Kobato

[Kraco]

http://forums.gotwoot.net/gallery/files/9/7/6/2/kobato.jpg

"Hanato Kobato is a cute girl who has a mission: fill up a mysterious bottle she carries with her in order to grant her wish. For that mission, she's counting with Ioryogi's help, a little blue dog who seems very cute but who has a terrible foul mouth and bad manners. Now, Kobato-chan has to heal the people whose hearts are wounded. The only problem is that she doesn't really know how to do it." -Manga-Updates

Genre: adventure, comedy, fantasy, romance, seinen
Episodes: 24

Links:
Episode 1 - gg (http://t.bt.is-ingenio.us/t/%5Bgg%5D_Kobato_-_01_%5BDF1BA6A8%5D.mkv.torrent)

AniDB (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=6258)
ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10542)
Official (http://www.kobato.tv/)

Main characters voiced by Kana Hanazawa (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=53741) as Kobato (Nadeko Sengoku of Bakemonogatari, Zange of Kannagi, Kusano of Sekirei) and Tetsu Inada (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=7015) as Ioryogi.



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Yet another gg show of the season... Anyway, this got my attention from RandomCC's blog, and I doubt I'd have had a look at it otherwise. The premise of a girl going around filling a bottle with people's broken hearts isn't exactly a very exciting sounding. However, what got me interested in the idea was the obnoxious dog. After watching the episode I can say I like the show altogether. It's a strange mix of peaceful goodwill and sudden outbursts of action and comedy. I have a feeling I'll be watching this till the end.

Jolly good voice acting so far and while it's not HD, there's nothing to complain about the graphics either.

[Archangel]

Lol, card captor sakura anyone?

Look nice and "Clampish", and with gg subbing it i'll be sure to give this a try

[RyougaZell]

I hope the anime keeps the [spoiler] the manga had... I'll download this and watch it tonight...

[shinta|hikari]

Feels a lot like Aria and Tsubasa Chronicle mixed together. This is definitely one of my "must watch as soon as it comes out" this season.

EDIT: @RZ - Wait, wtf? Did I just read a spoiler? Please edit that out. You have been doing that quite a bit (Valkyria Chronicles), and while I may sound hypocritical for pointing it out, at least I use warning tags and hide it in white text.

[RyougaZell]

Feels a lot like Aria and Tsubasa Chronicle mixed together. This is definitely one of my "must watch as soon as it comes out" this season.

EDIT: @RZ - Wait, wtf? Did I just read a spoiler? Please edit that out. You have been doing that quite a bit (Valkyria Chronicles), and while I may sound hypocritical for pointing it out, at least I use warning tags and hide it in white text.

Point taken. Sorry about that.

EDIT:

The CLAMP-tard in me is very happy on how the first episode turned. Ioryogi is freaking awesome.

Also, Im glad the animation quality shown on CLAMP In Wonderland 2, when they showed Kobato animated for the first time, remained.

[Buffalobiian]

I liked this. Kobato's cute, but if left alone, I'm sure her moe-ness would go off the charts and annoy even the most diehard moetard. That's where loryogi comes in. That dude just saved the entire show, making the pair not only tolerable, but enjoyable to watch.

The art and effects are good. Plot-wise, this seems like it will be pretty episodic, but having such an open ended task has the potential for some interesting things. I'm on. It helps that I liked CCS when it aired. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion.

That old lady looks like she had some idea what's going on. I won't be surprised if she's whoever loryogi mentioned before.

[Kraco]

The most diehard moetard:

Episode 2 - gg (http://t.bt.is-ingenio.us/t/%5Bgg%5D_Kobato_-_02_%5B75B46765%5D.mkv.torrent)

[RyougaZell]

Finally. They took a while to release that. Makes me think Kobato isn't that prioritary for GG. Shall download later at home.

[Kraco]

It's certainly not a priority for them. You can tell because this ep had apparently escaped the QC.

