Another - Episode 12 (END) Discussion / Poll

[Lord of Fire]

I seriously don't understand why people have such a problem with the sudden rise in bodies. I saw it coming right after the tape revealed what had to be done in order to stop the curse. It was then that I knew that the secret would come out, and that the students would be going for each other's throats, especially Mei's or Kouichi's. You can't tell me I"m really the only one who actually saw all this coming (other than the true identity of the Another).

The only thing I would've liked to see was an actual conclusion to Kouichi and Mei's relationship. For all the romantic build-up they gave these two, very little came from it, while they were close to kissing each other in episode 10. Aside from a few unrealistic things (like people being able to walk in a burning building without so much as a cough or being burned), I think this episode was great and a satisfying conclusion to the show.

[Manic]

Indeed. I discussed it with my bf yesterday and I told him the massacre at the end of the series reminded me of an anime we watched last year... you know the one with the vampires in a secluded village. I couldnt remember the name and nor could my bf, we both had to google it: Shiki

lmao i only remember it cus of how bad it was and how epically disappointed it left me. I wish i could forget it.

[sa547]

I guess we should hope that the book be translated into English; sometimes flawed book-to-movie/TV adaptations demand that we should check out the originals.

[Guido]

Nothing better to watch the conclusion to Another with the lights turned off, so that mystery atmosphere and the haunting soundtrack drag you down the edge of the madness.

Honestly, due to a mistake I scored the final episode with a '10' when my real grade for it is '9', actually.

There were glaring betises which detracted me from enjoying this last episode with a perfect score, and those were how they handled the deaths of most of the students in a close vein to the Final Destination series which was plain ridiculous and stupid.

Spoiler:

The drop that spilled the glass came with the boy who managed to crawl out of the chandelier and ran towards the main gate just to suddenly have the pillar falling on top of him.

And how about all the lightning striking over and over outside the building?

In spite of those flaws, however, I praised the staff not only with the use of the soundtrack but also with the cinematography, because as it was approaching the climax it quickly skyrocketed to the production values of a well crafted, feature-length film.

Spoiler:

1. The scene in this episode that made the most memorable impact was Akazawa's death when she got caught under the rain of glass, shattered when the lightning struck; how the animation staff handled the lighting and cut scenes to achieve the visual effects for that scene were professionally impressive.
- Her death is made sweeter and meaningful, as she lays on Kouichis' arms holding her breath to the last asking Kouichi to remember when they met 18 months ago; blood streaking down her face from open wounds and passing out lifeless and motionless, as Mei lies in shock witnessing the former's death and Kouichi about to burst in tears.

2. The other visually stunning effects were the shots taken inside the burning manor while I saw Kouichi looking for Mei before contacting her through the cell phone. Again the animation for the lighting of the fire was a mind-breaker effect to me.

It all leads to the confrontation with the Another in the climax at the courtyard.

Spoiler:

Seriously, I need to focus and pay more attention to the subtleties dropped throughout the episodes.

How I came to forget that Reiko was always Class-3's assistant homeroom teacher at Yomi North school, and not just Kouichi's aunt at home?

It should make sense for Kouichi to have forgotten about that one-time visit to Yomiyama from eighteen months prior to the beginning of the story, because he didn't come back until moving to live with his grandparents in Yomiyama eighteen months later.

I haven't read any of the novels, so the following is pure speculative guesswork:
- If Kouichi made a one-time visit to Yomiyama in 1996 was because to attend his aunt Reiko's funeral, that's what I presume.

I cannot even imagine how drenched, emotionally devastated, and mentally unstable Kouichi had felt when Misaki revealed him his aunt was the year's Another before him. He was buckling under the stress and almost gave up at trusting Misaki, which the scenario I most dreaded could have happened with Kouichi turning paranoid and instead lunging at Mei to kill her.

I was like telling Kouichi in my thoughts, -"When you offered her your company Mei trusted you, Kouichi!!" -"Why now can't you trust in Mei, Kouichi?"

But, thankfully, Kouichi got control over himself without budging to the trauma, and, moreso, when Mei told Kouichi she witnessed in live Reiko's murder 18 months prior.
To that end, the soundtrack provided for an additional traumatic effect, as Kouichi laid down the killing blow to his already deceased aunt, and him falling unconscious due to shock.

In the afermath, I found peace watching Kouichi and Mei speaking with each other in order to settle down their thoughts after the horrific experience from that trip that they went through; they are survivors along with few other students and Chibiki-sensei.
But, their conversation makes me wary for Kouichi feeling like not wanting to forget about the whole ordeal when it's better to put it aside and let those feelings of attachment and memories for the dead wander off into oblivion forever, as Mei's subtle expression on her face advises Kouichi to do so.

