Keeping my fellow bloggers in mind as both the producers of content and consumers of others, bonds are made relatively quickly based on not just content, yet also how the other responds. Or I would I like to think. When someone does comment with this dual functionally you hold, you feel compelled to do the same for them; whether you like the content or not; thus playing into the idea of reciprocity. In this case, reciprocity refers to a mutual exchange between blogger A for commenting and blogger B simply returns the favor in kind. Of course, if A likes B’s content and returns afterwards not feeling compelling for any other reason than interested in B’s content (and vice versa), then the reciprocity is balanced and still stands. It is just that simple…or is it? Because, let’s be realistic for a second, folks: 9 times out of 10 you are not going to exactly churn out interesting content. It is half the battle for most bloggers, but if you have people generally attracted to what you do, the same desired effect can be achieved through reciprocity as well as being active in the community. If you are confident you can churn out generally interesting content frequently without fail and ignore the aforementioned, allow me to congratulate you as a flawless human being. On the other hand, what is utter garbage to you could pique the curiosity of another, so this does have a few exceptions….

At any rate, reciprocity still does not quite explain why people bothering commenting at all regardless of what content is present. I do however have a general idea. In one respect, commenting with another blogger opens a channel of friendship and comradery; thus allowing you to spreading your name to other like-minded individuals that might enjoy what you do. Just like in daily life for work, school, etc – people increasingly form connections and build rapport in exchange for things like: recommendations, interviews, meet other individuals, and so on. Positive reciprocity between bloggers would look similar. Then again, their is a such thing as negative reciprocity, both sides in a mutual channel of understanding, yet only to solely try to exploit one another. Once again, this is something humans are well accustomed to by nature just like any other social creature. I see this less in blogging, but it does occur. However, between these two contrasting ideas, I solely believe (or like to at least) that people just comment to share their views and opinions on whatever comes to mind. Simple, yes, but does seem to be the most valid idea between any virtual settings or reality for that matter. Everyone has something to say.

My face when I see most forum threads.

Moving away from blogging for awhile into the area of forums, this idea could not be any farther from the truth. Looking at my usual stalked haunts of MAL, Biglobe, ANN, and various others; comments within threads are quite interesting to read just as the content brought forth by the original poster. Of course, the level of discussion is only as captivating as the people taking part; which makes it disheartening when the comments/debates turn into derogatory shouting matches or pointless banter to display superiority. For example: one thread I viewed about a certain anime poll seemed to be mostly filled to the rim of venomous or sardonic remarks between participants with little else of value to add. While a clash of views and opinions occurred, the reciprocity of anything meaningful said did not quite happen. However, a similar thread in another forum along the same lines did provide quite a rich exchange of opinions and also gave me window into the elements many fans look for in anime. Depending on the atmosphere (and if people are not being immature) forum activity and other hotspots are usual key places for good, wholesome debates and also finding something new while you are at it. Reciprocity at work through comments at its best.

Whether it be blogging, short tweets on Twitter, asking questions on social ask me sites, or even forum participation; anime will always have a social face rather than the usually one of solitude. While this still leaves a plethora of room open for debate of exactly why people comment and why they care if their opinion are heard, I believe choosing blogging to be my tool of choice was the right one. After all, I am asking questions; open-ended ones with multiple different ways to answer to receive the same in kind. This kind of reciprocity, to hear different opinions is what success means to me as a blogger and everything else is just a nice bonus. So with that said, how do you perceive commenting for both blogging and regular social sites? Why do you comment and care if yours is read? And how do you general perceive debates on the aforementioned sites? Kind and courteous? Respectful and well-mannered? Or just plain rude and spiteful?
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Minor Notations

• This was way more condensed and also somewhat winded as I planned, but this is generally the start of my new editorial block Deciphering Anime Fandom. I will post these ever once and while; touching upon subject matter that weighs on my mind dealing with general anime fandom elements. I promise the next one will be shorter and more easier on the eyes, yet this topic has been in my query for months on end now.

