Lucky Star - Episode 18 Discussion / Poll

[Calawain]

Wow, really great episode here once again. Second week in a row we've had no major Haruhi references, and the riot over episode 16 seems to have calmed down ;x

I loved the animal scene, especially Kagami's reaction to Kona-chan's suggestion that she would be a rabbit, I think she likes the idea =) I also enjoyed when Kagami asked Kona-chan to read that light novel and sat there staring at her. I'm one of those people that can't concentrate when people are hovering over me. I'm often asked at work to come over and fix people's computers (since there is no IT there and I'm the only one who knows anything) and it irritates me when they sit there hovering over me.

The scene with Kona-chan talking to Yu-chan's classmate who assumed by her height that she was a first year made me laugh. Her emphasis on being a third year and his changing tone was great.

The secondary characters really shined in this episode. Minami was good, although yet another episode with her patting her chest due to her lack of bust was a bit much, I think she has other traits that can be used for comedy. I really don't like Kagami's classmates as much as the first years, I find their antics funnier and I enjoy their characters more (Patty especially).

Hiyori's yuri of Yu-chan and Minami was great, I laughed for a good long time there, they didn't get it at all and thought it was cute. Finally, Patty's "holy sites" of otakuness and Yuri cracked me up. Yu-chan's idea of Otome-chan as some sort of wonderful theme park was cute.

Overall 10/10 from me, and I'm looking forward to a list of cultural references once again!

[Deathwing]

i liked this episode
i didn't know they had the 3 second rule in japan thought that was just an American thing
also i laughed when Minami was figuring out how she was going to hit Yutaka in dodge ball without causing major damage
and kagami's staring scene was funny as well
today's lucky channel was pretty bad though

[Kaioshin Sama]

To answer the question AVPlaya posed about the A-Team theme thing. If you heard it (which is strange as the default battle theme's should be Tautaku M9, Sorega Ai Deshou, which sounds better in the game without lyrics Shisshou and that bleh opening theme from Second Raid, which also sounds better in the game without lyrics), it's because that's the theme used for Bonta Kun in the game. You hear it whenever he attacks (or you can select it for any unit once you've heard it once), and yeah it's a complete rip-off of the A-Team theme.

[Panzer Bandit]

Originally Posted by AVPlaya

Hidden for now...

Spoiler for Spoilers galore!:

...

Is that a mock A-team's theme during that Super Robo Taisen Parody? Oh did you know the A-team was big in Japan back in the 80's?

...

Misao-chan! She needs more screen time. Why do I find her more moe than most of the other main cast members?

...

Kyobo Densetsu no Kagami! Her reputation for violence precedes her.

...

LS: Shiraishi opening his eyes for the first time... Must be messenging a girl...

...

I got to say, all the Kagami focus and Misao and Patti, with a great ED song, this is a 10 for me. Boy I LOVE this anime.

Spoiler for just in case:

Ha, I was wondering what the A-team theme was doing in there. Didn't know it was a hit in Japan too.

Misao's really growing on me, although I have the feeling I'm really going to like Hiyori (even though we have only 6 episodes left ).

Hahaha, the alarm clock bit made me laugh. Speaking of Kagami...

If it's a girl Shiraishi's messaging, then more evidence for my Kagami theory...

I just watched Guerrand's sub, and I'm really impressed by the quality of their work considering how quick they got the sub out. Kudos to them.

[krln99]

I like how Patricia is more of an otaku than all of the Japanese characters except for Hiyorin and Kona.

[AVPlaya]

Originally Posted by Panzer Bandit

I just watched Guerrand's sub, and I'm really impressed by the quality of their work considering how quick they got the sub out. Kudos to them.

Wow, a sub is already out for 18?? Damn.. I guess I have to do my ref list early this week...

Originally Posted by krln99

I like how Patricia is more of an otaku than all of the Japanese characters except for Hiyorin and Kona.

Yeah she is, and if any of you folks ever attend a Japanese school, so will all of you! It's so cool they've showed that scene... so many American anime fans goto Japan thinking everyone knows about anime and otaku things... but they don't! Most of the them will just look at you in complete and utter awe.

[Meophist]

Originally Posted by AVPlaya

Yeah she is, and if any of you folks ever attend a Japanese school, so will all of you! It's so cool they've showed that scene... so many American anime fans goto Japan thinking everyone knows about anime and otaku things... but they don't! Most of the them will just look at you in complete and utter awe.

