#md3 watches persona 5 the animation

[mysticdragon3md3]

md3 watches P5A Dark Sun

(If you like Akechi, don’t read my episode reactions under the cut.)

So finally, we’re at all these scenes that are supposed to give Akechi's backstory and were no doubt the parts that made his fangirls think he's just a "cinnamon roll who did nothing wrong", etc.  But I didn't feel any sympathy for him.  He said at one point during the fight that he was Ren's rival.  And that's what he seems like: the typical anime rival character.  Though truthfully, I've found a lot more of those rivals to be cool, but there have been a good half of them that I still perceive as jerks that I don't really sympathize with.  That latter is Akechi.  So I don't think it's weird to re-live all his "sympathetic" scenes and still not sympathize with him.  

All those scenes did was prove to me, once again, that Ryuji is a much better Man than me and a very good boy.  He was the first one to refute Akechi's own self-deprecations.  He was the first one to call out to Akechi, when he slammed the ship's doors between them.  

Once again, the animation of this series is so minimal that there just isn't enough interesting direction to make up for it.  A-1 Pictures always makes series that are fairly pretty, satisfactory, the normal level.  But sometimes they produce really meh series.  o_o;  We all know they can do good stuff, but when all their series look nice in the stills, then you get to watching and the direction/animation is just blah, it kinda hurts.  x_x  

How long is this?  Holy smack!  This is a 51 minute episode?  I know this is an OAV, but I thought it was being used to cap the series, so it'd be just like an normal series episode length.  o_O

It all gets too real when Shido says, "Then why was I chosen? Why are they surrendering the seat of prime minister to me?  Everyone denies the value of hard work these days.  Instead, they seek to effortlessly gain wealth.  That is why I must reestablish this mighty country.  One that does not waver.  One that others will bow to."  (First, jeeze, he really does just imagine everyone clapping for him whenever he wants.  What a narcissist!)  It's scary because there are real politicians like that.  And talk about projection and blind to your own faults.  He seriously thinks all the answers to his rhetorical questions just now are “because I’m the best”.  They just said a few scenes ago that Shido is advancing in the polls because he sabotaged all his rivals/opponents.  And he was the one turning “mental shutdowns” and “psychotic breakdowns” into a mercenary business to fund his campaign, instead of doing the actual hard work to earn support legally.  And if I have to hear another politician---even a fictional one---say they want to put their country above all others while implying all other countries are inferior, instead of equal---!!!  BLAHRG!!!  Have had too much of that in the real world.  Well, at least in anime and videogames, people like that get defeated in boss battles.  

Morgana’s attack really was framed as hurting Shido a lot.  ^u^   Ryuji got hit! ;O;!!!!!!!!!! The ironic thing is, he's probably the one that can take the most physical damage and still fight.  He’s so reliable.  But I’m glad everyone came to protect him while he was down.  

They left out the teddy bear barrage from Alice's attack.  But I still like how Shido underestimated her, then she got really creepy.  

"Is this all you've got?  Checkmate.  You're not even in my league."  Were those lines in the game too?  I really like them.  ^__^  Really helps out headcanons where Akira becomes a politician in the future.  

Ryuji's big scene!  ^u^  Of course it was better in the game, but I will watch as many versions of this scene as provided!  *o*  

Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Please don't hit him.  Oh thank the gods, they just yelled at him!  And after he said to Ann, "But your cryin' face aint' so cute," it felt at least a little more justified.  Thank you, director for cutting off their yelling at him too.  This is a better version than the game!  ;U;  

I like that the scene divided the emotional characters from the calmer ones.  While Ann, Haru, and Futaba are crying and yelling at Ryuji, Makoto, Yusuke, Ren, and Morgana are just smiling, happy he's alive and they all can be silly together again.  

I know this ending credits sequence is just a walk cycle and Futaba's posing seems a little odd (or in character?), but I love Morgana hopping up and down throughout it.  ^-^!  And I love seeing all the Phantom Thieves smiling together.  ^-^  

Do all OAVs have after-credits scenes now?  

Another thing that's too real.  Shido confesses and everyone doesn't believe it.  Especially the part where someone in the crowd shouted, "They must have trapped him!"  Ug.  That would totally happen in real life.  And likely already has.  ~_____~;  

8:00 PM 5/25/2019  The end.  For now.  

Got a souvenir. ^_^

[mysticdragon3md3]

One of the best parts of P5A ep5 was hearing Ryuji say “RenRen” again.  ^-^

[mysticdragon3md3]

spoilertastic reactions to P5A ep3

So we’re going with family names, huh?  *bitter sigh*  Fine...!  But I expect that to eventually change, you two!

Ryuji, don’t make your RenRen jealous.  (Let me stretch interpretations for my OTP, okay!)

Obligatory AkiRyu screengrabs:

Morgana Cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like how the changes from the game's storyline efficiently condenses the story.  That'll come in handy when they need more time to establish character tones or cram in everyone's Confidant routes, later in the series.  And yet, it doesn’t feel choppy anymore.  That seemed to stop after episode 1.  I can see this being much easier for a Persona-newbie to follow, than the Persona 4 anime, which got me completely lost.  x_x;

I liked how Ryuji directly interacted with Shiho.  Since the anime skipped a lot of the game's long section of showing Ryuji's concern for the prisoners in the Palace, which went a long way towards his protective characterization, it's nice to get these replacement instances of portraying his concern for other people.  Also, he knows best about Kamoshida getting worse while everyone is working towards Nationals.  It’s kind of odd that the game didn’t have them interact before.  

