Sketchbook ~full color'S~ Discussion Thread (Restarted)

[Suwako Moriya]

All right then, it's time for everyone to return to the art club room once more and get to know the clearly "normal" and in no possible way strange people that are members of the said club.

This time around, we'll have the advantage of a better structure to use than we did in the past. That and the old thread had posts without dated tags anyway. One of the downsides to threads from days of long ago.

In any case, it will be the usual pattern of one episode per day, although given how later I'm starting this thread, even though episode 1 will likely be posted on this Friday, I might hold off until Sunday before posting episode 2.

I'd be happier doing this due to an R1 license, but apparently the world of R1 just isn't worthy of the series yet and sadly it may never be worth. That's the problem with R1. It's lack of being worthy.


ANN Entry (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=8031)

Official Site (http://ani.tv/sketch-full/)


Note
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[Suwako Moriya]

Ah, the girl with the camera meets the girl with sketchbook. The former makes the latter nervous.

Kokage is awesome because Kokage is drawing darkness!

Hazuki and her deep thinking in terms of what to draw based on her interest in Miso that went down in price by 100 yen. Hazuki needs a hug.

Natsumi, her puppets, her chest, her voice, and her twin tails. You have to have bad taste to dislike her.

Ryou and Fuu are a strange pair and because they're a pair, I'm also going to assume they're a couple.

Ah, yes character bios. Nice that they include height to get an idea as to who is the shortest and who is the tallest.

A sudden gust of wind and Sora's failed attempt at drawing a bird.

Funny how the second the three (Sora, Natsumi and Hazuki) enter the place, we have Ryou and Fuu appear to make a statement. It's almost scary timing.


"I'm dumping the rest in", famous last words by Natsumi. We hardly knew her.

Sora's strategy of putting everything on a single bite, I've actually done stuff like that before. It feels like a moment of triumph.

Yes, Sora was wise not to spice up. I say this as a person that's not good with spicy stuff. Especially the strong type.

It's Nagisa, the one I have dubbed the insect girl. Heck, her hair looks like it has antenna anyway, so..


Characters with their eyes closed all the time, they must have mastered their other senses. That's the only explanation!

Sora is drawing Aria! Yes, that Aria.

Natusmi is interested in Sora! Does this count as a flag? Although in the end, she decided that portraits are too difficult.


Sora carries her sketchbook with her everywhere! Sora does not talk much, but she clearly does a lot of thinking. Thinking that we get to hear plenty of.


Side note for people watching this. The opening animation and ending animation of this show tend to vary a bit. Not that we get the opening animation this episode.

[TalonG4]

It's Nagisa, the one I have dubbed the incest girl. Heck, her hair looks like it has antenna anyway, so..


Insect, not incest. Although that's a pretty funny typo.

[Suwako Moriya]

It's Nagisa, the one I have dubbed the incest girl. Heck, her hair looks like it has antenna anyway, so..


Insect, not incest. Although that's a pretty funny typo.

*Looks* Darn it, the spirit of typos must find me amusing.:sweat:

[Suwako Moriya]

Sora will be different than usual by getting off the bus one stop earlier.

So because she meows "Haa", Sora will call her Haa-san. That's one method for naming cats.

Natsumi's puppets make great mittens in winter. Ignore the fact that it's currently summer.

So a dictionary is a good place to find a four leaf clover. Who Knew?

Asaka has an interesting method for giving the illusion of eating foie gras, but considering the fact she's never had it.

Kokage asks the wise question. Can it be called bread if you don't eat it? She has a point there.

There's no way Asaka will get charcoal on her tongue while eating bread. Or so she thinks.

Hiyori shall not allow them to go home yet for there is a secret weapon coming!

Double crawfish is no match for a single lobster!

The challenge of trying to get a crawfish to turn blue.

The crawfish is in danger from the cat Mike.

Natsumi is having way too much fun with puppets.

Asaka wants the president to walk in on girls changing. The request has been denied.

I like the way Kokage casually talks to Mike about her cat Yutanpo.

The fun part about translations is that sometimes they list Mike as "him", but as far as I can tell Mike is supposed to be female.


Hiyori's secret weapon was no match for the power of tripping!

Laying eggs before turning blue? Clearly the crawfish has committed some sort of crime!

Sora pets Mike and declares doing things differently is fine since you can return to the usual later.

Kokage, Asaka, and Natsumi are the stand out girls right now.

[Suwako Moriya]

Sora is playing video games with her brother. Ignore the fact Ao is playing against the computer.


Sora has discovered that chives have many uses! As demonstrated by Hazuki and Natsumi.

Fishcake Noodles! Yeah, that seems like quite a bit.

Thanks to Natsumi and her puppets, I think Ao now has an idea what Sora's friends are like.

Spinning Natsumi is awesome! Thus why Sora must do it again.

Sora will go in sandals and take her sketchbook with her.

Ryou and Fuu are so random.

Sora is the chosen one and the store owner is the hand of evil! Thus is the way of gold fish scooping.

Sora has failed to save the gold fish and thus she feels like a hero with heavy burden.

And we get scenes of the other characters doing things at the festival. Including Asaka eating too fast.

Hazuki is not into gambling. Hazuki sees a prize. Hazuki decides to gamble. Hazuki loses. Hazuki is depressed. Hazuki gets a consolation prize. Hazuki is happy. Defining moment of episode.

Ao, Hazuki and Natsumi are on the same wave length when it comes to Sora.

Masked People are after Sora! Or maybe not, but that would have been an unexpected twist.:P Either way Sora got a mask from Kokage.

And thus everyone gathers for fireworks! Which Sora is trying to draw. Which isn't exactly an easy task given that they're not exactly static.

[ZenErik]

Just started this series last night. Wish it would get licensed. So far, I absolutely love it. :)

[superdry]

Gah...seeing this thread restarted makes me remember that I need to finish watching this series. I only watched bits and pieces of the first few episodes and then it just fell to the wayside (I loved those bits and pieces though).

I feel like a terrible person for never completing this wonderful show, yet...haha.

[Suwako Moriya]

I feel like a terrible person for never completing this wonderful show, yet...haha.

Well, this is a chance to fulfill your destiny. Not that I should talk, I'm falling behind on the re-watch. It's not my fault that I was distracted by gaming.

[Suwako Moriya]

Not even a 40% chance of rain will stop Sora from going to the sketch meeting. Besides, what's the point of having an umbrella if you don't use it to defend yourself against rain.:P

Well, Sora, at the very least Nagisa has arrived.

It amazes me how some people are fine with letting insects and such walk on them like that. I'd get nervous and slap the things. I guess I'm evil.

Nagisa is flexible! Decide for yourself if that's important.

So Nagisa and Sora are the only ones dedicated to going to the sketch meeting in spite of the potential for rain.

Hiyori's care has a lot of chickens in it.

Hiyori's breaking the rule, you're supposed to be driving too fast, not slow as heck.

Kuro (Natusmi's dog) has been defeated by the weather.

Hazuki and her shopping strategies.

Little did Sora and Nagisa realize that an insert song was playing in the background as they do various things.

Nagisa talks about how the insects flying low is a sign of rain. Sora is more focused on the birds flying low.

Fear for your life, P-Chan!

Ryou and Fuu inform us about bread getting stuck to their teeth. Also, gasp! They're actually members of the art club.

Natsumi refuses to believe that dogs take after their owner.

Sometimes I don't understand Ryou and Fuu.

Sora is dedicated to thinking over talking, isn't she?

Nagisa finds Sora strange, Sora finds Nagisa strange. Guess which one says it out loud and which one thinks it.

And thus it's rainbow! Maybe Natsumi and Hazuki should have come after all.

It looks like a jewel bug. Yeah, Nagisa is focused.

Hiyori forgot to release the parking break, seriously.

[mrsparklenoodle]

- This show is really calming and relaxing
- Well it didn't take long for them to introduce the two main species featured in these types of series (as a cat lover, I'm not complaining, incidentally, my awesome pet cat is curled up on my bed at the moment, I love them so much... ...and after petting them I'm back to this)
- DARKNESS
- I love how long the deliberation over what to draw to represent that 100 yen discount takes, there's something really well timed about the amount of time taken over the pondering as a whole
- It's the angry cat boy!
- The condiment, IT BURNS! (well, at least one of them managed to avoid it, but dear gosh one of them breathed fire... admittedly it is a cartoon so that was probably kind of like when someone's heart and eyes behave in ways that would in real life be fatal, upon seeing someone they fancy)
- President Aria, so nice to see you (on that topic, I finally picked up Aria: The Animation on DVD and I'm really enjoying it, if the rest of the first season is this good I will buy the rest)
- One of the girls may be in love with one of the other girls... well I hope neither of them ends up dead or going on a murderous rampage (for some reason a lot of fiction writers seem to think this is an inevitable result of being a lesbian).
- There's a really nice appreciating-nature thing going on here, lots of plants and insects.
- I wonder if they'll introduce more characters in future episodes or if this is the entire cast (not that's it's a small cast or anything)?
- So far, I may slightly prefer Hidamari Sketch (which I also bought the first season of and am really enjoying), but this is much better than GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class

This thread is great timing, as entirely coincidentally I watched the first episode a day or two ago, I'll get right on to watching the rest so I can comment on them too.

[Suwako Moriya]

The time has come for the cats of the series to get an episode focused on them. Where as Sora is the lead in terms of humans, in terms of the cats, our lead is Mike.

Mike fails to position herself higher than Kuma. Kuma is a rather strange cat both in terms of look and personality.

A praying mantis reminds Asaka that she wanted a cat! Don't ask.

So the very name Sora came up with for Haa-san is actually the name that Haa-san is referred to by Mike. Funny how that works. By the way Haa-san is awesome.

Haa-san does not like the fact that Sora has a habit of giving out expired food. Yet, at the same time Haa-san has been willing to eat it anyway. Don't ask.

Asaka with cat ears! I approve of her idea.

At last, we get to see the Yutanpo that Kokage has been referring to. Why it has a cat head ornament on its tale, I don't know.

Err, I'm not sure that type of scam works on cats.....

Asaka begs her sister for a cat. Well, that's one way to determine when you're old enough.

Let's put Kuma in a box and hope someone picks him up. However that box needs the right words. Wait, since when could cats write?

