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ローゼンメイデン 
November 30, 2006 | 
40 Comments
This episode is quite depressing and it's not even the conclusion for Makoto as I originally thought. It looks like the writers really are going in for the kill and try to squeeze as much tears from the viewers as possible. To make things worse, I happen to be one of those people who really like animals so this episode was a bit hard to watch. I'm not even excited to know that my guess about what actually happened to Makoto when she was a fox turns out to be correct. I keep thinking if there was not other ways so that chibi Yuuichi didn't have to do what he ended up doing. I know a couple of friends who live overseas and took care animals and when they have to go back to their country, they either choose to take the animal with them or ask someone to take care the animal. But then again, they are adults who know what to do and have the power to do whatever they want. I'm not sure the situatioin was the same for Yuuichi 10 years ago.
The episode begins with Makoto having breakfast together with Yuuichi, Nayuki, and Akiko when she suddenly drops her chopstick. Even after Akiko washes the utensil and give it back to Makoto, she can't seem to grip it properly. Yuuichi remembers what Amano said before about how Makoto will slowly lose her ability to behave like a human. That day when the two of them head out, Makoto complains about the cold so Yuuichi asks him if she dislikes cold. Makoto confirms this and tells him that it would have been nice if the day is warmer. Once Spring arrives, she wishes that it'd always be Spring because in that case, she'll always be happy. Yuuichi assures her that it'll be warm soon. Later on inside the school, Yuuichi tries to talk to Amano again but when he calls after her, she simply ignores him. During lesson, he recalls that 10 years ago, he took care a little fox that got injured. Until the fox can run again, he decided to keep it inside his room.
It was then that Yuuichi told the fox many things and always slept together. However, they could not be together forever. Because Yuuichi had to go back to his own city, he brought the fox into the forest and left it there the minute the creature wasn't paying attention to him. In the present time, Yuuichi has just finished his school when he spots Makoto and Piro waiting for him outside the gate. Yuuichi decided to treat her to another round of Niku-man and even promised to buy her anything else that she wants. At first Yuuichi is afraid that Makoto is going to buy something expensive but much to his surprise, she's heading straight into a 100 Yen shop and chooses a simple bracelet with bells attached to it. When they encounter the Puri-kuri, Yuuichi suggests that she takes Akiko and Nayuki to take some pictures with her next time. That day, the family gather around to have curry, which unlike Akiko's jam, supposed to taste really good.
Yuuichi then decides to teach Makoto how to brush her teeth. However, because she can't seem to do it herself, he decides to brush her teeth for her. That night, Makoto goes to his room, claiming that Piro wants to sleep with him again. Yuuichi thinks that the truth is Makoto is the one who wants to sleep with him but Makoto denies this. Yuuichi, however, can't sleep because he remembers what Amano told him about how right now he's in the midst of a miracle. Yuuichi who is disturbed by the information decided to travel all the way to the Hill and is surprised when he realises that Makoto has been following him all the way through from home. Makoto explains that it's because Yuuichi left without saying a word so she thinks he's going to left her behind again. This word suddenly jolts Makoto's memory, reminding her of how at one point she was left behind. Before Makoto can recall her past, however, Yuuichi asks her not to remember it.
Yuuichi then embraces Makoto while assuring her that it's okay if she doesn't remember it and points out that she's Sawatari Makoto, a human girl. When the two goes back to the house, Makoto tells him that for some reason she feels afraid. Everytime she sleeps alone, she always feels she's in a dark place and can't see anything else. Yuuichi assures her not to worry and promises that she won't be alone from now on. The next day, Yuuichi is concerned when he steps out of school and doesn't see Makoto around. His fear is compounded when Akiko tells him that Makoto is not home either. Yuuichi immediately goes around the city to look for Makoto. Despite his effort, however, he can't find her anywhere. Just when he's about to lose hope, Makoto returns to the house that night looking exhausted and suffering from high fever. She explains that she was just looking for Piro because the cat has been missing. Unfortunately, she couldn't find him.
Later on that night, Makoto is calling out for Yuuichi in her sleep so he assures her that he's next to her. Because of this Makoto reaches out for Yuuichi's hand and upon noticing its presence, she comments about how warm he feels. Yuuichi encourages her to get well soon so they can read manga and buy Niku-man again. The next day when Yuuichi is about to go to school, Makoto latches onto his jacket. Yuuichi tells her to go back to sleep since she is still sick but Makoto refuses because she's afraid that Yuuichi won't be around anymore next time. As a result, Yuuichi decides to skip school today. Despite this, Makoto can't seem to be seperated away from him and insist on coming into his room even when he's trying to change clothes. That night, Yuuichi receives a phone call from Amano, who wants to talk to him. When the two meet, she inquires about Makoto so he tells her that she's asleep now but she's been behaving like a child the whole day.
