So, episode 1 of Sora no woto.

Firstly, let me say I’m a little hesitant to either recommend this anime or to tell you to spend time elsewhere…It hasn’t really given me a large buzz, but nor has it completely turned me off…So I’ll just write my thoughts.

Thought #1: What the fuck, it looks like K-ON!
I am not shitting you in any way or form…firstly there’s using a style but then there’s blatantly cloning it. Sure it may be from the same studio (at least I think/hope it is) but seriously! ITS FUCKING K-ON!

Thought #2: I don’t get where they are…
It looks German, it definitely has festivities that are European, it has French soundtracks and it has references to “Helvetia” which to my knowledge is Swiss…WTF! Admittedly though, it does look kinda good. Using the simplistic character design of K-ON barraged on top of large still environmental shots works well and they do manage to portray a very World War 2-esque feel.

Thought #3: Army people are stupid but these guys go beyond the call of arms.
Ok sure I’m just nitpicking here…but why the hell are all the army guys so nice to this girl that’s clearly a dunce…YOU’RE THE ARMY (well…an army…) KICK HER FUCKING ARSE UNTIL SHE STARTS PERFORMING!…Also a sergeant gives her a gift of “expensive” caramel before he even asks her name or why she is there. That to me is a waste of a way to introduce someone….

Thought #4: Cool folklore bro.
A LOOOOOOOT of emphasis is put into the “lore” of the land she is in (which btw is called “Seize” … I’ve never heard of such a place but I am not geographically inclined). The people of Seize believe in a series of events that shaped their town based on demons being wrestled by maidens and doused in water. But, they wholeheartedly believe it…or seem to. I understand folklore is there out of tradition…but they seem to think its all very real! And then you see a giant dragon winged thing which kinda makes you “wtf”. So I’m confused…is this meant to be real-ish? or a complete farse…Time will tell.

Thought #5: Arty…yay for art!
The opening scenes are pretty out there with crazy contrasting colours and heavy use of panning still frames…but unfortunately it seems to only be an eye catcher to keep you interested as the style doesn’t appear again…which I sadfaced at.

Thought #6: Srsly man, the villagers are batshit insane.
At dawn break, our main character Sorami Kanata blasts out a horrific noise that is meant to resemble music through her trusty Bugle…and the villagers laugh! LAUGH! If you played that shit outside my house that early, I would ram that thing so far up your ass that you would be able to taste it!
In other notes, I used to play a bugle…so I kinda feel for her cause that shit is hard but I much preferred it over a trumpet…which is kinda cheating really.

Final thought:
Honestly I don’t expect much out of this K-ON! clone…but I do expect that the writers are not daft enough to simply carry on exactly the same way that K-ON! did which is why they might be focusing heavily on the folk lore which may well be real. The first episode was, to me, not a riveting tale by any means but as I said it wasn’t exactly bad either. From memory K-ON! did the same and sucked from episode 7 onwards…here’s hoping we don’t get a repeat.

Random Screenshots:

The Mio clone (named Rio) who’s more of a bitch but still Tsundere. I dislike her quite a lot…but she has large hangy-outy breasts:

Bath scene first episode with our Yui clone (exactly the same airhead) that goes by the name of Kanata:

And a Kanata bum shot for good measure:

You’ll notice I haven’t covered much in the way of characters and their likeliness, that’s because I would rather get to know them better first.
Anyway, see you tomorrow with Durarara impressions.

Doujin Overload is coming to Auckland in a couple of weeks and as far as I know is the only annual doujin exhibition in New Zealand. Opening on the 25th of July 09 Doujin Overload is playing host to heaps of local doujin artists and events including cosplay, art contests, live performances and figure collections.

Taking place at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Regatta rooms A and D it’s looking to be a fun convention and one that we sorely are lacking in here in New Zealand. I won’t be able to attend myself due to being half way across the country but I’ll see if we can get some photos from those who do go.

These lovely posters created by na-insoo (lineart) and starshock12 (colouring) nicely cover the base Kana and I can see myself refering to them in the future just for amusment as I learn. It would be nice if they offered them as prints in the DA shop but I guess we will just have to be content with these digital versions.