And again, the camera closes in on subtle eye movements to convey emotions and important points.  

OMG Kamoshida's shit lost Ann's job to Mika?!  >O<!!!!!!!!!!!  These changes the anime makes to condense the story are really effective.  ^_^  I hate Kamoshida even more, if that's possible.

Again, with the shifting facial/eye expressions replacing actual dialogue scenes, that were in the game.  In the game, Ann directly apologized for misplacing her anger onto Akira/Ren. In episode 3, instead, it’s all in facial expressions.  It's really efficient to convey characters’ emotions with this direction in the anime.  But it's kind of ironic, because it used to be that if an anime wanted to save budget, they'd put in a lot of voice acting vs drawing more movements.  But this anime is the other way around.  ^_~    

"But they don't know anything."  Right when Ann said this, she gets reflected in Akira's glasses and his head slumps down slightly, like Ann's situation reminds him of how no one would believe him when he was arrested.  In fact, it very immediately shows the similarity between the sad expression in Ren's eye and the sad expression on Ann's face.  That shift in lenses was just like when the glare came off Ren's glasses after Kawakami was talking to him about how everyone was ostracizing him over rumors, but then Ren's glasses suddenly shifted to clear and showing his eyes, when Kawakami mentioned "Sakamoto" to start talking badly about him.  I wonder if this lense glare/reflection shifting is going to happen with every Confidant, to show their similarities with Ren and Ren’s sympathies towards them.  It would build up Ren's character development and rapport with the Confidants well.  ^_^  

And once again, some key dialogue from earlier gets repeated. 

 In episode 2, Ryuji’s lines “You can’t just walk away when someone’s in trouble, right?...How is that wrong?” paralleled Arsene’s question “Simply going to watch? Wouldst thou forsake him?...Was your choice back then a mistake?” to Ren during his Awakening, to reaffirm his resolve.  It may seem obvious to emphasize key themes by repeating virtually identical dialogue across characters/scenes, but I like how such a clear emphasis on what’s important to the story, also says what’s important to Ren and what created the bond with his friends.  

Yup.  Not a cat.  LOL  

"MonaMona"  ^_________^  (I kind of miss the portrait icons, but this is ok.)

So the director said in an interview that there would be a surprise in this series, implying something different from the game's storyline.  All this time I was afraid the change would be Akechi not getting his game ending, since I dislike Akechi.  But what if the change is something nice, like characters who were originally intended to join the Phantom Thieves, but got cut from the game, getting to join them?  Hifumi was originally supposed to be Queen!  O.o  When I first went through the game, I wanted Mishima to join the Thieves.  I wonder if he'll get to in the anime.  *.*  ...Probably not though.  A lot of the plot depends on his Phan-site, and he only did that because it was the only thing he could do to help, since he didn't get a Persona.  

No, Morgana.  You are an awesome cat.  ^___^  

Don't give your name, Ren!  LOL  And Ryuji is the one who corrects him.  LOL  I don't want to hear anymore crap about how "Ryuji is stupid".  ^o^

I like how Ren is always saying something to give everyone Strength.  

Look at Morgana's and Ren's smirks when Ann Awakens.  ^o^!  It’s like Ren is figuring out his place/role to give others Strength and he’s becoming proud of it.  And not just that, but he’s also proud of his friends finding Strength to get out of the same Weaknesses that he used to be in.  

Yes!  Ann being a cool dominatrix!  Kamoshida and his goons need to suffer!!!!!!  

And I like that they directly referenced "Cougars".  Look at Morgana’s eye expressions!  LOL

Morgana's slingshot!  ^o^

I like how in addition to Ren encouraging his friends' Strength, he also protects them during the fight.  

Ryuji was right about Ren being different in the Metaverse.  He has to wait until he gets there, for him to actually say the things that he feels and act on that protective nature of his that he seems to have been doubting ever since his arrest.  (Why else would he need both Arsene and Ryuji to reaffirm that his impulse to protect others wasn’t wrong?)  Like what he should have said to Ann in that cafe, while she was crying for what to do.  I look forward to the series progressing and the emergence of smirky, sassy Akira, who can start to say these things and be confident in himself, outside of the Metaverse.  It occurs to me that meeting Ryuji was Ren’s reaffirmation that he wasn’t wrong, while helping Ann release her unrestrained self is kind of what Ren also needs to do.  I guess each Confidant represents a part of character Growth that Ren needs.  Ryuji represents “protect people regardless of the consequences to yourself”, and Ann reflects “don’t restrain/repress yourself”.  So I guess the story is kind of an indirect character arc for him, reflected through the friends he gains.  

Alright.  That's a MUCH better transition for the All-Out Attack!  So much better than ep2!  ;u;  And I like the group ending finale too.  ^__^  

It occurs to me that Ryuji is always the one offering drinks.  His mom sure raised him to be polite.  O_o  

“The four of us...” = “Yon-nin”.

