(L) Kaze no Stigma

[Susanou]

Originally Posted by Skyfall

Hey, don't complain about what you get for free - people are subbing during their spare time after all. Just because some shows get faster releases doesn't mean it is something to cry about

I don't cry, I have patience Meh, I'll keep that in mind xP

[Wosho128]

Originally Posted by mdauben

I wonder. There are certainly a lot of bad feelings between the two of them but I''m not sure its just hate.

Spoiler for Kazuma and his Father:

Remember that after defeating him, Kazuma called an ambulance for his father when he could have just left him laying there. Also, when Kazuma did beat him, I got the impression that his father seemed almost... proud of him.

That's true. However, it felt like Kazuma called the ambulance out of pure obligation. =P But I'm sure there's something deeper in the relationship that the viewers don't understand yet. If I continue watching, it'll be for the sake of watching how the relationship turns out.

And I don't think Kazuma is the type of person to leave the wounded to die even if the individual is from a family he hates.

[Kaioshin Sama]

I finally got around to watching the first episode and I have to say that GONZO is the best company in making the most out of Idol-Poppish songs. Somehow the opening didn't bother me yet by all rights I should have hated it. The ending is good too.

I like the complicated tribal politics of this series, and for once the male character has the upper hand on the female character in the series (Femdom days are over, it's time for a male hero to take to the stage again, if only briefly. Remember Male Hero's.... I Do )

Anyway I noticed a bit of the late Kaneto Shiozawa in Kazuma's voice and I think his voice actor did a fine job in bringing the character too life. Kazuma is an interesting blend of outward cockiness and inward self-doubt (Which we see in his dream sequence where he is still haunted by his defeat at Ayano's hands). On that matter, I was hoping for a little more of the infamous 12 year old beats 18 year old scene, but all she does is raise her hand with an expressionless look on her face, and set him on fire. He was powerless. (I bet Deathkillz liked the quiet loli Ayano scene ). Anyway there's more to even this regarding his backstory than we have seen yet, which makes the series all the more intriguing.

On Ayano, she doesn't bother me. She seems to treat her friends as equals despite the fact that they are like the Relena Darlian groupies from the early episodes of Gundam Wing, and she also doesn't seem to realize the stigma she has left on Kazuma by mercilessly crushing him in their duel. (I wonder if that's what the title is referring too) Her fighting style in the beginning seems to show that she is kind of clumsy, so she isn't the perfect fighter that the tribe seems to think she is.

Then there are the two heads of the family. Ayano's father seems to be a fairly reasonable "Wait and See Fellow", but Kazuma's own father is a huge jerk. This could turn into something interesting if they play it right with Kazuma's own father being less sympathetic than his rivals father.

@lightbringer: Actually I think Kaguya is supposed to be 12 (The age you designate your character when you want them to be a loli. Seriously.)

[lightbringer]

Hehe. But that would mean Kaguya was only 5 during the shrine sequence. It's kind of hard to judge between a 5 year old and a 10 year old in anime, so I suppose it's not completely impossible. However, her character is not that of a 12 year old. And nobody marries at 12 anymore

[ZODDGUTS]

Originally Posted by Kaioshin_Sama

There you go. That's actually probably what would have happened. Loli's are immune to critcism. Barring that, giving your characters a loli design like those in Kanon for example, will whitewash over any annoyances or character shortcomings they may have. It's tough being a female anime character who's older than 12 these days.

If you need any proof, look at a fairly similar character to Ayano in Shana. Shana is beloved by anime fan's, but not so much Ayano. Why? Well just look at her.

One comes out as cute when angry the other as an annoying ass. Take a guess which is which.

[lightbringer]

Originally Posted by ZODDGUTS

One comes out as cute when angry the other as an annoying ass. Take a guess which is which.

