Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory - Episode 10 Discussion / Poll

[Solace]

Welcome to the discussion thread for Full Metal Panic Invisible Victory, Episode 10.

Please note it isn't the end of this cour. Episode 11 and Episode 12 will be broadcasted at a later date.

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[Klashikari]

8 animation directors for this episode, which was hardly intense in term of action, so it is safe to say the production collapse happened around episode 6 at the very latest and they couldn't never handle it.
Unfortunately, the aftermath is pretty obvious: it is the worst episode in term of production value, and the storyboard couldn't really make up for it. In fact, I found Kaname's scene and the very last one pretty underwhelming in term of execution and flow.

At the very least, they covered the key parts here. Bonus point for not skipping Tessa's anguish about the sacrifices she went through.

[amehmood16]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

8 animation directors for this episode, which was hardly intense in term of action, so it is safe to say the production collapse happened around episode 6 at the very latest and they couldn't never handle it.
Unfortunately, the aftermath is pretty obvious: it is the worst episode in term of production value, and the storyboard couldn't really make up for it. In fact, I found Kaname's scene and the very last one pretty underwhelming in term of execution and flow.

At the very least, they covered the key parts here. Bonus point for not skipping Tessa's anguish about the sacrifices she went through.

Episode 7 looked very good though although I read somewhere that it was mostly Production IG staff doing that episode so it doesn't really count as Xebec. I'm hoping the production team has moved all the best people to the finale special and that's why the quality has suffered the last few episodes. It makes sense because after an episode like this you wouldn't normally expect the studio to announce a big special so soon. This episode didn't even have any notable staff or ADs on it at all.

[Drake]

I was so stoked for this new season when I heard they where making it happen. Now I really wish they hadn't bothered. The numerous recaps (only 10 eps in) and shockingly bad animation/production quality has made it a disappointing watch so far...

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by amehmood16

Episode 7 looked very good though although I read somewhere that it was mostly Production IG staff doing that episode so it doesn't really count as Xebec. I'm hoping the production team has moved all the best people to the finale special and that's why the quality has suffered the last few episodes. It makes sense because after an episode like this you wouldn't normally expect the studio to announce a big special so soon. This episode didn't even have any notable staff or ADs on it at all.

The thing is that those "specials" are actually episode 11 and episode 12 that were supposed to air like the other episodes. They had to announce them as "specials" because they don't have any regular TV slot for them, so they needed slots that weren't taken by some regular shows or ongoing series too.

It has to be said they could have kept them for the BD, but they didn't. So they definitely tried their best to do some damage control, which is commendable considering TV channels are pretty strict when it comes to slots (hence why you very rarely see postposed episodes without any recap taking its place in anime broadcasting).

Please note that considering how the quality has deteriorated over time, I'm afraid it is a schedule issue that took its toll on the whole production process. As such, it is very unlikely they deliberately put their grunts for this episode so they have their "top gun" for the last 2. It could happen, but this would be an unusual instance.

[amehmood16]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

The thing is that those "specials" are actually episode 11 and episode 12 that were supposed to air like the other episodes. They had to announce them as "specials" because they don't have any regular TV slot for them, so they needed slots that weren't taken by some regular shows or ongoing series too.

It has to be said they could have kept them for the BD, but they didn't. So they definitely tried their best to do some damage control, which is commendable considering TV channels are pretty strict when it comes to slots (hence why you very rarely see postposed episodes without any recap taking its place in anime broadcasting).

Please note that considering how the quality has deteriorated over time, I'm afraid it is a schedule issue that took its toll on the whole production process. As such, it is very unlikely they deliberately put their grunts for this episode so they have their "top gun" for the last 2. It could happen, but this would be an unusual instance.