My favorite "yon-nin"!  ^u^  <3 <3 <3 <3

Before this series was released, I had watched the Persona 5 Daybreakers OAV and some of the pacing's lag during the fight scene made me vent out a post full of all my fears.  Fears that I did not want to come true when the anime series production had finished, but I just had to get out of my system. And there was no way to know whether it’d come true or not, until the series premier.  Nothing to do but whine and cry out in fear.  I'm so relived now, that each episode of this series so far has given me primarily positive things to say---each and every episode.  ;u;  I'm so happy to be wrong!  ;U;  That’s ALL I want!  I just want to be wrong, when I have nothing but worries!  ;u;  After years and years of anime adaptations screwing up every time they deviated from the source material, anime production is finally getting to that point where it really adds to the manga or videogame, more than dilutes.  ;u;!  

[mysticdragon3md3]

reactions to P5A ep9

I'm skipping ahead a few episodes because Tumblr says ep9 is very AkiRyu heavy.  ;u;  

Yawning Morgo!  ^u^

Oh, so that's why the boys were gritting their teeth.  I could understand Ren's just blushing expression when I saw it on Tumblr.  But I guess Ryuji and Yusuke had to grit their teeth to ignore hearing Ann bathe.  But seriously guys...How closely are you listening to hear another person bathe???  It's not like there was no one else in the bathhouse, so it couldn't have been that quiet.  And maybe it's just my fujoshi brain stuck on AkiRyu, but when Ryuji bumped Ren and Ren said "Don't touch me", my rotten brain was like "Oh? What'll happen if Ryuji touches Ren while he's turned on?"  LOL  Omg I'm such a fujoshi... x_x;  

Morgana sleeps in the school garden! ^o^

These DORKS.  Ren hiding his intrest in the maid and then getting all excited Takemi called him an "adult"...  Omg...It was so easy in-game for any player to project less dorky reactions onto the protagonist.  But this anime just has to go with all this "cliche highschool boy shenanigans" characterization.  ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;  And then Ren's identity lie was "I'm a dad"?...OMG   I just hope this anime series doesn't have Ren date all the girls.  Can't we just have an anime adaptation where the protagonist focuses on being a Phantom Thief and doesn't date anyone, so all his friends stay on equal footing?  ;o;?  

Despite all the dorkiness, I think Ryuji redeemed himself when he admitted in the chat that he ran away from Operation Maid Watch because he "can't do bad things".  He's just too much of a good boy.  ^___^

Nakaoka is a "troublemaker" to Yamauchi???  What?  But he's under their thumb...  o_o?

In the game, I liked that all the spying plans and motivation for investigating potential problems for the re-formed track team were Ryuji's ideas.  It made him seem really clever, and maybe even suited to investigation skills.  But in the anime it was all Ren's idea and motivation, which was really sweet because it portrayed Ren as very concerned for Ryuji.  He even said in that scene before spying on the new track advisor, that he just didn't want to see Ryuji "uncharacteristically sad".  ;u;  Renren!!!!!  

It's weird that they cut out the voice recording incriminating Yamauchi's ulterior motives.  But I guess it must have been an important character moment to show Ryuji trusting Ren as strongly as Ren was concerned for Ryuji (being troubled by the track team).  ;u; 

As in the game, this confrontation scene between Ryuji and the track team, reminded me of all the cool stuff Ryuji said he believes in.  I think maybe that was the time I realized he was such a good guy.  I mean, he had been compassionate and comfortably warm before, but this scene when he advises the track members to live for themselves and their own integrity, and not be afraid of having a place to belong, really showed how spiritually Strong Ryuji is.  ^___^  

I'm so glad the former coach is returning.   I didn't realize until recently that he probably stood up for Ryuji and that was why Kamoshida got him fired.  So I'm curious---and I just like seeing nice characters around.  Even if it'll just be the background.  

[mysticdragon3md3]

reactions to P5Anime ep1

WAIT A SEC! I CAN WATCH PERSONA 5 THE ANIMATION EPISODE 1 ON CRUNCHYROLL WITHOUT A PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP?!?!?!  *O*!!!  It just aired today/yesterdayJST!  I thought I had to wait a week for the free viewing!  ;U;  

The direction is really choppy though.  But it can't be helped, with budget restrictions and probably the assumption that this series is for an audience that already played the games anyway.  But it's especially choppy between scenes.  There's just no time taken to show the scenes aren't related or are related, and who they're related to, etc.  I wonder if people who haven't seen the game's cutscenes before, would be able to follow along.  When I tried to watch Persona 4 Golden the Animation, I was totally lost.  Is that how people would feel watching this without playing the game?  

And I notice all the limited animation where the videogame could afford more motion.  But that's expected.  Still looks pretty.  

They certainly didn't need to waste any resourced writing any new music.  It's ALL the music from the game.  ^u^!  

But wait a sec.  If they didn't explain that Ren was wrongly arrested for doing essentially a good deed, BEFORE the Arsene's Awakening scene, then how is there supposed to be weight to Arsene's question, "Was the decision you made back then wrong?"  Everyone fangirls over how "Akira knew Ryuji for only like 30 minutes, but already he would die for him" (and frankly, I have a soft spot for that angle because Ryuji is best boy), but in reality, the reason Akira/Ren was so resolute to save Ryuji was because Akira/Ren had to re-affirm to himself that saving someone is more important to him than being punished or killed for it.  He had to reaffirm that he would make the same decision as back then.  And that steeled resolve is what solidified Arsene to support Akira/Ren with power.  

