(L) Sora no Woto

[Nina.Wolken]

Originally Posted by Midonin

If a quick trip to the Wikipedia article on her is to believed, both of those names refer to the same person.

The website of the serie explains it quite simply :
2009.10.04 　お知らせ
本日より、カナタ役：相川寿里さんのお名前が“金元寿子（かねもとひさこ）” に変わりました。
相川寿里改め金元寿子を、これからも応援よろしくお願いいたします！

As from the 4th of October, Juri Aikawa becomes Hisako Kanemoto. It doesn't explain why however.
To prevent any problem with the other Juri Aikawa maybe?

[Roardel]

Thanks to her new name, Hisako Kanemoto is called “Hii-chan” in the official SoraWoto site. Hii-chan is more friendly and cuter name than “Juri”.

It’s lucky for her to change name.

[Nina.Wolken]

I agree, "Hii-chan" sounds very cute.
I was wondering what "Juri" reminded me of, I finally found it -> that angry chara' from Utena, the president of the fencing club.

[MitsubishiZero]

Honestly I'd rather this anime be called "K-On in military boot camp".........it's related to music, the characters look similar, etc.........still, i look forward to this....

[sirn]

The first episode kind of gives me a Haibane Renmei vibes but with Yoshino Hiroyuki's usual stuffs. I still don't like how they dropped Kishida Mel design and went K-on route, but oh well. Looking forward to the next episode.

[Scython]

Still waiting for subs, already know that the white-haired girl is going to be my favorite character. Although I really hope there will be some war going on, and not a story about chicks guarding some fort, waiting to be sent out which will never happen.

Really, I don't mind it for a while, as long as it ain't the only stuff happening.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Scython

Still waiting for subs, already know that the white-haired girl is going to be my favorite character. Although I really hope there will be some war going on, and not a story about chicks guarding some fort, waiting to be sent out which will never happen.

The show is set after a war.

"The story of the anime is set in the future on a land that, after being devastated by long-lasting wars, has settled into quiet decline. Model and actress Juri Aikawa will play Kanata Kumika, a 15-year-old girl who fulfills her dream of enlisting in the army and joins a unit of five girls who protect a fortress. The girls also play music that reverberate across the skies over towns without people and seas without fish. "

[Nina.Wolken]

Really enjoyed the 1st episode. That Kalafina song is completely addictive and set a perfect mood for watching the show.

Spoiler for Some thoughts about ep 1:

I like the quite light atmosphere of this introduction mixed with the much darker memories of Kanata and her fear of being alone.
I didn't expect all the "mystical" aspect though: "it's the duty of the young women to protect the city" speech, given during the ceremony, felt a bit awkward. Do they really need to rely on some folklore to explain why the girls are to fight? Isn't the war sufficient?

That put aside, this episode was exactly how I thought it would be. With a higher production value than what I expected : the valley, town, sky... everything looks gorgeous and drag you to Seize.

9/10!

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep1:

Mmm... The atmosphere was good. As of one episode, that is all I can compliment.
The actual content was... lacking of any impact. Without reading off of a site about the story beforehand, it was pretty difficult to figure out where the story was trying to head to.

The country the setting is in brings laughs, mixing up a bunch of cultures together.
The currency is yen? And where is this...?

The art was... unfortunately reminding of K-On, but it wasn't bad.

The OP had a nice atmosphere, but the way the ED appeared gave me a slight fright.

[E_I]

I love the opening song. Light and nice. I really love the backgrounds and animation. It does have ARIA/Haibane Renmei feel to it. The manga and anime are pretty different in the way they approached the first episode (yes, I know the manga is not an original, but something created to go along with the series).

The ED is...uh...interesting. Not what I expected at all.

[TiGR]

The setting is rather confusing. It looks nice though (Klimt etc.).

[Roardel]

Great music. Great art. And the heartwarming story.
I’m satisfied with the first episode.

