AnoHana - Episode 6 Discussion / Poll

[Reckoner]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

I find it annoying because I can tell that it's lowering the effectiveness of scenes like this for me. I don't like being desensitized to scenes that are clearly intended to be emotionally powerful, but it can't be helped because I'm just growing numb to it all.

I agree with your assessment that the crying lessens the lets say "emotional impact" in the sense it doesn't invoke any desire to ball your eyes out like it did in episode 1. However, I'm actually wondering if that is what they're going for in the other episodes. Couldn't it also be possible that the crying is supposed to invoke a sense of being uncomfortable?

I mean looking at it from Jintan's perspective, he always becomes upset, annoyed, and really uncomfortable with her crying as was showcased exactly in this episode. That is practically what much of the audience feels as well I would think.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by CWW

The classroom scene was definitely a d'awww moment for me and I normally can't stand awkward scenes, but as you may have been aware, I'm a little biased towards Jinta. :P

So I was partially right about the motto of the story is related to not forgetting your loved ones (be they dead or alive) and the memories you shared together. Menma's father is pretty heartless in that regard.

He's no more heartless than Menma for wanting her mother to forget her. He saw his wife destroying herself by dwelling on Menma. He did what he could to care for the living.

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

Thank you Jintan for the best line of the episode. "There's no doubt. She's definitely a virgin." Then getting smoked by the can .

Lines. Don't forget "She's got a love hotel face".

But really good job by Jintan in stepping up for Anaru. Considering he wasn't even able to get himself to go to school before, standing up and making that fuss took a lot of guts. Could feel how difficult this was for him, but he kept on going anyways. Couldn't let Anaru just sit there suffering without at least trying to do something. Though geeze every time he tries to go to school something like this happens .

It'd be funny if the rumors become "the reason he didn't step out of his house for months is that she exhausted him".


BTW, is it me, or did he mention "glasses" several times? Does he have a thing for them?

[Dr. Casey]

Prediction: Menma's wish was for all the Super Peace Busters to remain together forever. The series will end with Jintan, Anaru, Poppo, Yukiatsu, and Tsuruko turning into ghosts so that they can be with Menma forever in the afterlife. I think that would be a touching ending...

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Reckoner

I agree with your assessment that the crying lessens the lets say "emotional impact" in the sense it doesn't invoke any desire to ball your eyes out like it did in episode 1. However, I'm actually wondering if that is what they're going for in the other episodes. Couldn't it also be possible that the crying is supposed to invoke a sense of being uncomfortable?

I mean looking at it from Jintan's perspective, he always becomes upset, annoyed, and really uncomfortable with her crying as was showcased exactly in this episode. That is practically what much of the audience feels as well I would think.

That's an interesting perspective, I admit.

If the crying scenes are intended to annoy the viewer (and hence make him or her relate more to Jinta's perspective), then they've become quite effective for me, lol.

[james0246]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Actually, I find that debatable. Menma is getting so caught up in her emotions that she's frequently failing to apply calm critical thinking to how to overcome, or at least ameliorate, her current plight. Why didn't she think to check her own Diary for a clue as to what her wish might be, for example?

In Episode 5, when Poppo is desperately trying to see her, why doesn't she think of doing something to make her notice her? By this point, she knows that Poppo can feel her presence when she touches him, so it shouldn't be that hard for her to make her presence known to him (mind you, this is as much Jinta's error as Menma's).

That has less to do with Menma, and more to do with the writers/director refusing to answer whether Menma is a ghost or not (in which case, you can argue that all the characters have been dumbed down to facilitate this mystery (why doesn't Jintan, at any time since episode 01, just have Menma move a tea cup in front of his friends?)). If Menma did "do something", then we would know she has a physical presence (or at least a presence that can affect the physical world), which in turn would answer the question of the supernatural.

That being said, the entire scene was supposed to reflect Menma's frustrated impotence at not being able to adequately address her problem. In other words, for this scene in particular, for the emotional drama to actually have depth, she could not do anything.

Originally Posted by Triple_R

These are things that even a 10 year old is generally smart enough to think of, and Menma has shown in other scenes a capacity for smart thinking.

So I do see where her emotionality is hindering her progress.

I'm unclear which 10 year olds you've dealt with, but whenever I have dealt with young children, they have never been as cool and calm as you are making them out to be...I guess we just roll in different elementary-schooler circuits .

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Crying in general is a coping mechanism (except when people are moved to tears of joy, which I don't think is the case for Menma).

In some cases, it's perfectly justified and possibly even helpful. But as a person's only coping mechanism, it is usually more hurtful than helpful, as it can get in the way of more practical solutions.

Firstly, this entire line of argument relies solely on the possibility that Menma is real. If she is just a mental construct of Jintan's, then her entire disposition is reflective of his own psychosis, which in turn means he wants Menma to cry so that he can, in turn, change himself to help her, which in turn will actually be helping himself (a kind of reverse psychology, if you will).

Secondly, if she is a ghost, it could be said that Menma's "practical solution" was to seek help from Jintan. She clearly cannot solve the problem herself (she is, more or less, 10 after all), so she has approached her leader for help. Since then, she has tried to help him solve her mystery, even if her help is more humorous than actually helpful. (It could even be said that she uses her crying as a tool to force Jintan to help her...)

Whatever the case, and to paraphrase something Tiny said last discussion thread, it is Menma's crying that moves the plot. The mystery of her existence will not be solved by Poppo's tomfoolery, of Yukiatsu's obsession, or Tsuruko's cold logic, or Anaru's big breasts. It will be solved in the discussion (and crying) between Jintan and Menma as they both attempt to break free of the stresses that bind them.