…*has attended a Japanese school before*

I don't think I was the biggest otaku there though…

In any case, I wonder if that'll really be awe…

[AVPlaya]

Originally Posted by Meophist

…*has attended a Japanese school before*

I don't think I was the biggest otaku there though…

In any case, I wonder if that'll really be awe…

Not the biggest, but you're not supposed to know anything about the otaku world...

It's not really (just) we, but I'm being polite and exaggerating a bit. The Japanese won't stare.

[Calawain]

Originally Posted by AVPlaya

Not the biggest, but you're not supposed to know anything about the otaku world...

It's not really (just) we, but I'm being polite and exaggerating a bit. The Japanese won't stare.

Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~ ;x

Edit: And I also like Guerrand's subs so far watching episode 17 and 18 from them. They are pretty quick on the releases for a show that is probably difficult to translate. Although I don't speak more than 50 words in Japanese so I couldn't really say for sure

[Vexx]

argh... downloading 17 and 18 by Guerrand just to see since everyone else seems to be AWOL (Look!!!!! Its Summer!!! <scamper>)

[SatanicZero]

a 10 for me...

yeah Iwasaki got more screen time in this episode....Minori Chihara....

[Risaa]

Eto, I don't really get it. Summer, subs slow down. I know people take trips during the summer (I *hella* do, I'm sure some have noticed O_o), but I would think summer is when subbers release full blast. With no school work to take care of, I would be able to churn out a lot more and a lot faster than usual during summer. I have a lot more time for everything, really.

So... Why does it slow down *so* much, it seems like for all groups?

[Kang Seung Jae]

I loved the animal referances.


Simply LOVED it.

[GoldAlchemist]

Does anybody know who is that Suzune girl running in the rain?

From character designs, i'm guessing that if there exists such characters in some other works, it must be some time ago.

[AVPlaya]

Originally Posted by GoldAlchemist

Does anybody know who is that Suzune girl running in the rain?

From character designs, i'm guessing that if there exists such characters in some other works, it must be some time ago.

Suzume and Ichiko from Munto 2: Beyond the Walls of Time OVA.

[Maveric]

Now there's a switch, 18 came out before 17...

Nice to finally meet all those other girls from the opening sequence. And Akira got a cameo!

Best part of the ep tho is when Konata goes "tell her that THIRD YEAR Konata is here" :P

Originally Posted by Panzer Bandit

Spoiler for just in case:

Ha, I was wondering what the A-team theme was doing in there. Didn't know it was a hit in Japan too.

Actually, that's not the A-team theme, but music from the FMP soundtrack, which may or may not be based on the A-team theme. The mechs were also from FMP.

[z3phyr.mp3]

nice ep...
loved the animals part...
koanta should have told tsukasa to look at a mirror when she was asked waht was moe...
i may be over thinking this but could tsukasa's question be related to the upcoming start of the main round of saimoe 2007?

[Luminisk]

Originally Posted by AVPlaya

Hidden for now...

Spoiler for Spoilers galore!:

Tsukasa's reading Lagoon Engine. Another Kadokawa Manga of course.

Ugh, what possessed me to delete my first post.

Anyways, I loved Lagoon Engine by Yukiru Sugisaki.

I was sorta disappointed when I found out that author suddenly stopped working on it awhile ago, I thought it was just slow translation, but now I just noticed recently that she started releasing new chapters again; I hope it'll get translated soon so I can buy it over here.
Now if she can just start working on D.N. Angel again.

[AVPlaya]

Man, I thought I just did this yesterday.... But here goes... The fansub's out, so it's all out in the open.

Spoiler for Hidden due to fansub uncertainties:

Collectible Choco Wafer
The chocolate wafer Konata was generously sharing with everyone was something that can only be invented in Japan - it is a collectible card game made by Bandai called "神羅万象" (Shinranbanshyo). What's great about this game is that when you buy a new card packet, you also get a - CHOCO WAFER! So the kid gets the card AND a snack. Perfect marketing. Why does Konata have so many? She probably have a card she really wanted and got carried away. Any card game fan can identify with that, only you no get no choco wafer.

Munchies for all your battles!


