Forum - View topicHōzuki's Coolheadedness (TV).
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DuskyPredator
 Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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OVA 3
A very art centred episode. I must say that I found some of the "cats" to be incredibly humorous. Especially how the realistic one looks like what I thought as spoiler["Grumpy cat with chicken legs"], the absurdity which is hilarious. The addition of the voices taking you by surprise just sold it all, like the one following Momotaro. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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Season 2 #1
Different studio this time round, but there shouldn't be any concerns over quality drops based on this first episode. If anything, the colour palette looks better this time round compared to the last season. The first season OP is one of the rare examples of an anime song hitting the heights on Oricon, especially for a series which isn't part of the mainstream animation. This season's number is also an ensemble chorus, but I find the lyrics less memorable despite their comparative simplicity. The ED visuals are much better than the first season's since they've decided to market Peach Maki and make AMVs based on her performance. Not a bad place to start for the second season by using Hoozuki's origins as the starting story. Viewers even get an introduction to his predecessor and a reminder for non-Japanese as to why the great Creator Goddess is lolling around in her own little corner in Hell. If there's one thing the episode likes to remind fans (new viewers are better off watching from Season 1 and the OVAs before jumping in) it's to avoid angering Hoozuki by treating him in an inequitable manner. When he plans his retribution, there's no telling how vicious he can be. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Even the OVAs are recommended because that had the introduction of the Zashiki-warashi, which were running around all through the episode.
Man I love this show's dark and deadpan humor. Interesting that we got some background for Hoozuki, although it seems to be a particular thing he is actually petty about for it being so long ago. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#2
If there's ever an episode in this series to remind viewers to watch their conduct, this is definitely it. In the same spirits as the lyrics of the first season's OP, Hell will treat you in a manner commensurate to your sins. It also highlights just how tough the oni minions are and what kind of personality Hoozuki has to enjoy his work. Because the original material is episodic and runs into hundreds of episodes, the animators as always get to pick and choose. Usually they'll go for character introductions since those tend to have really good jokes. The second half is a prime example, made especially poignant because of recent news of another Japanese worker dying from overwork and the company responsible forced to pay out in the courts. It's also ironic that Hoozuki requests a counsellor stay on-site permanently at the records office since he's just as dedicated as Hagei and his underlings at the records office. Next week is another one of the "introduce new members to the uninitiated viewer" episodes. It's a good one too if memory serves. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#3
This week is a follow-up to the episodes which introduced the Hoozuki/Hakutaku feud as well as the OVA #1 which introduced the Zashiki Warashi. The former throws in Hakutaku's fellow auspicious acquaintances (who are REALLY old) while the latter gives individual names to the pair (whilst throwing in a lot of cultural-specific gags along the way). Not much else to say about the two episodes other than they can't be missed because the new characters do feature later on while the pair of troublemakers are referred to by their names in later chapters. The animators are going to do something similar next week with the terminator rabbit. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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So cute that the Zashiki Warashi got names, as Ichiko and Niko. I really enjoy their sense of humour, that their monotone appearance hides their acts, along with their laugh kind of being hilarious. I think they might be my favourite characters, along with how they match up to Hozuki. Was funny how he has found them in his room in the middle of the night.
Also, more of why Hozuki hates Hakutaku. One thing for sure is that Hozuki keeps grudges. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#4
The first half ties in with events from episode 3. It's also the creator's spin on the original Japanese fable with Karashi going on to serve in Hell having honed her unique "talents". The songs only make sense to those who grew up in Japan so without help from the subtitles even those who learnt the language as a foreign one might struggle to understand the significance unless they did it in a class. The second half is unsurprisingly chosen given the episode air date's proximity to the 31st of October. This half unsurprisingly caters more to Western Europe and the United States since that's an old tradition from those geographical regions. It's also a nice counterpoint to the first half since it looks like Hoozuki goes back for immediate revenge having heard Karashi's tale about learning the paste she uses for her work. If there's one thing the creator of the series is known for, it's her attention to detail and background research (she used to work in a museum as a specialist in art history before giving up the job to work on the series full-time). Although it doesn't go too far into the details, the gist of the origins of Halloween and the Japanese equivalent are explained in a very entertaining way over the second half of this week. |
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Gina Szanboti
Posts: 11352 |
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I forgot this wasn't getting a weekly review. I'm so happy this series is back! I'm loving all the details and backstories now since they got the characters and personalities nailed down in the first season.
The episode 3 (really, really) old gods were terrific, especially when they were talking about needing glucosamine. Also, "The heavens are blessing the crap out of us!!" from the besieged onlookers.
