Ichigo Mashimaro / Strawberry Marshmallow Encore OVA discussion thread

[something]

This came out late last month and I don't think anyone commented on it yet, but yay for more IchiMashi cuteness.

ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10261) entry.
Official (http://www.geneon-ent.co.jp/rondorobe/anime/ichigomashimaro/) site.

No schedule of air times, it's just a two episode OVA. First episode came out 1/23, the next seems scheduled for 3/25.

Note
Well, there are only two episodes so it doesn't really matter, but the following are good habits anyway:
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:

- Someone is pranking Chika! I'm sure there's no way it's Miu on her cellphone. Nooooooo way.
- That was a seriously impressive roll, Miu. She covered the whole damn room and went out the door.
- Bwhahaah, wtf JASRAC.
- Everyone's in Nobue's room and Miu blasts an irritating noise from her phone. Ana dives under the table! XD
- So it's a buzzer to set off if someone is assaulting you or something. Miu says Ana would probably prefer a stun gun. Oh god, I need to see Ana with a stun gun now.
- Whahaa, they decide to test the buzzer out with Matsuri, and Nobue playing the kidnapper. ...Kidnapping is not averted.
- Completely ignoring the flow of conversation as usual, Miu bursts in with "I wanna become an idol." A gravure idol, apparently (Ana points out that she's shoving snacks in her face as she says this).
- Then she does a backflip and dies.

The end.

- Or just the OP. Which is full of criminal amounts of cuteness. Also, how did Miu make it through the whole pre-OP section without ending up face first on the ground?
- ...She really is dead! Well, for now. She has a halo! So does ghost Matsuri, or rather her guide Noguchi, leading her to the Enma Nobue.
- "You were a pretty rotten girl." She gets sent to hell! But she rebels and gives Noguchi a chop to the next. So Matsuri ends up face down before Miu!
- ...But Miu invokes Enma-sama's wrath and soon joins her.
- Oni Chika. Oh god, it's adorable. I want to go to hell too!
- Whahaa, Miu freaks the denizens of hell out with the tortures she proposes.
- So her hell is to play the boke and not get tsukkomi'd. To see a harisen and not get hit by it? She can't stand that!
- Of course, Chik-er, Sasaki can't hold it in and winds up playing the tsukkomi anyway. Miu has beaten hell!
- Bwhaha, Miu gets kicked out of hell. And Noguchi-Matsuri fails at sliding doors.
- There they met Shinohara-san, the angel! Oh god, an angel Ana is so perfect. Noto Mamikoooo~~~~!!!
- Miu lifts Ana's skirt and gets an amazing double roundhouse to the face and stomach. That was impressive. Heaven seems a lot more dangerous than hell.
- After getting her wishes for big breasts (er I guess it's all relative?) and wings granted, Miu goes flying off. And then... holy shit, I never expected to see an intense aerial chase scene in IchiMashi.
- She escapes and wakes up and... lol.

Second half:
- "Creamy dazo!" The girls buy snacks.
- And it's field trip time for independent study. Hah! I'd completely forgotten about the poor boy who is always told to go stand in the hall. He's even told to do it in the park. :sd:
- This skit so far largely involves Miu fucking with Nobue, calling her up about trivial things and pretending Matsuri is in danger. And it's hilarious.
- Ana is such a Japanese culture otaku. She's all about the Japanese gardens and castles, even though she tries to hide it (after getting excessively excited about it).
- You know, Miu is actually quite a skilled artist. She just... uses her skills to anger those around her. :sd:
- Miu's idea of a field trip snack is expired sashimi...
- The ED is all, like... relaxing and low key and stuff.

That was a great great episode. Can't wait for the other episode.

[DKL]

This fucking thing is 30 minutes too short.

That said, I was shocked by the Miu pantyshot, actually... yes, people, you did see it.

That said, the entire sequence in hell was interesting in that, for the most part, when the girls play pretend, the show has a tendency to keep it grounded in reality (as in, outside of key sound effects *crowd noises, etc.*, it's always how it would look like if you shot a bunch of girls playing pretend); this is most likely the first time we actually dove into realm of someone's imagination [Miu's] and I was surprised at how distinct the imagery of the after-life was; you can just TELL that this belongs in the established world of Strawberry Marshmallow, despite it not being the usual imagery we'd associate with the show... by all means, the locations invoke this atmosphere of pleasantness familiar to the show.

