Kurenai

[Munsu]

First episode of Kurenai released by BSS:
http://tracker.anirena.com/download.php?id=5595
http://tracker.anirena.com/download.php?id=5610

I liked the first episode, though I think the characters are somewhat weak. It seems to me that the series has some shoujo/josei tendencies, and I think that's what putting me off. But at the same time it seems to have some shounen-harem tendencies... That aside, the action scenes look well animated so I'll keep watching for the time being. So far it seems like a Aishiteruze Baby with action.

Talking about animation, this is being animated by Brains Base, and I'm quite enjoying what they've been doing lately. Plot aside, I really enjoy how they animate the characters and action sequences... some series of note: Baccano!, Ayakashi Ayashi, Juuousei, Kikoushi Enma, and Innocent Venus.

Based on a light novel series by Katayama Kentarou, illustrated by Yamamoto Yamato.

Based on a series of light novels, Kure-nai is about the adventures and misadventures of 16-year-old Shintaro Kurenai. Shintaro is an authority in settling disputes between people, and is one day approached by Murasaki Kuhouin, the daughter of a powerful plutocratic family, asking him to be her bodyguard.

http://www.samidareso.com/
http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl...anime&aid=5535
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/ency...me.php?id=8518

[animus]

I was under the impression that Murasaki would be way more bratty and annoying, and I'm glad that hasn't been the case. She actually kinda makes my heart melt.

[Munsu]

Well, here's episode 2... hopefully it'll be a good one with some good amount of action:
http://tracker.anirena.com/download.php?id=5724

[Yukimura]

Kure-nai - 02 (704x400 h264) - [BSS]

In other news this show is awesome so far, I found myself laughing quite a bit at the beginning with the light hearted stuff, but then they abruptly tossed a darker element I hadn't sen coming at all. This dark element gives the story somewhere interesting to go once the "omg the little girl is so cute an innocent" angle wears thin.

Also the animation and voice acting are doing a good job of making the characters believable and compelling. I'm very glad I decided to check this one out it, if it keeps up like this it may make my favorites list.

[Munsu]

Well, this certainly was a great episode in my opinion... the dialogue is fast and quite good, and the action scene at the end of the episode I thought it was well done. Murasaki is quite awesome.

By the way, what do you think he has on his arm? Any good theories? And as said above, the VAs for this series have been quite good... but I have to say that a lot of the credit has to go to the writers and directors because the dialogue lines have been quite good, with the amount of quick lines and back-and-forth between the characters.

[animus]

I'm really liking this series. A good mix of slice of life, with a bit of dark intrigue.

edit: Next episode also looks to be an interesting one.

[Kraco]

During the first ep I was thinking Murasaki seems too mature for such a little girl, but now with this second episode I realise she just couldn't relax and be herself yet. I'm very happy she now acts her age (and reminds me of Aishiteru ze Baby, only in a darker way).

This looks better and better. And I get the impression Kurenai has some weird symbiote as his right arm. It seems to disfigure from time to time, gets excited on its own, and he speaks to it.

[animus]

It probably happened in that accident where his parents died. All we see during those flashbacks are him grasping at something with his left arm, whereas his right arm probably could've been crushed and had whatever happened to it then.

[Kraco]

Slice of life and slicing life:

Episode 3 HD - BSS
Episode 3 SD - BSS

[animus]

Wow, I would've hit Shinkurou and spit in his hair too if he was such a fucking wuss like that.

[Kraco]

That was a strange scene. It would have clearly been enough if he had just fetched Murasaki away from there. The whole apologising and bowing part seemed useless extra. While this is certainly not the first time I've seen such scenes in anime/manga, and it's somehow a part of the culture, I can't really see what purpose it served, especially in front of some random punks. The lesson to the little girl should have been to stay away from such folk and not to cause extra trouble, but I'm far from sure losing your own pride appropriately taught such a lesson...

[shinta|hikari]

Thats not the point. The whole thing tried to develop Shinkurou as a character, showing what kind of life he has led, and what it had made him to be, in this case, someone who sacrifices pride to avoid trouble. If he didn't apologize, a fight would have ensued considering the situation. Its not a good thing necessarily, but that is who he is.

[Kraco]

So, you are saying he just plainly sucks and likes to suck? Well, I guess that's the simplest explanation, and simplest explanations are usually the most beautiful ones, but not in this case... It's always bothersome when the main character sucks. It was said he's the kind of simple guy who becomes very happy when he's complimented, so I guess evidence does support the claim he's a sucker, but I'd still want to retain some small hope he was just trying to teach Murasaki a lesson. It wouldn't be the first time such a method has been used to teach a lesson in anime.

