsukabe Kyoei Swim Team. But why you ask? Well, I don't really know either, but I have a clue. This is the real logo, in flash gif, no less:

http://homepage3.nifty.com/kyoeikai/newimage1.gif

Okay it's not the best ever, but at least it's kinda moving. This is taken from the Katsukabe Kyoei Swin Team Home Page (http://homepage3.nifty.com/kyoeikai/).

So why is it there? Well, I think it's simply because that the mangaka, Yoshimizu, is a great alumni. He really loved his school and the most significant achievement his school has ever achived in sports: The Katsukabe Kyoei HS Boy's Swimming Team is the Japan High School Swim Champion for last two years. That's right, the boys are going to try for a three-peat comes this August. The girls, while never won a straight out title, are 2nd and 3rd the past 2 years. Not too shabby either. We are talking about a swimming dynasty here; in fact, they have been an intramural swimming power for the last 20 some years. This school is famous for its swimming, and it's no wonder Kagami-sensei is proud of them, and used their logo in the anime. I mean the team is so popular it has its own Oendan (cheer squad). It's very rare for a sport outside of traditional team sports (baseball/soccer/rugby) to have its own oendan. That's how big they are.

So now I kinda get the in-joke. Remember how the girls constantly gripe about the fact that they can't go swimming even though there's a pool? The school probably have one of the best swimming facilities in all of Japan, and the swimmers there constantly trains not just for the nationals, but Olympics/International competition as well. So the regular students probably never get to use it.

So I'm going to be like, a total nerd and become, according to the KK Swin Team Kyoeikai Home Page (http://homepage3.nifty.com/kyoeikai/kouenkai.html), "We are Support's"! :p

The swim team group photo with their victory banners:
http://homepage3.nifty.com/kyoeikai/48_04_01_img01.jpg

[EDIT to remove error and to correct my erroneus engrish.]

[Risaa]

Your posts are so awesome. :) I knew about the dragon being the logo for the swim team (it was on WinD's massive thread of notes), but I had no idea just how great they were. It's really cool that Yoshimizu brought his or her school into L*S and made it such a huge part of the story.

I don't remember the girls saying that there is no swimming pool at school though... just that the school has a pool but they never swim for phys-ed (and Kona wishes they could).

[AVPlaya]

I don't remember the girls saying that there is no swimming pool at school though... just that the school has a pool but they never swim for phys-ed (and Kona wishes they could).

Ah I guess I didn't listen closely. :) I guess the joke is that the swim team is always using the pool and that the normal students never gets to use it then. HA. :)

[AVPlaya]

Well for thsoe waiting for baseball news... here's the deal. The lots has been drawn and the will be 163 schools in the Saitama Regional this year. It's one of the larger prefetures so the plays will be divided into two divisions, the East and West division. The division champs will then battle for the Regional Championship for a place in the Koshien Tourney.

The actual games won't start until 7/11 though. I'm not sure exactly why there such a long delay but it may have to do with the complexity of scheduling all those teams to play in just one field. There will be like 4-5 games scheduled each day and the winners usually only have a day or rest before playing again. The brackets are not out yet so I'm not sure how many games a team has to win to reach Koshien, my guess is 5 or 6. It must be an logistical nightmare trying to plan this thing. The Okinawa Regionals are already underway (they only have 40 some teams). Yesterday a team was beaten by a score of 40-0 in just 5 innings in that regional; Japanese HS baseball is interesting like that.

I will start a new topic in the general section once the actual game play begins. Before that I'll just post simple updates here. One thing is for sure - The KK boys are one of the four teams favored to win Saitama this year. Let's hope they live up to their billing.

[Claies]

Damn...I wish I went to that school. I hated my high school to death. Going to school in Japan (and a good one to boot) would be a dream come true.

[Michael Hopcroft]

Damn...I wish I went to that school. I hated my high school to death. Going to school in Japan (and a good one to boot) would be a dream come true.

