(L) Cross game

[mit7059]

Originally Posted by justavisitor

guess you guys' strategy on these cross-game's avatar is working (at least I am buying it )...I thought someone was gonna re-anime "touch" lol...never heard of this anime, so I went to wikipedia for a check ---baseball highschool romance story...sounds like it fits my taste...the only problem is I don't know whether I should read the manga or watch the anime...I heard the manga is still ongoing...will anime and manga end at the same time??

I would say it's down to your level of patience and preferences. If you really prefer anime and can sit though cliffhangers then go with the anime. If you need to know RIGHT NOW like I do then go for the manga. That being said the manga is not complete but it is nearing completion but the mangaka also likes to take long breaks at crucial moments in the story. I would probably start with the anime, if you get to where the anime is currently and feel like you need more then you can pick up on the manga, they're pretty much almost identical.

[justavisitor]

Thanks for the advice Proto and mit7059...if they are pretty much identical I guess I will take both...probably anime first and then manga (or first few episode of the anime and then first 2 volumes of the manga) like you two suggest...

Many thx for the tips...I will probably enjoy this because these kind of stories totally fit my type..but now I need to find a time slot..damn

[typhonsentra]

I'm actually behind and just watched the recap episode. I found it valuable because it's been so long since the first episode it's easy to lose sight of why this is so important to them. It made me tear up again a bit too. It also adds some weight to why this new girl affects him so much even if it would be obvious without it, it helps place the viewer into his position a little better.

[BetoJR]

Originally Posted by Pellissier

Which is a direct hit to me, isn't it?

Well, it wasn't a hit, but if it works... and it did! Thank you so much for these wonderful avatars, Pelli. Loved your project and it sucks that we cannot use the whole thing here - but I'll take whatever we can get!

Too bad, my cookie maker is on the fritz right now, I'll start baking some more right away...

[ZGMF-X10A]

woah pretty nice episode.

Spoiler for so the new Waka's look alike name is (this week's question):

Takigawa Akane

Spoiler for preview:

looks like in the next episode Akane is going to be bullied, and Aoba is going to save her. I'm thinking Aoba and Akane are going to be great friends. I really hope Akane x Kou

[DeX-kun]

Just finished watching episode 31 and I must say, another great episode for Cross Game.

Spoiler for Episode 31:

Well it seems like her name is Akane and she was holding a bag from a store conveniently named "Wakaba." Of all things, that was surely unexpected and I couldn't help but giggle a little because of it. I loved how they just kept pushing all these reminiscent situations on him, especially the guy carrying that box saying the exact same thing that was said in the past after Wakaba's death. And boy, Momiji really drove the point home. Man, I can't wait for the next episode now

[haru_sunye]

It seems like this will be my first post on the Cross Game board. Yay! But anyway, great idea on the avatar/signature idea to promote the series! I think I shall jump on the bandwagon too since CG deserves more love and attention.

[SeaDoor]

Hmm... For the first time in this series, I'm a bit disappointed with an episode.
For a series that has shown such a light touch in past episodes, this episode felt very heavy-handed. To me it seemed almost oppressive to the extent that even lighter moments like Momiji's mooching off the alter offering came across as just wrong. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind to see this episode tonight.

[Guardian Enzo]

They keep dragging out that damn song, and it never loses it's punch...

Spoiler for Do They Grow Up?:

Lot's happening here, as if to make up for last week's recap they crammed two episodes worth of emotional firepower into one. Intellectually, the introduction of Akane seems suspiciously like a plot device - inauthentic by this show's lofty standards. But based on tonight it works for me - she's a convenient catalyst but her appearance triggered a lot of emotional fireworks. In the first place, poor Akiashi - as expected, it did seem to hit him even harder than Kou.