But episode 4 I think just might be my favorite from the entire series so far. The Halloween theme was fun, but I really liked how Hoozuki tied in the original festivals. "If you translate the jack-o-lantern concept into Japanese...you get me." A many-layered joke with impeccable delivery. 
Still, Hell's turnips got nothin' on the Celtic version:  
I think turnips are just a naturally spookier medium. They've got that whole mummy thing working for them. 
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Yeah, that part did have me laughing, especially in how it had Hakutaku almost worshiping the jack-o-lantern with putting them everywhere before have the connection spelled out to him. Also just funny the idea of a creature of Shangrila deciding to celebrate Halloween. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#5
Onono Takamura's introduction is more or less mandatory since he features in later stories. At any rate he's so weird that NOT introducing him would have deprived viewers of a lot of the fun. Extremely efficient and extremely talented at winding up his superiors. Probably the reason why Hoozuki recommended he take up the post after he passed on. While we're at it, viewers get to see a little more of the First King Shinkou Ou and find out the series creator's take on his public image in the world of the living. A lot of the references in this episode come from old paintings and depictions of both Onono Takamura and Enma Daiou in Japan. As usual the attention to detail is top-notch, but it's having a look at Enma's private quarters that's the big highlight for me (especially his personal bath!) The second half of the episode leads in nicely to next week since Bodhisattva Jizou makes his appearance. If I'm not wrong, there should be more detail regarding why he's regarded as Enma Daiou's "incarnation" in this series. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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One of the positives in this series is that I learn little bits about Japanese folklore, even if a good number of the episode is also trying to subvert it and put their own twist on them. A joke I especially liked was when the first judge realised why people mistake him for the image of Enma, where Hozuki the assistant ran away.
You always get these ideas of hierarchy, that you imagine the court of Enma being especially a big deal, but I always enjoy it how the show can kind of sate this feeling of not entirely being bogged down by them in Hoozuki showing the two lower Oni things. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#6
Another of Young Hoozuki's escapades and this one is a real scream. Hoozuki might have given up working on stage illusions, but his little foray helped secure Sakuya-hime's legend into posterity. What's really strange is how he and Hakutaku go WAY back yet neither of them could remember the encounter years later. As an aside, his two partners in crime then are now working under him as his subordinates. The second half finally introduces Bodhisattva Jizou to the anime-only viewers. It also explains the peculiar Japanese tie-up between the Ten Kings and their Buddhist counterparts. The best moments of the episode are of course the interaction between Hoozuki and the punk kid leading a tiny rebellion on the shores of the Sanzu. The latter's ultimate fate having won his reincarnation through sheer cheek and persistence gives a lesson on Hell not always giving up its incarcerated denizens too easily without some form of payback. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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I was almost wondering if Hoozuki was a little sad about a kid like that one dying young, because he could not give out the same kind of punishment that he would like against people who act that way. I imagine the stuff involving kids would be one of the hardest parts for the series, since they clearly cannot go to the extent of dark humour it does with adults being punished. It was kind of cute that they apparently can kind of give them presents during the bon festival. Still, kids can sometimes be just the worst.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#7
I've been waiting for the first half of this week, since that was one of the few stories which I REALLY wanted to see animated this season and the animators have not disappointed me. The Japanese idiom is very apt here in this case, since the tale of Hoozuki winning the cursed iron club for himself really defines how invincible he is relative to his peers. The second half basically wraps up the "childhood Hoozuki" stories by showing what happened to Hoozuki's childhood partners in crime after he became Chief of Staff. Viewers saw them reporting to Enma in a previous episode, but it's only here we find out the pair of them work in a different section, albeit still under Hoozuki's watch and giving him and other minions no end of trouble. As for next week, it's been ages and the OP has basically teased viewers since the start of the season but an old friend finally gets her formal introduction to the series. It's another one of the stories which I've been anticipating since I saw the OP and it's going to be a cracker. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#8
If I had to name a contender for THE best episode of this season's adaptation, it would have to be this one. Of the hundreds of chapters that have been syndicated to date, this is one of the few I can still remember despite reading it years ago. The creator's take on otaku and their habits can hit too close to home in some respects. The one-sided monologue is very well executed, unfortunately when it overlaps with the other characters' conversation it's difficult to differentiate between the two conversation threads. Just as well non-Japanese viewers get subtitles. First and last time viewers will ever see Hoozuki get beaten down like a ragdoll. Although Hoozuki himself is one of the four beings to avoid in Hell, he respects Chun's unnatural strength and tries not to stay too long in the tenth court to avoid "workplace accidents". Not many characters left to introduce and there's one more teased for next week. As a bonus, another rare trip to the freezing counterpart to Hoozuki and company's workplace. |
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