Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai! Ren - Anime General Discussion

[ultimatemegax]

The latest issue of Cloud_G had an interview with Director Tatsuya Ishihara regarding the movie and season 2. I've broken the interview into the relevant parts:

-The announcements for the movie as well as a second season were announced simultaneously. Which of these two was decided to make first?
The second season was determined first. We had just decided to make a second season right before the final episode’s recording session. When the dubbing ended, we announced to the cast “We’re making a second season.”
-That’s such a beautiful way to announce it. The cast thinks the series is over and then they’re informed it’s continuing just like that. Everyone must have been thrilled, right?
Yes. Everyone was overcome with joy.
-Director, did you have the plot for the second season in mind at that time?
Since I hadn’t read the second novel at that time, I had just thought that it would be nice if we could make a second season. However, the story for the first season did lend itself to making a second season. (laughs) Rikka and Yuuta had just gotten together after all. If I had been thinking about a story for the second season, I have a hunch I would’ve been thinking if it would’ve been alright to end with the couple coming together.
-Is that so? That’s really surprising especially now that there is a second season.
I wanted the first season to, as they tend to say, “tie up nicely.” The second season would continue from the first season and tell a new tale. If I’m pushed to comment, I’d say that this tale wouldn’t be as serious as the first season; it’d be a bit more softer and gentler in feeling. In other words, I’d emphasize the romantic comedy portions more.
-So, the second season wouldn’t have any of the seriousness the second half of season one had?
I personally love that kind of serious story, but I want to be kinder to Rikka in the second season since we gave her that type of serious development in the first season.
-It felt like the casting for the first season felt perfect. So, when thinking about the new character for season 2, Shichimiya, what are you contemplating when determining who to cast?
We’re currently in the middle of deciding who to cast, so I can’t say at this point. (laughs) Surely you are immensely worried about how to add a new person to a four person group who already feels complete. Whether you think about adding a new voice or someone who’s been around for a while, they won’t fit in with what’s already been completed. So, when you don’t have a general idea of what you want to do at this point, we don’t know what to look for in a voice. It’s still unknown how big of an impact Shichimiya will have in the second season.
-The second novel really felt like the Shichimiya tale. I also think you have to include her in the anime.
Rather than Shichimiya joining the group in season two…….
-She becomes an antagonist?
If I’m pressed to say something, she’s that way due to being an opposing force for Rikka.
-So a rival. So will there be a new key phrase in the second season like the Invisible Horizon was in the first season?
Personally, instead of creating such a difficult theme for Rikka, I want to treat her as kindly as I can.
-Will you be depicting her ordinary daily life?
I want to tell stories about her that are relatively softer and gentler. Of course they’ll contain things like battles. I think it’ll move to that type of series where it switches over to more hijinx. I think concepts like the Invisible Horizon will still exist, but instead of being about her father’s death, there won’t be any serious component in them.
-So each episode in season 2 would be a show you could watch leisurely.
I think so.
-Finally, Dekomori is very popular in this magazine. Can you please tell us about how her hair will look in the second season?
It’s basically unchanged.
-She let her hair down in the first season. Was it just for that brief time?
That would be so. There might be small changes to her hair, but it’ll remain basically unchanged. The same will apply to the other characters as well.
-So what will be the message you want to include and communicate to the viewers in the second season?
I’ve probably remained chuunibyou all my life. The message in the final episode of season 1, “Resist Reality,” is a theme I’ve never said, but included. For the second season, I want to include a theme like I’ve lived. “For those who resist reality, continue rebelling, but let’s all search together!” I think that’s something that probably the people reading this magazine and people who love anime should do. Perhaps they can continue looking, but get the sense that they should look together with that person! (laughs) It’s a bit surprising and I’m not sure if it’ll actually be communicated.

[teja208]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

Director, did you have the plot for the second season in mind at that time?
Since I hadn’t read the second novel at that time, I had just thought that it would be nice if we could make a second season. However, the story for the first season did lend itself to making a second season. (laughs) Rikka and Yuuta had just gotten together after all. If I had been thinking about a story for the second season, I have a hunch I would’ve been thinking if it would’ve been alright to end with the couple coming together.

I don't think I fully understand this part. The 1st season ends with the main couple gotten together, isn't it the same meaning as coming together?

Could he possibly refer to another couple? Here's a hope for more DekoMori Summer. The end of episode 13 seems to be for setting us their flags you know.