I know the majority of my reactions are negative, but I did have a good time with this anime episode.  Aside from my nitpicks, it's good, it's beautiful, it has the original cast, and I'm having a good time.  Rest assured, I spent the entire time watching this episode, clutching a big plushie VERY tightly.  

I love watching Akira/Ren.  I love watching Joker looking cool---SOOOO COOL! He was such a cool, beautiful, smirky sinnamon roll!  The animation on him escaping the casino was the best!  It was so good, I didn’t even mind that they cut out that awesome roll he did on the ground in the game’s cutscene- --the anime episode didn’t even need it, it was already so cool!   I loved hearing him talk and emote.  I loved how the direction implied that the light from the Metaverse app kind of hypnotized Akira/Ren into sleeping and facilitating the meeting with Igor.

I loved watching Ryuji come into the scene in a much more natural way than the game---though only a slight difference, it made a difference that mattered.  I mean, I know Ryuji is impulsive, but what did he think he was going to do, running up to Kamoshida's car in the game?  Warn Ann not to accept Kamoshida's ride?  I think the fact that Kamoshida sped off as soon as he saw Ryuji, even though Ryuji was doing nothing but casually walking, said a lot about the conflict between them.  And that foreshadowing was good.  ^_^  And of course, him telling Akira/Ren to run, while he himself was getting beaten up and while he was saying aloud he didn’t want to die, was just so much more immediate in the anime, and may have better reinforced what a selfless good guy he can be, even towards someone he just met.

I loved how much more natural Ann's introduction scene was.  Because that long time of staring between Ann and Akira/Ren in the game's cutscene was kind of weird.  ^^;  Giving her an action like plucking that flower petal from Akira/Ren's hair and commenting on her thoughts about it, was a much more immediate and interesting characterization for Ann, vs the game's "she's pretty and nice enough to not call you a weirdo for staring".  In the anime's episode one, Ann's introduction scene was more "she's pretty but ALSO sensitive and observant".  Yeah, that's what I got from her calling the rain a shame for pulling all the flower petals off the trees.  In fact, that has implications of Ann's protective aspect, which is a big part of her motivation during the first part of the game.  And this anime conveyed all that in less than a handful of lines.  Impressive.  

And to reiterate a 7:59 PM 4/7/2018 post of mine: I think I like this more subtle close-up of Joker smirking at the end of his Awakening, vs the videogame’s cutscene.  ^.~;  Don’t get me wrong, I love Production I.G., I do prefer that anime studio, and they did have the resources to put a lot more drama into every frame, but...That final reveal of Joker's transformation...?  It looks super cool and everything, and could even be a poster, but...Whose perspective is this supposed to be?  Maybe Kamoshida’s?  But when the anime cutscene ends, the CG cutscene has Joker looking in Ryuji’s direction.  o_o?  It’d be pretty weird for this intimidating look to be towards Ryuji, whom he just rescued.  I like how the anime series’ portrayal more conveys Joker being intoxicated with power, more than intimidating.  That’s the only problem I ever had with that scene from the game.  I’m glad the anime series fixed it.  I hope it also fixes the characterization inconsistencies during the second half of the game.  

[mysticdragon3md3]

Anime News Network posted a non-region-locked 6 minute preview of the Persona 5 anime series (the first 6 minutes of episode 1 at https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-28/persona-5-anime-episode-1-1st-6-minutes-streamed/.129641), and I just had to take some screengrabs.  ^.^!!!

The changes to the beginning, compared to the game, filled in some explanations, which was nice.  Like, having Crow here initiate Joker’s distraction run and say they’ll meet up later, was a really efficient way to show this was part of a plan.  Also, this whole scene was good foreshadowing.

I also liked the anime showing what Joker did with the suitcase, unlike the game. (I swear, it looked super stylish when he did it.  It just happened so fast that it would have taken forever to get good screengrabs.)

Very stylish.  I’m sure there’s some kind of “satan/cathedral art” allusion here. 

Not gonna lie.  It hurt to watch Akira/Ren get beat up. ;o;!  Get your hands off our sinnamon roll!  (It’s going to take a few more episodes before I switch from Akira to Ren.)

It was really nice that one of the first things Akira/Ren says was to ask if his friends are okay.  Sae said they were, but...refresh my memory: Did she know Akira/Ren and who his group of friends were beforehand?  I can’t remember.  ~_~;  

And I’m sorry, but as long as Jun Fukuyama is also voicing Akira/Ren, I’m always going to compare him to Lelouch.  I really feel like the job he did as Lelouch got him the P5 protagonist role.  They’re just too similar.

Picture source:  https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-03-28/persona-5-anime-episode-1-1st-6-minutes-streamed/.129641

[mysticdragon3md3]

md3 watches Jujutsu Kaisen ep2

12:21 AM 12/16/2020 Jujutsu Kaisen ep2

In case I didn't previously mention it the first 2 times I tried to watch this episode before Crunchyroll crashed: I really hope Yuuji's freinds are ok.  I'm invested! ;o;!   Sad he has to transfer to a new school away from them tho. ;_;

12:24 AM 12/16/2020 Actually starting ep now.  