Blah blah blah.

I'm surprised that they got the old man in there too and derived a lot of mileage from him; I like how clever the scene where he becomes a model was; you assume that he has finally found meaning and value in his old age when Matsuri speaks up, but it turns out that she was talking about something else... yet, the scene was surprisingly touching despite the joke played on the old man; ignorance is bliss, I guess.

[something]

That said, I was shocked by the Miu pantyshot, actually... yes, people, you did see it.
I must have missed that one. :sd:

by all means, the locations invoke this atmosphere of pleasantness familiar to the show.
In short, IchiMashi can even make Hell iyashikei.

[DKL]

That said, I was shocked by the Miu pantyshot, actually... yes, people, you did see it.
I must have missed that one. :sd:



I was SHOCKED, son, SHOCKED.

Fuck.

But seriously, they avoided it this entire time, so I was pretty surprised when it slipped out; I feel... betrayed, somehow.

[jlazar]

I was SHOCKED, son, SHOCKED.

Fuck.

But seriously, they avoided it this entire time, so I was pretty surprised when it slipped out; I feel... betrayed, somehow.

You'd probably better not look too closely at Matsuri in the OP then. That will cause you to kill yourself. :)

[DKL]

I was SHOCKED, son, SHOCKED.

Fuck.

But seriously, they avoided it this entire time, so I was pretty surprised when it slipped out; I feel... betrayed, somehow.

You'd probably better not look too closely at Matsuri in the OP then. That will cause you to kill yourself. :)

If you're talking about the final cut in the OP, they're not even wearing fucking panties in that (well, Ana is)... oh, and there's another Miu panty-shot.

Why, Sato, WHY?!!!!!????????????????????????

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a342/dklreviews/b-1.png

I blame industry and fandom-pressure...

Yeah, let's make up an excuse.

And the last 2 songs on the new Franz Fredinand album are not songs!

RAGEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

[TalonG4]

That said, I was shocked by the Miu pantyshot, actually... yes, people, you did see it.
I must have missed that one. :sd:

I missed that one too. I was busy looking for the Ana bare butt shot.:devil:

[Rhodes]

its an ova but the quality really sucks. characters seem off model from the previous shows.

btw whenever i see nobue i am reminded of haruka from love hina... keitaro's aunt.

[DKL]

its an ova but the quality really sucks. characters seem off model from the previous shows.

btw whenever i see nobue i am reminded of haruka from love hina... keitaro's aunt.

The actual animation is quite nice (the opening with Miu rolling around had a lot of character and the flight sequence was put together pretty well), but I was surprised by the change in character designs given that they seem like a weird compromise between the TV and OAV designs; particularly, I do miss how the eyes were drawn from the previous OAV (as weird as it made things... must've been trying for some kind of surreal doll-like quality or something, but then they decided it was too creepy and just went back to the old way of doing it).

Anyway, the animation director seems to be the same person, going by ANN's encyclopedia thingy...

[something]

its an ova but the quality really sucks. characters seem off model from the previous shows.
The characters seemed perfectly well drawn to me. I thought the quality was quite good indeed.

[Suwako Moriya]

Thanks to this episode, I've learned that the after life can indeed be interesting. Especially when Miu is involved and you get curious roles for the others. Over all, a pretty nice episode, and now I just wait for the other one.

[Suwako Moriya]

The characters seemed perfectly well drawn to me. I thought the quality was quite good indeed.

I was perfectly fine with it myself. However I probably not the best person to judge that since I don't really have the critical eye needed to notice issues as easily as some do. Or maybe they just need to reach a certain level of bad before they bother me.

[DKL]

Strawberry Marshmallow Encore 2

Was a lot better than the first one, actually (if only for the fact that there was less risque humor [panty-shot was still obligatory, however]... yes, I still feel strangely violated and it's going to take me some time to recover); the humor is as sharp as ever.

I think the most interesting aspect of this episode is Miu's contemplations as to what a "friend" and a "best friend" is; even though they didn't go into it as much as I'd have liked it to (could've easily explored the issue in more detail utilizing the entire episode), the show was surprisingly insightful and honest about the topic.