Careful what you wish for. The pressure on youth in Japan is enormous, especially come time for the juken (examinations to advance to the next level in the educational system), and the stress makes the American college entrance system look tame by comparison. Because the examinations are so difficult, and the consequences of failure so potentially devastating, the stress utterly destroys many students.

the Japanese government doesn't keep statistics on the matters, or talk much about them, but mental illnesses related to school stress are endemic in many Japanese youth. these can range from the "hermit" phenomenon to full-bore Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome and even, in extreme cases, suicidal depression.

Since the school we are discussing is one of the top academic schools in Japan, it is an extreme pressure cooker. 1,000 students moving on to college still represents only about two-thirds of the student body. And the admissions process to get in has to be one of the most brutally rigorous in all of Japan.

[Claies]

Careful what you wish for. The pressure on youth in Japan is enormous, especially come time for the juken (examinations to advance to the next level in the educational system), and the stress makes the American college entrance system look tame by comparison. Because the examinations are so difficult, and the consequences of failure so potentially devastating, the stress utterly destroys many students.

the Japanese government doesn't keep statistics on the matters, or talk much about them, but mental illnesses related to school stress are endemic in many Japanese youth. these can range from the "hermit" phenomenon to full-bore Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome and even, in extreme cases, suicidal depression.

Since the school we are discussing is one of the top academic schools in Japan, it is an extreme pressure cooker. 1,000 students moving on to college still represents only about two-thirds of the student body. And the admissions process to get in has to be one of the most brutally rigorous in all of Japan.

I know...my parents pulled me out of Hong Kong precisely to escape that. There, you can't go by a week without seeing a student suicide on newspaper. But frankly, I believe that system makes better students in terms of academics and discipline.

[Risaa]

It's the same in Korea as well. Last time I heard from my cousin (she's about a year older than I am), she was getting on average 2 hours of sleep a night. She attends regular school, cram school, and maintains a job... and it's better now than it was when she was in high school studying in her spare time just to get into a good college (her high school had such cute uniforms, BTW).

Although she's an exception - a lot of students don't take college very seriously once they get in (kind of like in Japan as well).

The thing that I really like about schools there (Japan and Korea) is the extra stuff that comes with it - many clubs, and especially festivals that the students build all on their own.

[Vexx]

As usual... school systems in various countries could all learn from each other... but I think we know they'd tend to glomp on to the worst attributes of each :)

[Claies]

The thing that I really like about schools there (Japan and Korea) is the extra stuff that comes with it - many clubs, and especially festivals that the students build all on their own.

Exactly. American public schools have nearly no motivation to do any school-wide fun events. ><;;

[Vexx]

Exactly. American public schools have nearly no motivation to do any school-wide fun events. ><;;

The really sad thing is that they *USED* to.... in the 60s/70s, there were school festivals, clubs, holiday activities - a whole gamut of the sorts of things that promote team building and working with others to accomplish goals. Decades of systematic funding starvation gave us what we have today, bleh.

[Risaa]

Ah.. I didn't know about that... that makes me kind of sad, actually. :( One thing I really dislike about the education system here (in the U.S.) is how inconsistent it is. There are set things that must be taught in each grade level, but aside from that, it varies from school district to school district, from school to school on the quality of education that students receive.

[AVPlaya]

Yup, the school system in Japan and the rest of East Asia is HARD. There's a LOT of benefits but the students really have to study. Frankly, after being both systems, I'm not sure which I really prefer. I guess I like Japan's system better since somehow the friends you make in it last a life time; I find that's rarely the case here in the US. Maybe it's the Asian culture, but right now I'm not sure if I want my kids in an American system.

