Pion… something tells me that the creators watched Yozakura Quartet before creating this series, because she has the hair of one of the characters and the scarf of another one of the characters.
In any case, this episode really fleshed out the world in which this series takes place, which coincidentally is the best part of this series. As a result, we had an episode ful of creativity. I like how the fcreators used the fairies in order to describe luck. This also was the first episode which made me feel like humanity has actually declines: we saw ruins, it got confirmed that electricity is scarce. I didn’t really get that idea from the hordes of manga fans of two episodes ago.
Bizarrely enough, despite the creativity in the setting here, I can’t seem to find much inspiration to write about. I mean, this series has its excellent backdrop, but does it have something beyond that? Its dialogue perhaps? It’s definitely well written, but so far the best thing that the dialogue has done is flesh out and detail the setting. Kou Otani’s soundtrack also is great, but lacks depth, so there also isn’t much to talk about there. The visuals as well: this show has a unique visual direction, but beyond that there also isn’t much interesting to say about the animation. Hmm…
Rating: 4/8 (Good)
drop or swap maybe?
Jinrui is moderately entertaining, but it seems to have lost something that made it’s surreal humor so effective in the first episodes.
If you plan on swapping, I think Kokoro Connect might indeed offer much more to talk about.
Woah, what !!!, there is a lot to talk about, starting from Pion (who is clearly an cat-girl android) where did an android come from and why was she looking for that Oyage thing (who is a skeleton with a huge plastic pin shoved into its chest .. vampire !!?).
And those slimy colorful alien-like life forms that the Fairy mistook for water (because they drink them !!!) .. hmmm … on a second thought .. maybe it wasn’t a mistake .. never trusted those little creepy suckers … and i think their “manual” has a lot more to it than just “the more you have of us the more luck we bring you” .. Watashi didn’t get into trouble until she found that metamorphosed fairy who led her into the bloby things death trap .. i wouldn’t call that good luck … why would they say when there are 20f (fairy density .. lols) that you are in a perilous yet somehow safe situation .. how can it be perilous and safe at the same time .. also it’s damn funny they used shonen manga references for their manual .. but the pancake one gets the prize (0f + skyscraper = pancake XD)
Also, why didn’t Watashi recognize the UNESCO manager (who is clearly the same manager guy from the fairy factory arc), and it also seemed she is hearing for the first time about the Human monument project even though Y told her about it before (did the fairies manipulate her memory in some way or is this happening sometime before the factory arc .. i’m sure this point means something.
Also there is the monoliths .. which in fact feel kinda like the black monoliths from Space Odyssey 2001 .. those sent by aliens to advance the human race … and since we have alien-like creatures involved here (those slimy things .. and maybe even the fairies themselves XD)i think those monoliths will also play a big role in the next episode (if i got that right, the black blob merged with the monolith and transformed into that mechanical dog somehow when it got electricity from the plug it put into the wall XD).
This is clearly a “setup” episode like the the first “fairies subculture” episode in which they ended up trapped inside the fairy-made manga .. the real fun starts the next episode.
Also .. the comments asking to drop the show are quite surprising .. really guys, were you awake while watching the show !!!?
The stories are being told in reverse order. This is the first time she’s heard about the Human Monument Project so is set before the other stories. What happens here will probably explain why she was so cynical in the last arc.
I guess eventually we will find out why she had to have her hair cut 🙂
Anyway, I’m really enjoying this show. It has a very dry sense of humour which personally I like.
Also .. this is obviously a MMO parody arc. Those blobs are pretty much like the first level monsters you fight in alot of those ‘free to play’ anime themed MMO’s
…I didn’t see this as an MMO parody whatsoever. Does your analogy extend past the existence of the goo creatures? If anything I assumed they were just some kind of technology left behind by the fallen civilization in that city.
But at any rate, I feel Psgels may be approaching this series in a way differently than it has intended. The show is much, much more about its themes than it is about setting, characters, and plot. Those elements are all there of course, but most of the enjoyment from the series (IMO) comes from analyzing the messages inherent in the surreal imagery, Sensei’s commentary, and the bizarre (and hilarious) series of events that plays out each story arc.
And that said, there was less to work with in this episode than the last four. It’ll be best to see where this story goes now that the groundwork has been laid.
Psgels, I believe you enjoy the most to review the series plot progression and devices, and maybe that’s why you’re having problems with this series. Just like Kino no Tabi, Jinrui is focused on it’s setting and imaginary and both the characters and plot work in pro of said areas.
In that sense this is my favorite episode so far. Although I agree that a pragmatic premise could help this series.