Futatsu no Spica (Twin Spica) discussion thread

[something]

I was quite perplexed as to why there was no thread for this, then I found out it aired back in 2003. Well, no wonder. For some reason I thought it was from 2006 at the oldest. As I start watching it, I can see it's definitely "older" though.

I might not necessarily post once per ep (might do 2-3 at once or something) because I don't expect much discussion. Anyway, standard spiel, GO!

Ep 1 thoughts will go in a reply to avoid having spoilers in the root post.

ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3084) entry.
Official (http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/spica) site. [2] (http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/spica/), [3] (http://www.g-tac.co.jp/spica)
Schedule (http://cal.syoboi.jp/tid/249/time) for airing dates and times on various stations. (...ok, maybe it's a bit silly to include this link in this case... :sd: )

Note
As usual, please try to follow these three easy forum courtesy habits when replying:
1) If you're the first person to post about an episode in any given week, please respond to the root post (this post) and indicate in the subject line which episode you're posting about.
2) If someone has already posted about an episode before you, please respond to that post (or a relevant reply to that post). Keep in the right subthread.
3) Don't use the blue "Post Reply" button because it causes your reply not to correctly inherit the subject line of the post you're replying to. Just click "Quote" to the post you want to reply to.

Thanks.

[something]

Episode 1:

- Well that was one confusing OP. Someone in a lion mask playing a tiny harmonica, and then... spacegoing rockets? What?
- A rocket which crashes into a town and kills lots of people... and a lion mask guy who happens to be a ghost o_O
- It'll take some time to get into Lion-san being voiced by Koyasu Takehito. Looking at him I just expected a younger sounding voice. Of course, it's not like we can really guess Lion-san's age or anything.
- Oh, that mostly answers that. He was old enough to be an astronaut, old enough to consider getting married to Yuuko, the teacher. Even as the "youngest astronaut ever" we're still talking at least early 20's no doubt.
- I shouldn't be thinking so hard about how he plays a harmonica through his mask, but damnit, I am.
- Hmmm, I think I'm liking the dynamic between Lion-san and Yuuko.
- And oh man, Asumi talking about how she wanted to bury her mom's ashed at a place with the best view of the bay... that killed me. Well done.

Looks like a time skip between here and ep 2. A big one, about 10 years. (Edit: Oh, not 10, more like 8, since she's going to middle school, not high school yet. The space school is the high school)

[KomoriKiri]

Ah, I like this series. This thread will be a good excuse to rewatch it. And you've reminded me I need to catch up on the last couple manga releases and look around for the R2 DVDs again.

Wraith
If space is warped, time is all that's weft

[something]

Episode 2:

- Why does only Asumi have permablush? So onwards to junior high. Third year of it actually, and Asumi is a bit of an outcast since she spends all day daydreaming about space. Her classmates dump cleaning duty on her and only one boy seems to want to be nice to her.
- But she doesn't seem to care too much, she wants to go to high school within the space program, except she's never told her dad this. I'm sure he'll be thrilled =P
- Ahhh. The preview made me think he'd be pissed that she wanted to become an astronaut, when it's a rocket that killed his wife. But on the contrary, he's upset that she tried to hide it from him. He was even a rocket engineer when he was younger, though they don't say how or why that fell apart. So he works extra shifts and saves up enough money for tuition and they have an emotional father-daughter talk and etc etc etc. All setup for Asumi getting to astronaut school, and the plot starting for real.
- God the ED is terrible :sd:

[something]

Episode 3:

- So the nice classmate from episode two is named Shinnosuke (hencesorth Shin), and as implied by the OP, takes the test too. He's also clearly got a thing for Asumi but won't admit it.
- Secondary exam: living for a week in a small room with two other applicants. We also meet some dude with a weird scar/burn on his face and no eyebrows.
- Oh thank goodness. I know "bullying the main character" is pretty much a given in any school-based anime like this, but thankfully I'm rather liking Shin and the way he looks out for Asumi. Likewise, while one of the two girls Asumi is partnered with in the closed-environment simulation seems like she's going to be a bitch at first, the other girl (Kei) is friendly.
- Yeah, green hair chick is a giant bitch. For now. And the exam finally begins.
- Shuu is awesome. He's paired up with Shin and some forgettable generic third guy.
- Wow, they're really making a big deal about remembering a four digit number. A number they were told, like... an hour ago, max. A number that represents the room they're in right now. :sd:
- After exhibiting their Herculean feat of memorization they look in the boxes that include part of their week long test. We see what's in the box Asumi pulls out - hundreds of little blocks. Kei says they're domino pieces. Well, okay!

Now we're getting into the main story. I'm starting to like the cast as a whole already. Asumi, Kei, Shin and Shuu are good, while I'll of course come to like Bitchy McGreenhair eventually. I'm not yet convinced generic third guy in Shin and Shuu's room will be a real character, but I guess I can just pay more attention to the OP next time and see for myself.

Might stop here for tonight so I don't burn through it too quickly. 20 episodes is such a bizarre number...

[Splitter]

RAWR! A week after I finished it and now you start a discussion thread...

The closed-environment arc was my favorite personally. Kei-chan is just too awesome ^^

[something]

RAWR! A week after I finished it and now you start a discussion thread...
Haha, really? That's some bizarre timing. I finally started this mostly on a whim, because I was trying to decide what to watch (other than new shows and continuing another Touka Gettan rewatch), and sort of picked this at random.

You should have started a thread when you were watching it, I probably would have bumped it up and watched along.

[Nemo_N]

- I shouldn't be thinking so hard about how he plays a harmonica through his mask, but damnit, I am.

Hehehe. That bugged me too at first, but hey, he is a ghost :cool:.

I love this show; it airs here in Mexico through Animax Latin America in a lousy spot, but it still shines above others. It is in its Nth re-run :sdsmiley:.

Edit: The OP song is awesome.

[Nemo_N]

Shin sure is tsundere; but I still don't like him for Asumi.

BTW, here is a gif of one of my favorite moments of the show in this episode:

Asumi cracking the nut (1.1MB). (http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7803/spicanutcrackel9.gif)

[Splitter]

RAWR! A week after I finished it and now you start a discussion thread...
Haha, really? That's some bizarre timing. I finally started this mostly on a whim, because I was trying to decide what to watch (other than new shows and continuing another Touka Gettan rewatch), and sort of picked this at random.

You should have started a thread when you were watching it, I probably would have bumped it up and watched along.

If everyone started a discussion thread when they started a show, this place would be no better than all the other half-assed forums I visit on occasion.

No, something. Only you are worthy to start these kinds of threads in AOD without any negative repercussions.

I liked how they made such a big deal out of four numbers as well, but then again, I can understand that. I get paranoid about locking my apartment door everytime I leave the house, and five seconds from the door I think "wait, did I lock it?" even though I did it five seconds ago. And with so much weighing on getting it open, I can see the anxiety in having only one chance to get the numbers right.

[something]

If everyone started a discussion thread when they started a show, this place would be no better than all the other half-assed forums I visit on occasion.
No, something. Only you are worthy to start these kinds of threads in AOD without any negative repercussions.
Heh :sd:. I *like* when people start threads on what they're watching =P Besides, if nobody else is interested, the thread just gets no replies and dies quietly. I probably could have done this in the Currently Watching thread, but then I'd have to say a lot less and avoid any spoilers and that's no fun.

You only need one thread per show anyways, so when I thought this was only like two years old, I was surprised there was no thread. I was iffy on if I should bother to make one (especially if I wound up dropping it after an ep... hello Monochrome Factor discussion thread :sd: ) but what the heck, figured I'd go for it. It's also good for getting people to rewatch stuff (see Wraith's comment), and I know Fence started this but hasn't finished, so he said it'll motivate him to continue too.

Hmm, I think I'll plan on watching one more ep tonight when I get off work. I want to keep at this at a steady pace, but not try and marathon it all. I also don't want to watch like half of it then forget about it for a month. Though, I can predict if this is going to be a pretty laid back show, or one that gets oddly intense, so that'll play a role too.

Oh, and yeah, it's true that remembering seemingly simple things can get one all paranoid. When I go out to get something from me car I'll like, quintuple check I didn't leave the keys in the car. Even if they're in my pocket, I'll take them out and look at them. Lock ourself out once (...in the snow...) with no way to get in your house (...for two hours...) and you never trust yourself again...

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 3:Might stop here for tonight so I don't burn through it too quickly. 20 episodes is such a bizarre number...

No references for it, but I'm pretty sure the series was originally meant to be 22 or 23 episodes, but got cut short for some reason. I don't think it ever hit the ratings they wanted, which is a pity.

Wraith
"I'm killing time while I wait for life to shower me with meaning and happiness."
-- Calvin

[Pelianth]

Edit: The OP song is awesome.
The OP is indeed awesome. It's a pity Buzy broke up after their first album. *has all their singles as well as said album*

[Pelianth]

Episode 3:Might stop here for tonight so I don't burn through it too quickly. 20 episodes is such a bizarre number...

No references for it, but I'm pretty sure the series was originally meant to be 22 or 23 episodes, but got cut short for some reason. I don't think it ever hit the ratings they wanted, which is a pity.
It aired on NHK paired with Planetes. IIRC, some of the episode slots were preempted for other things 'cause I remember them ending at about the same time.

[something]

Episode 4:

- Heh oh Kei. Asumi starts lining up the dominoes, then topples over a small line and laughs. Kei assumes she's gone insane XD
- Asumi declares bitch girl a commie pinko bastard! Or just "Pinko-chan". But a nickname like that finally gets the girl to tell them her name: Ukita Marika.
- I also find out why the hell the show is called Futatsu no Spica. Spica is the name of a star. A binary star at that.
- Domino test is awesome. So is Shuu threatening to beat up the loser in his room.
- MELTDOWN! "Why don't you cool your head a bit?" I can never hear that line the same way again after WHITE DEVIL.
- And suddenly, they simulate severe decompression o_O Examinees are getting ill right and left, all the dominoes fall over with the violent shaking, and many students open the doors and give up.
- Our two main groups stay in of course, but Asumi... somehow decompression makes her remember the accident that put her mother in a coma. And somehow she realizes Lion-san was on that rocket.

The last bit doesn't seem to follow, but that's because I can't remember if Lion told her how he died. If he ever had, it wouldnt have been hard for her to put two and two together and realize this well before now... well no matter, she knows and that's the point.

[Splitter]

The last bit doesn't seem to follow, but that's because I can't remember if Lion told her how he died. If he ever had, it wouldnt have been hard for her to put two and two together and realize this well before now... well no matter, she knows and that's the point.

That was a problem I had with the series as well. It doesn't do a good job communicating past knowledge of the various characters. Oh well, can't wait to hear your thoughts on Ep. 5.

[something]

Episode 5:

- Halfway through all I have to say about this is 1) Asumi, you shouldn't sniff corpses and 2) definitely was not expecting the show to suddenly switch to "Asumi's Adventures in the Afterlife".
- Nor her helping ferry her mom across the Sanzu :sd:

Definitely got really sweet for a moment there, but still not an ep that needs much said, so I'll toss 6 in here as well.


Episode 6:

- Back to your regularly scheduled mental breakdown. Also, Kei bitchslapping Marika FTW.
- After much drama, only two rooms managed to get all the dominos lined up. Guess who!
- Haha, what? Marika spent most of her life locked in her room, never allowed to leave. I'm pretty sure that's child abuse.
- Flashback again, and the lecturer for the space program (our protagonists passed, of course) recognizes Asumi's family name while shuffling through a file of students. Someone who knew her father perhaps?

Woah god I'm so tired right now I can barely type (or remember what I was going to say), so I think I ought to leave it at that. Definitely still liking this show at any rate.

[something]

Episode 7:

- So the first half has Asumi leaving her home to go to space school. This involves leaving Lion-san behind. I guess that's not too surprising, since she needs to make her own way and him coming to her dorm would be a bit odd. But I wonder how active a role he'll play now?
- The dorm is old and a bit run-down, and few of the other students use it. Since most space school kids are rich, I guess they get their own places, or a nice apartment.
- Asumi runs into Kei-chan before the ceremony. <3 Kei. Kei is surprised Asumi doesn't have a cellphone.
- And Marika gets hit on by a bunch of guys, who stop after she threatens to kill them :sd:
- The incoming class is... friggin huge. There's gotta be a thousand kids here.
- Haha. Shuu is the student representative, meaning he got the highest score on the exam. He gets up and gives a three line speech, then sits back down.
- And Asumi has an enemy already. One of her teachers seems to hate her, and from what he's saying, it's because of her father. I guess we'll get a reason for him ending his engineer career after all.
- Marika is still a bitch.
- Aw, I was hoping Kei would get into the dorm with Asumi, but no such luck. They do come by looking for her though, since she was out so much later than expected. Kei even managed to drag Marika along, who gets all tsuntsun about how worried she was.


Episode 8:

- The depiction of Asumi's physical ability is a bit strange. She can crack a nut with her hands and literally run laps around everyone else in her class (Marika included), but at other times she's depicted as really small and weak, like when she's lugging her suitcase around.
- Drugs for Marika! She seems to have a heart condition, which running 30 laps didn't help.
- Jackass teacher is a jackass. Here's hoping the inevitable "teacher bullies Asumi" storyline will be over within 2 episodes, because god bullying arcs are so... lame.
- Well, it's delayed until at least next episode it seems. This one ends with a trip to the Space Resource Center where everyone is entranced by a display of a spacesuit. Then Asumi and Kei see Marika doing some running training

So, making headway with Marika = good! Dumb teacher with a childish grudge = bad! Let's hope we get more of the former than the latter... think I'll stop here for tonight though. Two enjoyable episodes. I have a new show to recommend when someone asks for "relaxing" shows.

[Fencedude]

Episode 5:

- Halfway through all I have to say about this is 1) Asumi, you shouldn't sniff corpses and 2) definitely was not expecting the show to suddenly switch to "Asumi's Adventures in the Afterlife".
- Nor her helping ferry her mom across the Sanzu :sd:

Definitely got really sweet for a moment there, but still not an ep that needs much said, so I'll toss 6 in here as well.



I almost couldn't make it through this episode this time around.

BAAAAAAAAAAWWWW

;_;

[Gildor]

Episode 7:

- So the first half has Asumi leaving her home to go to space school. This involves leaving Lion-san behind. I guess that's not too surprising, since she needs to make her own way and him coming to her dorm would be a bit odd. But I wonder how active a role he'll play now?
[...]
They do come by looking for her though, since she was out so much later than expected. Kei even managed to drag Marika along, who gets all tsuntsun about how worried she was.
[...]

So, making headway with Marika = good! Dumb teacher with a childish grudge = bad! Let's hope we get more of the former than the latter... think I'll stop here for tonight though. Two enjoyable episodes. I have a new show to recommend when someone asks for "relaxing" shows.

