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ローゼンメイデン 
November 10, 2006 | 
27 Comments
I'm sorry for the late entry but this week has been a bit hard for me since I have to catch up not only with this blog, but also with work. Having said that, I'll try my best to ensure that I don't get left behind too far from the current schedule. I think by next week I should have most series on schedule. Anyway, it's kind of nice to see this after a hard day at work. Having said that, I am starting to wonder if this really is going to be 24 episodes series. It seems the majority of the plot starts to fall into place. Even Ayu's narration is starting to become really clear. Animation-wise, this episode is still as good as the previous five, which is a testament to Kyoto Animation's ability to divide their series' budget evenly for each episode. Although since Kanon doesn't have many action scenes like Suzumiya Haruhi, I guess it's not that difficult to keep the budget down.
The episode begins with Ayu saying that the day when the dream started, the sunlight that shined through the tree branches was dazzling and the snow felt cold. She also saw a small boy crying and yet she still can't remember the tearful face of the boy. After the opening, a flashback shows the time when chibi Yuuichi meets "Ayu-Ayu" again but this time around he's a bit late. Back then Ayu told him that her name is not "Ayu-Ayu" but Tsukimiya Ayu. Despite this, Yuuichi still ended up calling her "Ayu-Ayu" as he invited her to go eating Taiyaki with him. While eating said Taiyaki, Ayu thanks Yuuichi for everything, causing him to blush. Ayu also asked him if he likes his mother. When Yuuichi confirms this, Ayu told him that she too likes her mother but she has passed away. Yuuichi who felt sorry for Ayu told her that they should play again tomorrow. He then produced his finger so the two made a pinky swear with each other.
Yuuichi wakes up inside his room and realises that Makoto is trying to sneak into his room again. This time around, however, she's armed with explosive fireworks. Makoto lits up the fireworks and throws it into Yuuichi's room. Yuuich acts quickly and picks up all of the fireworks and throws it back out of his room. The explosion scares Makoto out to the point that she almost cry. This also causes everyone in the household to wake up. Akiko, who is kind as always, asks Makoto if she wants to play with fireworks. When Makoto nods her head, she tells the girl that next time she should tell her. Yuuichi, however, insists that Makoto contemplates about her action, causing her to go "Auu". The next morning Yuuichi wakes up and realises that Ayu is having breakfast inside the dining room as well. Not surprisingly, Nayuki is still asleep. Today, however, Akiko thinks Nayuki can't afford to be carefree as usual because she has club activity.
Throughout breakfast, Yuuichi doesn't say anything to Ayu and after he completed his breakfast, he tries to get back into his room. Ayu, however, quickly pulls his shirt and complains about the fact that Yuuichi has been ignoring her. He, however, claims that he didn't notice her before. Ayu asks Yuuichi if he'd like to play with her today but Yuuichi makes a joke and asks her if she's trying to run away from the country. Ayu is annoyed to hear this but she pulls out two movie tickets, explaining that she got it from Akiko. Yuuichi decides to ask Akiko to see the film with him instead, shocking Ayu in the process. Thankfully for Ayu, Akiko has other appointment to attend to so she tells the girl to have fun with Yuuichi. Ayu and Yuuichi promises to meet each other again at 5PM in front of the station. After Ayu left, Yuuichi ponders about the meaning of going to a movie with Ayu so Akiko teases him by saying that it sounds like a date.
Yuuichi, however, denies the notion and asks his aunt not to say something strange like that. That's true. There's nothing creepier than your parents or parental figure talking about your date. Upon hearing the word 'date', Nayuki suddenly comes to the dining table while her eyes are still closed. Akiko is surprised to see sleepyhead waking up on her own. As it turns out, however, she woke up because she heard someone fell near the entrance and loudly said "Uguu" and "Itai". Yuuichi then tells Akiko that he actually knows Ayu since he was a kid. This surprises Akiko and makes her think that maybe Ayu has been waiting for Yuuichi. Yuuichi is confused to hear this so Akiko pretends that she didn't say anything important. Never mind the fact that it was a large hint the size of an anvil. Meanwhile, Nayuki is now stirring her Natto while her eyes is still closed. I think anyone who has smelled Natto knows that this is an impossible thing to do.
