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EP. REVIEW: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?


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Key
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:43 pm Reply with quote
The adaptation of the source novels is moving along at a brisk clip, as it looks like they're aiming to complete coverage of the first novel with episode 3. While I do hope they elaborate more later on about a couple of important things that come up in the first novel (like how exactly Hestia and Hephaestus are connected, for instance), I rather like how things are being handled so far. This is definitely a must-watch show for me.

I am also taking quite a liking to Hestia; in fact, I think I like her better in animated form than in novel form. Her character design came out better than I expected, and she has at least a bit more character than your typical harem girl. The relationship between her and Bell also comes through clearer in Anime form than in novel form..

Beyond these comments, I am entirely in agreement with Rebecca's review.
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Via_01



Joined: 24 Aug 2014
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:51 pm Reply with quote
The world building is certainly one of the most positive aspects of DanMachi. Though it seems to be just a more straightforward way of using the "RPG World" gimmick, it's actually putting enough effort to make it interesting and make us wonder if there's something beyond that surface.

All in all, these two episodes have been fun: Bell seems like a decent protagonist, and he actually fights as you'd expect from someone that is supposed to be low level, while Hestia has character, and her close relationship with Bell makes for a pleasant addition (none of that awkward friendship you see in many harem series).
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Hameyadea



Joined: 23 Jun 2014
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 1:53 pm Reply with quote
Episodes #1-2:

I like the voice-work done by the seiyūs, especially Yoshitsugu Matsuoka's; he sounds softer and more timid than he did when he voiced Sword Art Online's Kirito or No Game No Life's Sora. That helps making him more relatable to the audience, IMO.

Minase Inori's work as Hestia also fits the perky and easy-going character's traits established. Although I'm a bit concerned about her future performance in more dramatic moments, should those arise, since Minase's previous roles - like Sora no Method's Noel or Aldnoah.Zero's Eddelrittuo didn't impressed me too much in the more emotionally-loaded moments (most of the impact came from the other seiyūs preformances, with her's complementing them, but not leading the atmosphere).

Art-wise, a side from a few relatively-minor moments, the show has kept a solid and constant quality in character designs, movement fluidity and the backgrounds. (especially Hestia's costume Laughing). The Minotaur scene at the start of #1 served as a good indicator of the art level of the show. The town's look feels like an amalgam of eras and locals, with Old London, Old Paris and Rome, and generally a 17th-18th century Western Europe feel. Really, I've nothing more to add to Rebecca Silverman's Review.

The plot and settings of the show are, while not entirely unique, take a bit of a different look. The character interactions felt good and natural (big exception was the scene were, Bete Loga - the Loki Familia member who got drunk - starts recounting second-hand Aiz Wallenstein's encounter with Bell, and then, out of the blue, asks Aiz who she would rather date; the wimpy Bell or the mighty Bete. Even if it was out of drunkenness or within context, it still felt forced. Too forced. But that was the only moment that the show has slipped, so I'll think of it as a mishap rather than an indicative of the future interactions).

One gripe I do have, however, starts happening quite blatantly in #2, when Freya the Masked Woman took interest in Bell when she glimpsed him running in the street, in the corner of her eye, for a split-moment (split-moment so small that the scene had to be rewinded, slowed down and zoomed-in just to see Bell's white hair quickly appearing and disappearing in the crowd). The intend of the interest shown by the Masked Woman isn't clear - it could be a test of strength and/or mettle for a romantic purpose, it could be hatred/discontent with the Hestia Familia with Bell being the collateral victim, or could be some kind of parental affection (her usage of the words "go after the little me" gives some credence to the 3rd option).

All-in-all, I like this show. I'm not expecting anything grandeur out of it, only to entertain me on a weekly basis for the next 3 months. Worst-case, I watched yet-another out-of-the-mill show. Better-case, I saw another high-level LN-adaptation, a la Gosick or Kara no Kyōkai.
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Princess_Irene
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 2:26 pm Reply with quote
Key wrote:
The adaptation of the source novels is moving along at a brisk clip, as it looks like they're aiming to complete coverage of the first novel with episode 3. While I do hope they elaborate more later on about a couple of important things that come up in the first novel (like how exactly Hestia and Hephaestus are connected, for instance), I rather like how things are being handled so far. This is definitely a must-watch show for me.


I'm hoping it gets shoe-horned into episode three a this point, since as you pointed out all the rest of the novel is basically in these two episodes. Although now that I've said that, maybe it would be better to give it its own episode with further information from (I assume) novel two...

Quote:
I am also taking quite a liking to Hestia; in fact, I think I like her better in animated form than in novel form. Her character design came out better than I expected, and she has at least a bit more character than your typical harem girl. The relationship between her and Bell also comes through clearer in Anime form than in novel form..


