Eden of the East generic discussion

[Guardian Enzo]

I'm anxious to see ep 2 already - I really want to feel that magic connection I missed out on with 1. In the meantime, I'm getting my I.G. fix from Seirei no Moribito.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

1. I'm betraying my ignorance, but I don't understand the thing about superflat, which I thought was a style of animation.

2. I think you're right that they are saying something with the birthdates of Saki and others in the show, but I'm still not sure what. By the way, I think the old way is deference to America, and the new way is nationalistic pride, but we'll see how this show plays that aspect.

3. Your explanation of the charades as catering to an audience (you use the expression "moe pandering") is reasonable, and probably part of the truth. But it is also true, as I posted earlier (and others have just posted), that Umino Chika -- a woman who writes manga considered josei -- has a tendency to draw some female characters this way. I feel it as showing the female side of the contradiction between child and adult from the inside: one doesn't quite feel capable, but one can still take bold action in the adult world, especially to follow one's desires. Remember that this show is in the Noitamina timeslot, which has a high female viewership.

I find the tension in the contrast between the voice and character design on the one hand and Saki's boldness on the other to be one of the attractions of this show. I see it less as parody than as psychological reality. There are lots of male characters -- Morita and Akira for two -- who show similar contradictions in other ways.

And thanks to Kazu-kun for the spoilered explanation. I was wondering what the significance of that car was.

Superflat is basically an art movement that protests what it's subscribers see as Japanese media (not just anime) increasingly promoting a shallow consumer culture. Part of that involves the satirization of moe traits by taking them and distorting them in such a way that ultimately makes them less appealing. It's hard to describe, but a good example would be Maromi from Paranoia Agent.

The Showa Era, or at least the early parts of it were dominated by Japanese imperialistic leanings which ultimately lead to WWII and the near destruction of the country. Japan tried to move away from that afterward, but some sections of the population, primarily those who lived most of their lives during the Showa era argue that Japan moved to far away from the old ways and that in doing so has made it and it's culture weaker while replacing it with Americanization and various Otaku subcultures which are a false distortion of Japanese history and culture. Once the Showa era people die that will be it and the last of the old ways and Japanese cultures will exist only in the history books. The Showa era definitely wasn't about deference to America though, at least not all of it. You're thinking of the current Heisei era.

For the record I don't think there's any pandering going on, I just said that for contrasting purposes. I doubt the character design has anything to do with superflat at it's source so much as that it seems like the character designer can only draw that type of female character, but if they play their cards right instead of just letting them fall I think the series creators can turn her designs to their advantage for an artistic purpose.....maybe.

[Raiga]

Spoiler for ep2:

Gonna hafta find a summary ASAP. All the more detailed conversation is too far beyond me...

Things are getting interesting with the introduction of number 4 though... and they're all coordinated through Juiz after all... on that note number 4's pretty badass. That "baaaan" trick at the end there... dang. o_O

Nice imagery there with the searchlights... when I saw that at the beginning of the first ep I was like, "Wait how could they have been in New York like five years ago together?" Interesting with the reference to real events... wonder where that'll lead.

Did I misinterpret something or was Akira showing signs of getting back some of his memories back there? Hmm...

Character dynamics again were a treat. ^^

Also, all the cell phones are unique. =O

[drobertbaker]

Kao-chan (or anyone else who might know):

The 2-chan thread for episode 2 just seems to be a guy called toshiaki making a comment every minute or so for 2 hours.

Why doesn't anyone else say anything? Is it his thread? Is he the only one who cares? Is it his "job" to provide live commentary for everyone else? How does that work?

Thank you.

[LeoXiao]

Episode 1 was pretty good. It did a good job of getting my interest. On another note, doesn't the Akira guy look like "the Laughing Man" from Stand Alone Complex?

[Ottocycle]

Damn, this is a great way to show that she's head over heels for him. Typhoon of fresh air.

Also, looks like we have our first adversary. "I'll relieve your responsibility for you, No.9" eh...

[Raiga]

Originally Posted by LeoXiao

Episode 1 was pretty good. It did a good job of getting my interest. On another note, doesn't the Akira guy look like "the Laughing Man" from Stand Alone Complex?

Most people have said Morita from H&C (which I just might watch now after hearing so much good word on it) :P But now that you mention it, he does sorta look like Laughing Man grown up.

[orion]

That guy was more handsomer than Akira.

I'll prob get used to the designs after 3 episodes. At least it didn't lead to me dropping the series like in RD.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by drobertbaker

Kao-chan (or anyone else who might know): The 2-chan thread for episode 2 just seems to be a guy called toshiaki making a comment every minute or so for 2 hours. Why doesn't anyone else say anything? Is it his thread? Is he the only one who cares? Is it his "job" to provide live commentary for everyone else? How does that work? Thank you.

2channel-style boards are anonymous, unless you happen to want to give your name (and no-one does). They pick some name or phrase to appear to be the poster and it's the same for everyone. But the posts actually come from many different people.

[Celestial Kitsune]

Episode 2 Photoessay

[Washizu]

>> ... if Saki's fetishized yet distorted character design (lolifying a 22 year old, and having her display both idealized/submissive/childish and measured/sensible/mature traits)

Just so you know, not all girls are giant-breasted bikini-wearing hardcases. Just because a girl is written and drawn in such a way that she is cute and feminine does not make her otaku-pandering fetishism. Typical modern Western thinking that unless a female character looks like she can and will kick your ass, it's somehow wrong. There are a whole host of shows you can accuse of this fetishization, but trying to apply it to this show is just stupid.

>>Not to mention how both Akira and Saki appear have been born in the last year of the Showa era, which is seen as the big cultural gap and the last tie Japan had to the old imperial ways in certain circles. It's like they are teetering on the edge between the old ways of Japanese nationalistic pride and the new ways of deference to American will and it even comes through in some of the actions they take in the first episode and their passive aggressive ways out of being chased by the cops.