The chain of coincidences starting with Akane's very existence would have felt forced in lesser hands, but the chain of events as it unfolded was seamless. Momiji's appearance in Waka-chan's yukata on this very night, Aoba spotting Kou and Akane at the cemetery, the grocery bag, the guy bumping into Kou, all of it happening on the night of the summer festival - coincidental, but the writing nailed it. Of course, little Momiji's innocent jape was full of meaning she didn't understand when she said it - but that's the crucial variable in the series now. Just when Kou and Aoba seemed to be growing through some of their childish antagonism and Kou showed the merest glimmer of maturing enough to move on with his life, Akane shows up. Will he retreat to childhood and fall for her due to her appearance, or will he take the more painful step of embracing adulthood and moving on - be it with Aoba or anyone else? The pained look on his face in the final frame of the ep enlightens us as to how difficult that choice will be for him.

One final thought for me is that I'm continually moved by the natural and effortless affection the Tsukishimas have for Kou, especially the father - as if he were their own son. Even on the anniversary of his daughter's passing, he thinks of Kou attending the natsu matsuri alone and is saddened by it.

[Azuma Denton]

Cross Game Avatar Week??

Is it because of

Spoiler for eps31:

Wakaba revived as Akane??

[mit7059]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

Cross Game Avatar Week??

Is it because of

Spoiler for eps31:

Wakaba revived as Akane??

Nah we're just trying to get more people into Cross Game. It's a charity event.

[totalnet]

Don't feel need for the spoiler tag, since the sub for ep31 is out.

You know there is some conflicting emotions happening within Kou. In his dream and in turn his subconscious, Wakaba is coming back into his live. Of course, he knows the person that looks like Wakaba is not Wakaba. But damn, her smile is dumbfounding him.

As I watch the cemetery section of the episode, it felt like that Aoba told Kou to pickup Wakaba and take her to the festival. Well from the point of view of Aoba, Kou is coming back from the cemetery with Wakaba.

PS, anyone notice Punch from Touch is on Aoba's alarm clock?

[DeX-kun]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

They keep dragging out that damn song, and it never loses it's punch...

Spoiler for Wakaba:

Lot's happening here, as if to make up for last week's recap they crammed two episodes worth of emotional firepower into one. Intellectually, the introduction of Akane seems suspiciously like a plot device - inauthentic by this show's lofty standards. But based on tonight it works for me - she's a convenient catalyst but her appearance triggered a lot of emotional fireworks. In the first place, poor Akiashi - as expected, it did seem to hit him even harder than Kou.

The chain of coincidences starting with Akane's very existence would have felt forced in lesser hands, but the chain of events as it unfolded was seamless. Momiji's appearance in Waka-chan's yukata on this very night, Aoba spotting Kou and Akane at the cemetery, the grocery bag, the guy bumping into Kopu, all of it happening on the night of the summer festival - coincidental, but the writing nailed it. Of course, little Momiji's innocent jape was full of meaning she didn't understand when she said it - but that's the crucial variable in the series now. Just when Kou and Aoba seemed to be growing through some of their childish antagonism and Kou showed the merest glimmer of maturing enough to move on with his life, Akane shows up. Will he retreat to childhood and fall for her due to her appearance, or will he take the more painful step of embracing adulthood and moving on - be it with Aoba or anyone else? The pained look on his face in the final frame of the ep enlightens us as to how difficult that choice will be for him.

One final thought for me is that I'm continually moved by the natural and effortless affection the Tsukishimas have for Kou, especially the father - as if he were their own son. Even on the anniversary of his daughter's passing, he thinks of Kou attending the natsu matsuri alone and is saddened by it.

That was wonderfully put, I couldn't have said it better myself. I see that you didn't mention Azuma's comment in the beginning which I enjoyed just as well

Spoiler for Conversation between Kou and Azuma:

Azuma: "Do they look similar?"

Kou: "How am I supposed to know? She was in 5th grade when she died."

Azuma: "I meant if she was still alive."

Kou: "The Wakaba in my mind is still in 5th grade. I never thought about what she'd be like as a high schooler."

Azuma: "Until just now...right?"

Kou: "This core's too damn big!" ()

Azuma: "You must be so happy. You love soba a lot, don't you?"

[Azuma Denton]

The line i remember when Aoba seeing Akane...

"Can a ghost growing up??"

[Sackett]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

Cross Game Avatar Week??

Is it because of

Spoiler for eps31:

Wakaba revived as Akane??

No.. just another coincidence in a long string of many.

