This episode… had a really good director. This really was a sharp episode, and even though it may not have had the animation of the previous episodes with their Itano Circus and all, I really enjoyed it even more.
It’s not apparent when you just casually watch this episode, but what the direction in this episode did was put focus on the direct environment around the characters. What the creators could have easily done was show Elena peoples walking down some random road. But no, the camera stopped specifically at a flower with really well animated lightingeffects. Nick and Ao could just as easily have a conversation between the two of them, but with that sloth distracting in the background it made the scene so much livelier. And this episode was just full of these details that brought life to these surroundings, and the best thing is that you can really see that the creators put time into placing them there. They’re inspired and creative.
Beyond that, the acting in this episode was also much sharper than usual. Often the characters delivered a ton of emotion and meaning with just one line, or even a simple facial expression. Or take the point at which Elena was consumed by anger: the creators actually twice used the facial expressions of her giant robot and her helmet respectively to strengthen portraying these emotions. This was the work of someone with a lot of passion for this series.
Rating: 6.5/8 (Amazing)
Was Elena’s dolphin comment a reference to the movie The Big Blue, or something else? I saw the European version years ago, so it kind of shocked me that a modern anime would refer to it.
I wasn’t particularly impressed with this episode as much as you were man. The thing that strikes me most lately is how bland this show has been. I’m finding myself not caring about the truth anymore, maybe its just my expectations from Eureka Seven talking, but Ao, Fluer, Elena, aren’t particularly interesting to me, Truth is probably the most interesting, but so little has been revealed about what his reasons are and such. Man I guess I’m just not liking the slow pace lately, perhaps things will get rolling as the story continues. The production value and execution of this episode were as great as you say, but I’m missing the emotion I should be getting, first of all I don’t really get why those two care so much about Ao in the first place. Well, I guess thats that, maybe I’m just really tired and out of it right now.
Really? I find Truth horribly annoying, his lines kind of come straight out of Chunni favorites, and just acts kind of random crazy half the time
Yeah but at least he is out doing things. His powers are pretty awesome too.
I agree, I found it difficult for me to care about anything in this episode.
I don’t really get what the show is supposed to be. Is it plot driven or character driven? This was an episode that depended on us caring about the characters, but it really hasn’t tried very hard to develop them so far, so why would this episode be here?
On the other hand, if it’s a plot driven show, the plot so far is…. a convoluted mess. And while a few weeks back that was sort of exciting, now it’s getting annoying. A lot of plot points are made and raised and they aren’t touched upon again (for example: Secrets are supposed to recognise and attack humans? What did that plot point get us? Or, what did that whole episode get us?). It’s not that the pace is slow, it’s that a ton of things that you expect to be major plot points but the show treats them with apathy afterwards.
Yeah, starting to care less and less about the actual plot. I wished Ao actually had gone to the Americans instead.
Loved this episode. Elena was fantastic and the team bonding fully coming to the surface.
She had a number of great moments and especially her impassioned push for Ao to say what he really wanted. I already loved her character and I’m very curious about the mysteries surrounding her but this was a great moment. As well as Ivica having followed them ready to pick them up with the Triton.