Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!

[Anacone]

Originally Posted by Daniel E.

Another fine episode of Gakuen Utopia Mikan Straight!

And on the subject of Momo's hawtness...

Spoiler:

Ah summer... . I'd love to be that guy just behind Momo, I'd just turn around though . (And maybe get beaten by that other girl )
I think that picture is proof enough that they aren't pure lolis .
Hmm I though that was dolphin... but who cares .

Edit: Whoah thx Pelissier, just what I needed

[Daniel E.]

Originally Posted by Furudanuki

*notes the girl on the tan blanket* Momo is so hawt that the Integrated Data Sentient Entity assigned a Nagato® series Living Humanoid Interface to keep her under observation.

It really does looks like her. Hmmm, wasn't Momo saying something about UFO's the other day......... OH SHI-!! hope that's not a spoiler.

And Orca-sama........Lol

Originally Posted by Pellissier

You know, at a certain point I thought the same thing exactly (the same title too). I wonder if this is scary or just funny

Spoiler for episode 7:

But as far as I see things, it's true that the lead seemed more on Mikan than on Manabi, at least on the first half (and considering how the previous two episodes went). The scene between Manabi and the other school council president quite balanced the situation though.

I really dont mind if Manabi takes a backseat in the show; Though, I am probably in the minority in that regard.

Originally Posted by Anacone

I think that picture is proof enough that they aren't pure lolis

She actually looks taller/older in those pics IMO.

Not that I am complaining.

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by Pellissier

Spoiler for episode 7 brief comment + trivia:

Yes, episode 7 was good. Also quite saddening on its whole.

Anyway, that scene at the beginning in the council room kinda stole the scene, for the laughters it was able to generate. ^^

And about that scene, a quick trivia. As latins used to say, "Repetita iuvant" (repetitions are good). The producers here seemed to adapt with repetitions:

Q. How many times Mei slapped Mu-chi ?
A. 37

Q. How many did she receive back ?
A. 5

Q. How many sentences did Manabi ended with "dayo-ne" in the following scene ?
A. 7 (+3 additional bonus "ne")

Q. How many "Massugu GO punches" Mu-chi receives from Manabi?
A. 10 (5 that we can see + other 5 we can hear)

Q. How many times Manabi said "Massugu GO" in total when she broke?
A. 47

Note: manual counts, bayesian estimate not available

Deeper thoughts probably to follow later.

lol at least someone is keeping count mei is not playing fair ~ go muuchi!!

and i must say...the most enchanting feature about momo has to be her twin pony tails...by kyon who agrees up above

[Maids! Maids! Maids!]

[Skane]

Random Thoughts on GUMS Ep07:
---- ----

• I thought a lot about Higurashi and NGE as I watched this episode. Higurashi because of the explicit stating of the date and cicadas( not to mention Momo's deliberate walking), while NGE was because of the cicadas as well and the train-signal scene during Mikan's dream( Mikan is Shinji? Nah... she has more balls than that invertebrate).
  .
• Mikan snipped at Mei! Wow, they really do lack a lot of sleep if it can even make Mikan snippy.
  .
• More pseudo-yuri scenes of Mikan melting over Takano.
  .
• What Takano has wrought, Takano can stop; but will she?
  .
• Speaking of NGE, Aikoh's Superintendent emits Gendou-vibes with that pose of her's. All she's missing is a pair of white gloves.
  .
• Some additional bleak background information was given out in this episode. We already know that a lot of teenagers stop schooling in order to work instead, and judging from the dialogue in this episode, it seems that the manpower shortage is so acute in the workforce, that worker-benefits are very good. A job where it is like a festival everyday? Wow.
  .
• Nice touch on animating the festival crowd onto Manabi's eyes.
  .
• Is GUMS trying to compete with SHnY for the world's shortest animated love story set in a sports-setting?
  .
• Actually, when you think about it. Most of the story since episode one has been from Mikan's perspective. Mikan is also the NARRATOR. Manabi is therefore the observed subject( most of the time). So it kinda makes sense that we see Mikan so much, because the series is more or less from her perspective( especially when it comes to flashbacks).
  
  Manabi's-perspective scenes( scenes, NOT episodes) are generally there to give us more background information on Manabi.
  
  It's kinda similar to SHnY in that respect. Although Haruhi is the title character in that series, she is not the main protagonist. Kyon is. In GUMS though, the perspective is not so one-sided, and we do get to see the story from other characters' point of view.

Cheers.

[WanderingKnight]

It's kinda similar to SHnY in that respect. Although Haruhi is the title character in that series, she is not the main protagonist. Kyon is. In GUMS though, the perspective is not so one-sided, and we do get to see the story from other characters' point of view.

That's like saying Sherlock Holmes is not the main protagonist in Conan Doyle's books.


Ah, the cliffhanger! I can't wait for episode 8! (and the raw watchers have been saying that it's the best episode so far!)

PS: Is it me, or the animation quality for this show keeps going higher and higher with the passing eps?

[Skane]

Originally Posted by WanderingKnight

That's like saying Sherlock Holmes is not the main protagonist in Conan Doyle's books.

But it is true( with regards to SHnY that is). The anime series chose a fairly Haruhi-intensive arc to cover, but if you analyse it carefully, outside of the anime-original Ep09(14), all the episodes are from Kyon's point of view. He is narrator and we are watching events unfold from his perspective. If you read the novels, you will see what I mean as Kyon interacts more and more with the other members of the SOS-Brigade( namely Yuki and Mikuru).

Haruhi is hardly featured in some of these volumes( and is sometimes totally absent from multiple chapters), but Kyon is always there.