And I like how Miu just pops the question so casually while walking down the hill they normally walk; with retractable scooter over head, Miu asks Chika a strangely deep question:

“Are we friends... or are we best friends?”

I found it interesting how, when Miu asks Nobue the question with regards to Nobue and her college friend, Nobue realizes that she isn't able to say whether or not her college friend is a "best friend" given that it's not something she can tell herself with much certainty (and Nobue doesn't want Miu to really catch onto the fact that the issue is something that actually bothers her, so Nobue makes her inquiry in private).

The close friendship between Ana and Matsuri is skillfully (is that word too much?) hinted at with the opening gag with the doorbell; soon afterward, the viewer finds himself/herself in a situation where Miu's curiosity puts Matsuri and Ana's friendship under the microscope. As if trying to use some kind of measuring stick of "friendship", Miu utilizes a ridiculous hostage scenario in order to ascertain how far one friend will go for the other.

As to be expected, the hostage scenario draws inconclusive results. … most likely because it’s a really inane scenario.

Afterward, there's a sequence where Miu looks over Matsuri and Ana's text messages to each other (and I like how Matsuri is actually very hesitant to share her private texts with Miu; it's not exactly something that you would show just anyone [Miu in particular] given that the conversations between her and Ana are, in a sense, privileged information reserved for best friends).

The actual content of the PMs is somewhat striking (despite the fact that Miu mocks the content by narrating it): it's Matsuri worrying over an upcoming test and how she confides her worries in Ana.

And… by all means: that’s a VERY clear portrait as to what “best friends” do; it’s not complicated and actually makes sense; without much fuss, we’re given a straight-forward, yet fairly detailed answer (despite the fact that Miu finds the whole thing cringe-inducing).

Simply put: best friends are there for each other in times of need.

And as if to further expand on the definition of “best friendship”, Miu tries to draw similarities between her “best friendship” with Chika and Ana and Matsuri’s “best friendship”. While the similarities are almost glaringly non-existent, taken as a whole, Chika and Miu’s friendship, strangely enough, constitutes “best friendship”; what this ultimately shows us is that there is no one way to perceive “best friendship” and, for different people, it actually might mean different things (which extends further into Nobue’s territory when she’s mortified by the fact that the person she thought was her best friend actually sees Nobue as a “boss”; at that point, it becomes Ana and Matsuri’s job to pick up the pieces).

Anyway, the entire discussion is wrapped up when Nobue proposes an organ donor scenario where, despite Chika’s hesitation to directly answer Miu’s question (either out of embarrassment or genuinely thinking critically whether Miu would be worth the pain of a transplant operation), she shows that, in the end, she has a soft spot for the ever-rambunctious, yet strangely loveable, Miu.

And, as chance would have it, this is followed by one of the greatest punch lines I’ve seen in a while; I should’ve seen it coming, but at one point I forgot that it should be obvious.

So like… wow… that was a surprisingly sharp script; while the second half of the episode is still funny (and I love the final sequence at the beach; it had very relaxing and poignant visuals I’d most likely consider on par with whatever you saw in Tatsuya Ishihara’s beach sequences in the Air TV anime… also, I like how the little details tell you that they’re at the beach during the “off-season” and that you get a good sense of how cold it is), it wasn’t nearly as interesting as the stuff in the first half that I just discussed.

Okay, guess I’m done…

And yes, this was probably the most unnecessarily faux-scholarly discussion of an animu ever (I spent a good 2 hours typing this); you’d think that I’d set aside time for something more... substantial?

But, this is how DKL rolls; remember that.

(but, seriously, I’m probably still working off of my high from Kurozuka)

[Buster Darkwings]

There were occasional pantira in the original manga, it's not like they were in your face with it or anything.

The total absence of it in the TV series was probably more due to TV Tokyo's draconian banning of it, and the 1st OVA probably would've had one or two if it had continued for another few episodes.

[DKL]

There were occasional pantira in the original manga, it's not like they were in your face with it or anything.

The total absence of it in the TV series was probably more due to TV Tokyo's draconian banning of it, and the 1st OVA probably would've had one or two if it had continued for another few episodes.

