(L) Tokko

[Guido]

It pleases me that the animation quality increased for episode three.

The characters facial features at close shots look neat and clear, though the staff could have use less bright but still the colors were not flashy.

There quite several scenes that do not happen in the manga for this episode. I can come to the conclusion that the staff does not wants to run out of manga material so early, therefore, they are filling the gaps with original circumstances or situations.
Either that or as someone posted before, they're also attaching bits of the other Tokko: Phantom Hunter to extend the manga storyline, until the staff can come up with their own original storyline for the anime to follow.

After watching the third episode, I commend the changes made from the manga to the anime. The humorous moments takes some stress and stomach churning feelings after the gore scenes.
There were a modest amount of gore in this episode but still is censored a few scenes, obvious because of the TV broadcast. Fortunately, the DVD's will fix that and bring all the blood and gore.

Spoiler:

We arrive to Sakura's past. The tragedy of Machida paid toll on her little brother, who is in comatose state at the present.

Sakura reveals that their enemy, Phantoms, do not belong to the human realm.

For the characters, Saya appears more and more like motherly Orihime Inoue.
As for Suzuka, I view like a crossover between Evangeline from Negima and Tohsaka from Fate/stay night.
It's no surprise to me that I love her playful but cynical character, and clad in leather jacket plus topless and baring her butterfly tatoo makes go .

The anime is lighthearted in comparison to the manga so it can grasp viewers to make profit, though I could think of the horror and gore oriented towards action rather than get a doomsday feeling out of it.
Kunikida is made more of a comic relief character in the anime. I´m always looking forward to his tantrums against Suzuka, who always mocks of him.
Those two could make of a nice couple.

Spoiler:

Unlike the manga, Saya's character was given focus this time at the hospital.

The slaughter at the hospital was minor and isolated, compared to the manga, but disclosed that Sakura is as well a target for the Phantoms, and Ranmaru is.

Who knows maybe Sakura would also turn a hunter in a distant episode?

BTW, no TOKKO next week as it will be Golden Week in Japan. Episode four will air May the 13th.

[oJo]

This series is so far so good. It's just 'that girl's b**bs bothers me...
They are huge and deformed.

[orion]

Don't get your hopes up dude. I didn't think that any of those girls were that endowed. This isn't one of those titles.

You can download the manga and see for yourself. Use Google.

[Bonkura]

curious as to how many volumes are out in japan and where are the latest scans up to (i dont think its licensed:P)???

[lavielove]

Originally Posted by philip72

Which girl?
Maybe add a few screen caps ( or better yet a fanpic), so I too can *ahem* condemn the aforementioned very large breasts as well.

I think he's talking about the girl with yellow hair from Tokko.When she slashed the sword at the last scene,there was a quick shot of hers.btw I don't feel like they are deformed or anything though.

[oJo]

I was talking about the half naked girl in Ed.
heehee, they just didn't look right for me... oh well, I can close my eyes if I don't wanna watch it.

philip72: your icon ftw! Did my post make your nose to bleed?

[lavielove]

Originally Posted by philip72

I think they should be shown to us, so that we can make the correct analysis on them as to whether or not they are too large.

I am dragged into this size matters.That's not too large, the largest one among all the spring anime is (as much as I had a chance to watch) WitchBlade.Really deform and really large.I just feel like it's much better to watch a quick shot rather than 5 mins shot or otherwise we got another moe show =P

The one I like is their chief-officer,very funny.

[orion]

Originally Posted by philip72

It doesn't take much, I'm like Fukuyama from Girls Bravo (only without the bucks).And now on a completely different note, I think I'll watch a few episodes of Witchblade tonight (scientific curiousity, of course).

Well, then you're REALLY going to like ep. 4.

[SinsI]

Just watched episode four.

Spoiler:

I think that story about his date's late mother that was killed five years ago was taken from Phantom Hunter, so they do join the stories. BTW, they are are already near the end of the manga - if I remember correctly, just some explanation for the origin of the monsters and special traits of the Machida survivors wasn't told yet.

[Guido]

Yes, episode four's storyline does not comes from the first TOKKO manga, so it must from the TOKKO Phantom Hunter manga.