Spoiler:

They will be the last ones to forget about Reiko, eventually.

At the end, the staff handles a fine job concluding the whole story in a wary and ominous note directed to the viewer in the last shot.

Spoiler:

Before the credits rolled, Kouichi asked Mei if the calamity was really over.

After the credits, the last shot show us Naoya and Yuya leaving in secret a new recorded message about how to stop the calamity for future Class-3's generations, and hearing it again made me to finish the story with goosebumps.

This is not because of the supernatural aspects of the phenomenon per se, but because of the psychological horror tucked down within the message. A warning to future generations of Class-3, that will manage to find the record, about making sure to have their close friends at hand and sharing with them how to deal carefully with the solution to stop the calamity before taking action. Because if they don't, then they'll repeat again the same hell, and whoever survives will be left in a permanent state of regret.

Hence, the calamity will never be over.

[warita]

I dont think the comparisson to Shiki is so out of place, in the end both shows had quite a massacre at the end. Massacre doesnt equal good plot in my opinion, but thats MY opinion, I am not forcing down on anybody.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Lord of Fire

I seriously don't understand why people have such a problem with the sudden rise in bodies. I saw it coming right after the tape revealed what had to be done in order to stop the curse. It was then that I knew that the secret would come out, and that the students would be going for each other's throats, especially Mei's or Kouichi's. You can't tell me I"m really the only one who actually saw all this coming (other than the true identity of the Another).

It's not the body count that bothers me. I like my slasher movies just like any other cinema-goer who wants to enjoy popcorn entertainment. But that, to me, is the problem: It wasn't how Another appeared to be at the start. It excelled as a mystery-thriller that made good use of sound, music and cinematography to build tension and a sense of dread. Unfortunately, all of that literally flew out the window in the closing episodes, descending into schlocky tropes, and wasting a golden opportunity to stand head and shoulders above other anime of its ilk.

I find it sad, for example, that I felt next to nothing about the students who died in this episode, when I actually pitied the way poor Ayano died a few episodes ago. Ayano was no less a bit character like the rest of the class, but the anime somehow managed to make me care about her with the use of just a few cameo appearances.

Just a few scenes. Imagine the difference that just a few scenes could have made, with regard to exposition about Kouichi and Reiko's relationship. But we had none of that, and are instead forced to accept a revelation that should have been stunning, but instead turned out underwhelming.

Most importantly, character development went completely haywire. I still find it very hard to believe that otherwise normal students could suddenly turn into psychotic knife murderers in a blink of an eye. There was next to no build-up that hinted at their emotional distress and, as viewers, we're simply expected to accept their stress-induced rampage on face value. I expected them to be disturbed, yes, but not that disturbed. I read that the manga did not feature any of this massacre, so I really don't see why the anime had to go in this direction. If it's for shock value, then it failed doubly badly, since all it induced was laughter among many viewers, not horror.

[Demi.]

As for the episode, I enjoyed it. 8/10 for the episode, 7/10 for the series.

[totoum]

Well I was onboard the Reiko ship for a while the jumped ship when I couldn't link her to the class.

Of course I thought the odds were high it was Mikami Sensei so in a way I didn't really jump ship

Still feel like that twist was a a cheat from the staff,I don't like being kept in the dark about something the characters know,that makes pulling off a surprise much easier.

However what I really like was the character interaction,be it between Kouichi and Mei, or Kouichi and Azumi (love her last line).

Still not quite satisfied with what happened in last two episode,a bit too over the top for me.Would have preferred something like Mei revealing the identity of the Another to the class in episode 11 and then being some huge debate about trusting her or not,have a early resolution where reiko is killed after said debate and then give me plenty of KoichiXMei romance as the aftermath.

Overall though I still enjoyed Another greatly and had fun speculating with everyone.

[PzIVf3]

I suspecting her disguising as a teacher at ep.4 but when i search of her VA there are two different person. When the time i posted the spoiler pic of ep. 12 w/ a picture of the Mynah bird its puzzle me its was her all the time.

Why would that darn director wants to suffer the hot girls in the series. I prefer the main character to be the extra.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by warita

I dont think the comparisson to Shiki is so out of place, in the end both shows had quite a massacre at the end. Massacre doesnt equal good plot in my opinion, but thats MY opinion, I am not forcing down on anybody.

