View Full Version : Licensed Tatakau Shisho (The Book of Bantorra)
He is the reason that Shiron, Colio, Relia, Cigal, Enrique, Qumola, Ganbalzel, Mokkania, Winkeny, Feekie, Alme, Volken, Vizac, Noloty, Ireia and many people died.
doesn't care about them. He just wants a good book.
How do you feel about this?
Yeah that's what I thought after watching this episode. Plus I think "Try to kill me to stop world destruction" may be a fake since the tree knows that he's invincible. By telling Makia to engineer Hamy to kill him, the tree just wants a powerful human which will make a perfect book in order to fulfil his dream.
Were my eyes deceiving me or did Lascall slept with "Heaven" in the preview...?
Yeah that's what I thought after watching this episode. Plus I think "Try to kill me to stop world destruction" may be a fake since the tree knows that he's invincible. By telling Makia to engineer Hamy to kill him, the tree just wants a powerful human which will make a perfect book in order to fulfil his dream.
Maybe the tree is also bored and wants to have a good fight with someone who he kills so that he can experience the life and death struggle of that fighter so to speak.
Battler-kun
2010-03-08, 08:37
Enlike turned out to be quite the major player now, hasn't he.
And i am glad. He is my favorite character.
kemal_1915
2010-03-08, 10:20
Yeah that's what I thought after watching this episode. Plus I think "Try to kill me to stop world destruction" may be a fake since the tree knows that he's invincible. By telling Makia to engineer Hamy to kill him, the tree just wants a powerful human which will make a perfect book in order to fulfil his dream.
His story is more complex than that. He has his reason for doing so. A very touching reason.
Were my eyes deceiving me or did Lascall slept with "Heaven" in the preview...?
She is not Lsacall. She is someone else.
So, it seems there are two ways to kill Ruruta=Tree=God of Present
One is for Hamy to die and become a book, thus fulfilling Ruruta's dream....
Another was for Chacoli to control his mind, something that could be achieved if he showed interest in her (which he probably didn't)
So, the next question is.... why is Bantorra doing nothing???
Timberlan
2010-03-10, 06:00
may be there are no gods at all?
Pretty much a 'end of the world' type episode. Seriously, everything went crazy in the second half with Ruruta awakening and pretty much putting the whole world to sleep with snow.
Best scene had to be the Hamy and Matt flashback towards the end, with the very touching dialogue from both characters. It's funny how at the start of this episode, i had the thought in my head that Matt was going to die in this episode, and he's pretty close to it. :( Next weeks episode is going to be pretty damn amazing, going by the preview.
Black-tsundere
2010-03-12, 15:09
AHH!! yess i've finally found a thread for Bantorra that doesn't bash on the anime every 2 seconds, first i'd like to say i REALLY love this anime without a doubt the best of 09/10 for me, secondly, i'm new so hello to all here. i might make an introduction thread later but that can wait. anyways i took a look at the first couple of pages of this thread and have to thank kemal for doing a nice job of providing info on the light novels, and i have to agree on what you said about it's popularity.
(off topic)
third thing i like to point out is that im on DA (deviant art) also known as Black-tsundere so i'd be grateful if you could check it out if you are into art lol...
anyways on topic: Enlike was badass in the past two eps 22 and 23, 23 he seemed so evil lurking in the shadows lol but i feel sorry for him having lost Noloty T__T
KariOhki
2010-03-12, 15:20
Well, things went from worse to horrible. The world is over. At least, it seems that way.
And it just seems to get even worse next episode, judging from the shots of the characters...
I really don't have anything else to say...it's all so much, so stunning.
wandering-dreamer
2010-03-12, 16:08
Wow, isn't the next episode the last one? Times flies...
Can someone tell me why Matt shot his arm towards the end? The only reason I could come up with was to keep from falling asleep but that didn't make a whole lot of sense.
So, end of the world ending and of course I have to ask Kemal, does Hamy's back story/the ending of the anime match up with the light novels? I thought you said that the last light novel only came out in January but this latest arc had a pretty smooth transition so I'm unsure.
Timberlan
2010-03-12, 16:14
The whole episode very sad, full of deep emotions like the last ones. This anime is so greate after first 14 episodes. No matter if it goes off the plot of light novel. I think we'll see a good ending from authors of this adoptation.
Can someone tell me why Matt shot his arm towards the end? The only reason I could come up with was to keep from falling asleep but that didn't make a whole lot of sense.That's pretty much the reason i made out.
& is there only one episode left? I can't remember if there was an official say on the matter. Could be wrong though.
Timberlan
2010-03-12, 16:36
The show ending on 2 of April. There will be 3 more episode.
wandering-dreamer
2010-03-12, 21:11
Oh, sorry about that then. I looked and saw 24 in the title so I guessed there would be only one or two more episodes. Wish that anime companies would state when they announce a title "THIS WILL RUN FOR 13/24/26/WHATEVER EPISODES." Would save the fans some anxiety. :heh:
Wow. Wow! I didn't think the eps could get any crazier! I wonder how Ruruta managed to overthrow the head and turn into a tree? And, who is that girl that Ruruta's acting all emo over:confused: And, Hamy and the purple Loli aren't actually evil. Surprise surprise:twitch: I feel bad for the Loli. She got dumped pretty fast. The ep seems a little rushed. I hope that animators are able to do justice to the novels with whatever time they have left. Whatever's next seems epic. So exciting!!
Wow, snow that outs everyone to sleep, lol.
Wow, snow that outs everyone to sleep, lol.
as someone from Canada it is quite true in real life lol :heh:
can we just escape Ruruta magic by staying warm indoor, lol ?
Deshwiran
2010-03-13, 04:59
Haha wow,on one sunny day the world simply ends like that.Glad that a number of questions were answered,at least: Lascall really is the stone sword,Ruruta is the tree.
Next episode everyone dies,but given that the show is going to last 3 more eps there's going to be some BIG surprise i guess.
The mailman was Fhotona? :D,considering the fate of whoever tries to rebel against Heaven he was pretty lucky to end up like that.
kemal_1915
2010-03-13, 07:41
So, the next question is.... why is Bantorra doing nothing???
At the beginning, they said "Bantorra has left this world". This is truth.
AHH!! yess i've finally found a thread for Bantorra that doesn't bash on the anime every 2 seconds, first i'd like to say i REALLY love this anime without a doubt the best of 09/10 for me, secondly, i'm new so hello to all here. i might make an introduction thread later but that can wait. anyways i took a look at the first couple of pages of this thread and have to thank kemal for doing a nice job of providing info on the light novels, and i have to agree on what you said about it's popularity.
You're welcome.
I hope more people will like this series.
Wow, isn't the next episode the last one? Times flies...
Can someone tell me why Matt shot his arm towards the end? The only reason I could come up with was to keep from falling asleep but that didn't make a whole lot of sense.
So, end of the world ending and of course I have to ask Kemal, does Hamy's back story/the ending of the anime match up with the light novels? I thought you said that the last light novel only came out in January but this latest arc had a pretty smooth transition so I'm unsure.
Yes, he shot himself to keep him awake.
More of them match the novel but a lot of details have missed again.:mad:
They cut the volume 7. I think it is reasonable because it isn't excatly related to the main plot.
Now we are in volume 8. And the next ep is volume 9 about Ruruta's past.
The whole episode very sad, full of deep emotions like the last ones. This anime is so greate after first 14 episodes. No matter if it goes off the plot of light novel. I think we'll see a good ending from authors of this adoptation.
I haven't read the late one yet but I read some spoliers. It is a happy ending though it may not be happy for everyone.
The mailman was Fhotona? :D,considering the fate of whoever tries to rebel against Heaven he was pretty lucky to end up like that.
yes, he is Fhotona. I have spoiled before. Keyword: Agent K. Memory erased and become a mailman.:D
So, ep24.
They sticked to the main plot and make the story more comprehendable. I think it is good for non-novel viewer.
Of course, I don't like it.
He becomes the god after the gods left. They will show how and why he becomes the god. His ability is eating book. He has colourless hait as Zatoh. The difference is that he has already eaten 100,000 books. No one in the world can stand against him. He is the director and heaven. Both Bantorra Library and Sindeki Church work for him.
Maybe we can see Colio again.:)
As I said before, they are the contrary. Colio has nothing but love. Ruruta has everything but love.
faiz blaster
2010-03-13, 10:56
That is one thing that I still don't understand. How can Colio come back? He is already dead.
By the way, how many anime episodes and novel volumes are left to go? I ask because I am worried that the anime might fall short and end up wrapping thing with an original ending.
I have the same question as Matt
"who is Hamy?"
What does he not know about Hamy? Or she has some connections to ruruta?
KariOhki
2010-03-13, 13:35
That is one thing that I still don't understand. How can Colio come back? He is already dead.
By the way, how many anime episodes and novel volumes are left to go? I ask because I am worried that the anime might fall short and end up wrapping thing with an original ending.
Three anime episodes (25, 26, 27) and two novel volumes (9 and 10). I think, I'm 100% sure on the episode count, but less sure on the novel count.
kemal_1915
2010-03-14, 06:36
That is one thing that I still don't understand. How can Colio come back? He is already dead.
By the way, how many anime episodes and novel volumes are left to go? I ask because I am worried that the anime might fall short and end up wrapping thing with an original ending.
Simple deduction.
When people died, they became book.
Zatoh can eat book and has colourless hair.
There is a dimension inside Zatoh which stored souls.
Ruruta has colourless hair and he (in tree form) can eat book.
So, where did Colio's book go?
3 eps and 2 volumes.
Main plot is still okay but you can imagine how much content has lost. 4 volumes (over a 1000 pages) in 5 eps.
I have the same question as Matt
"who is Hamy?"
What does he not know about Hamy? Or she has some connections to ruruta?
He knew nothing. We knew better than he did.
Some of you may worry there is a "reset" (everyone comes back to life) ending. I can assure you that is not the case except they want to make such a major change in the ending.
Timberlan
2010-03-14, 07:32
kemal, could you explain the process of "ingeniering" of Hamy and Chokoly. I wonder how Makia managed to create their powers and phisycal strength (of hamy). Or it doesn't explain in the novel?
kemal_1915
2010-03-14, 09:59
kemal, could you explain the process of "ingeniering" of Hamy and Chokoly. I wonder how Makia managed to create their powers and phisycal strength (of hamy). Or it doesn't explain in the novel?
the novel said that Makia has made them to serve a singer purpose since their birth. Chacoly was only taught whatever skills that made Ruruta loves her. And Hamyuts... wait for the following ep. Hamyuts was also physically trained by him but they didn't mention about Chacoly.
Although eisen's message was deleted, he mentioned about the plot seems forced.
I want to explain a little bit.
It is because the anime didn't do well in delivering the plot.
Let me show how the plot works volume by volume.
Bit by bit, Yamagata-san was weaveing the finale.
1st volume:
Introduction to Shisho's world: the book, the Library, the Church, and the Myth of the gods.