Episode 7 is where I really started to have hope for Marika's "redemption". The fact that she showed up with Kei when they didn't know where Asumi was showed me there was something other than the cold exterior. Yes, a small crack, but definitely there.

This is a wonderful series. Every episode builds the story and the characters at least a little. Well, there is one exception, but I'll wait till something sees it and posts on it before I comment.

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 7:
- The depiction of Asumi's physical ability is a bit strange. She can crack a nut with her hands and literally run laps around everyone else in her class (Marika included), but at other times she's depicted as really small and weak, like when she's lugging her suitcase around.

It comes down to what she's been practicing. The anime doesn't cover it in quite as much detail as the manga, but she spent lots and lots of time with one of those hand-exerciser things to work on her grip, and she does mention she's jogged daily. What she hasn't done is general weight training. It comes down to what Lion-san told her was most important (general fitness and grip) rather than any general natural physical superness. There's other little moments when Lion-san's advice is either helpful or out-of-date, but I can't remember how much made it to the anime.

Wraith
If space is warped, time is all that's weft

[something]

Episode 9:

- Oh good, looks like we get something about that boy Marika is with in the OP. Almost looks like a young Lion-san, but the ages make that impossible.
- But go figure that's a lion mask he has on right now. I thought it was the sun or something, from the OP. Now that's just strange... and when they first cut to it, it's really creepy looking.
- Ok and they just made a not at all subtle implication they're indeed the same. But... Lion-san should have been dead around this time, and for damn sure wasn't a kid when Marika and Asumi were.
- And suddenly, back in the past for an ep again. Thought after the quick Marika bit we'd come back to present day, but now it's Yuuko and Asumi and a trip in the woods and stuff.
- Asumi has a bad habit of just running off places by herself. Not something a 7[?] year old should be doing. And man Yuuko was a mess.
- And so stuff happens. The flashbacks are nice and all, but I do prefer that the bulk of the remaining episodes focus on the girls as they are now.
- "Lion-san and Marika" - so, yeah, it's him. It'll take some doing to explain how this all happened. He was at least 19 when he died. He met Asumi ~4-5 years after that. Asumi and Marika are roughly the same age... so how?

Well, anyway.


Episode 10:

- Science lesson! Wow, that infamous fansub TL note about "debris" would have come in handy for Kei =P Also, Asumi in the spacesuit was amusing.
- And back to square one with Marika. Also, they haven't gone back to the retard teacher yet. I'd rather the resolve that in short order than have it hanging out there bugging me until the end.
- Asumi as a waitress? Ah right, she did apply to a job a few eps back.
- Oh there's horribly boring teacher with horribly cliche evil smirk. Die in a fire.
- ::rolls eyes:: "Her custom size spacesuit is too much, so let's expel her! No wait, even better, guilt her into dropping out!" Yeah, because that's how it works, nevermind that she's paying tuition for this. Argh this is such a retarded plot development. Just focus on getting into space.
- Much better is Marika coming to respect Asumi, after seeing that she's working part time and practicing swimming despite having a fear of water. Here's hoping Marika comes around once and for all soon.

Have to stop there for now. Preview promises much annoyance in episode 11, so I'm hoping Kei really goes ballistic to make up for it. GO KEI!

[something]

Episode 11:

- Let's see, so far we have good and bad. Good is the upcoming marathon training, where Asumi and Marika will be paired up. Anything that moves Marika closer to becoming part of the main group is welcome. Bad is more of the bullshit with the teacher. Blah blah blah.
- What's almost as annoying is how easily Asumi lets it get to her. Way to give up so quickly, jeeze.
- But thank god for Kei. She completely snaps on Asumi, and hell if Asumi didn't deserve it. Kei needs to get Asumi out of her funk ASAP.
- Hmm. Ok that's a little better an explanation for why she's so emo. I know Sano hates Asumi's father, but apparently he blames him for the crash, the one that killed Lion-san and put Asumi's mother in a coma. Granted, it's highly unlikely Sano is telling the whole truth with that, but it would certainly explain her emo better than just being told she won't make it.
- And suddenly, Suzunari-sensei is getting married. :sd: Lion seems to confirm that no, of course the accident wasn't simply Asumi's dad's fault, though he was on the team working on it. Presumably Sano was also on the team, and is blaming Asumi's dad to cover his own sense of guilt.

Oh, and Lion decides to move to Tokyo. Ok, now please god let them wrap this Sano crap up asap and continue on with all the things this show does right.


Episode 12:

- Flashback ep again? I'm a bit confused because they're showing a younger Asumi-dad at work after the crash. If his wife just got hideously burned and put into a coma because of it, why is he being assigned to the bereaved families section? Shouldn't they be taking care of him? :sd:
- Wait, she's already dead? Didn't she hang on for 4-5 years after the accident? Why would they only be working on bereavement claims five years later? God this show confuses me so much on chronology sometimes.
- So Asumi meets a young girl named Kasane, whose father died in the crash. Kasane also got her arms severely burned. It is indeed about five years after the accident. Guess some bereavement settlements just aren't going smoothly, such as Kasane's. I just didn't think Asumi-dad worked at the JAMSF for that long after the accident.

Actually, didn't Asumi mention a Kasane-chan in an earlier episode? If so it's a bit neat they went back and showed it. Anyway, this was a sweet episode, even if I still wish they'd stop jumping back and forth. I understand what they're going for but now I don't know how far they'll actually get with the whole space school plot.

Well, then again this was better than more retard teacher or whatever.

[something]

Episode 13:

- Asumi returns to school, much to retard teacher's chagrin. Also, I think the character models devolve into featureless blobs more and more every episode. By ep 20, the whole episode is just going to be one big Rorschach inkblot test.
- Then some exceptionally (mercifully?) brief insight into why Sano is a giant douche. Asumi's dad seems to have objected to a rocket design Sano put forth.
- More basic training for the crew, to make up for the day they skipped. They're getting tired of running every day, and wonder if the school even knows what it's doing. Shuu notes that it could just be a way to weed students out.
- Hearing this, Kei makes everyone promise to never give up, and to graduat together. Asumi drags Marika into it, and we have our "Promised Five".
- Nice and all, but Asumi is still reluctant to talk about Sano-sensei's bullying. Bah, you can tell Kei.
- I love how Shuu teases Fucchi. He even blows him a kiss. XD They'd be a hilarious yaoi pairing.
- And now Lion-san is with Asumi in Tokyo (or whatever it was), so we'll get to see more of him. And ahah, poor Ringo, she thinks Asumi has lost her mind because she's always talking "to herself" :sd:
- DUN DUN DUN, SANO-SENSEI RAAAAAAAAAGE.

Protip: Nobody cares.


Episode 14:

- Asumi should at least try to hide the fact that she's talking to what everyone else perceives as thin air. Instead she just prattles away while walking down a busy hallway :sd:
- Oh, and I thought this might happen... Lion-san recognizes Marika. Wonder if she can see him? THAT would be interesting.
- Kei <3 She confronts Sano-sensei, and though she can't get him to admit anything, she makes him act like a dick in front of everyone. But he does plant a seed of doubt - do you really think everyone can go to space? If there were one seat in a rocket left, would you give it up for Asumi?
- Huh, interesting. So I wasn't going insane by wondering just how Lion-san could have met a young Marika. He's thinking about her now, and implies that it's impossible for her to be the same age as Asumi. Hmmmmmmmmm.
- Ewww. They're going to try to make Sano a sympathetic character. They show him looking at a space picture book and smiling gently. Oh, and like two thirds of the class is "on strike" after his earlier outburst.
- Hah, Sano-sensei even submitted his resignation. But no, Asumi will rally to his cause and save him. Because that's just how she is >_>
- Bwhaaha. I love how Sano can spend so much time and energy resenting Asumi's father, without actually paying attention to what really happened. Asumi's father wasn't even on the Shishigo dev team when the accident happened. In fact, the case of the accident is still some state secret conspiracy etc etc. Sano, you tard.

Yadda yadda, they "redeem" him, but he's quit and gone, so yay! Maybe now we can get back to the important stuff now... with only 6 eps left :sd:

Needs more Marika explanation, more Kei being awesome, and more Shuu x Fucchi. 15 looks like it might deliver on the first.

[Fencedude]

Needs more Marika explanation, more Kei being awesome, and more Shuu x Fucchi. 15 looks like it might deliver on the first.

I'm not too confident that the show will really get to far before it ends, but if we get some resolution about Marika and the Shishigou (the only two "mysteries" at hand) and an optimistic "life goes on" ending, I'll be happy.

Also for some reason Marika takes the brunt of the abuse when the art gets bad, Asumi and Kei generally look ok, but Marika's design just looks terrible when done on a shoestring for some reason.

[something]

I'm not too confident that the show will really get to far before it ends, but if we get some resolution about Marika and the Shishigou (the only two "mysteries" at hand) and an optimistic "life goes on" ending, I'll be happy.
Probably all we can hope for. Certainly there won't be much if anything in the way of space adventures. Kind of hard to go from the first weeks of instruction to rocket launch in 6 episodes, especially with other things to deal with first. Well, no doubt it ends with graduation or something.

Also for some reason Marika takes the brunt of the abuse when the art gets bad, Asumi and Kei generally look ok, but Marika's design just looks terrible when done on a shoestring for some reason.
I think Asumi gets really bad too, but then I never liked her design to begin with.

My main concern with the show now is that there's still someone in the school administration that wants Asumi gone, and he might pursue that even with Sano-sensei out of the picture. Now that would be truly obnoxious.

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 13:
- More basic training for the crew, to make up for the day they skipped. They're getting tired of running every day, and wonder if the school even knows what it's doing. Shuu notes that it could just be a way to weed students out.

The anime skips over almost all the practical training shown in the manga, unfortunately. The anime only covers the running, swimming, and what's shown in the last story arc. The manga includes lots more; Vomit Comet rides, working projects in space suits in the pool (to simulate zero g), manipulating robot arms, anoxia familiarization (working math problems in a room while the oxygen content is gradually reduced), having to work controls while in one of those three-axis spin chairs (Asumi was particularly good at this), and so on. Some of them didn't make much sense, like the prison-break project, but that's probably because I can't read what's going on ^_^

It would have been nice if they had at least mentioned more of this, but they really needed more episodes to cover even as much of the manga was out at the time.

Wraith
"Let's not tell anyone about the space shuttle sinking."
-- Arisa (All Purpuse Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku)

[Gildor]

Episode 13:


- Hearing this, Kei makes everyone promise to never give up, and to graduat together. Asumi drags Marika into it, and we have our "Promised Five".
-

I loved at the very end how Marika, thinking back on how Asumi dragged her into the "promise", actually cracked a smile.

[something]

Episode 15:

- Clearly something is weird with Marika. Given Lion's confusion and her father[?]'s words at the start, they almost make it sound like she's a robot girl =P Ok, so this isn't that type of show, but still :sd:
- So, didn't we already do the "breaking Marika out of her shell" bit? She's reverted almost to where we started, but I guess this is the final push before she completely opens up.
- Course this makes Asumi all emo, but Shuu invites her on a "date" and cheers her up. Shuu is definitely one of my favorites.
- But Marika is in superbitch mode again, although now we have some decent reasons why. Her father (or, again, whatever he is to her, doesn't matter) keeps reminding her "You aren't a normal human! The real Marika wouldn't do this!" I'm sure that just puts her in a faaaaabulous mood.
- Fucchi drops Marika a hint that leads to her finding out that Asumi's mother was killed in the Shishigo crash. At least now she knows Asumi isn't sheltered...
- But she runs herself to collapse, and when Asumi helps her out, she stays over Asumi's dorm for the night or something. Seems she can't see Lion-san anymore, but he remembers her, and she gets a nostalgic feeling when he's near. Wonder if anything more will happen there? This ep did ba
- And wow that's setup for another flashback ep if I've ever heard it. Fucchi mentions that Asumi once liked someone, years ago... someone who died >_>

::watches preview:: Yep, flashback episode. I really have to wonder how far they plan to get with the present-day storyline. After 15 we'll only have 4 eps left, and I bet they spend another of those on flashbacks too. Forget going up on rocketships, we haven't even moved past basic astronomy lectures and running laps.

I'm not too concerned, I guess, because the show is clearly not about adventures in space. Once school started and the rhythm got really slow, I knew that the closed environment test wasn't in fact indicative of where the show was going. But I am surprised just how slowly it's moved. Talk about leisurely pacing.


Episode 16:

- Wtf, suddenly... faux widescreen? Windowboxing? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windowbox_%28film%29) Whatever it is, it looks silly. Well, I can zoom in a little without losing the subs, so it's not so bad actually. A little better, even.
- Huh, middle school Asumi is cute. Definitely moreso than younger or older Asumi, and her design looks the best. Actually, this episode in general looks better, I wonder if the source switched to DVDs with cleaned up animation.
- Cuter and even looks a little older, if you ask me. Why couldn't this be the present-day Asumi? So far the episode is about her meeting, oh whatever his name was, and getting to know him. Sick boy who Fucchi mentioned.
- Ick, middle schoolers are such horrible people. After teasing Asumi and the guy apart, he dies the next day... and the class' reaction is to talk about Asumi behind her back for not crying. What the fuck is wrong with these people? What makes it worse is that this is totally believable human behavior too.

This was actually a really good episode. Ah, I'm torn. The flashbacks have by and large been good episodes, but we're already half a cour short of a full two cour show, so there's little time to spare on the main plot. What a shame this show didn't get more episodes. Shoulda ended Sano-sensei's crap even sooner.

Also, needs more middle school look Asumi. Not fond of high school Asumi's bowling ball-head, short hair look.

[Gildor]

Episode 16:

- Wtf, suddenly... faux widescreen? Windowboxing? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windowbox_%28film%29) Whatever it is, it looks silly. Well, I can zoom in a little without losing the subs, so it's not so bad actually. A little better, even.
- Huh, middle school Asumi is cute. Definitely moreso than younger or older Asumi, and her design looks the best. Actually, this episode in general looks better, I wonder if the source switched to DVDs with cleaned up animation.
- Cuter and even looks a little older, if you ask me. Why couldn't this be the present-day Asumi? So far the episode is about her meeting, oh whatever his name was, and getting to know him. Sick boy who Fucchi mentioned.
- Ick, middle schoolers are such horrible people. After teasing Asumi and the guy apart, he dies the next day... and the class' reaction is to talk about Asumi behind her back for not crying. What the fuck is wrong with these people? What makes it worse is that this is totally believable human behavior too.

This was actually a really good episode. Ah, I'm torn. The flashbacks have by and large been good episodes, but we're already half a cour short of a full two cour show, so there's little time to spare on the main plot. What a shame this show didn't get more episodes. Shoulda ended Sano-sensei's crap even sooner.

Also, needs more middle school look Asumi. Not fond of high school Asumi's bowling ball-head, short hair look.