Just because it was in the original manga doesn't mean that Takuya Sato has to let it be in the animu.

I remember trying to read through the first volume of the Gunslinger Girl manga, only to be immediately put off by the panty shot in the opening action sequence (that said, my memory is fuzzy and this may or may not be true anymore).

Yeah... don't know if I talked about it in here, but Mamoru Hosoda touches on that issue in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time's commentary track: he doesn't put it there (even though by all means it should be) mainly because it will draw people's attention to the wrong things.

That's not to say that you can't do it without being ridiculous about it; Miyazaki does it in spades in My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki, yet I never found it jarring (and Masayuki Kojima does it in Hanada Shonen Shi as well, but he handles it as tastefully as Miyazaki does in that it's more natural than it is an unnecessary detail... or, to the very least, it doesn't feel voyeuristic).

ANYWAY... yes, it's strange that I put so much thought into this issue...

I must be bored or something.

[Buster Darkwings]

I didn't think they were being ridiculous about the patira in Ichigo Mashimaro Encore at all. They were just there for a split second, there was no zooming in or lingering on them.

[DKL]

I didn't think they were being ridiculous about the patira in Ichigo Mashimaro Encore at all. They were just there for a split second, there was no zooming in or lingering on them.

Which is why I suspect that I must be REALLY bored in order to actually be hung up on this issue.

[something]

Episode 2:

- Heh maaaan. Chika has to play mommy. Even for Nobue. :sd:
- Damnit the OP is so cute.
- Hahaha, Miu is utterly fucking obnoxious. And that's why I love her! Seeing her copy Chika was great, but even better was the difference in how they narrow their eyes. Anger vs "This is too easy."
- !! Oh god Miu is amazing. I love how she gets Chika to make a stupid face and then promptly photographs it. XD And face down goes Miu. I swear that is one of the best visual gags in all of anime.
- Matsuri meeting up with Ana. A pair with far too much cuteness to be legal.
- Ahaha, face down goes Nobue too. XD
- Heh, nobody seems able to answer Miu's question - what is a "best friend"?
- Ahaha, Miu is pretty skilled at abducting little girls, it seems. Love the roll, run behind, grab, hold hostage move.
- Enter Nobue!
- Chika turns around to an interesting scene.... XD
- ::sticks fingers in nose:: "This is nothing!" But oh man, teary eyed Ana clinging onto Nobue = loooooove.
- Oh god, ohhhhh god, the text messages! Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Chi-chan and Miu's "conversation" absolutely killed me.
- BWAHAHAHAHAHHA!! Wow, Miu. Wow. That... that was disturbing, amazing, and disturbingly amazing. XD
- Boss Nobue! Ana and Matsuri earnestly declaring their love for her must be her form of heaven.
- Gaaah, more adorable Matsuri/Ana moments.
- And, uh, sort of an adorable Miu/Chika moment, except Miu is a delightful bitch. XD
- Miu with her hair down! Momentarily. But then she goes for a singletail.
- Wow, her impersonations are fantastic. The way Orikasa Fumiko delivers Miu's lines is so spot on perfect. The sense of comedic timing is exceptional.
- ...Wait, where did Miu find five seifuku? And one that fits Nobue at that?
- Miu's imagination of them in the 6th-8th grade is... ...ahahaaha. Ana Coppola, Custom Black version! YES!
- And after a bit of disappointment, Nobue loses her bet that she'll quit smoking and the girls get a trip to the beach.

It's such a cute and sweet way to end what was a damn good little OVA. I just hate to think that this might be the end for this series. Give us another season!

[something]

Strawberry Marshmallow Encore 2
Was a lot better than the first one, actually (if only for the fact that there was less risque humor [panty-shot was still obligatory, however]... yes, I still feel strangely violated and it's going to take me some time to recover);
I still don't know how you even noticed it, let alone found it so worthy of notice that you've lingered on it this long. :sd: Oh and also a reminder about posting in discussion threads regarding the three requests in the top thread about posting to root for new ep subthreads (hence why I'm replying to your post down here), changing subject lines, etc etc.

IchiMashi is and overwhelmingly sweet and innocent show, heartwarming in any number of ways, and I really think that's the most important part by far.