Introduction of major characters: Hamyuts, Matt, Mirepoc, Colio and Shiron
plays major role in the finale. Especailly Shiron, actually she has given the most important spoiler already! I forgot whether they have put it in the anime.
2nd volume:
Introduction to Shisho's world: the magic ability system, the book eater.
Introduction of major characters: Noloty and Enrique.
3rd volume:
Introduction to Shisho's world: the labyrinth of library, the guardian beasts (later known as the beasts of the final chapter).
Introduction of major characters: Mokkania and Winkenny.
From Mokkania's story, reader/viewer should start to feel there was something wrong about the Library. For a good guy like him, his ending seemed not reasonable.
4th volume:
From Mirepoc and Alme's story, it showed the Library and the Church didn't seem to be rivalry. They shared a same purpose but we still don't know.
5th volume:
From Volken's story, we knew their rivalry was fake. In fact, they were co-operating to keep something in secret - "Heaven".
6th volume:
The whole event showed how ridiculous the world was. So many people shouldn't be dead. They died for the meaningless war between the Library and the Church. And it made us wonder why all these things started at the beginning.
7th volume:
A missing volume in the anime. It was about some people wanted to find out that answer "Why those people died?".
8th volume:
The answer is revealed and we are here now. Rurura = Heaven = the reason. And he is going to destroy everything now. The remaining questions are why he does so and who can stop him.
It was better explained in the novel so... I hope some publisher or someone will translate it soon.
Who's the voice actress for Lascall Othello?????
Black-tsundere
2010-03-18, 13:21
was nice to find out a little more on Hamy's past but im also hoping to get the novels translated :( and by Kamels info a lot has been missed out that i'd like to read
anyways kamel i have a question
i saw a preview of Hamy kissing Ruruta sorry for the misspelling but is making him fall in love his downfall??
Timberlan
2010-03-19, 15:02
wow, the end is nigh, but we still have lots of questions)
Very sad story about nieniu. So the whole thing was to give her happiness. And still it's not revealed the purpuse of Hamuts existing. And why she is not dead... Pierced by tree and still alive...
KariOhki
2010-03-19, 15:10
Hamy is still somehow pulling hax, how awesome. Ruruta's past was interesting and sad, I can see why he doesn't have love how. I wonder how he'll go down...if he will...
Nice to see meatkid and all the dead people again.
Hamy is still somehow pulling hax, how awesome. Ruruta's past was interesting and sad, I can see why he doesn't have love how. I wonder how he'll go down...if he will...
Nice to see meatkid and all the dead people again.
Yeah, even after death and inside Ruruta's stomach, Hamy is still badarse.
Like you said, pretty upsetting past there for Ruruta. Can pretty much understand why he's acting the way he is now.
hi, i was wondering if the anime follows the light novel plot line. Also Colio dead in the light novel as well?
thanks
A good work brought recognition. It is not doubt
I have read a lot of light novels (about 400+ volumes in 3,4 years). Tatakau shisho is my favorite and it is the best one I have ever read. I read some classic novels too. Is Tatakau shisho better than them? Of course not. But their plots are too old (or too cliched) for me. I like story with novelty.
I agree most of the light novel are too shallow but some of them are very creative. As long as they maintain their creativity, I will continue to read them.
For me, classic and contemporary novels are complementary each other but light novels are not covered.
Who's the voice actress for Lascall Othello?????
It's Minami Nakatsugawa...she is surprisingly young, born in 1997.
was nice to find out a little more on Hamy's past but im also hoping to get the novels translated :( and by Kamels info a lot has been missed out that i'd like to read
Japanese publishers may have found a new market in a par of Asia for light novels but I think this work can be sold to more wider ranges due to the solid plot with twists and themes.
Then, Ruruta has transparent hair as Zatoh does and thus, a book-eater. However, as Ruruta was surprised, Hamyuts seem to have managed to enter the inside of him without her book eaten. Guess it's a part of scenario for Hamyuts to destroy Ruruta who is trying to destroy the world.
BTW, this work, too, couldn't avoid the cliche where disappointed God/gods resets the world and restarts like a child who is playing a video game...
Deshwiran
2010-03-20, 06:39
Well,well...i was certainly expecting more from Hamy & company but i guess Ruruta is THAT overpowered.Colio is certainly up to something,but so is Hamy given that she is still alive yet she is inside Ruruta.And poor Nieniu, girls with a cheerful attitude that talk about saving the world and stuff really have no place nor an happy ending in this series. :heh:
<3 hamy's dialogue with ruruta
kemal_1915
2010-03-20, 08:54
was nice to find out a little more on Hamy's past but im also hoping to get the novels translated :( and by Kamels info a lot has been missed out that i'd like to read
anyways kamel i have a question
i saw a preview of Hamy kissing Ruruta sorry for the misspelling but is making him fall in love his downfall??
The answer will be told in the next ep.
She has the same ability as Chacoly - kill Ruruta through kissing. It makes me wonder what were Makia thinking?:p
hi, i was wondering if the anime follows the light novel plot line. Also Colio dead in the light novel as well?
thanks
Yes, it has its bone but miss a lot of fresh.
Colio has already died.
Then, Ruruta has transparent hair as Zatoh does and thus, a book-eater. However, as Ruruta was surprised, Hamyuts seem to have managed to enter the inside of him without her book eaten. Guess it's a part of scenario for Hamyuts to destroy Ruruta who is trying to destroy the world.
BTW, this work, too, couldn't avoid the cliche where disappointed God/gods resets the world and restarts like a child who is playing a video game...
The most amazing thing about this series is Yamagata-san doesn't waste any setting. Book, book-eater, ability to tell the future, ... all those things appeared again.
Cliche doesn't mean bad. It is the matter how they told the story.
Well,well...i was certainly expecting more from Hamy & company but i guess Ruruta is THAT overpowered.Colio is certainly up to something,but so is Hamy given that she is still alive yet she is inside Ruruta.And poor Nieniu, girls with a cheerful attitude that talk about saving the world and stuff really have no place nor an happy ending in this series. :heh:
I also expect something more spectacular but it is not.
is more exciting. I heard that 90% of its content is fight scene. Too bad I still don't get a copy of it.
So, ep25,
There is not much depiction in the novel about how the age of paradise look like. So, they decide to make it look Hellenic. Not a bad choice.
The original story of Ruruta and Nieniu seems odd to me. And the anime verison seems even odder - "Cup noodles type of love story"
The whole battle against gods should be more exciting. Moreover, it didn't make me feel epic. The novel did a better work.
This shows their weakness again - they didn't have enough budget for the fight scene or didn't have the ability to animate it.
I don't know what will happen in the next ep (Volume 10). So, I am eagar to see how all these things conclude.
With so much to adapt in each episode, it's kinda expected that the fight scenes don't last as long as some people would hope. & regarding the animation, i think it does the job. For this type of show, it doesn't have to be anything outstanding. Plus the company is pretty new.
The answer will be told in the next ep.
The most amazing thing about this series is Yamagata-san doesn't waste any setting. Book, book-eater, ability to tell the future, ... all those things appeared again.
I have to agree. I think one of the tricks which makes the plot feel consistent for its readers/audiences is carefully placed advance hints. When I guessed a book-eater may be playing a large role in this story, although I took Fotona for Ruruta, you wrote I was very near to the truth. However, if there were no careful plot-building by Yamagata, even such guess were not even possible. At first, the majority seem to have been frustrated by the way of story-telling of this series but I felt whoever created this work, he/she must have solid skills which make plots working, at least.
Cliche doesn't mean bad. It is the matter how they told the story.
If you think so, that's one of many reasons reading some classics make things interesting since they made well-working systems, which are now called cliche in later works. This is one of the reasons why they are complementary.
The original story of Ruruta and Nieniu seems odd to me. And the anime verison seems even odder - "Cup noodles type of love story"
I cannot but feel it's cheap considering the consequences of it... Somehow, this is one of typical problems for fantasy stories, where the author tries to combine the feelings of a few to several main characters with their involvements in a tall-story-like "fate of the world." At least, as long as anime adaption goes, it seems that gods managed to make Ruruta do the world-reset job, instead of their pets, by exploiting Nieniu.
kemal_1915
2010-03-21, 00:23
With so much to adapt in each episode, it's kinda expected that the fight scenes don't last as long as some people would hope. & regarding the animation, i think it does the job. For this type of show, it doesn't have to be anything outstanding. Plus the company is pretty new.
I am a hardcore fan so I always want more from them.:D
I have to agree. I think one of the tricks which makes the plot feel consistent for its readers/audiences is carefully placed advance hints. When I guessed a book-eater may be playing a large role in this story, although I took Fotona for Ruruta, you wrote I was very near to the truth. However, if there were no careful plot-building by Yamagata, even such guess were not even possible. At first, the majority seem to have been frustrated by the way of story-telling of this series but I felt whoever created this work, he/she must have solid skills which make plots working, at least.
I cannot but feel it's cheap considering the consequences of it... Somehow, this is one of typical problems for fantasy stories, where the author tries to combine the feelings of a few to several main characters with their involvements in a tall-story-like "fate of the world." At least, as long as anime adaption goes, it seems that gods managed to make Ruruta do the world-reset job, instead of their pets, by exploiting Nieniu.
In an interview, Yamagata-san said that he didn't plan the whole plot line at the beginning. Yet, the plot-building is still very good. So, this shows how well Yamagata-san do in his work.
If he writes any new series, I will follow.
There is a much better understanding about Nieniu's and Ruruta's personalities and why they made such a choice. In the anime, they are not clearly shown. So, I said it made people feel odd.
And let me talk about the war machines.
Ruruta owned all seven (eight) before.
Their names are from "The Neverending Story" and Yamagata-san has said that the story was inspired by "The Neverending Story" too.
Schlamuffen
Yor
Argax (I can't find its original name in "The Neverending Story". Someone may help me)
Yluculucu
And the other four:
Uyulala - the tattoo on Ruruta's body. It can be block any attack and extend into any shape to defend attack from all direction.
Gmork - the black staff in Ruruta's hand. Similar to Sun Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Acharis - the worm-like dagger which has the same ability with Schlamuffen.
Graograman - the airship that Ruruta was using. Actually, it is a weapon instead of a vehicle. It can be disintegrated into small sharp metal pieces to attack and recombinated into an airship.
Was it Noto Mamiko who voiced Nieniu? Sure sounded like it. :p
Was it Noto Mamiko who voiced Nieniu? Sure sounded like it. :p
Yeah it was, along with Ayako Kawasumi doing the narrator job.
Timberlan
2010-03-21, 05:35
If yor is the weapon, then it's the most dangerous - acting on his own will, delivering the book to the different and important people)
In an interview, Yamagata-san said that he didn't plan the whole plot line at the beginning. Yet, the plot-building is still very good. So, this shows how well Yamagata-san do in his work.