My rationale for putting their best team on the finale is that considering how the last couple episodes have deteriorated in quality, one could say the production would be too exhausted at this point to even consider finishing the last two episodes in a timely manner. I certainly wouldn't expect them to even get these episodes out given the quality of the most recent one and would expect some kind of hiatus. Recent example is BEATLESS which is postponing its last 4 episodes by 3 months to maintain quality or Marchen Madchen which is postponing its last two episodes till December because they're having big production issues. The team should know that these last two episodes are very important for the sales of the plastic model given the highly-anticipated debut of ARX-8 and that many people might be on the fence about purchasing the BD. If they produce a well-animated finale it can help a lot.

[Mad Pierrot]

Animation aside, this sure was one weird episode. Fanservice, upbeat music, a typical military man insulting his trainees with censorship beeps and Kalinin doing... that.

[serenade_beta]

A N O T H E R break next week? Geez...

[amehmood16]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

A N O T H E R break next week? Geez...

They have run out of timeslots because of the 2 recaps so they literally cannot air the last two episodes on the usual day. The first available timeslot was 7/18 for AT-X station which isn't too bad all things considered. You're waiting a little over two weeks for 2 episodes rather than 1 episode like it has previously been.

[serenade_beta]

Not that I've watched a person burn before, but I don't think the flames on a burning person just puffs out like that naturally...

Originally Posted by amehmood16

They have run out of timeslots because of the 2 recaps so they literally cannot air the last two episodes on the usual day. The first available timeslot was 7/18 for AT-X station which isn't too bad all things considered. You're waiting a little over two weeks for 2 episodes rather than 1 episode like it has previously been.

50 rupees that there will be at least 2 more breaks before this anime ends...
(Assuming having so much breaks doesn't cause the anime not finish airing like a certain similar anime...)

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Ooof...this episode is rather painful to watch. The animated handrawn objects look and move quite clunky. It's to the point where the CG models actually helps the episode to look better.

Aside from budget, I'm really curious what caused this production problems. I don't think Xebec is known to have this kind of issues. Their Fafner mecha series are always excellent and they didn't encounter any notable problems with Keijo!!!!!!! either, right? I don't know about Clockwork Planet but I heard it looks good. So, why are they struggling with this title in particular? I mean, it's about to have three recap episodes for 1-cour show. Wow, that's bad and the quality of this episode is like an additional kick to the balls. I swear the handdrawn characters in Argevollen's worst episode look a lot better than this episode and Arge was a low-budget Xebec mecha show back in 2014.

[Yu Ominae]

The last part where Kalinin gutted Gavin with a bullet is intense, just like the novel.

[Illsteir]

Well, that's a lot of drop in quality. I can't help but laugh at some of the serious scenes due to how off-model some of the characters are. The reveal about Kalinin's betrayal was hit the most. It's supposed to be intense but the bad animation took me out of my immersion.

Discussion about the production woes aside, did you guys catch the Gundam reference this episode?

[HunterSeeker]

Those who doesn't understand the pace/scenerios from this episode didn't read the original novel I guess, because it's exactly how it went: TDD crew reffirms their target is to capture Leo (though they doesn't know Amalgam's structure changed already), Chidori regains her will to live as she found out Sousuke is still out there for her, and Sousuke starts his rehab for the future. The title basically says it all: they're all moving forward for the future. (The colonel was a character from a short story who kept annoying Tessa with other old guys, and yes he's as badmouth as Mao)
The extra shot from the warehouse already proved the ARX-8 Kalinin carried away is a fake.
We gotta wait for another two weeks for the last two episodes and (if any) announcement of sequels, though I guess it won't happen soon.

And, I'm feeling sick at people who cry out bad animations EVERY F-ING EPISODE or comparing the quality with KyoAni. The models grow even more off than the past episodes yes, but I'm not complaining that much since they doesn't totally off and the writings are still on-spot. Gatoh also mentioned the lack of budget so we should have prepared for that.
And let's not talk about how the Japanese anime industry walking towards a total collapse for overworking; it's a time when bigger titles like GGO and FELE also suffer from delays and others.