The episode highlights revolve around Yukino, Saya's sempai and Ranmaru's date, explaining the contents of a certain book.

Kunikida and his deputies are also digging deep to find about the what they're facing against are creatures not from this world.

Yukino's father is performing suspicious activities regarding the Phantoms.

Spoiler:

The book contains passages and accounts referencing to an occult circle of alchemists and wizards. They performed elaborated rituals and witchcraft could likely to summon demons.

Ranmaru quickly recognizes the demons from the book illustrations are the larvae phantoms that recently have been causing shit mess around the city.

Yukino and Ranmaru are interrupted by the sudden presence of Yukino's father who puts the back to the library shelf.

He almost looses composure to hear that Ranmaru is a police officer. Ranmaru must leave but exchanges a quick conversation with Yukino about the reports of killings that have come up recently, disclosing to her that the culprit is a non-human.

Yukino is being kept an eye and cannot further talk with Ranmaru.

Ranmaru asks his sister about Yukino's story. I have the impression I heard Saya saying that Yukino's mother was killed two years ago.

Anyways, the episode was mostly to its entirety dialogue-driven except for the last minute that the horned phantom stepped in.

Spoiler:

That 'thing' is addressed by the TOKKO members as the twelfth.

Ranmaru's hidden 'tattoo' powers stepped in to save him from that oni which got shocked. Sakura comes to the rescue at the last minute, and Suzuka suspects that Ranmaru has it inside like the rest of them.

[SinsI]

I have the impression I heard Saya saying that Yukino's mother was killed two years ago.

Edit: her sempai told her then she joined high school that it was two years ago, so it was five years ago from the current moment.
BTW, that demon claw is also from the Phantom Hunter. And we are near the end of the manga.

[Guido]

Animation and hand drawing was way downhill and scrapped in the fifth episode, nonetheless, it gives enough information for the audience to understand what's going on.

Yukino's private conversation with Ranmaru.

Spoiler:

Her father is conducting a project involving Neo-Darwinism and evolution. Organisms that have shown resilience through thousands of years to change their cellular make-up to adapt.

It implies a strong connection with the phantom larvae functioning as symbiotic bacteria to improve other organisms.

Yukino also discloses to Ranmaru that they Oni hand she showed him in the picture was found five years ago at the site of the Machida complex; the Oni hand that resembles that of the demon that almost slaughtered Ranmaru in the previous episode.

Professor Shiraishi.

Spoiler:

Indeed, his research deals with experimenting on the Phantom and carcass collected at Machida five years ago.

Experimented on himself and his crew to let the phantoms mutated them in order to prove his theory of evolution.

He reveals that the the recent phantom outbreak and the massive genocide happening at Machida in the past begins with an occult circle of alchemists way back centuries ago in Europe.
They made a puzzle box that functions as link to other netherworlds. Once all the puzzles' piece are set in their proper places, the puzzle opens a door that leads to a nether realm of demons. It seems that the alchemists paid with their lives for transgressing a boundary it was never meant for man to cross.

The box shattered in 108 pieces, and since then the door has remained open for the demons to cross as gateway to our world.

Ranmaru's tattoo.

Spoiler:

Tokko and Professor Shiraishi realize that Ranmaru has 'one' of them within him. A phantom residing in his spirit and has proved to save the boy's life for the last two episodes, as also granting him regeneration capacities.

But, everytime that Ranmaru makes subconscious use of its powers the Phantom is gradually taking over, as the tattoo on his right arm continues to expand. That's why Sakura warned Ranmaru to stay away from the phantoms so as not to put himself in a dire circumstance to be forced to drawn upon th help of his inner Phantom.

This was a fulfilling episode for twenty minutes in terms of plot, but for the last two minutes I felt the staff was rushing too much the pace.

Spoiler:

The mutated prof being chopped in a matter of seconds by the mysterious boy and girl who got there before TOKKO did, and the latter pretty much know who the two mysterious figures are just looking at Suzuka's assured eyes.

Next week TOKKO airs 0:40 a.m., and it looks to be an episode focused on Suzuka as the main character.

[physics223]

If this had been animated better, I'd bet this will be among the sleepers of 2006.

I liked episode three, btw.