Sukuna talking thru Yuuji's hand is giving me Parasyte vibes and I love it.  

Interesting that Sukuna was originally human.  That sounds like some late-plot stuff that's going to come into play later and be especially important at the climax.  

I'm actually intrigued that the principal isn't some graying old dude (with enormous muscles).  It's been a long time since I've seen an anime school head that isn't some graying warrior whose age is only a misdirection, or at least a hint to his wisdom on top of being a great warrior.

I need to go back and re-watch episode one.  I'm pretty sure this series mentioned/dramatized the significance of Yuuji's idea about controlling how you die and wanting a good death, but I can't quite remember it.  They certainly do repeat his grandfather's dying request though.  But I want to understand all of Yuuji's motivations, so I'll need a refresher later.  

I can't believe he mentions his crush on Jennifer Lawrence during his introduction to the principal.  lol  

I still love what an enthusiastic puppy Yuuji is.  ^o^  Look at him checking out his new dorm room!  lol  

Funny that Yuuji and Gojou have the same mentality to tease Fushigoro.  

Normally I get annoyed when i see anime characters putting up cheesecake posters just to ensure they're portrayed as "masculine", but Ryuji Sakamoto did the same thing and Yuuji, you're lucky you remind me of a character I already have a lot of affection for.  But maybe more importantly, I used to watch a lot of harem subgenre and even battle anime series where any time there was a quite moment in the writing and the protagonist was male, they'd shove in some mysoginist actions as "character quirks" to give the characterization color or prove that they're "manly men".  And I got sick of it.  Remember in teh Get Backers manga when Ban would grab Heaven's boobs at any chance he got?  Thank goodness the anime tossed that out.  In fact, the anime and its character designer Atsuko Nakajima were so unafraid of any BL undertones, that I suspect the manga played up Ban's (toxic) masculine traits in some paranoid attempt to counteract the BL implications throughout the series.  Sometimes I feel like a lot of toxic masucline traits get tacked onto good anime characters out of that ridiculous fear.  I don't know whether that makes the character(s) or the writer insecure about (their) masculinity.  -.-;;;  Anyway, I got so sick of seeing it, that any little hint that more of that type of portrayal was on the way, set me off into preemptive annoyance.  But I haven't seen anything toxic masculine about Yuuji so far, so him putting up the cheesecake bikini girl poster doesn't bother me.

Oh, don't have a primary character come in on a train from the countryside to the big city...This series is already resonating with my Persona 5 obsession.  You don't need to give me more P5 vibes.  lol  I do want to judge this series on its own, vs constantly being reminded of things I've seen before, but I've accepted that becoming an old otaku means "everything reminds you of something you've already seen", so these similarities are funny and just amusing at this point.  (Anyway, Yuuji reminding me of Ryuji is always going to be a plus.)  

12:53 AM 12/16/2020   First time seeing the ending theme.   lol  What a different vibe.  lol  

Is fishing and eating ramen just common hobbies for the "punkish, boyish, athletic" character type?  Because if this series shoves any more Ryuji Sakamoto similarities into Yuuji Itadori, I'm going to start worndering if the manga-ka was inpsired by Persona 5.  

Ugh.  I'm not looking forward to "Girl of Steel".  I saw a clip of a scene with her a while back on Crunchyroll's Twitter, and she was functioning as the constantly-annoyed, abraisive tsundere that spoils everyone's fun and is just angry at everyone all the time.  Seriously?  It's 2020.  Can't we leave that character type back into the 1990s?!?

[mysticdragon3md3]

md3 watches My Next Life As A Villainess ep6-12

8:20 PM 8/15/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep5 Crunchyroll on Firestick!  ^u^ . . . 8:50 PM 8/15/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep6 . 9:23 PM 8/15/2020 Wait.  Is that when Sophia remembered he past life?  If she was still just the Fortune Lover Sophia, then why would she disregard her feelings for Catarina and help Nicol confess to her during their shopping trip?   . . . 9:26 PM 8/15/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep7

Sasaki Atsuko must be Sophia.  I wonder if I would have experienced this better if I didn't already heard these spoilers.  

Damn it, episode! Don't make me cry!  ;o;  I cry too easily these days to withstand watching scenes of characters crying!  ;o;!  

9:47 PM 8/15/2020 Wait.  That dark cloud gave her the gem to help her out in the exam?  ^o^  And I know later it'll help save her with a tornado---and there it is.  So I guess Catarina already won the school president's heart/route if he's helping her already.  He was some kind of demon god, right?  I can't quite remember the spoilers I saw before.  Though because I already saw the spoilers, it enabled me to enjoy noticing all the times Catarina inadvertently said something that unexpectedly touched the Kaichou.  He's even started ditching groups of girls, just to go talk to Catarina.  I kind of like watching from his perspective, falling for her.  

I guess Sophia remembered her past life in this episode.  So I guess that means this new Catarina-protag version of Fortune Lover's Sophia wasn't in love with Catarina, which would explain why she was ok helping set up Nicol with Catarina.  I guess it was Aachan that was in love with Catarina.   . . . 9:54 PM 8/15/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep8

Why is it so cute when Kaichou is astonished at Catarina's small kindnesses towards him?  Maybe I"m just fixated on gray eyes right now, because I've been doing a lot of Photoshop this week, to make Nendoroid eyes gray to match Persona 5's Joker.  

