Guin Saga - 24
Oh my, the creators actually found a solution to the badly animated wars: skip them, and just show the aftermath. Oh boy, I never saw that one coming. While at first sight cheap, I believe that this was the best choice that they could have made. Imagine what would have happened if they did animate those fights: it would have overrun the screen with fake CG, unbelievable animation and stock footage that probably would have been used over and over again. It would have ruined the suspension just like what it did in the Nosferas Arc.
They also give an interesting anticlimactic air to the battles, which in turn works SO well with Amnelis’ development: here she is, ready to kick Naris’ butt for betraying her, and then her father collapses, she’s forced to retreat, gets cornered and charges anyway, only to be mercilessly slaughtered. It spells pathetic all over her, and yet that only solidifies her growth as a character, and develops her even more. We probably have to wait for the second season (SECOND SEASON WHERE!?) to see what it exactly paid off for, but I really loved Amnelis throughout this episode, even though just about everything went wrong for her.
If anything, the deletion of the battles show that the creators more than anything know what they’re good at, and focus on those things while leaving the large-scale battles for what they are, because they simply don’t have the budget to make them work. I must congratulate Satelight for making this decision, because despite these battles, this episode rocked beyond belief.
Also, it’s interesting that Guin’s side-story has been anime-original, but I can somewhat understand why the creators chose to do it. After all, this series is called “Guin Saga”, but his role has been that of a mere side-character for the past arc. Instead, the series could just as sell have been called the “Naris Saga”, “Amnelis Saga”, or perhaps even the “Remus Saga”. So yeah, after all that he does deserve his own place in the spotlights in the end, saving Remus and Linda from that blond guy. it forms a nice conclusion and yet at the same time isn’t going to get in the way of that second season (SECOND SEASON WHERE?!).
Rating: *** (Awesome)
Just one question: If there is going to be a second season, when will we hear about it and where?
Comment by darkerthanblackswordsman — September 14, 2009 @ 20:13
Quite an impressive episode !!! I loved it through and through!!! I just love this series more and more as the time passes by! Just a shame Amnelis didn’t get to meet Naris and pay him back, I’d like their confrontation before the show ends, at the same time I do hope they’ll survive ( and be part of the second season, I cross my fingers for it to really have one)as they’re both just incredible characters! Well, Amnelis is my favorite character of the whole series, but I really like the various surprises Naris comes up with at the less expected moment! Now I wouldn’t be surprised if he had some magical powers just like the magus. And well, why had all the members of the Mongaul royal family to die almost at the same time? Now the whole empire will count on Amnelis to lead them on the right path, a single mistake of hers would ruin the country! And this episode also showed her realisation of this( I somehow thought she was to become queen of Mongaul, I wonder when, though?), also thanks to her loyal maid. I mean she’s been quite careless and blinded by her “hatred”( maybe hatred/love would me more correct) towards Naris, that she just kept going head on on the battlefield .
This show has an empressive range of characters! They all brings something to the show! I think if there is to be a second season , it will be announced as soon as the show ends. I just hope there is!
Comment by windy — September 14, 2009 @ 20:20
I don’t know, but I suppose it should be announced eventually, like all other sequels tend to be.
The bad thing is that while there’s probably enough good material for a second season and more, sooner or later the story will still have to come to an abrupt stop anyway, given the unfinished state the novels have been left in, unless the anime producers make up an ending of their own in order to avoid that problem.
Comment by Camario — September 14, 2009 @ 20:21
Have you read the novels? Is it clear where the story was going?
Comment by darkerthanblackswordsman — September 14, 2009 @ 20:39
I haven’t, unfortunately, but you could probably ask around on Animesuki or elsewhere for some details about that.
Comment by Camario — September 14, 2009 @ 21:39
Guin Saga wouldn’t be the first great anime that deserved a second season but only got one.
good episode anyways, the characters really intrigue me.
Comment by Roldan — September 14, 2009 @ 23:16
Well since this season only animated like the first 6 volumes from a total of 149!, we should have enough material for a few more seasons.
IF they make them…
Comment by ogami — September 15, 2009 @ 1:13
149?? Mangaupdates states 126 released and the author died died writing number 130.
Comment by Drask — September 15, 2009 @ 10:25
well, 150 or 130 means that we have room for some 20 more seasons at least. I’d say it’s quite enough :P
Comment by Solaris — September 15, 2009 @ 15:23
I think they covered nearly 20 books already.
Comment by windy — September 16, 2009 @ 19:43
They cover 16 books in this anime. Thtese are the prorogue of the saga. Hope they will make
second season.
Comment by L — September 17, 2009 @ 10:11
kinda weird how mongaul was so strong and was over thrown easily? is khum there only ally? and everyone had basically the same number of army how did they even grow to be such a threat
Comment by earl — October 7, 2009 @ 7:03