Little Busters - Episode 4 Discussion / Poll

[Kanon]

Not enough Kurugaya.

Looks like they're starting with Komari. Might as well get the worst girl out of the way first. Seems like she had a brother who died when she was very young. I'm guessing the grandpa feels responsible for some reason which is why he doesn't want to see her.

[ReinhartX]

being a huge sucker for piano themes, i was very drawn to the piano soundtrack that was played during the scene where komari read the story of the hen&egg

would like to ask if this is a new OST or it is already in the game? if its the latter would like some1 to link / pm me or something 8D

[Dizzyworld2]

Originally Posted by ReinhartX

being a huge sucker for piano themes, i was very drawn to the piano soundtrack that was played during the scene where komari read the story of the hen&egg

would like to ask if this is a new OST or it is already in the game? if its the latter would like some1 to link / pm me or something 8D

It's the unused track #3 in the original OST.

[Vegard Aune]

Originally Posted by Dizzyworld2

It's the unused track #3 in the original OST.

And also a rather strange choice to use for that scene... or indeed any scene at all, being that it's a remix of Summer Lights, Mizusu's theme from Air...

Although from what I could gather from the liner-notes in the soundtrack-booklet, Maeda originally intended for it to actually be in the game, as an original theme that merely included some subtle call-backs to Summer Lights... Only said call-backs ended up being way too obvious, so he scrapped it.

[boggart]

They're really milking Masato's "kinniku yay yay!" aren't they?

[Master_Yoma]

Finely Kud comes in but that old dude took this episode

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by novalysis

I think I know why Kurugaya is the best female character on my view, after hearing Kud's voice. Kurugaya's voice is the only female voice whose Seiyuu does not sound like she has a horrible case of flu.

The whole voice sound of this show is pretty stilted (except maybe for Hocchan as the male lead). I guess it's by design, but it doesn't do much for me. Kud's voice, in particular, seems too extreme, like a parody of Gotou Yuuko. They do seem to be using the game seiyuus for the female characters, so maybe it's game-style voice-acting, not sure. I don't believe previous Key-game anime used the game seiyuus.

The writer has written scripts for One Piece, and was lead writer on some Angelique shows, and Before Green Gables, so I guess the slow pace seems natural to her. I'm beginning to slow down enough to accept it. But the fact the humour doesn't do much for me leaves me grasping at straws (Kud, and her backstory, and Rin's strange character) for interest. This episode did put more straws in my grasp, lol.

[Free]

They sounded more or less the same in the game, though Haruka's anime voice is more subdued.

I don't think previous Key games were originally voiced, so technically they all had the same voicers as the anime.

[thundrakkon]

Wow, they actually did not go another episode to introduce another girl in the Little Busters. Well, ok, they introduced Kud, but then shoved her into oblivion. I guess they tried to get off track the game mode they were on.

So now we have an actual story going. This seems promising. It seems like Komari, like the chicken, has forgotten her past. It is also revealed that the old man is probably related to her, considering they have the same last name. He probably wants to keep her away so that he does not end up revealing what she has forgotten. What concerns me is why he is living in a nursing home? Usually children of asian families take care of their elders, so I'm wondering why Komari's mom is not taking care of him.

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

hey do seem to be using the game seiyuus for the female characters, so maybe it's game-style voice-acting, not sure. I don't believe previous Key-game anime used the game seiyuus.

Actually, the voice acting in the game is much more vibrant than the anime adaptation, which is the reason why people were so surprised by Haruka and Yuiko's initial intro (even Rin sounds a little more high pitched than usual).
As for previous Key anime, only Clannad was voiced, and they did hired all of them, except for Tomoya who got a different seiyuu (Nakamura Yuuichi) than his drama CD counterpart (Nojima Kenji)

[Meltyred]

Spoiler for Comparison to the game:

Hmm Komari route, whose existence my mind blanked out...
Let's see if I can blank out the anime version...
Feels a bit too fast to jump into a route though, seeing as Mio didn't even appear yet (omg why).

[orpheus2]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

Wow, they actually did not go another episode to introduce another girl in the Little Busters. Well, ok, they introduced Kud, but then shoved her into oblivion. I guess they tried to get off track the game mode they were on.

So now we have an actual story going. This seems promising. It seems like Komari, like the chicken, has forgotten her past. It is also revealed that the old man is probably related to her, considering they have the same last name. He probably wants to keep her away so that he does not end up revealing what she has forgotten. What concerns me is why he is living in a nursing home? Usually children of asian families take care of their elders, so I'm wondering why Komari's mom is not taking care of him.

I am guessing the old man and Komari's mom had a disagreement. Most likely, it is regarding Komari's brother. The old man may have been a part of the reason why the brother died.

[Arturia Polaris]

Best moment? Kengo going into the class just to back off as if nothing happened.

Arty

[Ceral]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Actually, the voice acting in the game is much more vibrant than the anime adaptation, which is the reason why people were so surprised by Haruka and Yuiko's initial intro (even Rin sounds a little more high pitched than usual).
As for previous Key anime, only Clannad was voiced, and they did hired all of them, except for Tomoya who got a different seiyuu (Nakamura Yuuichi) than his drama CD counterpart (Nojima Kenji)

Kyoanis' adaptations took the VAs from the all ages versions of the games (Kanon 2002 and Kanon AA for PS2 came out in January and Feb respectively though, but the VAs were consistent.). Key Adaptations have always done a great job getting back their original VAs. I've always thought that the VAs sounded better in the anime than the VNs, but maybe it's that this group is more used to doing VNs and not anime, unlike past VAs who were mostly known for their anime roles. (Just a fun fact, the only time they've ever changed a main characters VA in any sort of derivative product is in Tomoyo After, who coincidentally is voiced by Kurugaya .)

