Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory - Episode 2 Discussion / Poll

[Kairin]

Welcome to the discussion thread for Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory, Episode 2.

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[EroKing]

The OP is good, ED looks beautiful. Coming to the episode, quite the S class driving skills shown by Sousuke
The action was quite fast and Chidori is starting to look scared of Sagara being used to war and people dying.

Back to base, Tessa has her hands full with the enemy waves hitting them one after the other. Nice short speech by her as the Captain to quell any treasonous thoughts they might have had, which would have affected their morale fighting on the same side. They now also have to figure out a way to fight 3 of those Behemoths. Back to Chidori, she gets a mail showing her friend Kyoko has been taken hostage and the others in danger too. These 2 episodes have been quite eventful so far.

[Stark700]

Wow, that was intense. The psychology reminded me of a bit of Second Raid and it didn't waste time to get right into the action. Chidori's fear is starting to get to her.

Tessa's role in this episode is also important for her fierce personality and she got her point across. The theme songs were also done well imo and even the CG usage didn't bother me. What a cilffhanger too! I hope this show can keep this level of momentum.

So far, I'm fairly impressed.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Oof......the all-CG car chase leaves something to be desired. It's fast and intense but it also reminds me of earlier Initial D car races. The CG cars & CG environment during the chase needs more shading and work to make it look more solid & detailed and less like PS2 graphic especially during the switches between CG-Alastor with handdrawn-Alastor. It's a real pity since the CG outside of the car chase look good-to-great. But I guess it's understandable to cut corners when it comes to a little car chase that's not too important when it comes to the bigger picture.

Other than that, everything is mighty fine. Not a fan of the OP, but the ED is quite good. And hey, my buddy Behemoth made another appearance . This time looking fine and dynamic (no more still frames).

[foxbox360]

she no princess, she a war goddess....say her name, bitch.

[Klashikari]

Going to be blunt: this episode alone was really a hard blow for me. The car chase was absurdely jarring in its modelization but also pacing and all. Frankly, having the 3D and 2D phases shifting right after another made the CGI quality even worse than it already was.
Meanwhile, the opening made it quite clear how the CGI won't be really any good visually, and seeing the Arbalest standing out so much like that just doesn't cut it in my books.
I realize talents specialized in mecha and machines are exceedingly rare nowadays, but at this point, I'm afraid to say you can't justify everything "because it is best to have a series than nothing at all". I just don't understand why they didn't hire Orange for the CGI.

If it was just the CGI, I could probably be fine to a certain degree, but even the storyboard left a lot to be desired. There wasn't really much camera works either, and most enemies where pretty much sitting ducks, even the Alastor who were supposed to be relentless (that one in the streets take the cake in term of doing nothing at all).
That remix of plan 1056 wasn't too bad (sort of muffled?) but that was the only part of the runaway sequence where the music had some kind of impact (minus the nostalgy effect from FMP1).

At least, I was quite satisfied how they did the confrontation between Speck and Tessa. Likewise, Kaname's behaviour were on point when it comes to her panic, but also how she couldn't stomach all that violence, making her afraid of Sousuke as result.
But that's basically the saving grace of this episode for me.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

even the Alastor who were supposed to be relentless (that one in the streets take the cake in term of doing nothing at all).

Which one?

Originally Posted by Klashikari

I just don't understand why they didn't hire Orange for the CGI.

Not enough budget for it?

[Klashikari]

The one that barged out of nowhere and punched the wall (right before when Sousuke and Kaname had to abandon that kid who got hurt by the grenade shrapnel).
Its entrance was fine, but then, it simply took a defensive stance when Sousuke used his submachine gun.
It makes sense for the Alastor to protect its sensor, but I'd expected it to do that while running towards Sousuke considering regular ammo deal minor damage against their plating.

[dasvik]

Contrary to Obelisk, I absolutely loved the OP (if you read the novels and know what happens, this OP is a real treat imo), but I think the ED is kinda crappy, to put it bluntly.

Even though it's obvious it's CGI, I enjoyed the car chase scene, I think it looked way better than that moving Codarl in the first episode.

Other than that, I really liked the attention to details. I don't watch a lot of action / mecha anime aside from TSF, so maybe this is more or less the norm, but it's nice to see small burning debris going past S & K as the helicopter exploded, those few still shots of the damage the missiles did on Merida Island Base, and Tessa pushing the safety on the gun - I mean, they could've just had her give the gun back to the soldier, but they actually animated a close-up of the gun with the safety being turned on - that's called detail in my book.

And as others have pointed out, Chidori's reactions to being exposed to the "horrors of war" are very well shown, from being repulsed / shocked watching people die to realizing how cold-blooded and cool-headed Sousuke can actually be when needed, making him appear inhuman at times (she was probably thinking at one point about what Leonard said, him having killed more than 100 people).

Also, I found that scene when everyone's looking at Kurz to be pretty funny... "who among you has actually fought a Behemoth and damaged it?"

