This site is designed for accessibility. Content is obtainable and functional to any browser or Internet device. This site's full visual experience is available in a modern browser that supports web standards. Please consider upgrading your browser.
ローゼンメイデン 
This episode turns out to be really good and full of character development. This is completely unexpected since I thought it'll just be full of character battles/power-ups but the writers actually have a really good story in between the battle. Also of interest is the modified ED theme, which has been given a different animation to reflect the story of the episode. I think this is the first time I've seen this kind of treatment given to the ED theme. I wonder if there is other series that has done this. Of course, there are series where the ED song runs at the same time as the actual story but that's not what I meant here. I'm looking for a specifically created ED that mirrors the story of the actual episode.
Continuing from the previous episode, Kid is incapacitated with disgust when he finds out that the bombs that Eruka left are not symmetrical. Liz tries to remind him that the Kishin will be unleashed unless he gets over his phobia but Kid seems unable to do so. Because of this, Liz asks Patty to have the last word. Patty makes a scary face and tells Kid to move his good-for-nothing ass already. All of a sudden Kid uses his hoverboard to fly through the bombs despite his wish. Meanwhile, thanks to the injection of black blood into her conscience, Maka starts to act like a crazed person and manages to easily beat Chrona like she's nothing. Maka's behavior, however, freaks Soul, who knows that Maka is losing control. On the positive side, her behavior also scares Chrona, especially when Maka tries to consume Chrona's head. While this happens, Maka's conscience can be seen floating in the darkness. Slowly, it begins to regain its will again and decides to grab her soul when she spots it. She then spots Soul's and later on, Chrona's soul. When she grabs the later, she gets transported into a clear sky with a world filled with desert.
On a closer look, Maka realizes that the desert is actually a beach without the sea. Within the desert, a chibi Chrona stands alone looking lonely and sad playing with the sand with a stick. Back in the city, Blair is busy fighting against the mouse and manages to easily defeat all of them. However, the mouse then starts to form a group and eventually transforms into a female witch. The witch walks over to Blair and the two end up having what looks like a combination of bitchy argument/boobs comparison. While this happens, both Stein and Spirit-kun are pissed off when they find out that Medusa doesn't give two hoots about her own kid. Spirit tries to come up to Medusa to threaten her but only ends up getting hit by her vectors. At the same time, Maka sees that Chrona has drawn a circle using the stick to keep him/herself away from 'others'. Despite this, he/she can't seem to stay alone because a dark shadow comes out of her body and introduces herself as 'Chrona' as well. The shadow then starts asking questions that make Chrona uncomfortable such as what Chrona felt when he/she killed "Ochibi-chan".
Chrona decides to 'pass' on these questions and is surprised when chibi Maka approaching. Chrona becomes disturbed when Maka destroys the circle boundary that in real life, spikes come out of his/her body. Meanwhile, Maka's conscience begs Soul to pull her up out of the deep goo sea that she's enveloped within. Soul eventually manages to break free from his own restraint and jumps down to find Maka's hand. Their hands eventually reach each other so Soul pulls Maka up, bringing her conscience back to her physical body. She comes up in time to see Chrona looking deranged. Maka decides to switch another tactic. She leaves Soul behind and approaches Chrona unarmed even when Chrona's spikes threaten to harm her. She then proceeds to hug Chrona, realising that the later never had a physical contact before. Chrona admits that that she never had a physical contact before and felt useless. Maka hits Chrona's head with her book but then offers her hand to Chrona, offering her friendship. Chrona starts to cry and wonders why physical contact feels good. The episode ends with Chrona and Maka becoming friends.
Impression
What did Patty do to make Kid moves himself out of his weird symmetrical funk? Did she just scare kid to get his ass moving? Did she shoot the bombs and set off the explosion? Did she and Liz drag Kid through the bomb regardless of his wish? I just don't understand why Kid is crying his eyes out after Patty said the word. Anyway, of all the techs/weapons group, I have to admit that I like Maka and Soul the least since they're the least dysfunctional from the 3 groups. However, crazy Maka in this episode is a lot of fun. I especially love the part where she tries to devour Chrona's head. But at its core, what made this episode good is Chrona's backstory. It's hard not to feel sorry for the character considering what he/she has gone through. I don't think I'll ever completely understand the conflict that Chrona has with the black blood/darkness within his/her body but it seems her insanity partly comes from the fact that she never had someone who really cares about her.
Next week: Kidd and Black Star vs. Free
Can't wait for next episode, Free is awesome!!! I think Patty may just have her limits to her playfulness, as she lost her temper with Liz in episode 3 as well.
"I think this is the first time I've seen this kind of treatment given to the ED theme. I wonder if there is other series that has done this."
Full Metal Alchemist (also by Bones) did this at least one. Nina episode, for example.
>>"I wonder if there is other series that has done this. Of course, there are series where the ED song runs at the same time as the actual story but that's not what I meant here. I'm looking for a specifically created ED that mirrors the story of the actual episode."
Black Lagoon #15 "Swan Song at Dawn" -- The last episode with Hansel and Gretel, so they get the walk on the beach, during the day, instead of Revy at night. We hear the song Gretel sang in the episode.
Cowboy Bebop #13 "Jupiter Jazz Part 2" -- Camera pans up from Mystical Native American Dude talking about the episode guest character. And up...and up... We hear "Space Lion" (awesome song, goofy name).
Fullmetal Alchemist #7 "Night of the Chimera's Cry" and #25 "Word's of Farewell" -- Same song but different pictures in #7 (like with this Soul Eater ep), and different song to start with and black screen for the credits in #25. Not giving any further details. ^_^
I know there I've seen it a few more times, but those are the only ones I can think of at the moment.
