It actually did not fail at all. Star Date is one of the top episodes of the entire series.
LoveMeKags
2012-11-09 11:54
We're talking about direction here, magnus.
Yes; in your respect, the episode was decent, fair, and loved by many fans.
But in the sense of the episode leading towards something, the directors and animators seemed conflicted on the direction in which the story was headed for that particular scene, especially with one looking around constantly for something we never see (which gives props to AR fans like myself who notice this behavior) and the other playing around without gaining his attention UNTIL he notices she's not following him (once again this happens off screen leading to him walking back into view to reclaim her and continue onward to another completely awkward scene that is randomly placed into the equation). The whole direction of that scene never made sense during its run and still doesn't make sense to me now. If he wasn't looking for Ranka that whole time then who IS he looking for because Sheryl is following behind him not in front? If you think about it logically, the creators really screwed that up if the direction was laid on Sheryl.
magnuskn
2012-11-09 14:58
I think the only scene which really was badly done in that episode was the lead-up to them going to Folmo. And only in the sense that there was a possible dual interpretation why Alto took Sheryl there.
Then again, maybe that wasn't unintentional at all. The writers sure did know how to keep the audience still guessing until the end, after all.
Matts
2012-11-09 15:14
I'm trying to look for all the small sings linking the three together and didn't think he was searching for Ranka at all, just hanging around while Sheryl explored. He would have had time to look for Ranka while Sheryl was busy writing her lyrics, but what did he do? Ask about why people sing and fly, while folding a paper plane and letting it fly off.
They might have wanted to add something with him noticing Ranka the first time, but it never went anywhere. I thought episode 6 had a better moment for AR shippers that none of them seem to bring up, or I just missed it, but Ranka never acted on that so that just highlighted the problem she and Alto have with communicating as far as I see it.
Only had time to watch 3 episodes now, so I'm behind, but I'm having problems with my health again, will finish the rest when I get to it.
Spoiler for Episode 07 - First Attack:
-If the communication between Ranka and Alto had been better, she could totally have turned this into a date, even if he was not going to make it in the end.
-VF-backpack in Alto's seat, that's cute.
-Sheryl gets a magical girl sequence. The visuals on stage are so cool. Not as good as the movies, but still really awesome if you imagine how this would look like in real life.
-Earring shines.
-Planet Dance.
-Ranka enjoying the concert.
-Canaria is pretty great.
-The animation quality is dropping again, Sheryl looks like a stick and Ranka like a 6 year old. The latter is in the first movie and I can tell how much they changed it, it's one of the scenes where Ranka looks her best.
-Grace is picking up everything, the state of the battle and Sheryl.
-Oh no! Shota-kun was captured! I actually was worried for Luca, he is a friend of the lead and looked the part of exposable character.
-Sheryl's soft side shows again.
-And earring power + foreshadowing! She can hear Ranka for a reason, this was interesting when I first watched this episode.
-Ranka getting herself together and giving a heads-up to Sheryl this time around.
-Sheryl will sing for everyone fighting. And Ranka, seeing this, will sing along.
-Transformation! And God, I love Bobby.
-Banana sanjou!
-Earring at full power, transmitting the voices of Ranka and Sheryl. And only the voices of these two. Hm.
-That. Is still one of the best scenes in MF. And what do I think, Bobby? I think it was amazing. And so are you.
-The Lucifer would be more intimidating if they used a different color.
-The ending of foreshadows. Aimo, Banana's harmonica and the earring.
-Credits have the three mains together, Sheryl listed as second again.
Spoiler for Episode 08 - Highschool Queen - the horrors of low budget animation:
-I think it was ghostlightning who said this epsiode can burn in hell or something? Well, he was right. The idea was great but it didn't live up to it.
-This is so bad, it hurts my eyes. At least I love the carrot song enough for it to distract me a little. But the rest...
-Grace is multifunctional.
-V-type infection. and an awkward moment for Cathy.
-My eyes. Anyway, as far as I see it, right now the situation for the main trio is: Alto is friends with both girls, Ranka is falling for Alto faster than Sheryl. Since she saw Alto getting a kiss from Sheryl at Folmo and him lying she has been uncomfortable with her feelings. She doesn't know yet how much she's crushing on Alto. She also knows that Sheryl somehow knew of the mission SMS went on, she doesn't know just how close Alto and Sheryl really are, this also makes her feel uncomfortable when Sheryl is around.