Anyway, it was good otherwise. Kobato really is an uber airhead and it's for sure she wouldn't survive for a day without Ioryogi's advice. Makes sense she didn't even realise it when she actually managed to heal someone's heart, and naturally had no idea what she was doing.

I wonder what the dude's problem is. He's extremely hostile and negative. Must be pretty deep shit he has gone through or still is.

Who was the tissue dealing guy? That particular design always reminds me of Vash but I guess the archetype is someone else (or just the reference in this series, with those hair colours).

[Archangel]

It's certainly not a priority for them. You can tell because this ep had apparently escaped the QC.

I really don't get those guys, it's like someone is forcing them to sub anime :confused:

[Buffalobiian]

I really don't get those guys, it's like someone is forcing them to sub anime :confused:

It's more like they absorbed a whole lot of new staff, and every one of them wants to do their own thing.

This episode was pretty cute. The kid's scene felt heart-warming.

I sure hope the preview indicates that we'll be getting as many costume changes as Tsubasa and CCS. Kobato will have to find a home first though. That pipe in the park doesn't look like it has much room for a wardrobe.

[RyougaZell]

I liked Hatsuyuuki's version more. They have experience subbing shoujo, for they did Shugo Chara. Only bad point is the change of resolution.

[Hatsuyuki]​_Kobato​_-​_01[1280x720][EF121107].​mkv (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=89835)

[Hatsuyuki]​_Kobato​_-​_02[848x480][90FD3C4A].​mkv (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=91044)

[Archangel]

Oh by the way, in what way is this a seinen?

[Buffalobiian]

gg - episode 03 (http://t.bt.is-ingenio.us/t/%5Bgg%5D_Kobato_-_03_%5BABD76E84%5D.mkv.torrent)

----------------
Wow, so many cross-over characters. I seriously thought Kobato would screw things up this time round. When the girl found out, every shot-change I expected a yell/slap or something but it turned out alright, much like the Hot Pot scene. Guess that's to be expected for this show.

I noticed the ED animation's changing already, even if it's simply the addition of one star (or whatever you call those).

[Kraco]

Another failed QC episode. I'm beginning to think gg does this on purpose. What exactly is the purpose, I can't fathom.

A decent episode. I didn't particularly pay attention to cameos, though. I also thought Kobato surely screwed up this one as her approach was so ridiculous. But perhaps it ended up working exactly because of that. It's sweet she seems to earn those candies always without realising it. It makes it look like she genuinely simply wants to make people feel better without any ulterior motives.

The hostile dude is getting funny. How can such a morbid person complain about Kobato working at the kindergarten? It's a small miracle the kids aren't afraid of him. Quite a foul attitude to blame Kobato for the wrongdoings of whoever it was that cheated him in the past.

[RyougaZell]

Another failed QC episode. I'm beginning to think gg does this on purpose. What exactly is the purpose, I can't fathom.
.

I'll wait for Hatsuyuuki. In fact... Im trying to avoid GG's releases as much as possible... the CLAMP-tard in me can't accept non-QC-ed subs :(

[Buffalobiian]

Yeah, about the subs....

WHY THE FUCK CAN'T THEY SPELL THE NAMES EXACTLY AS THEY'RE SPOKEN?!

I mean, switching the surname/given name order I can deal with, since it's justified, but seriously....argh.

You really can't spell faggots without gg.

[shinta|hikari]

I didn't watch the subs, but can you give me an example so I can get an idea of what they actually did/do?

[Buffalobiian]

I didn't watch the subs, but can you give me an example so I can get an idea of what they actually did/do?

Fabricated Example:

On numerous occasions, when someone said "Kobato", the subs said "Hanato", and vice versa.

/end Fabricaed Example. (just because I can't be bothered looking up the ep)

Now apply that to the side characters, such as the girl who got introduced today.

[shinta|hikari]

WTF? What is the point of doing that? There is a particular meaning to calling someone by their last name or first name in Japanese, so changing that is actually changing a lot. Is this some sort of (unnecessarily) westernized subbing method they are espousing?