[shinta|hikari]

I'm not sure how you interpreted my post as him simply sucking, but that is not what I meant. I attributed this quality to his past, which has made him what he is now. If you notice, he has a certain lack of concern about his own well being, especially when it comes to doing his job (in this case, keeping Murasaki out of harms way). This pride issue is simply a part of that. I'm sure it will be elaborated on later.

About him teaching Murasaki a lesson, while it is possible, from his facial expression I kind of doubt it.

[Death13a]

He probably didn't wanted any fighting because it could involve many people. So he took most safest rout to end confrontation. i think he can only beat people senseless keeping back only just enough not to kill or being split on, he doesn't know moderation.

[Kraco]

I still disagree. He could have simply called Murasaki back, or if she had disobeyed, gone there and drag her away (with a one word apology, perhaps). It didn't look to me like even those punks much enjoyed the confrontation with a loser Shinkurou. So, if he had removed Murasaki right away, I bet with 90% certainty the punks would have forgotten the whole thing ever happened. So, the bowing and apologising part did nothing but lenghten the whole process that nobody was enjoying.

If he was not a loser with no pride, he could have ended it quickly and with style, but since he's a sucker with zero pride, he felt like he needed to affirm having no pride by doing what he did, with the spitting, accepting a hit, and everything. Or he was teaching Murasaki a lesson. This isn't easy enough a series to learn an absolute answer so simply, though.

[shinta|hikari]

90 percent certainty based on what? He was calling Murasaki back to no avail. Indeed it was his fault he did not stop her before it got worse, but that precedes the issue of him apologizing after the fact. Murasaki had already said very insulting things to the punks, so I doubt they would simply ignore her at that point. If he just took Murasaki and turned around, the punks will probably grab him back and fight with him. At least that is what I think.

Unfortunately, there is no sure way to tell how the punks would have reacted because it never happened. This being the case, we can't really be sure if Shinkurou did the right thing or not.

I do agree that Shinkurou is not a saint, or the typical admirable character, but neither is he a loser with no pride that you make him out to be. It is just that his values differ from the usual, but it was still an act with consideration to the situation. I personally believe that this gives depth to his character and makes him a bit more interesting, but this is a point of preference.

[Kraco]

As far as I remember that scene anymore, he was just stupidly sitting in his chair, looking at Murasaki give a lecture to the punks as if it had nothing to do with him. Now, what the hell was he even thinking at that point? He was hired to take care of her in the first place, so why didn't he go after her the first moment he noticed she started to badmouth some violent punks? The punks themselves didn't want to argue with a little kid, if you have a relook at the scene. If at that point Shinkurou had quickly fetched her away, nothing would have happened. Things started to get bad because he went in so late that one of the dudes (or two already? I don't remember) was already standing.

You know, if you show a dog you are afraid, it will only encourage the dog to become even more bold. If he had just coolly walked there, grabbed the girl and said "sorry about that" and walked away when the punks were still just being annoyed and surprised by being lectured by a little kid, they would have likely just forgotten it ever happened. That's what I meant with the 90%. But he went there like a weakling and started that whole submissive apologetic behavior that served little purpose.

I don't know. Maybe he has some problems because his work oft includes beating people up. Maybe he feels he needs to be roughed up himself, sometimes, to retain his karma or something. If it's like that, he should just drop the kind of work he's doing because it'll only get worse for him before long. It would likely make him an alcoholic sooner or later, so that he could forget what he's doing.

[shinta|hikari]

I agree with the first paragraph. Like I said in the last post, he really did come in late. All of it could have been avoided had he intervened earlier.

But the apologetic behavior is necessitated by the already aggravated situation. If he acted as you described when the two punks were already standing, a fight would have ensued (which is probably what he wanted to avoid the most). At that point, such an apology was necessary to avoid further conflict.

These two acts should be seen as separate. While he is at fault for the first one, the second one is simply a matter of choice. To fight, or to swallow your pride and avoid it. He doesn't really care about the punks or their future actions (that is simply the type of character he is), and neither does he care about playing hero (as seen from his attitude with the old lady). It is not a matter of his desire to be punished for his type of work, but rather the apathetic attitude that he has gained because of it (this is what I was trying to say about his past). He has probably had a lot happen to him that forced him to ignore personal pride for something else, something more valuable to him.

I am not saying I agree with his attitude, just that with his objective, that apology is probably the best way to achieve it at that time.

[animus]

The apology might've been right, but taking a hit from a bunch of punks and them spitting your hair is another issue I couldn't take.