Kanon (2006)

[kooshi]

Yes, Kaori's very small talk with Shiori after the cafe party was EXTREMELY weak. I was really hoping that it would be executed so much better, but it just ended up as a disappointment. However, everything else was completely fine with me.
Regardless of this arc easily being my favorite, I admit that it's the weakest in terms of story and character development (there, I said it, haha). Makato had the happiness = death situation, Mai was tormented by her past, but Shiori just had a simple "I'm going to die at this time, so I'm going to do what I have left." Very simple compared to what we've seen so far, but it's something that we can all probably relate to the easiest. Well... technically, you can relate to pretty much any story, but you know what I mean... hopefuly, haha.
I'm very tired at the moment, so I may have rambled nonsense somewhere in there. I'm prepared for flaming, haha.

[shinta|hikari]

Miracles are called miracles because they dont happen. What Yuuichi said was bull shit. I cant really blame someone for not having hope when there is none. Honestly, what can she even try to change? That is aksi what maeks her situation so heartbreaking, since no matter how she tried, she would be unable to achieve anything. Mai killing herself to maintain friendships doesnt make sense. When your dead, its over, She just couldnt take it anymore, so she tried to get out. (I like that part though, still self revival was just weird)

True, the reconciliation was kind of weak, that is why I never even mentioned it.

But as Yukimura said, it is the difference between the gush of emotions and the gradual current, and the again, the reason I like it the best is how they delivered usch an obvious cliche plot so well. The other stories were in themselves great, but this one just surprised me.

[Ryllharu]

Mai killing herself to maintain friendships doesnt make sense. When your dead, its over, She just couldnt take it anymore, so she tried to get out. (I like that part though, still self revival was just weird)

Mai was killing herself without actually knowing that's exactly what she had been while killing the 'demons'. She never knew that she was killing herself off, but subconsciously, she was fighting against what didn't make her fit in. In the flashback, she had come to the false conclusion that her powers had driven off Yuuichi, and that is what started her subconscious exorcism of her own powers.

In that manner, she was figuratively "killing herself" (hence all the bruises she had developed) in order to be able to make friends and fit in. She just didn't realize the side effects. That's what made Mai's arc so tragic. Fortunately though, it could end happily after she forgave herself.

I'll admit I wrote it somewhat ambiguously before.

[Kraco]

Mai's decision to perform the seppuku was also rational in the sense that she finally believed Yuuichi, when he told she had created the demons herself. So, the easiest way to get rid of the demons once and for all was to kill herself. Much easier than try to suddenly change what she had been for ten years. It wasn't that easy to throw away the sword that had been the meaning of her life for a long time, and again start to believe in people and friendship that she thought had abandoned her a long time ago.

Mai's arc is simply masterful and beautiful, if you understand it fully.

[shinta|hikari]

Ah, you were referring to the demon extermination thing. It was a bit vague so I though you were referring to the actual suicide. I agree on that point, that was indeed a superb factor of Mai's arc.

Kraco - that was the scene I refered to, and there Mai chose to end her life to solve the problem, the easy way as you said.

Im not saying Mai's arc was not amazing. Mai is my favorite character, and her arc is probably my favorite so far as well. But the resurrection kind of downed it for me. I consider Shiori's arc the best arc for what I believe to be an objective sense of judgement on my part. Best is of course not equal to favorite, at least for me.

EDIT: just thought I should be clear on this. my criteria for judging is actually based more on the delivery, rather than the story itself, since I have watched the previous Kanon and know most of the story. What impresses me about Kanon2000 is its amazing way of telling the story, and of course the impressive lines and interactions of the characters. If I include the story itself as part of the criteria, then no doubt Mai has the best arc so far, and probably til the end.

[Kraco]

Generally speaking I'm not the greatest fan of resurrections, either. Moreover, I feel in every great story some good guys must die as well (in those stories where people die at all, at least. Though we have had deaths already in Kanon). However, with Mai's case, I disagree. This is because Yuuichi is the main character of this series, and the premise of the show is how Yuuichi basically forms anew friendships he had forgotten for some reason a long time ago. Well, at least that's how I feel it, and not just him objectively remembering again what he had forgotten. He's not that kind of guy, as is demonstrated by how he's always helping people (or girls at least).

And with Mai that happened only after she had stabbed herself. Maybe from Yuuichi's point of view already earlier, but not from Mai's. And I judge for a friendship you need both parties consenting. When Mai again accepted Yuuichi as her friend, she was healed for she also accepted her powers once again. That's why I think her death would have left something lacking, because it would have dropped the power - that was the core of her isolation - out of the picture without explanations.

