2013-07-10, 09:44 | Link #204 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
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But still it is hard for me to laugh at her because while the situation might be presented in a humorous light the fact that she is really alone is just very sad to me. This isn't even about being pretty or getting a date but the fact that she is so absolutely alone. That she is even afraid to go to places to be seen by herself. She isn't just friendless but she is horrified that people will know that she is. And yet when she thinks mean things about the other girls and she sees them having fun with each other and the boys she just really wants to join in. That to me is heart breaking not funny.
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2013-07-10, 11:55 | Link #205 |
Yuuki Aoi
Join Date: Jul 2004
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I find Tomoko deeply painful. I was just socially inept enough in high school that I can totally relate. When I find myself starting to laugh at her, I'm not sure whether to feel ashamed of myself for doing it, or happy that I can. I'm hoping this show will help exorcise peoples' feelings of inadequacy, by the end.
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2013-07-10, 12:07 | Link #206 |
The Voice of Reason
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: The Netherlands
Age: 47
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I can relate to how she feels. Throughout my school life, I only had one friend and was a social outcast till after high school. I'm sociophobic, which I think Tomoko is as well, and even now, I have difficulty communicating with people I don't know. it's not as extreme, but I can relate nonetheless.
This show should therefor be right up my alley, and it definitely didn't disappoint, so this will probably one of the best shows this season.
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2013-07-10, 12:25 | Link #207 |
Kamaboko smash & grab
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Somehow the animation style reminds me of some American cartoons.
Anyway it's just too depressing to watch, like someone's self-deprecating humour taken too far and you just want to tell them stop... >.> Well... "I'm coming" was funny |
2013-07-10, 12:58 | Link #208 |
D-Don't stare, baka...
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Tristinian Academy of Magic
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I've watched the 1st episode and it was good. Her design looks better in the anime than in the original manga. The opening and the reference to Death Note were a pure genius. Also... I get a feeling that they made Tomoko a bit like an early, a bit creepy version of Konata from Lucky Star, don't you think?
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2013-07-10, 14:25 | Link #210 | |
♪~ Daydreaming ~♪
Graphic Designer
Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Italy
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I have to agree with those who found this first episode more sad than funny, in particular when considering her achievements and comparing them to reality (i.e. talked to boy 6 times in 3 years: platinum ; 31 rubbers collected out of 106. Gold.), I laughed a bit during the episode but never when Tomoko's misery was being described so bluntly.
Nevertheless it was very interesting and I look forward to see how it goes. Chances do look slim for Tomoko but you can't help but root for someone like her. I was surprised to see that Oonuma Shin is the director because usually he always uses some special unique visual effect (like in Ef, C3, Bakatest, Tasogare), while here he didn't, or I didn't notice any. Quote:
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2013-07-10, 16:49 | Link #213 | ||
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Age: 31
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There's plenty of comedy in the West about male friendless losers due to them being easier for guys to relate to and partly because female characters weren't allowed to have much variety in mainstream entertainment for a long time. And I think that, since the main character is by default male, people find it easier to handle a wider variety of personalities (even the loser one) without expecting him to conform to a certain narrow expectation regarding gender, which is why I think this series would have little success had it been done 15 years ago. The recent slew of anime with female casts distorted that a bit, since the creators realized they can cash in on merging the traits of a male main character (action, aggression, unusual or negative but relatable personality traits) and the traits of female characters (cuteness, emotionality, vulnerability, the fact that the viewers can be attracted to them), effectively both having the cake and eating it. Quote:
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2013-07-10, 18:07 | Link #214 | |
:cool:
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Idaho
Age: 32
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The nicest thing about this show is that on subjects like this, dating, trying to be popular, etc., we're usually treated to the male perspective. What especially sets this anime apart for me is that it's a serious female perspective on a more realistic highschool life. Plus, I like heroines and since she's not a whiny brat she's entertaining to watch.
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2013-07-11, 01:04 | Link #217 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
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I think Tomoko really needs psychological intervention. She especially needs help on her inability to speak to strangers - yes, there are many other deeper reasons behind her social incompetence (including a schizophrenic yo-yoing between affecting contempt for the "crowd" and wanting to be in) , but the biggest barrier that I see is that she has a crippling inability to speak to anyone unfamiliar. Unfortunately, Japan's infamous taboo against psychological intervention is working against her.
At the very least, Hachiman, Keima and Kodaka or even Kotoura does not suffer from that crippling shyness, and phobia of speaking to others. Given the tone of this story- at this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if it ends with Tomoko committing suicide, or some other kind of horrific bad end. Last edited by novalysis; 2013-07-11 at 01:15. |
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coming of age, dark comedy, high school, satire, slice of life |
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