[Buffalobiian]

Okay, this is what happened at 11:30 (gg release)

Kobato introduced herself as "Hanato Kobato" (subbed as Kobato Hanato)
Girl introduced herself as "Tadokoro Mutsumi" (subbed: Mutsumi Tadokoro.)
Guy walks past and comments on her hair, calling her "Tadokoro" (subbed as Mutsumi)

WTF? Exactly.

This, plus the fact that gg's doing just about every other show this season, makes them look all the more like HorribleSubs#2.

I'm hoping this wasn't intentional, and that the TL just put in whatever name came to mind, while everybody else was too lazy/incompetent to change it. It doesn't make it any better, but still.

[RyougaZell]

Its like when a girl is called 'onee-chan' and the subs put the name of the girl in question.

Yes. Annoying idiotic americanization.

[Kraco]

Plus the numerous typos and more blatant writing errors in the sub that's very unlike the gg quality I got used to it the past. Their subs might have been somewhat mechanical always but Kobato makes them look like Chihiro or something. Although I don't know if Chihiro still keeps making mistakes.

[RyougaZell]

[Hatsuyuki]​_Kobato​_-​_03[848x480][31F1377E].mkv (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=92704)

Im glad I waited for this version.

Mutsumi's plot was short. The focus of the episode was getting Kobato a home and her continuous activities at the nursery. Still good.

Nice to see the Chobits crossover here, even if its an alternate universe. Chise and Chiho equal not to Elda and Freya after all.

Though, I was surprised to see Kohaku and Suichirou at the end. I never expected Kobato to have a cross with Wish (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=1579).

The baker guy is also a recurrent character on Chobits. And even the store where Kobato went to gather info had the Piffle Princess logo.

I guess you need to be a CLAMP fan to notice all this things though.

[Buffalobiian]

lol, and now gg drops QC all together

http://www.ggkthx.org/2009/10/25/qc-has-been-dissolved-as-a-position/#more-964

They make valid points, in which case they should replace the editor, QCer and perhaps even the translator of Kobato for someone else.

[RyougaZell]

Im happy about my decision of seeing Hatsuyuuki's releases then. I just need to find another good one for Kampfer and Sacred BlackSmith. And I guess this shall be another series I won't be discussing, since I'll be waiting for a better sub than half-assed from gg.

Best example goes towards how this thread has only been discussing gg's half-assed job contrary to the show itself. The show didn't seem to have that many fans to begin with...

[Kraco]

I actually already downloaded Yuurisan-Subs' episode 3. I haven't checked it out yet, though, but I will soon to see how it compares to gg's. I'll report back. If it's good, I might just stick to them and not downloaded gg's travesties anymore. I never intended to archive gg's sad attempts in the first place and I don't see much reason to download this series twice.

[Buffalobiian]

I shall watch this until the alternatives' quality is assessed:

gg - Episode 04 (http://t.bt.is-ingenio.us/t/%5Bgg%5D_Kobato_-_04_%5B53DACDB6%5D.mkv.torrent)

-----

Subs weren't so bad this time, though only because the characters each only had one name for gg to play around with this time.

That rabbit always ticked me off in the middle, but if it's going to make regular appearances in the episode too... urgh.

[Kraco]

I changed my subs to Yuurisan-Subs, and I noticed no problems in Episode 4 (http://bt.yuurisan-subs.org/torrents/%5BYuurisan-Subs%5D_Kobato_-_04_%5B945D4683%5D.mkv.torrent). I'll stick to them. I already replaced the earlier episodes.

Watching both this series and Kiddy Girl it's hard to understand how one idiot girl can be so nice to watch and tolerable while the other is totally insufferable. But of course only one of them has Ioryogi with her...

This episode presented a good lesson for Kobato: It's of limited use to "heal" a person who's not broken. But of course she wouldn't be Kobato if she cared for such details. Even with her two first candies she had no idea she was earning them at the time it happened. She just did what she wanted to do.

But she sure likes to meddle.

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuuki and Yuuri-san...which one has a more stable release schedule?