• Related post come from the esteemed AOIA blogger, @fkeroge (that posted his hours before me and shorter to boot) on Anime Blogger opinions and the equally awesome Yumeka that did one on types of commemorators.

Arve Rezzle promo art

It took a little self-verbal whipping, but I decided to finally get started on this one. Time to take a brief look into the bountiful harvest of anime Summer 2012 will bring.

With July right around corner and sooner than you may think, I thought it be a perfect time (since most of the previews reared up. Not all, but most.) to see what is on the agenda for the upcoming season. Quite a few sequels (well, second halves for most) are making their into arena, namely: Rinne no Lagrange, Horizon on the Middle Of Nowhere, Yuru Yuri♪♪, and Dog Days. However, their are also some new series like always. So far, summer will contain:

Arcana Famiglia

Synopsis: The story takes place on the small island of Regalo in the Mediterranean Sea. The island has been protected by a vigilante committee called “Arcana Famiglia”. The members of the family have psychic powers gained by a secret ritual. Felicita is a 16-year-old girl who was raised by her strict mother. She visits Regalo to see her father who is the head of Arcana Famiglia. He tells her to become the leader of “Serie of Sword”, the arbitrator section of the family. As one of the members of Arcana Famiglia, Felicita interacts with other handsome but eccentric members.

Arve Rezzle

Synopsis: A cyber battle sci-fi. In 2022, the technology of quantum computing has greatly advanced and many people have transfered their mind into the cyber space.

Remu’s sister-in-law, Shiki, skipped grades and entered a high school in the academic city “Okinotori-island Mega Float City (OMFC)” when she was 14. One day, Shiki confessed to her brother via Skype that she was talking to him directly from the cyber space and her real body had been kept in a water tank filled with a culture medium. It’s called “Body pool” and Shiki connected to the network by nanomachines implanted in her brain. Remu was surprised but he accepted her decision until an accident called “Early Rupture” happened. The network server got overloaded and users’ minds were lost in cyber space leaving soulless living bodies in the Body Pools. In order to bring Shiki’s mind back, Remu visits her apartment in OMFC and there meets Shiki escaped from the hospital. But the girl tells him that she is not Shiki and she happens to haven taken over Shiki’s body.  When Remu tries to figure out the situation, a violent attack strikes the apartment

Binbougami ga!

Synopsis: Sakura Ichiko is a 16-year-old girl who leads a charmed life and is blessed with beauty, brains, and health. She has an abundance of “Happiness Energy”, which can make people happy, but at the cost of absorbing all the Happiness Energy from her surroundings. She has caused the energy balance of the world to become unbalanced and because of this, she becomes the target of a Poverty God named Momiji. Momiji goal is to remove Ichiko’s power of absorbing other people’s Happiness Energy and to return all the energy she has taken to its rightful place.

Campione!

Synopsis: A harem love comedy plus magic battles. Kusanagi Godo is a 16-year-old high school boy, who once killed the god “Verethragna” and acquired the title of “Campione (god killer)” when he was 15. Erica Brandelli is a 16-year-old Italian girl, who is a “Great Knight” of the magic society “Bronze Black Cross” and had fought together with Godo to defeat Verethragna. Godo doesn’t like fighting but his title of “Campione” makes him get involved in battles against other Campiones and uncontrollable gods.

Dakara Boku wa, H ga Dekinai.

Synopsis: Kaga Ryosuke is an ecchi high school boy. One day, he meets a girl standing alone in the rain. She is Lisarah Restor, an elite Death, who visited the human world in order to find “Singular Man”. Ryosuke makes a contract with Lisarah and she sucks energy required for her activity in the human world from Ryosuke. The source of the energy is his ecchi spirit. To recover the sexual desire, Ryosuke has no choice but to help Lisarah’s search.