Amano explains that normally Makoto would have died but she continues to be in her human form. Amano believes this is because Makoto's feeling for Yuuichi continues to keep her strong. However, if Makoto suffers from fever again, there won't be a second time. Upon hearing this, Yuuichi asks Amano to tell him a way to help Makoto. Amano is reluctant to say anything but eventually informs Yuuichi that there is an old legend about Monomi Hill. On that hill, there lived a mysterious Kemono, a Yokai (spirit)-like Kitsune which is known as Youko. The fox has been detested as a sign of calamity in the ancient times but the truth is, there's nothing abominable about these foxes from the hill. Amano believes that they are actually good creatures. Upon hearing this, Yuuichi realises that Amano has undergone similar experience. Amano admits that when she was a kid, she met another someone on that hill.
She became friends with that person and used to think that they'll always be together. However, the kid slowly forgotten about many things and the only thing that Amono could do was to watch. Yuuchi who realises how hard this whole thing must be for Amono tells her to stop and thanks her. When Yuuichi returns home, he informs Nayuki and Akiko about Makoto's true nature. Nayuki finds it hard to believe but Akiko does't have problem in doing so. She remembers how the fox in question used to like the sound of bells just like Makoto. The next day, Yuuichi stays home again to accompany Makoto. When Akiko sees the two, she makes a comment about how they look like siblings or maybe lovers. Yuuichi then reads manga to Makoto but she keeps looking at his face. When Yuuichi mentions that the story ends with the male promising to marry the girl, Makoto tells him that she wants to get married. Yuuichi is surprised to hear this especially when Makoto tells him that she wants to get married to him so they can always be together.
Impression:
This is probably the first anime that I've seen where a Fox spirit falls in love with a human to the point that she decides to take a human form. Wait, does that mean she's a trap since she's not really a girl? Kidding aside, this was a rather harrowing episode. It's really clear now as to why Makoto was angry at Yuuichi when she first met him as a human. He left her all alone in the forest when he had to move back to the city. I supposed he had no choice since taking care a fox in the city is quite impossible to do. Having said that, I think he should have asked either Nayuki or Akiko to look after the fox. I mean they look like the kind of people who wouldn't mind doing something like this. Especially since Nayuki tends to like animal. This probably would not make any difference though if the fox really did fall in love with Yuuichi and wants to spend as much time as possible with the boy. I guess I've now seen everything thanks to anime.
On another note, I noticed something that looks like jealousy coming from Nayuki in this episode. What is strange about this is that Nayuki doesn't seem to be that jealous when Yuuichi brings Ayu to her home and when he has his daily lunch with Mai and Sayuri. Or maybe she hasn't consider them serious threat just yet. However, Yuuichi really spends a lot of his time with Makoto in this episode and it seems that it starts to bother Nayuki. Oh well, I really think that this would be the episode where Makoto bite it but that doesn't seem to be the case. I really hope there is a way to save Makoto but I have no idea how the story will unfold if she's alive because then she'll want to be with Yuuichi and that will certain creates conflict with other girls who also want their chance with Yuuichi. It's bad enough that Nayuki started to give strange look in this episode, I wonder how Ayu would have reacted if she had seen Yuuichi with Makoto in this episode.
Preview
On next week's episode: T_T
I always wonder if Key will ever creates a story that doesn't involve the sad girls genre. Although Air and Kanon are good, I would like to see them producing something different for a change.
Yuuichi should have gotten a cat. Dog and dog-like creatures (wolf or fox in this case) seem to have a tendency to feel miserable when the owner left them. A cat, on the other hand, can't care less as long as someone feeds it. :)
bleh, this part of the series was always the saddest, that and another one. whoever mentioned that makoto grows on ya, thats so true :p
The Makoto arc is a very good and very touching one in the old series I hope it is for this one also. I pray they leave the Shiori arc alone, that one REALLY makes me wanna cry.
I know Kyoto Ani wants to be as faithful as possible but I think they could have condensed this series into 13 episodes without losing the impact. As it is now, there were too much filler between this episode and the previous ones.
"Wait, does that mean she's a trap since she's not really a girl?"
the real question is, if Yuuichi did end up with Matoko, does that make him a furry/lolikon?
Yuuichi is only 17 years old isn't he? I don't think he's a lolicon for liking a 15 years old. I'd say falling for someone who's only 1-5 years younger is perfectly normal. Although I remember that a friend of mine (who's 19) once told me that he would not entertain the thought of going out with a 15 years old.