[Nipponsei] Kobato OP Single - Magic Number [Sakamoto Maaya].zip (http://tracker.minglong.org/torrents/%5BNipponsei%5D%20Kobato%20OP%20Single%20-%20Magic%20Number%20%5BSakamoto%20Maaya%5D.zip.tor rent)

[RyougaZell]

That rabbit always ticked me off in the middle, but if it's going to make regular appearances in the episode too... urgh.

Ugh... I was gonna post about the rabbit... but remembered I was already neg repped in this thread for spoiling. I really don't know how much to speak when it comes to CLAMP... many characters appear from other series. Including THE rabbit

Hatsuyuuki episode 4 has been out for a while and I didn't notice. Since the 31st actually.

MKV (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=96184)/ AVI (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=96182)

[Kraco]

Not quite as fast as Hatsuyuki but I don't feel like switching back and forth:

Episode 5 - Yuurisan-Subs (http://bt.yuurisan-subs.org/torrents/%5BYuurisan-Subs%5D_Kobato_-_05_%5BE912C5A9%5D.mkv.torrent)




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Edit: Ooh... Violence in Kobato. Well, aside from Ioryogi's usual methods of punishing Kobato. I didn't foresee the preschool had so deep troubles that small-time yakuza wannabe thugs would be coming to collect debts. Is it all connected to Fujimoto's troubles as well (troubles that have made him such a negative dude), is another question. It could be the dude is working numerous jobs to try to save the preschool from the mafia loan sharks. I initially thought he simple has his own history.

[Kraco]

Baumkuchen:

Episode 6 - Yuurisan-Subs (http://bt.yuurisan-subs.org/torrents/%5BYuurisan-Subs%5D_Kobato_-_06_%5B01DFD64E%5D.mkv.torrent)





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Quite an interesting cake. Though not possible to try at home due to the special equipment required (as was shown also in the episode). Other than the cake, it was a bit darker episode than the ones before, although the night was already falling in the previous episode. I wonder if Ioryogi intends to do even more independently or if he hopes to plan to have Kobato somehow resolve the issue. It doesn't look good in any case. A debt is a debt even if it was a legal scam, and the dude didn't sound like he'd just forget it.

[RyougaZell]

Hatsuyuki 5 480p (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=98905)/ 400p (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=98911)
Hatsuyuki 6 480p (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=100204)/ 400p (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=100202)

[Buffalobiian]

So if the guy can "shut down" the nursery, then it's a proper, legal loan, even if it was unfair or the details were obscure. Normal thugs would be able to come and yell a bit, maybe even throw some red paint around the place, but to have the rights to shut the place down means having some sort of legal leverage to take over the place if the debt isn't settled.

I'm guessing Ioryogi's true form is more like the one-eyed ferret-like thing that attacked him.

[Kraco]

Yeah. I wonder if he was transferred to a stuffed animal body because he, for some reason, decided to stick to Kobato. I guess Kobato is some sort of an outcast or a failure.

The debt must be legal but the process of how it was created must have been shady and anything but fair. I guess the preschool was in need of money for renovations or whatever, and the con man was there suitably to offer a "good" deal to the previous owner who must not have been too money savvy. I wouldn't be surprised if the con man, who is only interested in the land, it seems, would also have tried to frighten parents from bringing their kids to the preschool, ruining their business.

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - Episode 07 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=101528)

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - Episode 08 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=102702)

[Nipponsei] Kobato ED Single - Jellyfish no Kokuhaku [Nakajima Megumi].zip (http://tracker.minglong.org/torrents/%5BNipponsei%5D%20Kobato%20ED%20Single%20-%20Jellyfish%20no%20Kokuhaku%20%5BNakajima%20Megum i%5D.zip.torrent)

[Kraco]

To indicate I'm still watching and liking this:

Episode 7 - Yuurisan-Subs (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=102088)
Episode 8 - Yuurisan-Subs (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=103355)

In terms of the consistency of quality this is one of the better shows this season. I don't really recall a single bad episode or even scene. The characters have also been likable, believable, and interesting enough, provided you didn't have expectations too far off the mark. I also like it when the main character can sing.

