(L) Hatenkou Yuugi (Dazzle anime adaption)

[Neki Ecko]

I have to say that this series is completly surprising me more and more. Razel is the second most favorite female character in this season behind Horo (for all the good reason). Her attiude and her clothing styles is very unique and very sexy, just like the manga (make me wonder where she keep all of those clothes at anyway, since she didnt have no luggage or a bag to keep them in). All of the characters personally is following the manga almost perfect with some flaws time to time but it is a very nice surprise.

[Sylphic]

She keeps em in her bear DURRR :P Just kidding.

Great series, I was actually pleasantly surprised. Loving this series so far.

[Ookla The Mok]

Originally Posted by Sylphic

She keeps em in her bear DURRR :P Just kidding.

Spoiler for Revealed in later volumes of the manga:

Actually, you are right.

Anyone who likes what they've seen so far in the anime should really consider getting the Dazzle manga. The manga versions of the stories in episodes 1-3 are better in almost every way (except for the voice acting, music, and color, of course). The manga takes things more to the extreme, with more juxtaposition of humor and disturbing elements.

Episode 4 doesn't look like it will be disturbing (unless they add stuff in flashbacks or otherwise change the story), but the mini-arc in episodes 5 and 6 is some of the darkest and most disturbing stuff that this series has to offer. Enjoy.

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by Ookla The Mok

Spoiler for Revealed in later volumes of the manga:

Actually, you are right.

So are you suggesting that...

Spoiler:

...the bear is dimensionally transcendental? Kind of like the TARDIS in Doctor Who?

[LKK]

Originally Posted by BBOvenGuy

So are you suggesting that...

Spoiler:

...the bear is dimensionally trancendental? Kind of like the TARDIS in Doctor Who?

That's pretty much correct.

Spoiler:

I liken the bear to the bag of infinite holding found in fantasy role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

Originally Posted by Ookla The Mok

Anyone who likes what they've seen so far in the anime should really consider getting the Dazzle manga. The manga versions of the stories in episodes 1-3 are better in almost every way (except for the voice acting, music, and color, of course). The manga takes things more to the extreme, with more juxtaposition of humor and disturbing elements.

I second this recommendation. I'm rereading the manga right now from the beginning. Reading the early volumes with knowledge from the later volumes makes me realize how deep this story really is. It's unfortunate that the anime is just skimming the surface of what is actually a very compelling story told with an intriguing cast of characters.

[Matrim]

The story of episode 3 again seemed kind of rushed but the series still rocked. The two bishounen outshined Rahzel in this episode, I feel and this time the fight scenes were actually animated. Most importantly the main trio of characters remains absolutely hilarious. Rahzel punching them and then bothering to thank them for comnig to save her broke somewhat the tsundere cliche, I feel.

[Ashlotte]

Originally Posted by Matrim

The story of episode 3 again seemed kind of rushed but the series still rocked. The two bishounen outshined Rahzel in this episode, I feel and this time the fight scenes were actually animated. Most importantly the main trio of characters remains absolutely hilarious. Rahzel punching them and then bothering to thank them for comnig to save her broke somewhat the tsundere cliche, I feel.

Yea a couple times during the episode the whole thing just kinda jumped forward suddenly giving me abit of a momentary diconnected feel...Mostly felt it near the end when they jumped from talking about the clowns to the ringmaster without actually showing them destroying the clowns or making their way back to her...Minor thing but still abit of a moment.

Other then that though how can a episode featuring knife wielding clowns not be good right?

[Guido]

Here I am again.

Spoiler for episode 03:

I feel for the loss of the circus master's own child, but she was practically selfish and demented for literally separating all the sacrificed children from their parents' hands in order to use their body parts to patch up and create a living doll to bring to life her lost child.

It was painful but a real-live experience for Rahzel to bear witness to Viola's death when Alzeid shot the doll in a gesture of mercy. As well it became painful when Romario's mother endlessly looked for her lost child and to never learn about Romario's fate ever, as she kept on searching the empty circus at the end.

BTW, I know that Sanae Kobayashi voices Rahzel but in this particular episode her voice sounded too similar to Allen Walker's.

And what a coincidence that I brought that to topic, because the main cast of characters that Sanae Kobayashi (Rahzel), Takahiro Sakurai (Alzeid), and Shinichiro Miki (Baroqueheat) that voice and interact with each other in Hatenkou Yuugi have as well interacted or are doing so currently in D.Gray-man.

[yupyupyup]

I just watched the first ep, and it kinda confused me, the plot was jumping around, and not very interesting if not boring. The scene when the girl asked the ghost to place bomb around the man's mansion was unreasonable and weird to me. I mean, the first ep totally failed to catch my interrest. I got up to the third ep now, but have not watched the later two since. Is this series worth watching?