Asaka has discovered Kuma! Asaka takes Kuma home. Asaka's sister finds Kuma cute.

Kuma does not like being bathed, but it does have the benefit of her running around in a towel for a few short seconds.

Haa-san ignores her own advice about the dangers of expired food from Sora.

[Suwako Moriya]

So far, I may slightly prefer Hidamari Sketch (which I also bought the first season of and am really enjoying), but this is much better than GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class

My favorite of the three is Hidamari Sketch, but that's partially because it has three seasons under its belt. Although I do quite love the other two.

[Ashyukun]

So far, I may slightly prefer Hidamari Sketch (which I also bought the first season of and am really enjoying), but this is much better than GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class

My favorite of the three is Hidamari Sketch, but that's partially because it has three seasons under its belt. Although I do quite love the other two.
Hidamari is definitely the best, but I'd have a hard time comparing Sketchbook and GA... the focus on teaching actual art concepts makes GA kind of a hard duck to categorize. There are definitely characters that I'm quite fond of in both though... and a few that I hope never meet for fear it would plunge the universe into darkness. Awesome darkness, no doubt- but still darkness.

[Fencedude]

Ah Sora, you are the ultimate in timid-moe~

I think she says four words this entire episode. Not counting internal monologue, of course. But lots and lots of sounds!

[something]

Alright let's see if I can get at least a few episodes of this before the thread finishes! Though only one for tonight, I think. maybe.

Episode 1:

- Girl with camera. Girl with sketchbook. Eternal rivals! ...?
- Wait, was Sora voiced by... YES, she was. Hanazawa Kanaaaaaaaa! At the absolute opposite of her voice acting spectrum from the her most recent major role, Nessa in Fractale.

- Also gotta love Hirohashi Ryou as Kasugano-sensei. As for the other two major characters alongside Sora, Natsumi's Nakase Asuka has done very little and Hazuki's Makino Yui has done more but not a huge amount. Of course she also sings the ED to this, and all the Aria OPs.
- Ah, Kuga Kokage, they set her character up easily and instantly. :sd:
- Natsumi's puppets! Kokage blackening the blackest blackness! Hazuki fretting over miso! <3 It doesn't take long to remind me what a lovely and eccentric cast this show has. But Natsumi is my favorite.

- Fuu and Ryou! Love their comedy routine. Ryou does something silly. Fuu delivers deadpan reactions. And it's awesome.
- Remember kids, udon is dangerous. Or at least pouring a whole vial of spicy spiciness onto it is.
- Juju and Nagisa! Nagisa the bug loving Tamura Yukari role.
- Hahah, Sora is a very reserved and shy girl, but she manages to be very expressive anyway. Her little look of triumph when the burr attaches to her is very cute.
- Natsumi is "interested" in Sora! There, it's canon!
- Oh yeah, we get the Aria-shachou bowling alley in this episode. Sora gets the raised-paw shot she was going for at the start of the episode.
- But in the end she wants the real thing.

Iyashikeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiii~~~~~ in the extreme.

[superdry]

Finally started this series after putting it off for so long. Not much to add, besides the show gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside when watching it. Doesn't hurt that the characters are fun and the antics are good.

Ah Sora, you are the ultimate in timid-moe~

I think she says four words this entire episode. Not counting internal monologue, of course. But lots and lots of sounds!

Must've been such an easy episode to record for Sora's voice actress.

[Mitsuki]

- Wait, was Sora voiced by... YES, she was. Hanazawa Kanaaaaaaaa! At the absolute opposite of her voice acting spectrum from the her most recent major role, Nessa in Fractale.


Thinking about it, I think Sora is my most closely-associated Hanazawa role, and I think of her subconsciously everytime I hear her voice. I'm not sure why; it's not her first role I heard, but maybe I just didn't "notice" her before.

[something]

Episode 2:

- Man, Sora is being a total rebel today. The world has been turned upside down!
- Natsumi! She can't give up her hand puppets. They're there for her in the winter, so she must stay true to them in the summer!
- Hirohashi is really amusing as Kasugano-sensei.

- Uhhh, Sora's "dictionary" is actually a newspaper. :sd: One that repeats the same articles about Iraq repeatedly. Sora, I know you said it's not your usual dictionary, but maybe you should switch back.
- Another character, Kamiya Asaka-senpai! Very Koshimizu Ami.
- Are crawfish really supposed to eat bread? When exactly would they encounter it in the wild?

- Kokage is very nonchalantly drawing a guitar with her head on it >_>
- The secret weapon is... a chicken! Wait.
- Chicken is Saitou Momoko, same seiyuu as Tsuyuri in Doujin Work. And other things. But for some reason Tsuyuri caught my eye first.
- Natsumi eyecatch! Sexy Natsumi!

- God I loooove Ryou and Fuu. Lobster defeats double crawfish!
- Cat defeats crayfish too! Or would if Daichi wasn't there to save his science experiment. I mean pet.
- Natsumi is a suspicious person!
- Kokage was having a nice chat with Mike and it gets interrupted. ;_;

- ...Poor Kasugano-sensei.

- Sora was not made for walking backwards.
- But she can turn the world upside down!

Such wonderfully calming and nice endings.

[Fencedude]

This is really the most extremely iyashikei show ever. If you can even use those words together.

Sora walking backwards and tripping was adorable.

[Suwako Moriya]

A quick programming note. I have slowed the thread down for two reasons. First, I've been a bit busy. Second, I've been trying to give others a chance to catch up a bit.

[Suwako Moriya]

(All right, time to make a bit more progress in this.)

Hiyori wants the class to go on a trip. A trip that will involve 300 yen, no 3,000 yen worth of snacks!

Hiyori is depressed. Hiyori wants to pair up Negishi and Kuga. Actually, anyone that could get together with Kuga should be considered blessed.

Hiyori makes it clear they are going on an overnight trip!

Let's all gather by the bus stop and prepare to go to whereever they may be going.

Ryou and Fuu are actually interacting with others and participating in an art club event. Oh, and they decided to bring special pillows for battle. Those two are awesome.

Only Hazuki is not shocked by the fact that the trip is taking place at their school. Apparently their budget is that bad.


Kokage has broken Negishi! The president likes it better that way.


Wow! Asaka took the 3,000 yen worth of snacks to heart. Now if only I knew everything she got.

Hiyori finds her students are being boring and she wants them to spread out and draw in other places.

The art club is new and fresh to Ryou and Fuu. Yeah, considering the fact they're members.....

Thus we begin a flashback that reveals how Sora ended up joining the art club.

Ryou and Fuu are spinning. The wind has changed direction! They're spinning in the other direction.


Time for Sora to think about her club choices. So Sora's choice of instrument might have been a trumpet.

Yeah, Sora table tennis is probably a sport.

It's now the turn of Natsumi and Hazuki to join activate a flashback.

Natsumi and Sora are both interested in joining the art club. Which makes Hiyori happy. Hiyori's joy is amusing.

Natsumi is member number one. Hazuki who came long is member number three. yeah, Sora that makes you member number 2.

I like how Asaka has fun with fireworks, but that seems dangerous.

Hiyori wants to scold people!

I love the gleam as Ryou and Fuu have as they hold the pillows.

Roaches! And they're the large type. I feel so sorry for the girls.

Mysterious blond haired girl is approaching. This can not be foreshadowing!

[bear]

Sora knows enough to stay out of cat affairs even if she insists on insulting them with expired food.

So Kuma-san got a family (he may regret it) and Grey decided to go back to being a stray.

What was with the shredding of the box? Grey didn't like the gig so he took it out on the box?

[bear]

Wearing a chicken for a hat? Since when have chickens been housebroken? Ewwwww.

[strangefour]

-Mike~
-Oil paints are the devil! Never liked them.
-Sora's silences are so sweet. Her head nods so adorable.
-Puppeteer Natsumi, crazy comedy duo, the odd couple of Juju & Kuri. So comforting to see you all again.
-Hello Venusian bowling kitty.

This show bring back so many happy memories. Not just of watching it but that his show feels like a real art class. Eccentric characters allowed to let their oddness run the most free in a communal setting. Teachers often as nutty as the students. Flipping between moments of inspirations, stagnation, hard work and laziness.

More than any other show about cute girls doing cute things this one speaks to me. Sure other shows have art or music of whatever clubs full of girls. But they rarely ever seem to do what every they formed a mutual interest about. At least compared to ~full color`S~. Drawing, painting, thinking about art is the heart of this show. That's not to say the cast doesn't do other things. It's just that sketching flows into their following a bug, trip to a noodle shop, or random comedy routines.

Art does not hide itself waiting to surprise you with a burst of energy and song every 4th episode. Art surrounds us and binds us to the world. Well that's how this show hands it's theme upon which a cute comedy about high school girls is inspire. Art just happens. So you always need a sketchbook on hand to catch it.

[strangefour]

-Haa~
-Kick reason to the curb Sora. Seek the the invisible kitties. Draw then -impossibly cute. Row row~
-I forgot Sora was a straw hat pirate.
-I nearly forgot about Kamiya's ever surprised face and looneyness.

Cats that aren't where they should be. Late packages that will change the world. Crawfish pregnancies. There are many things that can change when Sora alters her routine. Her footfalls control tsunamis!

Kokage, Asaka, and Natsumi are the stand out girls right now.

Sou nan dez kurr~

[strangefour]

So far, I may slightly prefer Hidamari Sketch (which I also bought the first season of and am really enjoying), but this is much better than GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class

My favorite of the three is Hidamari Sketch, but that's partially because it has three seasons under its belt. Although I do quite love the other two.

I always figured GA was your favorite Suwako. Maybe it's just that is has some of your favorite characters. Which is understandable. Noda is about the only spoiled "princess" I can remember ever taking a liking to immediately in any anime.

[Fencedude]

I would have liked to have seen Sora's attempt at goldfish scooping. I'm sure it was...interesting

And Ao...you probably shouldn't be that impressed with how your sister looks in a Yukata.

Also, look who was at the festival as well (http://fencedude.com/Images4/camera-chan.jpg)...

[strangefour]

-Sora has mastered a zen state of video gaming.
-So naive you are young Ao. Sora's friends make her look normal. Well as normal as an easily distracted idiot savant who can't be trusted to prepare food can be.
-Puta~
-Aria cola~ Maybe I should watch Aria some day.