I loved this episode the most for the development in the character of Chrona, but it makes me think that it's more a girl rather than a boy when they are inside the soul, I also liked how they changed the ending to match the story in the episode.
And you don't know just how much I cried in the ED song of Fullmetal Alchemist #7, [NINA!!!! TTATT] I also liked the one in Black Lagoon and Cowboy Bebop.
Another amusing thing was the bitch fight between Blair and the Mizune sisters (as one) [je je XD Tomato size] and the Oni going mad.
Thanks for the review Garten, as usual. I've been missing the show so I haven't watched the last couple of episodes. That being said I have a few questions:
While this happens, both Stein and Spirit-kun are pissed off when they find out that Medusa doesn't give two hoots about her own daughter.
So Medusa actually said daughter? Chrona's gender isn't ambiguous anymore right? So it's a she?
The shadow then starts asking questions that make Chrona uncomfortable such as what Chrona felt when he/she killed the rabbit.
The shadow actually said rabbit and not dragon? Hmmm... if it actually said rabbit then LOL the production team really forgot to tweak that one.
And this is off-topic but have you seen Detroit Metal City anime? It's freaking hilarious!
Awesome episode. This sort of thing is why I like Soul Eater. There's the character and the stories behind all the fighting. It's not very deep, but it doesn't need to be: just great fun.
Maka and Soul - I've heard people claim that the madness was less violent than in the manga. However, I think the way the anime played it was just right; almost absurd and funny with both fighters laughing madly, horrible when Maka starts to slam Chrona's head against the wall.
Chrona - The scenes in her soul were lovely, probably my favourite so far. The contrasting colours and sense of isolation really came across well: simple but effective.
Kid and the girls - Not sure about this one. Yet another example of Kid's obsessions and power doing more harm than good. In the manga, at least, it looks like Kid blows the bombs up himself as he blazes past, but here it's less obvious.
I think possibly they detonated because of the movement, and Kid didn't get hurt because, well, he's Kid and was travelling extremely fast.
Spirit and Stein - I was waiting for this bit. Medusa's lack of concern over that child was always going to upset someone with the kind of paternal issues Albarn has.
Hoping they'll continue with the manga with these two...
So Medusa actually said daughter? Chrona's gender isn't ambiguous anymore right? So it's a she?
Ah no, sorry. That's just me having a brain fart. It's just that everything about Chrona is pointing to a "she" and I'm tired of referring to the character as his/her. :P
The shadow actually said rabbit and not dragon? Hmmm... if it actually said rabbit then LOL the production team really forgot to tweak that one.
Again, me+brain fart. X( The shadow said "Ochibi-chan", which is the dragoon/dragon. I've fixed the goof now.
And this is off-topic but have you seen Detroit Metal City anime? It's freaking hilarious!
No, I haven't. I've read about it on some message board though.
And thank you for those who pointed out other shows with story-specific ED. I've seen Cowboy Bebop but I can't seem to remember that episode....
What? No more Crazy Maka??? God, It was funnie see her being a "Chrona 2"
i always thought of chronas as a girl...might be the pink hair =P
Macross Frontier changes their ending song and animation depending on the occurrences in that episode.
I also know that Full Metal Alchemist did it at least once.
I admit that I cry a bit when I saw Chrona broke down in tears. I really feel sorry for the character in this one for some reason.
>I'm looking for a specifically created ED that mirrors the story of the actual episode.
A bit forgetful, are we?
Fate/stay night 14.
Wow. This episode made me cry. I was teary-eyed throughout the episode, but when Maka hugged Chrona, causing her to break down... I cried. I think I can add Chrona to my list of favourite SE characters now.
Chrona ha been a she for me from the beginning:
1 - Her name is Chrona, feminine name i guess
2 - Looks like a girl??
3 - Dresses like one
4 - Acts like one some times special in chibi form...
Anyone shares the same thoughts??
Ive seen the ED matching the ep in various animes too...
ah. And here we see the first of the censors. After reading the manga I can tell you they've cut some time off the fight and switched the part where Maka polished Chrona's face into the walls instead of her scythe. Ah well.
But regarding Chrona's backstory, it's done well in conveying the mood and both seiyuu are definately into their characters and fabulously conveyed the emotions through.
*cough* on an unrelated note, I'm a total fangirl and I find Chrona and Maka adorable together.
Hey just wondering, how come Blair isn't considered a witch? The other main witches we've seen so far have also been based off animals (snake, toad, mouse) so it's a bit weird that she is excluded because she is a 'cat'.
That's an odd distinction actually, Chuie. My guess is that it's because Shibusen doesn't actually eliminate all witches/magic users indiscriminately, only the ones who cause trouble.
I reckon Shinigami hasn't done anything more about Blair because he doesn't see her as a threat at the moment. Chances are if she started using her magical talents to attack his rules or followers, he'd have someone remove her remaining lives.
For the time being, Blair is actually defending Death City, suggesting that her loyalties appear to lie with the Shinigami. Or at least not against him.
Blair has magic but she isn't part of that witch guild thing. That might be the distinction. Also, she actually is a cat that has magic powers and can transform to a human form...they don't say if the other witches were animals first and transformed to human, or they could be human witches to start, that adopt those animal characteristics/transform to animals.
I too , cried when I watched this episode. I think I'm a fool here , but I'm relieved lots of people did the same ^^;
Note:
Please be aware that the following type of comments will be deleted from now on: spams, comments containing l33t talk or rudeness. Check Animesuki, Tokyo Toshokan, or D-Addicts before asking where to find a series. If you want to post spoiler, please use <spoiler>write your spoiler here</spoiler> tags.
The comment area allows post without email address. However, all posters have to fill out the name field. If you have a question unrelated to the particular entry, please email: designchronicle@NOSPAMgmail.com. Make sure you remove the NOSPAM part of the email.