(L) Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- (2nd Season)

[Same_Shark]

The first season's designs had this gritty look to it. That's the only way I can describe it. Just gritty. The new designs look too happy.

[totoum]

Originally Posted by Same_Shark

The first season's designs had this gritty look to it. That's the only way I can describe it. Just gritty. The new designs look too happy.

I like the idea of the designs looking "too happy" for such a sad story,it accentuates the disconfort you feel: there's already the unlikely pairing of little girls with guns which could make you feel uneasy and now on top of it there's the unlikely pairing of a happy design with a very sad story that would just make that feeling stronger (well,at least that's the case for me).

[G. Zeus]

Originally Posted by totoum

I like the idea of the designs looking "too happy" for such a sad story,it accentuates the disconfort you feel: there's already the unlikely pairing of little girls with guns which could make you feel uneasy and now on top of it there's the unlikely pairing of a happy design with a very sad story that would just make that feeling stronger (well,at least that's the case for me).

I dunno. It seems that it works the other way around for most fans based on the other replies so far.

IMO, the irony lies in what they are, the situation that they are in, and their appearance is supposed to reinforce this. That is, childhood is meant to be a time of carefree happiness and one of the basic premises of the series is to deny them that right by thrusting them into the world of tragedy and violence. Happiness is no longer a right but a privilege; no longer their default state but something that the girls and the handlers must strive for given their unfortunate circumstances.

True, Gunslinger Girl is a series that's meant to disturb its audience but this subtle disquiet is one which is not meant to shock but to trouble our conscience and leave a heavy feeling in the chest. Unlike Elfen Lied or MPD Psycho wherein the initial reaction is "That's not right.", GsG induces the viewers/readers to ask "Is this right... ?". The author's intent is not to draw a line separating black from white and throw them to the other side but to blur the line and confuse people with the gray areas. It doesn't rely on wanton destruction or explicit images of violence but moral uncertainty caused by sacrifices, justification, and choosing the least evil among the options. Giving them a "happier by default" design would actually deaden the confusion since it would imply that a) they're oblivious or apathetic to the tragedy of their own circumstances, or b) the Agency made the right choice.


Bottomline:
1) GsG relies on conscience rather than graphic images to disturb the audience
2) Yes, I think it's fine to show them happy but it should be mixed with a healthy dose of bitterness for maximum dramatic effect (refer to the last episode of season 1).



[EDIT]:
Incidentally, the image for the character designs is no longer available (well, it's not showing up on my browser anymore anyway).

[totoum]

The author's intent is not to draw a line separating black from white and throw them to the other side but to blur the line and confuse people with the gray areas.

Definatly agree with that statement,that might very well be my favorite part of the story.

Originally Posted by G. Zeus

Giving them a "happier by default" design would actually deaden the confusion since it would imply that a) they're oblivious or apathetic to the tragedy of their own circumstances

But aren't they to some extent?

The best exemple would be rico,what really made episode 3 so tragic to me was not only Rico's actions but also what she said at the end "I like my life here very much".

Henrietta never really thinks about the situation she's in,all she really want is the attention of her handler
Angelica's and Elsa's sadness mainly comes from lack of attention from their handlers

Claes and especialy Triela are the exceptions to me.

[Kikaifan]

Initially I was solidly of totoum's view, that Triela is the only cyborg who does much questioning of her circumstances- Rico can't question, Henrietta already has her answer, and while Claes perhaps has the most nuanced view of their condition she too seems to have decided she is happy with what she has been given, even without the strong emotional bond to a handler. And Elsa, too, had her answer.

But while I was writing my response I started to see G. Zeus' point... it seems a bit pointless to question the cyborgs' condition as an audience when they already have their answers. You can ask yourself whether they should be happy and whether what was done to them and what they do as a result can be called 'right', but it's a much more interesting question when they aren't sure themselves.

So on the issue of the character designs, I lean towards totoum's view- happy faces express a lot of what the characters currently feel. But with respect to Zeus', here's hoping our favorite cyborgs won't just be painting their portraits in the future, but join us in questioning their feelings and world.

[G. Zeus]

Originally Posted by totoum

But aren't they to some extent?

The best exemple would be rico,what really made episode 3 so tragic to me was not only Rico's actions but also what she said at the end "I like my life here very much".

Henrietta never really thinks about the situation she's in,all she really want is the attention of her handler
Angelica's and Elsa's sadness mainly comes from lack of attention from their handlers.

Touché. Still, I doubt it if perma-smileys would be a good thing since some key scenes could lose their impact if there was no contrast.

Spoiler for the final moments of volume 5:

Besides being concerned about Triela's physical condition, I think one of the reasons why Hillshire was left speechless was the fact that Triela seemed to be enjoying her victory by killing Pinocchio.

Besides, even if the girls are numbed and/or blinded by the conditioning, the handlers, on the other hand, have no excuse since they are fully aware of the situation. And the most happy-go-lucky among them happens to be dead already.

[Deathbringer_37]

Touché. Still, I doubt it if perma-smileys would be a good thing since some key scenes could lose their impact if there was no contrast.

You gotta see that this was only a presentation of the new art that this series will use, the fact that they´re smiling here as little influence on the most serious/sad part of the plot.