On a lighter note, there IS a school in the US with cultural festivals, sports festivals, Japanese-style uniforms, and students wearing slippers in school: The Keio Academy of New York:

http://www.keio.edu/en/index.htm

It's really for the kids of Japanese business man overseas, but I guess anyone can get in if you can afford it. :) They need school like this to prepare for the Japanese college entrance exams - no US high school can prepare a kid for those tests. I wonder if they have sailor suits for the girls? :)

Another school related note: it seemed that the school Kona-chan attened in the Anime is NOT called Katsukabe Kyoei High School, but RyouOu Gakuen HS (陵桜学園高校). Although the school is based on Katsukabe Kyoei, the name and the uniform are distinctively different. I guess Yoshimizu did it to avoid legal trouble and to really make a very MOE uniform based on To Heart. :)

[Vexx]

We have a number of international schools (or immersion schools) on the West Coast... but they're private for the most part.

[AVPlaya]

We have a number of international schools (or immersion schools) on the West Coast... but they're private for the most part.

u know if a Japanese-specific one? please do tell since I'm very interested in the topic. I guess they are all private but the point is anyone can apply for it... the Keio Academy has their policy clearly posted. I wonder if there are any non-Japanese national students in that school? Such a school is just fascinating to me. I'm quite sure the West Coat must have more such schools.

[Risaa]

I guess they are all private but the point is anyone can apply for it...

[*chokes*] A school like that? If you've got money and lots of brainz you can... :)

I'll check for Las Vegas, but Cali would take days...

Update-Edit: There is an independent international school in which the same foreign language must be taken for 6 consecutive semesters... that's all I could find. Sorry... LV really lacks in the education department. -__-;

[Vexx]

The International School in Portland, Oregon is Japanese-specific (immersion style, they also do Spanish and Chinese). http://www.intlschool.org/index.asp

There's also a small public elementary in Oregon that focuses on japanese. They have several cultural festivals every year. Can't recall the name but I'll update the post if I do.

There are a few usually advertising in the Shimbun or Asian Reporter (newspapers) .... I'm going shopping tomorrow at Uwajamiya so I'll try to pick up some newspapers for other examples.

[DragoonKain3]

Wow great posts people. Learned a lot about Japanese culture.

1) Super aces in HS baseball do indeed exist. I thought the likes of Tatsuya (from Touch), Hiro (from H2), Goro (from Major), and others who can almost single-handedly bring their team to victory by pitching consecutive games all but existed in the realm of fiction.

2) Kyoei indeed ranks as A as a HS. I mean, a strong baseball and swim team plus strong enough academics that they actually put people in the prestigious Todai? Jeez, it must be one heck of an admission test they have; now I REALLY do wonder how the heck Tsukasa got into that school.

3) Their real uniforms look like nothing like the anime version. Now I understand the price, as supply and demand would suggest considering Otaku obsession of wanting to 'collect them all'. XD

[AVPlaya]

Just a short one. This is the actual match chart for the Saitama Regional. The 16 best team in the Spring Baseball Invitational turnament (there are two tournaments, a smaller one in Spring and a much larger one in Summer) are seeded and they get a bye on the first round. The 2 divisions are broken down to 4 sections and each section has 4 seeded teams who gets the bye. Our Katsukabe Kyoei team is a "B" seed, and that means that they'll only have to win 6 games instead of 7 to get to Koshien.

It's easy to find KK in this chart - they are the school on the very bottom left of the chart, with "B" next to their name. Just look at how massive this chart is; I've hidden it to avoid a long post.

http://www2.asahi.com/koshien/89/yagura/saitama.gif

This is only one Regional out of 49. Now you can see the difficulty of winning the Koshien Championship. I was wrong about the # of fields... the semis and the final will be on one field, the rest of the play-offs are on 11 different baseball fields. Things start 7/11 and we will have a Saitama Koshien Rep on 7/29/07. Best of luck to Kona-chan's schoolmates...

@Super aces in HS baseball do indeed exist.
Yes they do, and believe it not, they are often better than the manga heroes. The kid Saito Yuki was like a super-human. He threw over 1,000 pitches in 3 days and his last pitch of the tournament was over 149 km/h. I was watching the last game with my mouth open. Fact is sometimes much more awesome than fiction.

