Paripi Koumei

[shinta|hikari]

Best anime of the season.

https://subsplease.org/shows/paripi-koumei/

[DarthEnderX]

Best OP for sure. Which is saying something in a season with Skeleton Knight.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNn9NxZH2Vo

[neflight86]

What's the appeal? I haven't seen yet.

[KrayZ33]

Is this the season to determine the best anime opening of all times?

Seriously, I've never enjoyed listening and watching openings and endings more than this season.

Spy x Family
Skeleton Hero
Paripi Koumei
Kaguya

Maybe I should start watching more shows for more anime openings/endings.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRjLbePQg1o

This is so funny... First Starship Troopers, now this - based.

[shinta|hikari]

What's the appeal? I haven't seen yet.

Koumei from the Romance of 3 Kingdoms dies and gets transported into modern Japan in a young adult body. He then meets a very cute and talented aspiring singer and decides to be her strategist to let her perform at the largest music festival.

[Ryllharu]

For how much the OP gets played up in the meme/youtube world, I expected something a lot catchier like Death Parade's or Flying Witch's (which also featured Eiko's singing VA). Doesn't hold a candle to Date A Live IV's OP. It's good but nothing special.

That said, the rest of the music in the series is on-point and really good for anime. The characters are all very likeable, and you want to root for them. It's still a little surprising they double-cast the singing for Eiko. Hondo Kaede can sing, she's been in idol group anime as well. I guess they wanted someone with better English lyrics experience and more powerhouse performances, like Macross did with Sheryl.

I'm way behind, but I'll catch up. The series is a great cross-section for music fans, Romance of the Three Kingdom fans, and showbusiness series fans.

The club boss is the best character, because he gets it, and he's voiced by KonoSuba Kazuma's VA, so he gets flawless comedic timing down.

[DarthEnderX]

The music isn't really the point of the OP. It's those chill, low-key dance moves.

[Ryllharu]

It's those chill, low-key dance moves.
So the new Chika dance, which was the new Wotakoi dance, which was the new Dimension W dance, which was the new Lucky Star dance, which was the new Haruhi dance. Got it.

I think I dropped a Champloo somewhere. Oh wait, that's lofi to study to.

[DarthEnderX]

So the new Chika dance, which was the new Wotakoi dance, which was the new Dimension W dance, which was the new Lucky Star dance, which was the new Haruhi dance. Got it.Yeah except this is one I can actually do!

[neflight86]

Koumei from the Romance of 3 Kingdoms dies and gets transported into modern Japan in a young adult body. He then meets a very cute and talented aspiring singer and decides to be her strategist to let her perform at the largest music festival.

Much appreciated. I'll pen it in and get back with some thoughts.

[KrayZ33]

For how much the OP gets played up in the meme/youtube world, I expected something a lot catchier like Death Parade's or Flying Witch's (which also featured Eiko's singing VA). Doesn't hold a candle to Date A Live IV's OP. It's good but nothing special.


How are these OPs you mentioned in any way whatsoever "catchy" compared to "a chiki chiki bam bam"?
Or am I looking at different ones.

I mean, maybe they sound good or something but "catchy"?

It's basically "Après-Ski" (catchy, every idiot can sing them, even when fully intoxicated) vs. "normal pop songs" when you compare the ones you just mentioned to this .

[Ryllharu]

It's a matter of expectations, as previously stated.

Might as well be Ichigo 100%'s ED, which was just basic eurobeat.

There's OPs and EDs that you'll always want to watch and listen to, and this isn't one. This OP got massively hyped, and I'm not impressed.

[KrayZ33]

It's a matter of expectations, as previously stated.

Might as well be Ichigo 100%'s ED, which was just basic eurobeat.


I mean, that one would probably get a similar treatment if the show would be somewhat popular now (so people have seen it), rather recent or at least somewhat easy for "foreigners" to sing.
But especially the last part isn't the case.


"Gas Gas Gas", "Deja Vu" or "Running in the 90's" are super easy to sing, A Chiki Chiki Bam Bam (which is 90% of the song basically) too, Ike Ike doesn't strike me as such as well - other than melody at the end of it which is also in another song I've forgotten by now.
[/B]
edit: I'm just saying it's not "catchy" just because it's eurobeat. But it doesn't matter anyway. I just thought the term used was weird.

edit2: Vengaboys! Ha - I remembered!

[Buffalobiian]

The OP is good because the visuals are wacky and the dance is goofy. The song is catchy but probably not something I'll listen to regularly on Foobar after the season ends.

Have you guys played this song since Carole & Tuesday ended? I haven't either, but damn it's catchy, wacky and hilarious still.