Yuuichi eventually loses his patience and tells Nayuki to pick between eating and sleeping. Naturally Nayuki prefers to sleep. On his way back upstairs, Yuuichi encounters Makoto, who seems cheerful despite what happened last night. Before she can get away from him, Yuuichi tells the girl that he has something that he wants to talk to her about. As it turns out, Yuuichi wants to give her some part-time job magazines so she can start looking for a job, telling her to pitch in. Besides, she can use the money to buy manga and Niku-man whenever she feels like it. When Yuuichi asks her what kind of a job she'd like, however, Makoto tells him that she'd like a job where she has to read manga. Yuuichi immediately smacks the girl's head with a rolled up magazine. In the process, however, he notices an ad for a waitressing position in Manga Kissaten. A few minutes later, Makoto manages to secure an interview with the owner.
That evening, Makoto is off to her interview so Yuuichi reminds her to use Keigo (polite form of Japanese language) during the interview. Instead of accompanying Makoto to her interview, Yuuichi chooses to spend his evening to spy on several stretchy high school girls who are in the middle of doing physical training. He, however, doesn't see Nayuki around and wonders if she didn't come at all. Before Yuuichi can leave the area, however, he gets to meet Shiori again. When Yuuichi asks Shiori what she is doing her, she instead asks him the same question. Yuuichi is not fooled by this question. He's also not happy to know that she's been waiting outside in cold and wonders if she's been waiting since afternoon. Wow, how embarassing. Shiori tries to evade the question but Yuuichi tells her that if she continues to do this, she'll never get well. Shiori admits that she knew no one will be around and yet she's been standing in this place on her own.
Like the smooth player that he is, Yuuichi immediately puts his own coat around Shiori's body while making a comment about the sunset. He then asks Shiori to answer his question truthfully: why she has been going back and forth to this place. Shiori, however, tells Yuuichi that the truth is she doesn't understand it. And because she doesn't understand, she's looking for an answer. She then turns around and asks Yuuichi if her answer sounds cool. Unfortunately Yuuichi is not impressed with it but before he can asks her again, he hears the sound of the bell indicating that it's already 5PM. Yuuichi immediately runs to the front of the station where he promised to meet Ayu this evening. Thankfully for him, Ayu is still waiting there so he apologises to her for being late. Ayu doesn't mind this and is happy that he decided to come. Yuuichi, however, is disappointed that Ayu is not wearing something more stylish like he thought she would.
Yuuichi is also surprise to see Ayu looking excited at the prospect of watching a film. Ayu tells him that while watching a movie is fun, she's happier with the fact that the person she's been waiting for has finally arrived. Wow, another anvil has fallen on top of my head. It appears that Yuuichi also finally gets the hint and starts thinking about it. When Ayu tells him that it seems they'll be in time for the film, Yuuichi asks her if she knows what she wants to see, Ayu is not sure since it's been a while since she doesn't watch film that often. When they arrive at the cinema, however, Ayu is horrified to know that the film is going to be a horror one. As a result, she ends up covering herself with her coat throughout the entire season. Yuuichi decides to tease her by taking Ayu's coat away from her, causing the girl to flail her arms, trying to grab the coat back while still closing her eyes. Strangely no one in the theatre is disturbed by Ayu's different variation of "Uguu".
Later on inside the coffee shop, Ayu explains that ever since she's a kid, she's afraid of ghosts and demons. The two eventually part ways but this reminds Yuuichi that he doesn't know where Ayu lives. Back home, Yuuichi finds out that Makoto nodded off while being interviewed. Nayuki who's a sleepy head sympathises with her. LOL. Anyway, thanks to Akiko, Makoto gets a job taking care of her acquintance's kids. That night Yuuichi is back to school to see Mai and finds her in the middle of battling demon/ghost as usual. She, however, asks Yuuichi to be kind to Makoto again, prompting the guy to ask why he has to do this. Mai, however, doesn't know this. She just knows that Makoto will soon need Yuuichi. At home, Yuuichi notices that Makoto has just exited the bathroom but he's shock when he sees that the bathtub has now been filled by Miso soup. Yuuichi is not happy that Makoto continues to make the problem over and over again but upon seeing Makoto looking sad, he remembers what Mai said before about Makoto needing him.