Hazuki is not into gambling. Hazuki sees a prize. Hazuki decides to gamble. Hazuki loses. Hazuki is depressed. Hazuki gets a consolation prize. Hazuki is happy. Defining moment of episode.

Hmm. It is a perfectly executed short story within this episode. Emotional highs and lows filled with cuteness. But it is so hard to narrow down just a piece of the beautiful pastoral moe that is ~full color`S~.

You can have your onsen and beach episodes. I usually enjoy festival episodes much more. Not that I dislike bikinis and less. >_> Just that getting characters to wet and wild places tends to be more contrived and forced fanservice. Plus this show is fuwa fuwa not puni puni.

And thus everyone gathers for fireworks! Which Sora is trying to draw. Which isn't exactly an easy task given that they're not exactly static.

And you're not even drawing the fireworks. You are drawing the darkness around the fireworks. Sora needs some charcoal pencils and a good eraser. Or maybe some glue to spatter then cover with paint, then peal off the glue. *nod* *nod*

[strangefour]

I would have liked to have seen Sora's attempt at goldfish scooping. I'm sure it was...interesting

Yeah yeah. It would have been a kind of sad spectacle or a scene of brave determination.

And Ao...you probably shouldn't be that impressed with how your sister looks in a Yukata.

Well just take it as a rare moment of a brother seeing his sister acting like a normal girl instead of a weird ditz. He was surprised to see her.

[something]

Episode 3:

- Hahah, oh man I totally forgot about the "I'm playing against the computer" joke. I was about to say, "Sora is kicking his ass!"
- The almighty, honorable all-purpose negi!
- Sora is useless as a cook but she makes up for it with cuteness. And everything is art to her!
- Aria-shachou black version on the truck.

- "I wonder what her friends are like." ::Natsumi proceeds to make an eccentric first impression::
- Hazuki leaves a better impression, but even so...
- Yukata! Obi-spinning! Sexy Natsumi! Do it again! I like how, despite being the shy, reserved one, Sora still likes to be playful sometimes, leaving Hazuki the one to reign both her and Natsumi in. Sora is a little bit of a Tsumugi-style "enabler" for Natsumi.
- Ao: "Ore no onee-chan ga konna ni kawaii wake ga nai!" Poor Ao.

- Ryou and Fuu! Yaaaaaaay! ~puta ~puta

- The trials of goldfish saving. Sora is a troubled heroine, unable to save the imprisoned goldfish from evil and oppression.
- Hey look, it's camera girl from episode one!
- Awww, Hazuki loses, but still comes out a winner! <3
- Meanwhile, Sora is alone by a shrine and is totally about to get mugged! Oh no!
- But never fear, it's just Kasugano-sensei, Kogake, and... one of the guys.

- Fireworks! And squinting. Haha, the joke about buchou and Juju cracked me up, since shows usually ignore the fact that some characters never seem to open their eyes.
- But anyway, man I love summer festival episodes in anime. Even if I'd have absolutely no interest in going to one myself... just not the sort of thing I'm into. In anime, though? Love it. Same goes for the summer feeling in general.

And there's Sora, once again trying to draw things that just won't stand still.

I love this show.

[something]

Episode 4:

- Thankfully, Kasugano-sensei was not able to call off the episode in last week's preview after all! Sora is ready for anything nature can throw at her!
- Sora and Nagisa. A strange pairing.
- The walking stick tapping on Nagisa's hand almost made it look like it was playing the piano from the BGM.

- Okay so this part is strange. Kasugano-sensei comes up and it surprised that there's only two of them. But... there are only three open seats in her car anyway! What was she going to do if more came? :sd:
- So many chickens.

- Sexy sexy Natsumi!
- Meanwhile binbou Hazuki shows off her special shopping strategy.
- Very cute Makino Yui insert song. Go Hazuki!

- Ryou! Fuu! <3 She's right about bread getting stuck. That's annoying. Though I haven't had soft bread of that sort in quite a while. And heh, have they actually mentioned before that Ryou and Fuu were art club members? Maybe in their first introduction. Too bad they didn't arrive in time to join Nagisa and Sora, but on the other hand I like the idea of them staying strange outsiders.
- Natsumi's dog is a spaz.
- Kero kero kero kero kero ZETTAI RYOUIKI!

- Heh, even Sora is a bit taken aback at being called weird by Nagisa. But damn, what a fantastic mood-setting episode this is. The humidity, the clouds, the graying, muddled colors. The ambiguity of an overcast summer day, and finally, the rain. I can't tell if it's gotten humid in my apartment or if I'm just being drawn into this world.

And we end with a rainbow.


So soooooothing~

[strangefour]

-Kiruhara is such a strange little girl. But it's hard not to be won over by her joyful exuberance and insectile magnetism.
-Ryou and Fuu look like Precure girls.
-They must be neighbors and friends since preschool. It's as if they share one mind. One crazy comedic mind that laughs in the face of the fourth wall.

The use of color especially in the backgrounds is fabulous this episode. Hazing and desaturation adding a melanchony to the scene. Followed by the bringening sky and rainbow. The weather became a fleshed out character this episode. ( ^ω^)

It amazes me how some people are fine with letting insects and such walk on them like that. I'd get nervous and slap the things. I guess I'm evil.

Depends upon the kind of insect. Walking sticks, most beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, nice little creatures. Flies and wasps, kill it with fire! Well walking on arms anyway. Letting a bug walk on your face is Kurihara's own personal crazy town.

[mrsparklenoodle]

- So Sora decides to break from her routine.
- She may be a tad on the absent minded side, but her explanations of why the cats aren't where she expects to see them make sense... unless I'm forgetting a non-sequitur one, but I'm pretty sure I remember a stream of beautiful logic.
- I like Sora's naming methods.
- And here's the OP for the first time, it's just lovely, excellent animation, calming, gentle, soft song.
- Cue puppet banter. Aaand Asou considers the puppets as puppets and becomes itchy and hot... I guess her imagination was so powerful she didn't notice before?
- Oooh, a secret weapon... ...so we know it's shrouded in mystery, but does it have unimaginable destructive power? (Answer: unlikely, considering the kind of show this is)
- The power of art will help us imagine eating food that we JUST KNOW is much tastier than what we're eating even though we've never actually tried it. I guess so long as what you imagine it tastes like is pleasant to you, then all is well and good. Carry on, Kamiya.
- Welcome, little shellfish friend. Hey everyone, let's feed it bits of our lunch and hope that none of them disagree with it.
- I often feel like a guitar with a head.
- Someone's got egg on their face! Or rather, graphite on their tongue. When I was a kid, I deliberately ate pencil graphite. I'm pretty sure I ate the wood from pencils once or twice. Nowadays I limit my stationery consumption to small amounts of ink from pens that aren't working properly when shaking won't do the drink. That and I sit down to eat a fair bit (and that uses up my pun quotient for the year). I love the acting in that little bit, her laughter sounds so genuine and it really gets across her quirkiness.
- A chicken is introduced. Or possibly a shellfish in a chicken costume... no, it really is a chicken. Called Pii.
- Pii is in pain, poor Pii. That teacher is being really inconsiderate.
- Kids, don't try playing crayfish rock-paper-scissors at home, whether you have a lobster or not.
- Negishi's experiment has been thwarted without his knowledge.
- It's a showdown: Crayfish vs. Kittehkat (otherwise known as Mikke).
- But Negishi saves the shellfish, turns out it's his pet (I think?).
- Puppet time! And Sora still hasn't found Mikke.
- Did Kamiya just ask closed-eyes-guy to walk in on all those girls for the sake of comedy, or is he looking for the cat?
- Kogake has a lovely conversation with Mikke until the search party shows up, about her cat who's from the other side of the tracks.
- I can see Kasugano-sensei's bust. Or rather, the art club's new statue which was in the mysterious package. Well I suppose you could kill someone with it, so it counts as a weapon.
- ...Aaand Pii suffers some more. I so hope they introduce a therapist for chickens at some point in this series.
- I guess they can't have nice things? Incidentally this whole incident is reminding me of episode 3 of Hidamari Sketch. I wonder who the bust is meant to be of in this case?
- Kasugano-sensei is strangely practical on this occasion. And class is dismissed.
- OMG the crayfish has laid eggs! Dun dun duuuun (who's the daddy crayfish, unless I am misunderstanding how crayfish reproduce?) Negishi seems pretty pissed off about it happening before the crayfish turned blue, I suggest he pull the stick out of his ass. This episode is making me want sushi (not that I see live animals and think about how tasty they are, just that mackerel Negishi keeps mentioning)... ...since starting this post, I went and got some sushi and it was extremely delicious (also, sorry if I've upset any vegetarians reading this thread).
- Sora's attempts at walking backwards fail, but seeing things upside down gives her a new perspective (uh, literally), so glass half full.
- Cats are cuddly and soft and awesome! And Sora realises that she can break her routine and it won't destroy the world (NOTE: this advice does not apply if you are the president and are thinking of pushing THAT button for a change).
- I suppose we don't actually know if Sora changed feet or not.
- Gladly there was no aesop about how breaking from your routine in inconsequential ways will lead to... BAD CONSEQUENCES! Or even RIPS IN THE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM!
- Watching the preview, it occurs to me that brother and sister make the blue sky together.

[something]

Episode 5:

- Look right! ::sparkle:: Look left! ::sparkle::
- And run into... WAGAHAI!
- The cat who is higher up is superior. I feel like Fate assumed things worked the same way for mgical girls.
- Ah yes, Kuma-san. Only Wakamoto Norio or Nakata Jouji could possibly voice this cat. Nakata gets the nod this time. Probably the better choice, since despite the WAGAHAIness, Kuma is pretty chill. Wakamoto tends to sound... bigger. Louder, angrier, more bombastic.

- Praying mantises are like cats!
- Sora has a bad sense of space for an artist.
- Heh ah yes, the other cat seiyuu. Mike is Kaneda Tomoko, Haa is Itou Shizuka.
- And the cats discuss the dangerous elder sister of the Kajiwara household.
- Heh, is Asaka can't find a cat she'll just become a cat!

- As much shit as I sometimes have to give Kaneda Tomoko, she does a pretty good cat voice. All the strange little noises totally work on Mike, while Itou's Haa-san comes off a bit too... normal. Maybe it's just in comparison.
- Kokage reveals that she is Yutanpo! Or, Yutanpo's owner. Or maybe she becomes Yutanpo when she wears it on her head!
- It's kinda unexpedted that Kokage of all people dislikes "paranormal phenomena"...

