Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (TV)

[shinta|hikari]

Right now, the "Koutetsujou" (Dammit, I really wish they translated this as Steel Castle/Fortress, because that's how the kanji reads and it's much cooler than alien language to English speakers) is a really cool setting. It reminds me of the movie Snowpiercer, where everyone has to survive inside a train. I also like the term hayashiro (fast castle) for trains in general. It really fits the setting and the purpose of the vehicles in light of the zombie apocalypse.

Their train is pretty much ok though. With two Kabaneris guarding them, zombie mobs should be no problem. The problem is when elite zombies show up, and they will. They always do in zombie stories.

[MFauli]

Dear god, so is everyone in here watching this supposedly terrible Anon-subs version? How bad is it? It´s so hard to wait >_<

[shinta|hikari]

It's not terrible at all. There's just Chinese subs behind the English ones, which is easily ignored.

[Ryllharu]

Dear god, so is everyone in here watching this supposedly terrible Anon-subs version? How bad is it? It´s so hard to wait >_<

Really just shinta and Buff. The rest of us apparently have a minimum threshold when it comes to standards.

I can wait.

[shinta|hikari]

Just because of some Chinese text? It's no big deal. At least check the first few seconds out to see if you can't endure it.

[MFauli]

Watched it :P And the subs are fine, other than the silly non-translation of some japanese words.

I liked that they explained the girl´s abilities in this episode. My mind already went "ugh, this pretty young girl better not be stronger than all those samurai just because".

The way these people treat infected is off-putting. It´s not like the transformation is instant, so when Ikoma saved the passengers from the kabane, they could have been a little bit more grateful.

What I wonder the most, though, is how this show will keep its sense of danger. Sure, the kabane ARE dangerous, but we´re already at the point where a single character can take out dozens of them by herself. We now also have the immune hero. And the girl is definitely not the only kabaneri. So, to keep the threat level up, there needs to be more. My guess is that there are irregular kabane ... and that´s where the Attack on Titan-comparison reaches 100% :P

[shinta|hikari]

Irregular enemies didn't start with SnK. It's unfair to use that as ammo to compare the two. Even then, Kabaneri is winning at this point.

[Kraco]

Mumei can only operate for a couple of minutes before she needs to sleep, so even the mob can get her if she can't hide somewhere safe when the time comes. Ikoma isn't a killing macine like she, at least not yet. In fact I'd prefer it if he divided his time between fighting and developing his weapon (or weapons). And possibly trying to change the world since he seems to have that kind of a disposition.

But damn it's a pity the holier than thou ponytail dude didn't get bitten. Although he probably tastes so bad that maybe the zombies wouldn't even want to bite him.

This certainly looks like one of the keeper shows of this season.

[shinta|hikari]

I bet you he will, later on. Poetic justice ftw.

[Kraco]

I bet you he will, later on. Poetic justice ftw.

And then Ikoma saves him? I bet the dude still wouldn't feel ashamed of being ungrateful.

[MFauli]

Is there now episode this week? I only know that HS decided to be lazy last week. What´s with episode 3?

[shinta|hikari]

Earthquake and Chinese episode.

[Ryllharu]

Ikoma seems more "developed" as a kabaneri than Mumei.

I'd guess his infection progressed to completion despite him stopping it at his head. Mumei's glowing heart isn't just smaller because she's a tiny woman, but because it didn't quite finish. This would explain why she has to stop and sleep and her face/skin start to shine, because she's expending effort in pushing it back down. The longer she exerts herself without rest, the worse it would get, and her ribbon isn't on the same level as Ikoma's strangler-collar.

Sometimes Ayame seems wussy and weak, but other times she has a classic level of strength and composure. I like her character more because of that. She's helpless compared to her peers, but has a degree of calm stoicism to contrast the flippant Mumei, raging Ikoma, and dumbass-authoritarian ponytail guy.

[shinta|hikari]

Doesn't anyone remember ponytail's name? Don't cheat by googling.

[Ryllharu]

Obviously we mentally blocked it out. I know Ayame says it very clearly in this episode.

[MFauli]

Earthquake and Chinese episode.

No chinese episode, yet :/

[NeoCybercoin]

Ep 4 is out.

Guess they need blood to survive. They got it easier now. No more food and water. Just plain ol' blood.
Also, never really listened to it but I love the song the play at the end..

[Buffalobiian]

Episode 3 was like God's gift to Shinta. Waki all episode.

I was actually slightly entertained by the idea that Kurusu could die this episode. They managed to partially redeem him by making him noble, even if narrow minded.

These were some good Ayame development episodes. She's a spiritual leader through and through. Luckily for her she had some loyal men who stuck around long enough for her to earn her leadership.

I'm actually not too annoyed if she pairs up with Ikoma instead of Mumei. They're both good.

Guess they need blood to survive. They got it easier now. No more food and water. Just plain ol' blood.

I'm going to guess that Kabane blood doesn't count.

[shinta|hikari]

Well yeah. Because if it did, the kabane would be chowing on each other and not humans.

These kabaneri are efficient. Just a few drops of blood and they go full power.

The waki was cool and all, but they lacked detail. Detail is important in waki. It can't just be some empty white space. That's no different from a butt cheek, or a nippleless boob. Meh.

Mumei's character is a bit hard to place, but I guess that means she isn't too tropey, which is a good thing. She looks cute when asleep. I'm not a fan of her crown accessory in her battle outfit. The miniskirt kimono she had on in the first episode was by far the better attire.

The fight against the skilled zombie was a letdown. I wish they saved a bit more budget for the boss fight. Taking down the fodder on top of the train didn't matter as much in the bigger picture, but that was animated way better. Even ponytail dude's fight looked better than Ikoma's boss battle.

Ayame is such an idiot. So many people died because she was weak and let go of leadership to a no name dumbass. However, that might all be part of her plot to shave off the population on the train to have enough food and water for everyone. In that case, she might be more awesome than we all think.

[Buffalobiian]

Ayame is such an idiot. So many people died because she was weak and let go of leadership to a no name dumbass. However, that might all be part of her plot to shave off the population on the train to have enough food and water for everyone. In that case, she might be more awesome than we all think.

She could never do that.