(L) Mysterious Girlfriend X (Nazo no Kanojo X) [anime]

[ttdestroy]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

If this weren't such a strong season it might very well be my favorite too - it's certainly in the top tier. I adore the retro style (Hoods really went all-in with it) and the show is not at all what it appears to be on the surface.

Hit the proverbial nail on the head, Spring 2012 is strong with the force. If this show came out in Fall or Winter 2011 it would have been a much stronger contender.

Oh yeah the retro style is starting to grow on me.

[sa547]

Damn, this show is becoming better with each episode, and this particular episode had me thinking of this song:

From start to finish, I was grinning and cackling like mad, deliciously savoring every minute of it, watching this relationship develop steadily and at the same time the show tries to depict what it takes for lovers to be faithful to one another as they mature. It's a simple yet unconventional story, but it's also a shoo-in to become a sleeper classic.

With this show, I feel like I'm in love again, all the while memories of high school and unrequited love come flooding back in with a vengeance.

[Flower]

Originally Posted by Vexx

This is working hard to be my favorite of the season.... remarkable for a series which has a "classic retro" art style and its hook is ... drool.

Good stuff so far.

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

If this weren't such a strong season it might very well be my favorite too - it's certainly in the top tier. I adore the retro style (Hoods really went all-in with it) and the show is not at all what it appears to be on the surface.

Originally Posted by ttdestroy

Hit the proverbial nail on the head, Spring 2012 is strong with the force. If this show came out in Fall or Winter 2011 it would have been a much stronger contender.

Oh yeah the retro style is starting to grow on me.

Yeah ... it's definitely in my "A" block/ top tier for series this season. A very good adaptation imo!

[thundrakkon]

I can understand some selfishness in a relationship, but to feel jealous because your girlfriend is talented and has success in something? Akira once again shows that he is very undeserving. Even though he later tells her to join, Urabe was able to see through that he wasn't sincere. Oh well, at least he is lucky that she is so understanding.

[leongsh]

Ack.. The time on the bedside clock of Tsubaki in Episode 7 was downright distracting because of the inconsistency of time shown depending on camera angle.

Otherwise, it was a nice progression of the relationship with Urabe showing her daringness.

[whitecloud]

He is not jealous i guess he don't like it because she will spend less time with him...

[meia gisborn]

Originally Posted by leongsh

Ack.. The time on the bedside clock of Tsubaki in Episode 7 was downright distracting because of the inconsistency of time shown depending on camera angle.

I noticed that too. Perhaps that scene was shot with multiple takes at different times of the day.

[ookamigirl]

Urabe's running ability gets discovered.
Hmmm... looks like Ayu has some other feelings towards Urabe, not just friendship.
At this rate Urabe will be the next track star.
The only thing holding her back was Tsubaki.
Guess Urabe likes him more than the track team.

[Guardian Enzo]

Why is a girl with a shrimp's tail sticking out of her mouth so damn sexy?

As “mysterious” as Urabe is, in some ways I think Oka is just as inscrutable. Oka is the one person who seems to consistently knock Urabe back on her heels, because she’s the one person who’s “alpha” in her interactions with Urabe – she’s always in control of the interaction. Given that the control a girl’s feminine charms gives her over a boy is one of the major metaphorical meanings of the whole drool thing, this is a very interesting twist. When Tsubaki tastes her drool, it’s because Urabe commands it. When Oka does, it’s because she takes it – whether Urabe wants it or not.

I have no issues with Tsubaki's feelings in this episode - they're quite natural. Intellectually he knows Urabe isn't his to "lose" but emotionally it's something different - and in fact, Urabe was quite pleased to find out that his urging her to join the track club wasn't what he really wanted.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Yes, Oka is even better in the anime than in the manga. I can't say this show is exactly in my top tier of favorites this season, but it is a lot closer than I expected. I got bored with the manga, but the anime seems to be going from strength to strength. Emotionally realistic under a fairly fantastic surface. And after a few episodes, even the drool exchange is beginning to seem normal and almost attractive.

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by whitecloud

He is not jealous i guess he don't like it because she will spend less time with him...

But isn't concerned about spending less time with him and spending more time with something else a form of jealousy?

Either way, I'm not sure if I'm pro or con versus the type of relationship these two are showing at the moment. They have total commitment to only spend their extra time with one another. On the one hand, that commitment is special and admirable. On the other hand, revolving your life only around your significant other without expanding in other areas will deminish yourself and potentially cause you to feel a lack of things in the future. It has its pluses and minuses, so I'm not sure if this is the best approach.