- Ryou!! Fuu!! You have a long lost sister! ...No not you, the cat!
- Asaka lives alone with her sister?
- I like the little touch where house cats don't "speak" in language we can understand. They just meow.
- Heh, I love the various signs on the box.

- A fated meeting indeed! Asaka meets Kuma-san!
- They understand his charm point!
- Thought Asaka was naked for a second before we saw the towel.

Episodes about animals aren't supposed to be this fun.

[Suwako Moriya]

Sora will not step back from the black cat because it means you can't pet it. Sounds logical enough.

Wait. Why do you speak English to a Persian cat? Now that I question the logic of in more ways that one.


A new student has arrived and Natsumi is perfect for the job! Why? It's because she's international.

Her name is Kate! She wants to know your name. She's good at Japanese or rather she thinks she's good at Japanese.

Sora's even afraid to say her own name to new people..... Poor girl needs help.

The Persian Cat does speak English! Is Sora some sort of divine being?

So wait, even Cats have their own version of languages. Cat-Japanese for example.

Gasp! It all makes sense now because she has puppets with foreign names and they're all siblings, that makes Aso international!

Yes, I like those angles of Natsumi eating. Especially the one that shows the tastiest thing in the scene. Note, I never said what it was.

Natsumi will teach Kate everything about Japanese. Wow Kate can see the flames of determination.

Ryou and Fuu are the enemy! Can Natsumi save Kate from their dangerous influence?

Haa-san is international! Poor Mike, she's been outclassed.

Ryou and Fuu just love sharing information with Kate. It's like they enjoy having someone to corrupt. I feel sorry for Natsumi, I also feel proud of those two.

Mike doesn't have a passport. How will she travel? Should we ignore the fact she's a cat?

Writing everything in Kanji is not a good idea because of multiple meanings. Who says the show isn't educational?

Kokage's talk about corn soup and yogurt reminds me of bottles where it's impossible to get all of it. Almost as if they want you to waste some of it.


Kate declares that Natsumi's Japanese is odd Natsumi is devastated. Quick, someone hug her! Yeah, she's definitely going....

Sora handing Kate the notebook from Natsumi shows a lot of bravery on her part. Especially given the way that Sora is.

Thus the welcoming party begins. Ryou and Fuu present a special kind of cake.

Kate shall do a magic show. And by that we mean she shall reveal flowers!

Flower that she's giving to Natsumi. Must resist urge to pretend this is a proposal.

Yes, I had bad thoughts when she lifted her shirt to pull out the notebook. Also, the fact she put it there....

Natsumi is happy to be praised. And so are her puppets.

Wow. So the Persian Cat belongs to cat and his name is Buchi! Yes, that's right, Buchi.

Yes, I will admit a desire to pair up Kate and Natsumi because of this episode.

Oh, the next episode is going to be a fun one!

[Suwako Moriya]

Hazuki has a CD Player that needs repairing, but she doesn't want to pay for repairs. Natsumi has a few suggestions. All of them being art club members and most being passed over.

However in the end, the decision to go with Ryou and Fuu has been made! The results of such a choice should be awesome. However Sora won't be able to experience it. She has things to do.

Yeah, some things are just more effective when plugged in. I love Ryou's drama about the socket being too far.

Ryou is right. Can you really call it a CD Player, if it can't even do what is supposed to? It's question of profound importance.

"I see you didn't eat any. Well then, never mind this conversation!" remains one of my favorite lines. Oh, and a choice between "Okay and Yes" is always good.

To exorcise the the CD Player, we need miko outfits. Not that the actual exorcise was that eventful.

Sora and the camera girl bump into each other. I love the dramatic roll of the latter. I also love how Sora has in a sense met her match or something like that.

The two spend much quality time together. Sora using the pictures the girl took as guide for drawings. As well as Sora drawing a picture of her. Kind of nice.

Be it for the Sora part or the Hazuki part, this was definitely an effective episode.

[something]

Episode 6:

- Overnight trips! Do it!
- Hazuki, everr so thrifty. But what will you do with 300 sticks of gum?
- Summer is hot. Summer is bad. Hate summer.
- Negishi and Kokage, haha I don't think so.
- The art club trip has been decided!

- And Ryou and Fuu will come along! ::gasp::
- Kasugano-sensei arrives and they start their trip to the mysterious, exotic... ...school.
- Heh I just knew (without remembering from my first viewing) that Kokage would answer the question about summing being hot scientifically.
- Brazil... Uzbekistan!?
- The art club is unusual and fresh to RyouFuu.

- Sora remembers when she came to the school. RyouFuu spiiiiiiiiins! And god Koshimizu has such an awesome voice as Asaka.
- -zamasu!
- Kokage's art style is unique as ever.
- Sora is talkative! Well, I guess it's all relative. Also, the art club may have been empty at the time but it's pretty well-attended now. Hmm, are Sora, Natsumi and Hazuki the only first years? ::checks:: Yeah they are.

- The remnants of failed real curry...
- I love firework scenes like this in anime.
- Let Kasugano-sensei scold you!
- Roaches. Lots of roaches. Shouldn't Nagisa be elated?

I see an unknown blond girl watching the group. Just an unimportant background character, I'm sure!

[something]

Time for Sora to think about her club choices. So Sora's choice of instrument might have been a trumpet.
But of course! (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/show/640146)

[something]

Episode 7:

- Sora's thought process: If a black cat crosses your path, pet it! if a Persian cat crosses your path, speak English to it! ...?

- A new club member! WHO COULD IT BE!?
- KAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE!!! My favorite gaijin stereotype ever! Not that that's saying much since most are terrible but oh I love Kate. Not as much as Natsumi though.
- "A, sou!" Oh Kate and her puns.
- Heh, Sora engages in temporary notepad communication as a defensive mechanism.

- ...The Persian really does speak English. o_O
- Hand puppes make you international.
- Kasugano-sensei is cruel. She eats the parent and child in the same bowl!

- OO! SOU NAN DESU KA! RyouFuu are corrupting Kate already.
- Natsumi is such a wonderful girl. Fight, indeed, Asou-san!
- Haa-san is International!
- Haha, oh poor Natsumi. RyouFuu is just too dangerous an opponent.
- There are other obstacles too! Kogake strikes!
- Hahahaha, one of my favorite bits. "Natsumi's Japanese is a little weird." Natsumi freaks, and Kate follows it up with an awkward little "Ooh..." Poor poor Natsumi. :sd:

- The great fishing nation of Japan even nets its soap!
- Sora makes sure Kate knows how hard Natsumi was working. <3
- So Kate does magic... magic for Natsumi!
- Gaaaaah I love this scene so much. Totally one of my favorite bits in the whole show. Kate shows her gratitude to Natsumi, gives her a bouquet, and Natsumi tries to hide her happiness with her hand puppets. SO CUTE.
- And then the Buchi bit at the end is hilarious.

Kate x Natsumi FOREVER. If I didn't already have a clear favorite bu this point when I first watched it, this had to be what sealed Natsumi as the best. I love her so much.

Oooh next episode has camera girl! Who I noticed today was voiced by Hikasa Youko! Also more RyouFuu silliness.

[Suwako Moriya]

Sora shall help Ao with studying. And by that we mean Ao will teach Sora how to work things. Sora deals with her frustration by having tea. Subtle, but interesting.

A chance to see some of the students of Sora's class.

Kate has the advantage in English, but Japanese is another story.

Yeah, those letters look alike to me too, Kate. Heck, I think it's that and some of the more complex designs that make Japanese letters look scary.

Hazuki, Kate, Sora, and Natsumi will ask their senpai for advice. Art Club senpai because they don't know anyone else.

Nagisa suggests searching for patterns. Like how one teacher often makes the answer "C". I like this advice.

Let's ask Asaka for advice. Let's skip asking her for advice.

Kokage relies on flash cards.

Negishi is a criminal!:P Even so Sora finds those tiny books cute.

Juju would rely on singing and music.

Hiyori is depressed that no one came to her for advice. And she won't tell us her age.

The Golden Pavilion Temple was built by some construction guy. Ryou and Fuu are the most intelligent at answering questions.

The art club being used as a study club. That's one way to keep it focused on the group in spite of them being in different classes.

Asaka shall torment Negishi. Asaka shall run for her life. And this running will be set to music by Juju.

The club president relies on the strategy of studying normal. This guy must be crazy!

Natsumi shall try tongue twisters and play with her puppets.

Nagisa wants to be a biotope caretaker. This she has to explain a couple of times.

Sora has a headband, that means she's prepared for studying err battle.

Hazuki's happy faces are awesome.

Natsumi has finally memorized it! Now if only she could avoid the danger of forgetting everything due to Kuro's playing.

[bear]

The club president relies on the strategy of studying normal. This guy must be crazy!

He's way too normal. Who let him into the art club?


Nagisa wants to be a biotope caretaker. This she has to explain a couple of times.

I like Nagisa she has something she really likes and knows what she wants to do in life.

[Fencedude]

This is an extremely iyashikei episode. Not a huge fan of Kurihara, since I really don't like bugs. But binbou-sexy Hazuki and generally-sexy Hazuki made up for it.

Also one of the crazy duo was rockin' some nice thighhighs.

[strangefour]

-MEOW.
-Sora is wise in the ways of feline society.
-Hey the scatter brain is in the OP now. Along with more cats.
-Kitty cat day is fun fun day.
-Nekomimi mantis...
-Nekomimi scatterbrain.
-Nekokoneko Kokage~
-Asaka is a silly little girl.

At last, we get to see the Yutanpo that Kokage has been referring to. Why it has a cat head ornament on its tale, I don't know.

That is without a doubt the weirdest part of this adorable all cat episode. Not trying to figure out the "why." It's the fact that the "how" is impossible. Sure it looks cute, yet there is no way you can get something to stay on a cat's tail, let alone on the very end of it. Unless Kokage fused it to Yutanpo's tail with some form of Taoist alchemy.

[Fencedude]

- And run into... WAGAHAI!
- The cat who is higher up is superior. I feel like Fate assumed things worked the same way for mgical girls.
- Ah yes, Kuma-san. Only Wakamoto Norio or Nakata Jouji could possibly voice this cat. Nakata gets the nod this time. Probably the better choice, since despite the WAGAHAIness, Kuma is pretty chill. Wakamoto tends to sound... bigger. Louder, angrier, more bombastic.