I felt this was the weakest episode of the series. While all of the other flashbacks added to Asumi's character, I don't think this really added anything.

P.S How do you do spoilered text in vBulletin. I don't see an icon for it in the edit window. HTML is OK if I know what tag to use. I can't keep up with all the changes in the forum software Chris has been making recently for the various functions.

[something]

Episode 17:

- Heh! See, this is why I want there to be more episodes. This is exactly the sort of thing I've been dying to see. Ever since the closed environment test, we haven't really gotten any especially space-related training. But this looks like it'll be fairly awesome. 18 hours in isolation in an emergency capsule!
- Ahaha, and they load them in a truck and take them off somewhere else. I also think they gave them cyanide capsules O_O
- Oh and before all this there was a bit with Asumi finding a cute picture of smiling Marika, which gets Marika all bitch-mode again.
- Niiice. They bring them in saying it's a test of the capsules, and next they know... survival training in the middle of a forest! (and ok, the capsule is a GPS for the school to track them, not cyanide =P)
- Asumi sets up base camp while Lion-san finds the old rocket he built as a kid. He also realizes that there's more to the Marika resemblance than it seemed at first.
- And Asumi passes close by Marika while exploring, but they don't see each other.

Huh, ep seemed short. Really good start to this bit though. I think above all I want to know what Marika's deal is. She could be like... younger sister of a real Marika, made to assume the dead[?] older sister's role. Or something...


Episode 18:

- And things aren't going well for anyone. Except Shuu, of course. Lion enters the old mansion where the young "Marika" lived, and we get more about her past, but as he keeps saying, they can't be the same. Marika today would be much older. Until he sees the full name on a music box... Ukita Marika. Dun dun dun! He has no idea what this means, and neither do I really. Who aaaaaare you, Marika!
- Marika finally decides she wants to apologize to Asumi, to become friends with Asumi, to go to space together with Asumi. Looks like the barrier is broken on her end.
- Asumi makes progress, gets her bearings, and moves towards the goal. She also comes across a capsule with a bloody handprint on the outside. It's Marika's.
- Ooh that sucks, no goal for Marika, just an ambulance and a hospital. And she and Asumi were mere feet apart a few days ago. Now her dad is going to be double the bastard he was before.
- Haha oh wow, so contrived but that's okay by me. Marika *just happens* to call out Asumi's name in her sleep, and Kasane *just happens* to be walking by. :sd:

I think I ought to finish this tonight. No point in stopping when I'm so close and it's getting pretty good.

[something]

I felt this was the weakest episode of the series. While all of the other flashbacks added to Asumi's character, I don't think this really added anything.
It didn't, really, other than to drive home extra that she's a walking death magnet =P Mom dies, she almost dies, her best friend is a ghost, her first crush dies... :sd:

I liked the episode and all, but no, it didn't really "add" anything to the overall plot. Besides giving us a much cuter Asumi.

P.S How do you do spoilered text in vBulletin.
Use 'spoiler', like everybody dies! (I put it in noparse tags so it shows up, normally it'd look like this: everybody dies!

[something]

Episode 19:

- Heh, poor Asumi. She follows the blood trail and it suddenly stops, so she considers searching around for someone she doesn't know is already safe.
- Oh Kasane, in the real world you would have forgotten about Asumi years ago. Still, she's saying just the things Marika needs to hear. Hopefully Marika and Asumi meet up soon.
- Asumi continues on to the goal. She looks like she's going to pass out :sd:
- Oh Marika, you're being so moe. "I need to apologize! But she might not forgive me! But she said we should go to space together! But nobody needs me!" Heh, aww. She's also drawn like 4000 times better than usual here. The last few episodes have been a definite improvement, visually, in what was largely a pretty crappily animated show.
- Hahah whaaaaaat? So Marika finally spills the beans on what's going on, and to Kasane of all people. "I had someone who was my sister as well as my mother..." WAAAAAAAAAAAAT. Oh god, that can't possibly be translated right. Maybe she just meant she was figuratively like a big sister and a mother, not both biologically. Because if it really is the latter, then holy shit Marika's dad has some issues.
- ...Seeing as how Kasane isn't making a big deal out of it, I'll chalk it up to bad wording in the subs. At least we know who the other Marika is. Still, which half is biological, sister or mother? It's gotta be sister, else this is still almost as creepy.
- Haha, sweet. I was surprised to see everyone there before Asumi, but turns out... everyone else had a compass. Shuu is amazed Asumi made it without one.
- Wait a second. "Knows the secret of her birth"? Totally a test tube baby. Based on the real Marika, who was thus both her "sister" and her "mother" depending on how you look at it. That's... weird.
- Oh Asumi, you dummy. Shuu explains quite clearly that even if Marika was injured, there's no danger since they're all being tracked. But she goes running off anyway looking for Asumi :sd:

::blinks:: Ep over, but wow that means there's only one more left. What a place to end it... definitely needs more episodes. Still, they can wrap things up decently here if they know what they're doing. Let's go see.


Episode 20:

- Oh silly Asumi. She gets way ahead of Kei, Fucchi and Shuu, who only manage to follow her because of the landmarks she leaves. Then there's Marika, realizing Asumi may be looking for her. She heads back to her capsule and waits for Asumi.
- Everyone's getting a bit desperate, but Lion-san finds Asumi and starts calling them all together with his mini harmonica.
- And... er, Marika starts to inherit the memories of her genetic original, or something.
- Marika finally finds Asumi, and as she rushes to her, calling her by her given name for the first time, the scene switches to their child designs. Kei, Fucchi and Shuu too. Young Kei is so cute.

Then each of the characters recite their reasons for going into space. Kei, Shuu, Fucchi, Marika. Back to present, and Lion-san bids farewell. Then it's Asumi's turn. Then... the ED.

Haha, then they very last scene is Asumi screwing up on the harmonica while the others laugh :sd:

Ah, Futatsu no Spica, such a shame you were ended so early. I don't know how much extra content there was in the source material, but it's clear they could have done a lot more. Both in terms of how they used existing time (a couple less flashbacks, cut the Sano-sensei stuff way back) and overall number of episodes (only 20? What?). Nonetheless, it was a really solid show and entirely character interaction driven, which is just what I like. The animation was really sub-par for the most part and the music was just "okay" (disliked the ED, liked the OP, no opinion on the BGM).

I have a feeling they intended to spell out Marika's situation a bit more explicitly, given that she starts talking to Kasane about it but then sort of cuts out. But the test tube baby theory is what I'm assuming, unless someone wants to champion the pedo incest route. :sd: The show makes no attempt to really conclude the space stuff - not even a graduation ceremony epilogue. We also are left to assume that Marika somehow convinces her dad not to be a douche. Interestingly enough, the whole last arc really focuses on Marika, not Asumi, though I think it was stronger for it.

I guess it feels like an incomplete show, but a satisfying watch nonetheless. I'd love to see more, but given how "old" this show is, obviously that's never happening.

[Gildor]

[Use 'spoiler', like everybody dies! (I put it in noparse tags so it shows up, normally it'd look like this: everybody dies!
Thanks. I sholuld of tried that to begin with, but I was still in the mode of some of the more fancy ways to do it that showed up in the more recent incarnations of AoD.

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the series as the last 3 episodes form a series ending arc. All in all, a very enjoyable series with a nice ending (even if it's also a "I want more!" type of ending). All your Marika questions will be answered.

[Fencedude]

I have a feeling they intended to spell out Marika's situation a bit more explicitly, given that she starts talking to Kasane about it but then sort of cuts out. But the test tube baby theory is what I'm assuming, unless someone wants to champion the pedo incest route. :sd: The show makes no attempt to really conclude the space stuff - not even a graduation ceremony epilogue. We also are left to assume that Marika somehow convinces her dad not to be a douche. Interestingly enough, the whole last arc really focuses on Marika, not Asumi, though I think it was stronger for it.


I'm 95% certain Marika is a clone.

It fits the description, and explains why she has so many issues.

The problem is that the show is just so irritatingly vague about its timeline.

[something]

I'm 95% certain Marika is a clone.
It fits the description, and explains why she has so many issues.
That's the word, I meant, clone. Well, a clone probably grown in a test tube, but you get the point. Her dad yelling at someone on the phone about how this isn't the Marika he wanted is the big clue that he needed "outside help". They still handled the whole revelation pretty sloppily though. Marika starts revealing everything to Kasane, and then the scene just sort of ends and no more is said about it. Then the show ends :sd:

The problem is that the show is just so irritatingly vague about its timeline.
Exactly... it just doesn't seem like they intended to be that vague, but ending at 20 with so much left undone means they didn't have much choice, I guess.

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 15:
I'm not too concerned, I guess, because the show is clearly not about adventures in space. Once school started and the rhythm got really slow, I knew that the closed environment test wasn't in fact indicative of where the show was going. But I am surprised just how slowly it's moved. Talk about leisurely pacing.


Yeah, the show/manga is primarily a character drama, not an action or anything series. Personally, I like slice-of-life stuff, so that's one reason I do like Twin Spica.

Wraith
"Earth is the cradle of the mind. But one can not stay in the cradle forever."
-- Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 17:
- Heh! See, this is why I want there to be more episodes. This is exactly the sort of thing I've been dying to see. Ever since the closed environment test, we haven't really gotten any especially space-related training. But this looks like it'll be fairly awesome. 18 hours in isolation in an emergency capsule!

I mentioned it in an earlier post, but the manga has a lot more of this kind of practical training than made it to the anime. It's a pity they didn't give it more episodes, but what can you do?

Episode 18:
- Ooh that sucks, no goal for Marika, just an ambulance and a hospital. And she and Asumi were mere feet apart a few days ago. Now her dad is going to be double the bastard he was before.

This is where the anime diverges from the manga quite a bit. Marika does get sick and collapse, but not so badly she gets taken to the hospital. The teachers retrieve her and take her to the base camp where they're monitoring the student's progress. Kasane does show up again in the manga later, but it's rather after this, and she shows up at Asumi's dorm, not the hospital (although there are other flashbacks to her as well).

Wraith
"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space programme."
-- Larry Niven

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 19:
- Hahah whaaaaaat? So Marika finally spills the beans on what's going on, and to Kasane of all people. "I had someone who was my sister as well as my mother..."
WAAAAAAAAAAAAT. Oh god, that can't possibly be translated right.

Haven't re-watched this episode yet (didn't want to get too far ahead and you go and watch six at once ^_^), but almost certainly it was poorly translated. As noted in the thread, she's a clone of the original Marika. One of the clues to this is the subjects of the books she's always reading. The manga eventually makes it explicit, but not in this fashion. Kei is actually the one who finds out, after finding some news articles online. We already knew from Shuu's comments about donations to the school that her family was rich...

- Oh Asumi, you dummy. Shuu explains quite clearly that even if Marika was injured, there's no danger since they're all being tracked. But she goes running off anyway looking for Asumi :sd:

This part is in the manga, but it resolves differently. The other three chase after her but she doesn't outrun them or leave landmarks or anything, and Lion-san isn't involved at all. Marika gets to see the four of them heading back on the monitors, but doesn't return to the capsule.

IIRC, in the manga she's also moved in to the same dorm as Asumi by this point.

The last episode is pretty much all anime-only.

I'd love to see the manga licensed, but I don't expect it to happen. Nozimi has the slice-of-life thing moving on the anime side now, but no-one's really got it going on the manga side. Pity.

Wraith
"God created the world out of nothing, but the nothingness still shows through."
-- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard

[Fencedude]

IIRC, in the manga she's also moved in to the same dorm as Asumi by this point.



Oh thats just so amazing awesome.

I ship MarikaXAsumi just so hard

[something]

IIRC, in the manga she's also moved in to the same dorm as Asumi by this point.Oh thats just so amazing awesome.
I ship MarikaXAsumi just so hard
I don't like Asumi enough to ship Marika x Asumi, but that IS an awesome turn of events. Would have loved to see the anime delve into that...

...and, like, everything else that Wraith's mentioned about the manga. Ah, a shame this wasn't longer, but I've said that about a dozen times already. Oh well.

[Fencedude]

I don't like Asumi enough to ship Marika x Asumi, but that IS an awesome turn of events. Would have loved to see the anime delve into that...



Well, to be honest, that one episode made me want to ship Marika/Kasane, but I have some semblance of reason, and that pairing is just too out there even for me.

[something]

Well, to be honest, that one episode made me want to ship Marika/Kasane, but I have some semblance of reason, and that pairing is just too out there even for me.
How about Marika x Kei? You know, the usual: depressed that their beloved Asumi accepted Fucchi's belated confession, they turned to each other for comfort [etc etc]

...Er, ok, maybe it feels a bit weird pairing characters up in a show like this. :sd: Not that I'd let that STOP me, of course, but still.

[Fencedude]

How about Marika x Kei? You know, the usual: depressed that their beloved Asumi accepted Fucchi's belated confession, they turned to each other for comfort [etc etc]

...Er, ok, maybe it feels a bit weird pairing characters up in a show like this. :sd: Not that I'd let that STOP me, of course, but still.

But its so much fun!

Also Marika's incredibly gay for Asumi in general, and a total Tsundere.

[KomoriKiri]

Well, to be honest, that one episode made me want to ship Marika/Kasane, but I have some semblance of reason, and that pairing is just too out there even for me.

Anime Kasane is very, very different from manga Kasane. I haven't checked, but I bet the manga with high-school Kasane wasn't out when they finished the anime.

As far as Marika x Kei goes, in the manga Kei has a huge secret crush on Shuu. Can't remember if that was even hinted at in the anime.

Wraith
"They say that knowledge opens many doors. I prefer a lockpick."

[something]

As far as Marika x Kei goes, in the manga Kei has a huge secret crush on Shuu. Can't remember if that was even hinted at in the anime.
Lol whut? No, they didn't even begin to touch on that in the anime.

God that's bizarre.

[KomoriKiri]

Got the most recent couple of volumes recently, and there were some big surprises in there, plus a cliffhanger ending (next volume should be around December, I think). Can't wait, and I really hope this manga gets licensed.

Another TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TwinSpica) for me (I've been focusing on older or less-mainstream titles that deserve them but don't have them). Major, major, major spoilers for the manga.

Wraith
Fortunately, the computer virus did no harm to our records. It was immediately devoured by the bugs in our programs.

[KomoriKiri]

I just had to bump this thread. Couldn't think of a better place to put this news.

Twin Spica is getting a live action adaptation (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-03-30/twin-spica-manga-to-get-live-action-tv-drama) on NHK. It's starting this June, and will only run seven episodes. It'll be interesting to see which story lines they pick up for it.

Asumi will be played by Sakuraba Nanami, who is very hot, but also rather taller than Asumi. Not really a surprise there, though, since it's probably quite hard to find an actress that short. They'll have to cut the short jokes, but that's not a big deal.

