Mushishinbougatari, pt. 2

by dm00

Or maybe that should be “Araraginko”.

In the maligned episode 10 of Bakemonogatari, at about 7:57 in the episode, Mushishi fans can hear that familiar three chord descent on the piano, interweaved with a jazzy tune (Mushishi meets Brubeck’s Time Out), as they’re ascending the steps to the shrine once more.

I'd already been thinking that Araragi's one-eyed look reminded me of Ginko

Oshinbo may have the mushi-mastery, but Araragi is the one who keeps trying to solve people’s supernaturally-induced problems.

Mushishinbougatari

by dm00

(Updated 9 Sep 2009, see below.)

Bakemonogatari 9 started and I thought I’d stumbled on a lost episode of Mushishi

I walked ten thousand miles, ten thousand miles to see you...

(sometimes that’s an animated gif of the opening few seconds of the episode, if not, here’s a link to something that might work better.)

This episode (the first of the Nadeko Snake arc) was a visual feast — from the bamboo as Araragi and Suruga climb to the shrine…

And every gasp of breath I grabbed at just to find you....

I climbed up every hill to get to you, I wondered ancient lands to hold just you.

…to the bibliophile-pandering bookstore porn

Graphite to Newcastle — Shangri-la 4

by dm00

Kuniko (from the Shangri-la novel) disapproves of fanboy-science

Someday, someone will make science fiction in which economics is the science.  I don’t think this is that day.

Studio 4C’s “Junk Town”

by dm00

The other day I came across a 15-minute film, Junk Town (Japanese title: Garakuta no machi), from Studio 4C. It’s so obscure, it doesn’t seem to have an animenewsnetwork encyclopedia entry, yet.  It’s directed by Nobutaka Ito (wo worked on Kemonozume, Kimagure Robot, and was animation director on several of the later episodes of Samurai Champloo). It’s available on the Deep Imagination DVD.

Stylistically, it looks a bit like Tekkonkinkreet or the Studio-4C contribution to Gotham Knight, as well as some of the music videos that Studio-4C has created.

The villain?

Brew! Brew! Fight the powah!

by dm00

Ironically, "Moya-simon" is the spelling Del Rey plans to use for the Moyashimon manga

The Anime Grand Prix continues (earlier post here). This year, Oryzae was nominated again (and largely coasted through the initial elimination round on a “brew and memories” campaign, in which lastarial threatened us with apocalyptic visions of a fermentation-free alternate world.

Time of Eve episode 3: “Koji and Rina”, the lovers

 

The real star of the show --- yet another of this season's Nagis

 

By dm00

Episode three of Time of Eve (Eve no jikan) is now streaming at reformed pirates Crunchyroll. (DVDs soon, please. Crunchyroll just whets the appetite.)

As with the previous two episodes, this episode introduces another pair of regulars at the Time of Eve Cafe — this time, the lovers, Rina and Koji.

 

PDA

 

Once again, there’s a surprise twist used to deliver the episode’s “lesson” — even Masaki gains a bit more sympathy for the android point of view.  And once again, we’re treated to another surprising implication of Asimov’s three laws.

Nagi has a preternatural sense of hearing, or perhaps she has listening devices scattered throughout the cafe.  She also takes an impish delight in introducing Rikuo and Masaki to new horizons.  She needs an episode of her own — Bartender with a science-fiction twist.

Watch for the cameo of Pale Cocoon playing in the background on a TV.

 

Because you can't have too much Nagi

 

I’ve enjoyed this director’s work since I saw Pale Cocoon (which has, as an extra, the first appearance of this cafe setting in the marvellous short Aquatic Language).  He has a deft touch with science fiction themes.

Sadly, it will be four months before the next installment.  The series is slated to have six episodes total.