[amehmood16]

Originally Posted by HunterSeeker

Those who doesn't understand the pace/scenerios from this episode didn't read the original novel I guess, because it's exactly how it went: TDD crew reffirms their target is to capture Leo (though they doesn't know Amalgam's structure changed already), Chidori regains her will to live as she found out Sousuke is still out there for her, and Sousuke starts his rehab for the future. The title basically says it all: they're all moving forward for the future. (The colonel was a character from a short story who kept annoying Tessa with other old guys, and yes he's as badmouth as Mao)
The extra shot from the warehouse already proved the ARX-8 Kalinin carried away is a fake.
We gotta wait for another two weeks for the last two episodes and (if any) announcement of sequels, though I guess it won't happen soon.

And, I'm feeling sick at people who cry out bad animations EVERY F-ING EPISODE or comparing the quality with KyoAni. The models grow even more off than the past episodes yes, but I'm not complaining that much since they doesn't totally off and the writings are still on-spot. Gatoh also mentioned the lack of budget so we should have prepared for that.
And let's not talk about how the Japanese anime industry walking towards a total collapse for overworking; it's a time when bigger titles like GGO and FELE also suffer from delays and others.

It's hard not to have high expectations when Kyoto Animation of all studios did the last season. I agree it gets really annoying comparing the quality but this kind of thing happens unfortunately. That being said, TSR wasn't flawless either. IV has plenty of good things going for it that TSR didn't so it's all a mixed bag. Each FMP series has good things and bad things about it. I do hope they at least work on polishing the episodes for the BD release or something. This episode had major issues, even if the writing was on point.

[Mad Pierrot]

Was it just the manga or anime removed a certain scene from the novel?

Spoiler for scene:

Nami briefly interacts with with Kaname before going to the afterlife

[dasvik]

Originally Posted by Mad Pierrot

Was it just the manga or anime removed a certain scene from the novel?

Spoiler for scene:

Nami briefly interacts with with Kaname before going to the afterlife

It's in the novel too. I actually wanted to post it at some point regarding a certain debate, but changed my mind.

Anyway, here it is, fan-translated ofc, so phrasing may seem a bit rough here and there:

Spoiler for Kaname and Nami:

There was a voice. From far away. From a place under the sky.
To start with, she was in a shallow sleep. The girl's attention was being pulled away. It was returning to the sound of waves breaking. In that direction was a dim echo, a dim voice.
Her surroundings were absentmindedness and light blending together. From there floated a faint fragment of information, with different reasons and sounds unchanging.
She spun around from the fragment. That voice was faintly disappearing. The girl made an effort to pick it up. She knew that voice.
Wanting to meet with him. That was what the voice was expressing. At first, the girl didn't know the meaning of that voice. But she immediately understood. To leave that place with him, in other words it was about him.
The girl indistinctly assumed whose voice it was. It was her own, but at the same time, it wasn't. She had never met the owner of that voice. She would never be able to meet them from then on.
At the same time, in a different space-time – it was different, what world was that? – she saw the man she wanted to be with. Meeting him once, there was a person with that fate.
Fate.
How they were speaking across that strange territory, the two people did not know. And then the voice sounded again.
However, separating from him-
The voice, strictly speaking, did not abide by the man's concept of 'Time'. At the same time, a 'farewell' was also an 'I'll be leaving you.'
"Farewell? Why?" the girl asked.
"Because I am dead. How unfortunate. How sad. No one could have replaced you."
"Is he alright? Where is he?"
"I don't know. Namsak. With a deep wound."
Not only that, the girl knew more than that. He was continuing to fight, he was alone, and he, probably, was searching for her.
Her chest ached. She wanted him to stop, but at the same time she didn't want him to stop. What should she do? The girl did not know.
"He was able to meet you. So that guy is special?"
"I don't think so. You know right? He is only a normal human."
"Even then, wanting to see me, also meeting you. And that girl. And that guy."
"That is not a strange thing. It is strange to have met you."
"That might not be so. It is useless to say sorry, right? But I'm sorry."
"It's alright. If it was a different place, there would also be a different result. I have to go. There's also that whisper."
"I understand."
"Goodbye. But one last thing."
"What?"
"If you meet him one more time, please forgive him. Be sure to hug him."
"I can't promise that..."
"I know. But I think that it would be best. Even thinking about it is good."
And then the voice became farther. And then it could no longer be heard...