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Guido

As well it became painful when Romario's mother endlessly looked for her lost child and to never learn about Romario's fate ever, as she kept on searching the empty circus at the end.

Events at the end of the story played out a little differently in the manga.

Spoiler for manga v04 spoiler for Romario's mother:

In the manga, the circus lady calls Viora (Viola) to come out of the tank to protect her and to attack the trio directly. (Not through controlling their actions like in the anime.) Romario's mother, hiding behind a curtain, overheard the circus lady's explanation of how she used Romario's hands for Viora. When Viora leaves his tank, Romario's mother bursts out and thrusts a wooden board with a sharpened end through the circus lady's stomach but does not kill her. The circus lady orders Viora to strangle Romario's mother. After killing Romario's mother, Viora turns to the circus lady, withdraws the board from her stomach, then repeatedly stabs her with the board over and over killing her. After killing the circus lady, Viora turns to the trio and starts towards them. That's when Alzeid shoots repeatedly eventually killing Viora.

[Grimkill7]

Originally Posted by LKK

Events at the end of the story played out a little differently in the manga.

Spoiler for manga v04 spoiler for Romario's mother:

In the manga, the circus lady calls Viora (Viola) to come out of the tank to protect her and to attack the trio directly. (Not through controlling their actions like in the anime.) Romario's mother, hiding behind a curtain, overheard the circus lady's explanation of how she used Romario's hands for Viora. When Viora leaves his tank, Romario's mother bursts out and thrusts a wooden board with a sharpened end through the circus lady's stomach but does not kill her. The circus lady orders Viora to strangle Romario's mother. After killing Romario's mother, Viora turns to the circus lady, withdraws the board from her stomach, then repeatedly stabs her with the board over and over killing her. After killing the circus lady, Viora turns to the trio and starts towards them. That's when Alzeid shoots repeatedly eventually killing Viora.

Wow. The manga sounds much more grim and disturbing.

[w3g]

Wow LKK if that's what the manga is like, I'm definitely not looking forward to reading it! Kinda neutral about how anime ep3 ended, but now that I know the alternative, am very glad it didn't go the original path.

I rather prefer lighter stuff, with no gory madness and excessive deaths. But since I've already gotten started, might as well keep going with fingers crossed. *prays for cheerful future episodes*

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by LKK

Events at the end of the story played out a little differently in the manga.

Spoiler for manga v04 spoiler for Romario's mother:

In the manga, the circus lady calls Viora (Viola) to come out of the tank to protect her and to attack the trio directly. (Not through controlling their actions like in the anime.) Romario's mother, hiding behind a curtain, overheard the circus lady's explanation of how she used Romario's hands for Viora. When Viora leaves his tank, Romario's mother bursts out and thrusts a wooden board with a sharpened end through the circus lady's stomach but does not kill her. The circus lady orders Viora to strangle Romario's mother. After killing Romario's mother, Viora turns to the circus lady, withdraws the board from her stomach, then repeatedly stabs her with the board over and over killing her. After killing the circus lady, Viora turns to the trio and starts towards them. That's when Alzeid shoots repeatedly eventually killing Viora.

Wow...

Spoiler:

Dam glad that they didn't anime the stabbing, it would be lame if they shows hardly anything or too gruesome if they showed everything. Romario's mother dying would also be depressing to see. But is that actually a worse fate than going crazy about finding her son (ie returning to the same place every night). Seems like ending her misery is a godsend

[LKK]

I did warn everyone that Hatenkou Yuugi was at times quite disturbing. (Western fans hear shoujo and tend to think light and fluffy stories.) I haven't said much so far about manga differences because I've been reluctant to unintentionally give out spoilers. With the anime showing events out of manga order, I only have the slimmest ideas as to what they plan to cover as future episodes and/or flashbacks. (My knowledge is based on character / voice actor lists for upcoming episodes. For example, I know how Baroqueheat joined up with Alzeid & Rahzel, but I haven't said anything because I expect the anime to eventually cover that story based on the lists.)

I will say that the anime is unquestionably taking the edge off the series. So far the anime makes it seem as if Hatenkou Yuugi is little more than a series of disconnected happy-go-lucky road trip adventures. The manga can be that way at times. But it's much more than that. It's darker and more complex with an intriguing mysterious overarching story that the anime is unlikely to tackle.

However, if you like Hatenkou Yuugi as a lighter road trip adventure series with quick banter among our trio, there's nothing wrong with that. That's what initially sold me on the manga too. Tonight's episode (ep 4) should be a return to the lighter mood. It's a treasure hunt episode as was mentioned in the preview.