Actually, I waited till the first arch of Colio and Shiron till I see how the author deals with the story. As I wrote before, the first book is an edited version of the work which got the Super Dash Novel Rookie of the Year Award, the later books were not originally planned. So, it is rather natural that the first story arch feel a complete story. That said, however, I'm bit surprised by the ability which the author combines each story arch.
Their names are from "The Neverending Story" and Yamagata-san has said that the story was inspired by "The Neverending Story" too.
Schlamuffen
Yor
Argax (I can't find its original name in "The Neverending Story". Someone may help me)
Yluculucu
And the other four:
Uyulala - the tattoo on Ruruta's body. It can be block any attack and extend into any shape to defend attack from all direction.
Gmork - the black staff in Ruruta's hand. Similar to Sun Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Acharis - the worm-like dagger which has the same ability with Schlamuffen.
Graograman - the airship that Ruruta was using. Actually, it is a weapon instead of a vehicle. It can be disintegrated into small sharp metal pieces to attack and recombinated into an airship.
To be honest, I couldn't reckon even a single name...it's been a while since I read the book. However, I found Argax. He is a little gray monkey who "is taking care of " (actually, it is more like toying) ex-"emperors" who lost the memories of the real world.
The below is a quote from German wiki (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figuren_und_magische_Gegenst%C3%A4nde_in_der_unend lichen_Geschichte).
Der Affe Argax ist der Aufseher in der „Alte Kaiser Stadt“. Von ihm erfährt Bastian, dass jene Menschen, die sich in Phantásien verlieren, dem Wahnsinn anheimfallen. Hätte Bastian die Schlacht um den Elfenbeinturm gewonnen, wäre er sofort hierhergekommen. So droht ihm dieses Schicksal, wenn er seine letzte Erinnerung verliert, ohne den Weg nach Hause gefunden zu haben. Entsetzt flieht Bastian aus der Stadt und versucht mit den wenigen ihm verbleibenden Wünschen, seinen wahren Willen zu ergründen, um den Weg zurück zu finden
In any case, somehow, the way of story-telling in both works feels similar, since The Neverending Story is more like neverending stories. There are many implications that each character has its own story which is not told in the book.
Was it Noto Mamiko who voiced Nieniu? Sure sounded like it. :p
Please click here (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Tatakau+Shisho+Noto&l=1). It may be hard to find info about Minami Nakatsugawa in English but you definitely don't need to have other people goole this. :heh:
gameboy234
2010-03-21, 12:22
The light novel is completely text?
This anime is really good.
Ghostfriendly
2010-03-21, 18:45
At least, as long as anime adaption goes, it seems that gods managed to make Ruruta do the world-reset job, instead of their pets, by exploiting Nieniu.
I got the impression Ruruta just destroyed his civilisation, then set up the armed librarians to get books for Nienu as a new civilisation developed. I thought a few eps ago that he just got so depressed about some girl that entertaining books weren't enough to stop him destroying the world. But in the end, whether collecting books for Nienu or destroying the world for her, he was only acting for his love...amazing episode, though the messy expression of a clearly brilliant plot is certainly noticable. The ideas are amazing, though.
The original story of Ruruta and Nieniu seems odd to me. And the anime verison seems even odder - "Cup noodles type of love story"
The whole battle against gods should be more exciting. Moreover, it didn't make me feel epic. The novel did a better work.
The fight scenes definately weren't the focus of these episodes; with so much plot, they don't have te time, if only this series was three times as long...I liked the story of Nienu and Ruruta just as a thumbnail sketch, but more development would've been great.
I got the impression Ruruta just destroyed his civilisation, then set up the armed librarians to get books for Nienu as a new civilisation developed. I thought a few eps ago that he just got so depressed about some girl that entertaining books weren't enough to stop him destroying the world. But in the end, whether collecting books for Nienu or destroying the world for her, he was only acting for his love...amazing episode, though the messy expression of a clearly brilliant plot is certainly noticable. The ideas are amazing, though.
You sound more convincing since Hamuts is actually in a similar position but in opposite side. If she wants to save the world, it would be Matt. Then, again, can we take one love and compare it with another love, and say which is better? Ruruta may purely love Nieniu but pureness also indicates nativity. Have Ruruta thought someone in the same world may love another/something? Compare the "story" of Ruruta with that of Olivia, where even most despised people, or each person, has his/her own love and can be proud of it. Probably, this is related with the theme of this work but, similarly, each person has his/her life and story. Isn't it interesting Hamuts recognized Colio, who is considered nothing in social hierarchy can do. I think Ruruta needs to realize he is just an ordinary boy who fell in love with a girl after all, which may save "the world" and save himself.
Ghostfriendly
2010-03-21, 21:24
You sound more convincing since Hamuts is actually in a similar position but in opposite side. If she wants to save the world, it would be Matt. Then, again, can we take one love and compare it with another love, and say which is better? Ruruta may purely love Nieniu but pureness also indicates nativity. Have Ruruta thought someone in the same world may love another/something? Compare the "story" of Ruruta with that of Olivia, where even most despised people, or each person, has his/her own love and can be proud of it. Probably, this is related with the theme of this work but, similarly, each person has his/her life and story. Isn't it interesting Hamuts recognized Colio, who is considered nothing in social hierarchy can do. I think Ruruta needs to realize he is just an ordinary boy who fell in love with a girl after all, which may save "the world" and save himself.
Unfortunatly being built up so much as the saviour of the world stopped him taking a proper veiw of himself. He even started out fighting for the hope of the people whose books he ate and the world. After he met Nienu, he put the two of them above everyone else.
No we know Ruruta's story, and how similar his purpose was toHamyuts' how does it relate to her claims that if she herself isn't killed the world will be destroyed?
Unfortunatly being built up so much as the saviour of the world stopped him taking a proper veiw of himself. He even started out fighting for the hope of the people whose books he ate and the world. After he met Nienu, he put the two of them above everyone else.
No we know Ruruta's story, and how similar his purpose was toHamyuts' how does it relate to her claims that if she herself isn't killed the world will be destroyed?
Just as you stated, they are similar in that they were brought up as devices in world-saving plans, imposed other people's desires and deprived of possible lives as ordinary human beings.
As for a possible explanation for Mamyuts' claim, although this is just my guess, she may need to be killed to enter Ruruta even if she may not be needed to be eaten as a book.
As for a possible explanation for Mamyuts' claim, although this is just my guess, she may need to be killed to enter Ruruta even if she may not be needed to be eaten as a book.
Seems like the only plausible explanation.
I think i've missed/mis-understood some part of the episode. Did god himself 1v1 Ruruta and fail to kill him? Or did he only send nienu + the beasts? Seemed like he didn't try hard enough :uhoh:
I think i've missed/mis-understood some part of the episode. Did god himself 1v1 Ruruta and fail to kill him? Or did he only send nienu + the beasts? Seemed like he didn't try hard enough :uhoh:
Actually, they are not monotheist God but, as Orntorra said to Nieniu, they are gods trio, Bantorra, the god of the past, Towitorra, the god of the present and Orntorra, the god of the future.
In my understanding, Orntorra decided to reset the world, sent his pet weapon beasts and the transformed "Nieniu" to Ruruta. As for gods trio, Hamyuts said that Bantorra had been ousted by Ruruta in ep 24 but I don't think the fate of the gods are mentioned. Some light novel readers may explain the details but, according to them, the anime adaptation doesn't seem to be so royal to the light novels, though.
Why did Ruruta's "buddies" get rid of his girlfriend? I hope there is a better reason then the "Lets be evil lol"
Battler-kun
2010-03-22, 08:03
Very nice!
Enlike stays the narrator until the very end.
kemal_1915
2010-03-22, 12:07
To be honest, I couldn't reckon even a single name...it's been a while since I read the book. However, I found Argax. He is a little gray monkey who "is taking care of " (actually, it is more like toying) ex-"emperors" who lost the memories of the real world.
The below is a quote from German wiki (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figuren_und_magische_Gegenst%C3%A4nde_in_der_unend lichen_Geschichte).
Ah, I forgot that I can go directly to the German's source. Thanks.
I noticed that Argax looked like a monkey head. So, that is the reason.
I got the impression Ruruta just destroyed his civilisation, then set up the armed librarians to get books for Nienu as a new civilisation developed. I thought a few eps ago that he just got so depressed about some girl that entertaining books weren't enough to stop him destroying the world. But in the end, whether collecting books for Nienu or destroying the world for her, he was only acting for his love...amazing episode, though the messy expression of a clearly brilliant plot is certainly noticable. The ideas are amazing, though.
The fight scenes definately weren't the focus of these episodes; with so much plot, they don't have te time, if only this series was three times as long...I liked the story of Nienu and Ruruta just as a thumbnail sketch, but more development would've been great.
Ruruta wants books which have "enough" happiness to bring Nieniu to normal. So he killed people for books and sent people (later known as Armed Librarian) to get books.
Someday, the Armed Librarians found that it was too difficult to find people with happy life. (They brought too much pain to the world.) They tries another method.
They claimed that they represented the gods to collect books. Then, they established another organization (later known as Sindeki Church) to do the work of collecting books for Ruruta.
Ruruta doesn't care about them as long as books are sent. But he has waited for nearly 2000 years. He has run out of patient and made this decision.
Why do they rush? Cause they don't have the budget and the power to fight for more eps.
I know their difficulties but still I am not pleased with it.
You sound more convincing since Hamuts is actually in a similar position but in opposite side. If she wants to save the world, it would be Matt. Then, again, can we take one love and compare it with another love, and say which is better? Ruruta may purely love Nieniu but pureness also indicates nativity. Have Ruruta thought someone in the same world may love another/something? Compare the "story" of Ruruta with that of Olivia, where even most despised people, or each person, has his/her own love and can be proud of it. Probably, this is related with the theme of this work but, similarly, each person has his/her life and story. Isn't it interesting Hamuts recognized Colio, who is considered nothing in social hierarchy can do. I think Ruruta needs to realize he is just an ordinary boy who fell in love with a girl after all, which may save "the world" and save himself.
Does Hamyuts want to save the world? I don't think so. But she was forced to do it. That's way she is so twisted.
Ruruta is naive. This is for sure. When this kind of person becomes god, this is what the world look likes. Someone has to teach him a lesson.:D
Colio has almost nothing.
What did Colio have?
Love and faith.
This is the theme of the whole story.
When you put it along side with Ruruta's story, it is even clearer.
That is why Hamyuts kept mentioning Colio.
As for a possible explanation for Mamyuts' claim, although this is just my guess, she may need to be killed to enter Ruruta even if she may not be needed to be eaten as a book.
Bingo. This is part of her ability.
I think i've missed/mis-understood some part of the episode. Did god himself 1v1 Ruruta and fail to kill him? Or did he only send nienu + the beasts? Seemed like he didn't try hard enough :uhoh:
The gods left this world. (Create the next world maybe?) Ruruta fought with Nieniu and the beast. They were infinite as long as Nieniu was still there.