[Claies]

Somebody please remind me...how is the school name in Lucky Star written? I know it sounds the same but is probably written differently.

[AVPlaya]

Somebody please remind me...how is the school name in Lucky Star written? I know it sounds the same but is probably written differently.

You mean the kanji names? Both name and sounds are different though.

The Kona-chan and Kagami-sama's school is called 陵桜学園高校 (RyouOu Gakuen HS), while the real life school its based on is called 春日部共栄高校 (Katsukabe KyoEi High School). The reading is not the same but kinda similar.

Some interesting info:

Katsukabe KyoEi is part of the Kyoei (http://www.kyoei.ac.jp/univ/index.htm) private school system. Its origin is the more famous KyoEi Gakuen HS (http://www.kyoei-g.ed.jp/) (共栄学園) in Tokyo, which spawn the Katsukabe HS, MS, and Kindergarden, and a couple of private universities.

The original Kyoei Gakuen has a much better websites too, which even has a page featuring their uniforms (http://www.kyoei-g.ed.jp/3seikatsu/seifuku.html). Look at the Middle School girls' uniform:

http://www.kyoei-g.ed.jp/3seikatsu/images/seifuku_photo_jr.jpg

I would guess that Yoshimizu-sensei basically took the name and the middle school uni of their cousin school and combined with his own actual HS to come up with Kona-chan's RyouOu HS. Both HS girls uniforms are the same boring vest-over-shirt conservative look. I guess middle school girls are allowed to wear the cute sailor fuku, but not the high school girls. KyoEi Gakuen High School uniforms:

http://www.kyoei-g.ed.jp/3seikatsu/images/seifuku_photo_sr.jpg

[AVPlaya]

Let's talk about something else here...

Anyone else wonder why the girls become friends and have seemingly no other friends in school? It's like all four of them are shunned by the other girls. I have some theories:

Kona-chan: She's the otaku. Not only it she not a normal fujoshi-type, she's actually into the male otaku stuff. She'll gets shunned even by her own kinds, so it's no wonder she has very few friends before the gang of four. People avoid otaku like the plague in Japan... most believe it's almost a mental illness. This view is changing but I still don't think an openly-otaku girls would get many friends in school; no matter how athletic she may be. Maybe lolicon guys would secretly admire her, but she's too un-moe and masculine. She can easily kick any boy's butt. No one aside but a select few would even want to know her, yet she's has this very close clique where she's the queen.

On a related note: there seemed to be more girls into male-otaku properties in the West than in Japan. For example, most Haruhi Dancers in the Western otaku-dom are actually girls, while in Japan they're mostly crossplayers. Are there actually girls like Konata in Japan? I remember Akiba as being a male paradise, and the girls there are either there unwillingly or working as maido cosplayers. I would think that a girl like Konata woud keep her hobby a secret, instead of blurbing about miko or maido labu labu in public.

Kagami-sama: A tsundere who like to bug people about their business. Usually girls like that are actually popular in classrooms; they usually become class reps (is Kagami a rep? She seemed to have some sort of official duties). Why is she shunned/estranged in her classroom so much that people don't even call her by her last name? Cus she liked Light Novel and knows an awful lot about otaku-things? (how many ordinary girls can ID the To Heart uniform by sight?) Maybe she's a fujoshi in training (as we see in EP12) who find companionship only with likes of Konata? (but Kona-chan isn't into BL.. she's more into Haruhi Cosplay-Rape doujin) There's something deeper going on about Kagami-sama's lack of popularity and maybe we'll find out more later.