Nothing overly much to discuss about in this show, though. Small arcs of single episode don't really privide much fodder for debates and strangely enough the whole kindergarten in jeopardy issue was swept under the carpet in episode 8. Still, I have all the time a feeling something bigger is going to happen in this series. They have even briefly introduced those odd characters with historical connections to Ioryogi. That directly suggests a background that will matter at some point.

[Buffalobiian]

Chise and Chiho are a really cute set of characters. I've never seen Chobbits, but that doesn't lower my enjoyment one bit. I have to wonder at what their father looked like though, since they look nothing like their mum.

Talking about "sweeping things under the carpet", I was expecting the girl from earlier to play some part as well - the girl who was also from heaven that is. So far, all that happened was Kobato organising a date to a theme park.

[RyougaZell]

Chise and Chiho are only look-alikes of Freya and Eruda / Chii, since this two are obviously human. Though they do have the same Mother.

You can call this an 'alternate' universe.

You can look for their father at Angelic Layer though... yes ANOTHER series.

And before I get negged for spoilers... like on the first page... I don't think this qualifies as one since this is an alternate universe.

[Kraco]

Chise and Chiho are a really cute set of characters.

I like how their clothes are colour wise opposite copies.

[Buffalobiian]

[Hatsuyuki]_Kobato_-_09[848x480][48EEB993].mkv (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=104158)

----------------------------

Naachan's design was really cute. Nothing revolutionary I don't think, but she was still gorgeous, both young and current versions.

That strap hunting scene could only be described as over-dramatic. When the music rolled, I broke down in laughter.

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - Episode 10 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=105365)

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - episode 11 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=106193)

[RyougaZell]

I love this cameos.

[Buffalobiian]

I laughed at the beginning of her detective roleplay. She used the magnifying glass like a microphone.

[RyougaZell]

Kobato's cluelessness if very cute indeed.

It was nice to see Yumi and Ueda again btw.

[Kraco]

Kobato's nonchalant way is always truly casual. I enjoy how since the beginning Kobato always seems to screw up yet in the end that and her direct manners impress the people and cause them to open up. They have managed to build her silly personality really well to make that possible.

Ioryogi never ceases to rock. He's like 90% of selfishness and 10% of concern for Kobato.

[RyougaZell]

Kobato 12 Hatsuuyuki (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=torrentinfo&tid=108031)


I hope we'll get to see the Demons too in the future.

[Buffalobiian]

The Demons certainly don't very evil. I suppose here they're just another race rather than the whole power-hungry devour humans type.

I'm ashamed to admit it only just occurred to me that Ioryogi being a stuffed animal with a presumably awesome true form is comparable with the yellow lion from Card Captor Sakura.

His blank expression when Kobato said he was important was the best expression they could have used.

[Kraco]

It seems to me the easiest explanation here would be that Iorogi was forced to accept a deal of coaching Kobato through the bottle filling affair in order to teach him a lesson. From Ginsei and Kuma's speeches you get the impression Iorogi used to be quite a ruthless and single-minded character before.

Now it would be nice to actually learn more about Kobato herself. What is she, even? A celestial, obviously, but quite a miserable case of strange circumstances. Those circumstances would be the big question mark.

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - ep 13v3 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=109742)

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - ep 14 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=111150)

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - Episode 15 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=112472) / 16 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=113188) / 17 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=114614)

[RyougaZell]

I love all this cameos. It makes the CLAMP-freak in me happy.

[Buffalobiian]

I love all this cameos. It makes the CLAMP-freak in me happy.

I'm not a CLAMP-freak, and I only have surface knowledge of their other works, but it makes me smile too when I recognise other characters making visits. I can only imagine how big your grin is.

I played catch-up yesterday, and a few things popped up in my head.

1) that Dr mentioned it's "nice to work once in a while". He drinks tea all day?