Dog Days’ (aka Dog Days 2nd)

Ebiten: Kouritsu Ebi Sugawa Koukou Tenmonbu

Synopsis: Noya Itsuki just started his school year at the Ebisugawa High School and since he has always had a fascination with space, he decides to join the astronomy club. However, he mistakenly walks into the all girls Otaku Club. He notices that the members are really weird, but Itsuki has yet to realize that he isn’t in the astronomy club. His life is about to get complicated by being surrounded by so many girls.

Hagure Yuusha

Synopsis: In normal RPGs, a hero defeats the Satan king and the story ends. But what does the hero do after that? Ohtorizawa Akatsuki defeats the Satan king in the fantasy world of Alleyzard and returns to the real world. He is sheltered by the international organization BABEL, which protects and controls people transferred from the outer worlds. BABEL is astonished to know Akatsuki has really defeated Satan and brings Satan’s daughter Miu from Alleyzard. In the academy of BABEL, Akatsuki confronts other “returners”, who have psychic powers.

Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon II

Jinrui wa Suitai

Synopsis: It’s been several centuries since human beings declined due to the steep drop in birthrates. The most prosperous species on the Earth are “Fairies”, 10 cm tall creatures with high intelligence. I became a UN arbitrator between the humans and the fairies and returned to my hometown to help my grandfather. I thought my job would not be a tough one and visited one of the fairies’ habitats to say hello to them but…

Joshiraku

Synopsis: A group of girls discusses random things and usually reaches an unusual or humorous conclusion that’s far from the initial discussion topic

Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate

Synopsis: Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate follows the protagonist Yuuki Oojima, who attends Private Takafuji Academy, a large school with over 6,000 students. Yuuki is a member of the food research club, along with seven others, including his childhood friend Chisato Sumiyoshi. The members leisurely spend their time in the club not doing much activities. When the election of the next student council president comes up, the front runner Satsuki Shinonome proposes that clubs that have no merit should be sorted out and abolished. The food research club seeks advice from the current student council president Yakumo Mori, who suggests Yuuki run in the election as an opposing candidate. Yuuki learns about the issues facing the school and decides to run in the election.

Kokoro Connect

Synposis: The “love and teen pentagonal comedy” follows the strange phenomena at the Yamahoshi Academy’s Culture Club, starting with the five male and female club members switching bodies with each other.

Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru!

Synopsis: Abiding by his father’s will, Shougo was transferred into an academy where many young girls attend. It appears as though his younger sister (separated from him at birth) also attends this academy, and that she is trying to get closer to him without letting know him who she actually is. Problem is, Shougo seems to be popular with the other girls as well! Can Shougo “properly” reunite with his little sister and while making a girlfriend at the same time?!

Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse

Synopsis: Since 1973, an invasion of aliens known as BETA upon Earth is driving human civilization into nearly collapse. Facing an enormous mass of enemy force, mankind has developed large humanoid arms called as Tactical Surface Fighters and deployed them to its defense lines through out the world. However, all those efforts could slow down defeats but could not stop BETA, and mankind is forced to abandon major area of the Eurasian Continent. For 30 years, mankind is bogged down in an endless war against BETA without any hopes of victory.

In 2001, the Imperial Japan faces difficulties in the development of a next-generation main Tactical Surface Fighters (TSF) as it defends the front lines of the Far East. The UN has proposed a joint development program between the Imperial Japan and the United States as a part of its international mutual development project of TSF, the Prominence Project. Yui Takamura, a surface pilot of the Imperial Royal Guards of Japan, is given responsibility for the project and sets off to Alaska. Meanwhile, Yuya Bridges, also a surface pilot of the US Army, was heading to the same destination.Yet they never knew that their encounter would change their destiny drastically.

This story with exciting human dramas and robot actions takes place in the development of a new Tactical Surface Fighters, the most important and effective weapons against BETA, at a crisis of human extinction.