Actually, Ayu and Nayuki have yet to meet each other in this version so far. There have been a couple close encounters, but only Akiko has met her.
I'll be interested to see which girls whose story will get tackled on after Makoto. I suspect it will be Mai first since her story was already on the way but so was Shiori's and Makoto's story could be a trigger that would motivate Yuuichi to do something about Shiori.
I think it's funny how Ayu suddenly is not seen anywhere in the city. I would have assumed thats her haunting place.
//Having said that, I think he should have asked either Nayuki or Akiko to look after the fox.//
It wouldn't matter really, Makoto wanted to be with HIM, not with his relatives
...couldn't you keep something as exotic as a giraffe as a pet in Japanese cities...so why couldn't Yuiichi keep original Makoto...like I said before a fox is basically a bad smelling combo of a cat and a dog...a weak argument here for the Kanon gang...
//so why couldn't Yuiichi keep original Makoto...like I said before a fox is basically a bad smelling combo of a cat and a dog...a weak argument here for the Kanon gang...//
He probably lived in an apartment with a NO PETS ALLOWED clause, just because some parts of Japan allow you to keep odd pets doesn't mean all of it does
"I know Kyoto Ani wants to be as faithful as possible but I think they could have condensed this series into 13 episodes without losing the impact. As it is now, there were too much filler between this episode and the previous ones."
Nope. Can't see how you can condense the story of Kanon (a script three times the size of a Shakespeare play mind you) into 13 episodes without losing the impact. Heh heh. One can think that the earlier episodes were filler, but the subtle is always easily missed.
The impact of a story becomes much more when you are actually attached to the character. The earlier scenes of the series do just that. They introduce the girls and through events and dialogue that seem 'pointless' they shape up the image of that very girl in your mind's eye. It helps set the atmosphere for Kanon as a series for the later drama. Kyoani has also taken the liberty to put some good hints in early on for the viewers to put together the mystery behind each girl.
Wow yea does look like a really sad episode but probably even sadder is going to be the one to follow xD So far yea I like this remake way better because they are spending more time with each individual girl in the original it seemed as if things were rushed although it was still good....fox Mikoto is really cute and so if Piro xD
Upon watching the episode, I realise that Piro is still missing at the end of the story. Why is no one looking for him? Has Makoto forgotten about him all of a sudden?
>> It's bad enough that Nayuki started to give strange look in this episode
Oh ho, just wait for when she uses her boxcutter.
What, you thought "Shuffle!" was the first anime show that introduced crazy childhood friend?
Oh CRAP. It's Air all over again. Someone shoot me.
On a side note, is it just me or does the animation quality improve with a better graphics card?
...man..some people have no sense of atmosphere...nor humor it seems...people can't always walk around in a gloom you know...I wasn't exactly looking forward to this episode...is it a crime to try to make myself feel better thinking about giraffes...
Don't worry Zzz..., I thought it was funny.
This episode itself was good. I see that KnoAni loves to kill slowly. I can feel how painful Yuuichi must felt knowing all of those and yet he has to pretend that he's okay.
The force is strong with Yuiichi.
Key is killing all the girls one by one, and Yuiichi just doesn't know it. T_T
If only Haruhi-sama or Nagato Yuki or Koizumi Itsuki or Yukito-kun is here, just don't bring Mikuru. ^o^
hm...I'm wondering how they will manage to fit Makoto's story and others as well. I mean, if they have a proper Makoto ending, it is hard to think Yuichi to go for another girl anytime soon. Also, the very end of Makoto ending in the game gave me some hope but I don't think they will be able to fit that in if they are going to go into other girls' stories.
"If only Haruhi-sama or Nagato Yuki or Koizumi Itsuki or Yukito-kun is here, just don't bring MIkuru. ^o^"
Key'd probably make her vanish to go back to her time just after professing her love for K-Yuuichi. ;o;
this kinda feels like that one arc in Air with the redhead girl only more depressing since there's actually time to get attached to makoto.
i dunno what i'll do next episode...the last part where makoto said she wanted to marry yuuichi already made me feel depressed.
The only problem I had with this episode was the failing character designs. I'm usually not one to notice or to comment, but for some reason, they seemed to be especially bad this last episode.
On a side note, is it just me or does the animation quality improve with a better graphics card?
I don't think so. When I was in Japan I had to take screencaps using my laptop and the results look similar more or less. I mean it looks brighter on my laptop since it has a lousy brightness/contrast but apart from that, I can't recall where a series would have better animation because a computer has better graphic card. Unless, of course, your graphic card is really old (like only capable of displaying 256 colors but I doubt many graphic cards on sale today only have 256 colors)
I really hope that the upcoming finale for Makoto will be handled well. For those who have played the game, is there a happy ending for Makoto's story? Or is this all there is to it?