I guess the episode itself was entertaining enough, but I am really dreading how rushed and discombobulated the show has felt so far. I really feel like there should be more of an introduction period for all of the characters as they get eased into the team. Almost every scene since episode 2 has felt like a random scene with a heroine, where's the direction? If they're still searching for teammates, I'd like to be reminded of this and see them actually scouting around making it a large part of their agenda and feel that this is their main goal at that particular moment. The scenes now, feel too random, I'd like to see them set up these scenes better.

[Triple_R]

I agree with comments like "disjointed" and "discombobulated".

Say what you will about the first three episodes, but there was a "method to the madness".

It kept the whole "Kyousuke wants to make a baseball team as his ultimate final act as a high-schooler" overarching plot in focus. And Episodes 2 and 3 each took care to introduce a new, major female cast member.

But with Episode 4, it's like the anime just got bored with this approach half-way through introducing Kud, and said "Enough of this boring girl of the week stuff; let's get into Komari's arc right away!"

It's kind of jarring.


Mind you, each individual scene is a pleasant enough watch, it's just that there's something missing from their overall flow.

A few other comments:

1) Does Kud actually go around wearing a cape all the time? If so, that's pretty cool.

2) Komari is growing on me with this episode. She's like a Special Ed version of Clannad's Nagisa. I have to admit I find Komari kind of cute and amusing.

3) The Yuri fan in me is really liking both the Komari/Rin moments and Kurugaya's fondness for females. I have to admit I love imagining that Rin is lesbian, because it makes her shyness towards Komari so very adorable!


Edit: I just came up with a nickname for Komari - Special K!

[halibonga]

kojiro looked very different and had a different voice from the vn, kud is awesome as expected, dat ENGRISH lol

[Snuffle]

I agree the pacing is off, I feel it's really abrupt and doesn't flow very well. I'm a person that takes the flow of a story as something really important for me to enjoy a show (minus the artwork). It's not a train wreak yet but it's really is becoming unstable on the tracks it's riding on.

Regarding the voice acting. I don't really find that the characters sound that much different. Aside from the seiyuu's ages now (which does not seem to affect their performance), could the transmission of the voice sounding off have to do with the audio sampling or the mastering? (Is that what you call it?)

Originally Posted by Triple_R

1) Does Kud actually go around wearing a cape all the time? If so, that's pretty cool.

Interesting that you say that when you have an avatar as Sayaka in a cape atm. But to answer that question, it's not really a spoiler but I'll put it in a tag just in case.

Spoiler for game comparison about clothes Kud wears.:

She does not wear her cape and hat during school hours, but IMO, she looks much cuter without them. I find it kinda distracting due to her hair color, plus I'm not really a fan of hats in general, especially big puffy ones.

[Archon_Wing]

Hmm, Kud. Ugh, oh no she just seems to be lolicon bait. Wrong school, sis. At least she has a cape and a hat and they didn't focus too much on her.

I laughed when they were doing the chicken and egg thing. First, because chickens in anime will make me forever think of True Tears, and second I was like "Key plot device time-- this is important!"

The retirement home part helps build up Riki's character a bit, though I'm still at a grasp for what he wants and needs. In fact, after 4 episodes I still feel extremely detached from the cast. This anime is rather strange. At least I'm amused by their antics still, though Yuiko leaving her shirt unbuttoned helps, for some people at least. I do like how they're being more subtle with their dramatic mystery. Well, at least for Key standards at least. The old man might just be a cool character eventually. I do admit though, Masato doesn't work for me at all, as all his moments fall flat.

7/10

[Klashikari]

You mean Kud first name, as Noumi (能美) is Japanese. And even so, her origins are a tad "less obvious".

edit: well, beaten to it.

[Flower]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

1) Does Kud actually go around wearing a cape all the time? If so, that's pretty cool.

2) Komari is growing on me with this episode. She's like a Special Ed version of Clannad's Nagisa. I have to admit I find Komari kind of cute and amusing...

Agreed on both points - I liked Komari from the start, and imnsho Kud's fashion sense is awesome. I highly approve of walking around alot of the time in a fancy hat and a cape, and in fact (I kid you not) I do the same thing myself every day! So total approval and "validation" on my part!

Originally Posted by Archon_Wing

Hmm, Kud. Ugh, oh no she just seems to be lolicon bait. Wrong school, sis. At least she has a cape and a hat and they didn't focus too much on her....

Gah!

You only see Kud as "lolicon bait"?!

Fiend!

Well ... tbh I can kinda see where you are coming from. I just kinda thought she and Komari were adorable, but then I find myself really enjoying all the characters thus far pretty much, so perhaps the difference in our experience thus far lends itself some to my different reaction.

Still ... Kud for me is super kawaii - maybe the most kawaii anime chara for me I have seen since Yayoi of Idolma@ster.... [ponders]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

...edit: well, beaten to it.

Ninja'd!



P.S. Hate when that happens.