Tsukasa: She's a boke like Osaka - bad at school and every day life, lazy, loves cooking and looking cute doing it all. Perfect future house-wife material. In my experience these type of girls are popular as followers - girls who tails the popular girls to make them look good. Why isn't she part of a larger clique I have no idea. She's a Japanese stereotype a lot of guys and gal loves.. many girls pretend to be this kind of girl to get attention from boys. Many boys swear to their parents they'll only marry this type of girls. Tsukasa should get an average of one love letter a day, but she doesn't.

Miyuki - She's pretty, smart, cute, tall, and curvy. A dream girl to most guys. Yes she maybe too dumb to notice guys professing love, but she's nice enough that everyone would like to get to know her. Yet she hangs out only with the girls. It's possible for girls like that to be secretly hated though; popular girls usually hate girls who stand out like this, and boy she stands out. Japanese cliques like averages... no one stand out to make the others feel bad. I would say that most other girls repect her and use keigo when addressing her, but most likely won't invite her to karaoke. Guys more likely just want to date her. It make sense that she felt more at home with a bunch of outcasts rather than hanging out with the larger class cliques. Sometimes you can bee too pretty and too nice.

So why are the Hiiragi sisters hanging out with Kona and Miyuki all the time and have seemingly no other close friends? They SHOULD be very popular. Perhaps they're supposed to be plain-looking (anime shows nothing about a girl's attractiveness - they all looked the same)? But being plain is not a problem as long as you're not extremly odd or ugly. They're not. In fact in Japan you get more love letters being a bit above average than actually pretty. So why are they member of a little clique of loners? Why do they hang out with Kona, the strange girl everyone loves to hate?

I do have a theory though.. outside of the fact that Kagami may only feel close to other fujoshi's, the other girls may have subconsciously shunned the sisters due to one very simple reason - they are real life mikos. Their dad is the local Shinto Priest and the girls perform sacred and secretive rites. To the average Japanese these people have supernatural powers... and some maybe superstious enough not wanting to be too close to them. I did ask around and there are views like that about mikos; people tend not to get too friendly with them. It's a bit of stretch but I can't find any other good reason.

What do you guys think?

[Vexx]

AVPlaya: my theory on Kagami is that for her, its the same as Mei in Manabi Straight. Hardworking girl with high standards who's prickly --- the class votes her class rep and then exits stage right to leave her doing the work alone. She's pretty hetero but her assertiveness stands out in a culture that still has a 1950s mentality about women to a large degree.

Tsukasa might be what you say... but she has the Dragon Queen as her twin sister :) ..... so the guys stay away.

Miyuki... yeah, too pretty for the bell curve and the guys assume that someone else is dating her (or that she's been arranged already since she's from a wealthy family and they're just middle-class types).

Hmmm, I wouldn't put too much energy on the miko angle... its a bit spooky to some and a bit attractive to others. I see kj1980 is reading the thread... I'm sure he'll have some "inside the palace" perspectives :)

[Claies]

Kona-chan: She's the otaku. Not only it she not a normal fujoshi-type, she's actually into the male otaku stuff. She'll gets shunned even by her own kinds, so it's no wonder she has very few friends before the gang of four. People avoid otaku like the plague in Japan... most believe it's almost a mental illness. This view is changing but I still don't think an openly-otaku girls would get many friends in school; no matter how athletic she may be. Maybe lolicon guys would secretly admire her, but she's too un-moe and masculine. She can easily kick any boy's butt. No one aside but a select few would even want to know her, yet she's has this very close clique where she's the queen.
She also has a very high tolerance for self-depreciation and embarrassment. Not exactly the kind people want to be directly near in case she pulls something painfully attention-grabbing.

On a related note: there seemed to be more girls into male-otaku properties in the West than in Japan. For example, most Haruhi Dancers in the Western otaku-dom are actually girls, while in Japan they're mostly crossplayers.
I know one such girl in my high school, except her behavior resembles more Kagami's tsun-tsun (yes, she also has a dere-dere side that profoundly creeps me out) than Kona.