I'm sorry I'm not writing many reactions for these episodes where I've already seen most spoilers for.  ;~;  But it does afford me to multi-task while watching anime.  @_@;  

I can't believe this magic book of desires never encountered someone's desire to eat before!  It couldn't fulfill Catarina's desire because all it's imaginary foods couldn't make her actually feel full?  C'mon, book.  I'm disappointed in you, if your speciality is fulfilling desires.  lol  Then again, if it grants a person's GREATEST desire, then I guess there arne't many people besides Catarina whose GREATEST desire is eating food.  LOL   . . . 10:23 PM 8/15/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep9

Is Ann going to turn out to be a reincarnated person too?  *o*  

is this a recap episode?  All from Ann's POV.  Well, I appreciate it including new angles to show Ann's POV, and not just a clip show.

So I guess even Aachan-awakened Sophia is still trying to set up Nicol with Catarina.  lol  This montage of Sophia speaking well of Nicol to Catarina, is so cute!  ^o^  I thought Sophia would start pursuing Catarina for her self now, but I guess not.  

Gawwwwww!!!!  Maria is so adorable!  ;u;  She's an angel!  ;U;  It's so weird that there are "Shonen protagonist's love interests" that I dislike, and even more odd that the cliche of "female character primarily centered around her crush on a guy" just make me so sickly bored---All while I love ingenue!  Maria Campbell, Megumi Tadokoro, Hinata Hyuga, Sanada Yukimura, etc.  

Nicol and Alan are up for the boy's PJ sleepover party!  ^o^  Socially-inept people unite!  ^o^  

Duke Claes takes in lots of distant relatives, huh?  First Keith, and now Ann.  He's actually exceptionally nice, huh?  ^-^  

I feel like Ann is becoming one of those adult-lady options from dating sims.  Or the older adult lady in a harem anime that is there more for eyecandy that the younger girls can't provide or to flaunt her authority as an older adult in the protagonist's non-romantic life.  

Is Geordo really not recognizing that that uncharacteristically formal card is a trap?---There we go.  lol  

Aw~!  Geordo's gift fits even more after she's made everyone change into gardening clothes.  ^_^  ...Of course everyone else got her shears too.  LOL  They were all there when she mentioned her old shears were getting dull. lol  

10:53 PM 8/15/2020 Ok.  We're getting into episodes that I didn't completley spoil, and I'm getting too distracted.  I have stuff to finish before midnight.  ...But I want to leave anime running...  Maybe Touken Ranbu Hanamaru marathon?  Or maybe even Touken Ranbu Katsugeki?  I've already watched all of both, so neither should distract me too much.  

10:55 PM 8/15/2020 Gah!  Ep10 is starting!  Gotta pause that for now.  

10:56 PM 8/15/2020 Uh...  Did Crunchyroll just crash, or did I accidentally back up out of the entire app?  Maybe I should give it a rest for today anyway.  Soemtiems apps on Firestick crash if I use them too long.  Like Twitch.  And yesterday Crunchyroll did that a bit too.  I guess it's back to YouTube.  That never crashes on Firestick.   . . . 6:05 PM 8/17/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep10

I spoiled this judgement clip form maybe Crunchyroll Collection's YouTube channel a while ago.  So I thought I could expect no tension, but I just realized, what if Sophia with Acchan's memories covers for Catarina by saying her "bullying record" was a fanfic!  Ideas for writing her own romance novel!  LOL  ^o^!!!  

This dark mist appearing again is an interesting subplot.  ---I just wish Maria woudl tell other people about seeing it!  ;o;!  Something bad is going to happen to my angel if she tires to confront it alone!  ;o;

SHE DISAPPEARED?!  WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!11  ;O;!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

So if Kaichou already has Dark Magic, he doesn't need a human to sacrifice to get Dark Magic for himself...Does that mean Dark Magic users are like a secret cabal that gathers up sacrifices for others in their group to give each other Dark Magic?  

I was really hoping that the story would go with that trope of "if the protagonist maintains hope in the villain being good, they'll reveal that they really don't want to be a villain", and maybe that's how you conquer Kaichou's route.  But hearing him call Catarina detestable makes it sound like that's not going to happen.  

Yeah.  That doesn't makes sense. He's calling her a hypocrite?  He's primarily irritated that she helped out the loney guys?  Sounds like he's jealous.  Like he wanted Catarina to alleviate his lonliness too.  But because she didn't get as involved with him as the other husbandos, he feels like she's not living up to her image, and thus being a hipocrite.  So maybe this can STILL go in the direction of "redeeming the villain by being his friend"!  ^o^  That's the kind of tone this show  has seemed to have all along anyway.  ^_^  

I knew it!  Redeem his lonliness!  Catarina is so nice!  ;u;!!!  

Maybe I'm just a sucker for little cinnamon rolls with those big eyes and baby faces...But Kaichou from the start really did seem like he was suffering and lonely.  Maybe it was all those asides with Catarina, where he was astonished that she was nice to him, as if no one had been nice to him before.  Poor baby.  