Spoiler for the final moments of volume 5:

Besides being concerned about Triela's physical condition, I think one of the reasons why Hillshire was left speechless was the fact that Triela seemed to be enjoying her victory by killing Pinocchio.

Yeah, unlike every other Handler, Hillshire seems to have grown accustomed to a normal relationship with Triela, i know that normal is not the right word but you get the point, she doesn´t blindly worships him or goes berserk, killing everyone that seems to threaten him. She actually thinks according to the situation and can rationalize during missions. But she wanted to prove much to Hillshire and herself (More to Hilshire, seeing that she already developed a crush on him before that) that she could beat Pinocchio that it got the best of her and became what she saw in both Rico and Henrietta. I think the reason Hillshire was so shocked and sad at Triela´s behavior after killing Pinocchio because in that moment she was as hollow as Rico or Henrietta.

I loved that scene, it showed that even though Triela is by far the most normal child in the organization, she is also flawed in that aspect.

[dfens]

I always took the end of volume 5 is that Hillshire was so relieved that Triella survived fighting Pinocchio. She wanted her him praise her for winning that all her hard work paid off. She was wounded, neally loses a eye and was almost killed for a second time.

Yes he was glad she won but more importantly she was alright and with him still, that's why he broke down and hugged her.

[Same_Shark]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are Petrushka & Beatrice in the new season?

[Dark Wing]

Originally Posted by Same_Shark

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are Petrushka & Beatrice in the new season?

I don't think so as you can see form the characters listed they are not in this part of the story. This is because (If I remember correctly?) they don't show up until after Triella's arc.

Also if I may add the two of them take up about 2 volumes by themselves. Which I believe was unfair to the fans of the other girls seeing how they had basically been sifted.

[Same_Shark]

Originally Posted by Dark Wing

I don't think so as you can see form the characters listed they are not in this part of the story. This is because (If I remember correctly?) they don't show up until after Triella's arc.

Also if I may add the two of them take up about 2 volumes by themselves. Which I believe was unfair to the fans of the other girls seeing how they had basically been sifted.

Oh cuz I think I see her on the first character page. Not sure.

[totoum]

Originally Posted by Kikaifan

You can ask yourself whether they should be happy and whether what was done to them and what they do as a result can be called 'right', but it's a much more interesting question when they aren't sure themselves.

Good point,maybe that's why Triela seems like such a popular character

Originally Posted by Same_Shark

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are Petrushka & Beatrice in the new season?

beatrice is in (though I doubt she'll have much of a role)petra is out,but for some reason sandro is in (according to ANN)

[Deathbringer_37]

Which I believe was unfair to the fans of the other girls seeing how they had basically been sifted.

Yeah, that was kinda strange...not that the new characters are not interesting but she completely disregarded the fan favorites for almost 2 volumes. At least she´s turning her attention the the whole group again, the latest chapter is about Triela/Hilshire.

[MakubeX2]

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=puT55b0Gkpg



Total of 14 Ep + 1 OVA according to this PV from C73.

[Deathbringer_37]

Was that japanese song heard in the background part of the trailer?

Because it felt extremely out of place.

[G. Zeus]

Originally Posted by Deathbringer_37

Was that japanese song heard in the background part of the trailer?

Because it felt extremely out of place.

Aye.

Just to refresh my memory, I just visited the website of the first animated series and compared it with the new stuff (the video and the images at the new site). As a rule, I try to keep my expectations low to avoid disappointments but the first series was delivered so well, I can't help but worry about the second season.

Originally Posted by Deathbringer_37

You gotta see that this was only a presentation of the new art that this series will use, the fact that they´re smiling here as little influence on the most serious/sad part of the plot.

Yeah, I'm probably being paranoid. Still, what I've seen so far has been giving me shoujo impressions...
*shudders*


[EDIT]:
Notice that Angelica appears only in the ad for the manga and she's is nowhere to be seen in the trailer for the new anime. I guess it's possible that they'll actually keep her dead, maybe dragging her out for flashbacks only. Her death in the first series was dramatic enough, perhaps even Yu Aida wanted to let her rest in peace.

[totoum]

Originally Posted by G. Zeus

[EDIT]:
Notice that Angelica appears only in the ad for the manga and she's is nowhere to be seen in the trailer for the new anime. I guess it's possible that they'll actually keep her dead, maybe dragging her out for flashbacks only. Her death in the first series was dramatic enough, perhaps even Yu Aida wanted to let her rest in peace.

yeah,that's interesting,she's appeared in the concept art and there's even a voice actress for her.That was the basis of her being alive,the trailer does put that back in question.

[ZODDGUTS]

Originally Posted by Deathbringer_37

Was that japanese song heard in the background part of the trailer?

Because it felt extremely out of place.

Yeah that was the very thing I thought when I saw the trailer hope it isn't used for either the OP or ED.... or anypoint during the series.

[Omniscient]

Originally Posted by MakubeX2

Total of 14 Ep + 1 OVA according to this PV from C73.

Hobby Channel's report indicates 13 episodes + 2 on DVD for 15 total.

[darkchibi07]

Hey, did anyone check out the first episode?