Toshokan Sensou (aka Library War)

[nanafan]

episode 7 was great.

Spoiler for shibasaki and stuff:

i was thinking that the guy that shibasaki was hanging out with or was asking her questions was too good to be true or something. it was interesting to have an episode on her, and liked learning about tezuka and his bro. did his brother want to completely do away with the library corps?

[TinyRedLeaf]

I loved this episode! It instantly raised the show to a whole new level.

Spoiler for Ep7:

Extremely well-directed episode, with a superbly handled juxtaposition between two conversations (Shibasaki's and Tezuka's) over dinner/drinks. The two most intelligent members of the Library Corps are being courted by the newly-introduced Judiciary, and their integrity is challenged. Of course, Shibasaki and Tezuka easily pass the test, but tougher trials are apparently just round the corner.

As I've expected, the in-fighting within the Library Corps has begun. As is usually the case, it's instigated by a particularly charismatic individual whose ideas run counter to the prevailing view. In this case, it's Tezuka's older brother, Satoshi, who appears to take a more cynical view over the ultimate objective of "protecting" information. The splintering has been foreshadowed, but I wish the author had not immediately depicted the Judiciary as an "evil" faction. I suppose it is for dramatic reasons - we do need a clearly identifed antagonist to drive the plot. But, as in real life, people who hold opposite views can often have very persuasive reasons for doing so. It would have been better if those views were presented without an obvious bias. It would have generated far more interesting debate and discussion among viewers.

It will be very interesting to see how Kasahara fares in the future. In one way, she is probably the most vulnerable to manipulation by the Judiciary. On the other hand, she is also likely to be its toughest opponent, because of her simple, yet pure, passion for her job. Ironically, the more "intelligent" you are, the more likely you would be seduced by the dark side. Even our usually redoubtable bishoujo Shibasaki suffered a momentary crisis of confidence, but thanks to Kasahara, she realised there had always been only one simple choice - tell the truth and face the consequences.

I don't know about you guys, but I literally teared when Kasahara guilelessly said, "Covering it up, ehhh, how should I put it, it means not paying the price for your mistakes." (Ocha! subs) I cannot help but feel that this remark is aimed directly at those Japanese who insist on whitewashing their country's bloody past.

Who says anime can't be a vehicle for social change? Not for the first time, I sincerely hope Toshokan Sensou gets the attention it needs in Japan, and the rest of the world. In the meantime, I'm very glad the show still manages to maintain its humour in spite of the darker turn of events. I laughed out loud at Shibasaki's mommy remark, "So Kasahara has finally become a girl. Mommy is so glad~~"

How true, how true.

[Kagedanji]

I haven't watched this at all, but it sounds like Yomiko Readman would fit right in this series.

[nanafan]

lol yeah readman would fit in very well with the library corps, paper can be a good weapon! i was happy to see how kasahara's friendship and advice is important to shibasaki, they have a cute friendship, and i love the end when doujo is angry about kasahara's situation.

[runey]

Anyone look closely at Asahina's business card?

Spoiler for Ep07 funny little tidbit:

"Masaka-cho" and "Arienai-shi" cracked me up.

[LiberLibri]

In fact the Judiciary (I mentioned it previously as Ministry of Justice) is not a new third player; it is the superior organ of the Committee, which has difficulty in controlling all the mess. I am amused to see the depiction of reconciliation movement trying to suppress armed conflicts in an anime. Compromising agreements could be regarded as treachery by the extremests on both sides. And, the reconcilers themselves are not holy saints in this case.

In 2007 there were too many cases in Japan where commercial companies and public agencies tried to conceal their faults, resulting only more aggravated guilts. The message in ep7 seems to be aimed also at the secretive thoughts.

[Kakulukiam]

Eisode 8 was

Added some gifs to #265
Might add some more tomorrow...

[KoroshiyaX]

Originally Posted by Kakulukiam

Eisode 8 was

Added some gifs to #265
Might add some more tomorrow...

the letter revelation at the end is the best part of the episode, can't wait to see her behavior next ep

[nanafan]

i wonder what kind of questioning she will go through...

[TinyRedLeaf]

Hehehe, good episode, but I'll have to watch the subs before I fully understand what went on.

Spoiler for Ep8 (RAW):

Anyone getting Naruto vibes from this episode? The similarities struck me when Itachi Uchiha Satoshi Tezuka told Kasahara that the person he wants is his younger brother Sasuke Uchiha Hikaru Tezuka. I WANTZ THE POWER OF YOUR BLOODLINE!

