信じられますか

Wow…I don’t even know if I can write objectively about this series…should I even try? At least I’m glad that episodes come out on fridays, ensuring that I will always be up-to-date in the episode count.

To put it in simplest terms, this was 24 minutes and 9 seconds of pure bliss. Every second I was giddy from watching it, from the first two seconds of the stunning animation of just a train, to the love and eff0rt Kyoto Animation put into this Nayuki-centric episode…I can’t remember the last time I was this happy. Kanon just makes me forget the troubles of a stressful week (and a calculus exam failure…), so even the time slot of this series…everything just clicks with me. I have no doubt that by the end of this series, Kanon will hold a special place in my heart.

Shall we begin with episode commentary then?

That first minute, of Nayuki arriving late. I still remember when I saw that in the original (around Jan 2006). ah, the nostalgia pours in…

The original OP, Florescence, wasn’t bad. Last Regrets is nice as well. But nothing beats sweeping camera-angles of girls in the wind. XD
Very cool that we already have foreshowing of theupcoming tragedy right after the OP. That whole scene that it’s referring to still gives me the chills, but first-time Kanon viewers will forget this till the end.

Episode title: ~overture~, definitely brought back memories from Air, especially those piano chords playing into the episode, those chords that are so wonderful at setting the mood. More nostalgia.

And of course! Nayuki fanservice~~! Fanservice was definitely missing from the original version (not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, but a little bit here and there is always nice)

Air imagery, classic Misuzu grin.

Just loved this shot.

Should also note that less emphasis is placed this time on Nayuki’s difficulty of getting out of bed in the morning like shown above in the original. I always thought that was cute (and identified with her). But perhaps it didn’t fit in this episode?

And here we have the level of detail that was missing the first time cuz of time constraints. The snow shoveling, small things like this do wonders for setting the wintry mood.

Original’s full text: “I don’t know if I’ll be here that long though.” Nayuki o_O? “I don’t know when my parents will be back…and I can’t just stay here forever.”

One thing to be noted about Yuuichi: yes, he’s basically Kyon now, but that’s a good thing ain’t it? Honestly, while this Yuuichi is infinitely better than tactless Yuuichi of Toei, he’s still definitively Yuuichi, with his own style of sly comments throughout the episode, as opposed to Kyon’s nihilistic sarcasm (although Sugita does let some of the Kyon attitude permeate to Yuuichi). However, compare the responses that he gives to Nayuki’s comment on him staying forever: the diction is subtle, but it’s MUCH nicer than the first time, and I’m liking it. Clues that we’ll be going down the Nayuki path this time?

Absolutely loved watching them go to town together. And the punching too! XD Once again, brilliant mood-setting.

And while they’re walking around town, all the other girls make their appearances well-woven into the episode’s pace, starting with Sayuri and Mai at the school.

At the hospital is Shiori, which fits very well. (is this the level of detail that I missed in Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu cuz I didn’t read the novels?!!!)

Heh, some homage to Air. Check out the peach juice on the bus. Gao~

hehe, and interaction between Jun and Kaori that we barely saw in the first version. Loved it. I’ve already commented my thoughts about these two before, and it seems some of the predictions are coming true. God, Kaori’s so awesome now!

Now that I see her again though, perhaps it is possible that she’s voiced by Ayako Kawasumi (or just that I was wrong before…)

Makoto in fox form.

Loved the Nayuki goin after kitsune~~

arite wth, I remember this look…how could anyone forget after reading this? Hah, now what? Nayuki is Mikuru and Imouto-chan’s third cousin? And Yuuichi is, in fact, Kyon?

seriously, we’re seeing a LOT of images from SHnY. From the Mikuru declaration look:

to the exasperated Kyon:

Get the cinematic camera action ready, cuz here comes Ayu charging in.

Once again, another sign of a nicer Yuuichi. Actually apologizing to a random stranger in the original? Unheard of!

haha YES! Loved the flashback. THIS is the new material I’m expecting from KyoAni (expections I’m expecting to be surpassed of course).

More SHnY imagery, now of Mikuru/Ayu being dragged by Yuuichi/Haruhi.
A note about all these similarities, taken from Sushi-Y from the Aquastar forums:

QUOTE (xstar @ Sep 7 2006, 05:21 PM)

And is it just me or is the art style similar to MoSH?

As a whole, the style is supposed to mimic Hinoue Itaru-san’s art style, so Kanon’s character design is supposed to look the same as the Kyoani AIR anime. Similarly, Haruhi’s anime character design is supposed to imitate Itou Noizi-san’s art style.
Kyoani’s character designer/head art director for AIR was Aratani Tomoe. For Suzumiya Haruhi, it was Ikeda Akemi. For Kanon, it’s Ikeda Kazumi. However, all three of them (+ other Kyoani art directors) have worked on all three animes.
For example, Aratani-san was the art director for the overall AIR anime, while Akemi-san and Kazumi-san were both art directors who worked on the individual episodes.
When Haruhi came around, Akemi-san became the “head” art director, and Aratani-san became the art director for episode 4 and 6.
For Kanon, Kazumi-san has taken helm as the character designer/head art director, while the others circle over to directing individual episodes.
So, although the character designs within the animes are supposed to imitate the original creator’s art style, you might see some similarities here and there because the same character designers have worked on all the animes.
Incidentally, all the people mentioned in this post are females.”

 

YES! Yuuichi teases the classic “uguu~”! Pure win!!

 

Foreshadowing alert: Ayu has wings.

 

hehe, this time Nayuki stays angry a little longer…all the way home! First time she forgave him in like a minute…what?

 

eh, why did the alarm clock change. I remember the frog alarm clock, now we have a neko clock…crap, which one was in the original game?!

 

hehe, the details may have changed, but lolier-Nayuki is ALWAYS totemo-kawaii~~~! Actually, I noticed that they took out the part where young-Yuuichi was being a jackass (and grew up to remain a jackass) to Nayuki, saying shit like, “You tricked me! It’s cold!” Glad that part was taken out, Nayuki doesn’t need that kind of abuse.

 

And I guess we’ll leave the rest of the Ayu/Yuuichi flashback to the next episode.

You know, I liked the first ED song, Flower, as well, cuz that also got the nostalgic feeling in me, but Kaze no Tadoritsuku Basho is just too ownage. God I love it.

 

And yea, the preview is just like Air’s again, playing the theme song, same title font. One of the great things to do while watching this series is point out the similarities between Kanon, Air, and Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and then point out the differences between the first Kanon. Just things to do when obsessed.

 

There are pros and cons to watching KyoAni’s take on Kanon for the first time. While it’s probably best to watch KyoAni’s take first to get the most out of it (since Kanon’s plot is one that banks heavily on its surprises), one of the treats I got out of previous experience that newcomers won’t be able to enjoy is hearing those soundtracks over again. Downloading the entire piano arrange OST of both Kanon and Air, and constantly listening to them while doing homework, it feels great hearing them again. Truly is like coming back to an old town from childhood.

 

One episode down, 23 more to go. Total times rewatched: 3. So many screenshots. Can I keep up this heavy blogging ? (doubtful) Will kei survive?