I also see the comparison to Shiki & admit after great build up, I found the final episodes of that series also over-the-top but I still consider Shiki a stronger series than Another because it felt thematically richer to me.

[Makall]

Only 10 people died?

But there was a shitload of people dying left and right in the mansion...

[EroKing]

Originally Posted by Lord of Fire

The only thing I would've liked to see was an actual conclusion to Kouichi and Mei's relationship. For all the romantic build-up they gave these two, very little came from it, while they were close to kissing each other in episode 10.

Well don't give up hope yet. Who knows, they might show them in the 2nd series, all grown up, as a couple or even as parents of the next main character?

[Qikz]

Ok I LOVED that ending. My goodness what an awesome way to wrap it all up.

How didn't I realise that Mikami Sensei was Reiko? How the hell did I never twig that? Also, In one of the first episodes I believe I said that Reiko was the Another due to what the bird kept saying, but I thought I was wrong.

Oh my god. I did not see that ending coming.

Mochizuki and Teshigawara are fine. That's the best news!

[nchan]

So the main character knew that Mikami Sensei was Reiko the whole time? Why didn't he tell us? that bastard. I felt cheated. Awesome show nevertheless.

[xNeko]

May i know who is this? @.@

Spoiler for :

[-Sho-]

I saw that coming. LMAO this show , it was like watching a japanese B movies.
What with the winter's season & the previous really , some Animes start good/look interesting/show some potentials -> go down -> end bad... well not only animes , games too the beginning of this year is a joke... let's see how far it'll go.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Lord of Fire

I seriously don't understand why people have such a problem with the sudden rise in bodies. I saw it coming right after the tape revealed what had to be done in order to stop the curse. It was then that I knew that the secret would come out, and that the students would be going for each other's throats, especially Mei's or Kouichi's. You can't tell me I"m really the only one who actually saw all this coming (other than the true identity of the Another).

I saw it coming from a mile away too (I mentioned it in a previous thread... forgot which one) and I was quite surprised to find out that never happened in the novel after reading haguruma's excellent post in the novel thread. It wasn't a bad idea (I like it better than the killer grandma in fact... which I think they should have removed while they were at it), but the problem is that it was horribly executed. Having the student turn into mindless zombies and chant "bring the dead back to death" was plain horrible. They could have had them hunting Kouichi and Mei without going completely crazy. It would have also been more interesting if nobody had clued them in on Mei. They would have started suspecting each other (like Teshigawara and Kazami), and it would have gotten very ugly, in a good way (for us; bad for them).

The other major issue is the ridiculousness of the deaths. There were so many of them in these two episodes and they were so unbelievable they became downright comical. It's hard to take a horror story seriously when you laugh at each deaths. It didn't bother me too much last week as I thought it was merely a hiccup, but what took place in this episode was the final straw. The pillar death for example was way too hilarious...

Despite some bad choices from the anime staff, I can still say I very much enjoyed this series as a whole. I haven't had so much fun speculating about an anime in ages. 2 bad episodes don't erase 10 excellent ones. The journey is truly what mattered most for me in this case, and that journey was wonderful.

[salitangibinasura]

I didn't see that coming!

Spoiler for Another:

Mei Misaki should've told Kouchi or anyone that Ms. Mikami is the dead one! Ahhh so annoying. that case there wouldn't be so much people who died D;

But overall, good episode :3

[ninryu]

This episode was okay, I guess. Not nearly as good as the previous. It was kinda unti-climatic, though I blame the "Reiko is the Another" theories. I really hoped it would be Akazawa.

This episode spot light: Akazawa's death. FUUU...

[Kaioshin Sama]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

This director seems to like mocking the audience, the son of a bitch..

I've gotten this feeling from almost every show I've tried to watch this season to the point where I don't think it's being done on purpose, writers and directors of late just genuinely don't seem to know any better. I've said it once and I'll say it again, anime desperately needs a better rotation of screenwriters and directors like yesterday. At the very least the tonal dissonance a lot of anime seem to have going on these days needs to be corrected before people can stop being so disappointed in shows that go off the rails in their second halves or right at the finish line. It's the same thing that's killed so many anime's potential that I've seen of late and it's the problem here as well.

That said this was like a minor offense compared to a lot of tonal/plot derailments I've seen this season. Maybe my standards have gotten that much lower as a result of the frequency of it, but two episodes that don't really feel like they fit in with the rest of the show is like a triumph of writing and direction compared to the 4-5 for like every other show I've tried to watch this season. Also it never really tried to blend typical stock comedy into it's narrative even during the beach episode which is something that I almost see as a triumph as well.