But it's not on my playlists like these are years after the original show finished.
Moonlight Densetsu (https://youtu.be/LGQCPOMcYJQ)(Sailor moon),
Macross (https://youtu.be/I4aQQBLokNo)/Runner (https://youtu.be/KuVCJ84aZT0),
Shangri-La (https://youtu.be/EXil8hmTM-Y)/Separation (https://youtu.be/zB2J_59Ahik)(Fafner),
Just Communication (https://youtu.be/oNJ4aBoRipg)(Gundam Wing) or
Take Me Higher (https://youtu.be/pkym1nwKXF4)(Ultraman Tiga)


https://youtu.be/S-PWTsc0lC8

[KrayZ33]

Oh my, that made me look up my youtube playlist and I can't believe how many anime or JRPG/Japanese game songs I have in my playlist.
I didn't think it would be that many... I know that I have quite a few AMVs in it. But lots of BGM and OPs as well.
I mean, I listen to them every other day when I go to sleep... but still.
And this season added 3 songs as well.

I think the oldest one with actual lyrics is the Spice & Wolf opening in my list....that one is just too well done.

Shangri-la is a good one btw. I remember that I had it in my playlist as well for a while.

But you know what else is still a banger and in my playlist? Scanty & Kneesocks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLnubQ3Ekjs&list=PL4F79A4F5E4BB0648)

[shinta|hikari]

I have songs from Yu Yu Hakusho, Rekka no Honou, Rurounikenshin, Slam Dunk, and even some older mecha ones like Voltes V, Daimos, Combattler V, etc. in my playlist. My playlist is 5000+ anime songs last time I checked. I just have it on all shuffle when driving.

[DarthEnderX]

Let's see, I have a Naruto playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV5aK0rXWUNXQHgYj3fJDXJTpZaAgQMy9), a Fairy Tail playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV5aK0rXWUNX6dF9hlpDLfT1I2AW1J2wa) and a misc anime playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV5aK0rXWUNWhKCik8dU6KuGxD12B8xJu).

[Buffalobiian]

Episode 07

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





Let's see how far into superstition this goes. Hopefully not too far.

That said, I didn't expect that girl to be the masked rival singer.

[Ryllharu]

I was just happy to see her using a cajón.

The producer's words were right, and Zhuge Liang knew for sure he would say that to her. Eiko's issue isn't with lacking her own voice. It's confidence in herself. He knows he can't convince Eiko she is a good as he believes she is, she'll just undermine herself from other people's words. Eiko has to be reminded why she started singing and own it.

She knows what she wants to do with her singing (save people the same way she was saved by a powerful singer), and she already has her own voice to do so, and even her own songs.

Kabetaijin needs the same treatment. He doesn't have to shout down other rappers with force, he's a natural freestylist, as we saw in our introduction to him. He can react to Sekitoba with that kind of soft power.

[neflight86]

1-7

Took longer than I'd have liked, but I caught up. I would have hit it earlier if I know this was the P.A. Works show of the season. It doesn't feel like it, because it is a little more anime than they typically animate. Eiko is the only one to get comical expressions, it seems. Kongming is an interesting character in a more likeable gary-stu kind of way, but the show doesn't revolve around his success, so it isn't grating at this point.

The stratagems and soul searching are entertaining, but can drag a little if the feelings aren't intrinsic or relatable to your own personal struggle. The character interactions remain a strong point and the music is enjoyable. This show alone provides the doctor recommended dose of engrish for this entire season. A good watch so far.

[Ryllharu]

I would have hit it earlier if I know this was the P.A. Works show of the season. It doesn't feel like it, because it is a little more anime than they typically animate.
P.A. Works has always been very consistent at adaptations, and they're good at them.

It is their original stuff that is Great or Garbage, leaning more toward the latter lately.

[neflight86]

8

Even the training arc is cute. Feel goods all around, and I hope they don't try to make some overly dramatic reveal that her new friend is the masked singer in the rival group. I prefer the positive vibes.

[DarthEnderX]

9

---

That's like 2 episodes now with no Kongming. This sucks.

[Ryllharu]

Nanami announcing who she was in an honest and completely unenthusiastic but ultimately unintentionally threatening manner was a great way of handling that kind of reveal. So much better than the usual way those kind of things go.

I guess it makes more sense why Nanami refuses to leave the group either. Her high school friends are the other members, and she can't leave them since she's the group's center without betraying them. Nanami probably could go anywhere (she can play two parts of the rhythm section after all), but her friends probably can't. The money and success changed them all, and while Nanami found her way again thanks to Eiko, she can't bring herself to stab her friends in the back. Her struggling backstory reminded Eiko of why she wants to sing, and why Zhuge Liang fell for the conviction in her voice immediately.

I do love that this and Birdie Wing both have these wonderful supportive rivalries this season. This just has two of them at the same time. Still kinda annoying that Kabe doesn't realize Sekitoba wants him to succeed as much as his underpass local friends do.

[Buffalobiian]

I didn't actually recognise how revealing that group's costume was until it was shoved in my face.

Nanami now just needs to lose to Eiko formally, then her group +/- manager will change directions.

[neflight86]

10

Too bad they did the cut-away dream in place of another musical performance, but the point is received.

Like Ryll said, Sekitoba is totally a Taijin fan! On that note, I wonder how a rapper is supposed to elevate her music, in the long run? There's not much genre overlap in their art styles, is there?

