(L) Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto

[SSzz]

Originally Posted by asakomi

It's not a matter of losing interest, our staff has just been really busy. You know, real life and stuff. We're doing the best we can.

oh i see=D take your time then

[MrProphet]

Oh, God, I don't know if I should laugh hysterically or cry in shame. I have no idea why I still watch Iroha...

Clearly, though, people who made Iroha watched WAY too much Utena. Ooops... is that a spoiler? 8)

The Baka Rangers are killing this show. I cannot.. I swear, I cannot bear to watch one more minute of their idiocy. They make this show even more stupid than it already is.

Where are those cool episodes where the story amazed you and the animation awed you? Where are they?

[wao]

I was laughing my way through half this episode too. To be frank, I think anyone who knows me might know that I've only made my way through the past few eps for fangirl reasons and not really for serious reasons (ep 15's geishas are an exception). But I will reserve my criticism of the series until the end so as not to dampen the mood too much...

Anyway - aha, I see Onda's drawings so obviously. He just basically pwns everyone else; the animation director Yuka Takemori has this funny way of correcting faces where they look lopsided and it shows... then Onda's uncorrected drawings come in the last part and look prettier than the rest of the episode. Hah. Although Akizuki looks like he's no younger than 25 the way he draws him...

So if you're looking for good animation I should think next episode would bring it along. Whether it'll turn out as a fujoshi-fanservice-fest ala ep 10, though, is something I don't know yet. Eh. I'm basing my expectations of it entirely on eps 5 and 12...


Anyway, this episode was so funny especially because

Spoiler:

-Hijikata and Soutetsu make the most hilarious couple in this show. TOTALLY.

-DRAMATIC THUNDER LOL

-Soutetsu has such a wonderful way of strolling along while Akizuki steps back in shock! horror! angst!, doesn't he? Even Hijikata's just looking along and they're all waiting for him to fall in the water.

-This show is so much about MAGICAL LOOKS. Putting aside the loads of looks in previous episodes, today it was Akizuki and Kakunojou's mysterious look which, for some reason, got him to accept her despite being so grumpy the previous episode. And then Enomoto! He repels even daggers with just looks!

-And I'm really sorry Ori, but while Rook did indeed die a little gorily, I ultimately have to agree with MrProphet... I can accept them only if I see them more as lolcrack than anything serious. Gee.

I do like that new outfit though. At least the damned ribbons came off!

[Ori]

But they are lolcrack! Why else do you think I like them? ^_^; It's certainly NOT for their personality or what they did. They just amuse me, actually more like HE just amuses me. I suppose that just goes to show I really don't take anything seriously like I should.

Onda's parts were obviously my fav of the whole episode.

Spoiler:

Akizuki being stabbed is just so heart breaking (maybe because I am a fangirl. <s>Who knew dripping blood can be so hot?</s>

I also picked up certaing parallelism here and there in this episode that I liked -- they linked certain parts of the show together.

The revelation about the small sword also interests me. Akizuki definately should be trying to seal the head and not cut it. He is going about it the wrong way.

[MrProphet]

I wish the series would return to its roots. You know, when it had class and intrigue and it was culturally significant for introducing us to Japanese new post-feudal society and interweaving the history of Meiji Restoration with an epic story.

Now the historical bits seems like an endless trivia roadshow. Akizuki travels around the country and meets important historical figures. Oh, look, that's Enomoto Takeaki, he is going to establish the Republic of Ezo. Oh, look, that's Hijikata Toshizou, he went north after Shinsengumi was destroyed. Oh, look, that's Byakkotai, they are... um... well, we don't really know how to squeeze them in, so we'll just have a pointless Byakkotai kid here.

I am completely convinced that the reason why Iroha charmed me in the beginning was very simple: steady animation and special care taken with Japanese culture. Like the kabuki troupe, or those silly geisha accents that amused me to no end. These were the things out of the ordinary and I simply don't see them any more. And unlike you gals, I can't keep watching it for the sheer fanservice alone. Naturally, I'll watch it to the end, but I can't say it will be happy.

I only hope that Iroha would finally gain some purpose other than the vague "let's destroy the Head" story.

These are the issues I want addressed:

- What the hell's wrong with Kakunojo? Besides love.
- Why is Akizuki such a hardass?
- What's Ibaragi's story?
- Why do they all want the Head? Why is it bad?
- Why is nothing happening with Kanna and Kakunojo?
- Is there a more clever way to involve historical figures other than just to have them stand witness to our heroes?

Seriously, aren't those rather obvious character development angles? Why aren't they followed?

This is episode 18 already! The law of anime clearly states that around episode 19 or 20 there must be a seriously jaw-dropping awesome change of direction that will finally lead us to the grand finale. And let me tell you... what happened to Akizuki is NOT that.

