2011-07-16, 10:56 | Link #481 |
Banned
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Well I gave Sacred Seven another episode to hook me because I trusted it would, so I figure I might as well afford Mawaru Penguin Drum the same chance and allow it a second episode to try and get me on board. What a difference a second episode can make sometimes.
Mind you starting off with a shot of a toilet was not at all what I was expecting and seemed to bode poorly at the outset. As about anyone in the world watching this show could have expected it doesn't take long into the episode before we are treated to that transformation sequence again (the whole thing....), but this time the two brothers are actually formally given the quest to get the Penguindrum along with instructions on where to start. HUGE! Honest to god that's all I needed to get into this show, just one clear goal. I suppose having to wait until episode 02 for it isn't terribly bad and my fears that the show would meander were entirely mis-founded. Couldn't be much happier at this revelation. Another thing I liked about this episode and that was a huge improvement over episode 1 for me is that we get a little more reflection from our two brothers and find that they are indeed very aware of how bizarre the situation has gotten with Himari's resurrection. That kind of makes it a little easier for me to get into the weirdness of this shows premise that we have a grounding factor in our main characters such as that. Some of the humour in this episode was actually pretty amusing. I'm not normally a huge fan of slapstick, but the stuff with the penguins on the train got some chuckles and our brown haired bro using his handsomeness to diffuse the situation (complete with roses in the background) got a big laugh from this admitted comedy snob. One other thing I noted is that while Ikuhara has a clear style that permeates this show (especially during the transformation and subway sequences), it's not an overly distracting style (like say Shinbo's during the Madoka fight I saw in episode 02 last night) even at it's most prevalent. I can appreciate the way the backgrounds are done without having it distract from the actual dialogue or plotline of the episode. Just an overall much better episode than the first one for me. I barely felt that sense of detachment and like I was going to have to familiarize myself with the director to get any of this. By the end of the second episode there's even a subplot developing with Ringo turning out to be stalking someone and going to great lengths to try to impress him. I actually want to see where this is going now, whereas at the end of the first episode I was all kinds of ready to not bother anymore. |
2011-07-16, 11:58 | Link #482 | ||||||||
Licensed Hunter-a-holic
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35
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Really happy to see you enjoying this Kaioshin
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That's a good question I think. Sure, Kanba came out looking more competent (getting the radios, using the penguins, marking them etc.) at the job (though in retrospect, maybe it's better that Sho wasn't that good. After all, they were stalking and spying on a girls school. Says a lot about what sort of character Kanba is if he's this good and ready at spying at girls ) but Sho being the more level headed and cautious of the two helps him not be too hasty. Quote:
I think it's clear that having Ikuhara so deeply involved in the making of the show helped it have a more ''united'' direction in all aspects, so that not one thing is going it's own direction. Quote:
Bah, who am I kidding? There wasn't a thing I didn't pick as a favorite in the episode! Well, the start I could've done without Quote:
duckroll I think would have a better idea of the author, but since Ikuhara is so involved in all stages of the production, I think it might be more visual based more than anything. Quote:
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Having a good, solid core story for an anime can make it excellent even with traditional or even orthodox directing style (Beast Player Erin being the prime recent example) I think what this shows is by having a director take a more active, involved role in all aspects of the anime ends up giving a more focused work. The same result can be done with competent-to-excellent team work, but both are very hard to achieve.
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2011-07-16, 12:12 | Link #483 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I definitely came out with more admiration of Sho feeling bad about what he was doing.
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2011-07-16, 15:09 | Link #487 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I have an aversion to all things fanservice but there isn't really anything all that bad here. And the humor that came out of those scenes was really well done in my opinion. It didn't just feel like a panty shot scenes for the sake of panty shots.
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2011-07-16, 15:17 | Link #488 |
Le fou, c'est moi
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Age: 34
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Seriously what the hell is a penguin drum...?
Excellent episode though. A seamless balance of comedy, mystery, stalking, crazy transformation sequence (it's almost magical girl-y), penguin spy action (what is this, Madagascar?), and even a hint of moral dilemma. Albeit, these girls have bad tastes. Shouma is so cute, can't they see that? |
2011-07-16, 15:32 | Link #492 | ||
Le fou, c'est moi
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Age: 34
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A ladies' man who's actually absolutely in love (?) with someone special is an utterly dangerous creature. He'll seduce you for everything he needs then throws you aside without sparing a thought. But I guess that only adds enticing thorns to the roses around his frame. *_* Quote:
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2011-07-16, 15:40 | Link #493 | |
Blooming on the mountain
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light....
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Nevertheless I will guess that the penguin drum is the stalker girl herself. No basis for the guess though. Just guessing.
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2011-07-16, 15:48 | Link #494 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Although I do enjoy Kanba as a character so far. There is something mysterious about him. I just want to know more about him.
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2011-07-16, 16:01 | Link #495 | |
Logician and Romantic
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Within my mind
Age: 43
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As the audience we got the advantage of the camera focusing on Shouma. But for the characters in the show itself they don't get that angle.
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2011-07-16, 16:37 | Link #496 | |
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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2011-07-16, 18:04 | Link #498 | |
Reaching for the Heavens
Join Date: Dec 2008
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heh, IMO I thought the diary was suspicious since it had more writing after, she stamped it (:O) (and they "stalked" her for the whole day where she never wrote in it - or maybe it wasn't shown/I never noticed..) I like the way they tell the story.
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2011-07-16, 22:48 | Link #500 |
C.C. Loyalist
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Southeast Asia
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@ Shouma
I think he'll have his chance to shine in later episodes. Kanba's just getting more of the spotlight lately... his "skills" seem more useful in what they needed to do in the second episode (specifically, spying). @letsza Thanks for the diary translation. I thought it was just a "tabuki-sensei" diary, like the stalker from Mirai Nikki xD
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drama, ikuhara, penguin, stalking, supernatural, surrealism |
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