Kiddy Grade (spoiler warning)

[MeiLing]

I just finished this anime series today and enjoyed it. I just thought it could have been much better. One of the big things was that they did not want to risk killing off any of the main toons so in the end it is really odd who lives and who dies. :roll:

Plus the intro and closing songs for this anime where a huge let down. Sung in english? Felt out of place. And while I liked the maine duo, Lumiair and Euclare, they only hinted at telling us about them but in the end only left us with those breif hints. Not much of any thing really effected their lifes to much which was strange considering the show always talked about how the past can effect your future. But with the main pair they just kept on going no matter what and nothing changed. Just strange. And even stranger I still kind of liked the series for all its faults. :blush:

[chloes_fork]

Plus the intro and closing songs for this anime where a huge let down. Sung in english? Felt out of place.
My recollection is they were mostly in Japanese with the stray Engrish phrase (more in the OP). You'll find that's pretty common in anime songs and in Jpop generally, though.

And anyway, you gotta love lyrics like, "Any planet is keeping twinkle." Uhm ... yeah, sure they are. :D

[Fudce]

Plus the intro and closing songs for this anime where a huge let down. Sung in english? Felt out of place.
My recollection is they were mostly in Japanese with the stray Engrish phrase (more in the OP). You'll find that's pretty common in anime songs and in Jpop generally, though.

And anyway, you gotta love lyrics like, "Any planet is keeping twinkle." Uhm ... yeah, sure they are. :D
The key thing to remember, the english release is actually sung in english, but the japanese version is also available on the japanese track.
I think both versions of the OP are equally good, one of the better translations of an opening theme.

[chloes_fork]

The key thing to remember, the english release is actually sung in english, but the japanese version is also available on the japanese track.
Oh, so they dubbed the songs, too? Wouldn't know myself, since I stick to the JP track, but that makes sense.

[Fencedude]

Kiddy Grade 2 starts later this year.

[Hayate Kurogane]

Kiddy Grade 2 starts later this year.


And the first Kiddy Grade compilation movie started its limited release run last week (the second and third are due in June and September, respectively).

[joelgundam01]

The key thing to remember, the english release is actually sung in english, but the japanese version is also available on the japanese track.
Oh, so they dubbed the songs, too? Wouldn't know myself, since I stick to the JP track, but that makes sense.


Yep, they are dubbed. Funimation has a tendency of doing it to most of their releases.

[HitokiriShadow]

Had a tendency. I think its been a while since they last did it.

I thought the English opening for Kiddy Grade was pretty well done.

[The Creation]

off topic here. i actually think funimation's english version of For Fruits Basket (fruits basket's OP) is MUCH better than the japanese counterpart. why? because i understand the lyrics, and more importantly, the japanese singer tried TOO hard for her own good to sound cute/soothing. too bad there isn't a full English version of that song.

[Fudce]

off topic here. i actually think funimation's english version of For Fruits Basket (fruits basket's OP) is MUCH better than the japanese counterpart. why? because i understand the lyrics, and more importantly, the japanese singer tried TOO hard for her own good to sound cute/soothing. too bad there isn't a full English version of that song.
I love the english version of For Fruits Basket, but I cannot bring myself to say that it's better than the original Japanese version sung by the late Ritsuko Okazaki. She didn't try to sound cute/soothing when singing, she just did sound that way. For more examples see the Princess Tutu opening, and "Agape" from UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie.

[The Great Bear]

off topic here. i actually think funimation's english version of For Fruits Basket (fruits basket's OP) is MUCH better than the japanese counterpart. why? because i understand the lyrics, and more importantly, the japanese singer tried TOO hard for her own good to sound cute/soothing. too bad there isn't a full English version of that song.
I love the english version of For Fruits Basket, but I cannot bring myself to say that it's better than the original Japanese version sung by the late Ritsuko Okazaki. She didn't try to sound cute/soothing when singing, she just did sound that way. For more examples see the Princess Tutu opening, and "Agape" from UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie.

I'd agree. Both versions of For Fruits Basket are good.

[Damo]

Not much of any thing really effected their lifes to much which was strange considering the show always talked about how the past can effect your future. But with the main pair they just kept on going no matter what and nothing changed.
There are many other shows (too many infact) where characters get bogged down in self-identity crisis because an aspect of their past has been thrown into down, Eclaire was able to accept her past and the bagage that came with it and then get on with blowin stuff up.

"they are who they are because that's who they are" memories does not a person make. :)

[The Creation]

late Ritsuko Okazaki
!! :( she passed away at such a young age.

[something]

One of the big things was that they did not want to risk killing off any of the main toons so in the end it is really odd who lives and who dies. :roll:
::shrugs:: The two 'villains' died. You knew Lumiere and Eclaire wouldn't die, so the only real 'wtf' was Eclipse.

Plus the intro and closing songs for this anime where a huge let down. Sung in english? Felt out of place.
The OP is mostly Japanese, just with a lot of Engrish. I can't remember the ED anymore, but I remember it was pretty good. Also, Funimation dubbed the OP and ED I believe so you must have seen that (the original is still on the disc as well if you wanted that).

And while I liked the maine duo, Lumiair and Euclare, they only hinted at telling us about them but in the end only left us with those breif hints.
They told us enough. The show is about Eclaire, and that's what we got. It was confusing the first time through, yes, but they do explain it. I liked the show even more the second time I watched it.

Not much of any thing really effected their lifes to much which was strange considering the show always talked about how the past can effect your future. But with the main pair they just kept on going no matter what and nothing changed.
What do you mean? That the events of the show had no impact on the characters? I'm really not sure I agree with that.

