(L) Tsuritama

[cyth]

Tsuritama is hands down the best anime of the Spring 2012 season. I was hesitant to bestow it that title, but the way character development and pacing panned out, it's just the most brilliant out of the bunch, with lovable characters, a unique storyline, unique art style, and lots of material for us critical types to feed on. So many topics to talk about.

Spoiler:

Who are "they" (karera)? I raised my eyebrows at this one. I bet it won't be revealed, just like in [C] where Nakamura didn't explicitly state what Financial District is when Kimimaro asked himself that question.

[Guardian Enzo]

If this is what 13 animation directors gets you, can we please have 15 next week?

Spoiler for This week's Tsuritama rave:

It's amazing how crystal clear Tsuritama's narrative execution is. It's easy to think this is a shallow, simple series because it's so seamless and easy to follow - but it's not. The character development is some of the deepest of any show in ages, and the plot has been both intricate and elegantly structured. It's easy to see not because the water is shallow, but because it's crystal clear - there's nothing clouding it like bad pacing, muddled exposition or inconsistent characterization. Most anime are Lake Erie - this one is Crater Lake.

Special kudos for even tying Yuki's Scopophobia - the driver of the first episode - back into it at the end with the "Eyes of the World" scene. Excellent writing right there.

Many of us have been saying it's 12 episodes all along, BTW - it's not like it's some big secret. There have been six DVD volumes announced since the beginning, it's been in Syoboi's schedule - and why would Sakamichi be 12 and Tsuritama 11 in the first place?

[DragoonKain3]

Go get that fish! Was at the edge of my seat for the entire team; it was so intense! Basically I had the same feeling when going up against a superpowered version of the last boss in an RPG. And for them to make me feel that way towards fishing? Well done!

Probably the weakest part of the series for me is how I'm pretty much non-chalant on what happens to Haru. Though that's most probably just me not really identifying with non-humans in general, be they furries, robots, or aliens.

[DRAGUN H.E.X.]

Yuki is the goddess, oh dear here comes more new fanfics.....
see guys? gender isn't the problem here, this will be also a hit with the hetero male demographic

to me, this series is like a male cast version of Natsuiro Kiseki

[Kirarakim]

I am quite amazed by how much I grew to care about Haru despite my earlier aversion for the character.

Although I would have loved to spend more time with these characters, I think this was a one cour series done right. Just enough plot and build up but never skimping in the character development. All 4 of the main group were developed to the point that this final struggle becomes more meaningful to me because I care about their characters & Enoshima so much.

[blewin]

amazing. Just amazing! "Fishing becomes the central focus of the world". All I can think of from it is "the most ordinary is always the most extraordinary"! love how that message plays out.

and of course, the character development and the escalating tension in the whole situation. Though it started off as just Yuki learning how to fish, somehow everything comes together nicely and the climax is both tense, exciting and most of all, believable!

it's a pity to see Yuki fail. I thought he really was gonna fish it up. Eagerly waiting for the surprise in the next episode!

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by DRAGUN H.E.X.

Yuki is the goddess, oh dear here comes more new fanfics.....

No, Haru is the "goddess" and Yuki is the friend who catches the dragon... though I'm a bit disappointed to see that in the end it's only Yuki, after all the "Friendship! Yeah!" in the earlier episodes. Ah well (#3).

By the way, apparently there's a novelization for Tsuritama serialized in some lit magazine... now I'm kind of curious how something like Tsuritama could work as a novel.

[Horse]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

No, Haru is the "goddess" and Yuki is the friend who catches the dragon... though I'm a bit disappointed to see that in the end it's only Yuki, after all the "Friendship! Yeah!" in the earlier episodes. Ah well (#3).

In all fairness Yuki would not do shit on his own and it's not over yet...

[Kirarakim]

Okay I want to get something Tsuritama related. Please help me decide

Glass

or

Mug

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Kirarakim

Okay I want to get something Tsuritama related. Please help me decide

Glass

or

Mug

I vote for the mug. As much as I love Yuki & think he's a great character, his facial expression on the glass isn't how I would want to remember him or see on a regular basis. Chibi characters on the mug for my vote!