Well, if Catarina gets swallowed up by darkness, maybe she'll find out where Maria went.   . . . 6:37 PM 8/17/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep11

omg I thought that seeing this modern Earth clip earlier would spoil the series ending, so I stopped it short!  But there's a whole 2 episodes after this scene!  This isn't the ending?!???????????  O.o!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

I was like, "Wow, they're really holding on everyone's crying reaction shots, in reaction to the doctor's diagnosis".  But then, "Oh yeah, they have to build the stakes for her to wake up from her modern Earth dream".  

GAH!  ALL THESE BABY FLASHBACKS AARE KILLING ME!!!!!!!  ;U;  Don't make me cry, show!

"...so honest and straightforward as her..."  Alan made me realize it.  Catarina is a Shonen Protagonist.  ^o^  "Pure of heart; dumb of ass", that's a Shonen Protag.  ^o^  I love 'em!  

Wait, so Sophia hasn't completely realized she's a reincarnation yet?  Well, that explains why Acchan didn't do some 4th wall knowledge stuff.  

Wait.  Those aren't fire flies?  What are those green glowing dots?  

Is it just me or do a lot of Shojo genre Isekai end with the Heroine staying in the fantasy world?  I mean, except Escaflowne...And  Fushigi Yuugi, I think?  WAit, is even my recollection of most Shonen/male-protagonist Isekai series ending by returning to the "real world", even correct?...  My memory IS notoriously bad, after all...

SHOW, I TOLD YOU NOT TO MAKE ME CRY!!!  This goodbye scnee with Acchan is really good!!!

"I know you can save the president".  Why did Acchan have to tell Cataraina Kaichou's real name?  He's not "Sirius Deke"?  He's not part of the Deke family?  But if Geordo said the Deke family is established enough to have taken care of the storehouse for ages...  Was Kaihou forced into the Deke clan, and they're more a secret cabal of Dark Magic users, vs a biological family?  Does he resent being forced into the clan?  

It feels so weird rooting for a redemption resolution for Kaichou, after I've been railing against a redemption arc for Akechi Goro for years(?) now.  LOL  But Akechi is a bully, and bullies are my pet peeve.  Even if Kaichou's niceness was an act, I still have this nice impression of him.  And I like the Hope conveyed by redemption arcs, in general. Hope is one of my favorite story themes.  I love when the Hero can forgive a villain or see past the Universal Mother Goddess's monstocity.  That kind of forgivess and acceptance is the sweet, saccharine stuff I live for!  Pile it up!  ^o^  I want stories where everything is brought to a happy ending, and everyone is happy, no matter how impossible it may see to forgive someone or show compassion.  That's why Compassion is one of my other favorite themes:  In order to go through it all the way, it usually takes a really Strong character and real innovative immagination to not take the easy route and give up on someone.  (Unless they're Akechi, because fuck bullies.)  But Micchy, Lelouch, Devil Homura,...Let me keep believing you can be saved and happy together again with your friends.  ;u; So I hope Sirius Dieke, or whatever Kaichou's real name is, can be given Compassion and saved.

Well, I guess I'm finishing this series today.  ^o^  I wasn't expecting more than 2 episodes to get through today, but let's go for it!  One more push!   . . . 7:12 PM 8/17/2020 My Next Life as a Villainess ep12

Yes!  Start off by wanting to talk to him!  It's a Weak person who solves things immediately with violence!  Only the Strong take the risk to use Compassion!  ^o^  These stories are my jam!  

I was wondering why the Duchess Dieke's son looked just like Kaichou, but it's pretty clever that the story is finally making use of all these foreshadowed hints about mistresses' illegitamate children being a big issue in this world.  First, Keith's background was brought into question, then Maria's family was torn apart because of it, and then it seemed like Ann's mom was the Baron's mistress and not his wife.  I guess some character had to end up doing something horrible to the illigitamate kid in their family without Catarina there to save them.  

So is the dark cloud around Kaichou Siris's spirit?  

IDIOT!  if the dark magician just wanted to go home to his family!  Keep him alive in case something goes wrong and you need dark magic again!  

So is the dark cloud a combination of the dark magician's grudge and his grudge?  

Well, his memory of his mom's last words were warped by someone...  It's kind of weird for a mother character's last words to her little child would be to ask him to get revenge for her.  ...Oh, I guess the dark cloud was *just* the dark magician's grudge.  

Wait.  2nd years' graduation?  Their school is only 2 years long?  

Bring it on, Doom Flag!"  I wish I could meet every day like that.  lol  

The girls fallin gin the background when Nicol smiles is just the funniest animation!  lol  They just feel straight to the sides, like cut-out figures!  LOL  

I'm sorry if I should be paying attention to Catarina freaking out, remembering the reverse harem route, but Maira looks angelic right there!

This is a great confession scene, if you take away Catarina's reason for striding up to Maria in that cool way.  

"FRIENDSHIP ENDING"!  Read polyamory into it if you want, but I also like platonic friendships!  ;U;  It hardly ever gets the representation it needs!  ;o;  At least glorified to the same extent as romantic relationships.  ;o;  

Kaichou's tea!  SUPER FRIENDSHIP ENDING!  ;U;  

"Department of Magic". I guess they forgave all his crimes?  Maybe they considered Raphael to not be at fault since he was under the influence of a dark magic spirit?  I love this music box muic.  ;u;  

Happy ending!  ^o^  Now this is the happy, conflict-free, iyashikei stuff I love!  ^u^  

Now please don't get hit by a carriage while crossing the street.  