By the way, the gods are either stupid or very stupid. They have failed 600 times and still trying to fix humanity?
Why did Ruruta's "buddies" get rid of his girlfriend? I hope there is a better reason then the "Lets be evil lol"
He is the king and is infatuated with the savior. He thought Nieniu was a evil witch who tainted their beloved savior. Killing the evil witch was a good deed for the whole world.
Black-tsundere
2010-03-23, 12:35
Thanks for the info Kemal. yea im guessing the gods are bored of seeing each others a*** all the time lol but is there any mention on th gods having an ultimate goal, like creating the perfuect human or is none of that touched on in the novels??
Nieniu was a short lived character but it was still sad to see her get beaten and buried for no reason.
Japanese publishers may have found a new market in a par of Asia for light novels but I think this work can be sold to more wider ranges due to the solid plot with twists and themes.
i also think so. Anyways i have a friend that said he might translate some pages for me once he gets a hold of his copies. i will end up buying the novels even i can't read it lol
Ghostfriendly
2010-03-23, 20:19
Colio has almost nothing.
What did Colio have?
Love and faith.
This is the theme of the whole story.
When you put it along side with Ruruta's story, it is even clearer.
That is why Hamyuts kept mentioning Colio.
Ruruta must have needed faith to try for 2000 years to collect books to cheer Nienue up, but it seems like his faith ran out. He lost a bit of faith in himself as well when Nienue made him realise he was a human rather than an invulnerable demi-god, but maybe regains some faith by realising that he can fight for himself and Nienue rather than the world. Shiron, also helped Colio to see that he was human, and his faith in her prediction enabled him to fight.
By the way, the gods are either stupid or very stupid. They have failed 600 times and still trying to fix humanity?
They're gods, so I presume the ways in which their methods lead towards their final ends may not be humanly understandable. Neil Gaiman was very hot on showing that, esp. in Mystery Play.
This episode was about 10x more wacky then the whole show upto now. Gonna need some explaining from novel readers.
I pretty much jumped out of my seat, cheering with tears in my eyes when Noloty appeared at the end. Really liking the look of the last episode now.
KariOhki
2010-03-26, 16:27
Woooooow. Just...wooooow. One of the IMs I sent to Deshwiran while watching was a blank space, I was so stunned.
-Hamy does NOT die when killed, or even after her arm nearly gets torn off
-Hello there Meatkid and Shiron...trying to make Ruruta un-emo, are you?
-Of all people for Moescall to revive, it was Mirepoc...She's not as useless as she seems
-When the theme song came on I knew things were going to get epic
-Next ep is gonna make watching this series and being confused the whole way SO worth it.
So everyone returns alive?? Wow, this is strange and needs explanation. ^^;
Too bad I can't see Colio and Sharon resurrected. T_T
I think episode 26 is when it starts straying away from the novel?
Totally confused.
Ghostfriendly
2010-03-27, 06:47
That's the way to end something like this. When everything's got as bad as it can possibly get, bring it in to land with as much fun as you can manage. Still poor storytelling, but wonderful ideas.
Some symmetry in Lascal finally feeling regret that everyone was dying unhappy; and once Colio fulfilled his final purpose he didn't mind dying. Even buried under so much other stuff in this series, he was one cool guy. Mirepoc had the coolest revelation as well; hope she does something to wake everyone up in the next ep, and that Matt survives. I know that's unlikely, but they have neat relationship; Hamy should survive too, and has a cool 'true power' for such a hackneyed phrase.
kemal_1915
2010-03-27, 10:03
Thanks for the info Kemal. yea im guessing the gods are bored of seeing each others a*** all the time lol but is there any mention on th gods having an ultimate goal, like creating the perfuect human or is none of that touched on in the novels??
Nieniu was a short lived character but it was still sad to see her get beaten and buried for no reason.
i also think so. Anyways i have a friend that said he might translate some pages for me once he gets a hold of his copies. i will end up buying the novels even i can't read it lol
Why they keep doing that? It wasn't mentioned in the novel (up to volume 9). I guess they want to have some perfect being. I think Yamagata-san has some obsession with pureness.
This episode was about 10x more wacky then the whole show upto now. Gonna need some explaining from novel readers.
I pretty much jumped out of my seat, cheering with tears in my eyes when Noloty appeared at the end. Really liking the look of the last episode now.
Since I still haven't got a copy of volume 10, I don't know the detail.
From the preview, people who are dead gathers inside Ruruta.
send books into Ruruta without his consent.
Did Hamyuts kill Volken, Mokkania and Noloty deliberately in order to send them into Ruruta? I think yes. She did this for this final battle.
Woooooow. Just...wooooow. One of the IMs I sent to Deshwiran while watching was a blank space, I was so stunned.
-Hamy does NOT die when killed, or even after her arm nearly gets torn off
-Hello there Meatkid and Shiron...trying to make Ruruta un-emo, are you?
-Of all people for Moescall to revive, it was Mirepoc...She's not as useless as she seems
-When the theme song came on I knew things were going to get epic
-Next ep is gonna make watching this series and being confused the whole way SO worth it.
Ruruta needed to learn something from Colio.
From the spoiler, I know she is important in this battle but I don't know how. Maybe she can co-ordinate the battle between the inside and outside of Ruruta?
I think episode 26 is when it starts straying away from the novel?
Totally confused.
Some details may change but the main plot is okay.
So, ep 26
I don't know what will happen so I am excited.
And I think I will be more excited if I read the novel.
It is very clear now that this story is about love.
Romantic love (Arc 1, Shiron and Colio)
Love for friends/comrades (Arc 2, Enrique and co.)
Love for family/mother (Arc 3, Mokkania and Rence)
Love for oneself (Arc 4, Mirepoc and Alme)
Love for the weak (Arc 5, Volken)
Love for the world (Arc 6, Noloty)
And the last arc concluded all these loves (Ruruta's story, actually the novel has mentioned all in his story)
Yamagata-san made his conclusion. It is not about being strong, witty or perfect (which the gods failed to understand). It is about people's connection - how we love and care about each other.
"Happiness is not from a book (person). It is between books (people)."
That's why I love this story.
Maybe someone thinks this is cliche and this ending is chessy.
But I just want to say "Read the whole story again and think about it. Think about what Yamagata-san wanted to say."
So, let's enjoy the final chapter of this story.
wandering-dreamer
2010-03-27, 16:42
Boy was that some serious Deus ex Machina in there, but after Kemal's post some of it (like, books Ruruta hadn't eaten appearing inside of him possibly being Hamy's fault) I'm worried that this is going to go the "just as planned" route. Don't think so but the last episode is going to have be packed to get the story finished. I've got no idea how this is all going to end, can't wait for next week!
Since I still haven't got a copy of volume 10, I don't know the detail.
So this weeks episode was still novel material? I thought so because it seems it. I hope the last episode will also be just that.
send books into Ruruta without his consent.
Did Hamyuts kill Volken, Mokkania and Noloty deliberately in order to send them into Ruruta? I think yes. She did this for this final battle.
That's an interesting theory, and it's one i want to believe. I'm not sure if i can though..
Did Hamyuts kill Volken, Mokkania and Noloty deliberately in order to send them into Ruruta? I think yes. She did this for this final battle.
Interesting. However I wonder why Volken will appear since Hamyuts called people who love her and his book is still in Hamyuts' office. Maybe for "justice" :D
I really want to know what ruruta is going to do next.
Anomandaris
2010-03-29, 01:56
I've been racking my brains ... but I can't seem to recall who the white-haired, yawning guy who appears at the end is.
Can anybody enlighten me?
The Acting Director before Hamy (the whom Volken idolized)
frostieyes
2010-03-29, 03:18
Am I the only person who doesn't really get what happened between Ruruta and Nieniu? Or what Hamyuts' various "new" abilities are?
I really want to read books 9 and 10...
The guy who was yawing is the first Armed Librarian to die in the series, Casma. So they basically showed the first and last Armed Librarians to die in Casma and Noloty.
Battler-kun
2010-03-29, 10:02
Hm, episode 26 is....hm...confusing.
But well, in the end it is nothing more but a cheesy theme.
kemal_1915
2010-03-29, 11:33
Boy was that some serious Deus ex Machina in there, but after Kemal's post some of it (like, books Ruruta hadn't eaten appearing inside of him possibly being Hamy's fault) I'm worried that this is going to go the "just as planned" route. Don't think so but the last episode is going to have be packed to get the story finished. I've got no idea how this is all going to end, can't wait for next week!
The novel mentioned that Makia used his whole life to study about Ruruta. So, he could make two weapons to exploit Ruruta's weakness fully. This made the "Deus ex Machina" didn't look forced.
Interesting. However I wonder why Volken will appear since Hamyuts called people who love her and his book is still in Hamyuts' office. Maybe for "justice" :D
Hate means love. Just kidding. Hamyuts like forcing people to do what they don't want to. It seems she can send their books without their consent too.;)
Am I the only person who doesn't really get what happened between Ruruta and Nieniu? Or what Hamyuts' various "new" abilities are?
Ruruta thought he did all these things for Nieniu but Niemiu rejected him.
"Pleasure of death" was forced into Hamyuts' mind when she was small.
Her real ability is sending books (includes hers) into Ruruta.
Anomandaris
2010-03-30, 00:47
The guy who was yawing is the first Armed Librarian to die in the series, Casma. So they basically showed the first and last Armed Librarians to die in Casma and Noloty.
Oh wow ... I didn't even think of checking episode 1. Thanks!
SuperKnuckles
2010-03-30, 01:47
lol. Even in a show concerned with mass murders of people one way or the other, it still boils down to the Power of LOVE.
Still, wow. I'm a fan of davidproduction after this show and Ristonrate Paradiso. Some of the animation in the last three episodes are just... jaw dropping.
KariOhki
2010-04-02, 12:10
-Most epic final episode I've seen in a while. I kept going "YES" each time a dead librarian appeared, especially with Mokkania and Ireia (holy buckets she was HOT, and lol to the guy who complained about it). I was even surprised to see that blue diving guy again.
-Totally called that Volken was going to be the one who saved Hamy when she got attacked early on.
-I see why Mirepoc was pretty much important to be left alive -- that was an awesome spirit bomb...
-...and an awesome electric bomb by Enlike
-Volken holding Hamy as she died again ;A; Very fitting. And Noloty calling out to Enlike ;AAA;
-Was Matt the only one sentenced because he participated in it, and didn't die in the process? Cause Minth was in on the secret too...
-But what he wanted to do in the end, recovering everyone's stories, is pretty awesome
-And older Mirepoc is hot too
This series is getting a 9/10 from me. Even with the slow start and the one-shot episodes (5 and 16). But the satisfying ending, the plot ramping up from ep 17 to the end, and the confusing plot that all came together in the end seals the rating. I'm going to be recommending this series to people for sure now.
