Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~ (TV)

[KenOhki'sRage]

Question? Why does Tomohiro address his sister as Aniki? I've always associated Aniki with older BROTHER or at the very least with Yakuza addressing another Yakuza in the same "family". I never knew it could be used for a female relative.

I'm confused, and is she really even his sister?

[Matrim]

This is not a slice of life anime or a reality turned anime tv series.

You don't really think many people would be that misguided to believe Lovedol was a slice of life anime after watching even two minutes of it, do you? Hello, even the title Lovedol implies it's hardly the most deep anime out there.

The kind of girls that are both huggably soft, charming, and sweet, yet still datable material.

Datable material? Are we watching the same series, I wonder? If this is the new improved kind of moe than I consider myself lucky not to know in detail the old kind.

The voices are a good indication, they're all adult women yet they talk with a higher pitch and in a manner of 12 year olds.

Isn't that the case with something like 50% of anime female characters? I fail to see how is this indicative of anything.

Question? Why does Tomohiro address his sister as Aniki? I've always associated Aniki with older BROTHER or at the very least with Yakuza addressing another Yakuza in the same "family". I never knew it could be used for a female relative.

Well, you might be mistaking "aniki" and "aneki" which means elder sister. He calls his boss "aneki" at least.

[KenOhki'sRage]

Hmm, I guess I miss the old days of Bottle Fairies, Sister Princess Repure (not the Sister Princess that made it to the US) and Magical Nyan Nyan Taruto and characters like Lumiere, Sakura Kinomoto, and Mint which were the only things considered MOE. Now even Mikuru is MOE and she's like a rather well developed 16 year old love interest.

I recall the article written by Akamatsu Ken where he said MOE is to elicit feelings of caregiving in the viewer. Now it seems that anyone who's cute and sweet is MOE and it has shifted from the sweet little sister to the perfect girlfriend.

I'm just wondering how Kaoru found this show and why it was being compared to other idol shows like Lemon Angel Project and Full Moon when it's purpose is nowhere near the same. Why she even stuck around for 6 episodes when it's not for her is a mystery and blaming the show for being a poor example of it's genre I felt was unfair, I rather believe she misunderstood it's purpose, that's all.

Maybe I'm coming from the wrong angle here, maybe I suck at explaining myself, maybe I'm looking at things that aren't there or maybe I'm just doomed to forever be in the misunderstood group of guys that turn all squealy when watching new episodes of Tiny Snowfairy Sugar. Sigh.

[[tCi]]

Just bumping the thread to check if WinD is still going to continue with this series, I started watching it and so far I find it entertaining.

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by [tCi]

Just bumping the thread to check if WinD is still going to continue with this series, I started watching it and so far I find it entertaining.

They released an episode a little over a week ago, so there's no reason to believe that they've dropped it...

(Is asking whether a group dropped a series the new way of "asking when episodes will be released"?)

[[tCi]]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

They released an episode a little over a week ago, so there's no reason to believe that they've dropped it...

(Is asking whether a group dropped a series the new way of "asking when episodes will be released"?)

Oh sorry didn't mean it that way, just saying that that some people didn't seem to like it (then again that was 4chan) so I thought they might have dropped it due to lack of interest.

[Nvis]

So anyone seen ep.7 RAW yet?

Spoiler for ep7:

What was that AnEki so cocky about after discovering something regarding to Mizuki?

I hate her so much now. Just what was she saying in that cocky attitude of hers at the end of the episode?

[Cyz]

Can't argue with you there. I hate her ever since she interrupted Touko and Tomohiro's "date". She always appear bringing pain to Tomohiro. What was she said before? "You're not allowed to approach my idol?" Didn't she knew that it was Tomohiro who formed the first and second batches (as was said by Ms. President on the first ep.). And now....

Spoiler:

She even wants to "steal" Mizuki away from him!? She's got some nerve

-- Never knew that Mizuki's VA is the same VA for Nemu in Da Capo.

[relentlessflame]

For episode 8, I have to admit that I don't quite get all the dynamics at play here, but things are progressing.

Spoiler for Episode 8:

It seems like Aneki and the boss want Mizuki to leave the troupe and go solo. This thrills precisely no one; Mizuki's upset that Tomohiro's not doing anything to stop it, but he feels powerless (fear Japanese hierarchies...). In another matter (Tomohiro isn't sure whether it's seperate or related), they brought in Aya, one of the other idols, to assess their group singing, and she's finding that it's not quite working. While the other girls assure Mizuki that they love her voice and think it's beautiful, the insinuation here (between the solo thing and Aya's concerns) is that Mizuki may be to blame for their not "gelling" as a group. That's not too good with the "big event" approaching, since Mizuki's the one who's been leading that effort, musically. Plus, it'd tear the group apart; they're almost family now.

At this point, my feeling is that we're building towards the finale (which I think is episode 13), which I expect to be the big event itself. So, the purpose of this show (as a sum-up based on that prediction) would essentially be a "zero-to-hero" tale of how the third group overcame obstacles and finally made it to the "main stage". What remains to be seen is whether or not they're going to explore the romantic angle hinted at in the ED at all, but we'll see; I could see them going either way here.