Absolutely in agreement with you there. In general I'm enjoying this adaption better than the first novel, which is very unusual for me. In any event, I'm more excited for novel two than I was.
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Angel M Cazares



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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 2:27 pm Reply with quote
I agree with the B grade for the first two episodes, and I also find Hestia adorable. I know that this will be a silly series, but I am having a good time watching it.
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Kadmos1



Joined: 08 May 2014
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 3:10 pm Reply with quote
I love the English title. I think that in the CR subs the word "goddess" should be used for Hestia, not "god".
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MysticMew



Joined: 07 Mar 2015
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 3:29 pm Reply with quote
Definitely one the few anime this season that actually have me interested. While perhaps not grand, definitely a fun watch so far.
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InstallGeneru



Joined: 30 Mar 2015
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 3:40 pm Reply with quote
"This latter also shows some attention to mythological detail, since Hestia is the goddess of the hearth(fire)"
I don't remember if Hestia is the goddess of fire at all but even if she is wouldn't it be more important to note that she(Hestia/Εστία) is the goddess of the house/family?
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Kadmos1



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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 4:15 pm Reply with quote
InstallGeneru wrote:
"This latter also shows some attention to mythological detail, since Hestia is the goddess of the hearth(fire)"
I don't remember if Hestia is the goddess of fire at all but even if she is wouldn't it be more important to note that she(Hestia/Εστία) is the goddess of the house/family?


She was the Greek goddess of the hearth which does make her a fire goddess.
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Key
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:09 pm Reply with quote
Hameyadea wrote:
One gripe I do have, however, starts happening quite blatantly in #2, when Freya the Masked Woman took interest in Bell when she glimpsed him running in the street, in the corner of her eye, for a split-moment (split-moment so small that the scene had to be rewinded, slowed down and zoomed-in just to see Bell's white hair quickly appearing and disappearing in the crowd). The intend of the interest shown by the Masked Woman isn't clear - it could be a test of strength and/or mettle for a romantic purpose, it could be hatred/discontent with the Hestia Familia with Bell being the collateral victim, or could be some kind of parental affection (her usage of the words "go after the little me" gives some credence to the 3rd option).

Actually, that was Aiz who glimpsed him out of the corner of her eye, not Freya. You can tell that pretty clearly because the window was to Aiz's left and Freya's right in that scene and he was seen to the character's left. Besides, even without being familiar with the novel I thought it was pretty clear that Freya already knew about Bell. I also thought that she gave at least some indication in the anime that, as the goddess of beauty, messing with the familia of other gods was pretty much sport for her. (This point is made clearer in the novel.)

Also, I thought the use of color in the aforementioned scene was an interesting artistic move.

Princess Irene wrote:
In any event, I'm more excited for novel two than I was.

Agreed, but the problem for me is that it comes out the same day as the next-to-last Spice and Wolf novel. Razz
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InstallGeneru



Joined: 30 Mar 2015
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 5:33 pm Reply with quote
Kadmos1 wrote:
InstallGeneru wrote:
"This latter also shows some attention to mythological detail, since Hestia is the goddess of the hearth(fire)"
I don't remember if Hestia is the goddess of fire at all but even if she is wouldn't it be more important to note that she(Hestia/Εστία) is the goddess of the house/family?


She was the Greek goddess of the hearth which does make her a fire goddess.

That's the fireplace though,not fire.The fireplace in the ancient greek times is usually the "home" for the family.
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zztop



Joined: 28 Aug 2014
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:24 pm Reply with quote
Hestia fanart and goods is all the craze in the Japanese fandom.
A Japanese tweet sums up Hestia's appeal:
"The breast-string that raises her breasts when she raises her arms is a brilliant invention. I think it should get this season's 'good design' award. And although your eyes go straight to her breasts, her waist and underarms have just the right degree of chubbiness.... It's godly. GODly."
(The two words in the Japanese are kami, the Japanese word for a god, which is often translated "godly" when applied to animation; and the actual English word GOD.)

The chest ribbon is also for sale in major Tokyo anime shops.
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Princess_Irene
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:39 am Reply with quote
InstallGeneru wrote:

I don't remember if Hestia is the goddess of fire at all but even if she is wouldn't it be more important to note that she(Hestia/Εστία) is the goddess of the house/family?


I think they'll both turn out to be important, as well as the fact that Hestia is Zeus' older (oldest, actually) sister. Right now the hearthfire seemed more important to the story.

The only god I'm not liking/thrilled with so far in appearance is Ganesha - I'd have liked him to be less muscular. (Although I'm not an expert on Hindu beliefs; maybe I've just never seen a muscle-bound Ganesha image?)
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Kadmos1



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PostPosted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 10:01 am Reply with quote
I could be wrong. but I think the Greek Hestia was an ancient Greek equivalent of the yamato nadeshiko.
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Kuroko the Best Stalker



Joined: 12 Apr 2015
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:31 pm Reply with quote
Is Hestia the new Asuna? Quite tired of seeing her EVERYWHERE.
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