That, on the other hand, is an interesting thought. I reckon you've probably hit the nail on the head with that observation. I suspect it's just a bit of background symbolism though; I'm sure they won't tread too far into making some kind of statement on nationalism or anything potentially insensitive to potential overseas markets.

[Kaioshin Sama]

Originally Posted by Washizu

>> ... if Saki's fetishized yet distorted character design (lolifying a 22 year old, and having her display both idealized/submissive/childish and measured/sensible/mature traits)

Just so you know, not all girls are giant-breasted bikini-wearing hardcases. Just because a girl is written and drawn in such a way that she is cute and feminine does not make her otaku-pandering fetishism. Typical modern Western thinking that unless a female character looks like she can and will kick your ass, it's somehow wrong. There are a whole host of shows you can accuse of this fetishization, but trying to apply it to this show is just stupid.

>>Not to mention how both Akira and Saki appear have been born in the last year of the Showa era, which is seen as the big cultural gap and the last tie Japan had to the old imperial ways in certain circles. It's like they are teetering on the edge between the old ways of Japanese nationalistic pride and the new ways of deference to American will and it even comes through in some of the actions they take in the first episode and their passive aggressive ways out of being chased by the cops.

That, on the other hand, is an interesting thought. I reckon you've probably hit the nail on the head with that observation. I suspect it's just a bit of background symbolism though; I'm sure they won't tread too far into making some kind of statement on nationalism or anything potentially insensitive to potential overseas markets.

Yeah I think you might have missed the point of what I was getting at there a little.

[Blaat]

Maybe the seleção is a system to get on the Japanese national football team. (Okay not funny)

[solomon]

Not much to say but SIGN ME UP FOR EP 3! This is easily the noitamina show that has the most cross over appeal for both guys and gals in my opinon (aside from Hakaba Kitarou but no one else watched that one)

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Blaat

Maybe the seleção is a system to get on the Japanese national football team. (Okay not funny)

I guess it was only a matter of time before 9/11 was mentioned in this.

[golthin]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

And the beat goes on.

Spoiler for ep2:

A nice mix of exposition, budding romance, Saki taking the plunge, and magical mystery murder. Tug your heartstrings when Akira seems to walk away. Saki is a real girl, deciding to go too far and stick with the guy who has no memories (which he tells her in this ep). Hayamin simply has a beautiful voice, and she is using it to give us this bold waif pretty well, it seems to me. Matching character to plot and character design. As is Kimura Ryouhei as Akira.

It should come as no surprise that I love the character design, including Saki. For me, that is not the problem with Production IG shows. Their problem has been slow and impactless story development, for me.

They solved the romance side of things fast and without much drama. Now we can go directly to the action. Ohsugi-kun is out of the picture even with his stalker like tactics without he even knowing it.

[orion]

Originally Posted by Washizu

>> ... if Saki's fetishized yet distorted character design (lolifying a 22 year old, and having her display both idealized/submissive/childish and measured/sensible/mature traits)

Just so you know, not all girls are giant-breasted bikini-wearing hardcases. Just because a girl is written and drawn in such a way that she is cute and feminine does not make her otaku-pandering fetishism. Typical modern Western thinking that unless a female character looks like she can and will kick your ass, it's somehow wrong. There are a whole host of shows you can accuse of this fetishization, but trying to apply it to this show is just stupid.

>>Not to mention how both Akira and Saki appear have been born in the last year of the Showa era, which is seen as the big cultural gap and the last tie Japan had to the old imperial ways in certain circles. It's like they are teetering on the edge between the old ways of Japanese nationalistic pride and the new ways of deference to American will and it even comes through in some of the actions they take in the first episode and their passive aggressive ways out of being chased by the cops.

That, on the other hand, is an interesting thought. I reckon you've probably hit the nail on the head with that observation. I suspect it's just a bit of background symbolism though; I'm sure they won't tread too far into making some kind of statement on nationalism or anything potentially insensitive to potential overseas markets.

Originally Posted by Kaioshin Sama

Yeah I think you might have missed the point of what I was getting at there a little.

But even for missing the point...

I feel a need to defend 22 yo females. I'm sorry but they don't look or dress like Saki.

[Thors]

You're wrong, Kaoru Chujo,

Spoiler for ep 2:

this is not a "magical mystery murder", a guy with a gun is hidden in a police car behind Number IV. Juiz gives the illusion of perfoming miracles (since "she" obeys "Messiahs"), but they're not miracles. Just a matter of money, bribes and cie. Nevertheless, how can "she" act so quickly ? Who/What is Juiz ? A kind of "Puppet Master" ?

[drobertbaker]

Orenji-kun inquired:

Does anybody know the name of the song the first cab driver was listening to in episode 1? I tried Googling parts of the lyrics with no luck.

The song playing on the cab's radio is clearly an American gospel song sung by an American. The singer is singing the words from the song (poem?) that is displayed during the OP.

The King has come!
To lighten up our feet
The King has come!
To save us from the dark
The King has come!
With justice till the end

But I will be jiggered if any part of the song's lyrics shows up anywhere on the net in another context.

An original American gospel composition by Kenji Kawai?

[Ottocycle]

I worship the effort put into the ED sequence.

Also, the BGM on the homepage(after skipping the trailer), of which I remember hearing a bit of in the series, is lots of win.

Seems that the staff is inviting the viewers to join in on piecing the puzzle pieces together as the show unfolds - I think the site is rather well made, and it provides some information that hasn't been touched on in the show yet, like how there is a 'supporter' among the twelve, who has the right to eliminate any Selecao who's using the provided money 'incorrectly'.