Da Capo

[brightman]

Originally Posted by nerull

Anyone have any idea why Sakura always refers to herself with "boku"? I don't know much about Japanese, but I thought boku was usually only used by guys, or maybe tomboyish girls. Sakura doesn't seem very tomboyish though.

Seems to be a trend with certain styles of cute anime females... From the back of my head, Ayu from Kanon and Mireille from .hack//Twilight also use it for some reason, even though they don't act very tomboy like either (though they do have personalities similar to Sakura's in some ways)

[Lord Raiden]

Episode 25??? Dude, I only see up through 21 on the site. Well, of course if they're posted elsewhere I could understand that.

[KBTKaiser]

Raiden, I'm talking about Da Capo's official site at www.hatsunejima.com
They have ep summaries up to ep 25.

[Lord Raiden]

Ah, ok. I was wondering how you got ahold of that. hehe

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by KBTKaiser

And something to keep this topic rolling...

Spoiler:

I was just glancing through hatsunejima.com and was deciphering the ep 25 summary when a lightning bolt struck me(figuratively). What are your thoughts about Nemu falling ill again?

Here's my number one fear for the ending of this show, given that I have absolutely no clue how it's going to end. I'm going to put it in spoiler tags, because there are references to things that have already happened, but obviously I have no idea what's going to happen. (I've only seen up to 21, also.)

Spoiler:

Nemu falls sick again, and when she wakes up, she can't remember anything of what's happened over the last few months. Her feelings for Asakura are gone. Then their parents come home. The dream is over, Asakura goes back to being her brother, Sakura returns to America. The end.

Or worse yet, Nemu falls sick and dies, because it was the power of the Sakura tree that kept her alive all these years... but I think that's just exceptionally cruel.

If something like that happens to end the series, I would be unbelievably upset. Please, just don't do it! At least the ending to Kanon was somewhat happy, so I still have hope...

[relentlessflame]

Aw geez... just checked out the official website and went about deciphering the Episode 25 summary also... and came up with a worse potential ending...

Spoiler:

It all really *was* all just a dream. The power of the Sakura tree was supposed to make wishes and dreams come true, but with that power gone, everyone wakes up from the dream world...

Aw geez... please don't do it! Man, I am almost dreading the ending now... but at the same time I can't wait to see what happens! Grr...

[monir]

hmm..if either of those happens, especially the first one, then I would have to say that the animators will be chickening out from all those complication they have created up to these point. They dont know how or they dont dare to do a different kind of ending. It will be sad if Nemu dies in the end. Good theories. I always thought that the easy way to end the story for them would be to show that

Spoiler:

these are all nothing but dreams of the oni-chan

edit: heh..I have just seen your second post with the spoilers..heh..

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by monir

hmm..if either of those happens, especially the first one, then I would have to say that the animators will be chickening out from all those complication they have created up to these point. They dont know how or they dont dare to do a different kind of ending. It will be sad if Nemu dies in the end. Good theories. I always thought that the easy way to end the story for them would be to show that

Spoiler:

these are all nothing but dreams of the oni-chan

Yeah, I agree - these endings would be chickening out.

One of the things that surprised me the most about this series is the recurring theme of consequences. Unlike so many anime which just kind of seem to "reset" every so often, the main characters in Da Capo made decisions, and those decisions had wide ranging consequences. Asakura's decision about Nemu, Sakura's decision about the Sakura tree... in most animes of this type (at least the ones I've seen), all these decisions would have happened right at the very very end, with only maybe one episode for denouement. In this series, though, they chose to do it a lot sooner, which really surprised me. That's why I definitely agree that any of these "bad" ending ideas would be chickening out.

Anyways, I guess all we can do now is wait and see what happens. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - the next episodes can't come quickly enough!

[Lord Raiden]

I hope they don't chicken out. Especially since I want to find out who that d*mn cat guy is!!

[KBTKaiser]

Well, here's my take on the cat guys.

Spoiler:

The cat guy who scared Nemu and Mako away from the house is probably the grumpy dad. The trenchcoated one is probably the one with the relationship with Sakura's Grandmother. And the trenchcoated one probably has a good reason to be associated with some of the girls (Kotori, Sakura, Nemu) while only watching others (Yoriko, Moe, Mako, Miharu[was she even anywhere close to the cat guys?]) Maybe a connection with the elder generation or two?

[Lord Raiden]

Good Lord, I'm sitting here watching Da Capo trying to get caught up on the episodes, and it's one side story after another. The show bounces around about as much as a soap opera almost. Sheesh. Not only that, but all the humor seems to have gone out of it and now we're riding some emotional rollercoaster from hell. Sheesh.......I want more!!

This has really got me curious for the last 5 episodes now. I wanna see how they end this, because it ought to be just something else.

[kj1980]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

Aw geez... just checked out the official website and went about deciphering the Episode 25 summary also... and came up with a worse potential ending...