Last episode is pretty damn satisfying. Everything was resolved nicely, and getting to see the dead from the past return for one last epic showdown was nicely done. Best part was probably Hamy's ending, which was very sweet.
It's been quite the surprise of a show. Going by the summary when i first started watching, i was expecting something good, though not this good now that it's over. A nice surprise, though shame a lot of people missed out on it. All i wait for now is a soundtrack release.
Black-tsundere
2010-04-02, 12:12
man 27 eps just isn't enough for bantorra i want more eps :( well i guess it's gonna finish soon but last weeks ep was so awesome just loved it when the theme tune kicked in :D
either way im going to enjoy this last episode
lol. Even in a show concerned with mass murders of people one way or the other, it still boils down to the Power of LOVE.
Still, wow. I'm a fan of davidproduction after this show and Ristonrate Paradiso. Some of the animation in the last three episodes are just... jaw dropping.
my thoughts exactly.
edit: lol its out already need to watch it before i read every's thoughts lol
Deshwiran
2010-04-02, 12:49
Well...that was a pretty good ending for an overall awesome series indeed.
-Just when i was thinking they wouldn't show up,Ireia and Mokkania appeared.EFF YEAH.
-The fact that the greatest power of the world ended up stored in that puny knife was kinda :D
-Matt's attitude is really something.
-A 100% happy ending with everyone revived wouldn't have fit the series at all,but still i kinda wanted it.
I'm definitely going to rewatch this with KariOhki sooner or later,i'm sure that there's a good number of thing that suddenly make lots of sense in the previous episodes.
And thanks to kemal_1915 for putting up with all of my various WTFs about this show.:heh:
And thanks to kemal_1915 for putting up with all of my various WTFs about this show.:heh:
I wouldn't have enjoyed this show as much as i did if it wasn't for kemal_1915, helping us out along the way. Thanks a lot. :)
Finished it too.
It wasn't a bad series, but it could have been hell of a lot better.
All the books subject was amazing, and it could have been used better.
Mah, doesn't matter anymore, I guess.
I just hope there won't be a 2nd series...
Satisfying ending to a suprisingly good series. Hidden gem of the season seeing so little people followed it.
Can't wait for the soundtrack either ;)
This series was awesome, i cant believe it ended so well.
Black-tsundere
2010-04-02, 16:56
-Most epic final episode I've seen in a while. I kept going "YES" each time a dead librarian appeared, especially with Mokkania and Ireia (holy buckets she was HOT, and lol to the guy who complained about it). I was even surprised to see that blue diving guy again.
-Totally called that Volken was going to be the one who saved Hamy when she got attacked early on.
-I see why Mirepoc was pretty much important to be left alive -- that was an awesome spirit bomb...
-...and an awesome electric bomb by Enlike
-Volken holding Hamy as she died again ;A; Very fitting. And Noloty calling out to Enlike ;AAA;
-Was Matt the only one sentenced because he participated in it, and didn't die in the process? Cause Minth was in on the secret too...
-But what he wanted to do in the end, recovering everyone's stories, is pretty awesome
-And older Mirepoc is hot too
This series is getting a 9/10 from me. Even with the slow start and the one-shot episodes (5 and 16). But the satisfying ending, the plot ramping up from ep 17 to the end, and the confusing plot that all came together in the end seals the rating. I'm going to be recommending this series to people for sure now.
i had the exact same reaction dude
Armed Librarians FTW still sad that they never came back either :( but i think it is better like this 100% agree with everything you said
Last episode is pretty damn satisfying. Everything was resolved nicely, and getting to see the dead from the past return for one last epic showdown was nicely done. Best part was probably Hamy's ending, which was very sweet.
It's been quite the surprise of a show. Going by the summary when i first started watching, i was expecting something good, though not this good now that it's over. A nice surprise, though shame a lot of people missed out on it. All i wait for now is a soundtrack release.
indeed seeing hammy finally pass on with a peaceful look on her face was a real tear jerk for me T__T best anime i've damn seen in a while so glad to pick this one up
Well...that was a pretty good ending for an overall awesome series indeed.
-Just when i was thinking they wouldn't show up,Ireia and Mokkania appeared.EFF YEAH.
-The fact that the greatest power of the world ended up stored in that puny knife was kinda :D
-Matt's attitude is really something.
-A 100% happy ending with everyone revived wouldn't have fit the series at all,but still i kinda wanted it.
I'm definitely going to rewatch this with KariOhki sooner or later,i'm sure that there's a good number of thing that suddenly make lots of sense in the previous episodes.
And thanks to kemal_1915 for putting up with all of my various WTFs about this show.:heh:
yea i was expecting it to turn in to a longer blade or something but damn she got stabbed right in the face that made me laugh
all you guys took the words right outa my mouth couldn't have said it any better. yea it really is a big shame that not many get to enjoy this epic anime, did start of very slow but damn that ending was just amazing.
and thanks Kemal for all the info you provided however i feel that... ...there is still some info missing it seems to me that this could have been an anime original ending?????
kemal_1915
2010-04-02, 21:07
-Most epic final episode I've seen in a while. I kept going "YES" each time a dead librarian appeared, especially with Mokkania and Ireia (holy buckets she was HOT, and lol to the guy who complained about it). I was even surprised to see that blue diving guy again.
-Totally called that Volken was going to be the one who saved Hamy when she got attacked early on.
-I see why Mirepoc was pretty much important to be left alive -- that was an awesome spirit bomb...
-...and an awesome electric bomb by Enlike
-Volken holding Hamy as she died again ;A; Very fitting. And Noloty calling out to Enlike ;AAA;
-Was Matt the only one sentenced because he participated in it, and didn't die in the process? Cause Minth was in on the secret too...
-But what he wanted to do in the end, recovering everyone's stories, is pretty awesome
-And older Mirepoc is hot too
This series is getting a 9/10 from me. Even with the slow start and the one-shot episodes (5 and 16). But the satisfying ending, the plot ramping up from ep 17 to the end, and the confusing plot that all came together in the end seals the rating. I'm going to be recommending this series to people for sure now.
I know Ireia come back with a young version but I didn't expect she is that hot. (and VA is Tamura Yukari). Matt didn't die and I am sure Minth's ending is cut due to the time limit. By the way, Mirepoc is married (or will be married soon, I forget).:mad:
It's been quite the surprise of a show. Going by the summary when i first started watching, i was expecting something good, though not this good now that it's over. A nice surprise, though shame a lot of people missed out on it. All i wait for now is a soundtrack release.
It seeem that first few eps kept pushing people away so I tried hard to make people keep interested in it. I don't want people to miss such a good thing.
And I can tell you that the anime is good but the novel is 100 times better.
Well...that was a pretty good ending for an overall awesome series indeed.
-Just when i was thinking they wouldn't show up,Ireia and Mokkania appeared.EFF YEAH.
-The fact that the greatest power of the world ended up stored in that puny knife was kinda :D
-Matt's attitude is really something.
-A 100% happy ending with everyone revived wouldn't have fit the series at all,but still i kinda wanted it.
I'm definitely going to rewatch this with KariOhki sooner or later,i'm sure that there's a good number of thing that suddenly make lots of sense in the previous episodes.
And thanks to kemal_1915 for putting up with all of my various WTFs about this show.:heh:
His first line is "My mother isn't here. Why do you wake me up?:heh:
I wouldn't have enjoyed this show as much as i did if it wasn't for kemal_1915, helping us out along the way. Thanks a lot. :)
This series is a gem but people may easily miss it.
Finished it too.
It wasn't a bad series, but it could have been hell of a lot better.
All the books subject was amazing, and it could have been used better.
Mah, doesn't matter anymore, I guess.
I just hope there won't be a 2nd series...
Because of the budget and time limit, the anime isn't as good as the novel.
I agree it could be much better. Still I am contented with it.
There will be no season 2 for sure.
I am eager to read the next work from Yamagata-san and I heard that he is working on it.
all you guys took the words right outa my mouth couldn't have said it any better. yea it really is a big shame that not many get to enjoy this epic anime, did start of very slow but damn that ending was just amazing.
and thanks Kemal for all the info you provided however i feel that... ...there is still some info missing it seems to me that this could have been an anime original ending?????
The wind is blowing - the wind of moe, fanservice and ecchiness. For a show missing all three can't live long at this era. The topic, the character and the story of this series drove 99% of anime viewer away. Slow start drove further 0.99% away. How many people did watch this show? Very few.
But who cares, I am glad that I have read this novel and watch this anime.
Sure something is missing but I don't know what they are.
Ep27,
My view?
Good, touching, epic.
And I want volume 10!
That's all.
I am so happy that many people found this series good.
If anyone want to know more about this series, just ask me.
Also, we can discuss about the content about it too.
For example, two keywords of this series is "love" and "past/memory". How do they related and what does Yamagata-san want to tell us about them?
Also watched ep 27 and it was great like the series itself.
I would have expected more episodes in order to have more details (and more action sequences) but it still satisfies me since the staff did a nice work.
All the books subject was amazing, and it could have been used better.
I agree I really liked this concept.
It seeem that first few eps kept pushing people away so I tried hard to make people keep interested in it. I don't want people to miss such a good thing.
And I can tell you that the anime is good but the novel is 100 times better.
I wish I could read the novel.
I remember I looked forward to watching this series because of Shigeki Maeshima's illustrations :D
By the way a Shigeki Maeshima artbook titled "Serendipity" was released recently and most of the pictures are Tatakau Shisho art (novel illustrations and others). I've just received the book and it's really gorgeous.
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1928/tatakaushisho.th.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/tatakaushisho.jpg/)
You can read a review on nat's blog (http://www.nattoli.net/entry/127/serendipity-shigeki-maeshima-illustrations).
For example, two keywords of this series is "love" and "past/memory". How do they related and what does Yamagata-san want to tell us about them?
Love means memories I guess since we share memories with the people we love. That's why Volken tells Hamyuts to remember.
But it's difficult in Tatakau Shisho because of all these different kind of love : Shiron/Colio, Chacoly/Ruruta, Hamyuts/Chacoly, Mirepoc/Volken, ... :D
I don't even know what to say about the ending. Wow, I'm at loss for words, and it's not because it was good or anything special. I just don't know if I should feel disappointed or happy about it.
For one thing, I was kinda thrown off about the whole 'Team up with your enemies, resurrect everyone for a last final fight, and fight against giant monsters who are aiming to destroy the world' situation.
Was this show entertaining? Yes. But was it good? Haha, I don't know about that.
I have to say though: the whole 'deceased people turn into stone-like books' is pretty unique and original.
And I was greatly disappointed about Mirepoc. I know she had to move on, but I was hoping she would reunite with Volken one day. They were, like, my favorite couple of the series. I was disappointed she married someone else, but I'll get over it eventually.
Was this whole thing anime-original? Or were they following the novels faithfully? If it's the latter; did they catch up with the last volume? I sure hope so.