Natsuyuki Rendezvous

Synopsis: A young man with poor eyesight named Hazuki works part-time in a flower shop and falls hard for the shop-owner Rokka. But what happens when he discovers that residing in her apartment is the spirit of the man she can never forget?

Oda Nobuna no Yabou

Synopsis: The historical romantic comedy follows 17-year-old high schooler Sagara Yoshiharu who one day time-travels to the Sengoku period, where all the major Samurai lords are cute girls. Yoshiharu meets Oda Nobuna, the girl counterpart of Oda Nobunaga, and begins to serve her as a substitute of Kinoshita Tokichiro, who has been dead in the world

Rinne No Lagrange 2

[no trailer yet]

Sword Art Online

Synopsis: The only way to escape is to ‘clear’ the game. Death in game means actual ‘death’ —-

The ten thousand who have logged onto the as of yet mysterious game ‘Sword Art Online’ using their Nerve Gear have been forced into this perilous death game and are trapped inside. Protagonist Kirito, one of the many gamers, has greeted this ‘truth’. He plays as a solo player in the giant castle that is the stage for this game —- ‘Aincrad’.

To meet the conditions of clearing the game and leaving this twisted virtual world, he must get through all 100 floors. Will Kirito have what it takes to clear the game, or will he die trying?

Tari Tari

Synopsis: The story centers around five Japanese high school students who are too young to be called adults, but who no longer think of themselves as children.

Wakana Sakai once took music lessons, but she withdrew from music after losing her mother. Konatsu Miyamoto is a positive-thinking girl who loves singing and spends time after school at the vocal music club. Sawa Okita is a spirited archery club member who dreams of becoming a horse rider. Daichi Tanaka is a chronically late badminton team member who lives with his college student sister. “Wiin” just transfered into Wakana’s class after 12 years abroad in Australia.

Music brings Wakana, Konatsu, Sawa and the others together into an ensemble during their last summer in high school.

Yuru Yuri ♪♪

Expect for a few dead ringers, unknowns, and late comers this for now is a standard list, but not complete. Probably might due a follow-up list in the future as time inches closer, but if not, the 1st week impression will replace it.

Are you going to push it all one me again? Remember, otherwise you are only going to repeat it.

-Shadow Yuuko

Man, can I call these episodes or what! Without any further knowledge of the manga 89% of my theorized guesses rang true and this episode is well-written testament to it. However, while I would like to rest of my laurels,  I suppose an owe you all a follow-up. Bear with me a second, I am probably going confuse you all and sound like I am just rambling. Trust me, you will thank me later for this.

First off (as seen via this episode), Shadow Yuuko is not evil by any stretch of the imagination…or so I like to think. She is not out to get Teichii or his friends (contrary to this episodes last few minuets) or make Good Yuuko miserable. Good Yuuko is doing that well enough by not owning up and heeding the shadows cryptic advice. The more she denies the shadow (which existence lies behind her emotions. Yuuko already knows she exist well before this episode) the worse the penalty becomes or in this case: Shadow Yuuko having no other choice to take the memories she has. All the stress, jealously, and anger she feels was created by herself to protect herself, but only ends up causing her more grief if she can not tame and face herself. It will be endless cycle if Good Yuuko keeps diluting herself.

A moment of weakness was all Shadow Yuuko needed….

We also learned this episode (as I theorized and Kirie said) that fear acts as a catalyst of sorts for the connection to be made with Shadow Yuuko. Kirie already had close ties to Yuuko, but even more so, with fear instilled, hence her encounters with the shadow. For Good Yuuko on the hand, any negative emotions (such as jealously this time) that are uncontrollable can beckon the shadow forth. In any case, fear itself is the main element that Shadow Yuuko is composed of and the only way to get Good Yuuko memories back is by facing it. With respect to all the mysterious at the school, they are only a fraction of the truth with the rest sealed inside Shadow Yuuko. The only question now is: Will Yuuko own up to the truth to get it or keep having it snatched from her in a endless cycle amnesia caused by fear? Shadow Yuuko has the answers, but Good Yuuko can only reach them if only she is willing to face the darkest parts of her own self. Even if that means giving up her idealized self for the true one…

The crumbling of an idealized identity….