Indeed. I actually thought I remembered it being Wakamoto, but yeah, this is definitely a Nakata Jouji role. Wakamoto is never NOT Wakamoto, while Nakata actually does have some sort of range.

Of course, no one other than the two of them could ever possibly use "wagahai" seriously. I can't even fathom what it would sound like from anyone else.

Ha-san always amuses me for some reason. I think its how he knows whats going to happen when he gets food from Sora, but just can't help himself. But despite that he pretty much always has the most trenchant observations for the rest of the cast.

Also, Asaka. Your hair...its...not good. Please, do something about it.

[strangefour]

-Kokage fails at trying to be tsundere.
-Ryo & Fuu have become echo bunnies.
-Uz-Becky-tan.
-Ryo & Fuu find the art room an exotic local.
-"No pillow fights. Or you get a scolding." *sparkle*
-COCKAROACHES! Please save us from the scurrying horrors Kiruhara.
-Who is this blond stranger who is walking into the lives of the art club?

The seeming mandatoriness of clubs in Japan always seems a bit weird. I suppose it's why some anime based around clubs don't seem to do the club theme as much as I'd wish they would. But Sketchbook is different!

Time for Sora to think about her club choices. So Sora's choice of instrument might have been a trumpet.


Sora with a trumpet?
No I can't see that working.
What o ther instrument could she play?

[Suwako Moriya]

Indeed. I actually thought I remembered it being Wakamoto, but yeah, this is definitely a Nakata Jouji role. Wakamoto is never NOT Wakamoto, while Nakata actually does have some sort of range.

As long as we're on the subject, sometimes I feel that Wakamoto is a good example of a seiyuu chosen less because of acting skill and more because of the type of voice he uses.


Ha-san always amuses me for some reason. I think its how he knows whats going to happen when he gets food from Sora, but just can't help himself. But despite that he pretty much always has the most trenchant observations for the rest of the cast.

Sora's food must really be dangerous for her if it turned poor Haa-san from being a female to being a male. Yeah, she's supposed to be a girl last I checked.

In any case, I find that her eating of Sora's food is a sign of either never learning or hoping that maybe just maybe one day things will be different. Yeah, as if.

[Fencedude]

While having RyouFuu interacting with the group is cool, it kinda ruins the mystique they'd built up. Ah well, they are both totally hot and awesome, so its all good.

Sora actually is more talkative now, which is almost scary in a way.

MYSTERIOUS BLONDE GIRL!

[strangefour]

-Aso is international.
-Kate is literate.
-Sora is ready.
-Aso's hot burning passion promises to be with Kate forever, or until she learns Japanese customs.
-Behold! The glorious birth of "Sou Nan Dez Kurr! (http://fav.me/d1sl4an)"
-This episode just keeps pointing out to me, much as it did the first time I watched, hoa Aso sounds like asshole.
-Poor Mike. Haa is giving her a bad day.
-Kate, chanpon champion.

-KANEDA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ1pqYKMB7E)!
-Kokage is too dangerous for you now Kate. Please walk away.
-"Where is my home?" Hehe. For some reason that's one of the funniest moments of this episode. Poor little lost persian.
--RyoFuu happy new year Kate cake!
-Enka~ I wish enka would show up more often in anime. It always amuses me.
-MAGIC!
-Kate has accepted Natsumi's marriage proposal.
-Buchi... But Butchy is a perfectly fine cat name.

My favorite episode of Sketchbook. One of the best episodes of any anime. A favorite even of people I know who don't like cute school girl animes. Canadian Kate is magical and stuff.


Flower that she's giving to Natsumi. Must resist urge to pretend this is a proposal.

Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

Yes, I had bad thoughts when she lifted her skirt to pull out the notebook. Also, the fact she put it there....

Shirt. Lifted her shirt...

[Suwako Moriya]

Yes, I had bad thoughts when she lifted her skirt to pull out the notebook. Also, the fact she put it there....

Shirt. Lifted her shirt...

All I'll say is that error just proves how bad my thoughts really were.

[something]

Episode 8:

- Binbou Hazuki! ;_; Who can resurrect her fallen CD player?
- I <3 Kate's puns. Now Shi!
- RyouFuu... can fix it! So they say. Sora, your faith in your senpai is admirable, but potentially dangerous.

- Sora can't be there to see the operation because she's heading out on a Sunday adventure1
- I love RyouFuu so much. The cord doesn't reach - such drama!
- Sora continues her iyashikei^100000 day.
- The CDRadioTape player really was possessed after all! I love how they can't do anything without messing with people in some way.

- Camera girl!!
- Hah she's relentless. Sora is no match.
- I love Sora's sketch of camera girl. And yes, you are that cute!

Such a wonderfully sketchbooky episode. <3

[Suwako Moriya]

The art club is gathering for a drawing trip at the school. The teacher is excited. This scenario is kind of familiar. Gee I wonder why. *Thinks back to episode 6* Oh, wait, never mind.


So after explaining her logic behind everything, Hiyori the one who is supposed to supervise things decides to rest for a bit. Yeah, you have to wonder about her sometimes.

And now it's time for everyone to find stuff to draw. Sora finds a bug. A bug that she names the teleportation bug.

Sora shall name it Korigisu. And thanks to Nagisa, she's confirmed to be right on the money. Could be that Sora has special powers. Or maybe she's just lucky.

Hiyori isn't exactly much of a motivator, is she?

Suddenly, a dog has appeared and it's the cute type. So when this happens, clearly the best thing to do is put food for it on top of Negishi. At least according to the wisdom of Kokage.

And the dog has been chosen by Hiyori to be their model. Even the dog seems to be confused by this.

Said dog has taken a liking to Negishi, much to Negishi's dismay. I can understand the feeling. Since I've never had good history with dogs and they've always made me nervous.

Kokage shall narrate what the dog is thinking to make things easier. Ok, maybe that wasn't a good idea, but it's amusing.

And the girls want Negishi to keep the dog, they're even offering pictures as mementos. Sorry, Negishi, but you're not getting past Sora's reaction.

And all of people, the camera girl has caught Negishi with the dog.

I wonder if Ryou and Fuu are regretting passing on that event. Regardless, we get to see them with dog ears. So there's that.

The dog arrives in class, thus we find out his name is Inuo. Then comes the camera girl, and we discover her name is Minamo. She's the secret love child err make that younger sister of Negishi.

Minamo appreciates the drawings and the fact that Negishi was convinced to bring Inuo home with him.

"She's saying borderline insulting comments with such a cute face". Kokage's way of explaining Minamo's attempts at giving comments is one of the defining moments for me.

Minamo has brought pictures of Inuo and shows them to others.

Sora wants to borrow Minamo's camera! Sora will travel with the camera and find stuff to take pictures of. Also, she'll be made to take Sora with her.

Hiyorii shall feed Minamo a potato chip and thus we discover Minamo has the most important skill ever. Guessing the flavor of potato chops. Thanks to this the universe is saved.

Sora's attempts at taking pictures are amusing. Too bad for her, the subjects don't tend to stay still. Well, at least she managed to accidentally take a decent one.

And at the same time Minamo makes attempts at painting. Including body painting. Minamo makes sure they know she's a middle school girl. Yeah, she's definitely sensitive about that.

Sora's comments about cameras and Minamo's comments about painting reminds me of one thing. You can see appeal in the other thing, but you will always have your preference.

Minamo will take a picture of everyone. Which includes Ryou and Fuu. You've got to love how those two are selective about appearances. And it seems (nearly) everyone has their preference about the picture.

So it only took from her appearance in episode 1 to that scene in episode 10 for Minamo to finally be named in the show.

[strangefour]

Yes, I had bad thoughts when she lifted her skirt to pull out the notebook. Also, the fact she put it there....

Shirt. Lifted her shirt...

All I'll say is that error just proves how bad my thoughts really were.

It's okay. It's just weird to think of you having impure thoughts about cute high school girl shows. Especially this one which is arguably the most innocent and pure. I suppose it's just hard for me to think of Suwako as anything but just another cute little high school girl as avatars normally indicate :x

[something]

It's okay. It's just weird to think of you having impure thoughts about cute high school girl shows. Especially this one which is arguably the most innocent and pure. I suppose it's just hard for me to think of Suwako as anything but just another cute little high school girl as avatars normally indicate :x
But that makes it yuri!

Anyway, Natsumi at the very least is totally sexy.

[Fencedude]

Ryou and Fuu are the most epic trolls ever. Everything they did this episode was hilarious.

And yay for KEITO. A very unusual role for Goto Yuko.

[something]

Episode 9:

- Man, Sora just totally ditches her brother. :sd: The teacher becomes the student, briefly, before just giving up entirely.
- And she observes everyone at school cramming for exams as if it doesn't concern her. :sd:

- ガソリン！ Kate could help them with English I'm sure (...right?) but not so much Japanese.
- Time to ask your senpai! Nagisa isn't a great help. Asaka is, well... >_>
- Kokage is sensible enough. Use color to reinforce it!
- And Negishi is a brazen criminal.
- Juju, meanwhile, moves Sora to tears.
- And oh, was there a teacher?

- RyouFuu <3
- There are bugs Nagisa dislikes other than roaches?

- Haha Asaka is horrible. <3
- And this is a horrible study environment. Off to the library!
- No points for guessing which art club member studies there.
- Tongue twisters are the best study technique! ...? God Kate is adorable.
- And Sora is such a tea fiend that she unconsciously tries to drink when it's not there!

- Hazuki, you are impressive. Gluing together pencil lead...
- Natsumi has mastered tongue twisters! Now she's all set for the... ...oh.

Mmm, this show makes me forget a busy, stressful day so easily. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the power to prevent such days. But while it lasts, it's lovely. <3

[superdry]

Episode 5:

- Ah yes, Kuma-san. Only Wakamoto Norio or Nakata Jouji could possibly voice this cat. Nakata gets the nod this time. Probably the better choice, since despite the WAGAHAIness, Kuma is pretty chill. Wakamoto tends to sound... bigger. Louder, angrier, more bombastic.

Episodes about animals aren't supposed to be this fun.