I guess the culture of Helvetia is European-Japanese mixture.
The Japanese card game, lotte can, some Kanji letters on Kanata’s stamp, Shishimai, and the Japanese girl names (Kanata, Rio and Kureha).

I laughed at Felicia’s trick and Kanata’s trumpet.

[Nina.Wolken]

Originally Posted by Roardel

I guess the culture of Helvetia is European-Japanese mixture.
The Japanese card game, lotte can, some Kanji letters on Kanata’s stamp, Shishimai, and the Japanese girl names (Kanata, Rio and Kureha).

Seize, as part of Trois-Villes commune sure looks and feels European, but yeah, many elements in the show are taken from the Japanese culture. Even the festival looks more like a traditional "matsuri" than what you could find in Europe (the masks for example).

BTW, did anyone figure what was the orange stuff the people were splashing at each other? Holy orange juice?

[Midonin]

Spoiler for So Wa no Wo To Shi Mo No Episode One - Boogie Woogie Bugle Girl Fwom Company B:

The element of the Anime no Chikara project that I like is significantly clear - that these are anime first. With the idea of an "original source" removed entirely from the equation, a world of (theoretically) more peaceful discussion opens up. The aesthetics mentioned before - "K-ON! meets Strike Witches" is hardly a deterrent to me. In fact, it sounds marvelous. The show itself largely seems to deliver on that marvelousness.

That flag at the eyecatch is begging to be turned into an image template on Pixiv. Plus, the show has owls and a seaside town, both elements that usually resonate pretty well with me. Also, a pretty recognizable stable of voice actors. Couple that with the music theme (another element that resonates well), and this one will make a nice show to start the week. Plus, it'll hugely contrast with the other Monday show. A little weird dichotomy never hurt.

[fict_ticious]

Well, this anime certainly sells itself well:
- scenery porn (I love the framing)
- godly music
- an interesting world
- a wonderful cast of characters
There's the moe element but it doesn't detract from the overall quality of the first episode. This series feels like a keeper.

Also
>Girl
>Traveling alone
Looks like I'll have to wait for Summer Comiket ;_;

[octoberasian]

Originally Posted by fict_ticious

Well, this anime certainly sells itself well:
- scenery porn (I love the framing)
- godly music
- an interesting world
- a wonderful cast of characters
There's the moe element but it doesn't detract from the overall quality of the first episode. This series feels like a keeper.

I agree with fictitious that this is definitely a keeper. Moving beyond the moe-fication influence of K-ON, I immediately realize this is going to be a much a different story. Obviously, can't help but compare the characters with the latter anime due to the similarities between the two. However, like fictitious said above, the music and the scenery is very good. I haven't seen good scenery in an anime for quite a while. Well, maybe Clannad from last year and another I may have forgotten.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the second episode already. I wish I read the novels first, but I can't find them at the moment. The story and setting is pretty good as well and is starting to draw me into it.

[Midonin]

Originally Posted by octoberasian

I wish I read the novels first, but I can't find them at the moment.

Can't find something that doesn't exist.

[Ashlotte]

Well that was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish!

Nice way to kick off the season although like Scyth I'm hoping theres going to be some fighting going on in one form or another...I could have let that expectation slide if they hadn't shown off that luscious tank twice just sitting there practically begging to be taken out for a spin.

[Kunagisa]

Originally Posted by Ashlotte

Well that was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish!

Nice way to kick off the season although like Scyth I'm hoping theres going to be some fighting going on in one form or another...I could have let that expectation slide if they hadn't shown off that luscious tank twice just sitting there practically begging to be taken out for a spin.

That's what I'm hoping for when I saw they have a mechanical design team, and that's another reason why I kinda was thinking this is more Nausicaa than Aria. Still have yet to watch first episode @__@

Oh woe is me, that I sojourn away from home, that I dwell beneath the mountain of work!

[Manji Midou]

great ep1, can't wait for the story to go more into detail about the maidens. this show reminds me more of strike witches then k-on so far ._./)