Impression:
It's amazing to see the amount of clues about Ayu that the writers have included in this episode. I get the impression that she was waiting for someone in the past but something happened to her or that person never came. Judging from what Akiko said, I think Ayu is some kind of a spirit/manifestation who is waiting for Yuuichi. This will explain why she never goes to school, always waiting for him (and becomes happy when he does come), and doesn't seem to live in a specific place. Having said that, I find it strange that Yuuichi never bother to ask where she lives after all of these times. It's also kind of ironic that she's afraid of ghosts considering the possibility that she might be one herself. Anyway, I am also intrigued by what Mai said about Makoto will need Yuuichi soon. I wish they reveal more about this but the writers seem to be keen to string the viewers along for a few more episodes before they do the big revelation.
Moving on to other topic, I thought the comedic scenes in this episode are well executed. I was amused to see Nayuki stirring her Natto while still sleeping. I personally find it impossible since that thing smells really bad. Seeing Ayu looking scared inside the theatre was kind of fun as well. It reminds me of a friend who always refuses to come everytime I want to go and see a horror film. The funniest scene, however, goes to Makoto telling everyone that she nodded off during her interview and Nayuki sympathising with her. The expression in Yuuichi's face during that scene was just priceless. The Miso bath scene was good but not that funny since there is no way Yuuichi can be fooled by it. I think it would have been funnier if Makoto had poured the Miso paste while Yuuichi is in the bath. Speaking of which, I just realised that Makoto never wins her 'battle' against Yuuichi. I kind of want to see her win for once but it seems she's always outwitted by the guy.
Preview
Man, Yuuichi is very cruel in this one. It makes me feel like punching him.
Am I the only one who's hoping that Yuuichi will drop his towel? :P
Cruel? Has society softened so much that teasing is now considered cruelty? ò_Ó Cruel is when you have malicious intent, of which Yuuichi displayed none.
Narf.
So uh, how old are all the major characters? And why does it seem in every Key production that the male protagonist is much older than everyone else?
Creepy.
considering that yuuichi is in the same class as nayuki i think they would have been of the same age...and as for ayu-ayu she said she was the same age as yuuichi i think...and the rest are about the same age too with variations of perhaps a year or 2...
It looks like we're closing in to Makoto's story soon. I hope it'll be a while before it happens but the title for episode 9 suggests that this won't be the case.
To Kouta,
Yuuichi, Nayuki, Kaori and Ayu are 16yr-olds. Mai and Sayuri are 17yr-olds, and Shiori is a 15yr-old.
Cheers.
6th row 3rd pic really looks like nagato yuki... by the way in ep2, Taniguchi made a cameo too at 7.58
So many good moments here. KyoAni sure knows how to ramp up the comedy. I don't remember the Toei version being this funny.
Nayuki smelling her finger dipped in Miso soup was strangely erotic.
So where are everyone's parents? XD
From what I've read, the sexual tendencies of Japanese men leans towards childish (pre)pubescent-like women. (Speaking childishly like referring to yourself in third person, pouting, tantrums, clumsiness, etc, are turn on factors.) If that's correct, it would explain a lot of anime female archetypes.
" So where are everyone's parents? XD"
Too busy working until late to pay attention to their children? But Shiori's mother appeared in episode 1, IIRC. I don't think it matters that much though since most of them are 17 years old. At that age, they are considered as adult in Japan.
I wish Yuuichi had taken Mai to see the movie. I'd like to see her reaction. Would she be bored instead of screaming on top of her head like Ayu?
heh..I wish I was a Kanon virgin too.... then I could piece together what's going to happen with joy and mystery....Kanon still rules...
Would've liked to see Yuuichi try some of his antics on Shouko (Asatte no Houkou)...
Something tells me we would've seen a very different result.
I think it is kind of hard for Ayu being a spirit
She talked about her Mom and Dad....
Unless she is a zombie or died with her Mom.
It is strange that Ayu is so childish even being 16 yo
@ theacefrehley:
Ghosts don't often REALIZE that they're ghosts. At least, not spirits of the sort Ayu may be. She would have had parents when she was still alive, and thus she thinks she still does. The fact that she may not have seen them in a long time doesn't even cross her mind, because it doesn't relate to whatever need motivates her now as a ghost.
This, of course, assumes that she IS in fact a ghost at all. Clues do seem to point that way, but never take anything for granted.
No... Ayu remembers perfectly well that her parents (or at least her mom) were gone when you go through the game. There are gaps within her memory that stem from several factors.