From whatever little hints here and there, I guess it's safe to say that Shichimiya is going to be Rikka's rival just like in the novel. Again, I feel sorry for her.

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by teja208

I don't think I fully understand this part. The 1st season ends with the main couple gotten together, isn't it the same meaning as coming together?

Could he possibly refer to another couple? Here's a hope for more DekoMori Summer. The end of episode 13 seems to be for setting us their flags you know.

Basically if they had plans to make a second season in advance, Ishihara would've left the ending to season 1 vague relationship-wise. Since they didn't, you got to see Yuuta and Rikka become a couple.

[winhlp32]

Thanks for the translations as always. The second season is looking better and better.

Most looking forward to Shichimiya's anime character designs. I imagine Ikeda may very likely redesign her to suit whatever role she will play in the upcoming series.

[ultimatemegax]

Airing in January.

[NoemiChan]

Reads title... blah, blah second season... WTF?????

[AleX_MytH]

http://mantan-web.jp/2013/09/14/2013...00054000c.html

2014年1月

Are you sure that S2 will be a spring show?

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by AleX_MytH

http://mantan-web.jp/2013/09/14/2013...00054000c.html

Are you sure that S2 will be a spring show?

It said 2014春 when first posted and then changed later.

[novalysis]

I actually wonder how they are going to reconcile Satone, with the fact that Yuuta apparently attempted to confess to someone before, and got rejected, in a flashback in the first season?

Spoiler for Speculah:

Sometime before Satone moved away, Yuuta did try to confess to Satone, in an extremely round about, Chuunibyou manner. Either Satone misunderstood, or panicked and turned Yuuta down. The only problem is, that girl looks nothing like Satone - starting with the wrong hair color.

No matter how delusional Yuuta might have been in Middle School, surely he was well aware that trying to confess in a Chuunibyou fashion would only work on a fellow Chuunibyou.

[ultimatemegax]

Episode 1 will be screened on November 30th at the CTFK 2013 event in Kyoto followed by a talk with the main cast and ZAQ.

[winhlp32]

Images

She's here!

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[ultimatemegax]

Spoiling one part that deals with the movie. The rest will be unspoiled.

From the Tatsuya Ishihara interview in the December Animedia:

Spoiler for movie spoilers:

Though Rikka and Yuuta are living together now, there's not been any heart-pounding moments developing. Yuuta will wake the hard to wake Rikka up and make breakfast for her, but it's more like he's her mother than her boyfriend.

Shichimiya and Yuuta were once chuunibyou friends, so there may be some who presume this'll be a muddled love triangle. But for me, I began questioning why Shichimiya couldn't be a presence that would help Rikka and Yuuta confirm their mutual feelings for each other instead of being a hindrance to Rikka.

Plans are for the second season to have more chuuni battles than the first season. Kumin-senpai will also "Banishment" as well as be at the center of a battle. Furthermore Shichimiya will also battle, naturally. Since there's more opponents than in the first season, there'll be a lot of variety in battles.

Dekomori hasn't become disheveled at Rikka and Yuuta's relationship; she's explained it as the root of the contract binding them together. She does appear to be irritated at points though.

[traviskeshav]

Well, since we've now established that it's not going to follow any of the obvious or cliche plotlines, I'm very curious to see what the season is about, then. Very interesting.

[darkchibi07]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

Dekomori hasn't become disheveled at Rikka and Yuuta's relationship; she's explained it as the root of the contract binding them together. She does appear to be irritated at points though.

I'd imagine this is where Shinka will come into play.

[teja208]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

Spoiling one part that deals with the movie. The rest will be unspoiled.

From the Tatsuya Ishihara interview in the December Animedia:

Spoiler for movie spoilers:

Though Rikka and Yuuta are living together now, there's not been any heart-pounding moments developing. Yuuta will wake the hard to wake Rikka up and make breakfast for her, but it's more like he's her mother than her boyfriend.

Spoiler for movie spoiler:

Like a mother huh? Too bad, here's a hope he would man up a bit after getting together with Rikka. I guess after what happened in season 1 Yuuta probably becoming something of a surrogate father type boyfriend more or less, but because he's sort of a worrywart when it concerns Rikka to the point he comes out more like a mother instead. He’s quite girly compared to other Kyoani anime male MCs. Sometimes, I got this impression that he used up all his masculinity during his days as DFM.