It was weird watching this episode after watching Yumekui Merry. Two series I'm watching with Nakata Jouji and cats. Coincidence.

And, yes, the side-story with the animals was fun and cute. Somehow it just fits with the easy going tone of the series.

[strangefour]

-Binbo-chan can not afford a CD player.
-Kamiya has talented hands. Interpert that however you want.
-I want a snake faucet.
-Kate's puns seem too smartly crafted for a non-native kanji user.
-Ryo-Fuu must have been perfecting their comedy together for years and electrical engineering. They also have the best haircuts in this show. Also also very sneaky.

-A wild camera girl appears.
-Hmm, did Sora say anything at all to her? Didn't feel like it. *nod* Not going to rerewatch to be sure.

It's hard to comment on Sora's peaceful silent moments. They are so well peaceful. Like a zen koan version of animation. They cleanse the mind of stray thoughts. Just Sora looking at the world and trying to capture it's wonderful fleeting moments. *nod* *nod*

[strangefour]

Episode 5:

- Ah yes, Kuma-san. Only Wakamoto Norio or Nakata Jouji could possibly voice this cat. Nakata gets the nod this time. Probably the better choice, since despite the WAGAHAIness, Kuma is pretty chill. Wakamoto tends to sound... bigger. Louder, angrier, more bombastic.

Episodes about animals aren't supposed to be this fun.

It was weird watching this episode after watching Yumekui Merry. Two series I'm watching with Nakata Jouji and cats. Coincidence.

And, yes, the side-story with the animals was fun and cute. Somehow it just fits with the easy going tone of the series.

And the two cat girls in that episode of Yumekui Merry are a blueish gray and a calico. Just like Haa & Mike! Underneath that mask Chaser has Kuma's face. I'm sure of it. He's going to extreme lengths to fine the right master.

[Fencedude]

So it turns out that Camera Girl is the debut role for Hikasa Youko, which is...amusing, considering the roles she's become known for.

But knowing this, I could easily tell, and I think it also explains why I always felt she sounded just a bit old for her age. This really isn't Hikasa's niche. Not that she's bad in the role, just...not quite right, its much more of a Satou Satomi role.

Anyway, RyouFuu has unknown, unimaginable powers! Also this marks the appearance of the Kugavator.

[something]

Episode 10:

- An eerily familiar turn of events. Silly Kasugano-sensei. Given that the only time they actually got to go anywhere different was when she came by with just her own car with seats for only 3 students, I can only imagine that she just happened to be driving past by coincidence and remembered the sketch trip promise. She totally was going to blow it off otherwise.
- Teleportation bug!
- Heh. Sora comes up with a clever new name! That happens to be its real name.

- Man, Kokage's trolling is second only to RyouFuu's. She got Negishi good. And nobody intervenes. :sd:
- Hazuki sure likes dumb-looking dogs.
- And Sora is frighteningly suceptible to hypnotism. Why is that not surprising?

- Ara ara, maa maa~ <3 Kokage
- Haha, narrating the dogs thoughts. <3 <3
- Camera girl! Rocking shorts version zettai ryouiki!! Hikasa Youko~
- Moe moe Fuu-chan!

- NEGISHI MINAMO! She has a name, and more than that she's Daichi's imouto! Cute, zettai ryouiki, and an imouto! Winning combination, definitely.
- Onii! Onii! Onii! Onii!!
- "She's saying borderline insulting comment with such a cute face." And thus a Suwako sig was born.
- "One of my skills is to guess the flavor of potato chips." XD
- Kokage wants to strip Minamo naked and cover her in paint!

Sora meets camera. Minamo meets paint. It's not so bad! But they both know where their true passions lie.

Gah, there should really be more shows like this. We haven't had a straight up, no plot, 101% iyashikei all day every day anime in a while, other than, what Hidamari in Winter 2010? I'm not even sure how far we need to go back before that. Probably back to Aria the Origination itself! I'm not sure I'd put K-ON! in quite the same category, although it and Natsume Yuujinchou are the only other shows that come close since 2008.

[bear]

Episode 10:
Gah, there should really be more shows like this. We haven't had a straight up, no plot, 101% iyashikei all day every day anime in a while, other than, what Hidamari in Winter 2010? I'm not even sure how far we need to go back before that. Probably back to Aria the Origination itself! I'm not sure I'd put K-ON! in quite the same category, although it and Natsume Yuujinchou are the only other shows that come close since 2008.
While only 4 OVA, Tamayura comes close. Then only thing resembling a plot is curiosity over where a picture was created.

[something]

While only 4 OVA, Tamayura comes close. Then only thing resembling a plot is curiosity over where a picture was created.
I was thinking TV series, though I didn't state that. But yes when that becomes a full TV series I'll be quite anticipating it. It's not surprise that Sketchbook was one by SatoJun's 2nd in command for Aria, and that Tamayura is itself a SatoJun anime...

Why can't anyone else make this sort of anime quite like he can?

[William K]

But knowing this, I could easily tell, and I think it also explains why I always felt she sounded just a bit old for her age. This really isn't Hikasa's niche. Not that she's bad in the role, just...not quite right, its much more of a Satou Satomi role.

Speaking of Satomi, I was rewatching Hyakko the other day and she voiced Inori, the one who everyone thought was Sadako, lol. That must be the first show I heard her voice in an anime.

[EmperorBrandon]

I was thinking TV series, though I didn't state that. But yes when that becomes a full TV series I'll be quite anticipating it. It's not surprise that Sketchbook was one by SatoJun's 2nd in command for Aria, and that Tamayura is itself a SatoJun anime...

Why can't anyone else make this sort of anime quite like he can?

Tamayura actually makes me think of Sketchbook a good bit too (maybe more so it than Aria), just with photography instead of art students. Still lots of fun with wonderfully quirky girls. I think I even saw a Pixiv artist comment one time calling it "Sketchbook season two", so I must have not been the only one that thought it.

[strangefour]

-Katakana makes Kate angry.
-Is it odd that Kate is shorter than the main trio?
-Art club sempai are not the best people to ask about studying.
-Kokage is killer at 20 questions.
-Ryo-Fuu yell at the setting sun. This is the best way to study empirically.

-Kurihara doesn't like wasps? She must be allergic.
-Kate trys a tongue twister. She fails. She keeps trying. Good luck Kate.
-Kurihara has great goals. She wants to be Captain Planet.
-Ryo-Fuu slowly cry as the sun leaves the sky. Onions are pealed.
-Good job Kate!

I'm already unusually tired tonight. But this episode has put me into a state of zen peacefulness. All is relaxing and calm. Maybe I should try some tongue twisters.

[strangefour]

Nagisa wants to be a biotope caretaker. This she has to explain a couple of times.

I like Nagisa she has something she really likes and knows what she wants to do in life.

Nagisa is a weird little bug girl. While also surprisingly adorable and joyful towards nature. If it wasn't for Kate, Nagisa would be my favorite Sketchbook character. The patience she showed explaining her dream to her club mates was particularly endearing.

[Fencedude]

Asaka trolling Negishi was awesome.

And...not much else to say, really. What can you say about this show?

[bear]

Sigh, I picked out most of the guitar cords to Kaze Sagashi from the OP. Every time I play along with it I think I understand what iyashikei really means. I just feel good. Natsumi Kiyoura's voice just soothes my soul. I wish there was a translated version of the lyrics that matched the music (sung by her).

[Fencedude]

MINAMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I totally don't buy that anyone would ever mistake you for an elementary student, but I still love you. I love you even more now that I know you're Hikasa Youko.

The dog was cute, in a dumb sort of way. I'm amused by how they don't even make the animal noises sound convincing.

[Suwako Moriya]

MINAMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I totally don't buy that anyone would ever mistake you for an elementary student, but I still love you. I love you even more now that I know you're Hikasa Youko.

Heh, the moment I truly understood that Hikasa Youko was Minamo was back when the K-ON! seiyuu were revealed and I had this desire to check who the seiyuu had played before.

Minamo is a prime example of a wonderful "anime original" character and speaking of which, I have to say the following. I was skimming through volume 7 of the manga.

Now, I can't read Japanese, but take a wild guess who I saw in the manga? I wonder if that's ever happened before. On a side note, I should really make a topic for the manga eventually and decide how to pace.

Oh, and I should get around to watching episode 11 and having the thread made for it. It's been long enough.

[strangefour]

Minamo is a prime example of a wonderful "anime original" character and speaking of which, I have to say the following. I was skimming through volume 7 of the manga.

Now, I can't read Japanese, but take a wild guess who I saw in the manga? I wonder if that's ever happened before. On a side note, I should really make a topic for the manga eventually and decide how to pace.

I thought Sae's sister eventually showed up in the manga. But maybe she was mentioned in the manga but only showed up first in the anime. Or something.

Oh, and I should get around to watching episode 11 and having the thread made for it. It's been long enough.

YES!

[Suwako Moriya]

Gasp! Sora is sick! Does this count as drama? Well, at least her cold seems to be a normal one and not one of those "anime colds" that puts you near death.

Mike and Haa should really consider the idea of running for their lives for once.

Food is most delicious when half-rotten. Kuma and Grey are crazy. Also Kuma putting his head through the fence makes Kuma a slight bit scary.

The club members have discovered Sora is sick.

Kokage the elevator shall move up and down based on Natsumi drinking juice. Kokage, Natsumi is cruel, but keep in mind you're the one that decided to follow it.

Haa shall explain to us the dangers of voice overs. Such as putting words in other people's mouths.

Yeah, if a cat is capable of writing then you already have the answer as to how to communicate. Assuming the human doesn't get confused by how a cat can do that.

*Looks at eye catch* Wait, what? It's her birthday in the next two days and I still need to prepare for another celebration. Oh, and by her I mean Kamiya Asaka.


Even when I have no idea what they're talking about, Ryou and Fuu are amazing.

Poor Sora, she needs more excitement in her life. Well, at least she can spend time randomly naming stuff.

Buchi has arrived and with him, the idea of using body language. Too bad the same pose means different things to different people.

Ao has become an RPG party leader! On a related note, Sora is being visited by Natsumi, Hazuki, and Kate.

Kate provides a silly face. Natstumi provides a special puppet. Hazuki provides some err presents from.

Quick visits from others as well. Including two of the "couples". Yes, I like the idea of treating them as couples, so there!

