AnoHana - Episode 6 Discussion / Poll

[Narzia]

I have to say that nosebleed there worries me, especially since it's that kind of show. I hope it's not some KyoAni AIDS or god knows what kind of tumor.

A good episode otherwise, and more Naruko/Jintan is always welcome.

[SoFarGone]

Spoiler for oh really Jintan?:

[Master Chibi]

Shit, Anaru threw a damn tire at him. That's crazy.

[Sebasu]

Spoiler:

Aw, I was hoping for Tsuruko or maybe Poppo to get some flashback/show their involvement on "that day", but it's still an enjoyable episode nonetheless. I still liked it, it's like a "breather" after all the Yukiatsu dorama. xD

Speaking of Yukiatsu... oh lord. For some reason I just enjoy watching him and Tsuruko together. I loved that smirk he made after irritating her. I also loved Tsuruko saying she should spread cross-dressing photos of him. It's nice to see Tsuruko smiling in this episode too. This show definitely needs more of them.

Anaru is so adorable in this episode! I think I'm slightly rooting for her and Jintan now. At first I thought they both had no chemistry but this episode proved me wrong. The school parts were so awkward but cute. On Anaru's friends, the tanned girl irritated me first when she was all smug saying to Anaru she screwed up, but it's nice to see them looking more humane afterwards. I was quite worried before on the spoiler thread that they would bully Anaru-chan.

And of course, an episode won't be complete without Menma crying. lol @ Jintan's random nosebleed though (unless that's gonna be a disease and he'll die~) and then catching Anaru on Poppo's shack. I also laughed how Anaru just picked up Poppo's used tissues like that. She's so clueless.

Yeah, still a nice episode. Looking forward to whatever the revelation is on Menma's diary next episode.

[Malkuth]

Originally Posted by SoFarGone

Spoiler for oh really Jintan?:

^ gg-subs?

[Kaoru Chujo]

Excellent episode again. Jintan's first steps.

We are left wondering if his nosebleeds are tension for both, turn-on for both, or one of each.

Since Menma is dead, Anaru is his only possible partner, if he ends up with one.

My first thought hearing Anaru's "friends" was that they were writing her off, not really sympathizing. Time will tell.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Malkuth

Which makes the script even better, paying attention to background character. In any case, whether they are good or bad (which is debatable), it's natural to be concerned about her getting for into trouble.

Maybe. I personally don't believe unneeded character development for extraneous/filler characters is a good thing. Certain characters in most stories exist to fill a function and then promptly disappear. Developing these characters contrary to their function in the plot seems counter-productive, since it just leaves the characters feeling unfinished or awkward.

In this case, it's not important whether or not it's natural, but how it serves their development. If these girls were to do what I thought they were going to do [bully Anaru so Jintan and friends can stand up for her], then them worrying over Anaru will either have been needless characterization or will need further development, since you don't go from being worried about a friend to discarding and bulling her.

That being said, I think I'm wrong. These girls are probably going to be actual side characters instead of just plot devices, so them being good or bad comes into question.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Malkuth

^ gg-subs?

Yep.

[winhlp32]

Spoiler for Episode 6:

Looks like Jintan unexplainable disease flag +1. Possibly the same one that killed his mom.

Otherwise good episode as always.

[Malkuth]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Maybe. I personally don't believe unneeded character development for extraneous/filler characters is a good thing. Certain characters in most stories exist to fill a function and then promptly disappear. Developing these characters contrary to their function in the plot seems counter-productive, since it just leaves the characters feeling unfinished or awkward.

In this case, it's not important whether or not it's natural, but how it serves their development. If these girls were to do what I thought they were going to do [bully Anaru so Jintan and friends can stand up for her], then them worrying over Anaru will either have been needless characterization or will need further development, since you don't go from being worried about a friend to discarding and bulling her.

That being said, I think I'm wrong. These girls are probably going to be actual side characters instead of just plot devices, so them being good or bad comes into question.

I kind of disagree, side/background characters, that are featured by showing emotions, given extra lines, in general, exist and are minimally developed after fulfilling their plot-related functions make a show more realistic, which generally speaking, I consider a good thing. Now I agree that sometimes writers get carried away, but only then this approach becomes counter-productive. And with only 11 episodes to tell the story, the danger here is quite present, we still know almost nothing about Tsuruko and Poppo, while Menma's mother, Tsuroko's friends, and Jintan's father probably have played a greater role in this first half of the show.

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Edit:

Yep.

I like them when they are trolling with Aria, Geass, etc. but here, as well as with Merry last season it's just out of place.

Originally Posted by winhlp32

Spoiler for Episode 6:

Looks like Jintan unexplainable disease flag +1. Possibly the same one that killed his mom.

Otherwise good episode as always.

So he has a brain tumour that first generates delusions of his dead friend, then makes him say gibberish to defend Anaru, then makes his nose bleed, and finally kills him so he can be happily reunited with his childhood love... somehow I don't think/hope that will happen

[VentAileron]

Spoiler for Episode 6:

I really don't think the nosebleed has any significance to the plot. It was only there the first time to prevent Jintan from apologizing to Menma and the second time was just for the lulz.

I think this episode is the only one with a very light-hearted ending.