[zaldar]

I was more suprised it took them this long to sink to this level of pandering really. I do worry about my own and others attraction to these types of shows sometimes. Do I like them because of some latent pedophile? I certinly hope not. Sigh...ok going back to lurking and not worrying now.

That said, I was shocked by the Miu pantyshot, actually... yes, people, you did see it.
I must have missed that one. :sd:



I was SHOCKED, son, SHOCKED.

Fuck.

But seriously, they avoided it this entire time, so I was pretty surprised when it slipped out; I feel... betrayed, somehow.

[zaldar]

I enjoy the scholorly stuff. Agree with you on this episode (yes I broke some of my own morality to watch these) was very well done. I think we don't take our anime seriously enough often. More scholorly stuff is welcome!

[something]

I was more suprised it took them this long to sink to this level of pandering really.
Did you actually watch it? Because it sounds like you have no idea what you're talking about, again. There is nothing in either episode that can be called "blatant pandering", and it has the same sort of comedic atmosphere and feeling as the TV series and first OVA. Nothing significant has changed. Don't go on about the "level a show is sinking to" when you have nothing to back it up. It's getting annoying.

I do worry about my own and others attraction to these types of shows sometimes. Do I like them because of some latent pedophile? I certinly hope not. Sigh...ok going back to lurking and not worrying now.
Why is it that the the vast majority of time you come into a discussion thread, it's not to actually discuss anything but rather to go on about your extreme hangups over perceived lolicon and pedophilia?

"Yes, you're a pedo, you're dangerous to children, lock yourself away and burn your IchiMashi DVDs." Is that what you want to be told? Do you think that is true? If not, stop worrying about it and just enjoy the shows for what they are.

[zaldar]

Sigh.....I came here because I did watch this one. Sorry to get the great one upset. Avoided posting in the thread you started on the fourm questions thread for that reason. I found it to be all most as annoying as the other poster which is why I commented on it.

For characters this age there really should be any IMO. Yes I realize this is an issue I am hung up on. Will stop talking about it now. Watched the first ones on rental and found them to be incredibly sweet and uplifting, and generally these continue that trend which I agree is what is most important. I don't even want to think what the dojuin on these would be like though...sigh.

[something]

I found it to be all most as annoying as the other poster which is why I commented on it.
Of course, he also outright admitted he was being silly and overanalyzing it because he was bored (and overanalyzing is his schtick, which is usually fine). You would be able to enjoy anime more if you would distinguish between serious, exploitative, sexual fanservice and completely insignificant (I still have no idea where the split-second "pantyshot" was in ep 1) comedic fluff - though though IchiMashi barely even qualifies as the latter.

Also keep in mind that ::checks wiki:: the girls are 11 and 12 (at least in the manga, I don't remember if the anime changed this but it sounds about right). They're gonna talk about boobs and stuff occasionally. Kids do that. Just think of how much disturbing stuff real 11 and 12 year olds know (or do) nowadays - these girls are like the epitome of impossible innocence in comparison.

You find "bad" stuff because you look for it. You admit to feeling guilty at the fact that you enjoy this show and others with young characters. I'd say beating up for yourself for something like this is what is really not healthy. Either stop watching shows that make you feel uncomfortable or stop worrying about it. That's what I do.

I don't even want to think what the dojuin on these would be like though...sigh.
...Then don't? Nobody's going to come by shoving hardcore Miu porn under your door. At least I'd hope not, that'd be weird. >_>

[Fencedude]

I don't even want to think what the dojuin on these would be like though...sigh.

They are pretty much like you'd expect, actually.

[DKL]

Oh man, you should hear the conversations about penis and vag we had when I was 12 and 13...

It was ridiculous; by all means, Strawberry Marshmallow seems subdued in comparison (though, to be fair, I was never a 12 year old girl, so I don't know if my experience accurately conveys the 12 year old girl experience).

[zaldar]

True true...I was very sheltered but even I was not as innocent as these people are. Being a guy though I like to think women are more inoccent and I do complain in other forums about Brintey Spears and such, won't do it here though. Actually had forgotten the girls were 11 or 12....assumed they were younger than that guess that goes to show how innocent they are making them. (Oh and I do stay away from some series like this for that reason..popotan is NOTHING like this series from the little I have seen of it but that is one I will never watch). If someone starts forcing dojuin under my door remind me to call something so he can flame them for me ;).