I'm also happy to see (in the above article) that the next volume of the manga will be out this June. It's been running really late and I didn't know why or when the next volume would be out.

Wraith
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
--Les Brown

[KomoriKiri]

I figure this would be a good place to talk about the live action version.

I just watched the preview for it, and thought I'd post.

Twin Spica preview:

Starting with lots of space and space related footage, and Asumi (presumably) doing a voice-over about space and the kind of philosophy she runs with in the manga.

Oh, they've actually got Nanami talking as herself rather than her character. She introduces Asumi and covers some space history.

Nice, they're actually looking at one of the zero-g simulation pools. This is promising; maybe we'll get more of the actual astronaut training in the live action than the anime used.

A montage of shots that look more or less like scenes from the manga.

There are some additions, though. The manga hasn't had them working with a little wheeled robot.

Since they didn't get an actress for Asumi that was so very short, I was kind of hoping they'd drop the Sano-sensei stuff but it looks like Sano-sensei is in. They show him giving his "not everyone can become an astronaut" speech, but in different circumstances than the manga.

Some scenes I hope aren't the closed environment adaptation test, but could quite easily not be, involving the main five putting together what's either some kind of puzzle or a model.

They show Asumi's father with a cellphone, looking at a picture Asumi apparently sent him, so we'll have to see how much of their financial situation gets left out.

Ah, Spica, of course ^_^

Now they're talking about recent space missions like Kaguya.

The "you can't go to space alone" talk, then it cuts to swimming-in-flight-suits training.

Ah, looks like they're keeping her insane jogging skills.

More shots from the zero-g sim pools.

Okay, so it was some kind of model. Still not sure what the context is here, as it doesn't really resemble anything I remember from the manga.

Next is Nanami talking about her thoughts about her character. Cut in with scenes of Asumi going to help Kei in the pool.

Talking to other people about Nanami (with a shot of Nanami making silly faces)

Now we get to the other characters, starting with Shuu asking Asumi on a date. They've actually got his hair bleached, too.

He calls Futsuya "Fuuchi"

Fuuchi arguing with Asumi

Marika is up next, although for some reason they introduce her as Asumi's "intense rival". She's in full-on bitch mode for the few clips they do show. Hopefully they aren't altering that relationship much; she is quite antagonistic at first, but I would never have thought of describing them as "rivals".

Kei with an orange umbrella, Shuu working in a liquor store (???)

Asumi talking to Kiriu? They're planning to get fairly far along, then. Then him with some water rockets.

Back to Sano-sensei being Sano-sensei.

Then some of the actors talking about him, along with a group shot of a number of students and the teachers in some kind of abandoned-warehouse looking setting.

Nanami talking about Sano-sensei, then back and forth between them.

Asumi confronting her father about the Shishigo crash. Which pretty much settles it; hadn't seen Lion-san yet in the preview, and now I think they took him out completely.

Chibi-Asumi giving her father the pass for rocket rides.

Montage of stuff, including a female teacher I don't remember. Various actors talking about the series.

Training of some sort, that may be the robotic-arm training.

The weird little robot thing again, with everyone wearing weird headsets.

Piano playing and autographs while Nanami talks.

Jenga?

Hmm. It's over. I've got mixed feelings about this. One the one hand, it looks like they're going to do a lot of the actual training the anime skipped. On the other hand, there's no Lion-san. Why? I'll watch, of course, but my expectations aren't too horribly high at the moment. I'll probably post about the first episode in the next couple of days, but I'm not sure my Japanese is going to be up to this.

Wraith
"We're all mad here."
-- Cheshire Cat ("Alice in Wonderland")

[something]

Hmm. It's over. I've got mixed feelings about this. One the one hand, it looks like they're going to do a lot of the actual training the anime skipped. On the other hand, there's no Lion-san. Why? I'll watch, of course, but my expectations aren't too horribly high at the moment. I'll probably post about the first episode in the next couple of days, but I'm not sure my Japanese is going to be up to this.
So it's a whole series? Leaving out Lion-san would be... weird. I mean, jeeze, his role is pretty central. I don't watch live action so I'll be passing on this, but it's pretty interesting they'd pick something like this up now, after all this time. I guess since the manga is ongoing it's not too strange though.

[KomoriKiri]

So it's a whole series? Leaving out Lion-san would be... weird. I mean, jeeze, his role is pretty central. I don't watch live action so I'll be passing on this, but it's pretty interesting they'd pick something like this up now, after all this time. I guess since the manga is ongoing it's not too strange though.

Well, it's not a long series, only seven episodes, but it is a series. After the first episode I have to confirm that Lion-san is not in this version of the story, which is rather disappointing.

As for why now, it is being made with JAXA's help, so presumably they wanted to conduct some PR, and I guess the Twin Spica manga is getting decent sales.

Wraith
If space is warped, time is all that's weft

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 1

Opening with some space montage and then move quickly to the Shishigo launch. Big changes already; Asumi looks to be around 6 or so here, at some kind of shrine festival with Fuuchi and her mother. She actually breaks away from the TV showing the launch when Fuuchi calls.

Ah, that's why. She can see the launch site from some nearby steps, although this raises the question of why more people aren't watching here instead of trying to see over the top of the stalls.

The launch goes up, and right after the explosion we fade out, then back in on a high-school age Asumi in school uniform. Fuuchi comes up on his scooter, and warns her not to be late, then they argue as he drives off not letting her ride.

They're already headed for the space school, here labeled Tokyo Aerospace School. I guess we're only going to get the admissions stuff in flashback, if at all.

Fuuchi is wasting his time trying to drag Asumi away from the space suit on display, I guess in the lobby. Then a camera carrying girl comes up to take pictures of the display. It's obviously Kei, only Asumi doesn't know her. She does know Asumi, however. Asumi is apparently a bit infamous already, although I didn't catch why (damn leafblowers outside make it hard to hear, and my Japanese is bad enough to start with).

On to class, with the introduction by Sano-sensei. He says their first period should have been "homeroom" (I assume meaning self-study/introduction), but he's decided he's going to hit them with an (I think) orbital mechanics lesson. At quite a fast pace, mind you. Some of the students complain about him erasing equations before they've copied them down.

Sano-sensei is a little irritated by this, and calls on Fuuchi to explain what kind of school it is. Sano expands on his answer then calls on Marika to explain what they're going to be studying. After which he gives his "you can't all go" bit and goes on about how much more difficult this school will be than where they came from.

Asumi naturally speaks up to say they can do it with effort. Sano disagrees, then welcomes them to school.

Title screen

Jogging with the coach shouting at them and Kei falling behind. Asumi leads the pack considerably.

Fuuchi and Kei hanging around, with Kei bitching about the amount of homework they got. Fuuchi is looking forward to something in the afternoon (independent something) and wondering where Asumi is.

Asumi is in the library, where she runs into Sano-sensei. She's surprised to find that he's already memorized her name, and he says he had an old acquaintance with the same name. She has a question about the coursework, but he tells her to buzz off. As she walks off, he says she looks just the same (presumably as the old acquaintance. No idea where they're going with this)

Fuuchi and Kei are upset; apparently they wanted further explanation as well. Asumi decides to ask the girl coming up the stairs; she was in the same class after all (Marika, of course). Kei says not to, disliking her personality so far, also saying that Marika tested in the top two or three on the entrance exam.

Shuu comes by, snatching a notebook, and goes to ask. Once everyone recognizes him, they all know he was the top scorer. Marika is not impressed ("you should know this").

The trio is running to class, but Asumi gets distracted by someone launching air rockets. Rather early to introduce him, but here's Kiriu already, although no introductions yet. Fuuchi manages to get her away, despite one of the rockets have a "Spica" label.

Cut to a grave. The new female teacher (Shiomi Toshiko I think) with the astronaut class, who explains that it's a shrine to the Shishigo incident.

Then she takes them to a training facility, the one with the zero-g sim pools. Apparently the students are going to get (sometime) act as support for "Haijima". From the way she's introduced, she's apparently already an astronaut, and well known (both she and Kato-sensei are not in the manga)

Haijima gives a lecture. It's rather more in line with Asumi than Sano-sensei is. Kei asks what the most important qualities in an astronaut are, and gets a partial answer, with a "think about it yourself" on the most important.

Haijima then starts asking about why they want to become astronauts. (Shuu says he loves Russian girls, at which point Haijima starts talking to him in Russian. He does answer.) Asumi just says because it's been her dream since she was little.

As they leave, Haijima calls out to Asumi and asks about her father. Apparently she knew Asumi when she was little, which irritates Kei.

Fuuchi and Shuu are walking and talking (apparently Shuu gets to dub him Fuuchi) and hitting it off like cats and dogs. Asumi and Kei catch up. Kei asks about Asumi's father, and she says he was in the space industry, so Kei seems to jump to the conclusion that Asumi's father used some pull and Asumi had an easy time getting in. Then Kei walks off.

Cut to Fuuchi and Asumi walking in the evening. Asumi is depressed. Fuuchi kind of tries to cheer up, then asks if she's called her father yet. Asumi quickly changes the subject and goes elsewhere.

Flashback to Asumi arguing with her father. He's against her going to the space school (man, they're changing things). Then says it's her life, and gives her a bank book (parental responsibility, he says, and boy is there a lot of money in the account).

Okay, this is taking way too long. Going to cut back on the detail.

Yup, Shuu is working in a liquor store, running deliveries. Looks like his parents run it (another big change) and are rather amused by his desire (again, big change).

Asumi and Kirui run in to each other at the bus stop, and Asumi goes on about Spica.

Cut to the industrial-basement-looking thing, getting handouts. They're being split up in to teams. They get split in to rooms to complete a project. They've got an hour and twenty minutes to put together a model. Only they don't get instructions for what the final project is supposed to look like; they've got a map to a reference model they've got to duplicate.

Asumi, Kei, Fuuchi, Shuu, and Marika, of course. Off to a bad start, with lots of arguing. Teachers are watching, also of course, with lots of back and forth between Sano and Haijima.

After much arguing, Kei gets sent to look at the model (because she's a photographer) and come back to tell them how to put the pieces together (from the clock, takes her about 15 minutes)

More arguing, and Kei tries to sketch it, but the others, especially Marika, argue again. Shuu says Fuuchi should go look next since he works on his old bike (heh).

Fuuchi gets back (can't see the clock) and starts putting pieces together. Asumi is sorting pieces for him. Marika goes next and they have their "what does this have to do with being an astronaut talk". Oh, 30 minutes left, and they've pulled a trick on the students, changing the signs leading them to the reference model.

Marika is back, no health problems, and putting it together differently than Kei or Fuuchi. More arguing and some slapping. Kei still bitchy about family pull, Asumi finally speaks up. Asumi gets a bright idea and Shuu runs off to look at the model. He's directed to the same one Marika saw. He gets back with about 10 minutes left.

They still have a problem getting things together, and Asumi says she'll go next. The rest aren't happy about this (if one is out of the room when time runs out, they fail, if I'm getting this right), but Asumi gives an "I want to go to space" speech and takes off with about 8 minutes left.

Flashback to Asumi cleaning a lion doll in the middle of the ruined festival, then shouting for her fallen mother.

Lots of teacher talking cut in with all this. Shiomi finally asks Haijima what her answer to the earlier most important quality question was, and Haijima answers it could really be anything. Then adds some stuff about the importance of determination.

Asumi, by the way, is being lead down a third path, this one involving lots of stairs. More bitching in the room, Asumi shows up with under two minutes left and they get the last bits in place with just a minute left. The door wont open, and they have to enter their room number to get out. Asumi, of course, gets it, but there's the usual arguing. 0350 (although Wikipedia lists it at 260 +/- 20). So this is the replacement for the closed environment adaptation test.
Anyway, I'm no longer sure the reference model was being changed. They may have just made the students use a harder path the more times they went to look at it.

Flashback to chibi-Asumi giving her rocket driver speech at school.

More bitching about the training as they leave, but Kei is getting along better with Asumi. She gives Asumi a copy of the picture of Buzz Aldrin she's fond of.

Shuu has already figured out why Fuuchi is in this school.

Asumi calls out to Marika, but gets ignored.

Cut to Asumi jogging in the evening. Then Shuu filling a vending machine in front his parents store. Then Marika doing homework. A woman I'm guessing is supposed to be her mother runs in, tells her to order pizza, then runs out ([spoiler]so the whole clone thing is gone[/url]). Fuuchi working on his scooter. Kei taking pictures of the moon.

Cut to Tomoro, who gets a text message from Asumi; the picture bit from the preview.

Another short flashback, with chibi-Asumi asking her father about what happens to dead people, and getting the they turn into stars speach combined with the Spica twin-star speech.

Next (?) day, with Asumi approaching Sano in the courtyard with a question. Sano tells her she'll never get in to space because of the Shishigo incident and her father.

Preview, then ending credits.

Okay, I said I'd cut the detail, but it looks like I didn't. Oh well. Anyway, I'm still of two minds here. If this was a stand-alone series I'd be perfectly happy with it. They've just made way too many alterations to the story and the characters back-story for me to be comfortable with the Twin Spica title on it. Rather irritating, but given the history of anime to live action adaptations, I couldn't reasonably expect anything else.

Wraith
The Meek shall inherit the Earth. The rest of us are going to the stars

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 2

Starting with a quick review.

The students are getting some video of water rescue (assumably) scenes while the gym teacher explains their next training, which is, of course, swimming in flight suits. Asumi seems fascinated, while Kei is not pleased. Asumi eventually gets a bit disappointed about the swimming aspect.

Later, they're in the gym, where Asumi tells Kei that swimming isn't her strong point. Marika is getting hit on and does not respond well. And yeah, they've got dividers set up and the students are getting the typical Japanese school health check thing. They almost needn't bother with the dividers, given the instructors are calling out measurements quite loudly.

Back to Sano's astrophysics or whatever class (still looks most like orbital mechanics). None of the students seem pleased about being called on, and Asumi has flashback problems (the whole "it's your father's fault" talk). Oh, and there's a test coming up.

More jogging. Marika is quite confrontational towards Asumi.

Back to Sano's class. He's reading, so it must be the test. Time over called in English for some reason.

Kei is not pleased afterwards, but Shiomi-sensei appears to cheer her up a bit. Then Marika's mother shows up with an extreme close-up on a pin she's wearing (I think it marks her as a Diet member or something, but not sure).

Asumi, Kei and Fuuchi are gossiping when they spot Shuu sleeping outside on a bench.

Shiomi and Marika's mother have a little chat.

Swimming with no swimsuits involved, and not in a good way. Asumi is trailing the pack for once.

Asumi leaving late after extra swimming practice only to run in to Fuuchi.

More flashback, this time to getting her bankbook.

Cut to Tomoro, apparently doing his going-around-apologizing work.