GUMS is not as one-sided as SHnY as I said, but it still holds true that most of the narrative has always been from Mikan's point of view. Manabi is in the title because she is the catalyst for the events unfolding now, but we are mostly experiencing it from Mikan's point of view.

Cheers.

[suguru]

Originally Posted by Skane

[*]Actually, when you think about it. Most of the story since episode one has been from Mikan's perspective. Mikan is also the NARRATOR. Manabi is therefore the observed subject( most of the time). So it kinda makes sense that we see Mikan so much, because the series is more or less from her perspective( especially when it comes to flashbacks).

That's a good point--I was definitely expecting going into this that most of the series would focus on Manabi, but in some episodes it's more like Gakuen Utopia Mikan Straight. Not that this is a bad thing, I'm still really enjoying this

It'll be interesting to see what ufotable does with the last two episodes (the last two aired eps anyway, 11 and 12)--Dokkoida suddenly took a serious turn with a 2-episode arc to end the series, while 2x2=Shinobuden didn't get serious at all and broke the fourth wall a couple times in the last episode instead. I guess I can see Manabi Straight going somewhere in between--the more of it I watch the less I can imagine a deadly serious ending like the PVs seemed to imply, and I can see it just closing with the school festival instead, which would be fine with me.

[Daniel E.]

Originally Posted by Skane

GUMS is not as one-sided as SHnY as I said, but it still holds true that most of the narrative has always been from Mikan's point of view. Manabi is in the title because she is the catalyst for the events unfolding now, but we are mostly experiencing it from Mikan's point of view.

Cheers.

Totally agree with Skane on this one.

Watched the first episode again, and I now believe that the whole thing was not about Manabi, but rather, it was all about how Mikan gets to know Manabi.

Back when I first saw the episode, I was just too focused on Manabi to see this.

They could still give the final episodes to Manabi though. >_< !!

[Jiji]

I think you guys are right about Mikan being the focus, but I'm biased--I like Mikan best. Still, Manabi is the catalyst that enlivened the school and everything, not to mention the japanese pun of her name--"manabi" sounds like the same word for "place of learning", "manabiya". I gather the japanese love these sorts of "puns".

[panzerfan]

Fortunately, Mikan isn't like Kyon. If Mikan becomes a Kyonko, I would be seriously worried about what Mei would do (what, she can step up and be the full Haruhi? That'd be wrong. I keep thinking if suddenly, Mei will want to doll up somebody in the Brigade... I mean student council.)

And I was seriously thinking about Higurashi for the first 8 minutes. After that, a little bit of AIR TV... and suddenly Matrix.

One thing for sure, the excitement from being in the echelon of power proves to be electrifying.

[Dop]

So, the plot thickens!
Loved Mei telling the cicada to shut up.
The whole slapping contest and Mei accusing Mucchi of being a boy - brilliant.
But Momo saying 'Mei-tan, you're such a tsundere' was priceless.

But nobody wanted to see her holiday snaps.

Looking forward to the next episode now.

As for Daniel E.'s alternative title, shouldn't it be "Gakuen Utopia Mikan. Straight?"

[Lost]

Watched episode 7. Yes, Mei telling the cricket to shut up; and then later it falling off made me LOL. Broken Manabi, Mei and Mu-chi scene was crazy and hilarious at the same time; poor Mikan, I really sympathised with her.

It's heartening to see this taking direction, looks from the next episode's title like Manabi and gang will FIGHT-O (well, that's expected) so it'll be nice to see that. Really, it seems like even the adults in that world have warped thinking - it'll be up to Manabi to put the "fun" back in school, and I think that that is really the theme of the entire series. Also, hopefully, Takano will join their side. So we can see more pseudo-yuri scenes! (as if we don't have enough with Mu-chi around)

[WanderingKnight]

Originally Posted by Lost

Manabi and gang will FIGHT-O

Funnily enough, the next episode's title is Seioh Student Council: Fight to!

[Deathkillz]

higurashi vibes just screams all over the "breaking" part

"sleep and you will die!!" *slap slap slap*

owh im just egarly awaiting to watch ep 8 when the sub comes out ~ a scene that is another link which shows that this series do have a lot more in common with SHnY

[Lost]

Originally Posted by WanderingKnight

Funnily enough, the next episode's title is Seioh Student Council: Fight to!

Yeah, that was what I was basing that sentence on.

[WanderingKnight]

Originally Posted by Lost

Yeah, that was what I was basing that sentence on.

Yeah, well, I was just laughing at the wonders of the Japanese use of foreign languages

[Vexx]

The slugfest was hilarious, especially Mikan's powerful ending and then... back to work. The quarterpower punches and slaps kept the whole thing in some context.

The outdoor scene with Manabi and Taka-chan got the hair prickling on my neck for just a second. Manabi appears to have a charisma power that most people can tap into to visualize outcomes. It isn't even necessarily supernatural... just power of will.

[leofish]

every ep continutes to exceed my expectation. when it's over.. waiting for 13 on the DVD is gonna be horrendous if not impossible D:

anyways... new manabi wallpaper... massugu GO!

[eggplant]

Saw Episode 11.

Spoiler for Episode 11:

Culture Festival + rock band stage performance + Chihara Minori singing + cast consisting of Hirano Aya (and Shiraishi Minoru to a lesser extent) = Amamiya Manami no Yuuutsu? Too bad the artwork couldn't match up to Haruhi in terms of detail. Geez, they're actually going to release the rock version of the Seioh Academy School Song by Horie Yui, complete with lyrics written by UFOtable and its CEO (Coyote Ragtime Show R.I.P), coupled with the Chihara Minori song.

Well, the next episode will be the final one, so hope Manabi and the gang can close things out. I wanted a Momo mainly featured story, but I suppose her contributions in the past few episodes will suffice.