The cats shall perform a special ritual in hopes of getting food that isn't expired.

At last Sora gets caught trying to give out expired food and gets lectured by Ao.

Miracle do happen, the food is actually fresh!

Oh, next episode is the fun one.

[Suwako Moriya]

Trust me, there can be no better day to post this episode. Yes, I know it's no longer the 19th in Japan, but it's still the 19th where I live, so there!

It's a young Sora and she almost fell. Ao is running and making noises.

Ah, Sora was dreaming while on a train. Ah, she's with Natsumi, Kate and Hazuki. Yeah, these four are an established group.

We've secretly replaced the standard opening with a special opening, complete with a new song. In this opening, we see the four have se... err have fun together!

Hazuki is depressed that she didn't get a Fukuda Tokunosuke account book. What force evil could cause her to suffer?

Speaking of Hazuki, she is once more wearing a hat of awesome. Or maybe the hat is awesome because she's the one wearing it.

Natsumi has succeeded in crossing the street. Ignore the fact the store they want to go is on the side she was on previously! Yeah, so much for that victory.

Yellow is expensive! Therefore Hazuki has the idea of painting a blue canola field. So err saving money trumps accuracy?

Natsumi suggests Salmon Pink. Salmon Pimk reminds Hazuki of Tokunosuke. Hazuki is depressed. Comfort her, Natsumi. Note, I never said how.

Kate discovers someone shopping and shows him what various things are. She even shows him what a Sora is!

And the guy is shopping for his little sister, who is having a birthday. I wonder who this girl could be.

Kate, I'm not so sure about the idea of erasers as presents.

Kate's suggestions aren't going well. As such, she asks about the media the birthday girl uses. The guy has no idea.

Now the moment we've been waiting for, Kate has snapped! Well, in her mind anyway.

Sora suggests a sketchbook. Well, aside from promoting the name of the series it makes sense. As you can always decide what type of drawing material to use on it later.

And all four of them ended up getting sketchbooks. Oh, and it's kind of fun to hear how Kate says sketchbook compared to Sora. Kate adds no additional vowels.

Kate always writes her name in her book first.

Sora, I'm sure she'll draw something fitting of her.

It's Ryou and Fuu in lovely outfits. And they're only a short bit away from the the four. Ryou and Fuu have a way of changing things up a bit.

Minamo attempts to get her brother to accept having pictures of him taken with Inuo.

The four have caught him and thus Negishi wants them to forget it.

Stop shaking Natsumi already!

Hazuki has discovered a swarm of Tokunosuke in one of those crane machines. I never have much luck with those, but then again I barely try them.

Sora activates flashback mode. A flashback where Ao wants Sora to play as a monster. Instead, she drew a picture of a monster. Which he tore out and battled. Ao was a violent little brother.

Suddenly, Sora roars! Be afraid, Ao, be afraid!

At last we discover the birthday girl is Asaka. And you wonder why the post was made today.

For the first present, we have a collar for Kuma. Too bad being able to see it on him is kind of hard. Still the symbolism is important and this confirms things too.

And so Asaka gets the sketchbook finally. I'm sure she'll use it for completely normal drawings and have no weird ideas at all.

Negishi has chosen a picture for Minamo to sense.

Sora is interested in the idea of older brothers and younger sisters. Probably because she's the opposite.

Natsumi has drawn her puppets! Hazuki has drawn a crane machine for image training. Sora is roaring!

Figures they'd keep what Asaka will draw first a secret.

In the next episode, the impossible happens.

[strangefour]

-Autumn is here. Time for another drawing trip.
-I wonder how much that bust cost that was broken so long ago. However much it was I'm guessing it was the cost of two bus trips.
-An unidentifiable insect? Summon the Kurihara!
-Half grasshopper half cricket. It is a crasshocket! Sora is sad to learn she was right?
-Kokage instigates a wild dog attack.
-Fighting like house sleepers and sleeping children.
-Sora is easily hypnotized.
-Kokage makes a good narrator.
-Negishi is far too excitable.

-Ryo-Fuu inumimi. Heehee.
-Camera girl's triumphant return.
-Hmm, has anyone drawn a "my lil sis can't be this cute" with Minamo yet?
-Handing Sora a camera is like giving a bone to a dog. Not in the "she will chew on it all day" way, but in the "she will spend all day looking for a good place to bury it" way.
-Kokage suggest body painting. I love you Kokage. If only you were older. And real.
-Asaka is the one worried about getting the most beautiful side of her face photographed. Huh.
-Ryo-Fuu cheese!
-P-chan gets to cock strut in the ending.

It's hard to image this show is based on a 4koma. It's so much about expansive detailed backgrounds and colors and peaceful silent vistas. Still I do love it so.

[strangefour]

-Sora has a limp wristed aim on that waste basket.
-Mike, Haa. Enjoy your tiny dead fishies.
-Mike-san full power!
-Chase-- err uh Kuma makes another rare appearance.
-Elevator Kokage is back!
-Meow Meow Land~
-Haa is filled with Hot Burning Passion!!
-Cat paws can do scissors! "Shumimaseeen~"

-Kuma's small eyes and Asaka's wide open eyes make for a good pairing.
-Gomos!
-Some say that has has the whiskers of a kitten. And that he likes brown paper packages tied up with string. All we know is he's not the Stig. He's Mike.
-I just love listening to Kate's weird accent.
-Kurokichi is a tsundere twintails.
-Everyone brings character appropriate gifts. Ryo-Fuu bring a non-sequiter.
-Laughing Gomos is ever creepier.
-Sora has learned a valuable leasson. Mike and Haa rejoice with fresh fish.
-Kuma has taken over the ending.

I miss my outside cat. I have not seen him for half a year. I hope someone adopted him. *sniffle*


Quick visits from others as well. Including two of the "couples". Yes, I like the idea of treating them as couples, so there!


Well Ryo-Fuu are joined together as one in the pursuit of comedy. They are probably neighbors too. Not sure if I'd call them a "couple." Just a pair that are always hanging out together. Nagisa & Juju on the other hand are a couple. There is no denying this fact.

[something]

Argh, can't sleep. Need to turn up the heat, grab a pillow, get everything set up so I can just roll out of my chair and into bed, and watch some Sketchbook to hopefully lull me into sweet sleep.

Episode 11:

- Sora's little shiver was tooo cute. And oh Sora, only you could breathe yourself sick.

- Ah, another cat episode. Heh, they just can't resist the food she leaves out, despite everything they say.
- Awwwww, that's so cute. They know it'll kill them but they can't turn down such a kind offer.
- John Doe~
- Loud clocks. UNFAMILIAR CEILING.
- Or, Pon Choimin-san. >_>

- Kokage kills me. XD But what really sold the scene is the "You're mean" at the end. :sd: Kokage will commit to her silliness, no matter what!
- These are four of the best cats in anime. I love Haa-san dubbing over the humans. And Grey just... mews and rolls around.

- RyouFuu! Adorable as always.
- Gomos! The eternal rival of Pon Choimin-san!
- Someone buy Sora a dakimakura.

- Communication is hard.
- Ao is an RPG hero! He picked a great party. Well... sort of.
- Gifts! Lots of gifts! Only Buchou has a practical one, although I guess Hazuki's ain't bad if it's basic over-the-counter stuff. Natsumi's gift is the cutest, and Koakge's is awesome. <3

- Meanwhile, Buchi starts a cult. An international cult!
- ...And it works!

But why does Sora sleep with a cabbage....

Skeeeeeetchboooooooook~~~~~~~~~~!

[Suwako Moriya]

Eating pizza under the cherry blossom trees. Not that the dividing the pizza was easy.

Minamo shall prove she's a middle school girl by wearing her uniform.

Tsukiyo, she does exist! She's also walking off with the pizza.

Hiyori is dedicated to making a tree bloom, maybe a bit too dedicated. Not sure hugging the tree will really work though.

Poor Negishi is stuck with the job of cheering for the tree. Not that it does any good.

Minamo provides Sora with a love letter err I mean the picture taken in episode 10. Minamo still has trouble with comments.

If only Hiyori had waited, then the blossoms would have been in full bloom during the party.

Poor Natsumi needs to see a dentist. Hazuki needs to take advantage of a sale.

Sora alone in the art room starts painting based on the pictures and begins to give her thoughts on the people in the picture. Note that most if not all of these people pay visits.

Ryou and Fuu visit the art club to find only Sora is there. Clearly a sign of hell freezing over. It's the end, people!

Juju and Nagisa pay a visit as well, and then Nagisa starts chasing a butterfly as it were.

Kokage's turn, and she must really like that curtain. Oh, and Negishi was fooled.

You can tell they're running out of time because we get fewer visits and more describing. Also, Sora is adding additional people to the picture. Which she will now paint.

Sora is actually a goddess, able to make others magically appear in symbolic form just because she's painting. Why with this power she could..... Nah, I think I'm being too silly even for me.

Hiyori gets to see Sora's picture. Sora gets praised by Hiyori. Sora is red.

Don't be nervous, Sora. The special song playing will give you the power needed to get the attention of your lovers friends.

And now a quick look at various cast members with credits in the way. Including a green haired woman who has come to see Hiyori.

Hazuki is excited and happy. Oh, and they're being served by Yaoi Yuuko, a girl that has appeared multiple times before.

Sora speaks for herself, it's a sign of what we like to call progress.


Thus we shall end one of my favorite series ever. Too bad, there is no second season. Nor is there a license of this only season. Nor is there a license of the manga. It's like the forces of evil have their bases covered.

Speaking of the manga, I need to import 1-6. It might be costly, but it's cheaper than importing the anime. I should also probably start a thread for the manga eventually.

[strangefour]

-How come binbo-chan's outfit looks the most expensive?
-Oh, I'd forgotten this episode had it's own opening.
-Free check books are always ugly looking. Cheer up Hazuki. Soon you can do all your banking online... as soon as you can afford a computer :x
-Art supply stores are wonderful, magical, dangerous, expensive, joyous, confusing places.
-Stop using variable priced paints. Switch to acrylics.
-"Watercolors here. Acrylics here. Chromatic here. Sora belongs to me."
-Second verse same as the first~
-I wish we could see inside Kate's mind more often. Her getting frustrated in japanese in her head is hilarious.
-A sketchbook is the best all arround gift for any artist. Unless they only work in photography or clay or metal or purely digital or... And there are varying textures and thicknesses some artists have preferences for debending upon their favorite medium... Still a Sketchbook is a much safer buy than paints or pencils or inks or brushes or...
-No Sora you're not alone. The first page is a sacred virginal space where anything can happen. An empty universe of boundless possibilities.
-Kate does kind of have the right idea. Don't think about it just put something down first so you can continue further.
-I've decided. Ryo-Fuu are Wife and Wife (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/WifeAndWife).