Of course Ayano is cute when angry :P Probably not the answer you wanted, but just look at the scene in the cafe in episode 2, and the way she ate the cake

[Skyfall]

Well, Ayano seems to be a bit full of herself, which makes her not so likable. But she is the 3rd strongest Fire user, right? Given her upbringing, i am not surprised she might seem a bit arrogant. (Though she doesn't act as special in any way when together with her friends...hm...)

She is not that bad in all honesty >.<

[ZODDGUTS]

Yeah her character was meant to be that way for character development but did she have to be that bad? Makes her not likeable at all. If only her cockyness was tone down a bit and wasn't too much of a loudmouth maybe she wouldn't so annoying.

[justinstrife]

Originally Posted by ZODDGUTS

Yeah her character was meant to be that way for character development but did she have to be that bad? Makes her not likeable at all. If only her cockyness was tone down a bit and wasn't too much of a loudmouth maybe she wouldn't so annoying.

My thoughts exactly

[Skyfall]

Why all the dislike ? In all honesty, she has a reason to be cocky. Kazuma is cocky as well, so why is every one praising him? Simple - just because he happened to be stronger than Ayano. Aren't we forgetting that Ayano is the 3rd strongest fire user? It is not like she is some random grunt being cocky >.<

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by Skyfall

Why all the dislike ? In all honesty, she has a reason to be cocky. Kazuma is cocky as well, so why is every one praising him? Simple - just because he happened to be stronger than Ayano. Aren't we forgetting that Ayano is the 3rd strongest fire user? It is not like she is some random grunt being cocky >.<

Quoted for truth. I just can't really understand all the Ayano hate given the points there. It would be different if she was cocky despite being completely weak...

[justinstrife]

Originally Posted by Shinji103

Quoted for truth. I just can't really understand all the Ayano hate given the points there. It would be different if she was cocky despite being completely weak...

Because she's also a loudmouth who's always screaming.

Kazumi is far more silent with his cockiness. I don't have to listen to him mouth off like I hear her do.

[ZODDGUTS]

Originally Posted by Skyfall

Why all the dislike ? In all honesty, she has a reason to be cocky. Kazuma is cocky as well, so why is every one praising him? Simple - just because he happened to be stronger than Ayano. Aren't we forgetting that Ayano is the 3rd strongest fire user? It is not like she is some random grunt being cocky >.<

Kazuma unlike Ayano is calm and isn't really a loud mouth. He only talks smack when his in a fight that's why his awesome and not a loudmouth/cocky ass. Kazuma isn't a male version of Ayano that's Naruto...

Because she's also a loudmouth who's always screaming.

Kazumi is far more silent with his cockiness. I don't have to listen to him mouth off like I hear her do.

Exactly that's why I like him.

[Guppy]

Originally Posted by Kaioshin_Sama

On Ayano, she doesn't bother me. She seems to treat her friends as equals despite the fact that they are like the Relena Darlian groupies from the early episodes of Gundam Wing,

Spoiler for novels:

They aren't. That's why I like Ayano's friends - they really are friends, not groupies, and they don't hesitate to needle her when she's being an idiot (especially when it comes to Kazuma, who they seem to think quite well of).

Actually, the more I read the novels, the more sympathetic I'm feeling towards Ayano. Sure, she's hotheaded, impulsive and loudmouthed, but she very rarely gets away with it - not with her friends, not with her father and especially not with Kazuma. When she complained about

Spoiler for novel vol. 1:

Kazuma using her as a decoy while he snuck in the back way to rescue Ren, his response of "I'm sorry, I didn't think you were that weak. I thought you could hold on while I rescued Ren and came back. I was asking too much of you. I apologise. The last time I thought you were holding back because I was a relative, but now I see you were going all-out. I didn't realise. I'm really sorr--" (followed by Ayano snapping and attacking him) was an absolute gem. Poor Ayano.