The final "arc" (as far as directing goes) is upon us. The deep breath before the plunge! I fear it will suck...

[deaddeath]

Who is Buku Tuoo?

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

Now the historical bits seems like an endless trivia roadshow.

Yes, I had the same thought. Whenever I see that 3D-map popping up with the arrow snaking along mountain ranges, I immediately think of those history videos one saw in school, which weren't really known for their entertainment value. Especially when all it did, was declaring why there were some soldiers stationed along the road. Or in other cases I fail to see the need for one of the characters to be a historic figure, apart from so the audience can go "lol famous person, I know that guy from a book". The historical references don't seem to be integrated in the story, just intersecting with it now and then. For the most part the actual story about the eternal assassin looking for evil head could have been told without the historic references without losing much.

Akizuki travels around the country and meets important historical figures.

The adventures of Youjirou Gump.

While I'm at it, after I saw ep18, I was reminded of a question I had for some time:

Spoiler:

Was there ever any scene indicating that anyone in the series was actually confused about Kakunojou's gender? I think the monk this episode made a comment on her change of attire, but thats about it. Somehow it always seemed like the worst disguise in history, especially as her voice is a dead giveaway.

As for the climactic scene this episode, I was amused to no end by Soutetsu standing there and talking away while he and everyone else watched Akizuki making his way to the railing in slow-mo. I half expected Soutetsu to pull at Akizuki's collar to speed things up saying "Come now, Youjirou. We don't have all day and some of us need to get on with our evil plans. Whoops, there you go."

[wao]

Yay! Finally, episode 12 is out! After that there's episode 13.... and then from then on I'll sit here and watch the BL fangirls drop this show (unless they're into older guys).

[Ori]

Originally Posted by Oberon

While I'm at it, after I saw ep18, I was reminded of a question I had for some time:

Spoiler:

Was there ever any scene indicating that anyone in the series was actually confused about Kakunojou's gender? I think the monk this episode made a comment on her change of attire, but thats about it. Somehow it always seemed like the worst disguise in history, especially as her voice is a dead giveaway.

As for the climactic scene this episode, I was amused to no end by Soutetsu standing there and talking away while he and everyone else watched Akizuki making his way to the railing in slow-mo. I half expected Soutetsu to pull at Akizuki's collar to speed things up saying "Come now, Youjirou. We don't have all day and some of us need to get on with our evil plans. Whoops, there you go."

I have always thought Kaku's disguise only works because actors that only play women must be pretty gender confused to begin with, so maybe the audiences are used to seeing very feminine guy actors walking around.

And for the second part of your comment...

Spoiler:

My thought EXACTLY! The whole time I was partially expecting Soutetsu to stick out a foot and trip Akizuki to help the poor guy along his way.

[Guardian Enzo]

Wow - 12 was just... Wow. Out of this freakin' world.

[duckroll]

Wow, it seems this show is a total financial flop in Japan. The first volume of the DVD debuted at #77 on the anime sales charts with a total of 2,252 copies sold in the first week. Horrible.

[wao]

Well, I think it's not all that bad for something that receives comparatively pathetic publicity and is broadcasted ONLY on the internet... which means it is accessible all over Japan, but at the same time, most people don't know or hear about it. Plus it's an anime original, so there's no existing fanbase to buy the stuff... and it's also not something so easy for even Japanese to get into; furthermore I'd venture to say it's appealing only to a very specific type of fangirl compared to say Code Geass which appeals to a very wide range of otaku, both male and female (that may be an unfair comparison, though) Eh, I think the lack of publicity is prolly what did it. And there's still rentals and stuff to consider. Plus I'm quite sure this didn't take that much money to make (despite it looking pretty in some places, I don't think they spent a lot of money on the animation and stuff - think about it, who would risk so much on an internet-only anime-original show?) Who knows, they might actually recover their costs...

[duckroll]

Well, I think it did better than FLAG anyway. I'm not even sure if FLAG Vol1-3 ever charted on the top100. Pretty disappointing overall, since I'm a huge fan of Ryosuke Takahashi and both FLAG and Bakumatsu have been really well produced so far. I guess the mainstream just doesn't care for more intellectual and detailed original anime that don't degenerate into extreme fanservice of some sort.

Maybe his new Votoms series will do better..... maybe.

[Inclu]

I love this anime, but there has been one thing bothering me.
This picture
I'm not up to date with Bakumatsu at the time, but i'm just curious to know what that's all about
XD

[wao]

That's (now a somewhat old) scan from Newtype Romance. Keep in mind this show is really aimed at girls; as is Newtype Romance. A lot of Japanese fans of the show are absolutely head over heels over Kanna (the guy on the left) and Akizuki as a BL (Boys-Love) pairing. Of course, this never actually happens in the anime, but they love it enough to have started two fan-initated anthologies for the pairing (one with Kanna "dominant", the other with Akizuki "dominant").