Kagami-sama: A tsundere who like to bug people about their business. Usually girls like that are actually popular in classrooms; they usually become class reps (is Kagami a rep? She seemed to have some sort of official duties). Why is she shunned/estranged in her classroom so much that people don't even call her by her last name? Cus she liked Light Novel and knows an awful lot about otaku-things? (how many ordinary girls can ID the To Heart uniform by sight?) Maybe she's a fujoshi in training (as we see in EP12) who find companionship only with likes of Konata? (but Kona-chan isn't into BL.. she's more into Haruhi Cosplay-Rape doujin) There's something deeper going on about Kagami-sama's lack of popularity and maybe we'll find out more later.
She's indeed a class rep. I think it's exactly her butting into everyone's business and proper (even prissy) criticism to every kind of fault she sees in people. As it broke down, her friends consist of Tsukasa, who's her twin sister, Miyuki, who's a nice person anyway, and Konata, who can consistently tolerate her criticism.

Tsukasa: She's a boke like Osaka - bad at school and every day life, lazy, loves cooking and looking cute doing it all. Perfect future house-wife material. In my experience these type of girls are popular as followers - girls who tails the popular girls to make them look good. Why isn't she part of a larger clique I have no idea. She's a Japanese stereotype a lot of guys and gal loves.. many girls pretend to be this kind of girl to get attention from boys. Many boys swear to their parents they'll only marry this type of girls. Tsukasa should get an average of one love letter a day, but she doesn't.
Based on the way reputation works, she probably inherited some of her sister's bad rep, although it would be obvious to most people that they simply aren't alike. But wait...there's also Konata, who she hangs out with probably too much, which also soils her rep quite a bit. But maybe...people should find her even more attractive personality-wise in that she can withstand Konata and not end up being like her at the same time.

I wonder if Tsukasa feels the slightest bit of enmity for being associated with her sister. I know of one girl in my class (we just graduated) whose younger sister (who should now be a sophomore) quite blatantly avoids her in campus. She could be calling her name and she won't even look back, continuing her loud conversation with her own friends. The two hang out in completely different cliques, though I can't figure out which one the younger sister associates with.

(You nailed the theory with Miyuki, so I won't comment.)

Why do they hang out with Kona, the strange girl everyone loves to hate?
Because Kona, while outwardly very eccentric, understands people very well. Traditionally, the clique and the outcast regions despise each other with a deep passion. The other three girls are in neither area, but instead at the very fine fringe line between clique and outcast, and they find their place very uncomfortable, as both sides keep them as a "maybe" on their lists, which might as well be a "no." The outcasts don't include them because they have the traits of a popular person, but the popular people don't really like them because they're too damn perfect...PLUS the fact that they hang out with Kona, a girl at the complete opposite side of the social spectrum.

Kona understands what they feel perfectly, because she's quite used to being completely shunned, and they talk to her precisely because of that.

All being said, your theory lacks one complete side. A person's reputation includes not only one's personality, but who one hangs out with. The three, not having a place to go, finds that the only person willing enough to consistently talk to them is Konata, although doing so pretty much ends all hope they have for going back to the popular groups.

[AVPlaya]

AVPlaya: my theory on Kagami is that for her, its the same as Mei in Manabi Straight. Hardworking girl with high standards who's prickly --- the class votes her class rep and then exits stage right to leave her doing the work alone. She's pretty hetero but her assertiveness stands out in a culture that still has a 1950s mentality about women to a large degree.

Well but that kind of girls are every where in Japan now. Guys may not find assertive girls marriage-worthy, but they sure are popular with other girls. Many, many girls hang out with tough girls for protection from guys and some even fall in love with them... a psudo-teen lesbian phase which many girls grew out from. Many guys secretly love tsunderes... that why they're so hot with the otaku crowd. Have you seen dorama "Aneko?" Tough Tsunderes are saviors to other girls... they are sometimes the most popular person in school. Japan's not as close minded about women as some of us gaijin would like to believe. :)

[AVPlaya]

All being said, your theory lacks one complete side. A person's reputation includes not only one's personality, but who one hangs out with. The three, not having a place to go, finds that the only person willing enough to consistently talk to them is Konata, although doing so pretty much ends all hope they have for going back to the popular groups.