Spoiler:

It all really *was* all just a dream. The power of the Sakura tree was supposed to make wishes and dreams come true, but with that power gone, everyone wakes up from the dream world...

Aw geez... please don't do it! Man, I am almost dreading the ending now... but at the same time I can't wait to see what happens! Grr...

It is "a dream," but not in the way you think of it.

If you had played the game beforehand, you will know:

Spoiler:

"Dream" in this case means something closer to "wish" in English. Everyone wishes for something.

Kotori wishes to know what everyone is thinking, so it is easier for her to live her life - so she doesn't have to put on a fake facade of joy, like she did when she was adopted into the Shirakawa family, which only isolated her from her new family because they couldn't understand her because she was always smiling.

Miharu wishes to know what the REAL Miharu lived like...so she knows she isn't "just a robot."

Yoriko-san wishes to be with Junichi-san, to fufill her owner's wishes to stand alongside with the person her owner has looked at Junichi from faraway...

Moe-senpai wishes to be with her first boyfriend...who died in a car accident. That is why she is always sleepy, because he exists in her dream.

Nemu - has a very simple wish...to go to the same school and be with her beloved oniisan (Junichi)

and Sakura - her wish is also to be with oniichan (Asakura Junichi)

What makes these "wishes" possible is the huge Sakura-tree...the Sakura tree planted by Junichi and Sakura's grandmother, as a final gift for everyone who "wanted to wish for something...and to let them live in a dream...for a little while."

But that Sakura-tree has a tremendous effect to both Junichi and Sakura...because they are direct descendants to their grandmother. Junichi can see other people's dream through this sakura-tree. Sakura, has a strong connection to the sakura-tree.

Going back to the relationship issue of Nemu and Sakura.

Nemu, is an adopted sister to Junichi. No blood relation. Junichi met Nemu first, before Sakura. Though Nemu and Junichi were born on the same day and month, Junichi considers her as his little sister.

Sakura, is Junichi's cousin. They both share the same grandmother - the person who lived right next door to Junichi. There is blood relation...but since Junichi met Nemu first, Sakura is treated by Junichi not as a member of a family - but as a normal girl.

Do you see the pickle? On one hand, you have Nemu - a girl with no blood-relation, who is a member of Junichi's family, as his little sister. On the other, you have Sakura - a girl with blood-relation to Junichi, but cannot stay close to him. The irony exists in both of these two girls, in love with Junichi - Nemu has no blood-relation, but wants to be more than just his little sister, but can't due to law. Sakura, has blood-relation, but cannot stay with Junichi all the time (remember, she went to America). Nemu wants what Sakura's stance to Junichi is, and vice-versa to Sakura.

The "despise" involves Nemu - "uneasy" with Sakura being with Junichi because they can get married (first-cousin marriages in Japan are legal) if they wanted to, but she cannot. Sakura feels "uneasiness" towards Nemu because she, as an adopted little sister, can stay with Junichi all the time, in the same house.

Back to the sakura-tree. Sakura is directly linked to her grandmother's sakura-tree. And as more and more her feelings against Nemu increases, the more damage is going to be done to Nemu....hence she begins to cough up sakura petals, losing her health, and finally - to lose her memory. And Sakura knows its her fault. That is why she chose to delinquish her grandmother's sakura-tree...to save Nemu.

But still, deep down inside her, she still feels angst towards Nemu-chan. The Sakura-tree revives once again. And Sakura, with all her guilt, tries to do everything to save Nemu-chan...but the human psyche of "jealousy" is something that cannot be distinguished like a flame. And as long as Nemu clings on to her "dream" of being with her beloved oniisan, the more and more feeling of angst deep within Sakura develops - involuntarily. And the more they do, they both hurt themselves - Nemu physically, and Sakura - emotionally.

So it is time everyone "wakes up" from their "dream." A "dream" is only a "wish" that cannot happen, and at times can be devastating. Junichi and Sakura's grandmother wanted to teach everyone that, she gave everyone a present so they can live in a "dream" for just a little while - but she forgot that people are rather magnamious...if they choose to stay in a "dream" that can fulfill wishes, they will continue to do so.

And the time has come for people to face the facts. Nothing is "wishful."

Kotori finds this out gradually as she loses her power to listen to what other people think...and develops the courage to work out her own social life not dependent on what other people think, but from what she can do with her own actions.

Yoriko-san, the person/cat who had the most direct influence - got the courage to walk out into the world...the problem that her owner had that prevented her from meeting with Junichi...the person she had always looks from the window above

Miharu, the robot - was given the gift of knowing what it is to be human - to dream what the REAL Miharu's past - and the courage to find that out even if that meant shedding her own life as a robot

Moe-senpai - at least in the game (since the anime never talked about her story in full detail), "awakens" to the reality that her boyfriend is dead...and that she needs to move on and not to escape into the sleep world where he exists.