Meanwhile, Sheryl is glad to see Ranka because she really likes her, and Alto's here, whom she also likes, all the better.
-Luca really is a perv. I love how even Nanase joins in with the boys to point out who the princess is.
-Sheryl as a pilot was one of the great idea that could have been taken further. Well, kind of was, but that's for later. The other was Ranka in school with Alto.
-Sorry, Michael, Sheryl can see right through you.
-Even the eye-catch is a joke, they know this sucks. Strangely enough it seems this is the best animation in the entire episode.
-Sheryl being nice, again, Ranka spoke! and shut up, Nanase... Sheryl asking Nanase the question shows that she's not getting the hint that Nana-chan is defending Ranka. Why would she though, Alto said they were not dating and Ranka has done absolutely nothing in this episode so far.
The fact that even Ranka can't get the hint about why Nanase was so rude speaks volumes.
I'll be fair to Nanase here, she was being a friend as it looks like she understands that Ranka is quiet for a reason. But Ranka should and will deal with this herself.
-I don't think even Sheryl knows at this point why she wants to spend so much time with Alto. She likes her a lot, but love? Michael gets it though.
-Ranka talks and is a sport. And so is Sheryl. Another sweet moment.
-Only so that the mayhem can begin... Sheryl being the mentor to Ranka even in this situation, and Ranka being a good kouhai.
-Poor Ranka, Leon screwing her over, again. Sheryl didn't know when the timing for her special would be, said so in the shower. The person who did was Grace. It's similar to the Miss Macross contest where Sheryl cheered her on only for Leon to screw the poor kid over. She can't catch a break. There's something here that I'll get back too later on in the series.
-The Princess saves the Queen. Poor Luca.
-Ranka sings Aimo while Alto and Sheryl fly.
-Mysteryman.
-All three mains together in the credits, Sheryl is second, no surprise.
Spoiler for Episode 09 - Friendly fire:
-Michael is right, Grace really is beautiful. Wonder if that line she said was meant to strike a nerve there? It yes, it worked. It's nice getting back to character development.
-Michael always reminds me of a young Roy Focker.
-Alto trying to prove himself actually makes it seem even more like his just acting, but he still has a long way to go to find that out.
-Frontier already has more problems to deal with than just the war against the Vajra.
-It takes a lot to get Michael this angry.
-Elmo probably has to work overtime to get jobs for Ranka, since Leon is messing with them behind the scenes. And Ranka can't get harmonica-guy out of her head.
-Alto and his communication again. It must have been strange that their quarell at the beginning didn't go in the direction it normally does. The new situation pushed Alto out of balance. He did ask in his own way this time, after Michael almost shot him, but shouting just got things worse. Alto cares for his friends a lot, but didn't know how to deal with the problem. Reminds me of the shelter scene when he couldn't comfort Ranka when she was in a state of shock.
He is quick to fly into action and try to save people, but talking is another subject.
-Canaria, the wise. Michael had it though, but he really shouldn't treat Klan like that. And he knows.
-Alto and Sheryl are talking, while it started out with a silly request, it's worth noting that Sheryl started asking questions and turned the discussion into something meaningful. She really wants to get to know him and goes about it in the way any normal person would. I really like this scene because it feels so normal.
-So, why do you fly, Alto?
-Ranka is doing idol work. I would take what she's handing out, but I would have taken the carrots too.
Elmo has his job cut out for him thanks to Leon and Grace. Ranka has a better chance promoting herself live at this point, since the amazing Grace can hack into anything online or even on air.
-Bobby, how I love you so.
-Was the guy with the beard Jouji kantoku?
-At this point Brera is like a creepy stalker, I would so call the police.
-Banana being a jerk. Nice shot, Klan, though not enough, sadly.
-Now that Alto knows the story he can deal with the situation much better. This was an epsiode high on emotions, it was great to get to know Michael and Klan more, I remember that after this I felt like Klan has been there since the beginning, even though she didn't make too many appearences until now. They really fleshed out both with just one episode.
