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The Stream - Clash on Titans

zensunni, atmosphere and pretty visuals are all Red Data Girl has at this point. It really needed to get a move on with the plot instead of wasting two episodes on some secondary character whom I don't even care about mourning for his horse (which we didn't even get to see before it upped and died). I mean, there is so much that needs to be covered - like the Himegami, and why the hell she matters, not to mention the school election and why the hell that matters too - and the Anime staff are wasting time on an inconsequential side plot about a goddamn horse.

zensunni what bothers me most about RDG is the occasional Izumiko voice-over that fills in the audience on what happened between scenes/off screen. I appreciate that we are getting the information in the show as Izumiko is, but we aren't tied to her perspective at all times, and I doubt the novels are told in the first person. They can show us some of the things that happen off screen. For example, in ep 8 spoiler[I personally thought the line "Did you just sprout wings?" was hilarious, but Mizuki's explanation sounded like we missed the episode in which the mountain spirit in crow form visits him in his room. Don't you think that scene would have worked better if we had seen that, even briefly?] FWIW, I absolutely loved the triplet story. It really had heart. I hope those characters will continue growing through the series, even though their main arc may be over.

I don't know about the writing style of the novels or how closely the anime is following the story in the novels, but I know someone that has the novels and have asked him for the info. I'll let you know if I get an answer. I am fine with the writing style of the anime, obviously. I like the pacing and the methods used to tell the story. Much better than being spoon fed the story by having everything explained for us.

spoiler[ FWIW, I absolutely loved the triplet story. It really had heart. I hope those characters will continue growing through the series, even though their main arc may be over. About the sprouting wings thing: If we had seen that ahead of time, the scene would have been much less effective and we would have wondered WTF Miyuki was doing when he was totally over-matched earlier in the arc. (I can think of two reasons: 1) Didn't want to let the Souda siblings know about his little friend; 2) Wamia doesn't play nice unless it is actually Izumiko that is in danger.)]

I don't think the appeal of this series has ever had anything to do with karuta so much as it did with the characters

I went and watched Karneval. While it's fun seeing a cast that I enjoyed from (what I read of) the manga, it really does have pacing issues. The strange thing is, several scenes in the episodes feel fine. Until I realize that, hey, it's only been three episodes and they've slam-dunked us into this strange little plot with almost no build-up. And that's coming from someone with some background. It feels like the episodes would feel better placed if they were augmented by softer or explanatory scenes and more real development.

I remember the manga's pacing to be better. The anime has definitely trimmed some stuff off, though strangely kept that 'cool down' parade chapter and made it an episode. Additionally, the pacing makes the large cast more noticeable: we're hit with a barrage of characters who we feel we should know, but that come and go like crazy. Then more are introduced. I'm still enjoying it, mostly as a fan of the manga and artwork. If Funimation decides to license it for a home release, I'll be in. But really, I just want the manga.

By the way, does anyone know how its pre-orders are doing and if they are considered satisfactory? I'm not that sure how to assess the points or look them up specific numbers...

So is anyone watching Mushibugyou? It's absolutely ridiculous and I'd say it's arguably the worst show this season, but even so, I am enjoying it.