I would agree to it, if they both have a healthy approach to the relationship. If they are both able to expand thier lives, and still remain committed to one another, then I think that is the best possible position to be in.

[Funkatron]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Why is a girl with a shrimp's tail sticking out of her mouth so damn sexy?

As “mysterious” as Urabe is, in some ways I think Oka is just as inscrutable. Oka is the one person who seems to consistently knock Urabe back on her heels, because she’s the one person who’s “alpha” in her interactions with Urabe – she’s always in control of the interaction. Given that the control a girl’s feminine charms gives her over a boy is one of the major metaphorical meanings of the whole drool thing, this is a very interesting twist. When Tsubaki tastes her drool, it’s because Urabe commands it. When Oka does, it’s because she takes it – whether Urabe wants it or not.

I have no issues with Tsubaki's feelings in this episode - they're quite natural. Intellectually he knows Urabe isn't his to "lose" but emotionally it's something different - and in fact, Urabe was quite pleased to find out that his urging her to join the track club wasn't what he really wanted.

You know what was hotter? Urabe marking her legs as Tsubaki's property. Only downside is that they're off limits for the time being

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Funkatron

You know what was hotter? Urabe marking her legs as Tsubaki's property. Only downside is that they're off limits for the time being

Yes, that extremely HNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG as well. Not exactly PC, though...

[ThereminVox]

Originally Posted by Funkatron

You know what was hotter? Urabe marking her legs as Tsubaki's property. Only downside is that they're off limits for the time being

Think of it like a 401k: Sure it's yours, but it'll be years before you're allowed to touch it, unless you want to face some stiff penalties.

[Somnus]

Originally Posted by Funkatron

You know what was hotter? Urabe marking her legs as Tsubaki's property. Only downside is that they're off limits for the time being

That "reveal" was all sorts of awesome for me. It was a toss up between "I didn't think putting a sticker on a leg could be that hot" and "what kind of underwear is she wearing to make this shot possible?" (though that was answered a few moments later)

Also, her dodges are great. I actually watched the first one frame by frame and surprised they actually showed her getting down and out of the way as opposed to simply "phasing out of place".

[MeoTwister5]

I imagine there's going to be a rise of sticker fetish after the episode aired.

[ellifeedn]

That does raise two questions: who will be putting the stickers on who? and is it the guys or the girls who'll be wearing it?

[Flower]

Hmm ... must admit that this adaptation continues to be very well done, and in some ways Urabe comes across more endearingly than the manga for me. Wonder why that is? Whatever it is I am glad, because it will "enrich" re-readings of the manga series for me now.

[MAX_COLA_POWER!]

Well, the animé finally reached ANN streaming and they seem to be a bit picky on the drool too-v-;;. Way to be a complete neutral source of animé info there Animé News Network-v-;;.

[FredFriendly]

As usual, I couldn't wait for a subbed version to be released, so I watched the RAW as soon as it was available. Even though I could barely understand a word said, I've gotta say that I couldn't be more pleased with this adaptation of the corresponding manga material. The animation team has done a spot-on job, and I would unequivocally rate this episode a 10, even with a couple of very insignificant changes.

Spoiler for Episode 8 and Manga Chapter Comparison spoilers:

This episode encompasses three consecutive manga chapters, 20, 21 and 22 (the chapters are titled 'Mysterious Sensation,' 'Mysterious Feeling,' and 'Mysterious Resonse.' And, remarkably, it loses nothing in the adaptation. If anything, it is greatly enhanced by the very minor changes.

The dream sequence at the beginning of the episode is far better than the manga. Instead of a couple of pretty flat pages, the anime, as well as Urabe's seiyu, vividly bring the teenage sexual tension of the dream sequence to a far greater level than portrayed in the manga. You could almost feel Tsubaki's hand tremble as he reached out...

The second minor change that I noticed was also an improvement over the manga. After Tsubaki wakes up and is heading out for a walk, his sister is shown sitting and reading a detective novel in French, De Saint en de Z-man by Leslie Charteris. In the anime, this was changed to a couple of large, breast-like buns[?] which his sister was holding. As corny as it was, the comic affect was great.

There weren't any other changes that I noticed, but another scene got me to laugh out loud, something I don't usually do while watching anime, and also didn't happen while reading the corresponding scene in the manga. Oka's immediate reaction to tasting Urabe's 'dessert' really cracked me up. I've already watched it a couple of times and, though I don't understand a word she's saying, I just can't help but laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

I gotta hand it to the production team and the seiyus, this episode is great!