Anyway moving on to the more interesting aspect of the anime lets talk about the best friend stuff some more. I enjoyed this but I really tried to do this with all my friends when I was younger and even now. Maybe that is why I only have 2 to three people I would actually consider friends..best friend for me was always more of a chance thing than anything else. Who ever I saw most often because they lived close to me, often became who I called my best friend. I eventually stopped worrying about it at all and just started calling people friends. When I was about 12 or so I think actually.

Anyway enough from me, how did the disscussion of best friends in this anime compare with your life experience?

[something]

Being a guy though I like to think women are more inoccent
Muahahahahaha!

(Oh and I do stay away from some series like this for that reason..popotan is NOTHING like this series from the little I have seen of it but that is one I will never watch).
Popotan is a really, really emotionally genuine and moving show. The middle sister Mai's story is especially poignant. It's a pretty great show, although short. Anyone who passes because you see Mii naked is totally missing out.

Anyway enough from me, how did the disscussion of best friends in this anime compare with your life experience?
Definitely never had anything (after about 6th grade I guess) that comes close to the type of group friendship going on in IchiMashi. Or Hidamari Sketch, Azumanga Daiou, K-ON! or Lucky Star for that matter. My "best" friends at the time were too busy discovering drugs to sit around a kotatsu and talk about nothing in particular a la Hidamari or IchiMashi.

[zaldar]

I have heard that about popotan before, I just couldn't make it through the Mi centered second episode. *shrug* ah well. I also here that you never really figure out why the house is jumping around in time which I would find annoying. Thankfully Fairy Musketeers is filling the cute need for me right now. (I do feel like I need to go kill something after watching it to reaffirm my manliness though)

But back to the subject at hand. Do you have anyone in your life like that now? Do adults have best friends really I wonder or is that still just a child concept? Bromance seems like it may have morphed from that concept to me sometimes.

(sorry to hear about your friend, as someone who has alcoholics in the family I can understand how hard that can be)

[HitokiriShadow]

Miu dies, Chika is an oni, and Ana is an angel. Ana roundhouse kicks Miu and we get an aerial chase scene. Awesome.

Poor Sasazuka, no one says or does anything and he still has go stand by himself. It just wouldn't be Ichigo Mashimaro if Sasazuke didn't get undeservedly punished.

Ana is a castle wall otaku! And of course, its absolutely adorable as she goes on about the castle walls and how pretty they are. "And oh, but, we don't have to go see them, but if you want to... *explosion of glee when they agree to go*"

[HitokiriShadow]

"Would you say we are best friends? Or just friends?"

What Chika's really thinking: Neither, I just haven't figured out how to murder you and get away with it yet.

Ha! Nobue is the one that ends up facedown on the floor for once.

Miu captures Matsuri with a surprise tactical assault. The way she pulled that off was pretty cool.

Oh, poor Ana. First she's being coerced into plucking her nosehairs and eyebrows and then Nobue threatens to violate her nostrils. Somehow this is supposed to be a threat to Miu.

I loved Ana's "Onee-sama!?!?" when Nobue "threatened" to kiss her. And then Nobue actually tries to do it. Of course, the only reason Ana is resisting is because she wants Matsuri to be her first. And how she cuddles with Nobue and says "I can't count on you :( " was very cute.

Matsuri's pajamas are adorable. And so is their whole text conversation. I loved the sound effects as they examined Miu's text messages.

.... Oh Miu. :sd: Chika is not pleased with Miu's interpretation of their relationship. Strike!

"What's 'Liable to be lesbians'?"
".... You don't need to know what that means, Matsuri-chan."

Awwww. Nobue is everyone's boss and doesn't have any best friends. Ana and Matsuri disagree! They know the eternal truth: Age doesn't matter in love! Ana + Matsuri = Instant Nobue Pick-Me-Up

Awwwww. Matsuri starts bawling after hearing about Ana's (hypothetical) life threatening situation. "I don't want you to die, Ana-chan!"