Lucky * Animals
Just a short list of the RAKI * Doubutsu:

• Konata - Fox
• Tsukasa - Puppy (she's no bia.. )
• Yutaka - Squirrel
• Kagami - Rabbit
• Yui-nee-chan - Leopard
• Minami - Eagle
• Miyuki - Sheep or Cow

Super-Smart Animals
Man this EP is all about animals! When the Tsukasa and Kagami were talking about dogs, the TV show which triggered this debate is a very, very popular TV show called 天才!志村どうぶつ園 (Tensai! Shimura Doubutsu En). This is a show loved by everyone and hosted by a Japanese comedic Legend, 志村けん (Shimura Ken). He was the first manzai comedian to make it big on TV and he has hosted numerous shows which is the model for today's comedic variety shows. Everyone in Japan knows him. This particular show he's hosting is is about animals... especially smart animals doing tricks or performing impossible tasks. There are a lot of segment featuring dogs and cats, but the most famous animal from the show is the Chimpanzee named パンくん (pan-kun) and his pet dog James. Yes, he's one of the smartest non-human primate in the world, with the IQ of a 3-yrs old, so he gets a pet dog. With his dog James, Pan-kun performs human tasks such as shopping, riding the bus, feeding his dog, cleaning his room, visiting his vet, and cook his own meals, all by himself. A lot of cele talentos such as Aoki Sayaka (we like her) host segments on this show due to the popularity. It's a great show, folks.

Here's a video of one of the Pan-kun segments. Watch as Pan-kun board a train with James, his faithful Pitbull. That old guy on the top left is Shimura the host.

Japanese Elections
Konata complaining about how Japanese Diet Election Coverage has disturbed her anime viewing. Japan held an Diet Upper House election last week and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost its majority in the Upper House. Since the Lower House is more powerful, the still rule Japan but the LDP Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, refused to resign even though the election was seen as a referendum on his rule. His brief reign was marred by scandals and some moves to change Japan's pacifist constitution, while economy and reform stagnated. His ratings were as low as Bush before the election, and his party took a great loss. This election was followed closely by Japanese TV, and and many otakus were inconvenienced by the coverage. But what Konata may not know or care is that the current Foreign Minister, Aso Taro, an otaku who likes "Rozen Maiden" and even campaigned in Akiba, is next in line for the PM job. He is big on the export of Japan's "Soft Power", meaning anime/manga, and even sponsored events like an International Manga Award to promote it. If he becomes PM, we'll probably see the Japanese military actively develop Mobile Suits and female government employee will be required to wear maido outfits. (Aso has a lot of problems I won't get into here.)

Rozen Aso with Rozen Maiden: Vote for me and Suiseiseki neh!


Kick Boxing One
We found out by accident that Nanako-sensei liked to watch K1, Japanese professional Kick-boxing-based "Martial-Arts Fighting Competition". It's like Ultimate Fighting Champtionship in the US, only that K1 focus on Muay Thai and other boxing styles more so there's less grappling moves dominated other ultimate fighting circuits. K1 is popular in Japan, although Pride Fighting Championship is probably more so. This is what non-otaku guys in Japan watches.

Akebono, the former Sumo Yokozuna, versus Musashi, a fan favorite, in a K1 match:


Japanese Cell Plans
Getting a phone in Japan is really similar to getting it in the US, even though the phones are vastly different. Usually you get a phone for free or really cheap for signing a two-year contract (that's why Kagami said 2 years), but the plan can be much cheaper than the US. The only thing that's really expensive in Japan is the data rate, which is counted by packet. You don't pay for receiving phone calls but you do when you initiate the call (which is norm in most countries except the US). That's why many girls would carry multiple handsets, so she can give out number to specific handset to different types of people; this is especially true under the Japan-only PHS system, where you pay zero or very little monthly fee and only pay for the outgoing calls you make (which is usually cheaper too). Negative part of PHS is that it's only available in certain cities and the handsets are not as advanced/cool. Selecting a handset and a carrier/plan is an art in Japan...

An old-skool PHS phone

===
That was kinda short! Not a lot of cultural ref in a show dominated by BL. I just realized that I watch a LOT of Japanese TV, even ones involving people breaking each other's noses. Still a ton of fun. I'll post my otaku ref tomorrow I think.

[Risaa]

The clip with Pan-kun was awesome. (His doggie reminds me of Densuke from Dennou Coil... shameless promotion.) I can't help but think it was staged though to make him look smarter than he already is though, for example maybe he actually took a much longer time to figure out how to get through the ticket-eating machine and had to watch many people instead of just the one lady.

When I was younger, I used to be afraid those things would eat my fingers... much in the same way escalators would suck you in if you didn't step off. o_o