[kuromitsu]

I vote for the mug, too, the chibis are adorable! But if you have money to throw away I'd say get the glass, too. True, Yuki doesn't show his best face XD but the other illustration looks awesome.

[Guardian Enzo]

Wow, that's a tough one. I say both - support quality anime that doesn't kowtow to the flavor of the week! But if forced to choose, I say the glass.

[Bern-san]

I'd say the mug, like LKK don't know if I'd like to see Yuki's expression regularly... But still it is an awesome glass

[Kirarakim]

Thanks guy, the mug seems to be winning. I am going to think about it a little more I but I am leaning towards that.

I probably would have went with the glass if it had Yuki's smiling face (which is just adorable) but yeah I don't really like that face either (as much as I enjoy it from a narrative perspective). I do love the other image though and how it connects to the water theme of the series.

And I would love to get both...but I shouldn't even though it's tempting.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

I vote for the mug, too, the chibis are adorable! But if you have money to throw away I'd say get the glass, too. True, Yuki doesn't show his best face XD but the other illustration looks awesome.

The other illustration does look terrific. If not for Yuki's face, that glass would have been perfect.

[SeijiSensei]

I'd prefer the mug. I use a mug more often than a glass, and while Yuki's expression is appropriate for him, I could only see looking at it if I were drinking my morning orange juice before my morning coffee.

Am I missing something about finding the price for these items? I followed the links to a few of the sellers and was only taken to their home pages. Is that because these Tsuritama items haven't been released yet?

While I was looking around I came across this "uber-kawaii" (as they say) item. This one has a lot of play value, too, with multiple expressions, poses, and accessories! I've never bought a figurine, but I can see the appeal of this one.

[YayPepsi]

I really want the wall scroll! http://myfigurecollection.net/item/103907 The beach towel would be nice too (it has the same picture on it) but it's too expensive for me. ;_;

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

I'd prefer the mug. I use a mug more often than a glass, and while Yuki's expression is appropriate for him, I could only see looking at it if I were drinking my morning orange juice before my morning coffee.

Am I missing something about finding the price for these items? I followed the links to a few of the sellers and was only taken to their home pages. Is that because these Tsuritama items haven't been released yet?

I just ordered the mug (although I probably will never actually use it, it's more for collectable reasons).

I am sorry I should have posted a place to buy the items. I personally like Ami Ami for things like this.

The mug was 750 yen, the glass 1050 yen


They are also tentative pre-orders, so there is a chance not enough will be made. But I am holding out hope they will get enough in stock.

While I was looking around I came across this "uber-kawaii" (as they say) item. This one has a lot of play value, too, with multiple expressions, poses, and accessories! I've never bought a figurine, but I can see the appeal of this one.

Oh yeah that's a nendoroid. They are very cute.

Just be warned once you buy one figure, it's hard to stop.

Originally Posted by YayPepsi

I really want the wall scroll! http://myfigurecollection.net/item/103907 The beach towel would be nice too (it has the same picture on it) but it's too expensive for me. ;_;

I noticed the towel was already sold out on Ami Ami, but yeah that is expensive.

I like the wall scroll a lot too, but I try to stay away from putting too much on my wall.

[Kakkou]

lol, it's pretty rare to see discussion threads focus on merchandise. XD

I kinda regret not getting that wall scroll when I had the chance, but the illustration is a key visual after all so there'll be many opportunities to own it in some form. Instead I jumped on these lovely clear file and pencil board sets the moment they went up for order. My order of the first BD vol is shipping soon too. X3

[Bern-san]

I also like some discussion on merchandise although this year I've spent too much money on anime-related stuff and I'll try to wait for Xmas

Going through Amiami I just noticed the Duck mug which I find quite funny with the logo

@SeijiSensei I love Nendoroids, they usually are high quality and so cute! I have Suzumiya Haruhi nendoroid, I like to change her face and pose depending on my mood if I could afford the Sakura Wars nendoroid that's going to be released with Sakura and her Kobu...

Back on the episode topic, quite happy that it didn't have a dramatic plot twist and the Captain didn't die. So now it's up to our 4 protagonists to save the world... I'm sure that Yuki will capture it together with the rest. And I see 50/50 chance of Haru returning to his planet or not.

BTW, where's his sister? I thought she would appear as a foe.