Nope. Her 'good' ending is that she bites it.
Makoto has made such a good impression in this episode I actually like her very much now. The Makoto who was always having a problem over something and bothering Yuuichi all the time was a bit annoying to me.
It must be hard for Yuuichi, especially since he knows she isn't actually human. They have very cute moments this episode, but I'm all for Ayu/Yuuichi in the romantic sense.
Pretty weird that Ayu didn't appear though. I mean, it could be on purpose and there's something deeper there? Not about Makoto, but Ayu herself.
I suppose all the girls that have amnesia will have the sad supernatural stories then.
what a self-centered fox... ^_^
Fall in love with your own kind, for crying out loud.
>>>Fall in love with your own kind, for crying out loud.
I can already see the beastality h-doujinshi's already.
>>>I don't think so. When I was in Japan I had to take screencaps using my laptop and the results look similar more or less.
How much difference is there between your laptop and desktop? It's just that once I was at my friend's house watching some cg Gundam show, and he said that if his graphics card was better, the characters would look more real. I don't know if he knew what he was talking about though.
My desktop is a powerful beast designed specifically to handle 3D programs like Maya while my laptop is a cheap mass production line. The only time it makes a difference is when I start using 3D programs. My laptop can barely open the program, let alone run rendering process while my desktop handles it without any problem. And oh, if you have 3D game, it also makes a lot of difference. But I've never heard of graphic card that makes that much difference when it comes to display pre-rendered movies.
>>>December 02, 2006 | Katakui wrote:
Hmm, I wonder if this version will use some episodes to show Yuuichi grieving after Makoto's dead. In the old version, Jay Leno Yuuichi looks way too happy after Makoto's death, it's unnatural. I think now that the series will get 24 episodes, there should be some scenes of Yuuichi grieving for Makoto.
----
Yuuichi was pretty much broken after Makoto disappeared in the game. I mean, he literally watched her disappear from his eyes not too long after having their little ceremony. At the end of Makoto's story, Yuuichi was pretty optimistic that he would be able to see her again some day. But it's common knowledge that it wouldn't be possible since Makoto expended her life just to get that far with Yuuichi.
If you're referring to the Toei Animation production's Yuuichi... yeah... that show went by pretty fast. I don't blame them for forcing a smile on Yuuichi since the show itself was limited to 13 episodes so there really wasn't much else the producers could've done to fix it.
To app and Beowulf Lee:
You haven't been paying attention to the h-doujinshi circles immediately after Kanon's release, have you? There SHOULD be a beastiality hentai involving Makoto or Nayuki with something. I know I've seen it before, I just need to remember who has it and whether he still has it.
Argh, this episode depresses me a lot... About Nayuki being jealous... I think that's something that KyoAni inserted because I recall Nayuki displaying jealousy only towards Ayu, and that was AFTER something had happened to Ayu back when they were kids. The only other time Nayuki displayed her selfishness would be when something happened to Akiko since Nayuki and Ayu's stories are interconnected to a certain degree. Akiko already knows that Makoto will die soon, even if Yuuichi didn't mention it.
>>>>>>It's bad enough that Nayuki started to give strange look in this episode
>>>Oh ho, just wait for when she uses her boxcutter.
>>>What, you thought "Shuffle!" was the first anime show that introduced crazy childhood friend?
All I can say is that that look was orgasmic.
Touching episode all around, though I believe they stretched this episode one too long...
Wow! Yuuichi was so distressed he didn't do his usual daily "rounds with the girls"! Whadda playa.. I'm sure he'll get over Makoto quickly enough.
>>>MS-RT wrote:
I always wonder if Key will ever creates a story that doesn't involve the sad girls genre. Although Air and Kanon are good, I would like to see them producing something different for a change.
Actually Little Busters takes that on. Their current in production game.
I just want to point out that while Makoto is in love with him, I really feel that Yuuichi thinks of her as a little sister more than anything else.
Of course, that only makes her situation sadder.
As for how Ayu would feel, I actually think she would have great sympathy for Makoto, and encourage Yuuichi to spend the remaining time with her. Ayu and Makoto have much in common...*cough*
I think we should expect Mai next, they need someone with a solid happy ending to follow, so Shiori's out.
finaly caught up on the eps...
euh.... nothing else to say cept its really hard not to feel sad after that ep lol
hello there!
i love this episode and i love the picktures!
why most makoto disapperens???
:(
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