The biggest thing that ticked me off this episode was Teiichi himself. While I do understand he knows nothing and just trying to help Yuuko, he is actually doing nothing more at this point than being an enabler for her. With respect to the mysterious and his new found perspective on them, he did not even try to stop and think or stop Yuuko for that matter, to change her own perspective that what she feared could possible help her more than what they were coming across. The shadow clearly used this as an opportunity to take Yuuko’s current memories and at the same time, cause Yuuko more grief by harming Teiichi as punishment. Good Yuuko in this sense hurt Teiichi, the most important person to her, and also lost her memories of him. She truly did repeat her memory lost, but I am sure Shadow Yuuko was referring to something more than losing more memories at her hand or wait…at Good Yuuko’s own hands…?

Liked the imagery used here. Along with the fading Yuuko figure…

With this exciting episode ending on a heck-of-a cliffhanger, Teiichi is going to have to help Yuuko recover her memories of him and his friends before the bigger ones leading up to her past. Of course, Yuuko is going to have to brave enough to face the ones she already refuses. With five more episodes remaining (and manga on-going) it is a good guess that the really bigger mysteries will not be solved, but will learn something. What that something is….well, your guess is as good as mine.

“Fear is an disorder that drives man back to his primitive roots and causes his judgement to become clouded to see only what he cannot face”

-Anon

What Happens: As the school festival continues, the Paranormal Investigations club learns about a rumor about Akahito, a masked blood-covered monster that kills anyone who stays late during school as a sacrifice. But the rumor turns in fact when Akahito is spotted during the festival and a student named Yuuko Kirishima claims she was attacked by Akahito which sends the superstitious students hysteric.

My Impression: With this episodes unusual yet fitting execution, the pieces of this series nature falls into order to what I was exactly hypothesizing. My first point dealt with the existence of Shadow Yuuko, caused by Kanoe Yuuko’s (good Yuuko) own fears and negative emotions. Kirishima Yuuko in this episode was a big help in proving this and a great deal more during the last few seconds of the episode where the actually Shadow made its appearance to Kirie.

Manifestation Of Shadow Yuuko, maybe?

Fear itself actually plays a big role (also in this episode) in the influence of how the stories chronicled takes on a  life of their own. Just like how Kirie projected her own version of Shadow Yuuko for Teichi to see on the original, a similar act happens here. The students where drawn into a frenzy, but never stop to think: “Why is Kirishima bleeding?” or “What is Akahito? A ghost? A monster?” No, instead, they let their baser instincts take hold and refuse to uncover this fear; only to see Akahito for what they believed it to be and Kirishima, she refused to own up to her own fear of people – hiding behind her false persona and the creation of Akahito. That said, Kanoe Yuuko seems to be a panacea of sorts, helping people overcome what they cannot see (even though they cannot see her), but herself, suffering from what she cannot face up to or choose to forget all together, hence her Amnesia. How fitting if this is true…

They choose to see what they wanted to see. All humans do…

During Shadow Yuuko’s appearance in the end, it is possible that the anguish Yuuko felt early caused it to reappear (that or a plot device) by her refusal to go deeper into Akahito and Kirishima. Just how Kirie had to face up to her own insecurities and fears last episode yet Kirishima and the students this episode; it is apparent that the realm of fears, perspectives, and comprehension of them will be major buzzwords for this series. Next episode, I hope (if not later) Teiichi, Kirie, and Yuuko herself will come face to face with Shadow Yuuko. Hopefully, shedding some light on this story and answers I desperately want to know.

