Basquash! (Shoji Kawamori & Thomas Romain's New Project)

[BitColdSnow]

Originally Posted by Somnus

First off, those pics you posted are awesome Midonin.

Now about the ep, as always Basquash! continues being a solid show. I can never get tired of Dan's "Tracer" shots (that's what they're called, right?), they're too shiny not to watch. Though I have to say I enjoyed this moment too...

Dan: Ah! Idol Red!!
*They point at each other silently for a minute*
Rouge: It's Rouge

Hard to imitate on a forum but the way she said it made me laugh. Always love the moments between those two. Now for another week long wait for the next ep.

Same, still loving those DanxRouge moments.

Originally Posted by rg4619

Regarding the change of director, co-creator Thomas Romain apparently offered an explanation on the Catsuka forums:



The gist of it is that there were already creative conflicts between Itagaki and the sponsors for months before the show aired (so this wasn't merely a sudden post-launch reaction). Nevertheless, he refused to bend, despite the apprehension of the producers.

Romain also expressed confidence in Eiichi Sato, who is reputed to be Satelight's go-to guy in the midst of a production crisis (i.e. Kissdum: Engage Planet).



If that were the case, this shake-up would probably not have happened. There hasn't been a whole lot of buzz among otaku and it's a late-night show, so I'm sure some might take it as a discouraging sign.

Creative conflicts, eh? Does that relate to animation or any major points in the plot?

[ReddyRedWolf]

Originally Posted by blewin

there's still a lot about Miyuki's background that is missing and interesting. She left for the moon when she was little, right? For Dan, who has always wanted to go to the moon, why didn't he ask Miyuki about it? Why didn't Miyuki talk about it? Why did she go to the moon? (probably something to do with her grandpa?)

and I'd love to see more flashbacks of the younger gang in Rolling town, Miyuki and the three guys.

Its not that an wanted to go to the moon when he was a kid its that Coco was injured.

Given how he forgot about Miyuki I doubt he knows she went to the moon.

As for Miyuki I got the feeling she has it for Dan to be a means to an end.

Her flashback included where there was an explosion, calling her parents.

[blewin]

Originally Posted by ReddyRedWolf

Its not that an wanted to go to the moon when he was a kid its that Coco was injured.

Given how he forgot about Miyuki I doubt he knows she went to the moon.

As for Miyuki I got the feeling she has it for Dan to be a means to an end.

Her flashback included where there was an explosion, calling her parents.

I know. He still wants to go to the moon and get Coco's legs healed. I just realised by looking at that scene with Coco in episode 11 that she's Physically following the team? She isn't sitting back home getting information from Slash, she's actually Following the team! which implies she'll also go to the moon when Dan does.

Is there an explosion in Miyuki's flashback? thanks, I don't remember that bit at all.

Ep 11 is a quiet episode compared to others. Less action, less flashy and more concentration on character and place. I suppose that's a nice break in terms of pacing. It's funny how Dan doesn't ever do anything that Alan expects. Looks like the show's setting up for something big in ep 12.

[Cirocco]

I missed the banter and chemistry between Dan, Miyuki, Ganz, Bel, Soichi, and Haruka (and even Sela and Iceman) when they were residing in Rollingtown. In fact, I miss Rollingtown, it had its own personality, quirkiness, and charm that felt very much like a living, breathing home.

I hope the series steers back to that core group and, eventually, back to Rollingtown while advancing the main plot and any surprising subplots. The creative spark that ignited this colorful vibrant series seems to have faded. Right now, I'm mildly unimpressed with the "road trip" episodes so far. They feel like light-weight fillers, with no payoff. But I remain faithful that future episodes will toss me to the moon.

[Midonin]

We've already got signs of Dan starting to overcome his guilt, some revelation on Sela and Iceman's backstories and a few other hints being dropped. I wouldn't throw around the term "filler" so easily.

[Westlo]

Originally Posted by Eleonore Magilinon

One question I have left is why Basquash! doesn't have it's own subforum? It's ongoing and well... at least it's better than Valkyria Chronicles and even it has it's own subforum... Basquash! is the most popular ongiong in Japan right now! (Or it least it surely was for quite some time)

Eh... this

http://hashihime.blogspot.com/2009/0...-and-rest.html

and amazon pre order rankings show that's far from the truth... it's not exactly Macross Frontier...

[Cirocco]

Originally Posted by Midonin

We've already got signs of Dan starting to overcome his guilt, some revelation on Sela and Iceman's backstories and a few other hints being dropped. I wouldn't throw around the term "filler" so easily.