The "Love Target" thing you see in the scan doesn't actually refer to their interest in each other (although many would like to imagine it that way), it describes their characteristics and, to put it crudely, "selling points". So "love target" probably refers more to the girls falling in love with them.

Although if my memory serves me correctly, the scan was quite playfully hinting at them being interested in each other (which, again, never really happens in the anime apart from the BL fangirls' favourite episode 8.)

I think I have a larger version of that scan lying somewhere around on my HD.

[Cyprene]

What the HECK happened to this show? I was working on 14 and 15 and it... sucked. It was really awful. The animation quality has degenerated to "laughable" in parts, especially in episode 15, the story seems to not have the slightest clue as to where it's going, and the Brit Weiss Kreuz rip-off squad is more suited to an episode of Law of Ueki or Naruto than a show like this.

BTW Wao, I decided the songs in 15 weren't worth my time to screw with. I have other shows to do, and if Baku can't be bothered to not suck I can't be bothered to waste my time doing extra work for it.

-
Cyprene, Bakumatsu Translator

[sevenheaven7]

is there any romance between the main characters? (yuyama and akizuki)

[wao]

Well, you could say there's hints/developments of it, mainly over the past few episodes (15-18).

Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to have been portrayed or received very well by most of the audience, and even I have to admit that it certainly could have been written a lot better.


Quite a number of people appear to be concerned with the fact that Akizuki seemed to have lost his "coolness" over those past few eps and was acting out-of-character.

[Inclu]

Originally Posted by wao

That's (now a somewhat old) scan from Newtype Romance. Keep in mind this show is really aimed at girls; as is Newtype Romance. A lot of Japanese fans of the show are absolutely head over heels over Kanna (the guy on the left) and Akizuki as a BL (Boys-Love) pairing. Of course, this never actually happens in the anime, but they love it enough to have started two fan-initated anthologies for the pairing (one with Kanna "dominant", the other with Akizuki "dominant").

The "Love Target" thing you see in the scan doesn't actually refer to their interest in each other (although many would like to imagine it that way), it describes their characteristics and, to put it crudely, "selling points". So "love target" probably refers more to the girls falling in love with them.

Although if my memory serves me correctly, the scan was quite playfully hinting at them being interested in each other (which, again, never really happens in the anime apart from the BL fangirls' favourite episode 8.)

I think I have a larger version of that scan lying somewhere around on my HD.

ah i see thanks for clearning that up for me
^^

[wao]

Obligatory spoiler post, pay no attention...

Episode 20's preview from the official site, badly translated by me, blah blah.

Spoiler for ep 20:

Episode 20 Harou Arite - There be Waves

Led by Enomoto Takeaki, who was possessed by the Conqueror's Head, the ex-Bakufu troops finally unleashed their firepower on Matsumae Castle* in order to obtain their right to rule Ezo. The ex-Bakufu, having come all the way to the final frontier, declare an independant republic. Standing beside Enomoto, who had become President, was the scriptwriter who kept a fierze gaze on the world - Ibaragi Soutetsu!

"The ending** is still beyond the horizon. Our republic shall not be kept only to Ezo!"

And what could possibly be the horizon Sensei is looking at...!?

*I might have got this wrong actually.

**He actually says "maku" (幕), which literally means curtains, but is the same kanji in "bakufu" (the Shogunate government)...

Episode 19, is after all an improvement from the past 3 eps as I have been hoping. Apparently the fangirls are not too happy, however, because

Spoiler:

Akizuki doesn't even talk this ep (...his voice actor isn't even credited), he's just shown washing up on a beach right at the end. Even "worse", Kanna hasn't appeared at all. They were all expecting Kanna to pick up Akizuki (and you guess the rest).

I think the BL fangirls are the most disappointed because unless it's Soutetsu and Hijikata (who, I maintain, are really dangerous) they're quite out of material...

Apparently the troupe was good and this ep is chock full of bishie Soutetsu, plus the animation was pretty as expected. Yay! Nice to see him get the "zomg I'm sexy" touch too. Can't wait to see it.
EDIT: Oh nice, it seems like Chiaki Ishikawa, half of the duo See-Saw (the other half is none other than Kajiura) composed an insert song for this episode? Cool.

EDIT2: You can see maaaaany screencaps if you go over here. And ZOMG EVERYONE LOOKS HOT. Goodness! I'm going to go giggle in a corner like a silly person for a while now.