Marika eating take-out pizza and studying when her mother gets home. Her mother gives her a gift for getting in the school; a pair of high-heels, which seems an odd choice, considering. Marika is not pleased (wrong size).

Back to swimming. Kei cramps up and Asumi jumps in after her. They do have lifeguards, but Asumi goes first. Kei and Asumi get chewed out. Asumi talks back and gets in bigger trouble.

Before Sano's class Marika and Kei get in their "no one would rescue you anyway" argument while Sano watches from the back. Then he comes in to announce test results. Shuu has the top score and Marika is second, but then he stops. And gives his kick down others speech.

Asumi staring at the space suit, then Haijima comes up. Asumi asks about the Shishigou and her father, but Haijima says it isn't any one person's fault. Doesn't really help.

Walking home in the rain, Kei spots Shuu working at the liquor store. His mother mistakes her for his girlfriend.

Marika eavesdropping on her mother essentially boasting about her to some guy.

Back to school, where apparently they've been split up in teams again for a marathon. Again, Shuu, Marika, Fuuchi, Kei and Asumi are together. Marika is not a team player.

Apparently it's teacher/parent day. Tomoro is late. Shiomi-sensei starts talking to Asumi, but then Tomoro finally shows. Afterwards he gives her some snacks. Marika sees it and is not pleased. Asumi asks him about the Shishigou, and he says it was his fault. Marika is still eavesdropping.

Flashback to the accident, then the free ride ticket.

Tomoro claims to have forgotten about it.

Tomoro runs in to Fuuchi on the way out.

Lots of sneaks this episode; Sano is watching Tomoro through the window.

Asumi eating her snacks at the planetarium. When the lights come up, she applauds, and Kiriu spots her and laughs. They start talking. Asumi does, anyway. When they get up, Asumi bows and spills candy all over.

More jogging. Fuuchi talks to Marika during a break, and Marika says she's irritated by Asumi. She gets surprised when Fuuchi tells her that Asumi's mother died in the Shishigou incident. With a cut to Marika spying on Asumi practicing swimming. Asumi goes down, and Marika goes in after her.

Asumi and Marika talk. Marika eventually tells Asumi that she heard about Asumi's parents, and Asumi wonders if she shouldn't aim for space. Marika is quite adamant that it has nothing to do with her parents.

Cut to Sano sitting out by the memorial again (he seems to like that spot) when Haijima comes up. They talk about the Shishgou accident and Sano-sensei is upset about how much it set back the Japanese space program. Haijima is more accepting about it.

Swimming again. This is the team from earlier; they're to be swimming in relays, with Marika as anchor. Sano shows up to watch. Asumi tells Marika they'll go to space together, and Marika surprises everyone by cheering Asumi on during her swim. If I've got this right, they were free to choose how far each student swum, and Marika jumps in early to take over from Asumi. They don't come in first, though, and Asumi starts crying and apologizing. Marika tells her that it has nothing to do with space, but then adds that she's still frustrated and they'll win next time. Sano is not happy.

Asumi spots Sano and runs after him to tell him she's not giving up.

Marika tells her mother about losing the relay. She mentions seeing the stars with her mother when she was little, and that she'll definitely become an astronaut.

Kei taking candid shots of Fuuchi on the way to school. Marika walks by and Asumi greets her. To everyone's surpise, Marika replies. Asumi spots a water rocket going up and goes to talk to Kiriu.

Cut to Tomoro, talking Asumi's ticket out of his wallet. Liar.

Then cut to Kiriu talking to some kid when Tomoro shows up. Kiriu is upset about the kids at this facility (guess he's a teacher or something), who lost people to the Shishigou accident. Kiriu has put two and two together and mentions Asumi to him. Not sure about the geography here, though. Tomoro should still be working in Yuigahama, not Tokyo, and Kiriu is always puttering around near the Tokyo Space School.

The Usual Five together taking pictures of a large rocket model. Marika insists she doesn't have friends, only rivals. Amusingly, Fuuchi seems to have the exact same model cell phone that Asumi does.

Preview again. Looks like they'll be doing something with the robots this time. Looks like they'll have to compete with the little thing at crawling through tunnels, which doesn't make much sense. They do compete against a robot in the manga at one point, but it's in the zero-g sim pools. Anyway, at some point either something happens to Asumi or she just loses communication with her controller.

Okay, so I can't say my opinion has changed. As a stand-alone series this is pretty good. I'm still annoyed with removing Lion-san, but I think I figured out why. JAXA and NASA are both involved in this (per the credits), and if JAXA is using this for PR I can certainly understand why they wouldn't want the ghost of an astronaut killed in a rocket crash hanging around. Still, in that case I'd have thought they'd cut back on references to the Shishigou as much as possible.

Wraith
"Let's not tell anyone about the space shuttle sinking."
-- Arisa (All Purpuse Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku)

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 3

Some corrections from earlier. Kiriu is apparently a student at the space school (mechanical engineering department), which makes little sense. In the manga he went to a nearby all-boys high school, and was part of the anti-rocket movement. In this one he's apparently just against human space exploration, which doesn't really work with his background story of his parents being killed in the Lion incident (manned or not wouldn't have mattered unless they were actually on the thing).

Also, the people Shuu is working for aren't his parents. He apparently ran away from home after his mother and step-father opposed his going to the space school.

On to the episode.

Recap, cutting to a monitoring center (presumably JAXA) where the students are getting a tour from Shiomi and Haijima.

Asumi and Fuuchi walking along, and Asumi finally asks him why he wants to become an astrounat, but he refuses to answer.

Sano and another teacher giving a presentation to the students and talking about robotic exploration of space. Then they show off a small eight-wheeled probe (that looks nothing like it should if it's meant to used on another planet; no solar panels and too small for an RTG). Sano announces that next week will be a join training with the mechanical engineering department, and that other humans aren't their only competition.

The five walking along talking, Fuuchi suggesting Sano is a robot himself, and then Kei teasing Marika. Then Kiriu is spotted and Asumi runs off to talk to him. He's an asshole and tells her the era of humans going to space is over.

The five in a courtyard studying, although Shuu is more sleeping. He notices Asumi has been down lately, though.

Asumi and Fuuchi walking home (why does he even have that scooter if he never rides it).

Kiriu at school getting praised for a report from the teacher who was presenting with Sano.

Sano's class, where he calls on Kei to answer a question. She can't get it, so he asks Shuu instead. Sounds like it was a match question, and Sano tells them a robot could have got it in an instant (well, duh). That and they're having some kind of selection test for the joint training (I think).

Test results, with Shuu and Marika as one and two. They don't show Marika's score, so who knows how far behind Shuu she is. His score is 583.

Then they talk about the teachers being sadistic for not announcing who's going to be participating (if I'm getting this correctly). Kei thinks Asumi still has a shot, but she says her English is horrible (39 points). Marika notices that Asumi is still at number 9 on the list (with 537 points) with that (sounds like she basically got full marks for everything but English).

Haijima asking Sano if he's chosen the astronaut course representatives, and he says no.

Asumi and Kiriu meet at the bus stop again. Kiriu tells Asumi it's safer for robots to go to space and talks over her when she tries to reply. She tells him there's still meaning to people going in to space before she gets on the bus.

The gym teacher, Onishi, gives Sano his own score list, which has Asumi at the top. Sano is surprised.

They're in the gym when Onishi and Sano announce the results; Shuu, Marika and Asumi. Then Sano has Shuu choose their "controller", and he picks Fuuchi. Kei is a bit depressed.

Asumi talks to Kei outside. Sano comes up (followed by the others of the five) to give one of his can't just be friends speeches. Asumi isn't happy, but Kei forces her to go with the others to the mechanical engineering department.

They get introduced to Kiriu, who is the operator for the robot.

Asumi and Marika walking together. Marika says they're rivals, but before that Asumi better do her best to beat that robot.

Shuu and Kei talking in the library. Kei wants to know how Shuu gets such good grades, but he kind of makes a joke of it.

Back at Shuu's job, where someone he says is his little siter shows up. She gives him some mail, and they talk about their parents and the astronaut course. He claims he has some amazing rivals.

Kiriu and Fuuchi walking together, and run in to Asumi. This time Fuuchi gets in to the argument. Kiriu tells them that the Lion incident killed his parents and blames Asumi's father, and she runs off. Fuuchi gets upset at Kiriu and tells him that Asumi's mother was also killed in the Lion incident, then chases after Asumi.

Flashback to chibi Asumi and Fuuchi, with Fuuchi showing Asumi a special place for scenery watching. She asks if she can bring her mother.

Fuuchi following Asumi, even though she tells him not to. Some arguing and she storms off.

Shuu making deliveries, and spots Asumi. She gets a call from her father. He warns her that she might be criticized because of him, and she tries to pretend she doesn't know what he's talking about. He tells her to come home sometime, and she hangs up crying. Shuu calls out and asks her on a date.

Cut to a night scene, and she's got one of those ponkan orange juice boxes Shuu likes. They're by a river and talk for a while. He brings up why Gagarin was chosen (from the last two people, if I'm getting this right) as the first cosmonaut. Part of it was because he weighed less, the other part was because of his smile. So she should smile to get to space. After she leaves, he mentions that she's his biggest rival.

Back to school, getting set up for the training. The three on the course have cameras to wear. Sano explains the training; they have to look for a cat. Asumi introduces herself, but the mechanical engineering teacher is a bit rude about her. Marika steps up in Asumi's defense, and Kiriu challenges her. She ends up betting that she'll quit the space school if she can't beat the robot (rather unfair bet, since Kiriu doesn't put anything on the line). Marika, Shuu and Asumi go to wherever it is they're supposed to start.

The rest of the astronaut training course (and some others who I have no idea who are) watch as things get started. Fuuchi gets in touch with them, but gets no video because they're in the dark. The robot, of course, has night vision. The astronaut students are stuck with tiny flashlights until they find the light switches. They're stuck in a long hallway full of doors and start looking around. Meanwhile Kiriu is remote operating the robot with an assistant.

Fuuchi starts giving directions to the three. Kirui and his assistant start using IR. The robot turns out right in front of the trio. Fuuchi tells them to leave the robot alone and get searching. Shuu has Marika split off and they start searching separately; apparently having Asumi follow the robot around at first.

Shuu opening lots of lockers, and Marika showing up. Fuuchi gives confusing instructions, then the robot shows up in the same room to look around. Marika gets in a bit of an argument with Fuuchi. Kiriu asks Sano if they're really serious about going in to space, and Onishi defends them. Fuuchi finally calms them down by saying it's three vs. one. Haijima likes his response.

Asumi ends up in some kind of mechanical area, with lots of grating and steam, when she runs in to the robot again. The mechanical engineering guys don't like it, since this room is pretty hot (37 C) so their IR won't help them speed-search the room for the cat. Asumi says she hears something, and manages to hit her head, damaging her radio, although just receiving. They can see what she's doing and hear what she's saying, but she can't hear Fuuchi.

The robot goes crawling in to the space Asumi had been looking in, and Asumi (after taking off her jacket and accidentally pulling some kind of handle) decides to go in after it when she doesn't get a response from Fuuchi. He tries to tell her to wait, and we get a close-up of a pressure gauge with a rapidly rising reading.

A vent starts shooting steam, which apparently causes interferences with the robot communication. Fuuchi tells the other two to go after Asumi, and she goes crawling after the robot. The robot isn't under control, and is banging against things, and manages to knock over a ladder on to Asumi, which also knocks out her video feed.

Sano sends Onishi after the support staff. Everyone gets worried, and both Kiriu and Fuuchi run off. They run in to Asumi, who's walking along with the support staff. She apologizes for breaking the monitor. The rest of the astronaut students show up running after her. Asumi can't figure out what the big deal is, but Kiriu gets pissed off at her. Asumi tells him that getting back alive is the most important mission. Then Shuu and Marika show up with the cat.

Shuu and Asumi sitting around (still in their jackets), when Marika shows up. Marika finally calls Asumi her friend instead of her rival.

Kei and Fuuchi cleaning up Fuuchi's workstation, while Sano and Haijima talk. Sano shows some enthusiasm for space for once.

Asumi comes across Kiriu and his water rockets again. He ends up amused by her enthusasim again.

Cut to a hospital room, where Sano is watching a patient on a respirator. Tomoro shows up with flowers and Sano says he won't forgive him. Flashback to a younger Sano and Tomoro; apparently this is Sano's wife in the hospital.

Marika's mother shows up at the school to talk to Sano and Shiomi. If I'm getting this right, she wants to get a student sent to work with NASA next week. Sano thinks it's too early.

Fuuchi staring at the space suit. The others show up, and after the other three leave Asumi apologizes to Fuuchi, then asks him again why he wants to be an astronaut. He says he's going to quit the astronaut training course.

On to the preview. Looks like they're in a pressure chamber, along with a close-up of some kind of health monitor showing Fuuchi having problems. More arguing between students, and Sano getting upset in some kind of meeting.

So, with this episode they're getting further away from the manga story line. There was a competition with a robot in the manga, but it goes way differently. None of this cat-chasing baloney, they instead compete in the zero-g sim pools doing maintenance training tasks. The whole robot design was also pretty silly. It was directly tele-operated, which means it wouldn't work even as far as the moon due to speed-of-light delays, and had absolutely no reasonable power source. Plus it had special features for tunnel-crawling, which is the last thing you're ever going to do with a radio-operated robot (can't think of a better way to lose connection with it).

Overall themes and progression within the episode were fine. I'm just getting tired of their silly modifications to the practical training.

They definitely seem to be trying to cram the whole 15 volumes of manga in to this seven volume series. The NASA stuff didn't happen until, I think, volume 8, and I'm pretty sure they were second-year students by then.

On a side note, I've seen in a couple places that the next volume of the manga, volume 16, is going to be the last one. I haven't got a copy of 15 yet, but from 14 I could see this working out pretty well. Can't wait to get 15 and see what happened with the cliff-hanger at the end of 14.

Wraith
"In six hours I will die by laser because my husband is an idiot!"
-- Mushima Akiko (All Purpuse Cultural Catgirl Nuku Nuku)

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 04

Before we get to the episode, I just wanted to say that I finally managed to get my hands on a set of DVDs for the anime ^_^ Still trying to get Sasuga to list volume 15 of the manga, though.


Recap.

Shiomi announcing that one of the students will be selected to be an exchange student with NASA, and they'll announce the selection after summer break.

Kei is extremely excited, but Marika points out that spending time at NASA doesn't mean you'll get a space ride. Kei tries to get Shuu involved, but he's studying (English, I think), and Fuuchi isn't excited at all. He tells the others that he's quitting the Astronaut course. Arguing ensues, but Fuuchi won't listen.

Asumi at the planetarium again. Kiriu as well, of course. She wants to know if something happened with Fuuchi during the combined training, and tells Kiriu that Fuuchi's planning to quit the course, although she still insists it has to be a joke. Kiriu asks after her father.