And even stranger I still kind of liked the series for all its faults. :blush:
That's how it's supposed to be. Kiddy Grade is awesome, even if you recognize all its flaws =D It's really not nearly as empty a story as its detractors make it out to be though.

[vtr9kvictor]

I just finished this anime series today and enjoyed it. I just thought it could have been much better. One of the big things was that they did not want to risk killing off any of the main toons so in the end it is really odd who lives and who dies. :roll:

Plus the intro and closing songs for this anime where a huge let down. Sung in english? Felt out of place. And while I liked the maine duo, Lumiair and Euclare, they only hinted at telling us about them but in the end only left us with those breif hints. Not much of any thing really effected their lifes to much which was strange considering the show always talked about how the past can effect your future. But with the main pair they just kept on going no matter what and nothing changed. Just strange. And even stranger I still kind of liked the series for all its faults. :blush:

I liked the Kiddy Grade music, both English and Japanese, but I must admit the mp3's I have on my comp and cd are the Japanese versions...

I liked the show because of its plot. I thought it was awesome that it turns out to be huge intergalactic conspiracy to committ genocide against virtually ALL of mankind. Wow. Plus, the other thing for me was I thought the show had a certain "horror" aspect to it that you don't get until Eclaire and Lumiere 'die' and are 'reborn' in their new bodies; that being that the ES Agents are never allowed to die. Constantly being resurrected in a new body over and over again - its got to be just - well, HORRIFIC. To quote Peter Cushing (in reference to Dracula): "You CAN NOT die.... you must WANT to."

Aside from that, the eye candy was wonderful, animation, effects, character designs, even Funi's artbox design - it was incredible. GORGEOUS show.

And then Colleen and Monica contributed to my enjoyment as well with their fine performances.

But I never bought for even one second that Lumi was drinking 'grape juice'.

[Garrett Jax]

But I never bought for even one second that Lumi was drinking 'grape juice'.

I'm curious now. I only watched the dub version, so was the reference to her drinking "grape juice" in the subs also, and if so was this in any way an alteration from the original Japanese version because Lumiere appears underaged (by other countries laws that is) to be drinking a "spirited" beverage?

Or was it merely a play on words that we were intended to pick up on and go "suuure... 'grape juice,' ...rrighht" :)

[Fencedude]

But I never bought for even one second that Lumi was drinking 'grape juice'.

I'm curious now. I only watched the dub version, so was the reference to her drinking "grape juice" in the subs also, and if so was this in any way an alteration from the original Japanese version because Lumiere appears underaged (by other countries laws that is) to be drinking a "spirited" beverage?

Or was it merely a play on words that we were intended to pick up on and go "suuure... 'grape juice,' ...rrighht" :)

Lumiere's drink of choice has always been referred to as "Aged Grape Juice"

[RayeKinezono]

Even with all of it's faults, Kiddy Grade is one kick-ass show. It has been my number one absolute favorite (as my journal can attest to (http://reiayanamieva00.livejournal.com) as it remains with that theme to this day), and nothing has yet topped it in my opinion (the first season of Sailor Moon came pretty damned close, though).

The music is just as good in English or Japanese. And while I've seen it in both languages, I have to say the dub is my favorite. Colleen and Monica just really hit this one out of the park. The Japanese voices are just as good, but those two just add a little something extra that makes it all the better.

[The Great Bear]

Getting a free extra copy of v.1 from Right Stuf yesterday gave me an excuse to rewatch the first three episodes yesterday. This was my first rewatch since seeing it all back around the beginning of '06.

It should be pointed out that the beginning episodes really are not much of a big deal. I know, I know, I know, they have to take the time to set up the characters and the "universe." But there also isn't really much promise of good things to come. Besides Éclair fan service.

I remember having the same feelings the first time I watched it. But this time, it was different, of course, because I knew that it got much, much better later on.

Like just about everyone says, it is a good show despite having some rather major flaws, plot-wise. I would have liked to have seen more of the past of Lumiere and Éclair, but we're only given what we're given.

While I know that Kiddy Grade 2 is going to have different leads, I still would like it if they did go into the past of Éclair and Lumiere for a bit. Let us see the full story behind why Éclair had her memory erased. What was so horrible that she was desperate to forget.

[RayeKinezono]

Let us see the full story behind why Éclair had her memory erased. What was so horrible that she was desperate to forget.

I thought they had already explained that. At leasr, from what I gathered.

There's a number of possible explanations, but I'll just give one here:

She could have wanted to simply forget because she remembered all her previous "lives," and how each one died. That could be a really painful thing to remember all of the times you've lost something. Maybe she thought it would be easier to continue on without that knowledge.

[vtr9kvictor]

Let us see the full story behind why Éclair had her memory erased. What was so horrible that she was desperate to forget.

I thought they had already explained that. At leasr, from what I gathered.

There's a number of possible explanations, but I'll just give one here:

She could have wanted to simply forget because she remembered all her previous "lives," and how each one died. That could be a really painful thing to remember all of the times you've lost something. Maybe she thought it would be easier to continue on without that knowledge.

I thought it was because she took part in blowing up that entire planet.

[The Great Bear]

Let us see the full story behind why Éclair had her memory erased. What was so horrible that she was desperate to forget.

I thought they had already explained that. At leasr, from what I gathered.

There's a number of possible explanations, but I'll just give one here:

She could have wanted to simply forget because she remembered all her previous "lives," and how each one died. That could be a really painful thing to remember all of the times you've lost something. Maybe she thought it would be easier to continue on without that knowledge.

I thought it was because she took part in blowing up that entire planet.


I know about both of those, but they never made it explicit what the reason was. It's probably all of those things.

Still, it would be cool to see more of her past.