[DarthEnderX]

Too bad they did the cut-away dream in place of another musical performanceNo, I appreciate the HELL out of that. They're saving revealing the full song to the audience until the climax. Which is WAY better than listening to the same song 5 times in 2 episodes like they did a couple episodes back.

[David75]

10

Too bad they did the cut-away dream in place of another musical performance, but the point is received.

Like Ryll said, Sekitoba is totally a Taijin fan! On that note, I wonder how a rapper is supposed to elevate her music, in the long run? There's not much genre overlap in their art styles, is there?

Eminem enters the room ? I mean at the time somerhing happened to a part of the rap scene. Good or bad in the long run is left to anyone appreciation.
Rap battles feel like boxing. Everything from hard training, stamina, technique is well known. But when you like it, you stil go to the match and get the enjoyment from so many details you learn to pick. Then Mike Tyson enters the ring.

[neflight86]

....I don't follow? I just assumed that since her style of singing doesn't incorporate rapping, that it won't improve her style of music, or in this case, the 100k challenge.


No, I appreciate the HELL out of that. They're saving revealing the full song to the audience until the climax. Which is WAY better than listening to the same song 5 times in 2 episodes like they did a couple episodes back.

I forgot that this is a new song she made. That makes sense. I was thinking that the point was just that she got generically better at singing. Must have happened when she covered the other song for Kid 2 eps ago; I forgot all about her original song even though they specifically mentioned it this ep.

[Buffalobiian]

Episode 11


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













This was the first engaging episode in a while. Music aside, this show's really about Koumei's schemes. The music is secondary. The whole Nanami thing was fine, but I had to binge that in one go instead of getting pulled weekly.

[Ryllharu]

I wish they hadn't stopped the Azalea count at 98,000. When it is that close, people seeing the post will still Like it incidentally, even if there's rumors it is a scam. Azalea has a much higher production level and web presence. If it had stalled at 85,000 or something, I'd be less irked by the cliche of stopping a bomb at 0:01.

On the other hand, the rest of the episode was really enjoyable, and finally felt like they stopped stretching stuff out. Hijacking Azalea's advertising was a really smart idea, and Kabe makes sense now too. He's there to diss Nanami and pause their show, letting Eiko take the 100k crown first. It was also probably Kabe's best rap in the show so far.

I did figure that the whole plan was to simply get Eiko the 100k first, knowing that they can't really stop Azalea's industry machine. But I also figured they were just going to have Eiko post at like 9am and start spreading it all day, thus beating Azalea's 2pm push.

It sounds like Zhuge Liang has a much harsher, crueler plan to actually fracture and ruin Azalea, but he elected not to use it because Eiko and Nanami became friends.

[DarthEnderX]

This was the first engaging episode in a while. Music aside, this show's really about Koumei's schemes.Agreed. The back half of the season focused too much on the idol story I don't give a shit about.

[Ryllharu]

Episode 12 (end)

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


Well, if it was going to be a particular time, I'm glad this happened at the last episode. This series finally lost me, and slipped past suspension of disbelief.

There's no way, given how this episode started, and how close Azalea was to hitting 100k (they were not even 2,000 away and Eiko was at 30k to go) that EIKO would beat AZALEA. Hostile crowd thanks to Kabe, required Nanami to settle them down, and honestly, I expected more energy behind a song that was hyped up so much and produced in-universe by the series' Steve Aoki stand-in. It's very timid for an EDM song.

Let's also be honest. Eiko's singing VA, 96neko, is very good. But Nanami's singing VA, Lezel, is definitely the stronger singer. She was singing intentionally below her full capability with the Underworld song last episode, and they made the Eiko/96neko version better singing at her full capacity. But then switch to the "reborn AZALEA" song and Lezel blew Eiko's signature song out of the water. Completely discounting musical style between the two songs, Nanami's singer vocalist has better control, better range, and more power behind her voice.

Azalea's fans were really not at all far behind, and were not going to fall for the "They're the fakes!" play for that much longer, given how creepy-detailed Nanami's two superfans are (which is pretty realistic). They could easily make up the gap before Eiko even finished singing the second verse.

This episode played into my gripes about the previous episode, and then doubled down on those poor aspects of a story stretched just a little past where it should have for drama.

[neflight86]

Didn't even realize this was the last episode...

They tied it up, I guess, but this wasn't a very satisfying story, all said and done. The theme of people saving the world via their music is just diametrically opposed to my personal sensibilities, so every time it is in anime I can only really enjoy it when laughing at the absurdity of its drama like some big meme where the characters commit to the bit, so to speak.

The whole likes showdown and such was just so fanciful that I just turned my critical thinking off to enjoy the scene and its mediocre music (j-pop/rock is not my taste). This unfortunately oversteered into a happy non-ending where nothing of real consequence has transpired over the last twelve episodes. At least we got a catchy OP for the history books.

[DarthEnderX]

WHY did we spend all that time on Kabe? He didn't even DO anything!

I thought Eiko's song was gonna have, like, a rap breakdown in the middle or something.

[Buffalobiian]

Yeah Kabe's role is dubious. I don't know if he was supposed to be used more in Koumei's more sinister plan.