Fuuchi in conference with Shiomi and Sano about quitting. She wants him to at least transfer to another course, but Sano doesn't care (basically, if you don't want it any more, get out of the way, I think).

Sano's class. He's ending a bit early to start on something else (can't catch it). He says he's against the NASA exchange. He says it's too early, and they wouldn't be any help.

Cut to some kind of technical facility. Looks like they're bringing the students in to do some high-altitude acclimatization or similar. Fuuchi and Marika are in the first group. The others are waiting, and talking about the NASA deal and Fuuchi quitting school. Shuu advises her not to be the one to talk to him about it.

Shuu gets a minor nosebleed for no apparent reason (wow, didn't expect this part of the manga to make it in).

The students inside the chamber are all wearing flight helmets, with the oxygen masks down. Fuuchi suddenly puts his mask on and hits a button by him (giving up, I assume) and gets scolded for being so fast about it.

Fuuchi walking his bike home, with Asumi following. He asks her to leave him alone.

Back to Kiriu in the mechanical engineering department, packing things. His teacher comes in and gives him some plane tickets to San Fransisco (I think he's changing schools).

Marika at home studying when her mother comes in. Marika asks her about going to NASA and whether or not it's too early. Her mother warns her not to listen to "that teacher".

Shiomi and Sano talking about it. She wants him to tone it down a bit.

Sano in the library again when Asumi finds him to talk about Fuuchi.

Sano flashback, him getting in an argument (with Tomoro, I think).

Asumi runs into Kiriu carrying a box. He tells her he's going to work on a project in the US. He'll be gone for three years. She wishes him luck, but is clearly not happy. Kiriu spots Fuuchi nearby after she runs off.

Sano returning a report or something to Marika. She talks to him a bit about what he says (she agrees). They have a brief but unexpected heart-to-heart.

Asumi studying and Kei chatting to her. Kei asks her if something happened (it's obvious to her something did).

Sano looking at the spacesuit in the lobby when Haijima comes by and stops to tease him. Sano suddenly tells her about Fuuchi and asks her to talk to him.

Students taking a test, apparently the last one before break.

Fivesome talking afterwards. Fuuchi tries to apologize to Shuu, who pretends he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Kiriu at the school, as Tomoro comes by.

Fuuchi giving Asumi a map. Apparently it's to wherever Kiriu will be leaving from, and he tells her she has time to make it. She gives it back and says she isn't going.

Back to Tomoro and Kiriu. The latter apologizes for the way he's been behaving. Tomoro still insists the Lion incident was his fault, but now Kiriu is telling him it wasn't. He says it's thanks to "you two" that he's going to school in America now, and gives Tomoro a water rocket.

The astronaut students in their orange jumpsuits walking down a stair, when Asumi stops. Fuuchi grabs her and drags her off.

Kiriu saying goodbye to the kids at the school.

Fuuchi and Asumi arguing. He's trying to get her to go to Kiriu and tell him what she feels about him, and she finally does. Haijima walks up behind him.

Asumi running to the school (guess this is where the map was too) only to find out Kiriu's already gone.

Fuuchi talking to Haijima. His reason for going to the school was, of course, Asumi, but now that he's surrounded by people with a dream of going in to space he feels out of place. She tells him that the astronaut course isn't the only way to get in to space.

Asumi walking, and runs in to her father. He gives her the water rocket.

Asumi finding a letter from Kiriu in the bag with the rocket. Kiriu riding in a cab and Asumi setting up the rocket with a voice-over of Kiriu reading the letter. It's one of those "no matter how far apart we are we're looking at the same sky" letters.

Fuuchi watches her set off the rocket then stops to talk with her. She says she couldn't meet with Kiriu, and adds that she'll support Fuuchi no matter what he decides to do.

Sano is watching in the background (these guys like to peep a lot, geeze). Flashback to Sano carting off a bunch of stuff (after quitting/being kicked off, not sure, the Lion project). Tomoro comes up and tells him that he didn't want to lose to Sano's plan, which is why he worked so hard on his. Then Tomoro tells Sano the Spica story, but Sano interrupts him.

Sano's class again, announcing test results. Shuu is top with 97 points. Second is Asumi at 93. Marika is third at 92. Sano doesn't announce any others, but we see that Kei got 81.

Meeting of teachers and Marika's mother, where Shiomi starts to talk about the NASA exchange, but Sano interrupts. He's still against the plan. She's already made press releases and doesn't want to go back on it. Sano is against it for more reasons than the students not being ready, but she thinks it's just personal. Sano gets really pissed off.

Sano getting a talking to from someone (the principal?) and Shiomi. They're trying to get him to soften his stance.

Sano visiting the hospital. Cut to a flashback with Sano and his girlfriend/wife talking about the Lion project. She wanted him to watch the launch with her, but he went to work instead.

Sano's class again, this time talking about dark energy. At the end he announces he's quitting. Marika asks why, and he says personal reasons. And tells the Spica story. Heh. He talks about how the biggest dreams have the biggest risk, and again goes in to the not everyone here will go in to space. This time he adds that for now they're surrounded by friends with the same dream.

Shiomi and Haijima seeing Sano off.

Cutting between Asumi in the library, looking for a book and Sano walking on campus. Asumi getting a book, and running in to Shuu, Marika, Kei and Fuuchi before chasing off after Sano. Asumi shows him the picture of earth page in the book and does the same dream speach. The others thank him, Marika looking the most upset. Sano has them look up and tells them that space isn't a dream. Then pulls a ninja disappearing act.

The five walking along. After a set of goodbyes, Fuuchi says he isn't quitting after all.

Some kind of conference, with the Principal, Shiomi and Haijima on one side and a bunch of guys in suits on the other. Haijima announces that the decision on who'll go to NASA is between Shuu and Asumi.

Preview. Among other things is a festival with the girls in yukata and a scene between Kei and Shuu I also hadn't expected to make the transition from the manga.

So, once again it's a mix. The show itself is fine, but now I'm no longer sure why they cut Lion-san. It's not like he'd be special effects budget killing or anything, and the story hooks they've laid in place kind of null their other most likely reasons. I'm quite curious to see how the rest of the series plays out now.
Before I hadn't been considering this, but this may be good enough as a stand-alone series to warrant getting the R2J DVDs. Not like it'll ever be licensed, but I hadn't been sure about the rewatch value yet. I'm starting to think there's enough here to warrant it.

Wraith
"You people, you do not see the grandeur in the wind and stone and stars, in the blood and fire and iron - but paint only the flowers."

[KomoriKiri]

Still waiting for Sasuga to list the next volume, but I've been going back through the series. Can't do it fast, but I am getting more things each time.

This time I spotted Haijima, who actually is in the manga. Just not in anywhere as big a role. Of course, they've changed it around. Haijima is an astronaut in the manga, but he's a he. He's also rather terse, and only gets brought in once for a Q&A session with the astronaut training course students. He looks a bit sullen, and the short responses he gives don't satisfy (Kei asks him what the Earth looks like from space. He says "It's pretty."). It does, however, turn out that he was friends with Lion-san, and even gave him the harmonica as they were getting read to board the rocket.

Man, I wish someone would license this manga.

Wraith
"It's fine for you, you're a masochist."
-- Kei ("Twin Spica")

[KomoriKiri]

No new episode comments yet, but this seemed a fitting thread for this.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. For those who don't know (and yes, one person at work I mentioned it to did not), Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the moon. The anniversary of the actual landing is Monday.

For those interested in such things (and why would you still be reading this thread if you weren't?), be sure to check out the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal (http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj), an online record, including transcripts of the radio transmissions, of all the Apollo missions from 11 to 17.

And on to the question.

As I've mentioned in the live action thread, I've been going through the manga again. I still don't know many kanji, but I do know more radicals, so it's easier to look things up. I've caught a fair bit more this time through than last time.

So I was wondering; is there any interest in having me post chapter summaries of the manga here? It wouldn't be a quick thing, although I would skip over any chapters that made it in to the anime, so it'd pretty much all be stuff most people here haven't seen. I would try to keep things less detailed than the live action summaries I've been doing, so you'll still need to get the manga if you want it all, but it'd be a lot more than nothing.

Now, this is a fair bit of work, so I'm not going to do it if no one's interested (and I don't know if anyone is even still reading this thread). I'll finish the LA stuff either way, of course. If there is interest, it'll get it's own sub-thread, and if people want I'll spoiler mark the whole post in case someone wanders in in the wrong viewing mode if you want.

Wraith
"Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed."
-- Neil Armstrong

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 05

First off, I've been going through the manga again, and in more detail than I have before. I still don't know many kanji, so it takes a while, but I get more each time. In any case, yeah, I can definitely see 16 being the last volume. Man, is that one tough final exam. In fact, I think most of the class doesn't even complete it. That doesn't seem to be required to graduate, but yeah, the final stage of the practical exam is really rough.

Anyway, on to the episode.

Opening with the usual summary flashbacks.

Shuu and Asumi meeting in the hallway; Shuu has just been interviewed, and next is Asumi's turn. Lots of people, including Haijima, the Principal, the teachers, and lots of guys in suits. If I'm getting this, they ask her why they should send her instead of Shuu, and when she has a hard time answering, ask her why she thinks she surpasses Marika. She really doesn't want to answer, but they force her to compare herself to the rest of the fivesome.

Asumi walking, on the phone to her father, telling him about the NASA possibility. He notices she doesn't sound as excited as she should, and she tells him she may have done something horrible.

Shuu working part-time again, the manager and his wife/girl-friend praising and teasing him.

Class with Shiomi. Class is over, and she says tomorrow is the start of summer break. One of the students asks about the NASA selection, and Shiomi says they'll know after the break.

The fivesome walking, talking about taking a summer trip. Kei suggests they all go to Yuigahama. Fuuchi is a bit reluctant; apparently Sunday is the anniversary of the Lion incident and (in the live action) Asumi's mother's death. Asumi doesn't mind, though, so they decide to go.

Asumi looking at the space-suit in the lobby. Shuu comes up and talks to her. She brings up the interview. Neither of them seem all that happy.

The fivesome in casual clothes at a bus stop. Apparently just having got off the bus, because they're fairly excited. Kei sets up a tripod while the rest pose in front of the beach.

Shiomi and the others looking at video of Shuu and Asumi and discussing them. Shiomi seems to favor Shuu, and Haijima favors Asumi. Onishi buts in with a comment in Asumi's favor but gets glared down.

The fivesome sitting on the beach, looking at an island (Kei says it's where the Lion was launched from). They wonder who among them will be on a launch from there, but Shuu says it won't be him or Asumi, because of the NASA deal. If I'm getting this right, it's the first time the other three have heard that the choice is between Shuu and Asumi.

All five eating dinner at Asumi's place with her father. All five of the students are a bit down, and Tomoro tries to cheer them up. Kei gets upset at Marika for her attitude, and Marika gets up and leaves.

Kei setting up futons in her room. Marika is sitting there depressed. Kei tries to cheer her up, bringing up the fireworks festival tomorrow. Marika asks Kei if she isn't frustrated, and Kei apologizes and leaves.

Tomoro and Asumi talk. He's says he's kind of jealous of Marika, for being able to be so in to something to get down like that. Asumi asks him if he's been lonely since her mother died, but he says not. Asumi asks him to go running with her tomorrow, but he declines.

Fuuchi and Shuu walking and talking. Fuuchi asks him about the NASA stuff, and he says he's never been this nervous before in his life. Shuu gets a phone call on his cell phone.

Cut to Asumi on the phone. She says thank you, but doesn't look too happy.

Cut to Asumi's room. Kei and Marika are in their futons already. Asumi gets in bed and lies there for a second before saying she wasn't chosen, and starts crying.

Next morning, Tomoro and Asumi at her mother's grave. Asumi leaves to meet up with Kei and the others. Sano suddenly shows up to talk to Tomoro. Sano wants to know more about what caused the Lion explosion.

Flashback to Tomoro talking to a couple guys in suits (one with a Diet pin) in a JASRO office. Tomoro apparently wants the launch delayed because there's only a 99.9% chance of success, and the NASA standard is 99.99% (no idea where these numbers are supposed to be coming from). He gets overruled.

Back to Tomoro and Sano. Sano gets upset and accuses Tomoro of running away, but Tomoro's response isn't any friendlier. They basically have a "what about my feelings" pity party.

The three girls sitting by the beach. Kei asks Asumi if she's all right, and Asumi says don't worry about it. Fuuch and Shuu show up. After an awkward silence, Shuu announces his selection. Marika gets up and proposes they go running before the fireworks.

All five running down the beach. Shuu is ahead, followed by Asumi, Marika, Fuuchi, and then Kei. But Asumi pulls ahead.

Cut their finish; Asumi stops, with Shuu close behind. He congratulates her, but she says it's meaningless. The others show up as Asumi wonders why she wasn't the one chosen. Kei tries to calm her down, but Asumi says it has nothing to do with her, which gets Kei angry. Asumi starts to leave, and when Marika asks her where she's going, says she wants to run some more.

Asumi runs in to Sano. She wonders why she wasn't chosen, and he ask her if her goal was to go to NASA or to go to space. Then he asks her her age (16) and asks her how old the oldest person to go in to space was (77). After a little more talk, she thanks him and starts to leave, but stops and asks him what he's going to do from now on. He says he's still just 40.

The other four just sitting around moping on the beach. Fuuchi says he'll support Shuu. Shuu starts getting a nosebleed (although no one else seems to notice) just as Asumi comes running back. Some disconnected conversation (Fuuchi asks her where she went and she responds by saying she'll get in to space before she's eighty, which nobody gets) and they leave together.

Cut to the festival. The girls are in yukata, the guys in their nomral clothes. Shuu has an omikuji reading bad luck. Kei and Shuu both say it's the first time they've seen one, and Shuu gets teased about it.

Shuu and Kei stop while the others keep walking. Shuu goes to a shooting range booth and asks Kei what she wants. Kei picks a necklace (it has a cat sitting in a crescent moon pendant on it). Shuu manages to get it.

Cut to somewhere else, where Shuu gives Kei the necklace. She starts humming Neko Funjatta. He puts the necklace on her and tells her it looks good on her. She starts to confess to him, but stops and wonders what's taking everyone else so long.

Sano sitting on the beach, and Tomoro comes up to him. Sano tells him he saw Asumi earlier and she wasn't the one going to NASA. Tomoro asks him to watch over Asumi, but he says he can't because he's quitting the school.

The five on a roof or something. Kei and Asumi make up, and everyone teases Marika a bit (for suggesting the running earlier), and then Asumi starts crying and apologizes to everyone. She's still upset about what she said in the interview, and tells them about it. Marika walks to the railing and shouts out Asumi's english test score (39) and says now they're even. The others follow suit in their own way (Fuuchi calls her an alien).

