One Very Happy Fangirl
Well, it's been a very happy movie month for me. "Pacific Rim" was everything I was hoping for - fantastically cool robots versus freakish monsters and a lot of much-appreciated little nods to mecha anime. It's just a fun movie. And, its particular method of piloting the robots - two, often-related pilots mind-linking to share the mental strain? Oh, that's given me some interesting ideas for future drabbles. I know a couple sets of brothers I'd love to apply such ideas to ;)
Then, there was the "Ao no/Blue Exorcist" movie. *squee!* It's not a perfect movie... and it made me sniffle like I knew it would, but it's fun, more of a favorite series, and absolutely amazing to look at.
So then, complaints first:
- None of the returning cast really get to shine in the fight scenes. The movie doesn't shirk on wild action sequences, but, ultimately, everyone is saved by deus ex machina. The characters who could have turned the tide (and looked cool while doing so) are held back by plot contrivances. Yukio breaks his arm in the opening battle. Shura is left alone to re-establish the protective barriers. Rin is somehow always too busy falling or otherwise clinging to a fast-moving opponent to actually draw his sword and use it. And, there is no Okumura Twins Combo Phoenix Attack.
- The movie establishes the divide between Rin and Yukio's philosophies but then never does anything with it. Instead, the movie hits the reset button, and only Rin remembers everything that happened. I understand this kind of decision in movies based on ongoing series, but since this came out after the anime and is (maybe?) set post-anime, they didn't need to pull the status quo card.
- When on earth does this movie take place? I've heard a bazillion theories online, and the movie itself doesn't make things any clearer. It definitely seems to be in the anime continuity since Amaimon is a hamster and Ukobach has a cameo. But then, is it set sometime after Amaimon's defeat and... "hamsterfication" in episode 17? Sandwiched in before the final arc? But, if that's so, why does Rin openly state that both he and Yukio are half-demon when Yukio was thought to be completely human until the final episodes? (And, if Yukio is half-demon, why is he such a lame one? Do his demon powers extend only to his vaguely pointy ears? Are all his demon healing abilities tied up in healing the monstrous ulcer Rin is giving him?)
- I was really hoping to see the Okumura Twins Combo Phoenix Attack again.
Now, for the good parts and random musing:
- The backgrounds are gorgeous in their detail. True Cross Academy has never looked more amazing.
- The extra animation is wonderful. Shots that would have been static on TV now have movement. Lots of subtle little gestures are added to the characters. True, some detail in the character drawings seems to have been sacrificed for all the extra movement... but I think it's worth it just to watch Rin's wild, flailing dash in the opening or Usamaro climbing all over his cage like an enraged monkey.
- I was surprised to find that I actually like the movie-original, visiting exorcist Cheng-Long Liu. I went in expecting the stereotypical, disdainful white-haired pretty boy, but Liu somehow avoids that trap with a quirky sense of humor and a refreshingly casual reaction to Rin. Also, his pretty boy status is challenged by the way he chomps on Pez candy like a cow chewing cud.
- Any flashback sequence with Shiro is a good flashback sequence, and every single one in the movie is adorable.
- I love that Mephisto spends the entire scene in his office poking small animals. It says so much about him. I also love that hamster!Amaimon bites him for it too.
- Yukio and the Pez dispenser! Why is there no animated gif or icon of Yukio and the Pez dispenser?!
- Juuzou and Kinzou cameo!!!!
- Kuro has learned to blow on his food before eating... And, he's so cute doing it!
- The baseball game! The entire scene is priceless - from Rin and Bon's rivalry and their exaggerated faces to... pretty much everything Usamaro does once they hand him a bat.
- Why do I feel like Mephisto planned everything for his own amusement? He's familiar with Usamaro's past. He's the one to suggest Rin's punishment of five days suspension. And, he's the one to then conveniently "remember" that Rin has free time to be Usamaro's caretaker.
- The graffiti! I'm sure I haven't found them all yet, but they seem to have taken every opportunity to slip in the series' romanized name or an abbreviation thereof. (Also, the movie debuted on 12-28-2012.) Every opportunity, I tell you.