The most I can do to spoil this is to remind people about Michiru from AIR, the other Kyoto Animation production prior to Kanon that was also based on KEY's game.
As far as everyone's concerned, Ayu, Yuuichi, Nayuki, Kaori, and the doormat are 2nd year high school students. Sayuri and Mai are 3rd year students whereas Shiori is a 1st year student. Makoto's age does not count for several reasons, one of which would spoil it for all the Kanon virgins.
Yuuichi's parents (his dad, actually) was reassigned to another branch of a company. What company Yuuichi's parent(s) worked for, we don't know. Nayuki's father died in an accident around the time Nayuki was born, I believe. This is why Nayuki is very attached to her mom, Akiko, and you will see how this plays out later in the game/show. Makoto has no parents... well... Makoto's an odd case. Shiori has a complete family, though her sister refuses to acknowledge Shiori's existence to ease her [Shiori's sister] own pain. Ayu's parents are dead. That was the whole reason why Ayu was crying her eyes out back when Yuuichi first met Ayu as a kid; she had just lost her only relative was pretty much an orphan. It wasn't clear in the game whether or not Ayu's father was alive but it was clear that Ayu's father was nowhere near Ayu at her time of need.
I recall the miso bath tub scene did not have Nayuki stir it and subsequently taste it. I remember Akiko joking about having miso for the rest of the week before reprimanding Makoto.
Back to Ayu, there is a reason why Akiko commented that Ayu had been waiting for Yuuichi. Akiko isn't just referring to the obvious fact that Ayu was waiting for Yuuichi but was also referring to how girls usually dress their best when they wait for their most precious person to return. Nayuki, Ayu, Makoto, and Shiori have all demonstrated this behavior. Mai is a special case since she isn't in a position to be as sociable as the other girls.
However, fact that Ayu has been waiting for Yuuichi all this time WITH the discrepancies in her memory vs the real world lends more credibility that she's not normal. I guess I'll just say it here:
Instead of considering one form of the supernatural, wouldn't it be more prudent to be open-minded to what Kanon has mentioned thus far regarding the supernatural? The supernatural exist in many forms: magic, spirits, entities, demons, etc.
That's all I can say without spilling everything, even though I really, really, REALLY want to. >_<
Gah, my text got cut off.
To Beowulf:
I think you're mistaking sexual tendencies with enthusiasm. It's kind of like the American equivalent of being a car enthusiast, except that it has more to do with what they believe to be cute in women. If you want sexual tendencies, you might as well download all the hentai on tokyotosho.com to get a good idea of just a SAMPLE of the depravity some people enjoy.
Now that I think of it, it's about the same as guys talking about the different characteristics of women when they're hanging out. Example: Baywatch. Guys go to the beach usually to either hit on girls or to drool over some some double-D's strutting around in a bikini.
I forgot to mention this:
Garten! You should listen to the full track for the opening song. The full song is 6 minutes and ~12 seconds long. The game's opening itself was 3 minutes long. Do the show a favor by listening to the full track. If you want the OP/ED songs, there should be some albums hosted on certain trackers.
These are the 2 albums that you can look up:
1. I've Girls Compilation Album Volume 1 - REGRET
2. Kanon Game OST
Thanks for the rec, mahouneko. I didn't know there is an OST for the game.
OMGAWD I SAW KANNA! I SAW KANNA OMGAWD!
[AFK Subs 14:33]
I saw her on the poster of the movie where she was upside-down
Lawlz I just wanna point that out...
Urgh.. I want to spoil this .. I want to spoil this...
I am so desperate!!!!
Oh well, I guess I can't..
btw, day after day I'm having so much fun with all the suzumiya haruhi parodies that exist in this animation, some of which, no one really recognizes..
It is only after this animation that I was findng the parodies to suzumiya haruhi because to me, it seems only too obvious
uh.. nevermind about the SHnY note, it turns out that either:
1. It is not the case.
2. Everybody knows about it..
First episode Naiyuki was commenting with Yuuichi about a legend of a fox but then forgot it...
It's just a wild guess but I think the (magic) Fox could have something to do with Ayu or Makoto. Or maybe one of them is the fox whatever
hehehe
Mai for some reason reminds me of both Yuki Nagato from SHNY and Saya from Blood. It must be the geek+sword combination.
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