In other news, Avex is continuing the "hit 'em fast, hit 'em hard" marketing strategy for the DVDs in Japan, with both the second and third DVDs scheduled for release on January 31st (the pricing setup Kadokawa often uses: 2 episodes/DVD, ~$50/DVD for the regular edition, or $70/DVD for the limited edition). I suppose the way to look at this would be to think of it as a 2-DVD boxset without the box, but it's still quite steep, even by R2 standards. (Though, I have to admit, if they used those nice illustrations in the solicitations as the DVD art... )

[Gains]

We of WinD actually have released episode 4 earlier this week. Apologies for being slow though.

[Cyz]

Thanx WinD! We'll be waiting for the rest

[Kaoru Chujo]

KenOhki'sRage may have something in that previous post. Maybe I was just expecting something from this show that it wasn't designed to give. I do like some (real, Akamatsu Ken-style) moe. I like Kanon, for example. But I never understood the appeal of pure little moe shows like Bottle Fairy, Little Snow Fairy Sugar, etc., so maybe that is what's going on.

I certainly share his disappointment at the general debasement of the term moe. But I do think Mikuru is also moe, because of her vulnerability. I am willing to allow a little sexual feeling into the term, unlike Akamatsu Ken, perhaps. But the SaiMoe tournament was a total travesty, in my opinion. It was really a "who turns you on?" tournament.

Anyway, just to prove that I still pay some attention to this show, I found it striking on the official site how many live events they were putting on in support of their rapid-fire DVD- and CD-releases. Seven CD events in November (over three days) and six DVD events in December, with Gotou Yuuko or Sakai Kanako, in Akihabara, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Yokohama, etc.

There was also a list of the seven character singles that are being released over seven weeks, with online comments for the current week:
10月25日～10月31日　OP -- Nogawa Sakura
11月1日～11月7日　Mizuki -- Nogawa Sakura
11月8日～11月14日　Kotoha -- Nakahara Mai
11月15日～11月21日　Mai -- Momoi Halko
11月22日～11月28日　Miu -- Gotou Yuuko
11月29日～12月5日　Hina -- Chihara Minori
12月6日～12月12日　Ruri -- Sakai Kanako

And Nogawa Sakura and Sakai Kanako have an online TV show for Rabudoru. The episodes are on this page. Under the pictures for each episode in the bottom half of the page are two orange buttons: the left-hand one is for narrow-band and the right-hand one for broadband connections. Those two seiyuus already are regular hosts on anime interview shows on broadcast TV, so I expect Rabudoru has got some publicity that way, too.

[Cyz]

Seen episode 8...

Spoiler:

That president of theirs is pretty cruel isn't she? Tomohiro is now pressured with having Mizuki as a solo debut and leaving the rest. I guess that's why that good for nothing sister of Tomohiro is laughing evil on the last ep. I feel sorry for Tomohiro and Mizuki here.

[KenOhki'sRage]

Yeah I shouldn't have gotten persnickity. I guess I just feel that the few people who understood me and where I was coming from are no longer agreeing with me.

I'd say I was still upset at SaiMoe especially with the addition of girls like Lindy Halloun (A mother of a boy OLDER then two other candidates) and the lack of even 1 Powerpuff Girl Z made me think that MOE is no longer what it should be. Sigh.

Episode 8

Spoiler:

So Mizuki is supposed to solo now? I guess that's the main focus of the remainder of the series, her desire or hopefully her desire to debut with the other girls will overcome the other's desire to have her solo. Should be a fair story. Wonder how the potential love relation between her and Tomohiro will play out. With all the hints in the opener and closer that she's the main player for his heart makes me hope for some sweet moments.

[Cyz]

I find it interesting that all of the girls in different batches either just like him or already falling in love to him (i.e. Touko, Ayumi, Yukimi, Sayuki, or Mizuki)

[whyrd]

if you look at it i don't think Aya was too in to tomohiro.

[martino]

The 4th episode wasn't that bad. Maybe I'll keep on watching this after all...

[Cyz]

Originally Posted by whyrd

if you look at it i don't think Aya was too in to tomohiro.

Maybe, but we never know. This is a dating game too you know?

[relentlessflame]

Episode 9 continues to move us closer to the goal (which is confirmed as episode 13, by the way).

Spoiler for Episode 9:

The girls struggle with the news of Mizuki's potential solo debut and take it the wrong way, until they realize (with Tomohiro's help) that Mizuki's actually been working really hard for their sakes to make sure they can debut together instead. Their renewed desire to go on stage together gives them a new resolve and those shared feelings come through in their singing; Aya finally gives them the "thumbs up" they were hoping for. Even Tomohiro's sister is starting to come on board; it seems like, in true onee-san fashion, she's been giving her little brother a hard time to force him and the other girls to try harder (one of those "tough love" sort of things). When Tomohiro finds out that Aya was actually there of her own accord, and not on a mission from upper management, she tries to get a kiss from our dear Manager in thanks... he was saved by the bell, though (well, cellphone ring). In fact, though, that cellphone call turned out to be none other than... Mizuki's mother. Next episode preview, Mizuki seems to be missing...

Now that I've sort of come to terms with what the show is trying to do, I'm liking it more and more. I actually agree with KenOhki'sRage's interpretation - it's all about the moe~ characters; after all, that's what the short stories in Magi-Cu (that started it all) are all about too. Even the game isn't a "romantic drama", but it's more like a "raising sim" (you manage their schedules, help them improve their skills, talk to them, go on dates, etc.). So I should have known better, and now that I "get it" I'm liking it.

[Cyz]

I guess that confirms it that Aya also has feelings for Tomohiro.

Spoiler:

If it weren't for that phone, Tomohiro might've given Aya a nice thank you/romantic smooch....stupid phone.