2) Fujimoto in a jacket is pretty cool. CLAMP's wardrobe department is still strong I see.

3) I couldn't quite get the name down initially, but Okiura gave off Fye vibes so strongly I can't help but remember it, even with my (recently) unreliable memory.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles comment: The messy hair and constant (fake?) smile were so alike. All it was missing was the hair colour./end-comment

[RyougaZell]

I'm not a CLAMP-freak, and I only have surface knowledge of their other works, but it makes me smile too when I recognise other characters making visits. I can only imagine how big your grin is.

I played catch-up yesterday, and a few things popped up in my head.

1) that Dr mentioned it's "nice to work once in a while". He drinks tea all day?



You would need to read WISH to understand what Shuichiro meant. Though I still can't place where Kobato takes place during the WISH timeline... still seeing Kohaku animated is nice. Wish is one of the few CLAMP stories that never got an animated version.

And your probably already guessed that despite all the Chobits cameos, Kobato takes place in an alternate universe since they aren't... that. And well... after Tsubasa presented all the alternate timelines, I expect CLAMP to abuse them even more. Heck, we even got Watanuki in a way not shown in the animated versions... the post-Tsubasa Watanuki.

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - Episode 18 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=116621), 19 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=116623)

---------------------------

Rather heartwarming episode. You have to feel kind of sorry for Domoto, but that goes for any nnice guy who loses out voluntarily in a love triangle. Especially those who you know only appear to be all fine and happy.

Iloyogi saying what he did while wearing Kobato's reindeer beanie summed up his feelings pretty well. "Picture tells 1000 words" strikes again.

I'd be rather sad if this show finish at 24-26 episodes without any further material.

[RyougaZell]

Hatsuyuki Kobato 20 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=118693)

I absolutely love the cameos. I know Im repeating myself, but I absolutely do.

Don't you Bill? You certainly can place where and when this took place

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki Kobato 20 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=118693)

I absolutely love the cameos. I know Im repeating myself, but I absolutely do.

Don't you Bill?

Most definitely, especially since Fai is my favourite Clamp character to date.

After the episode I actually went back and re-read the last 5 chapters of Tsubasa since I forgot how it all ended, and the fact that their costume was the set they left Clow Country with made me smile somehow.

And Mokona's a girl?! Holy....



------------------------

[Nipponsei] Kobato OST 1 - Haru no Utakata.zip (http://tracker.minglong.org/torrents/%5BNipponsei%5D%20Kobato%20OST%201%20-%20Haru%20no%20Utakata.zip.torrent)

[RyougaZell]

Yes. They may have never animated the full Tsubasa and xxxHOLiC plots, but it made me smile to see post ending-Tsubasa characters and current-arc xxxHOLiC Watanuki make appearences here.

Add all the cameos from Wish and Chobits... this series is already full of cameo. Hope we see a few more characters before this hits the climax.

[Buffalobiian]

Hatsuyuki - Episode 21 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=120360)

[RyougaZell]

That certainly pushed the plot forward. We only have Kobato's wish and destiny to go...

Im happy how this is progressing.

[Buffalobiian]

Kiyokazu's expression was hard to understand. When I saw Kobato's surprised look I thought he'd be tearing up or smilling (or both), be he looked legitimately sad there.

[RyougaZell]

He probably has feelings for Sayaka since she has taken care of him since he was little.

[Buffalobiian]

Yuurisan - episode 22 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=122344), 23 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=122345), 24 (http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=122346)

[Nipponsei] Kobato Original Soundtrack 2 - Sakura Saku Koro.zip (http://tracker.minglong.org/torrents/%5BNipponsei%5D%20Kobato%20Original%20Soundtrack%2 02%20-%20Sakura%20Saku%20Koro.zip.torrent)

I've given up waiting.

[RyougaZell]

Hahaha... I gave up over 2 weeks ago. I already watched the ending but didn't say anything in case you wanted to wait. I'll leave the series on the HDD until Hatsuyuuki releases them to archive them.