Did anyone get the post-credits screen?

[Kanon]

The return of ecchi, sketchy, one touchy! Oh, how I love that line.

Best scene in the episode for me was by far Jinta standing up for Anal (that sounds very wrong, doesn't it? Blame Menma for giving her that nickname ). His speech was confusing and incredibly awkward, yet still awesome. Him having such a hard time expressing himself in public is a nice touch.

Yukiatsu makes me laugh everytime he's on screen. He's still as smug as he used ot be despite everything that happened. He's clearly more likable than before though.

We finally got a hint about Menma's wish. Seems like she had something important to say to the gang the day she died. I have no idea what it could be...

Originally Posted by winhlp32

Spoiler for Episode 6:

Looks like Jintan unexplainable disease flag +1. Possibly the same one that killed his mom.

Calling it now. The reason he's the only one who can see Menma is that he's close to death. Or maybe it was just a simple nosebleed. Ohana had some too. I guess Mari Okada loves them, huh?

[darkmanure]

Very light hearted episode. I really wanted Jinta to talk to Menma's mother, but that would just cause her more grief. Maybe near the end or something to put her at ease.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Yukiatsu makes me laugh everytime he's on screen. He's still as smug as he used ot be despite everything that happened.

He could probably come to school crossdressing and still have a sumg look on his face.

And that ending was just pure awesome. "Ecchi, sketchy, one touchy!" XD

[Saturn Beaver]

Ouch, that was just painful to watch, I'm really really bad at seeing awkward moments like that. Really, Jintan, if there's one thing you can learn from Yukiatsu, it's proper white knighting.

Looks like the Scooby Doo gang (speaking of which, Jintan is also watching Occult Academy) finds a clue this time, Menma's diary. At the same time, Shaggy and Velma (Yukiatsu resembled Fred better though) remembered that Menma had something to say on that fateful day, so hopefully next episode they can meet up and try to solve this mystery. There's also melancholic moment between Menma and her mom, and Menma thinking of the afterlife...

But the best part is, without a doubt, Ecchi Sketchy One-touchy. I think this is the first time after 6 episodes that when I watched the ending, I don't feel sad or melancholic, because this time I just laughed out loud throughout the song. Just hilarious, and when Jintan said "she's no doubt a virgin" and got hit by a can, I completely lost it.

[Solace]

I really love all the small lines that build these characters. Yukiatsu is harassed about his cross dressing again. Poppo commenting about being the loner. You get a better sense of Menma's family in this episode as well. The differences in mourning, Menma's worry over her mother. It's interesting to note that even though they packed up Menma's belongings, the room is still unused.

So we get a few more hints about Menma's wish, confirmation that Anaru is a virgin (there's a disturbance in the force, as if millions of otaku suddenly squealed in joy), and Jinta has nosebleeds of questionable significance. So far I'm really enjoying the pacing for this series, it's laid back but eventful. It doesn't seem like things are progressing much, but things are already quite different from where we first started.

I'm starting to wonder though, if the reason Menma's "ghost" nature isn't being called into question is because we're going to get some kind of Sixth Sense style twist. It would be awfully cliche to get some kind of tearful goodbye scene as Menma disappears because gosh darn, mystery solved.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Originally Posted by Solace

I'm starting to wonder though, if the reason Menma's "ghost" nature isn't being called into question is because we're going to get some kind of Sixth Sense style twist. It would be awfully cliche to get some kind of tearful goodbye scene as Menma disappears because gosh darn, mystery solved.

Although it would be cliche for Menma to disappear after her wish has been granted, this would be far better ending than say, Menma coming back to life or something ridiculous. I also doubt the Sixth Sense style twist in a series like this where it seems to be relatively laidback, tame but dramatic, but with limited supernatural elements (bar Menma's ghost status)

[Proto]

I'm starting to wonder though, if the reason Menma's "ghost" nature isn't being called into question is because we're going to get some kind of Sixth Sense style twist. It would be awfully cliche to get some kind of tearful goodbye scene as Menma disappears because gosh darn, mystery solved

For a moment I thought you were going to say that everyone else was dead, only Menma is alive. Now that would be a twist.

[Riou17]

This episode is a nice change since the previous ones are quite dramatic. I love the scene where Jintan defends(? no extra dialog needed, Jintan) Anaru. I also favor this scene more than when Menma said that she doesn't want her mother to suffer more.

The ending scene was hilarious XD and Anaru's more concerned about Jintan thinking perverted things than picking up Poppo's magazines and used tissues. Also, it's official. I'm a JintanXAnaru shipper!

I'm still thinking on what part Tsuruko has to do with Menma's case. Most of the characters are linked with Menma other than being her friend or part of the Super Peace Busters, but they still haven't shown hers.

Next episode is the reading of Menma's diary. What secrets does Menma holds? Will it be a vital clue to her wish? Will Menma cry again? We'll find out on the next episode of Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai.

[Ascaloth]

I dunno if I'm late to the party, in fact I probably am, but Jintan's "virgin" line about Anaru was extra hilarious to me.

I mean, think about it. Tomatsu Haruka.

[shibakun]

Originally Posted by Riou17

Will Menma cry again?

^without a doubt, an episode is not complete without her crying lol.