You make some very good points from an insider point of view. :)

I just find Kagami's lack of popularity strange, since girls who are into other people business are indeed saught after by other girls to help resovle issue. If she's the class rep she was voted into the position - it takes a certain kind of popular reputation to pull that off. Plus from what little we've seen her own class treat her, she's not being shunned, but respected. If Kagami has a bad rep that your theory about Tsukasa may work, but since she's the class rep I just don't know why she not the center of a clique.

Tsukasa MAY have rubb some bad rep out of her closeness with Kona.. even herself is not used to be group with Kona by her own sister. She still think Otakus are strange. But gosh, guys should still falls for this type of girls like a fly no matter who she hangs with. Doesn't make sense at all.

I'm beginning to think it's more Kagami's own issue - she's the one shunning others, not others shunning her. If she wants to she would have become a popular leader of a clique, but instead she like to go shopping for light novel at Animate with Kona the professional Otaku. She's a closet fujoshi through and through... desperately seeking her way out of the mainstream, methinks.

[Claies]

You make some very good points from an insider point of view. :)

I just find Kagami's lack of popularity strange, since girls who are into other people business are indeed saught after by other girls to help resovle issue. If she's the class rep she was voted into the position - it takes a certain kind of popular reputation to pull that off. Plus from what little we've seen her own class treat her, she's not being shunned, but respected. If Kagami has a bad rep that your theory about Tsukasa may work, but since she's the class rep I just don't know why she not the center of a clique.

Tsukasa MAY have rubb some bad rep out of her closeness with Kona.. even herself is not used to be group with Kona by her own sister. She still think Otakus are strange. But gosh, guys should still falls for this type of girls like a fly no matter who she hangs with. Doesn't make sense at all.

I'm beginning to think it's more Kagami's own issue - she's the one shunning others, not others shunning her. If she wants to she would have become a popular leader of a clique, but instead she like to go shopping for light novel at Animate with Kona the professional Otaku. She's a closet fujoshi through and through... desperately seeking her way out of the mainstream, methinks.

Case in point: Mei Etoh of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! (seriously...that show gives this personality so much insight) was elected class rep for two reasons: 1) Nobody in her class was willing to run, and 2) She is known as a very capable person and everyone basically dominoed into voting for her because the class needs to fill this position that nobody wants. She's not that popular...but she fills the whole capability category that's traditionally demanded of a class rep. You don't really want to talk to her, but if you have to brainstorm for anyone who can do anything, she is it.

And yes, you are right that Kagami has that rather sticky perfectionist personality issue. I readily associate with her personality-wise. :heh: About me...just list everything about Kagami. I do think I look pretty freaking scary when it comes to dere-dere.

[AVPlaya]

Case in point: Mei Etoh of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight! (seriously...that show gives this personality so much insight) was elected class rep for two reasons: 1) Nobody in her class was willing to run, and 2) She is known as a very capable person and everyone basically dominoed into voting for her because the class needs to fill this position that nobody wants. She's not that popular...but she fills the whole capability category that's traditionally demanded of a class rep. You don't really want to talk to her, but if you have to brainstorm for anyone who can do anything, she is it.

And yes, you are right that Kagami has that rather sticky perfectionist personality issue. I readily associate with her personality-wise. :heh: About me...just list everything about Kagami. I do think I look pretty freaking scary when it comes to dere-dere.

Hmm, I guess for in some cases that's how class rep came about.. but normally it's the girl everyone trust enough to get things done. Class rep, as you know, do a LOT of things in Japanese schools. Everything from classroom cleaning schedule to cultural festival planning; a bad class rep and really make the wholel class look bad. I just don't think Kagami got her class rep job in that fashion though... I honestly believe that most if not all of her class liked and respected her. She's the one pushing them away, being so picky and all.

