Aah, finally we get another good batch. It’s good to see that this season does actually have some good series. All of these anime feature something different from normal anime. One is co-produced with Koreans, another is entirely made with flash, while yet another has a very messy art style.

Kemono no Zume

Ah, this is what I’ve been waiting for. A monster hunter falls in love with a monster and vice versa. Quite an interesting premise, and I’m happy to say that the first episode left me with a good feeling. Our main character isn’t invincible after all, as he seems to have an indigestion problem when facing monsters, and our female protagonist/antagonist was actually introduced in quite a funny way. In fact, this anime succesfully managed to produce some very funny moments, while the serious moments were kept sortof light, though full of content. The art style is indeed something which immediately catches the eye. It’s incredibly messy, especially the animation. Still, in the end, it works. It really contributes to the overall style of the anime.

Hanoka

This anime is completely created in flash. While others may find it ugly, I kindof appreciate the fact that people are experimenting with different art styles. And indeed, this anime looks quite unique. With also five minutes per episode, in which 90 seconds of this are occupied by the OP, leaving only 3,5 minutes left, you also can’t say that this anime bores you. But that doesn’t nessecarily mean that it’s good. In this case, however, it does have potential. It’s an anime about a war, which is being fought. Our main characters has special powers, though she’s held captive, only to serve in the war. She was quite sad, and these emotions did surprisingly well. I have no idea what the rest of this anime will be about, though. It can go anywhere, from incredibly bad to incredibly good.

Shoujo Yang Geum no Yume

Okay, why did this show take so ridiculously long to get subbed? It’s quite good. In case you’ve never heard about this series, it aired during the spring season. Now, a massive five months later, it has its first episode subbed. It’s about a very energetic girl, who loves cooking. Her late mother inspired her for this, before she died. She used to say that seeing Yang Geum (our main character) eat her dinner would make her really happy. Yang Geum is now aiming for about the same thing. Meanwhile, a lot of interesting things are going on in the background. It seems that the prince of the country is rather inexperienced, and goes hunting with only one guard. Assasins take advantage of this and actually attack, while Yang Geum and her cousin happen to be near. They actually manage to scare away these assasins in a very creative way, and they also manage to see their faces, which immediately gives this story a good start. Our main characters also are very likable. They’ve got interesting personalities. Another interesting point is that this is one of the first, if not first Japanese-Korean co-productions, hence the Korean names. Overall, if there ever was an unpopular show which deserves way more attention, it’s this one.

A story-driven episode for once, instead of the character-driven ones. I actually like the latter more. that’s really the department in which Simoun shines like no other. Still, that doesn’t mean that this episode wasn’t good. ^^

The most important part of the episode definitely is Onashia explaining the Emerald Ri Maajon. It’s used to travel from one time to another. We also see Dominüra and Limone back. This also gives us suspicions that Amuria is still alive as well, though in yet another time. I’m not sure whether Limone and Dominüra have landed in the future, or in the past. I personally think that they ended up in the past, as the village is filled with ancient Simoun. Still, they’re all overgrown with vines.

In any case, there was a civilization in the past which was much more advanced than the current ones. It’s interesting that Onashia speaks of “civilization” as singular, instead of plural. It’s said that the Simoun came from those days. In the end, countless wars eradicated the civilization, along with the true purpose of the Simoun. At one time, the Simoun just became useless.

Then, from the sky, it seems that a Simoun from another world, or time in this case. It was being driven by children, sent from god. These girls introduced themselves as Simoun Sibylla. Then, they informed everyone of the Emerald Ri Maajon. The Chor Dextra, which was led by Aaeru’s grandfather, by the way, was created just for the completion of the Emerald Ri Maajon. Dominüra is the only living member of it.

Dominüra also reveals something interesting in her thoughts: the reason she freaked out so horribly in episode 14, when seeing the Simoun. Well, it seems that she was one of these children, sent from god, who originally came from the other world. It seems that she forgot this, and seeing the dismantled Simoun forced her to remember again. This is indeed extremely sad, as she was the one who started the entire war for the control of the Simoun.

However, this brings up so many questions. How old is Dominüra anyway? If Aaeru’s grandfather used to pilot a Simoun, then it must mean that that Dominüra arrived in her Simoun quite some years ago. Still, she looks extremely young. I have a theory, though. Nothing has ever been said about what happens to those who refuse to go to the spring for their entire life, right? The fact that nobody speaks about it must mean that every single person went to the shrine, no exceptions. What if Dominüra is this exception? What if she just didn’t go to the spring, which made her body refuse to age for years and years to follow?

Dominüra also starts singing in front of the people who live in the time they arrived in. I think that that’s one of their rituals, they do every day, in order to give these people hope. I have no idea what started it, though I think that the villagers managed to convince them. They’re indeed living very peaceful. Interesting note: the Simoun appear to make a buzzing sound when they’re inactive.

I also noticed that Limone’s hair grew. This really reminded me of a strange pattern I noticed a while ago and which all anime seem to follow. Most anime don’t even know about hair growth. Half a year passes, and each character still has the same length of hair. Nothing grows. There have been a number of anime, though, which do feature characters who grow their hair. The strange thing, however, is that every single one of these anime has only one of these characters. No more. Simoun has Limone. All of the other characters seem to be spending a lot of time at the barber. The Law of Ueki has Rinko and I’ve heard that Haruhi Suzumiya also had this. It’s a pity that so little characters have this, as I like spotting the differences in character design that way. (That’s why I also like characters who like to change hairstyles)

In any case, the fact that this was a story-driven episode doesn’t mean that we didn’t have any character-development. This time, it came from Yun, Limone, Dominüra, Onashia and a bit of Aaeru and Paraietta.

Notice how Paraietta was very determined when the Chor Tempest was scolded for going out unauthorized (eheh, so what? Aaeru used to do this lots of times. :P). Also, notice how Aaeru gets uncomfortable when Neviriru suddenly gets hope of Amuria being alive? I wonder what kind of reasons she has for this. Does she think that she’ll lose an important pair, or an important friend to Amuria?

Both Limone and Dominüra have changed. Limone has told herself never to say “I dunno” anymore. That’s why she tries to find a suitable answer for each question asked to her. Dominüra, on her turn, has become extremely relaxed, cheerful and optimistic. We also see a surprisingly weak side of Onashia. For some reason, she became extremely exhausted on the journey back to the ruins. When she arrived, however, this weakness was gone. She also shredded off some strange, sparkling substance when she walked.

The most interesting one, though was Yun. She goes along with Aaeru and Neviriru in their mission to escort Onashia back to the ruins, as she wants to ask Onashia about her fallen comrades. Onashia told Yun the previous episode that she could hear Mamiina’s voice, so Yun was hoping that this would be the same for her former friends. She wonders whether their souls have been set free. Yun gets a response she doesn’t like. The one who desires to be set free his Yun herself. Not only does this suggest that her comrades have yet to be set free, but it also means that Yun has indeed been keeping all of her feelings inside of her. Onashia reveals that Yun wants to escape to a place far away. She’s been fooling herself all along.