I'd say those are incidental character developments, but overall the pacing of the "road trip" episodes is, in my opinion, flat. I believe the "Rollingtown" episodes succeeds in establishing the characters, but the follow-up in the "road trip" episodes have been lukewarm. It could be the presentation of the current storyline that's affecting my enjoyment. I'm being fed bits and pieces of the characters and story, with little sense of meaningful progress. I still find this series worth watching, and I'm curious about the direction of the future episodes.

[BetoJR]

Not really a wildly popular show - but I like it just fine, anyway.
As for the subforum bit, honestly, this show doesn't generate even a significant fraction of the Valkyria Chronicles posts (just to keep it in perspective, since that one was used as an example) and that subforum isn't even a terribly active one. It's sad, but it is what it is.

[Kiavik]

Whaaaat?! It looks like 2 10-minutes long episodes aired this week instead of a 20-minute long one, and the second one has a different opening!

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by Cirocco

I'd say those are incidental character developments, but overall the pacing of the "road trip" episodes is, in my opinion, flat. I believe the "Rollingtown" episodes succeeds in establishing the characters, but the follow-up in the "road trip" episodes have been lukewarm. It could be the presentation of the current storyline that's affecting my enjoyment. I'm being fed bits and pieces of the characters and story, with little sense of meaningful progress. I still find this series worth watching, and I'm curious about the direction of the future episodes.

I have to agree with you.
It isn't like I don't enjoy the series anymore but right now it has become less focused than what it was before. I still think that ep 7 was the high point of the series and haven't seen anything yet to surpass the feeling I had when watching that episode (utter enjoyment).
Lukewarm is a good word to put it...hopefully it will get back on track soon. That said I still love the series and think it is way better than a lot of other stuff currently airing. I think the characters play a big part in that since I just can't fault the cast. They feel so 3D and each have their own unique story to tell.

This was what I liked about ep 11, finally some Sela and more Iceman development. Dan didn't play much of a role besides throwing that ball but through some fluke he managed to touch the hearts of those around him. They say that idiots are quite lucky
For the most part Flora is still pretty useless and her 6th sense lines are getting a tad old..."the wind is changing" yadda yadda.

Originally Posted by Kiavik

Whaaaat?! It looks like 2 10-minutes long episodes aired this week instead of a 20-minute long one, and the second one has a different opening!

Whaaaaaaa?
Where did this come from?

[Kiavik]

The image thread on 2chan was filled with "Whaat? It already ended?!" and then pics of the other opening and the following episode.
I really dont get it.

[golthin]

Originally Posted by Kiavik

The image thread on 2chan was filled with "Whaat? It already ended?!" and then pics of the other opening and the following episode.
I really dont get it.

isn't this the episode where the new director starts taking over?

[NaweG]

Originally Posted by golthin

isn't this the episode where the new director starts taking over?

Supposedly not until episode 17.

[golthin]

Originally Posted by NaweG

Supposedly not until episode 17.

really, If the other director had not been doing a good job, firing him after he had done 16 episodes is silly. unless the series is more than 24 episodes.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Wait so we've got a Lucky Star/Gundam 0083 scenario on our hands now? This is the first I've actually heard of this. When did they announce that the show had had a director change?

[NaweG]

Originally Posted by golthin

really, If the other director had not been doing a good job, firing him after he had done 16 episodes is silly. unless the series is more than 24 episodes.

I'm just repeating what it says here:
http://forums.animesuki.com/showthre...31#post2456631

Whether it makes sense or not is not a decision I was asked about

[Tangerine]

Originally Posted by Westlo

Eh... this

http://hashihime.blogspot.com/2009/0...-and-rest.html

and amazon pre order rankings show that's far from the truth... it's not exactly Macross Frontier...

April 27...

[mechdra]

Spoiler for Ep 12:

Weird episode. It seems like the new director is challanging the fans . There is action and character development.

[Midonin]

Spoiler for Basquash! 12 - 20,000 Seas Under the League:

A shortened(?) Citron version of the OP, more eccentric characters than you can shake a stick at, blatant cheating and school buses, Sela leaping on Dan's head. Episode previews in the middle of the episode and fake commercials. An experiment in metafiction and completely interrupting the format of a usual episode.

Then again, to me, saying "weird episode" is like saying "I will gladly drink your Kool-Aid or Kool-Aid like substance, and then add more sugar to it than the FDA would approve of." So, in short, I greatly enjoyed this.

[rg4619]

Originally Posted by golthin

really, If the other director had not been doing a good job, firing him after he had done 16 episodes is silly. unless the series is more than 24 episodes.

Yes, with storyboards for 16 episodes already finished, it seems too late for anything to be accomplished.

I think the question is whether replacing Itagaki was a move to salvage the show or whether it was simply punishment for being uncooperative and then failing to deliver (i.e. they've already given up on the series and are now setting an example). Since the sponsors made the call, I'd imagine that Itagaki's directorial future might be in question.