[shinta|hikari]

I get the point about the necessity of the resurrection. But I think if they handled it well, there can be a better ending. I just feel it was odd, killing yourself because of your powers one moment, and then suddenly realizing and accepting your powers then reviving the next. I maybe would have preferred Yuuichi diving in and getting stabbed instead, then Mai accepting her powers and Yuuichi's friendship to save him. It would give Mai a better reason for suddenly accepting herself, rather than the sudden change that was presented.

Resurrecting by healing yourself is just silly. That makes Mai immortal (excluding old age, maybe).

Still, even with this, Mai is still my favorite.

[Kraco]

Let's keep walking forward, with Shiori's dimming star lighting our memories if not the path anymore.

Episode 19 h264 - SS-Eclipse
Episode 19 xvid - SS-Eclipse

[NeoCybercoin]

What would my Friday be with Kanon? Great episide. Nayuki looked good when running. Prolly cuz the ponytail made her look like Mai. Her nearly drowning while washing her face made me go lol. And I nearly cried when Yuuchi began to realise that Shiori was gone. Didn't expect them to kiss though.

[Kraco]

Yeah. This was a bit different episode in my opinion compared to most of the previous ones, because this didn't actually contain, at least directly, so many sad things. I tend to think this series's plot has two aspects: Yuuichi regaining lost memories and also the normal progression and character development. The latter aspect is often somewhat shadowed, because Yuuichi is the guy who keeps sacrificing his own time (and money) to solve other people's problems. However, this episode has lots of it, as demonstrated most forcefully by the kiss. It was indeed something I didn't quite see coming, either. Perhaps because Ayuayu all the time behaves like a kid, so it's hard to imagine her in a mature (well, relatively speaking) romantic relationship, pretty much like Yuuichi's buddy said (whatever was his name).

[Yukimura]

While it wasn't as sad as the last few eps it still made my day just like all the previous eps. I was completely taken off guard by the kiss, the tension was there but Ayu just registered so much as a child to me that I never really thought they'd get romantic. But things can only get more awesome from here.

[shinta|hikari]

That kiss was so weird. Its Ayu's fault for being such a kid, and Yuuichi's for being a loli-con.

No wait, loli-con relationships are fine, but I just didnt picture Yuuichi being one.

The first comment kind of degraded my own existence as a loli-god so I added the next one.

[kooshi]

Nobody really said that Shiori is dead, although I think that it is most likely the case. I would really like some confirmation from one of her family members.

The talk between Nayuki and Yuuichi, I practically screamed, "CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!!' when she was describing him. However, I find it a little sad how she has given up on him.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting Yuuichi to kiss someone this early. I would've thought that it was going to be much closer to the ending. The even bigger surprise is that he chose Ayu. Like everyone else has been saying, she resembles a little kid so much that it's pretty unexpected for this to happen.

[shinta|hikari]

I think it was pretty obvious that he would choose Ayu. She had the most screen time among the girls, and in general, those with the most screen time win.

[Bucket]

Well, the fact that the relationship thing was "resolved" six episodes before the end is a pretty ominous sign. I think it's pretty obvious what Ayu is and of course the writers have already constructed a way to make everything go south.

[RyougaZell]

w00t... back from my vacations at Shreveport-Bossier... just saw this eps alongside Naruto and Bleach... but anyways...

great great episode for me... it felt really deep for me... Nayuki's description of the 'boy' she liked was perfect
and I do not think Shiori is dead yet... his friend said Kaori said she was doing fine, I just think he broke down thinking the worst or something.
I believe he did have feelings for Shiori, Makoto and Mai, but the ones for Ayu are stronger... and besides... I believe all this flashbacks are actually his dreams, not just sequences to show their previous friendship like some, not from her though, would think

[shinta|hikari]

Shiori isnt dead yet. Yuuichi broke down realizing that she WILL die.

He had feelings for the others, but not romantic feelings, unfortunately for them.

Only Ayu won that one, for the sheer fact of her being loli.

[Kraco]

Kiss, kiss...

Episode 20 h264 - SS-Eclipse
Episode 20 xvid - SS-Eclipse

Edit: Things are certainly in motion now. And also the main arc. Or what I'd define as the main arc, because Ayu turned out to be the girl chosen by Yuuichi. And also Ayu has pretty much been there since the beginning, unlike most of the girls who just had their restricted time in the spotlight. And well, the ending, not so far away anymore, obviously needs to conclude the main story... Like Yuuichi's lost memories.

[NeoCybercoin]

So....I take it that Ayu is dead or something? Because she just went "Poof"

So I don't know if she is a ghost or just something made up by Yuuichi instead. And poor Nayuku, she is being completely ignored.

[Yukimura]

If my angel theory is correct then Ayu's not dead, she's merely airborne again. I figured she'd lost or given up her wings to be with Yuuichi, who then left (maybe his memory loss was caused by the other angels of something). Anyway, I'm not sure why seeing the cut doen tree made her decide to stop pretending and leave but I think we'll find out soon enough.