Tsunderes have the best personality IMHO... They're caring, loyal, self-sufficient, and loving without melodrama. A tsundere as a friend is a friend forever. I love trunderes so much I went out looking for one and married her. Normally guys are scared of tsunderes but they're really too dumb to know what they're missing. They all go for the cute, dumb type they can easily bed. What a shame. :)

[nanafan]

i like all the theories on how all the girls met. i have been wondering about that too. maybe kagami is avoided because as someone said before she is a perfectionist, tsukasa might be left out because of her sis. and most people think that konata is just plan wierd and over the top. guys might avoid miyuki because she's rich or she's too pretty. i wonder if that makes sense. dumb question but what's a tsundere?

[AVPlaya]

dumb question but what's a tsundere?

Watch Lucky Channel for EP#10. Shiraishi has a pretty good take on Tsundere.

Basically is a girl who's "tsun tusn" or tough/strong on the outside, and "dere dere" or loving/caring on the inside. They usually appear as angry, opinionated, and maybe even a bit violent, but deep inside they're very shy, caring and usually have a huge soft spot for cute things. Shiraishi thinks the term originally meant a character who was tsun tsun and then became dere dere, but I tend to believe that tsundere is someone who has a tough shell but a soft center, like the popular definition.

Kagami-sama, Haruhi, and Saber from FS/N are all fine examples of a Tsundere'ko.

[Risaa]

Tsunderes have the best personality IMHO... They're caring, loyal, self-sufficient, and loving without melodrama. A tsundere as a friend is a friend forever. I love trunderes so much I went out looking for one and married her. Normally guys are scared of tsunderes but they're really too dumb to know what they're missing. ...Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. :) I'm mixed on tsundere characters. I generally like them, but to what degree depends more on their personality. They all have a tough exterior and a soft interior, but react differently in different situations. I find Kagami to be the cutest tsundere I've ever laughed at, whereas I didn't find Haruhi cute in the least. Physically, yes, but she's a lot more dominating than Kagami, who is more fair about things (Kagami cuts even cake portions; Haruhi would be mine-mine-mine and would cut herself the largest portion). What I like most about Kagami is that she's so darn poke-able (I imagine Haruhi would have sort of a "fuck you" attitude if you poked her, but then would come back and beat the crap out of you). Kagami's easy to poke, and she gets blushy and insecure. So adorable. :)

As for why the girls don't have any other friends... I admit I've never thought about it much since they all seem so content. Kona doesn't need RL friends... she's got hundreds of online friends who'll go questing with her. Kona is tolerant of Kagami and talks with her in a friendly, informal way, so I imagine Kagami is actually most comfortable being around Kona (even though she always gets teased :) ). Tsukasa is easy-going and doesn't appear to be on the same mental level as the rest of her classmates (that's not an insult - she operates on a different level, is what I mean), so of course Kona - who is also on her own level - would make a great friend for her to talk to.

Miyuki doesn't seem to hang around them as much... I think Kona likes having her around because she's so moe. :p

Maybe I'll come up with a better response later... I basically wrote about the complete opposite of what you were asking, AVPlaya. Sorry about that. :rolleyes:

[Kyuusai]

Shiraishi's point was a good one, and I, for one, was moved by his speech (although Giren Zabi never did much for me).

Tsundere doesn't describe a character personality, but a character progression. As Risaa points out, tsundere characters can have vastly differing personalities.

I am eager to see what term emerges to properly describe types such as Kagami in Lucky Star and Naru in Love Hina... and AVPlaya and Vexx's respective wives :)

[Vexx]

EEEEEeeergh, please don't compare her to Naru, she'll pummel you, she probably fits a 'Motoko' tsundere style better :) (but really Kagami's crunchy outside creamy inside personality is more on target).

I can't believe I just said that.... O.o