[HunterSeeker]

Originally Posted by dasvik

It's in the novel too. I actually wanted to post it at some point regarding a certain debate, but changed my mind.

Anyway, here it is, fan-translated ofc, so phrasing may seem a bit rough here and there:

Spoiler for Kaname and Nami:

There was a voice. From far away. From a place under the sky.
To start with, she was in a shallow sleep. The girl's attention was being pulled away. It was returning to the sound of waves breaking. In that direction was a dim echo, a dim voice.
Her surroundings were absentmindedness and light blending together. From there floated a faint fragment of information, with different reasons and sounds unchanging.
She spun around from the fragment. That voice was faintly disappearing. The girl made an effort to pick it up. She knew that voice.
Wanting to meet with him. That was what the voice was expressing. At first, the girl didn't know the meaning of that voice. But she immediately understood. To leave that place with him, in other words it was about him.
The girl indistinctly assumed whose voice it was. It was her own, but at the same time, it wasn't. She had never met the owner of that voice. She would never be able to meet them from then on.
At the same time, in a different space-time – it was different, what world was that? – she saw the man she wanted to be with. Meeting him once, there was a person with that fate.
Fate.
How they were speaking across that strange territory, the two people did not know. And then the voice sounded again.
However, separating from him-
The voice, strictly speaking, did not abide by the man's concept of 'Time'. At the same time, a 'farewell' was also an 'I'll be leaving you.'
"Farewell? Why?" the girl asked.
"Because I am dead. How unfortunate. How sad. No one could have replaced you."
"Is he alright? Where is he?"
"I don't know. Namsak. With a deep wound."
Not only that, the girl knew more than that. He was continuing to fight, he was alone, and he, probably, was searching for her.
Her chest ached. She wanted him to stop, but at the same time she didn't want him to stop. What should she do? The girl did not know.
"He was able to meet you. So that guy is special?"
"I don't think so. You know right? He is only a normal human."
"Even then, wanting to see me, also meeting you. And that girl. And that guy."
"That is not a strange thing. It is strange to have met you."
"That might not be so. It is useless to say sorry, right? But I'm sorry."
"It's alright. If it was a different place, there would also be a different result. I have to go. There's also that whisper."
"I understand."
"Goodbye. But one last thing."
"What?"
"If you meet him one more time, please forgive him. Be sure to hug him."
"I can't promise that..."
"I know. But I think that it would be best. Even thinking about it is good."
And then the voice became farther. And then it could no longer be heard...

I thought this part will be used as the basis of the compilation between 8 and 9, but I didn't manage watch that so I don't know if they made it so.
This subplot may have been cut by Gatoh for the sake of simplicity, but to me it's kinda important regarding to something Leonard said to Sousuke later on.

[dasvik]

Originally Posted by HunterSeeker

I thought this part will be used as the basis of the compilation between 8 and 9, but I didn't manage watch that so I don't know if they made it so.
This subplot may have been cut by Gatoh for the sake of simplicity, but to me it's kinda important regarding to something Leonard said to Sousuke later on.

They didn't animate it in the compilation either. I guess it could be for the sake of simplicity or because it would just confuse the viewers who didn't read the novels. It's not exactly simple to explain whispered-stuff via images.

[Ghostfriendly]

The alligator was a bit much, I don't even want an alternate universe where our boy is alligator chow. And didn't he need to survive by staring it down, or there wasn't enough time for that? The guy on fire instantly going out was a bit odd too. Nice to see the pressure Tessa is under, but I would have appreciated the conversation discussed in the previous posts more than Kaname's midnight swim. Hope next week is a bit more exciting.