Aww...so many lovey-dovey moments between Dojo and Kasahara - him rescuing her from the inquiry, coaching her on how to handle the interrogation questions, grabbing her by hand to pull her out of the restaurant, and most of all, him attempting to pat Kasahara on the head but failing because he's too short (hahahaha, I know usagijen is going to be sooooo thrilled by that scene).

And it seems like Tezuka Jr and Shibasaki are going to become a couple (I thought Asahina looked very much like Hikaru actually). I approve. ^^b

By the way, I love the avatar pic of Ep9 preview, Kakulukiam. Come on Dojo, it's time to get it on and heat up the action!

Dojo: Kasahara, here I come... (Kasahara....iku yo...)

Kasahara: Ohh....please be gentle...

[wao]

I think I giggled a bit too much during the latest episode.

Just a bit too much.

And I really don't know why I like the writing in this show, even if it has its problems. It feels so natural, it feels different from other anime...

[nanafan]

i shouldn't have read the spoiler..now i want to see it even more

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by wao

It feels so natural, it feels different from other anime...

A anime without moe...
That might explain a little why it feel different ( there are more)

[wao]

I watch quite a lot of anime without moe though. But it somehow feels like a comfortable mix of live-action and anime-style scripts... which I like. I don't know, whatever it is it's an anime I like watching. And not for any particular reason (Doujou is really cute and Doujou/Kasahara is VERY smile-inducing, but no, it is not the reason why I watch this show)

Forgot to mention also, I think this episode confirmed that Shibazaki is my new idol. Seriously.

Spoiler for ep 8:

Did you see the way she came in and said "It doesn't matter WHY I know, what matters is Kasahara!!" when Kasahara left that note saying she's going to meet Tezuka's brother?

So cool. And her confident handling of Asahina plus her nice hints towards Tezuka... What a woman. And what an awesome friend.

EDIT: I woudln't have guessed this was a Yamakan episode if I didn't check the credits at the end! I had forgotten he was doing episode 8. Oh well, doesn't really matter who exactly does it if the result is good in the end...

[Kakulukiam]

Spoiler for Ep 8 / Shoujou Manga / DVDs:

I haven't read the novels, but right from the start I thought it was so obvious.
In the preview it looks like Dojo (dressed with a face mask and sunglasses at night *lol*) is trying to sneak into Kasahara's dorm to read that letter she received from Tezuka's brother?!?! Nani?!?! D:

It's a pity they didnt animate the one scene in the shoujou manga:


I wished they included this scene.

I really really like the development of the series. Unfortunately it's way too short.
I'm wondering what range will be covered? 12 episodes seem too short to cover all 4 books.

Someone said there will be an extra series on the upcoming DVDs. Is there any truth in it?

[nanafan]

shibasaki and tezuka??? orly? i thought she liked the asahina dude. anyways that's an interesting twist, i thought that slowly tezuka would like kasahara. but tezuka and shibasaki would be a good match they are both very intelligent and stuff

[KanazuchiHime]

Episode 8 was great! Can't stop smiling despite the semi-serious nature of this episode. Only 4 more episodes to go...........I feel excited and sad at the same time.

I originally preferred a love triangle between Dojo, Kasahara, and Tezuka, but it's already the 8th episode. Throwing in a love triangle at this point would be...too late.

This shows seems to show that like-minded people attract (Dojo/Kasahara, Tezuka/Shibasaki).

[nanafan]

watched most of episode 8, yet again another good episode, i also liked the scene where doujo is trying to pat kasahara's head, so cute. i didn't know that this series was gonna be only 12 episodes, but i am looking forward to the rest of it.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by wao

...EDIT: I wouldn't have guessed this was a Yamakan episode if I didn't check the credits at the end! I had forgotten he was doing episode 8. Oh well, doesn't really matter who exactly does it if the result is good in the end...

Do you have something against Yamakan? From what he's done before, I think he's a comic genius (SHnY ED, ep00, concert ep, Yuki reading ep; Lucky Star OP and basic direction). He's daring, and he's got rhythm, lol. And he did a good job of storyboarding this ep. Those juxtaposed conversations might have come from the storyboard, mightn't they? Thanks for alerting me to his being involved.

[Onizuka-GTO]

woah. too many fangurl spurting in this thread.

i guess the wuvy stuff really hit the mark....