-Is Sora momentarily afraid of the yelling or milk?
-Hazuki will never forget longcat.
-Sora must become a kaiju. Godzora!
-Happy birthday Asaka!
-Kuma is a happy cat.

Sketchbook might be my favorite series ever. It just hits it's cute and comedic beats so well in it's own relaxed style. Even the weirdest character is an amusing little likable girl with a cute with a huge face. Then again all the characters are weird in their own way. The slow shy girl who never talks. The zany foreigner with quirky language skills. The easily excitable puppet fetishist. They some how manage to be more than just simple caricatures though. They have these humorous extremes but still manage to feel like real characters with their own simple lives. How well integrated art is into the series is icing on the cake for me.

Now to make some tea and watch the last episode of Sketchbook ~full color`S~ :cry:

[bear]

-I've decided. Ryo-Fuu are Wife and Wife (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/WifeAndWife).


Some how I see those two in a house with lots of cats and a exorcism/electronic repair business.

[strangefour]

-I've decided. Ryo-Fuu are Wife and Wife (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/WifeAndWife).


Some how I see those two in a house with lots of cats and a exorcism/electronic repair business.

So what you're saying is they will be rivals to the Occult Club from K-ON!

[Fencedude]

Ao has no idea what to do with Sora's friends.

And CHASER JOHN DOE WISHES TO COMMUNICATE

[strangefour]

-Oooh. Aaah. A Pocari Sweat rainbow.
-Pizza horderves...
-Ooba sempai!?
-Cherry blossoms.
-Empty art room.
-If everyone hugs Sora, she will bloom faster.
-Ryo-Fuu arrives. Performs skit. Leaves.

-Sora has the ability to summon people by drawing them.
-Elevator Kokage hibernates.
-Sora's sketch makes the transition into full colors.
-Sora shouts. *gasp*
-Sora hiding behind her sketchbook is sooo adorable.

:cry:

I wish there was a good clean version of Sora's drawing to use as a background.


Thus we shall end one of my favorite series ever. Too bad, there is no second season. Nor is there a license of this only season. Nor is there a license of the manga. It's like the forces of evil have their bases covered.

Speaking of the manga, I need to import 1-6. It might be costly, but it's cheaper than importing the anime. I should also probably start a thread for the manga eventually.

I want this show licensed more than anything. Even more than GaoGaiGar FINAL or getting Dancougar on DVD. I dunno about importing manga, but if I ever go R2 this is the first show I will have to buy.

[Fencedude]

MINAMOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

...did something else happen this episode? MINAMOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[KomoriKiri]

-How come binbo-chan's outfit looks the most expensive?

I don't think she's poor. I think she's just a cheapskate.

KomoriKiri
"If you think we always only do completely pointless things, you're hugely mistaken."
-- Ryou ("Sketchbook ~full color’S~")

[kijakusai]

Kate always writes her name in her book first.
　
Yeah, she wrote it as '毛糸'.ｗ

I happened to also write about Sketchbook, language and Kate, who said to Natsumi that Natsumi's Japanese was kind of odd, in another thread.
http://www.mania.com/aodvb/showpost.php?s=&p=1907648&postcount=15
　

[strangefour]

-How come binbo-chan's outfit looks the most expensive?

I don't think she's poor. I think she's just a cheapskate.

KomoriKiri
"If you think we always only do completely pointless things, you're hugely mistaken."
-- Ryou ("Sketchbook ~full color’S~")

Yeah my first viewing through of Sketchbook I thought she was just very very much a penny pincher. On this second viewing Hazuki seems more like a mix of cheapskate and poor girl. Maybe the frugalness is the result of saving most of her money for expensive clothes. Or her family used to be poor but isn't so bad off currently.

[something]

Episode 12:

- Mini-Sora-oneechan!
- It's episode 12. Have a new OP for no reason! But it gives us more time watching the girls doing stuff, so it's awesome!
- And Natsumi is rocking that stockings/shorts combo.

- Arts and crafts store! All art anime must visit one at least once. Even if it's traumatic for Hazuki...
- Ask Kate-sensei! She will teach you everything you need to know about paint (and Sora)!
- Was this guy the older brother of one of the art club girls? I can't remember.
- KATE IS RIOTING! In her mind.
- And Sora comes up with the obvious solution. It was in the title all along!

- They buy their own! It is TOTEMO SUBARASHII EXCELLENT! I love you so much Kate.
- 毛糸!
- RyouFuu! They decide to mix things up... by making out under the table! I mean, hand puppets. Poor waitress.

- Jeeze, Natsumi has more boobs than the rest of the group combined. At least in this shot.
- Minamooooo!! And Daichi, unhand Natsumi, you fiend!
- Man, ¥200 per try?
- Siblings are different when they're together. Siblings are different when they're apart.

- Ao has sure mellowed out over the years, hasn't he?
- GAO!

- Ah! Asaka's brother! That's who he was.
- Kuma is truly a member of the Kamiya family now!
- And Negishi is totally tsundere for Inuo.
- A new sketchbook. A dilemma. A wonderful dilemma.

Hah, ED has the girl who hasn't even appeared yet (though she's in the preview).

One left! Then picture dramas.

[Suwako Moriya]

First, we're putting them all in one thread because of how short they are and such.

Second, I'll get around to the actual re-watch of them when I'm less distracted and have more time. This is mainly about getting the sub thread ready.

For now, I will say Natsumi in a swimsuit and Natsumi naked are important plot points.

[something]

Episode 13:

- It's pizza!
- Minamo, you are always welcome! And yay, school uniform!
- And who best to play a character who almost never appears and gets no lines? NOTO MAMIKO!!
- Kasugano-sensei is totally trolling Daichi.

- Sora watches the sakura alone.
- Sora attends art club alone.
- Sora draws everyone! And who woulda thought, RyouFuu actually show up but almost nobody else did.
- Sora practicing the salute <3 <3

- And everyone appears as she draws them. Sora controls reality!
- Kokage!! She just stops by to jump in her curtain. <3

And holy crap I did not remember the ending being this fantastic. As soon as Sora brings out the colors, everything is 100% pitch perfect through to the very last moment. First with the club filling in around her, then Kasugano-sensei doing the first teacher-like thing she's ever done. But what really got me ;_;ing was Sora raising her voice to call out to Hazuki an Natsumi before they got far away... and Sora introducing herself at the restaurant. Just absolutely beautiful! ;_;

Oh and the Aria crossover-image is amazing. <3

[bear]

Episode 13:
..

- Sora watches the sakura alone.
- Sora attends art club alone.
- Sora draws everyone! And who woulda thought, RyouFuu actually show up but almost nobody else did.
- Sora practicing the salute <3 <3

- And everyone appears as she draws them. Sora controls reality!
- Kokage!! She just stops by to jump in her curtain. <3

And holy crap I did not remember the ending being this fantastic. As soon as Sora brings out the colors, everything is 100% pitch perfect through to the very last moment. First with the club filling in around her, then Kasugano-sensei doing the first teacher-like thing she's ever done. But what really got me ;_;ing was Sora raising her voice to call out to Hazuki an Natsumi before they got far away... and Sora introducing herself at the restaurant. Just absolutely beautiful! ;_;

Oh and the Aria crossover-image is amazing. <3

Ahh, I just got finished commenting on the Madoka thread. Your description brought back the images of Sora and the club to my mind. Thank you, I really needed that. Such a perfect ending with her meeting the girls and Sora introducing herself in the restaurant.

[Suwako Moriya]

Picture Drama 1

Stick Figures! Also, the girls are on a train trip. We're also told that only five of them were able to come along. The five being Sora, Natsumi, Hazuki, Kokage, and Nagisa.

All of them I like, but no Asaka or Kate makes me sad. Still I guess given the short nature of these you have to be focused on.

Sora has this strange desire to sketch in impossible situations.



Picture Drama 2

The time has come for swimsuits!

Natsumi, we wanted to see your underwear! Still wearing Kokage's swimsuit works, I guess.

Yeah, Sora, drawing a picture of those crabs on your sketchbook in the very sketchbook they're on would be a challenge.


Picture Drama 3

Natsumi has shocking news. Because they were late getting to the Inn, they missed dinner. Nagisa and Kokage know exactly who to blame for this.

So in the end, the five of them are going to have to make dinner. The main dilemma. Who gets to kill the fish? Yeah, not an easy decision.

Nagisa warns them about the feelings of the fish. They think about letting it free. At which point the fish gets killed by Nagisa.

Aside from being amusing, it makes Nagisa interesting in the sense that it shows she understands the concept of animals eating animals.

Poor Natsumi, well at least there's the idea of cooking rice. Although the type I have tends not to require washing it.

Another attempt at drawing has failed.


Picture Drama 4

The episode that must be kept secret from the family.

Natsumi is interested in comparing chest sizes.

Naked Natsumi. Now if only we could have seen Kokage naked as well.

Sora, thanks for letting us know Kokage has two breasts. We never would have guessed. Yes, you should have drawn them.



Picture Drama 5

Natsumi wants them to discuss love stories. So Nagisa describes her favorite bug. Yeah, go figure on that one.

Hazuki's description of her ideal person has Sora conclude it must be Mike! Ok, so Mike is female and a cat, but....

True to form, when it comes to her turn, Natsumi decides sleeping is more important.



Picture Drama 6

A cat of the sea that looks like Mike. Mike of the sea can only be Umike. Sora's naming logic is fun.

One of these days I'll actually be patient enough to watch the sun rise. Not that I'd get a good view in my area.

Soon everyone joins Sora outside.

Conclusion, Natsumi doesn't follow the rules.

Yes, it would have been nice if the others could have come. Heck maybe you should have dragged along other art students in Japan as well.

Darn it drama episode 4, I'm still wondering about naked Kokage. To the point I keep staring at her in the outfit she wears near the end of this episode 6. Read into that what you want.