Overall I am satisfied with the ending despite one slight plot hole. How come did Kobato's dream was to travel to a time where she could be with Kiyokazu since she didn't know him?

Was she somehow one of his 'students' in the future, died and was sent to the past and her wish was granted to take her into the future of this moment yet the past of her future?

[shinta|hikari]

I think the Kiyokazu in the dream is not the current one. The blond angel did mention that no matter how many reincarnations, the soul remains the same. That means that the current Kiyokazu is a reincarnation of whoever that man was in the dream.

[Buffalobiian]

I think the Kiyokazu in the dream is not the current one. The blond angel did mention that no matter how many reincarnations, the soul remains the same. That means that the current Kiyokazu is a reincarnation of whoever that man was in the dream.

It's a bit of that I think.

To me, what happened was that Kobato's original wish as per contract was to "transcend time to be with the one she loves". She only had vague memories of who she loved since she lost her memories, but it was enough to pinpoint who it was (or was it? We'll never know). That person happened to look like Kiyokazu (and all bets are on that they share the same soul).

So following the agreement, she was granted 4 seasons on Earth to fulfil her contract. During that time, she fell in love with the current Kiyokazu (who most likely shared the same soul as the one in her memories, but this doesn't really matter, save for why she fell in love).

She originally wanted to disappear and simply observe him transiently, but having accepted his Confetti and forced to fulfil the contract, she now must transcend time to be with the one she loves.

Since she now loves Kiyokazu, God sent her to come back in the future.

Also, she disappeared from the current timeline, but was re-inserted further down the track. The fact that only 4-8 years have passed, adjusting for the length of law degrees, yet Kobato seems at least 12 suggests that time was meddled with, fulfilling the "transcending time" section of the contract.

The rabbit returning everyone's memories had a good touch to it, though it also felt a bit like they were "playing" god, manipulating everyone's feelings like that. You have to share some of Ioryogi's resentment towards the Celestial plane.

They didn't explain every detail in the story, such as the war in Heaven etc (a reference for a future CLAMP series perhaps? You know they love these), but there's no deny that the ending was both heart-warming and complete.

[RyougaZell]

Ioryogi's war with heaven was certainly not explained... in fact this anime has an 'original ending' since the manga has yet to finish. Sadly I can't find scans about it... but I head rumors of them visiting other planes.

Though the manga doesn't have many of the crossovers this anime had, save for Chobits. I think adding Wish to the anime was excellent.

Which brings me to the next point... there was already a war dated on Wish, though we didn't see it either, so I guess its not rare for having one here as well.

And I think you and Shinta hit the nail. That Kiyokazu from the dream was most likely another incarnation of him.

I guess it wouldn't have any impact on the characters... but I wonder if returning them their memories of Kobato affected somehow. I mean... they didn't remember her for who knows how many years and then she suddenly reappers on their minds?

[Buffalobiian]

She moved away, and they never saw her till now. That's how things are going to go down I think.

As for the manga... I sure wouldn't mind another CLAMP manga to follow, so I'll go check it out. Do you know which chapter's a good pickup point if you read it?

[RyougaZell]

I'll be blunt Bill. I never found scanlations of Kobato past chapter 2. So if you find them... share them...

EDIT:

Nevermind. I hit the JackPot

http://clampno.lumiere.free.fr/lumiere.html

Not only they have Kobato scans.... they also have CLAMP in WONDERLAND EX Scans. Its a funny small crossover between Kobato, X, Tsubasa and XXXHoLIC

I'll download the scans at home.

[Buffalobiian]

That group seems to be up to Chapter 14, and haven't been doing anything since May 2009.

So I dug a bit more and found two other groups who are up to chapter 21:

http://failmanga.wordpress.com/
http://littlewolf-forumland.com/blog/

I'm willing to bet onemanga and http://www.mangatoshokan.com/read/Kobato/985/1 have streaming available too.

Enjoy.

[RyougaZell]

Onemanga doesn't. But nice find with Mangatoshokan.

I'll read it there. Thanks Bill.