The true Shadow Yuuko…

Okay, before I share my miserable submission I have a confession to make: “I am not the most creative person in the world.” That should not come of any shock to most of you (just take a look at my past work), but I really in truly had a monster-of-a-time with this one. So after a few days of looking into TV Tropes and looking into Kyubey’s cute, adorable eyes (no comment) the idea came to me. Magical Girls! Working off the tiro idea, I decided to stitch together an ultimate team of three magical girls. Yup, that is about the gist of what I came up with. Now, without further ado, my choices:

Akemi Homura: Mami might have some nice rifles (in more ways than one), yet Homura is an arsenal. With the power to control time and set traps, she best fits the mold of the support type of my team. A very great choice for taking down multiple foes and helping Fate and Mai. How do you like that, Kyubey?

Fate Testarossa: Fulfilling the position of the attacker of the group, Fate is a good candidate for both offensive and defensive ends. Having the ability to conjure electricity based attacks is also a plus along with her aptitude for mid and close ranged attacks. Very helpful for backing up Homura and Mai.

Mai Tokiha: Rounding out the team would be Mai as the finisher. Specializing in fire based skills as the Hime of flames, Mai has access to these destructive abilities as well as flight. With her child, Kagutsuchi at her beckon call, she can also travel long distances quickly and use its very dangerous fire based move. Great for singular or multiple foes.

Not a bad ensemble if I do say so myself, but chances for a magical girl crossover series with these characters are slim to none at best. I originally got the idea from playing the Queens Blade Spiral game series with its own cookie-cutter crossovers. I demand Japan make a Mahou Shoujo version of that game. Anyway, if you do not like my ideal cast check out some of the other participants in the event which can be found below.

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List of Participants

Yerocha (Event Creator – Sampler)
Hoshiko

What Happened: The Paranormal Investigations Club have a summer break sleepover at the old school building to investigate another ghost story. In truth, Kirie wants to find the evil shadow ghost she saw before. Yuuko has Teiichi spend the night together exploring the building while she reveals two of the ghost stories of the school were actual pranks by her. She later brings Teiich to her favorite spot when seeing the sunrise and is glad she they are spending time together. Meanwhile, the shadow ghost appears before a sleeping Kirie.

My Impression: I can surely say that Dusk Maiden knows how to own its atmosphere with this episode as a perfect example. While it is slightly no different from the previous episodic installments, it is in a way; showing its methodology to move the story along, yet also gently pushing the viewer to become emotionally invested in the characters, amused with its mischievous comedic stylings, and providing deeper food for thought behind the frail mysteries they unravel. With regards to this episode, Yuuko definitely makes her vulnerabilities and anxiety from being parted from Teiichi know; desperately realizing with each mystery solved it could be the one that uncovers her identity thus making her just another “closed case”. She said herself: “After a mystery is solved it becomes dull…”

Also along with some bonding, we finally get the confirmed flag that Kirie might be interested in Teiichi creating a love rectangle of sorts. Doubt this impacts the story in any serious way, but still noteworthy factoring in Kire’s cutness quota. Besides that, I did like the little pragmatic nugget of wisdom Yuuko imparted on curses and the nature of the unseen…but I will not get into at the moment, since I have something *cough* planned for that. More importantly, I hope Kirie is not in any real danger from that shadow ghost (which I still believe has something to do with Yuuko). Maybe she might get possessed or something along those lines. Guess we shall find out soon….

Ichiroku makes for nice poster girl.

The battle tournament finally gets underway. Shame this is not the best part by far.

What Happens: Due to argument with Eru, Ichiroku decides to compete in the team tournament alone. However, with two new foes making their appearance and vowing to take her down in very way possible, she might need all the help she can get…

My Impression: Comedy one week and back to action the next I suppose, yet the action element should last an episode or two this time around. Frankly, nothing of value transpires much akin to last week, with the exception of Sako and Galil making their debut and the team tournament getting off to a start. Although, it show off a bit, with regards to FNC’s skills. On the other hand, I just too focus on how awesome and cute, Sig was too notice anything else.