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by dasvik

Contrary to Obelisk, I absolutely loved the OP (if you read the novels and know what happens, this OP is a real treat imo), but I think the ED is kinda crappy, to put it bluntly.

I don't mind the OP visual but the a-a-u a-a-a chorus (or whatever you call it) feels weird and a bit forced to me. On the other hand, the ED flows more naturally to my ears.

[Dash_Hunter]

Very good episode! not as good as last one but still very enjoyable. I really liked the OP but the ED not so much, the song is fine but I think it's too simple, maybe it will grow on me.

The only thing I really disliked was the CG car chase, I was immersed but every time they changed from 2D to 3D objects it was bad, on the other hand seeing the CG Arbalest in action didn't bother me as much, maybe because I'm used to CG mechs by now, and judging from the OP the future battles maybe be decent as long as they don't use CG environments.

Also, why is it that everytime that Tuaha de Danann crew is under attack one or two people start to have traitorous thoughts? I know they are mercenaries, but doesn't Mythril check their profiles or make them undergo psychological tests? thankfully Tessa managed the situation pretty well.
Kaname's reaction to everything that is going on around her was understandable, but I don't know, it's not like it's the first time she has been in the middle of a battle and in those occasions she seemed much more confident, maybe it's all the collateral damage.

Finally the episode ends again with another good cliffhanger, so obviously I can't wait for the next one.

[dasvik]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

I don't mind the OP visual but the a-a-u a-a-a chorus (or whatever you call it) feels weird and a bit forced to me. On the other hand, the ED flows more naturally to my ears.

I don't mean the song / sound, I mean the visuals, or the visuals + sound as a whole. I kinda dislike a bit that a-a-a-u-a-a-a stuff too, but it tends to work with the visuals, even if it's a bit annoying when listening to it per se.

[Illsteir]

Are the ordeal in Tokyo and the siege of Merida Island happening at the same time?

It's still dark when Amalgam started attacking the island, which is situated in the Pacific. The car chase happened passed 6 am, Tokyo time. Looking at the time zones, it should be morning in Merida island when the attack began, if both events are happening simultaneously that is.

[Mad Pierrot]

Man, that was one brutal episode. I wonder if the staff had to censore parts from the light novels cos the use of so many guns and even AI could have worse repercussions (might affect Chidori more). I like the opening but not the ending (a church?)

[dasvik]

Originally Posted by Illsteir

Are the ordeal in Tokyo and the siege of Merida Island happening at the same time?

It's still dark when Amalgam started attacking the island, which is situated in the Pacific. The car chase happened passed 6 am, Tokyo time. Looking at the time zones, it should be morning in Merida island when the attack began, if both events are happening simultaneously that is.

Well, they are happening about the same time. Sousuke informs Merida about Leonard's visit at Kaname's appartment, and Kalinin tells him they will send a helicopter for them the next morning. When the helicopter left, Merida wasn't under attack, since she doesn't mention it when she talks with Sousuke, and neither was he, the attack only started when the heli was close to them.

However, there might be some delay between the attacks, and it looks like it's early morning on Merida, not night. The sky shown at Merida is still somewhat dark and there are some stars visible on it, but you can clearly see clouds, too. That's a sign of either early morning or late evening, you can't see clouds during the night.

[FlareKnight]

The car chase was just ugly, kind of wished they'd just rush through that segment so we didn't have to look at it for too long. It was a downside to this adaptation that I knew was coming. CG that just doesn't look great. Of course I'm not big on CG in anime anyways. You can make it work pretty decent in live action, but against drawn images it just stands out awkwardly.

As a whole it was a fine episode. Tessa got some moments to shine, the horrors of the situation are hitting Chidori, and the pressure remains. Amalgam really isn't messing around here.

[Yu Ominae]

IIRC, the novel mentions that Merida is located near Guam.

[Applehell]

On one hand in a kind of morbid way, Sousuke should be flattered that Amalgam is taking him seriously to throw the kitchen sink at him. Poor Chidori tho, this kind of world Sousuke lives in and unfortunately she will as long as Amalgam isn't dealt with. Agreed with complaints with CG (the chase sequence), but what is worth I did like the overall level tension present throughout the episode.

EDIT: Forgot to add that Tessa is freaking awesome!

[bakato]

Originally Posted by Applehell

On onehand kind of morbid way, Sousuke should be flattered that Amalgam is taking him seriously to throw the kitchen sink at him. Poor Chidori tho, this kind of world Sousuke lives in and unfortunately she will as long as Amalgam isn't dealt with. Agreed with complaints with CG, but what is worth I did like the overall level tension present throughout the episode.

Is this really throwing the kitchen sink? Taking hostages is terrorism 101.

[Applehell]

I mean it's not just that, but everything else. This includes what is happening at Mithril base. They trying eliminate every single avenue Sousuke and Chidori can get help/support and not even taking care to avoid harming with stray bullets. Pulling out all the stops here.