A satisfactory ending, it was a great ride. But I'm unsure how they managed to extract the book from Ruruta if he looked like he was vaporized there... not even a corpse. And this is Lascall's job isn't it? And she's already gone from the picture in ep 26. Unless she's still doing her job and it just didn't show.
Nice to see that most enjoyed the ending. I think it sucked.
That dark atmosphere the show had, is gone -> power of love saves all. Everyone comes back for final round to kill countless waves of generic freaky monsters and to save the world. And then to die again after becoming friendly with each other.
Ruruta suddenly turns back from world destroyer to jesus like person. Looked pathetic when he bumped into that wall of ice and didnt know what to do... use those powers you used to murder countless amount of stuff. Ran out of fuel, or scriptwriters had to give that part to hamyuts to hammer that friendship idea deeper?
Meh, they made hamyuts into another generic world saving character.
And as the dust settles, i hope there wont be any sort of continuation - the world thats left is filled with boredom, no more mysteries left. Armed librarians gone and Mirepoc working as some dust sniffing bureaucrat.
I know Ireia come back with a young version but I didn't expect she is that hot. (and VA is Tamura Yukari).
I wondered what would happen if Ireia used her ability of controlling time on herself when she complained of her age...
Love means memories I guess since we share memories with the people we love. That's why Volken tells Hamyuts to remember.
But it's difficult in Tatakau Shisho because of all these different kind of love : Shiron/Colio, Chacoly/Ruruta, Hamyuts/Chacoly, Mirepoc/Volken, ... :D
Agreed. It's not as simple as generic "power of love." At least, in this work, it should be interpreted in the context of lives as stories. Love is one of the strongest emotions and appears where two lives (stories) come across. Love can be one of the most strong motivations to keep remembering someone lost. For, as long as they are remembered as stories by other people, they won't be totally lost. So, finding meanings in other people who we share a part of our lifetime is somehow related with finding possible meaning of our own lives. The theme is kind of universal and a recent Japanese film called Departures share it, for example.
A satisfactory ending, it was a great ride. But I'm unsure how they managed to extract the book from Ruruta if he looked like he was vaporized there... not even a corpse. And this is Lascall's job isn't it? And she's already gone from the picture in ep 26. Unless she's still doing her job and it just didn't show.
Haven't thought of it. Indeed, the sword was broken in ep 26. :heh:
All in all, the depth of the theme may not fit the "epic" ending but most stories/characters are well fitted together and I think it managed to be a balanced work as an entertainment with reasonably mature themes.
And I was greatly disappointed about Mirepoc. I know she had to move on, but I was hoping she would reunite with Volken one day.
It's kinda hard to reunite with someone who's dead. :heh:
Was this whole thing anime-original? Or were they following the novels faithfully? If it's the latter; did they catch up with the last volume? I sure hope so.
I remember kemal_1915 saying episode 26 was from the novel, so i believe the last episode was as well.
It's kinda hard to reunite with someone who's dead. :heh:
I was hoping that if Volken didn't miraculously return from the dead permanently, then at least they would die together in the end or something. As long as they're together, then I would be happy. :) But it seems that was not the case, and Volken and Mirepoc were just not destined to be together in the end. Here's hoping that's not the case in the novels.
I loved how Volken was holding Hamy while giving his short speech about happiness. That was the highlight of the episode for me.
I remember kemal_1915 saying episode 26 was from the novel, so i believe the last episode was as well.
But the novels continue further, right? I remember reading somewhere about the anime covering 8 volumes. And since the 10th volume was recently released, I was wondering whether or not the whole 10 years later was anime-original stuff they added in order to give a proper conclusion to the series.
kemal_1915
2010-04-03, 04:50
I wish I could read the novel.
I remember I looked forward to watching this series because of Shigeki Maeshima's illustrations :D
By the way a Shigeki Maeshima artbook titled "Serendipity" was released recently and most of the pictures are Tatakau Shisho art (novel illustrations and others). I've just received the book and it's really gorgeous.
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/1928/tatakaushisho.th.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/tatakaushisho.jpg/)
You can read a review on nat's blog (http://www.nattoli.net/entry/127/serendipity-shigeki-maeshima-illustrations).
Love means memories I guess since we share memories with the people we love. That's why Volken tells Hamyuts to remember.
But it's difficult in Tatakau Shisho because of all these different kind of love : Shiron/Colio, Chacoly/Ruruta, Hamyuts/Chacoly, Mirepoc/Volken, ... :D
Maeshima-san also has a manga series called "Lequios".
Yes, there is different kind of love. I think in this way. How do we show our love and how do we know we are loved by someone? It is the thing we do to our loved one and what they do to us. These make our memory. If we lost our memory, we don't know love (or at least we have to do it all over again).
I don't even know what to say about the ending. Wow, I'm at loss for words, and it's not because it was good or anything special. I just don't know if I should feel disappointed or happy about it.
For one thing, I was kinda thrown off about the whole 'Team up with your enemies, resurrect everyone for a last final fight, and fight against giant monsters who are aiming to destroy the world' situation.
Was this show entertaining? Yes. But was it good? Haha, I don't know about that.
I have to say though: the whole 'deceased people turn into stone-like books' is pretty unique and original.
Was this whole thing anime-original? Or were they following the novels faithfully? If it's the latter; did they catch up with the last volume? I sure hope so.
I believed it should be much better in the novel. I also have many questions after this ep. (e.g. what the hell is that glowing knife? It sounds so stupid for the Nieniu to be defeated by such a thing)
Yamagata-san has never failed me so I said I want Volume 10 to see what's going on.
It is very interesting that the original concept from Yamagata-san is "fall in love with a girl who can see the future" instead of "book which can read someone's past". Turn out the "book" thing is a better idea.
Those people who read the last volume didn't complain about the ending. So, I think it was close to the novel ending.
A satisfactory ending, it was a great ride. But I'm unsure how they managed to extract the book from Ruruta if he looked like he was vaporized there... not even a corpse. And this is Lascall's job isn't it? And she's already gone from the picture in ep 26. Unless she's still doing her job and it just didn't show.
I don't know why he vaporized.
Lascall is not necessary for forming book. Yor's ability is to speed up the book forming process. Soul will be fossiled whenever a person died.
Nice to see that most enjoyed the ending. I think it sucked.
That dark atmosphere the show had, is gone -> power of love saves all. Everyone comes back for final round to kill countless waves of generic freaky monsters and to save the world. And then to die again after becoming friendly with each other.
Ruruta suddenly turns back from world destroyer to jesus like person. Looked pathetic when he bumped into that wall of ice and didnt know what to do... use those powers you used to murder countless amount of stuff. Ran out of fuel, or scriptwriters had to give that part to hamyuts to hammer that friendship idea deeper?
Meh, they made hamyuts into another generic world saving character.
And as the dust settles, i hope there wont be any sort of continuation - the world thats left is filled with boredom, no more mysteries left. Armed librarians gone and Mirepoc working as some dust sniffing bureaucrat.
It is good for some people stated these things.
The cheesy/not cheesy debate actually is about how well they told the story. Bad story-telling with cliche made it look cheesy.
Is it the same in the novel? Again, I didn't see the readers' complaint so I think no.
That's is a vicious cycle.
A "boring" show got little budget. --> Limited budget made the show rush and the animation look bad. --> The deformed "boring" show drove people away. --> Even it made less budget for another "boring" show.
When will this come to end? Never?
I wondered what would happen if Ireia used her ability of controlling time on herself when she complained of her age...
Agreed. It's not as simple as generic "power of love." At least, in this work, it should be interpreted in the context of lives as stories. Love is one of the strongest emotions and appears where two lives (stories) come across. Love can be one of the most strong motivations to keep remembering someone lost. For, as long as they are remembered as stories by other people, they won't be totally lost. So, finding meanings in other people who we share a part of our lifetime is somehow related with finding possible meaning of our own lives. The theme is kind of universal and a recent Japanese film called Departures share it, for example.
Haven't thought of it. Indeed, the sword was broken in ep 26. :heh:
All in all, the depth of the theme may not fit the "epic" ending but most stories/characters are well fitted together and I think it managed to be a balanced work as an entertainment with reasonably mature themes.
I didn't have a favorite female character before but now I love you:D Ireia ... younger one of course.
"Power of love" is cheesy.
I like this idea more - "I want to protect this world where we met."
Actually, this is the problem of this series. Too "heavy" for light novel and too "light" for novel.
This series is published in "light novel" format.
Younger reader/viewers think it is boring and most adult readers think this (light novel) is for teens.
This make the sales disaster.
I loved how Volken was holding Hamy while giving his short speech about happiness. That was the highlight of the episode for me.
But the novels continue further, right? I remember reading somewhere about the anime covering 8 volumes. And since the 10th volume was recently released, I was wondering whether or not the whole 10 years later was anime-original stuff they added in order to give a proper conclusion to the series.
Hamyuts had a miserable life and made her life so twisted. It is good for her to have a "good" ending. I still don't like her though.
All 10 volumes were covered and the whole "10 years later thing" was included too.
I wish they kind of touch upon where the dead really goes. Since the "heaven" turns out to be just Ruruta. So after they disappear, where can their spirits find peace?
I believed it should be much better in the novel. I also have many questions after this ep. (e.g. what the hell is that glowing knife? It sounds so stupid for the Nieniu to be defeated by such a thing)
I guess it's theme related. That trivial and pathetic knife is a weapon which Colio who didn't hesitate to go against someone who holds a "legendary" weapon. Especially, the strength of the spirit seems to matter more in Ruruta. So, I guess it's an intended contrast that Ruruta holds it instead of the legendary weapons: he is just a trivial and ordinary boy except that he is true to himself, which itself is only possible weapon which can take Nieniu back to an ordinary girl. This reminds me of the Neverending Story somehow.
Actually, this is the problem of this series. Too "heavy" for light novel and too "light" for novel.
This series is published in "light novel" format.
Younger reader/viewers think it is boring and most adult readers think this (light novel) is for teens.
This make the sales disaster.
"Light novels" are expected as a market rather than new art genre. Considering them as stories with pictures, I think it has gotten quite a long history although their social position is more or less same, means, for lighthearted entertainment. Personally, I watch some anime works but I found only a handful of them are for adults.
I wish they kind of touch upon where the dead really goes. Since the "heaven" turns out to be just Ruruta. So after they disappear, where can their spirits find peace?
Matt sums it up. In other peoples' soul. Talking of it, in our world, too, heavens of our images are often told in forms of stories through generations.
Epic, epic episode. Had adrenaline rush throughout this episode. Props to the anime team for doing a good job.
If it was given more budget, it should easily surpass code geass/death note through just storytelling alone. A shame it's not getting the recognition it deserves.
Ghostfriendly
2010-04-03, 10:39
Another good series ends, in a satisfying rather than epic way. Hamyuts went out a bit quietly and without fanfare for such a unique character, but impressed until the end. Volken actually made a full comeback, with his old fighting spirit restored, while Noloty had such vitality it really didn't sink in for me that she was dead at all.