You know it's strange, intellectually it's heavy handed, but the way it's treated down plays that. Not to mention, I have experienced days like this. Days when for some reason everything is freighted with meaning, as if you are standing on the cusp of something big, and every action echos some important part of your past. Most days just go by, but that day, this day, it's as if the world has slowed down and all of God's attention is on you. God reaches out His finger to meddle in your life and somehow you know that today is important, even if you don't know why.

It's a strange feeling, that's only happened to me a half dozen times or so- and only once did it last a whole day. But it is a real feeling- when life suddenly goes surreal. And instead of freaking out over it, Kou's reaction is so on- you just feel sort of dazed by it all.

Surreal. That's the word for it. And sometimes it does happen. It really does. (Like the day I almost got taken to jail because my driving companion was on the FBI most wanted list- that was a weird day. Or the time the three girls I was dating all moved in together and became each other's roommates. Or the time I accidentally took two girls on a simultaneous date- life really is stranger than fiction.)

I thought Aoba's reaction was amusing though.

Spoiler for Aoba's reaction:

Assuming that Wakaba has returned as a ghost to go to the festival with Kou. The strangest thing is the more I think about it the less strange that seems. I mean, if Wakaba did return for a single hour- who would she spend it with? And Aoba knows Kou had just come from visiting the grave. It must have been so plausible to Aoba. I was actually wondering if she'd figure it out that night or not. And Kou's response: "Can't you see your sisters?". Aoba must have been confused. Aoba is so accepting of it too. "Just be sure to send her back properly". Aoba sure has changed since childhood.

I don't know. Most other shows would have messed this up, but Cross Game once again threaded the needle, and made it work.

[mit7059]

This may seem small compared to the overall impact of the episode but the part where Mizuki fixes Aoba's clock was one of the first times the anime gave me a totally different impression from the manga. When she says that he is 'handy' after seeing his hands she seemed very sarcastic which was totally different from the feel I got from the manga.

Spoiler for Am I the only one who thinks so?:

I though this episode was good but I do think that Kou's dream was a little heavy handed, another place where the anime differed from the manga, which was a lot more subtle. Aside from the dream though I think it was masterfully done.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by DeX-kun

That was wonderfully put, I couldn't have said it better myself. I see that you didn't mention Azuma's comment in the beginning which I enjoyed just as well

Spoiler for Conversation between Kou and Azuma:

Azuma: "Do they look similar?"

Kou: "How am I supposed to know? She was in 5th grade when she died."

Azuma: "I meant if she was still alive."

Kou: "The Wakaba in my mind is still in 5th grade. I never thought about what she'd be like as a high schooler."

Azuma: "Until just now...right?"

Kou: "This core's too damn big!" ()

Azuma: "You must be so happy. You love soba a lot, don't you?"

Yes, I did neglect to mention that - it was one of my favorite moments as well (I LOL'd). Delivered in inimitable Azuma deadpan fashion, and it was the pause at the end that really sold it!

[pseudonhym]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

They keep dragging out that damn song, and it never loses it's punch...

No matter how many times I rewatch the episode, or reread the manga... It never fails to make me teary eyed. The song really matches the scene very well.

[ZGMF-X10A]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

The line i remember when Aoba seeing Akane...

"Can a ghost growing up??"

And afterward, Aoba says "you better send her back properly" made me laugh.

[Sackett]

Originally Posted by mit7059

This may seem small compared to the overall impact of the episode but the part where Mizuki fixes Aoba's clock was one of the first times the anime gave me a totally different impression from the manga. When she says that he is 'handy' after seeing his hands she seemed very sarcastic which was totally different from the feel I got from the manga.

Spoiler for Am I the only one who thinks so?:

I though this episode was good but I do think that Kou's dream was a little heavy handed, another place where the anime differed from the manga, which was a lot more subtle. Aside from the dream though I think it was masterfully done.

Dreams are heavy handed sometimes- we can't really control our dreams.

As for Aoba. Anime version I got the impression of sarcasm concealing a small bit of affection. Manga gives the impression of gratidue with a bit of a snicker underneath.

Pretty similar feelings I think.