Tomoro and Sano again. They start arguing about which of them told the other about John Glenn. Sudden flashback to them younger with Kyouko and Sano's girlfriend. They're arguing over who the 77 year old astronaut was, both wrong, and Kyouko tells them it was John Glenn.

Back to the fivesome on the roof, shouting 'baka' together as loud and long as they can. Asumi congratulates Shuu, and then the fireworks start.

Flashback to Tomoro walking with Kyouko, talking about names for their upcoming baby.

Back to the Kamogawa residence, where Tomoro is talking out loud about being lonely without Kyouko. Asumi overhears and teases him a bit, and he wishes her good luck. He finally pulls out the free ride pass she had given him, and shows it to her.

Beach the next morning, with Fuuchi watching Asumi and Tomoro run together.

Back to school, where Kei tries to ask Fuuchi for some help with a problem, but he tells her to do it herself.

Shuu working.

Marika's mother talking to her about Shuu.

Asumi running.

Asumi, Kei, Fuuchi and Marika at school. They think Shuu is at some kind of special training, but hear a piano playing and go looking, to find Shuu playing. After some banter, Shuu asks for requests. They all speak at once, so I can't make out what they say, except for Kei's Neko Funjatta, which surprises everyone else. They had all asked for "When you Wish upon a Star", and Kei insists she did too.

The girls walking home. Asumi tells Kei she's easy to read, and Kei admits to being in love with Shuu.

Cut back to the music room. Fuuchi comes in to find Shuu slumped over the piano with a nosebleed. Annoying black and white effect leaving the blood in color.

Preview.

Judging from the preview, the next episode is going to be a rather significant deviation from the manga story, but more on that when I see it.

Can't say my opinion of the series has changed much from last time. I'm fine with it as a stand-alone, but would have still preferred they follow the original story more closely.

Some manga spoilers in the following comments.

I think compressing the entire three-year in story time into one is probably what's hurting the series the most. They've been leaving out a lot that really helps build the characters, but given the seven episode time constraint it can't be helped. Unfortunately, this episode was their chance to include one of my favorite small moments from the manga, and they didn't take it. The first time they go to Yuigahama together, there's a wonderful Asumi moment that says a lot about her. The first night the girls stay in Asumi's room, when she turns the lights off, Kei and Marika get a big surprise. Asumi's used glow-in-the-dark paint to put a star field up, and their reaction to this is just great. Some other minor stuff, like at the beach; Marika hadn't brought a swimsuit, and stayed on the shore reading while everyone else played in the surf. Kei got fed up with this, so she and Asumi go, pick her up, and toss her in. Marika's expression in this is great. One more fun bit is at the fireworks, where Kei shouts out "Tama-ya, Kagi-ya, Fuchyuu-ya!", which I still find funnier than I probably should. Minor moments, but fun.

The change this episode I'm most disappointed in is the confession scene. In the manga, Kei does confess. Shuu doesn't reciprocate, and she doesn't let him explain why. The way it played out wouldn't have taken any more time, and the way they made it so obvious what she was about to do, but didn't do, kind of makes the scene hard to believe.

Anyway, like I was saying before, the next episode preview looks like it's going to be a significant departure from the manga. Up until now, the overall theme and plot has been pretty much intact, although details have differed significantly. However, the preview (yes, major manga spoilers ahead) makes it look like Shuu gets hospitalized for at least a significant while, and Asumi is getting put through the health checks Shuu was supposed to get. In the manga, Shuu collapses during the middle of these health checks, and is briefly hospitalized before dying. I don't remember anything in the manga about a second choice from the astronaut training program at the school, and after Shuu dies suddenly JAXA sends one of their existing astronauts to NASA instead. Well, I guess I'll just have to wait another week and see how it really goes.

Wraith
"The real friends of the space voyager are the stars."
— James Lovell

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 6

Usual recap to start.

The three girls running to the hospital, where Fuuchi is waiting. He's trying to tell them what happened when Shiomi and Onishi come up with Sakura (Shuu's little sister).

Cut to a doctor with the teachers and Sakura. My medical Japanese is pretty much nonexistent, so I'm not sure what they're talking about here, but it sounds like some kind of heart disease.

The four students going in to the "HCU" (Highly Intensive Care Unit, apparently) where Shuu is sleeping. He quickly wakes up and tells them about a dream he had. They talk and joke for a bit.

Back out in the hall, the students talking to the teachers about whether or not Shuu is going to be admitted to the hospital. Shiomi says he'll have to be there for a while, and Fuuchi wonders if he'll be able to go to NASA. Sakura says he may not be able to go in to space at all. The others decide they shouldn't tell Shuu about this yet.

A meeting room with Shiomi, Onishi, Haijima, the principal and Marika's mother. After Shiomi gives her report, Marika's mother suggest switching to Asumi for the NASA exchange. Starting immediately.

Shiomi and Haijima talking to Asumi about preparing for the NASA trip. She wants to know about Shuu, of course.

Asumi walking, and Fuuchi and Marika come up and want to know if something happened. Before Asumi can answer, Kei shows up pretty angry about something she heard after Shuu was admitted. (She seems to be wearing her skirt rather shorter than usual here, for some reason)

Getting set up for jogging, and Asumi sees his card. Some of the students ask about him, but Onishi tells them he'll be fine before setting them jogging.

Cut to Shiomi giving an astronomy lesson about supernovas.

Back to the hospital, with Kei and Marika bickering while trying to buy something from the store in the hospital (not really a cafeteria). Shuu is nearby in a wheelchair with Fuuchi. Kei and Marika join them, and Shuu is whining about getting regular orange juice instead of ponkan juice, so Kei goes to get him some, and Marika follows. While they're gone, Fuuchi gives Shuu a gravure magazine. Shuu isn't sure he'll have time to do anything with it because of the studying he's doing for the NASA trip. Shuu wonders where Asumi is, and Fuuchi says she had to do something with Haijima, but will be by later.

Cut to Asumi running on a treadmill while wearing a mask (probably so they can measure her oxygen use).

Back to the hospital, where Kei has discovered the magazine, and is using it to hit Shuu and Fuuchi. The couple from the liquor store are there and rather amused. Kei nicely returns the magazine, along with a scolding. Asumi comes in, and Shuu gives her a strange salute, which she returns. The shopkeeper praises Shuu for studying and working so much. The lady notices a notebook Shuu made full of all the things he wants to do in space.

The four walking with umbrellas (Asumi's is covered with star patterns) by a river, talking about what they should tell Shuu. Asumi is pretty upset about taking Shuu's place, but Marika and Fuuchi tell her it can't be helped. Kei wonders if she can keep up the act in front of Shuu, and asks Asumi what she's going to do.

Tomoro and Shano talking in a cafe. Tomoro shows Sano some (extremely high-level, as in, not detailed) blueprints of a capsule. He also asks Sano if he wants to work on a rocket again together, but Sano gets a phone call from Fuuchi before he can answer.

Back in the hospital, with Sakura putting up astronomy photos in Shuu's room. They talk about friends, and Shuu tells her that the best way to get closer to her dreams is to have friends with the same dream.

The other four out in the hall. Fuuchi warns the others to act normal in front of Shuu before they go in. When Fuuchi knocks, Shuu makes them answer a question before they can come in. Kei feeds Shuu some kind of cream crumpet thingy. Shuu notices Asumi acting weird, but doesn't say anything.

Sano meeting with Haijima about Shuu and Asumi. Haijima points out going to NASA is a great chance, and it shouldn't be wasted. Sano says Shuu needs to be told what's going on.

Asumi on an exercise bike hooked up to a heart monitor. Haijima shows up as she finishes. They talk about Shuu, and Haijima points out that dreams are dreams because even with talent and hard work you don't know if you'll be able to obtain them.

Fuuchi, Marika and Kei in the library. Fuuchi wonders if Shuu has figured out he can't become an astronaut, and Marika says he probably has.

Shiomi and Haijima leaving Shuu's room. Asumi shows up right after they leave. He doesn't respond to her knock, and when she opens the door he's just sitting in bed staring out the window. She knocks again, and they do the salute bit. Shuu offers her some ponkan juice and says the teachers were by. He then tells her about why he wanted to become an astronaut, and how he was always climbing to the highest places he could to be closer to the stars.

They're interrupted when Fuuchi knocks, and Shuu plays Q&A with them again, and tells them they can't come in when they get it wrong. They come in anyway. Fuuchi is carrying a box, and whispers that he brought more gravure for Shuu. Kei sets up a tripod and timer so they can take a group picture.

A shot of the moon, followed by Shuu sitting up in bed reading. He notices a power cord, and follows it out in to the hall, where it leads in to the box Fuuchi was carrying earlier. When he opens the box, there's a miniature star projector inside.

The four listening to Shuu over Fuuchi's cell phone. Shuu asks Kei for more pictures from Yuigahama. They talk a bit, and then Shuu asks for Asumi. He says he doesn't know why they're fighting, but she and Kei should make up. After hanging up, Shuu lies on the floor to look at the star field.

The astronaut class doing push ups in the field. Lots of close-ups of the necklace Shuu gave Kei in this and the next scene.

The four walking along, Kei laughing at some pictures. Fuuchi wants to see them, but she won't show him. They run in to Sakura, who's got some ponkan juice for Shuu, but she gets a phone call.

They all run in to the hospital, and there's a crash cart in Shuu's room.

Cut to night, Tomoro getting home. He's surprised to see Asumi there. She tells him Shuu died.

Funeral for Shuu, with his father giving a speech. Then his sister says she'll going to give a performance for the friends that will be going to space in Shuu's place, and plays Neko Funjatta on a piano.

Everyone lines up to put flowers in the casket. Marika also adds some astronomy photos. Fuuchi adds the jumpsuit the astronaut course students wear. Asumi adds some ponkan juice. Kei adds some group photos, including the one they took in the hospital.

As everyone is leaving, Sakura gives Asumi Shu's notebook. Asumi says she's not going to go to NASA, and Fuuchi thinks she's crazy. Sano interrupts.

Outside, Asumi talking to Sano. He asks her if her determination was this weak. He then asks her if she knows about supernovas. Some talk about supernovas creating new stars (echoing a side discussion the kids had in class earlier).

Cut to Marika talking with her mother about Asumi. Apparently some NASA representatives are coming to Tokyo next week to meet Asumi.

Fuuchi, Marika and Kei walking along, Marika talking about the NASA training. Kei walks by nearby talking with someone else.

Kei sitting outside in the rain under an umbrella.

Back to gym class. Onishi shows them Shuu's card for recording laps, and asks the students to run Shuu's laps as well.

Flashback montage of Shuu.

Asumi gets up and says she'll go to space in Shuu's place, then starts running. Marika follows, then Fuuchi and the rest of the class. Kei stays put.

More flashbacks as Onishi marks off 12 laps. Fuuchi shouts at Kei and she finally gets up and starts running all out. Until she passes Asumi, then she stops and starts crying.

More flashbacks and everyone running around Kei.

Some unknown man talking to Shiomi and Haijima about Asumi and the upcoming training in the lobby of the school.

Preview. Asumi being interviewed. Tomoro and Kiriu talking to Asumi. Haijima talking to Asumi. The class running a race. Sano talking. Kei crying and asking Asumi if she doesn't need friends to fulfil her dream. Somoene, probably Asumi, watching a video of Shuu on a cellphone.

Let's see. They telegraphed Asumi deciding not to go, which is very much out of character for her, but it was equally clear it wasn't going to stick. Sano is definitely getting more of a role in this than he did in the manga or anime. It would have been better if they didnt handle it this way, but it wasn't bad.

More importantly, they way overdid the funeral and the end of the episode. The manga handles it in a much more subdued and understated way. The live action pretty much uses it as a great big hammer. I really hate those overtly and overly manipulative flashback montages. If the storytelling to that point has been good, you don't need this kind of manipulation. If you overdo it, like they did here, it just goes beyond evocative and in to annoying. It wasn't even remotely necessary, and I wish they had a director with imagination enough not to have done it.

Oh, well. I was expecting this to be where the big divergence from the manga story showed up, and it did. Shuu's illness was played up a lot more in the live action; the manga has a much shorter period between his initial collapse and death. The funeral was played up more. And the manga doesn't have any of the other students taking Shuu's place on the NASA exchange.

Anyway, from the preview it's hard to tell just how far they're going to go with the last episode. Despite the JAXA and NASA involvement, they haven't really shown any of the astronaut training worth talking about. Nothing in the preview leads me to believe they've actually got a special effect budget, but if they do it'll probably be saved for a bit at the end.

Just one more episode left. Somebody license the manga already!

Wraith
"No one regards what is before his feet; we all gaze at the stars."
— Quintus Ennius

[KomoriKiri]

Episode 7

Final episode.

Usual recap to kick things off.

Big press event. Ukita's mother makes the introductions, then Shiomi gets up to field questions. Asumi gets hammered right off the bat with a question about Shuu and her parents. She clearly doesn't want to answer.

The astronaut course students are watching this on TV in another room. Fuuchi and Kei are not pleased with the reporters. Marika shares something about Asumi being used to improve the image of the space academy, but I don't catch the full statement. Kei and Fuuchi get more worried afterwards.

Cut to the end of the interview. Asumi clearly isn't happy. Nor is Haijima. She accuses the guy introduced at the end of the previous episode of setting it up (his name is apparently Kiryu Natsuki). Which he did, to test Asumi. Shiomi isn't happy either. Ukita and the principal back him up, though.

Outside, Fuuchi is waiting for Asumi, although he claims otherwise. He's got an iPod (or similar) around his neck, and says he's practicing English. He mentions something about another event tomorrow.

Back in the classroom before class, Kei approaches Marika, who's studying. She's preparing for some pre-university course, although Kei doesn't understand why. Among other things, Marika claims studying helps her forget hard times. Kei gets more depressed than she has been. Kei shows Marika a newspaper with coverage of the earlier press conference, which apparently rips pretty hard on Asumi.

It's evening, and Marika runs up to her mother as she's getting in a car. Marika tells her mother to lay off Asumi and they have a short argument.

Next day, with Asumi being filmed and interviewed while approaching the Lion memorial. The rest of the astronaut course are in the background. She gets asked more questions she doesn't want to answer, and Fuuchi runs in to shot, so they have to stop the camera.

Back inside, Fuuchi asks Asumi, Kei and Marika to lunch later. Kei agrees, but Asumi has something to do. He then asks her to do something with them and Sakura after school, but she's got special training. Then she says she should have a little time.

Cut to some run-down office building. Sano and Tomoro are inside. Tomoro is getting set up to start some kind of rocketry company, but Sano isn't committed to the idea yet. He's applied to another university. Tomoro brings up Asumi's interview.

Sakura and the foursome walking together and talking. They're planning something on Saturday (some kind of memorial for Shuu, I think). Kei realizes this will interfere with Marika's class, but Marika doesn't care. The others aren't sure Asumi will be able to make it, since she has training scheduled, but she insists she will. Then Fuuchi points out what time it is and Asumi has to leave.