"Power of love" is cheesy.
I like this idea more - "I want to protect this world where we met."
Key rule of writing; keep in the good ideas and throw out the bad ones. Matt's final message about the worth of every individual life story was nice, but the 'powers combined' business didn't do anything to support it.
As I hoped, Matt and Mirepoc got a final moment; he was the coolest guy in the show, above more heroic guys like Volken. Glad he's still got a mission, and seemed to have accepted Hamy's death reasonably well.
Mirepoc had a noteable veiw of Ruruta and looked very cute, glad she lost the purple hair. I hoped for her to play a part in waking everyone, but alas it was tired in to the power of love theme.
Did Hamyuts kill Volken, Mokkania and Noloty deliberately in order to send them into Ruruta? I think yes. She did this for this final battle.
Did Hamy have some hand in Noloty's death then? I thought it was just the Governor of Paradise. BTW, did Hamy's final power get any sort of foreshadowing in the novels?
For example, two keywords of this series is "love" and "past/memory". How do they related and what does Yamagata-san want to tell us about them?
It seems that love can survive without memory, in Mirepoc and Volken's case. But as with Ruruta losing his memory of Nienu and killing her, leaving your memories leads to bad results. The mission of the Armed Librarians was to conceal the truth of the past and in the end Ruruta lost the significance of what they were doing, and caused so many atrocities Nienu could never forgive him. It seems that while past events are remembered (if a record exists, that means forever) the emotions they inspire will exist too. There definately could be more forgiveness in this philosophy; the overlaying of old memories by new one seems to be the only way people change their veiwpoint.
gameboy234
2010-04-03, 10:43
The ep felt abit rush. Alot of things cramped into 1 ep. I never read the novel. Not sure y i feel so.
Just finished the whole series, and i must say it is amazing! Loved the concept, ideas, the unusual storytelling..... everithing!
There is just one thing that i didn't grasp: why did Ruruta transfer his powers to Nieniu? I mean, i understand that all he wants is to protect her and make her happy, but if that was what he was trying to accomplish with the power transfer, why didn't he do it before?
I must thank everyone in this forum for your posts and viewpoints! I feel that part of my understanding of this anime is because of you!
PS: I'm dying for a soundtrack release, it's relly awesome!
There is just one thing that i didn't grasp: why did Ruruta transfer his powers to Nieniu? I mean, i understand that all he wants is to protect her and make her happy, but if that was what he was trying to accomplish with the power transfer, why didn't he do it before?
Because he was searching for a book that would make her happy. Only when he lost hope in the world did he decide to revive Nieniu.
wandering-dreamer
2010-04-03, 19:25
WOW, that last episode had more Crowning Moments of Awesome/Badass than I could count, felt pretty satisfying in that way (even though the power of prayer becoming important did seem cheesy...).
But one question I don't think ever got answered, did did Hamy say (multiple times to) "if you kill me you can save the world?" Did that mean that then she would be able to go into Rurta and draw the other books in for the final fight? Would her book have satisfied Neinu instead?
Highlights of the Final Episode:
"I will mourn your death and celebrate your salvation" - Volken
Ireia --- super hot and super strong -> maybe her younger version is as stonger as Mokkania, which would make her as strong as Hamyuts
My Favorite Characters:
Volken, Colio, Ireia (Younger Version)
and maybe Chacoly and Hamyuts aren't so evil as first perceived
gameboy234
2010-04-04, 00:08
I don't get the mirepoc part. Her hair turned purple, and she gain power.
What is the power and how? Can some1 elaborate?
Ghostfriendly
2010-04-04, 02:46
Just finished the whole series, and i must say it is amazing! Loved the concept, ideas, the unusual storytelling..... everithing!
There is just one thing that i didn't grasp: why did Ruruta transfer his powers to Nieniu? I mean, i understand that all he wants is to protect her and make her happy, but if that was what he was trying to accomplish with the power transfer, why didn't he do it before?
I must thank everyone in this forum for your posts and viewpoints! I feel that part of my understanding of this anime is because of you!
PS: I'm dying for a soundtrack release, it's relly awesome!
I think he transfered his powers to Nieniu because he couldn't stand losing to Hamy, and he was resigned to her destroying the world if she woke up. Ruruta hoped she would be happy if the world was destroyed, even if that made everything he'd done to protect it pointless, but by that time Nieniu was incapable of happiness, or imagining that anyone could really be happy (bit self centred).
I don't get the mirepoc part. Her hair turned purple, and she gain power.
What is the power and how? Can some1 elaborate?
She gained Chacoly's power to cause her own emotions to be felt by others, in case sound-the-bugle-now awakening and shounen spirit.
Finally came back to watching this after being disappointed with first few episodes and have to say it was worth watching. Its really too bad the first 2-3 episodes for me at least just seemed really meh, personally because of the "meats" concept which ended up on the back burner after the first few.
gonzo562
2010-04-04, 04:31
i dropped this series after the first few episodes to
guess i give this series another try
roriconfan
2010-04-04, 17:22
Ok, I finished this one. It was a pile of very good ideas and very bad presentation. Their line of thought made no sense no matter how much I tried to explain it. And I'm no rookie in weird stories. Obviously the scriptwritters didn't know what they were doing.
What are you talking about? All the staff I saw in this series made sense.
Master_Yoma
2010-04-04, 21:37
Awesome series it didnt disappoint at all
kemal_1915
2010-04-05, 04:26
I wish they kind of touch upon where the dead really goes. Since the "heaven" turns out to be just Ruruta. So after they disappear, where can their spirits find peace?
Rest in our soul.
Epic, epic episode. Had adrenaline rush throughout this episode. Props to the anime team for doing a good job.
If it was given more budget, it should easily surpass code geass/death note through just storytelling alone. A shame it's not getting the recognition it deserves.
When I was in the college, I have taken a "popular culture" course. My professor gave me a useful point.
It is very common that popular culture is flooded with those "low-class", cheesy kinds of work. People wants to be entertained so they flourishes. It is okay for this. However, at the same time, do we give enough chance for other kinds of work survive? That is the problem.
I admit that I also like watching anime for moe and fan-service. I watch K-on!, Queen Blade... At the same time, I watch this series and I will support Yamagata-san to make more good stories.
Did Hamy have some hand in Noloty's death then? I thought it was just the Governor of Paradise. BTW, did Hamy's final power get any sort of foreshadowing in the novels?
It seems that love can survive without memory, in Mirepoc and Volken's case. But as with Ruruta losing his memory of Nienu and killing her, leaving your memories leads to bad results. The mission of the Armed Librarians was to conceal the truth of the past and in the end Ruruta lost the significance of what they were doing, and caused so many atrocities Nienu could never forgive him. It seems that while past events are remembered (if a record exists, that means forever) the emotions they inspire will exist too. There definately could be more forgiveness in this philosophy; the overlaying of old memories by new one seems to be the only way people change their veiwpoint.
Hamyuts sent Noloty to deal with Enrique because she wanted Enrique to kill Noloty. I don't know it is true or not.
That part (Mirepoc lost memory) is original and I think it didn't fit in the whole theme. Love/emotion = past/memory is valid in the whole story. Acutally, in arc 5, the wizard Charlotte (the fat wizard) said to Olivia, "You don't love anyone because you have forgotten." When Olivia (and those meats) got their memories back, she then knew that she loved and was loved.
There is just one thing that i didn't grasp: why did Ruruta transfer his powers to Nieniu? I mean, i understand that all he wants is to protect her and make her happy, but if that was what he was trying to accomplish with the power transfer, why didn't he do it before?
Hamyuts killed the people inside him and made him lose his abilities. He couldn't stop her and he would die soon (Hamyuts wouldn't let him live). Giving Nieniu's ability to her could stop him losing and Nieniu's wish could be fulfilled too.
WOW, that last episode had more Crowning Moments of Awesome/Badass than I could count, felt pretty satisfying in that way (even though the power of prayer becoming important did seem cheesy...).
But one question I don't think ever got answered, did did Hamy say (multiple times to) "if you kill me you can save the world?" Did that mean that then she would be able to go into Rurta and draw the other books in for the final fight? Would her book have satisfied Neinu instead?
I think the "power of prayers" thing can be explained in this way. In Ruruta's dimension, the will power is more important than the real power. The power is stronger as the will is. So, they can the will power of the whole world to defeat Nieniu.
Yes, that was what she meant. Chacoli and she didn't know Nieniu before they got into Ruruta. So, they planned to kill Ruruta but not satisfy Nieniu.
Highlights of the Final Episode:
"I will mourn your death and celebrate your salvation" - Volken
Ireia --- super hot and super strong -> maybe her younger version is as stonger as Mokkania, which would make her as strong as Hamyuts
My Favorite Characters:
Volken, Colio, Ireia (Younger Version)
and maybe Chacoly and Hamyuts aren't so evil as first perceived
I want a spin-off of young Ireia!
Their life were twisted so they minds were twisted too.
Ok, I finished this one. It was a pile of very good ideas and very bad presentation. Their line of thought made no sense no matter how much I tried to explain it. And I'm no rookie in weird stories. Obviously the scriptwritters didn't know what they were doing.
The adaptation is not good enough.
Try the novel. Someone is translating it.
roriconfan
2010-04-06, 08:04
Review time! Feedback appreciated.
Enjoyment & Value: 5
Let me sum up my thoughts in few lines and spare you the details if you don’t want to read all the wall of text that follows. This series is in a few words full of great ideas as well as full of terrible storytelling. I really liked the themes of the story and the development of the cast but at the same time I was alienated by their illogical actions and the unsupported line of events. It is very good on a mental level and good to watch once but plain mess when seen in action or repeat.
Want to read more? Here come the rest.
Animation: 8
I really have no complaints here. Both characters and backgrounds have a pleasing to the eye amount of details and set of colors. They even have smooth animation and cool visual effects that blend good with the action. Very nice if you look at it without thinking much.
The problem comes when you try to excuse all that. For example, each Armed Librarian wears clothes that hardly fit in the setting. The world they live in is like England of the mid 20th century (giveaways are the aristocrats and the shape of the airplanes). So what does a group of people like a cowboy girl, a Hindu girl, a masked ninja and a woman running around without bra doing in here? They feel like they popped out of an rpg.
This is a minor issue really. It is just blending real history with magic. After all, it is a world where magic is far more important than technology. Yet, they seem to be wearing the same clothes almost all the time. This is again not much of an issue but imagine a woman dressed all the time as a maid in the library. She needs to go to battle. Guess what, she still is dressed as a maid. The characters simply seem to be dressed in their battle uniforms all the time… even if they are just a maid suit or a cowboy uniform. Weird…
Still, there are other issues as well, such as pretty girls always wearing revealing clothes. It’s just a minor form of fan service of course but it’s still seems like they put it there without in-story excuse.
All these seem like peanuts of course but it matters on an aesthetic level. There is no uniform or blend in all that. If you don’t try to think about it too much, it is fine.