--------

Nobue has difficulties (to put it lightly) accepting that Ana and Matsuri won't be gradeschoolers forever. I think the concept of this episode was "Some viewers still don't think that Nobue is a pedophile; we need to fix this." Speaking of growing up, they totally need to make a series about the girls in high school and college. That would be awesome.

Oh, nice. They're doing it right now! .... Er, well, that's not really what I had in mind. They don't really look any older than they do now and for some reason, Matsuri is wearing a preschool uniform. It's amusing, but not a replacement for my Ichigo Mashimaro: HighSchool Days or The College Years.

"Ana Cappola, Custom Black Version." Ahahaha. "*tries to pronounce 'Ginger Ale'* ... Goddammu!" Ahahahahahaha!

For once, Chika and Miu are actually acting like normal friends. Their synchronized movement and "we caught you lines" were cute and then the little bit while they were getting ready and calling Matsuri was really cute. And very un-Chika/Miu-ish.

----------

Wow, I wasn't expecting to make such a long post on this episode. I haven't done a single episode post this long since Touka Gettan. This is probably the last episode we'll ever get of Ichigo Mashimaro, and it was a great episode to go out on.

[HitokiriShadow]

(I still have no idea where the split-second "pantyshot" was in ep 1)


I think it was when Miu was doing her flips in the first segment, before she knocked herself out. I thought I saw one for a second, but when I went back to see if it was actually there, I couldn't find it. I guess I couldn't stop it right at the 1/100th of a second it was there. I did see the pantyshots in the OP for the second episode, but only because I was looking.

The Miu shots in the later part of the episode were a bit more noticeable but still nothing worth paying any mind. It's been a while since I read any of the manga, so I don't remember if there were any panyshots there (Buster Darkwings says there are, and I have no reason to doubt him) but I do recall a shower scene that included a very clear shots of a naked rear and little x's for nipples.


I remember trying to read through the first volume of the Gunslinger Girl manga, only to be immediately put off by the panty shot in the opening action sequence (that said, my memory is fuzzy and this may or may not be true anymore).


Did you see the Gunslinger Girl anime? I don't recall that in the manga, but I distinctly recall seeing that in the first episode of the anime. But if they ever did something like that at any other point in the series (in either form), I never noticed it.

[DKL]

Morio Asaka, as far as I can tell, has something of a "no panty-shots" policy (Chobits was strangely tasteful at a lot of points, looking back on it... or at least as much as it could've been) and he contrived Henrietta's skirt to flutter in a way where you don't see anything.

(heck, I think I remember seeing Triella in a camisole or something or another revealing in the manga artwork, while none of the anime production stuff contained stuff like that *that I've seen anyway*)

That said, I have no idea what I've seen anymore; too far back and maybe I'm mismebering things.

[Buster Darkwings]

The Miu shots in the later part of the episode were a bit more noticeable but still nothing worth paying any mind. It's been a while since I read any of the manga, so I don't remember if there were any panyshots there (Buster Darkwings says there are, and I have no reason to doubt him) but I do recall a shower scene that included a very clear shots of a naked rear and little x's for nipples.


There's this image: http://bara.sakura.ne.jp/panasonihyousi.jpg

Plus one (in volume 3 or 4, I think) when Miu is knocked out on the floor. There was even commentary from one of the other characters saying that Miu doesn't care if someone sees her panties.

[jlazar]

I think the concept of this episode was "Some viewers still don't think that Nobue is a pedophile; we need to fix this."


Ironically, only in the anime would she possibly be labeled as such. Since they aged her four years to make her smoking more acceptable (she's 16 in the manga vs. 20 in the anime), that made her attraction to her underage harem a lot creepier in the anime vs. the manga. :)

[Suwako Moriya]

There's this image: http://bara.sakura.ne.jp/panasonihyousi.jpg

Clearly they want us to stare at her fang. Panties? What panties? Yes, I know, but I wanted to point out the fang for some reason.

[HitokiriShadow]

There's this image: http://bara.sakura.ne.jp/panasonihyousi.jpg


That's the strangest pantyshot I've ever seen. I mean, that's definitely what it is, but I'm not sure I would have instantly thought that had I not seen the image in this context (it could be an underskirt until you think about it).