What do all these people have in common? COURAGE. Courage is what is important for these people to awake from such a "dream" that fulfills their wishes. To live life, people need courage...the courage to make your own actions (not by the help of some power) to make social relations, the courage to step out into the open world (not to stay huddled inside to hope for something that'll never happen), the courage to do what you hold most dearly, and the courage to move on with life.

Now let us hope that Nemu and Sakura can find their courage...and the people of Hatsunejima will be rid of the "dream" that makes any wish possible...so that people will move on...and not "repeat once again" as the musical notation "D.C" (Da Capo) stands for.

[Keitaro]

Awesome explantion Kj1980. I guess only someone who has actually played the game could understand the world of D.C. like you. D.C. is turning out to be an very good meaniful anime which most people gave up on in earlier episodes, man were they mistaken. The plot is so good, that I can't believe it when I first started watching I thought it was going to be another typical boring love/comedy anime.

AKeep/Aone just realesed ep22, which made me a little sad to see Yoriko

Spoiler:

turn back into an cat, but at least she kinda fullfilled her masters wish to be with Asakura for an while. Too bad her master couldn't be the one to actually meet Asakura in person. Maybe she will later on.

[corp20]

I really liked the explaination Kj1980 gave. I never played the game. But if it is remotely as good as you summarized it to be I need to play it. They should have spent more time with Moe-chan. If I didn't read that I wouldn't know her full story. Thank you.

[Keitaro]

Originally Posted by corp20

They should have spent more time with Moe-chan. If I didn't read that I wouldn't know her full story. Thank you.

Me too I had no idea

Spoiler:

Moe had a boyfriend who died in an car accident that was a bit surprising to hear.

I have an question maybe KJ or someone who knows can answer this. Does the Sakura tree grant the other townsfolks wishes/dreams also or is it only to a few?

[EternalBlue]

Hehe awesome. I'm still downloading ep22 but this series has gotten to the top of my list for plot line ^^. I can't wait to se how they decide to finish it, most likely like the game but who knows ^^

Originally Posted by Keitarou20

Does the Sakura tree grant the other townsfolks wishes/dreams also or is it only to a few?

I'm pretty sure the Sakura Tree affects the other people in the town too, but then they really go into much detail about the townspeople so one can only guess that it does affect them but we never get to see it.

[Lord Raiden]

Hey, off the subject of the ending (of which I'm now totally dying to see. Thanks guys for recommending this excellent anime!! ) but I noticed something. What the heck is that big pink teddy I see running around school and in classes?? It's even in a school uni. Is that part of what kj1980 mentioned about dealing with what's happening and the upcoming ending?

[kj1980]

Originally Posted by Lord Raiden

Hey, off the subject of the ending (of which I'm now totally dying to see. Thanks guys for recommending this excellent anime!! ) but I noticed something. What the heck is that big pink teddy I see running around school and in classes?? It's even in a school uni. Is that part of what kj1980 mentioned about dealing with what's happening and the upcoming ending?

read page 7 of this thread and you'll find what that pink teddy bear is about.

Originally Posted by Keitarou20

I have an question maybe KJ or someone who knows can answer this. Does the Sakura tree grant the other townsfolks wishes/dreams also or is it only to a few?

I would assume the latter there are new characters in the D.C.P.S. that should involve the Sakura tree's impact on those characters one way or the other. But people need to wish hard...not something shallow like "I wish I were rich."

[relentlessflame]

kj1980 - thank you for your summary. I really wish there were more of a market for games like Da Capo in North America, because I know that I (and many others) would love to play them. I really wish I could understand enough Japanese.

The "dream" ending I was dreading most was more along the lines of "and they all woke up from the dream as if nothing had ever happened".

I guess I was not aware, though, that it would be illegal for Nemu and Asakura to be married, given that there is no blood relation. I certainly realized it would be wierd, though, and that many people would *perceive* it as being wrong. (Then again, in some cultures, people would perceive marrying your first cousin as wrong, also.)

But of course this begs the question... (speculative spoilers)

Spoiler:

If both Nemu and Sakura must despise their feelings for Asakura, how can they have the courage (as you so aptly put it) to move on given all that's happened? How can Asakura put aside the feelings he has for Nemu, and pretend as though nothing ever happened, especially when he so clearly decided to stop lying to himself? In other words, how can Nemu and Asakura break up, and go back to the way things were? How can an anime based on a dating sim end up with the guy not being with *any* of the girls?!? How can this series possibly not have a completely sad ending?!? Even Kanon wasn't this sad!

Oh geez... now I'm getting worked up.

Episode 22 was awesome, by the way - thanks to AonE and HQA for the early Christmas present. And once again, I can't wait for the next one! This series is amazing; I agree with Keitarou20: anyone who gave up early on Da Capo is really missing out.

[Mistwrath]

Finished Epd 22, was one of best epd of them all, but too bad Yoriko have to ... u guys go watch it for yourself if u haven't

And judging from kj's explanation, things are still going to get wavey.