I still take out some points for the unsupported blend and the unneeded fan service. The series would look more creditable with uniformity and not-sexualized uniforms.
Music: 8
I have the same things to say about the music. The music themes are actually good, despite being depressing. They fit the mood. Voice acting is also quite good, with almost no ridiculous pinches in voice. Still, many young and naive girls have a silly voice it may feel bad if you don’t fancy that. Sound effects during battles? No complaints.
Now the thing I really didn’t like. The talking! So much of it! They went overboard with the things a monologue can achieve. It feels like the plot is driven by long philosophical monologues and not by the power to blow up entire buildings.
It wouldn’t be an issue if the dialogues were great and excused … but they are not. They are ridiculously cryptic, symbolic and in the long run unneeded to the point of confusing you for no reason. This is obviously done to make the series feel more mystical and it works up to a point. Still, since the story is one big mess of out-of-place events, all that talking is actually quite superficial despite the really psychological and philosophical issues it encompasses.
So I take out some points because of the ridiculous use of all that talking. Keeping it more simple and working on the actual line of thought would be far better.
Story: 3
So much potential, so much BS ruining all of it. Just like the previous sections, it looks gorgeous if you don’t think about it much and yet it makes no sense if you do. First of all, it is like the entire story is made to be a mockery of ideals and high expectations. Take that, politically correct idiots! I liked that. The main idea is rather original, believe it or not. It is a world where you turn to a stone tablet, simply called a book, when you die. Anyone touching this book can see all your memories and practically learn from your life experiences. That is a wonderful concept. So the clash in the story is two religions, one that gathers and stories all books in a library and one that abuses them in order to advance in life and reach heaven (enlightment). It sounds so awesome at first that I was expecting to see some really deep and mindstorming stories. And I did up tot a point. But the excuse of all that… Nothing. Everything felt so unsupported that I lost track and gave up trying to be emerged in the world.
So what’s with the library? The good guys, called Armed Librarians, store the books in a dungeon full of monsters in order to protect them by those who want to abuse them. Yet they need to fight those monsters themselves when they want to get a book for any reason and that counts as training. All that in order to be strong against the New World religion, a bunch of fascist bastards who believe that there are real people who deserve their book to ascend to heaven and treat all those not worthy as cattle, soulless piles of meat they exploit in the most inhuman ways possible. This is where most of the interesting themes of the series come from. Many bottom level people are tortured and abused to turn to mindless weapons and murderers and the shock value of watching them doing all those horrible things in the name of their leaders is something worth paying attention to. Many of these Meats as they call them are turned to human bombs, with sole purpose to grab an Armed Librarian and turn kamikaze. Others are tortured to hone their magical powers only to be used as batteries by their True Human leaders. All that create a very interesting story generator.
It feels like I am talking about the characters and not the story all this time, right? Well, it is expected as the story is 100% character driven, leaving the backdrop story as an excuse for the human tragedy to unfold. Which is also the downfall of the story as well as in all honest makes no sense at all.
The first three episodes are used to explain to the viewer what is going on in this world. How do they do that? By monologue! Instead of showing us all that in practice, they blabber for several minutes explaining things they normally have no reason to mention as they are all self-explained on their part. What a cheap way to be introduced to the story! The scriptwriters really didn’t bother showing us, they just threw in a blunt monologue and forcefeeded us all the backdrop story.
“Hi, I am this and I do that and that one works like that and the other one is like that.”
Well, thanks guys, that shows how stupid you think we are!
So the first episodes feel really bad in terms of pacing. The mid episodes are in fact the peak of interest as they are all practically flashbacks of all the characters, showing their stores and present status. This is a really interesting part as rarely do you see such strong character emersion in such short amount of time. It still feels disjoined of course, as it happens almost at random, but it is still cool.
The final episodes is when we finally return to present time and see the final confrontation of… em… of… Ok, I have no idea what is going on in the last arc. I mean, I see their motives, I see their thoughts, I see their strategies… and it makes no sense! Going from point A to point B happens in a totally unsupported way. And I’m no rookie in weird and complicating stories. I watched NGE, SE Lain, Ergo Proxy and many more. I got all their line of thought and motivations there. They made sense. Here? I DON’T GET IT AT ALL!
There is this savior who saves the world by killing everyone and then for no reason he loses his memory and people are born again, and then two religions fight to kill one another’s leaders but it is all a set up as they both work for the same goal and the memories are needed to empower something and triggered by the love of a little girl and there are android super soldiers, and there is a mind controlling lizard and a spell that makes snow appear that makes everyone fall to a coma, and a bioorganic weapon made to stop him and she loves death and death is salvation and there is a disease and a witch of the past and monsters in the dungeon and lies, tragedy, deception, DOOPIDY DOOPIDY DOO, I DON’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.
If an experienced viewer like me has a really hard time to understand the story, I can only imagine what a problem it will be for everyone else. Heck, it makes Xamdou Lost Memories to feel like a walk in the park. I have heard over the net various explanations and speculations and they all sound fine while reading them. That still does not change the fact that in-story it is a big pile of nonsense and it would really help if you simply don’t give a damn about the story at all. Pay attention to the characters and NOT THE RIDICULOUS STORY.
Do you know what I say about all that pile of BS I lost hours thinking about? Read the following only if you have watched the series.
The lover of the savior was killed for no given reason. That triggered a line of events that happened for no reason. And then the current director of the Armed Librarians, ms. Huge Boobs, was there to kill the savior from day one. Well, why didn’t she? He was right at the palm of her hands and he was defenseless and oblivious to his powers; why did she need to wait for decades until the world is about to end in order to do something? And why did all this mess happen in the first place? Why didn’t they just tell the truth about what happened in the past? They had the witch’s book that proved her innocence; they also had a billion other books revealing the past. That is why they were gathering the books, right? To learn from the past. Why didn’t they? What the hell is all that?
So please, pay no attention to the story. It is quite obvious that it will be shitty to begin with if it includes amnesia, mind control and magic gismos. No well-written story would implement amnesia to slow down the plot, magic to allow the bad guys to appear and disappear at will. And in no chance in hell would it forcefeed us all the backdrop story through monologues in the first episodes!
Characters: 7
Few, now that I got that out of the system, let’s move to the cast. Half there is to be said is already in the story section. Most characters receive a great amount of attention. Each one has this long flashback in the mid episodes that excuses his/her motives and fleshes him/her out. Very good work indeed; it even shows them holding items and mentioning quotes that play a role in later episodes. Not everyone gets one though; that cowboy girl is just a cowboy girl. But in all you do feel something for the characters. They even show them having sex! How big balls does a series needs to have in order to show them having sex? PG15?
Too bad the ridiculous story ruins their credibility. How was that boy turned to a mind controlling lizard? Why was the leader of the opposing religion making his head invisible? The oversexualised image they gave to females also hurts as it turns them to fapping material that detracts a lot from the sympathy you could feel from them. And then there is the drone-making gizmos. Boy, do I hate drone-making gizmos! What on Earth does a mind controlling lizard doing in a character driven story? It flushes down the toilet all sense of personality importance if it can turn people to mindless killers in a few seconds. Yes, you heard me right, one moment they are good villagers minding their business, the exact next they are suicide bombers, brainlessly wasting their lives by dropping into the heroes. Where did they get all the bombs anyway? Was bomb creation arts part of the brainwashing package? Wow, great deal, be brainwashed now and get the knowledge to create bombs for free. Order now! But it doesn’t stop there. No, really, it doesn’t. A few episodes later, snow is falling from the sky that throws people to coma. Yes, magic comatose snow. There goes the importance of characters again, they just threw in another gizmo to mass control them. In practice, it was just a cheap way to keep everyone out of the way during the final battle. Boy, that was an insult to my intelligence!
That concludes my rant for the day. It all comes down to tastes as usual and this was in all a mixed bag. Smart and stupid at the same time. A normal anime that is. I would recommend this to people who like watching anime without thinking much about it and fancy character emersion and political incorrect stories. I would not recommend it to people who want easy to digest or rationalized anime. Take your pick.
Highlights of the Final Episode:
"I will mourn your death and celebrate your salvation" - Volken
Ireia --- super hot and super strong -> maybe her younger version is as stonger as Mokkania, which would make her as strong as Hamyuts
My Favorite Characters:
Volken, Colio, Ireia (Younger Version)
and maybe Chacoly and Hamyuts aren't so evil as first perceived
Sad that all my favorites died. I was hoping for some kind of miracle at the end but once I saw Hamyuts poof, I knew it was not coming. :(
Battler-kun
2010-04-12, 11:18
Cheesy ending, but i am not unhappy.
Mirepoc after 10 years is really hot.
But i wonder what happened with the rest like Enrique?
Is it covered in the VN?
Who did Mirepoc marry?
I really want to know.
finally finished this, it was a funny experience which can be described as:
the first few episodes were like they tell their story and dont care what u think, very confusing and chars with funny names... but somehow managed to keep we following
the story gets better at the mid-way point, especially the sad ones, started to get used to the chars and the way they act
the ending is acceptable but not really great, i guess it is hard for me to believe so many chars go from "im gonna kill u" to "i will protect u" in such a short time
overall i think this is the surprise title of the last 2 seasons, worth to watch
OkamiNoKaze
2010-04-20, 01:51
Finished this series, it was great, definitely a sleeper hit. There aren't many anime out there with a mature, thought provoking story like this series had. Noloty was my favorite, her fate was sad, but I was glad to see her again in the finale, I think a story focused on the cowgirl would have been interesting, she seems a character I could have liked more if she was fleshed out a little more. The ending was great seeing all them characters
Listening to the soundtrack, and wow does it deliver. All the pieces i wanted from the series are here, together with some i don't remember all that well. I think a rewatch is in order, especially seeing as though i wouldn't mind watching it again.
Anyone else listened to it yet?
Black-tsundere
2010-05-07, 06:02
Listening to the soundtrack, and wow does it deliver. All the pieces i wanted from the series are here, together with some i don't remember all that well. I think a rewatch is in order, especially seeing as though i wouldn't mind watching it again.
Anyone else listened to it yet?
i havn't yet, did you buy it. i've only continued to listen to the music the play's in the trailer, and it's just epic. i can just imagine how epic the ost is going to be
EDIT.
no worries i found it :D
OkamiNoKaze
2010-05-10, 09:30
Nothing really stood out for me scorewise, though it's rare if it does. I did like Ali Projects Opening song though.
Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series. [ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-03/sentai-filmworks-licenses-the-book-of-bantorra-anime)]
I'm really surprised that it got licensed. As much as I love this series, I thought that the general lack of fans during the initial showing would forever doom this series. So many people missed out on this one because it defied quite a few of today's conventions for anime story-telling.
News of the licensing has given me reason to re-watch the show and damn...a 2nd viewing of this show is definitely recommended to see how the seeds of future events were planted and then woven into a complex tapestry.
vBulletin® v3.8.6, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.