Shiomi, Kiryu and Haijima in the exercise room waiting impatiently for Asumi. When she shows up, she gets scolded by Haijima, but Kiryu gives her permission to go to Shuu's memorial. Shiomi and Haijima are worried they won't have all the data on Asumi NASA wants in time, but Kiryu pretty much wants the publicity (not that he says exactly that).

Cut to later, with Asumi leaving and being approached by Haijima. Haijima warns her to think carefully about this, and that she couldn't trust someone who can't stick to the training schedule on her crew. Haijima warns Asumi that someone's life may depend on her.

Asumi walking home alone in the evening when she gets a phone call. It's Kiriu, who offers his condolences on Shuu and congratulations on going to NASA. She confesses she's not too happy about things anyway, and he notes that sometimes you have to let go of important things to obtain a dream. He reminds her of how much fun she had talking to him about space.

Cut to a classroom. Asumi is studying when the other three approach her. Fuuchi asks if she'll be able to make it on Saturday, and she says she can.

Asumi walking home in the rain by a graveyard when the reporters ambush her. Kiryu is right on hand to approve the sudden interview. They start to get set up when Asumi gets a text message supposedly from Sakura. Haven't translated the text, but attached is a video recording of Shuu. If I'm getting this right, it was filmed in the hospital, and he's talking about how she's probably in the middle of some really tough training.

Fuuchi, Marika and Kei watch from outside as someone, probably Sakura, is filmed inside a building. This is also near a graveyard, so it's probably the memorial. Fuuchi wonders what's keeping Asumi, which Kiryu happens to overhear and says she'll be there soon. Fuuchi gets a call from Asumi, who says she can't go.

Cut to Asumi walking away. Fuuchi and the others run up to ask her what's up. She says she has to go to the training. Kei says it's just one day, but Asumi responds that every day is important. Even Marika gets upset with her, saying Asumi isn't the only one aiming to be an astronaut. Kei tries to pressure Asumi into staying, but Fuuchi stops her. He then asks Asumi why she isn't staying even though Kiryu (NASA no ojisan ^_^) is there. Marika chimes in again, but I'm having a hard time catching it all; she speaks pretty softly part of the time and the noise from the rain on umbrellas makes it too unclear for me. Fuuchi accuses her of getting weird as she gets closer to her dream. Kei, in tears, asks if Asumi doesn't need friends to get her dream. Asumi simply says she's going, and leaves. Kei shouts that they're not friends any more.

Cut to the space school, where Asumi, in jumpsuit, runs in to Haijima. Asumi says she'll become an astronaut Haijima is willing to trust her life to.

Kiryu and Senri (Ukita's mother; can't get used to the name, since the character isn't in the manga) in a small room asking Asumi why she wasn't at the memorial. Asumi notes the training schedule, and Senri basically tells her PR is part of her job. Shiomi and Haijima are watching, and Asumi's response is basically that she doesn't want anyone's support out of pity. Kiryu starts in on her, but Haijima and Shiomi back her up. Kiryu says he'll let it go this time, since they're getting some good shots with her father instead.

Cut to Asumi running down the street, with a voice over of the reporter asking Tomoro about his wife's death (Sano is looking on, rather put out by the whole deal) in his office. Asumi shows up and the reporter immediately wants her to join in, asking Tomoro what he feels about her wanting to become an astronaut. Tomoro basically tells Asumi that he'll put up with anything for the sake of her dream, and dares the reporters to do their worst, warning them that Asumi isn't as soft as they think. Sano is pretty amused.

Asumi walking with Sano. She thanks him for helping her father with the business. He asks her about her friends, and she tells him about skipping the memorial for training. She starts to say something more about Shuu, but stops. When Sano asks what about Shuu, she says it's nothing. Asumi brings up his earlier comment about not necessarily being able to achieve a dream with hard work. Then she adds that even if hard work isn't enough, it is required, and she's going to do her best.

Asumi sitting at a fountain. She pulls out her cell phone and watches the video again. Shuu predicts that she'll be feeling bad about taking his place after he dies, but that she shouldn't. He adds that there's something he doesn't want her to forget. Even if the training gets so tough she wants to run way, he desperately wants to go, and she shouldn't waste time (if I'm getting this right). He starts to break down a bit, and goes in to how he doesn't want to die.

Cut to gym class, with Onishi announcing Asumi's send-off party next week. Which naturally means they need to run a marathon.

Fuuchi, Marika and Kei walking up some steps in the rain. Fuuchi bitches about the amount of running, then Marika brings up the farewell party. Kei says it has nothing to do with them. Marika says it could be them going someday, and Kei claims that's just a dream within a dream. They run in to Sano.

Cut to later, with the three kids sitting in bleachers and Sano behind them. He gives them a talk I'm not going to attempt to summarize; it's too important to get wrong. The key point for the summary is probably that he notes that sometimes you have to have the confidence to go your own direction even if you're alone.

Back to the gym at school. Most of the students are on the grass in the center of the track, but Onishi calls out to Asumi as she comes up. Onishi gets everyone lined up, and gives the rules. Everyone starts at the same time except Asumi, who gets a 10 minute handicap. Anyone who finishes after Asumi gets a penalty (didn't catch it). One of the students asks Asumi to go easy on them, but Onishi vetoes that.

The students stretch in prep for the marathon. Asumi is stuck by herself, lots of others are in pairs, and Fuchii, Kei and Marika make a trio. Fuuchi talks about how they met there. He eventually gets to everyone having a strong drive, and Kei declares she wants to win the marathon.

As they line up, Fuuchi warns Asumi to go all out, because they will. Onishi starts them off, and Asumi watches them run, Marika in the lead. They run out of the grounds.

Cut to Tomoro's office, with Sano still around. Sano says he's decided to stick around and work with Tomoro after all. He says it's what Yuri (his girlfriend) and Kyouko would have wanted.

Back to the grounds, where the time is almost to 10 minutes. Onishi tells her to run to space, then starts her off.

Flashback to the initial Q&A session with Haijima, when she asked Asumi her reason for going in to space.

Cut to Asumi catching up with the trailing students. More flashbacks as she passes the group, then comes up next to Kei. More flashbacks, then Asumi passes her. Kei shouts that she'll always be following behind Asumi.

Asumi catches up with Fuuchi, who says he definitely won't lose and speeds up. More flashbacks. As she pulls ahead anyway, he tells her not to disappoint him. He shouts something else out after her, but I can't catch it.

Asumi catches up to Marika, who speeds up to try and stay ahead. They get back to the school pretty much side by side. Kiryu, Haijima, Shiomo and the principal are watching. Marika tells Asumi this is a contest to get in to space, and to show her her resolution. Asumi immediately pulls ahead, but Marika manages to catch back up. More flashbacks. Asumi pulls a sprint and finishes ten or more feet ahead. More flashbacks.

Kiryu and the teachers approach the field while everyone is trying to get their breath back. Kiryu is, as usual, rather rude and dismissive, but this time Senri cuts him off and says how proud she is of the school and its student.

Some scenery shots, then a shot of Marika, Fuuchi, Asumi and Kei all lying on the grass in a circle.

Cut to inside the classroom, with Asumi by herself. Flashback to Sano's introduction to the school.

Asumi praying by the Lion memorial.

Asumi and Shiomi in front of the space suit in the lobby. Shiomi tells her she'll be fine, and Asumi jokingly says she was chosen because of her smile (referencing the Gagarin story Shuu told her).

Asumi walking outside, stoping to look at and bow to the school's sign. Fuuchi, Kei and Marika run up to say goodbye. Tears, and then Fuuchi echoes Onishi in his run to space comment. Kei says it's impossible, but Marika says it might be for Asumi.

Overlay saying "5 years later"

Onishi shouting at students running laps. Marika watches from a distance, saying not much has changed. Fuuchi comes up behind her, and Kei joins them (with a camera around her neck). Marika says they'll be able to meet Asumi soon.

Cut to some video of the space station while Shiomi gives an introduction for Asumi. It's in the same place where Haijimi gave her Q&A session. Asumi comes in, dressed in white and holding a mic, to applause. After she introduces herself, she asks what they think the most important thing to realize their dream is. Her answer is, to have a dream.

End credits.

On the whole, I'd have to say the series is pretty decent on its own merits. They did go overboard with the melodrama with Shuu's death, and had to reprise that a bit here, which was disappointing, but on the whole it was a pretty good wrap-up for something that isn't complete yet.

My other major complaint with the series is the serious lack of the practical training stuff. With JAXA's involvement, I had really hoped to get more than running and a single shot of Haijima in a space suit. I guess they really only helped with reference footage and maybe funding.

As an adaptation of the manga, of course, it very much fails to live up to the original. Compressing the entire three-year story into three months just doesn't work, even if you ignore all the other major changes. Like most live action adaptations of manga, it probably could have been done as its own story for about the same effort. Can't say this is a disappointment, since it's pretty much expected, but what they did do manages to stand on its own well enough.

I've got volume 15 in the mail, so it should be here any day now. Pretty much nothing in this last episode correlates to anything in the manga, and I'm not expecting that to change with volume 15. The NASA exchange storyline wrapped up long ago in the manga.

Wraith
"At the beginning of the 20th century, that demented fool of a Russian dreamed of travelling the stars and boasted about being able to make it happen. Tsiolkovsky was a mad genius who decided to make his personal dream seem like a goal for all mankind."
-- Goro ("Planetes")

[KomoriKiri]

I just got volume 15 of the manga in today, and thought I'd make a post about it. I haven't gone through it in detail yet, just skimmed the parts I could read, and there's some great stuff in here. Major spoilers, of course.

First, since 14 covers finals, 15 obviously covers graduation. Some notes of significance here. Fuuchi is headed back to Yuigahama to put on big fireworks displays. Asumi had mentioned the seeing fireworks from space bit to him when they were little, and he seems to be planning to try to make it happen. Kei gets in to a college (haven't translated the name yet, but it seems to be a big name). Marika is entering the medical course at the space academy. Not at all mentioned in the anime, but Ringo is part of the medical course, and apparently it's one of the toughest and most respected ones around.

Asumi, of course, is on a different path. Early in the manga they mention the solar power satellite project. When they go on an early field trip to watch a rocket launch, Onishi mentions that they're planning to use students from the astronaut training course as part of the crew. I'm sure you can guess where this is going. Out of the entire class, Asumi is the only student selected from this first year's course to participate from the start.

Some really nice moments. After Asumi goes off for her briefing with the JAXA (if I have this right, don't think they ever explicitly say which agency he's with) guy, she comes out to find the entire class waiting to congratulate her. Kei starts up a banzai cheer, and Marika's response is absolutely hilarious. Later on, Kei, Fuuchi, and Marika get together and give Asumi a laptop as a present, so she can keep in touch with them from the space center.

Lots more than that, of course. Can't wait until this weekend when I have time to go through it in more detail.

Wraith
"When I grow up, I'm going to be a rocket ship driver!"
-- Asumi ("Twin Spica")

[Ingraman]

Episode 05

Cut to Asumi's room. Kei and Marika are in their futons already. Asumi gets in bed and lies there for a second before saying she wasn't chosen, and starts crying.

I think that it was in this scene that Asumi's wearing a shirt that says "Sacramento" on it, along with a number. While I find it interesting that the city seems to get a mention, that's a rather wierd pattern for that sort of shirt (green with a repeating small flower print, or something).

Cut to somewhere else, where Shuu gives Kei the necklace. She starts humming Neko Funjatta.This is the second time that I've heard this tune mentioned in anything (that I recall, anyway). It was referenced in the Skip Beat! manga. I guess that I'll now have to look it up and learn more (or actually listen to it). ^_^;

Back to the fivesome on the roof, shouting 'baka' together as loud and long as they can. Asumi congratulates Shuu, and then the fireworks start.Fuuchi's wearing a "Sussex of Delaware Hurricanes" shirt (with the University of Miami [Hurricanes] logo)... Well, there appears to be a Sussex county in Delaware. Is the shirt actually pink, or is it just the lighting at this point of the day? ^_^;;;

Asumi, Kei, Fuuchi and Marika at school. They think Shuu is at some kind of special training, but hear a piano playing and go looking, to find Shuu playing.Fuuchi's wearing a "Peglegs" t-shirt (looks like another school shirt, but who knows considering the Hurricanes shirt) now...

Just where do they get their clothing from? I suppose that some of their clothes have been just as strange all along, but I just hadn't noticed. ^_^

[Ingraman]

Overlay saying "5 years later"

But they don't look five years older! ^_^

("Planetes")One of my favorite anime and manga (with many differences between them, too).

[KomoriKiri]

This is the second time that I've heard this tune mentioned in anything (that I recall, anyway). It was referenced in the Skip Beat! manga. I guess that I'll now have to look it up and learn more (or actually listen to it). ^_^;

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Flohwalzer) has a link to a midi file of it, although there are a lot of others available online.

Just where do they get their clothing from? I suppose that some of their clothes have been just as strange all along, but I just hadn't noticed. ^_^

No idea where they get it from, but they have used pretty random casual clothes on the students from the start. Shuu's "King of Alpha Ind USA" shirt from the first episode, for instance. Kei's weird "Function Made Itself/Fiftyfive Seconds" shirt. Etc. Might be interesting to catalog these, actually.

Since I mentioned it in this thread, one correction for the manga I should make.

The reason Asumi doesn't go in Shuu's place in the manga is pretty simple. When the NASA chance comes up, Asumi doesn't meet the minimum height requirement. She never even gets a chance to apply for it, and briefly tries a couple methods to force her growth a little, until Lion-san convinces her not to. In the manga, it's also not limited to the school. In fact, not focused at the school at all. As far as I can tell, Shuu is the only one in the astronaut training course who actually gets in to the competition. If others applied, they didn't make it past the initial screening.

Oh, and the last chapter (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-07/twin-spica-sci-fi-coming-of-age-manga-ends-in-japan) is being published in the September issue of Comic Flapper. Last volume will be released late October.

Wraith
"Ever since I was little I've always looked up at the sky. I've always thought that I wanted to get closer. This is it. This is the only dream I have."
-- Asumi ("Twin Spica")

[KomoriKiri]

But they don't look five years older! ^_^

They're dressed better, though ^_^

One of my favorite anime and manga (with many differences between them, too).

I'm kind of torn on Planetes. The manga storyline doesn't have much focus to it; it kind of goes all over the place without the cohesion it deserves. The anime, though more cohesive in plot, adds a major theme I really despise. Both are disappointing in their own way, and it's frustrating because there's so much good in them. Locksmith is great, for instance (although not quite up to Gotoh levels).

So once again, if only someone would license the Twin Spica manga... ^_^

Wraith
"Pretty, huh? This is my ocean!"
-- Nono ("Planetes")