[physics223]

Episode four was simply cool. Yukino is great as a lead along with Rokujou, and man, this rocks.

[Timeless Enigma]

I didn't like that

Spoiler:

Yukino died... but I saw it coming every since she started providing Shindou with information.

Episode 5 looked like a big rushjob to me, but it got the job done. If only I could get farther on the manga.

[SinsI]

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by Timeless Enigma

I didn't like that Yukino died... but I saw it coming every since she started providing Shindou with information.

Episode 5 looked like a big rushjob to me, but it got the job done. If only I could get farther on the manga.

Maybe she died - maybe not. She was slashed across her back - and if in every anime every character died from just that...

BTW, those siblings were definetly the ones from Phantom Hunter - just take a look at all those swords growing out from the boy's back.

[Timeless Enigma]

Spoiler for SinsI response:

SinsI, actually it was ambiguous whether or not Yukino actually died, but Shindou putting that flower at the gravestone seemed like it was her's. Of course he could have been visiting his parents or even Yukino's father's grave, but since she's nwhere to be seen in the preview, I assumed she died.

[SinsI]

Timeless Enigma, just watched episode 6 - you were worried for nothing.

Spoiler:

Yukino very much survived. And it was Kureha putting a flower onto her brother's or parents' grave.

[Timeless Enigma]

Heh, that makes me feel a bit better.

[Guido]

Animation quality was a lot off from place to place, particularly the close shots of Suzuka and Ranmaru.

However, I really appreciate that Suzuka was given the spotlight to properly inform Ranmaru of the delicate situation he has come in contact with.

First of all, I will always enjoy the Suzuka x Kunikida moments where she holds no back to joke at the back of his expenses or ridicule the poor inspect. The anime really pulls out how sardonic and playful Suzuka is, since I consider her my most preferred character in TOKKO.

Second, Suzuka coming up with a date for Ranmaru and her spending and having fun at the local fair and being eyed upon by all the couples who found Suzuka's wardrobe way odd.
The date served as comic relief to release suspense and tension built from the last couple of episode and to show Suzuka's inner child literally.

Third, those Suzuka kodak moments that fans like myself were crying out for. Just like Ranmaru, it took me off guard that Suzuka unexpectedly unzipped her vest (being topless) to feel the fresh air.
Then, that close shot of Suzuka's exposed bossom after showing her tattoo mark to Ranmaru I thought was unnecessary but that scene alone screamed fanservice to Suzuka fans.

Finally, the episodes accomplish plot wise different expectations I originally had.

Spoiler:

I thought that Ryoko called out Suzuka to hang out with Ranmaru to get him out any information about his background, but I was proven wrong.

The whole conversation about her past was to address the issue about the origins of the Phantoms and what really struck at Machida six-years-ago. And how now Ranmaru and his sister are found in the middle of all that mess.

Suzuka did not look bad with copper-brown hair. Pity that it did not change to blonde when the Phantom entered her respective body.

So she and Akito were fraternal twins who happened to be at the same situation like Ranmaru and Saya at Machida six-year-ago; sibling couples discovered their parents brutally mutilated.

I think the storyline is foreshadowing with hints delivered at each episode that Ranmaru will not make it through the end.

Spoiler:

- The OP video at the end shows Sakura cyring for Ranmaru as she's burdened to fulfill her role as hunter in spite of loving him. Then, she charges at him to strike him with her sword.

- Sakura has a dream back when she was living at Machida as a child and befriended Ranmaru, but Ranmaru changed into a Phantom and viciously struck her with a sword.

- Suzuka in deep sorrow recalls when she was forced to murder Akito, because his Phantom took over him completely and there was no other choice.

Those signals point out that TOKKO unit is uncertain when Ranmaru will wake up his true self would be either as a Hunter or his inner Phantom will eat him and take over. That's what they're fearing, and in the manga Ranmaru's Phantom is a high S-class meaning one of the most powerful there are.

According to the announcement at the very end of episode six, there will be no TOKKO until June 17th.

Ah, almost forgot. Do you recall why Saya complained her brother was too late for dinner?
Because her wish for Ranmaru was granted. Like all healthy boys he was dated by a really, hot babe and ended more than what he expected.