With this episode bridging itself to the end of the 1st volume to the beginning of the 2nd, we are getting close to the more exciting area of the manga, but too early to even say if the anime will get that far (I am reading the raws btw). For now, the battle tournament is sufficient enough for what I am hoping to see from the series, since it also has its fine points. Then again, this a playful action/comedy series, so I am not expecting anything too much along the lines of what Ben-To was. Regardless, looking forward to the next episode…

The little ones are not amused...

Another somewhat enjoyable episode, expect for the long history lesson attached. Seriously could of did without that.

There is not too much to mention about this episode, expect for a few new characters lightly introduced along with the same-old hijinks the previous episodes included. Among the newbies, we finally get a glimpse of the submachine elementary class along with another middle school student Ichihachi, Ichiroku’s cousin. Other than that, this episode just focuses on highlighting the girls and their distinctive personalities while gradually getting the viewer use to the world.

Personally, I enjoyed this episode, but due to outside information found it odd fitting. Mainly, this is due to characters like Ichihachi being introduced in the manga differently from the anime that just “suddenly” inserted this episode, but I prefer the quicker approach and not expecting a perfect adaption, so this is actually welcomed. Although, a more reasonable gripe would be about the 411 lesson on the guns. Yes, they are educational and informative to those with no knowledge about firearms, yet I can not help feel that the comedy might be fragmented and tone down due to it. To early to say about this for sure, but it will take sometime getting used to. Oh, and in case if you are still confused, the girls are personification of guns as guns. So basically, this means they are guns and not actually humans. Confusing isn’t it?

Anyway, next episode the battle team tournament begins along with the introduction of two new characters. Looking forward to it…

Unrelated Patchy and Marisa picture.

Even though I did not decide to compete in the Aniblog tourney, it still has done me a service to reach 500+ views in a single day. I am not sure how many of these are actually legit (most are probably out of pity), but nonetheless, thanks to all the viewers, lurkers, fellow bloggers, and others that have taken an interest in my site. With that said, May 8th is coming up soon, which means this site will be a year old, I will be a year older (my birthday), and my eight anniversary of getting attached to anime. Well, enough self-congratulations, back to work…school work….

Note: For newcomers, I was originally around back in May 2011, but started over and transferred my site. Still counts as a year, I suppose…

More like robbing a bank...

Looks like our girls are finally ready for some action. Sort of…

If you could stomach the horrible confusion that was episode 1, then episode 2 will….well, I have no idea what this one will do to you.

What Happens: Basically, Funko, Ichiroku, and L fail their exams (Sig is spared because she is awesome) which leads to mock battle to determine whether they need extra classes. However, their opponents for the battle (capture the flag) happens to be Fal (Funko’s sister) and Ichiyon (Ichiroku’s sister) with another girl named, G3 playing a sniping role. With L taken out early, Sig eventually leans her support, but to no avail, the battle ends in a lost. Luckily, the mock battle was the extra lesson and the girls were spared from any additional courses. All expect L that is. She can’t help it…

Ichiyon (left) and Fal (right)

My Impression: By all accounts, I would call this a normal episode, introducing more of the characters and showing the action element in work combined with a little more comedy. I starting to get somewhat perturbed with the show trying to relate the girls to guns, since each gradelevel is divided into a different class: Assault Rifles are middle school, Battle Rifles are high school, and the Submachine guns are elementary; each with own abilities and skill sets. Nice and all, but relating that to the premise of episode 1 is not so interesting as I imagined from the manga.

Anyway, the firefights were animated as expected, not too serious, but still respectable given this shows budget in all. The later half of the manga does get more serious, so I am wondering if they reach that point, how will it be handled? Next week (episode for me) we get ready to crawl into another hole of the unknown. What happens? Your guess is as good as mine…

G3 teaches Ichiyon her "special technique".