[Tyabann]

I'm growing really tired of Ishihara's approach to romantic relationships.

[ultimatemegax]

Having read the contents of that magazine article posted (some more interesting stuff occurs beyond what I already posted), I'm going to indulge in a little bit of speculation. Again, I wish to emphasize that this is my own personal post. Nothing beyond my references has been said by any authority.

Spoiler for OVA/movie spoilers:

One complaint that I had, and saw echoed across the internet about the OVA was "no kissu?!" between Yuuta/Rikka. This further goes on through the movie as she moves into his apartment and yet no romance happens. It's pointed out in Animedia that Yuuta appears to be more of a mother than a lover to Rikka in this living arrangement, but why is that?

My thoughts go like this: Ishihara closed out their relationship well in S1 ep12 and had planned to use the OVA as a finale where they kiss and that's it for their story. As S2 was greenlit, he decided to have the near-miss instead. This lack of romance continues into season 2 where we now have the couple living together, a prime opportunity for romantic events to happen, and yet there's no romantic fire between them.

Nothing Nibutani/Kumin/Dekomori can do will alter this situation. It takes something else:
Satone Shichimiya.

It's cliche to have a new character come in and start a love triangle with the main couple. What if Ishihara wanted to play around with that cliche and not have Shichimiya interested in Yuuta but instead have Shichimiya provide the emphasis for the relationship to progress in Rikka's mind? He mentions that in the Animedia article, which leads me to speculate that she's the necessary spice to kick their relationship up a notch in romance. I can't think of how this could be done with the information we have, but there's lots of evidence showing why it's lead to this. At least it's more positive than "Ishihara doesn't want to show a kiss on screen."

[AP24]

I heard the movie contained 1/3 of new material and the final portion leads to season 2. So is it recommended to watch the movie first before season 2? If that's the case I wish they would release the BD of the movie before season 2 comes out.

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by AP24

I heard the movie contained 1/3 of new material and the final portion leads to season 2. So is it recommended to watch the movie first before season 2? If that's the case I wish they would release the BD of the movie before season 2 comes out.

Likely what happened at the end of the movie will be recapped in the first part of episode 1. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[novalysis]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

Having read the contents of that magazine article posted (some more interesting stuff occurs beyond what I already posted), I'm going to indulge in a little bit of speculation. Again, I wish to emphasize that this is my own personal post. Nothing beyond my references has been said by any authority.

Spoiler for OVA/movie spoilers:

One complaint that I had, and saw echoed across the internet about the OVA was "no kissu?!" between Yuuta/Rikka. This further goes on through the movie as she moves into his apartment and yet no romance happens. It's pointed out in Animedia that Yuuta appears to be more of a mother than a lover to Rikka in this living arrangement, but why is that?

My thoughts go like this: Ishihara closed out their relationship well in S1 ep12 and had planned to use the OVA as a finale where they kiss and that's it for their story. As S2 was greenlit, he decided to have the near-miss instead. This lack of romance continues into season 2 where we now have the couple living together, a prime opportunity for romantic events to happen, and yet there's no romantic fire between them.

Nothing Nibutani/Kumin/Dekomori can do will alter this situation. It takes something else:
Satone Shichimiya.

It's cliche to have a new character come in and start a love triangle with the main couple. What if Ishihara wanted to play around with that cliche and not have Shichimiya interested in Yuuta but instead have Shichimiya provide the emphasis for the relationship to progress in Rikka's mind? He mentions that in the Animedia article, which leads me to speculate that she's the necessary spice to kick their relationship up a notch in romance. I can't think of how this could be done with the information we have, but there's lots of evidence showing why it's lead to this. At least it's more positive than "Ishihara doesn't want to show a kiss on screen."

Spoiler for Speculation Time about Shichimiya:

In the first season, in one of the later episodes, when Yuuta considers his relationship with Rikka, we are taken to a brief flashback, where Yuuta apparently confessed to another girl back in Middle School.

I wonder, could that girl be Shichimiya, in the anime ? If that's the case, and Yuuta was rejected , that adds another angle to the impact of Shichimiya on Rikka and Yuuta's relationship. The return of a girl that Yuuta had actually gone as far as to confess to adds more urgency from Rikka's perspective to progress in her relationship with Yuuta, since there is always the risk Shichimiya could change her mind.