-Credits have Sheryl as second again, the three mains seperated.
@magnus: When Sheryl is looking at the cows or whatever they are Alto doesn't seem to be doing anything, he isn't looking for anyone, than it's Sheryl who asks about the mall, so the only two scenes were spotting Ranka and the one on the train with Sheryl, but it was her who dragged him there anyway. So yeah, that didn't go anywhere.
magnuskn
2012-11-10 13:34
True enough. As I said, it's only the scene with the telescope where the direction is kinda wonky, which I chalk up to them wanting to be coy about Altos intentions.
Jmac
2012-11-14 04:30
Well, just finished the series, so it's time for me to reflect.
It was good as everyone advertise. It'd be better than SDF, except for one minor detail...Alto didn't choose a girl! :frustrated: At least Hikaru was able to make up his mind...
Ep. 20 was a real tear jerker, when Micheal sacrificed himself to save Klan. I knew it was coming, but still didn't prepare me for it though. :(
Prolly my favorite song in the whole series is What 'Bout my Star duet with Sheryl and Ranka. Very awesome! But the Basara/Emilia duet of Heart and Soul my favorite of the franchise.
@magnus and Matts: Sry the only thing I remember seeing from that mall trip was Sheryl writing lyrics on some oversized panstu and Klan giving the 'wtf' face :D
Yot-chan
2012-11-14 07:48
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmac
(Post 4437989)
Well, just finished the series, so it's time for me to reflect.
It was good as everyone advertise. It'd be better than SDF, except for one minor detail...Alto didn't choose a girl! :frustrated: At least Hikaru was able to make up his mind...:D
Oh, ya gotta watch the movies for that...
BetoJR
2012-11-14 08:12
You're mean, Gubaba...
Yot-chan
2012-11-14 08:33
Quote:
Originally Posted by BetoJR
(Post 4438136)
You're mean, Gubaba...
What...? I'm keepin' it real, man. I'm keepin' it real. :D
magnuskn
2012-11-14 08:36
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jmac
(Post 4437989)
It was good as everyone advertise. It'd be better than SDF, except for one minor detail...Alto didn't choose a girl! :frustrated:
Well, I always say that the series simply was ended by writers before he could do that. I'm pretty much 100% sure that Alto already had chosen before the credits rolled.
Yot-chan
2012-11-14 10:01
Quote:
Originally Posted by magnuskn
(Post 4438154)
Well, I always say that the series simply was ended by writers before he could do that. I'm pretty much 100% sure that Alto already had chosen before the credits rolled.
But he actually came out and SAID it only in the movies, right?
magnuskn
2012-11-14 12:13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yot-chan
(Post 4438220)
But he actually came out and SAID it only in the movies, right?
Well, yes. Difficult to argue against that. ^^
Tak
2012-11-14 12:24
If anyone cares, I will make a reply in the group since I know where this is going...
- Tak
Tak
2012-11-15 14:09
I think these days, it feels more like we are being reminded that Ranka actually existed as a character in Frontier.
gasp, goddess forbid we forget her! :twitch:
Though it tend to produce a complete opposite effect than perhaps what was intended.
- Tak
Yot-chan
2012-11-15 14:18
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tak
(Post 4439616)
I think these days, it feels more like we are being reminded that Ranka actually existed as a character in Frontier.
gasp, goddess forbid we forget her! :twitch:
Though it tend to produce a complete opposite effect than perhaps what was intended.
- Tak
I still like her, though.
In the series, I thought she was all right... and in the movies, I thought she was pretty damn amazing.
Tak
2012-11-15 14:20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yot-chan
(Post 4439618)
In the series, I thought she was all right... and in the movies, I thought she was pretty damn amazing.
I like her concert in the movies. I thought it was amazing.
Not so much in the series. Having certain types of fans I would never want to be alongside depicted didn't help, either.
- Tak
Yot-chan
2012-11-15 14:27
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tak
(Post 4439621)
I like her concert in the movies. I thought it was amazing.
I still think "Niji-iro Kuma Kuma" was the best sequence in the second movie.
Tak
2012-11-15 14:36
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yot-chan
(Post 4439627)
I still think "Niji-iro Kuma Kuma" was the best sequence in the second movie.