[andromeda0201]

LOL at the spoiler!! Now thats exactly why I like Kazuma, the sarcastic things he says yet still being able to put them so smoothly, hes the perfect antidote for Ayano

[usagijen]

Kazuma is indeed the perfect antidote for Ayano... =P

and we could already see that based on what happened in the later volumes of the novels (-> points to the spoiler piccies XD)... Ayano growing up little by little because of Kazuma's sarcastic comments and [brutally] harsh yet honest comments

But well, despite Kazuma being a 'badass' , sarcastic and all... he still has this soft and gentle side of him, which is what drove him to do the things he did in the past episodes... like what he did for his father (bringing him to the hospital) which was partly out of obligation, and partly because of the kindness left in his heart for his father... then the fact that he's 'weak' against his brother, who he loves from the bottom of his heart

and with regards to the relationship between Kazuma and his father, I'd say it's a "love disguised as 'hate'", since his father doesn't hate him at all... I think people who have watched the subs should know about this already, that the reason why his father drove him out was not simply the fact that he's a failure as a Kannagi,, but rather for Kazuma to find his own way of living apart from being a 'Kannagi'... I'm not sure if Kazuma knows that this is his father's reason of disowning him (since he did it in a harsh manner >.>), but I know that the feelings Kazuma has for his father isn't really pure hatred... I believe he loves his father, he was just hurt by what he did to him before... something like that

Originally Posted by Deathkillz

he sure is from what i can see imo what kazuma was hopin to achieve from defeating his father wasnt to take revenge but rather trying to gain acknowledgement from a man who he looks up to (ofc he wouldnt say that but guys are naturally stubbon :3)

and yes, I certainly agree with Deathkillz... he actually looks up to his father (but of course he tries hard to hide that fact... men and their stubborn pride )

[Owaranai Destiny]

Originally Posted by usagijen

and with regards to the relationship between Kazuma and his father, I'd say it's a "love disguised as 'hate'", since his father doesn't hate him at all... I think people who have watched the subs should know about this already, that the reason why his father drove him out was not simply the fact that he's a failure as a Kannagi,, but rather for Kazuma to find his own way of living apart from being a 'Kannagi'... I'm not sure if Kazuma knows that this is his father's reason of disowning him (since he did it in a harsh manner >.>), but I know that the feelings Kazuma has for his father isn't really pure hatred... I believe he loves his father, he was just hurt by what he did to him before... something like that

Agreed.

It might even be said that because of what his father had done to him in the end, Kazuma is where he is now-As a strong wind-user. His father certainly failed to develop him as a Kannagi, but he certainly did not fail at helping him develop into a man.

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by justinstrife

Because she's also a loudmouth who's always screaming.

Only when it comes to Kazuma, because she thought he was a bad guy who killed members of her clan. You don't see her acting high and mighty towards her friends, or Ren, or towards others. In fact, she's not even "cocky" in the true sense of the word. It merely looks like everybody's trying to mod their definition of "cocky" just so they can get mad at her.

[Honey_and_Cleaver]

Originally Posted by Owaranai Destiny

Agreed.

It might even be said that because of what his father had done to him in the end, Kazuma is where he is now-As a strong wind-user. His father certainly failed to develop him as a Kannagi, but he certainly did not fail at helping him develop into a man.

Suprisingly he did this all by himself. Not really with some girl&love support like most other animes. Kazuma kicks ass because of this.

[lightbringer]

Originally Posted by Guppy

Spoiler for novel vol. 1:

Kazuma using her as a decoy while he snuck in the back way to rescue Ren, his response of "I'm sorry, I didn't think you were that weak. I thought you could hold on while I rescued Ren and came back. I was asking too much of you. I apologise. The last time I thought you were holding back because I was a relative, but now I see you were going all-out. I didn't realise. I'm really sorr--" (followed by Ayano snapping and attacking him) was an absolute gem. Poor Ayano.

ROFL. That's really golden. Poor Ayano. But it's surprising that Kazuma would think that way, knowing Ayano's personality. I wonder if he's just saying it to provoke her