Originally Posted by Triple_R

I'm not making any such judgment. Menma's frequent crying is excessive even for a 10 year old, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Triple_R

At a drama level, Okada is overplaying her hand by having Menma cry so much. For some viewers and myself, these scenes are losing the effectiveness that they should have because they're being overused.

Fair enough. I disagree, but fair enough.

[FlareKnight]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

He's no more heartless than Menma for wanting her mother to forget her. He saw his wife destroying herself by dwelling on Menma. He did what he could to care for the living.


Lines. Don't forget "She's got a love hotel face".

I'll admit he did a good job with that line too . Not bad for a speech he just came up with on the spot.

It'd be funny if the rumors become "the reason he didn't step out of his house for months is that she exhausted him".

BTW, is it me, or did he mention "glasses" several times? Does he have a thing for them?

It would be pretty comical and certainly possible with them leaving the room together.

Funny enough was just rewatching that scene and noticed him bring up glasses a few times. Could just be that he was running out of ideas of things to say so he just kept falling back on glasses. They are a pretty obvious thing to focus on visually. But think your theory on it is more entertaining .

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by james0246

That has less to do with Menma, and more to do with the writers/director refusing to answer whether Menma is a ghost or not (in which case, you can argue that all the characters have been dumbed down to facilitate this mystery (why doesn't Jintan, at any time since episode 01, just have Menma move a tea cup in front of his friends?)). If Menma did "do something", then we would know she has a physical presence (or at least a presence that can affect the physical world), which in turn would answer the question of the supernatural.

That being said, the entire scene was supposed to reflect Menma's impotent frustration at not being able to adequately address her problem.

But the thing is that she isn't impotent to adequately address her problem here, as it wouldn't be hard for her to demonstrate her presence to Poppo.

I'm willing to let it slide that characters are being dumbed down in order to avoid definitively answering the question of if Menma is a ghost or not. However, when that dumbing down results in other issues arising (such as Menma crying over something that she could address in a more practical way), I become a bit less forgiving of it.

It's not perfectly justifiable for a person to cry over something that can be easily fixed.

I'm unclear which 10 year olds you've dealt with, but whenever I have dealt with young children, they have never been as cool and calm as you are making them out to be...I guess we just roll in different elementary-schooler circuits .

I never said that Menma wasn't cool or calm enough for a 10 year old. I said that I found her crying excessive for a 10 year old. 10 year olds tend to be very active and easy to excite, but that's not the same as frequent profuse crying.

Firstly, this entire line of argument relies solely on the possibility that Menma is real.

With almost every passing episode, the alternative possibility seems increasingly unlikely to me.

[deadite]

I don't see how Yukiatsu is magically better. He is still as egotistical as ever and still spiteful of Jintan s seen in this episode. The only difference is at least he accepts that there is something wrong with him.

Also Imagine if Anaru and Jinta get expelled. I mean a girl who is rumored to be hooker leaving before class ends with some guy who never goes to school sends all kinds of signals.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by deadite

Also Imagine if Anaru and Jinta get expelled. I mean a girl who is rumored to be hooker leaving before class ends with some guy who never goes to school sends all kinds of signals.

LOL. It's a Japanese public school. Not gonna happen...though it would be funny, in a way.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Originally Posted by Pellissier

For example, "Kore wa Zombie desu ka?".

Spoiler for space:

1 time version

7 minutes version

Just to clarify the origin, I believe it was in Toradora episode 7 where:

Spoiler for Toradora:

Taiga pokes Ryuuji's mom's breasts with chopsticks because she was jealous at the size of them and Ryuuji's mom responds by saying that Taiga is "Ecchi, Sketchy, One-Touchey".

[karice67]

^
For anime, perhaps (personally, this is the first time I've heard of it).

It's actually a Japanese word game that goes back at least one generation (Japanese link if anyone wants to have a gander). The whole idea is to finish the phrase with a word ending in "-chi", and possibly adding a rhyming line.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

It's not perfectly justifiable for a person to cry over something that can be easily fixed.

I have to giggle for a moment because of this statement. This sounds exactly like something an irritated adult would say to a little kid.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Solace

I have to giggle for a moment because of this statement. This sounds exactly like something an irritated adult would say to a little kid.

I guess it is kind of funny how much this is making me nerdrage.

I admittedly have pretty specific tastes when it comes to drama. Okada is often very good at appealing to those tastes (such as in True Tears and Wandering Son, and most of Anohana), so I guess I just find it a bit disappointing when something of her's doesn't hit the right note for me.

But maybe James and/or Reckoner will be right. I hope so, anyway.

[Haru~]

Nice episode with--
Jintan whiteknighting.
Manma doing manly cool face.
Ecchi sketchi Wantacchi.

[DragoZERO]

Originally Posted by Dr. Casey

Prediction: Menma's wish was for all the Super Peace Busters to remain together forever. The series will end with Jintan, Anaru, Poppo, Yukiatsu, and Tsuruko turning into ghosts so that they can be with Menma forever in the afterlife. I think that would be a touching ending...

I don't think a mass suicide would be a nice ending.

[MeoTwister5]

If this goes Sixth Sense I'm going to shoot myself. Others may also die.

[BetoJR]

At least I'm safe, across the Pacific and more than half a continent away from you, eh?

[coderlan]

Did the ED somehow partially changed?

[Blaat]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

If this goes Sixth Sense I'm going to shoot myself. Others may also die.

Good thing you're in a medical school then.

[Guardian Enzo]

All this talk of Sixth Sense endings and nosebleed theories has me in fear of a plotquake now. I hope Okada-san doesn't go either of those extreme routes, because that would mean my interpretation of what this series is all about has been totally wrong...