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ファイト／ステイナイト 
September 25, 2005 | 
21 Comments
I know I'm late. I've had an incredible workload in the real life over the last few weeks and simply couldn't invest the 4 hours it takes to make decent entries. To make up for it, I've decided to add an extra treat: All thumbnails of this entry have the corresponding raw manga frames linked, so just click them to get an idea how things are looking like the way the author wants. Especially in the abysmally animated episode 12, the difference is extreme.
Nevertheless, it's time to catch up, because the last scene of episode 12 tolls the bell for this show's golden times: We have successfully passed the weaker parts (at least those which are tedious to sit through) and are now reaching an arc in which the story fully takes off. Enjoy the shift in the dynamics and some amazingly satisfying developments. I'm sure you will!
Episode 09 Rating: o
Episode 10 Rating: +
Episode 11 Rating: o
Episode 12 Rating: +
Again, a quick double-feature review, since the subs are already out. In general, episode 7 had deplorable art sinking to new all-time lows. Check my comments on the thumbnails for three examples of absolutely nonprofessional work. In fact, it has gotten so bad that I was started to giggle about it instead of being annoyed. The episode itself showed Yamato in a fairly bad light too, so the enjoyment factor was quite limited. Contentwise, however, it was a necessary followup to the surprise ending of episode 6.
Episode 8 on the other hand was very good again. The art was back to decent levels, and some frames were actually really pretty. Also, with the introduction of the last major character, Hashiba Miki, the story gains one key role: A smart and likable friend of both Suzuka AND Yamato who is finally able to give Suzuka some much-needed reality checks. This alone will make the story much easier to enjoy already. Finally, we have some very well-done character development for Honoka. She's having it tough, but she is doing what she can to deal with it. I like the girl alot!
Episode Ratings (7/8): o/+
I know, I'm late. However, some major real life work constraints have forced me to hold off on major sequential time investments (a blog entry usually costs me around 4 hours), and the fact that I knew where episode 6 would end made commenting on the events leading up to it particularly difficult. When do comments end and spoilers start? Also, the airing date for the second season of Mai HiME (Mai Otome) has been set, with the first episode airing at October 6th. This show is SO mine to blog, but I will hardly be able to manage two full entries in one week.
Nevertheless, I'll not drop Suzuka, since the show _is_ very enjoyable. However, I will postpone my entries to around 2 days after the release of the subbed version, and I will not summarize the contents anymore, but only add comments to those spots I consider noteworthy. This should be done for slow-subbed shows with a major raw audience, not for quickly and reliably subbed series. It should also make the entries a bit more concise and interesting.
Especially episode 6 of Suzuka was excellent. It was the very episode which convinced me to work on the anime when I read the manga version, because it goes against so many iron romance anime rules that it's amazing. After a very generic and harem-ish year, Suzuka is a breath of fresh air. Oh, and spoiler warning: If you haven't watched episode 6 yet, don't spoil yourself!
Episode Ratings 5/6: o/++
We're getting into tricky territory for me now. On one hand, since I know the manga, I do know how the story will progress and WHY it will be progressing like this. At the same time, several key informations are missing so far, therefore I need to try to "forget" what I know and try to restrict any commentary on what I would think with this "reduced" information set. And it's bloody difficult to do so, but I'll try my best, yet much shorter than my normal reviews.
In this episode we have major Yamato-Suzuka relationship development. He is excelling in the 50m dash, and Suzuka obviously realizes the striking resemblance between Yamato and the senpai in the framed picture which Miho had commented on earlier in episode 1. This revelation shocks Suzuka who is thrown in obvious confusion and starts to appraise Yamato entirely anew. Except for this we see some smooth Hattori advice and help and some genuine cheery (yet almost completely overlooked) emotional support from Honoka. And we also have an unexpected 10-seconds appearance of my favorite character in this entire show, Miki. Therefore the episode rating can't be any lower than
Episode Rating: +
Let me get it off my chest first thing: This episode left me disappointed and a little bit worried. Why? Because there were clear signs of the Negima disease: Obviously several keys were outsourced to a lesser team which had difficulties keeping the art consistent. Suddenly the reasonably mature Yamato looks like the kid Nozomu-chan from Futakoi in some shots. And suddenly some animators employ semi-deformed "comedy style" drawings. Folks, Suzuka is no comedy, and every attempt to turn it into one will seriously hamper the flow and the atmosphere. Please don't do this again!
This episode primarily introduces a key character, Sakurai Honoka. To put it lightly, her timid-soft and initially "jerky" style of delivering her lines will take some time to get used to. However, keep in mind that this is exactly how Honoka is at this stage of the story, and her Seiyuu is actually a perfect cast voicewise. I feel that she will make Honoka grow just fine.
Because of the spotty animation at times and the unwarranted comedy elements at the wrong spots, demerits in the rating of an otherwise decent episode. Volume 1 of the manga is now completed already, with episode 4 the real story begins.
Episode Rating: (-)
As expected, Suzuka has now found its stride and produces quality entertainment in a sober real-life setting without crazy stuff or super powers. In this episode, one more male character is introduced (Yasunobu Hattori, a Kurtz Weber clone) and we have some character development for Suzuka and Yamato.
Episode 2 combined manga chapters 1+2 nicely, in fact the result felt even more coherent than the manga. This time, the episode is a full +, since I was having fun from the beginning till the end. More of this, please.
Episode Rating: +
When it comes to Suzuka, it's easier to describe what the anime is NOT instead of what it is. It is NO romantic comedy, and it is NO harem show. The girls are still going to be cute, but they are NOT fawning over the male lead, who is NOT useless-whiny and who is NOT disinterested or incapable of a relationship. What we get instead is a fairly serious romance drama with a sports background and with some very interesting-appealing characters, stripped of alot of cliches replaced by a healthy dose of tempered realism.
In other words: This anime isn't flashy, and it won't make you laugh or cry early on. It will take a few episodes to introduce all characters and lay out the plot. 26 episodes are scheduled, and I'll be sure not to miss any of them. Feel up to it? Welcome to Suzuka.
Episode Rating: (+)