[HitokiriShadow]

I think the concept of this episode was "Some viewers still don't think that Nobue is a pedophile; we need to fix this."


Ironically, only in the anime would she possibly be labeled as such. Since they aged her four years to make her smoking more acceptable (she's 16 in the manga vs. 20 in the anime), that made her attraction to her underage harem a lot creepier in the anime vs. the manga. :)

I had forgotten they aged her up, but I also forgot how old the rest of the girls actually are compared to how old they look. Nobue looks closer to 20 to begin with and the girls look several years younger than their actual age.

That aside, it less the pedophile designation and more the fact that they make it damn near impossible to argue that she doesn't have the hots for her sister's friends (why anyone would want to argue this is beyond me, but some people...).

[something]

Oh, nice. They're doing it right now! .... Er, well, that's not really what I had in mind. They don't really look any older than they do now and for some reason, Matsuri is wearing a preschool uniform. It's amusing, but not a replacement for my Ichigo Mashimaro: HighSchool Days or The College Years.
There are so many good ideas that will never become reality... IchiMashi in High School is certainly near the top of the list.

[DKL]

... IchiMashi in High School is certainly near the top of the list.

Wat???

I'd like to watch that show.

[something]

... IchiMashi in High School is certainly near the top of the list.Wat???
I'd like to watch that show.
I wonder if Nobue would still be living at home? Figure you add 4-5 years to the girls ages, which puts anime Nobue in her mid 20's. But if she moves out, how can she see the girls every day? Oh no!

She'll just have to adopt them.

[Suwako Moriya]

She'll just have to adopt them.

Don't their parents get a say? Or would Nobue just override them?

[HitokiriShadow]

Don't their parents get a say? Or would Nobue just override them?

They have parents? Other than Ana, I mean.

[Suwako Moriya]

They have parents? Other than Ana, I mean.

I just assumed they were offscreen. I guess I forgot in anime that parents are either dead or don't exist. Yes, I know I still have to watch the actual episode. I plan to get to that soon enough.

[zaldar]

Ignoring the continued discussion of panty shots....

I agree the last episode was a great one to go out on. Amazingly deep for this anime but still incredibly cute. (I can't think of another show that mixes those as well as this episode did really). As much as I liked the earlier episodes I would have found them even more enjoyable if they were all this thought provoking. That may be asking to much though.

The children in high school might be interesting, seeing how they might change and how they look back on their younger days. Does the boss character stay bossy, become a tsundra like character, or become bitter when faced with people bossing her around?

As for Nobue I like to think she will get friends her own age and move on but....then it wouldn't be funny if that was what happened. The high school series could end with them going off to college and her crying more than the parents I suppose ;).

[something]

Don't their parents get a say? Or would Nobue just override them?They have parents? Other than Ana, I mean.
I actually remarked to Fence how I'd forgotten that Chika and Nobue actually had parents until Nobue goes, "Dad, I'm gonna borrow the car!" :sd:

But since we never see them, they don't count, and thus, no, they get no say.

[Suwako Moriya]

Gaaah, more adorable Matsuri/Ana moments.
And, uh, sort of an adorable Miu/Chika moment, except Miu is a delightful bitch. XD

On that note, if there was ever any doubt as to who should be paired up with who then this episode should have removed any doubt. Although it's hard to tell who's more perfect for each other. Ana X Matsuri and Miu X Chika both have their good points, but for different reasons.

Miu's imagination of them in the 6th-8th grade is... ...ahahaaha. Ana Coppola, Custom Black version! YES!

That entire scene was awesome and just so fitting of Miu's personality. I know it's only an imagined scene, but seeing the girls still look the same age during it was amusing. Granted it's hard to say if that was because they didn't feel like animating older versions or if they wanted to show that Miu was incapable of imagining them older.

It's such a cute and sweet way to end what was a damn good little OVA. I just hate to think that this might be the end for this series. Give us another season!

Yes, because strawberries and marshmallows are part of a balanced diet.

[zaldar]

This is making me want to go back and watch the older episodes again. Just rewatched the three minute 00 episode, I had forgotten how hilarious that was. I love the way when they pretend the look hardly changes and how one of them has to show the other where the pretend stuff is on the TV. Ah!

I really was to serious as a child...