Spoiler for eps 5 & 6:

Episodes 5 and 6 are two-parter that returns to the grimmer side of Hatenkou Yuugi though.

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by w3g

It was day time in my part of the world But I did rush things along quite a bit since it's the weekends. Was aiming to beat the raw watcher comments to release first, but only partially successful~ I guess Deathkillz will be my challenge next round *_*

Sorry w3g, but you might have to wait for that next week

ep 4

Spoiler:

With heat being boiled alive and Alzeid fallen off a cliff, Rahzel find herself lost, cold and wet. She finds a pretty nice looking mansion where she asks for shelter. First a cold blooded older woman shuts the door onto her face but the more gentle younger sister warmy invites her into the house, where she finds Rahzel and heat already there resting.

The older woman turns out to be a person who has been seeking her grandfather's dream/treasure for a long time and enlists Rahzel for help seen as she is providing a place for her to stay. And there is where out mini adventure begins and how the woman finds something worth much more than her grandfathers treasure.

All the usual fun packed into one neat episode. I admit that this story lacks on the dramatic side, but it sure was interesting to see the bonds of Rahzel, Alzied and Heat grow stronger.

Rahzel was given a question of who to save out of those two if they were both drowing (as the woman had a similar experience where her sister was saved first before her). Rahzel finally gives a cold answer that she would just let them both die as she expects them to save themselves. This earned herslef a well deserved kick (wth child abuse!) from Alzied

Rahzel continues to surprise me with her shining personality. She is dam unpredictable for one thing. I just love her playful side shown in this ep where she plays with the booby traps while saying "pichi-to" - it kinda takes the cake how amusing she is when it comes to handling dangerous situation. Yet there is a subtle deeper side to her which she frequently shows. This side of her is just captivating and amazing for her to shine with maturity.

Alzied seems to be changing already. He seems less cold and more willing to talk. Wow I must be missing something here

Heat? He is still a pervert

[w3g]

Darn =_= have just woken up from nice cozy 10-hours sleep, and Deathkillz is already done with review! I need to move to Japan to win this! (If things go according to plan, that will happen in a year or two)

[Ashlotte]

Originally Posted by LKK

Events at the end of the story played out a little differently in the manga.

Spoiler for manga v04 spoiler for Romario's mother:

In the manga, the circus lady calls Viora (Viola) to come out of the tank to protect her and to attack the trio directly. (Not through controlling their actions like in the anime.) Romario's mother, hiding behind a curtain, overheard the circus lady's explanation of how she used Romario's hands for Viora. When Viora leaves his tank, Romario's mother bursts out and thrusts a wooden board with a sharpened end through the circus lady's stomach but does not kill her. The circus lady orders Viora to strangle Romario's mother. After killing Romario's mother, Viora turns to the circus lady, withdraws the board from her stomach, then repeatedly stabs her with the board over and over killing her. After killing the circus lady, Viora turns to the trio and starts towards them. That's when Alzeid shoots repeatedly eventually killing Viora.

Interesting insight into the difference between the source material and the anime LKK...Thanks.

Spoiler for Manga:

As for the actual content differences...I'm never one to complain about violence, but in this case I think the anime managed to pull off a much more poignant story that had impact beyond the shock value that the violence from the manga seemed to use.

But thats just for this time...I'm always kinda leery when Anime's "Tame" down the source material...Just hope they don't mess up the story too much.

[Impz]

I feel so sad that there's little costume love for Rahzel this episode. Anyway, before i go on a rant, Episode 4 summary + screenshots is available.

Interesting insights on Viola, LKK ^^. That said, I really prefer how the anime does it, since it feels much more real. The manga feels a bit too...well ya.

[LKK]

Quickie comment on ep 4

Spoiler for ep 4:

The anime seems to like changing the beginning of the story so that Heat isn't with Rahzel at the story's beginning. (In this case Alzeid as well.) This is the third time they've done it. Out of four episodes, mind you, and the first episode doesn't really count. It's become like a game for me to figure out when, where, and how Heat is going to be added back into the episode. Kind of like an animated version of the Where's Waldo? books. (a.k.a. Where's Wally?)

[Deathkillz]

Originally Posted by LKK

Quickie comment on ep 4

Spoiler for ep 4:

The anime seems to like changing the beginning of the story so that Heat isn't with Rahzel at the story's beginning. (In this case Alzeid as well.) This is the third time they've done it. Out of four episodes, mind you, and the first episode doesn't really count. It's become like a game for me to figure out when, where, and how Heat is going to be added back into the episode. Kind of like an animated version of the Where's Waldo? books. (a.k.a. Where's Wally?)

Lol yea ^^

This shouldn't affect the main story too much though so I kindly accept more heat boiling in an oversized pot