- Finally, I must squeal about "the feels". Because Rin is adorable big-brothering Usamaro. *sniffles* Oh, how I wanted to believe it could be so when Rin told Yukio he wanted the three of them to be brothers. Maybe someday?
Then, there was the "Ao no/Blue Exorcist" movie. *squee!* It's not a perfect movie... and it made me sniffle like I knew it would, but it's fun, more of a favorite series, and absolutely amazing to look at.
So then, complaints first:
- None of the returning cast really get to shine in the fight scenes. The movie doesn't shirk on wild action sequences, but, ultimately, everyone is saved by deus ex machina. The characters who could have turned the tide (and looked cool while doing so) are held back by plot contrivances. Yukio breaks his arm in the opening battle. Shura is left alone to re-establish the protective barriers. Rin is somehow always too busy falling or otherwise clinging to a fast-moving opponent to actually draw his sword and use it. And, there is no Okumura Twins Combo Phoenix Attack.
- The movie establishes the divide between Rin and Yukio's philosophies but then never does anything with it. Instead, the movie hits the reset button, and only Rin remembers everything that happened. I understand this kind of decision in movies based on ongoing series, but since this came out after the anime and is (maybe?) set post-anime, they didn't need to pull the status quo card.
- When on earth does this movie take place? I've heard a bazillion theories online, and the movie itself doesn't make things any clearer. It definitely seems to be in the anime continuity since Amaimon is a hamster and Ukobach has a cameo. But then, is it set sometime after Amaimon's defeat and... "hamsterfication" in episode 17? Sandwiched in before the final arc? But, if that's so, why does Rin openly state that both he and Yukio are half-demon when Yukio was thought to be completely human until the final episodes? (And, if Yukio is half-demon, why is he such a lame one? Do his demon powers extend only to his vaguely pointy ears? Are all his demon healing abilities tied up in healing the monstrous ulcer Rin is giving him?)
- I was really hoping to see the Okumura Twins Combo Phoenix Attack again.
Now, for the good parts and random musing:
- The backgrounds are gorgeous in their detail. True Cross Academy has never looked more amazing.
- The extra animation is wonderful. Shots that would have been static on TV now have movement. Lots of subtle little gestures are added to the characters. True, some detail in the character drawings seems to have been sacrificed for all the extra movement... but I think it's worth it just to watch Rin's wild, flailing dash in the opening or Usamaro climbing all over his cage like an enraged monkey.
- I was surprised to find that I actually like the movie-original, visiting exorcist Cheng-Long Liu. I went in expecting the stereotypical, disdainful white-haired pretty boy, but Liu somehow avoids that trap with a quirky sense of humor and a refreshingly casual reaction to Rin. Also, his pretty boy status is challenged by the way he chomps on Pez candy like a cow chewing cud.
- Any flashback sequence with Shiro is a good flashback sequence, and every single one in the movie is adorable.
- I love that Mephisto spends the entire scene in his office poking small animals. It says so much about him. I also love that hamster!Amaimon bites him for it too.
- Yukio and the Pez dispenser! Why is there no animated gif or icon of Yukio and the Pez dispenser?!
- Juuzou and Kinzou cameo!!!!
- Kuro has learned to blow on his food before eating... And, he's so cute doing it!
- The baseball game! The entire scene is priceless - from Rin and Bon's rivalry and their exaggerated faces to... pretty much everything Usamaro does once they hand him a bat.
- Why do I feel like Mephisto planned everything for his own amusement? He's familiar with Usamaro's past. He's the one to suggest Rin's punishment of five days suspension. And, he's the one to then conveniently "remember" that Rin has free time to be Usamaro's caretaker.
- The graffiti! I'm sure I haven't found them all yet, but they seem to have taken every opportunity to slip in the series' romanized name or an abbreviation thereof. (Also, the movie debuted on 12-28-2012.) Every opportunity, I tell you.
- Finally, I must squeal about "the feels". Because Rin is adorable big-brothering Usamaro. *sniffles* Oh, how I wanted to believe it could be so when Rin told Yukio he wanted the three of them to be brothers. Maybe someday?