7:42 PM 8/17/2020 Oh no!  Cruchyroll just crashed during the commercial!  o~o!  Is there something during the credits?!  A post-credits scene or something?!  ;O;?????  Do I have to start the episode all over again, to find out?!?????  o~o!

Well, this YOuTube vid of ep12 makes it look like there wasn't anything after the scene I just watched before the commercial where Crunchyroll crashed.  So I guess that's it?  Maybe?  I'll reply the ep on Crunchyroll to make sure.  

7:51 PM 8/17/2020 Uh...  "Advertisement 5 of 5" and "1 Second Left" are stuck at the top of the screen, even after the commercials.  o.o?

"Marchiones"?  So many titles!  

Re-watching the episode, I can enjoy all the stuff I missed while frantically typing my reactions.  lol

maria is so cute and glowing at this graduation party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ;O;!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ;U;!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

That character in the background while Raphael works at the Department of Magic is why too complex of a character design.  Is he joining the regular cast in the next season?  Or should I say, was he a big deal in the light novels?  

8:10 PM 8/17/2020 Ok.  Last commercial break again.  Please don't crash this time, Crunchyroll.  I just don't feel right after finishing a series/movie, unless I sit through credits.  And that's even before the MCU did post-credit scenes!  

Oh, yeah, the opening theme wasn't at the beginning of this last episode.  I love when a theme song comes back into the end of a series!  Whether it's during the climactic final battle or the final end credits, it always holds all the weight of nostalgia for the entire series.  

Almost forgot:  So Raphael looks just like Sirius...I thought made sense because they had the same father.  But Raphael Walt looks just like him mom...who the Marquis Dieke obviously raped...  Was she his lower class relative?!!!!!!!???????????????  O~o???!!!!  Ugh.  That Marqui really was a low life, besides his known philandering reputaiton.  x_x;  

TOY SNAKES ARE A BIG HIT IN TOWN?!  LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LOLLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now I know this series was well written.  They won't leave a "Chekov's gun" just lying there, even if it ultimately gets used as purely a post-credits joke!  ^o^  

8:17 PM 8/17/2020 And that's it for Hamefura / Bakarina / My Next Life as a Villainess.  ^_^!  I'm so glad I preordered Catarina's Nendoroid!  ^-^!!!  Good show, good show.  ^-^  

[mysticdragon3md3]

md3 watches Dr. Stone ep2-4

I forgot to post my reactions to Dr. Stone ep2-4 from 2 months ago.

9:22 PM 7/31/2019

Dr. STONE Episode 2 � King of the Stone World

Breakout Syndrome(?) did the openign theme.  I think they did some Naruto songs too. Maybe some Haikyuu songs? Rude-[alpha] did the ending theme.  I'll look them up later.   I'm surprised teh "doctor stone" in the narrative is soap.  I mean, it makes sense to call attention to soap's significance in preventing medical emergencies.  I mean, they have alcohol, but disinfecting is different from needing anti-biotics.  Soap will be very important.  But I have a feeling that "Dr. Stone" was just this series' emblematic name, but then an editor must have told the manga-ka that they need something actually in the story to be called Doctor Stone.  I imagine that the editor must have demanded that someone call Senku "Dr. Stone" at some point.  But the manga-ka seems so intent on emphasizing the fundamental technologies of civilization, more than giving a character cool names.   I think the problem with Tsukasa's line of thinking its that it makes too many assumptions.  Who's to say that all the grownups who are unpetrified will demand their old status/hierarchy and will say they "own" things and take them from the young.  There can be plenty of young people to be bad.  And there can be old people who won't demand those things/preferential treatments.  

9:54 PM 7/31/2019

Finished ep.  

10:04 PM 7/31/2019

Dr. STONE Episode 3 � Weapons of Science Sure, I'll watch ep 3.  I've got another helping of dinner anyway.   10:10 PM 7/31/2019 Wow.  Just finished the first commercial break and I'm already almost done eating.  

Wow.  They're really going to go fully pacifist with Taiju?  This is going to be very interesting.  *o*  

I like that Senku explained that they have actual cracks on their faces.  I thought it was just part of this series' exaggerated character design.  But I guess they keep some cracks from while they were statues.  

But I wish someone would explain why Yuzuriha's headphones petrified with her and are still on her head!  I feel like it's a clue to some story point later, but...Seems like this is going to take a while before any reveals.  

And it's increasingly scary whenever Tsukasa is shown to be smart enough to figure out Senku's plans.  

I like the ending disclaimer, clarifying that even though the info is based on real science, foraging and such is still dangerous (and sometimes illegal).  I don't want anyone accidentally eating poison mushrooms or making gun powder, just because they watched this series and didn't do more detailed tangental learning research first.  

10:33 PM 7/31/2019

I have a feeling the pacing of this series is kind of slow---But that's not right.  I think I just wish the episodes wouldn't end right when something's about to happen.  But I should be used to this by now, after all those years of Shonen anime based on weekly Shonen manga.  ^^; I guess all this means is that I find the show/story compelling.  ^-^  

12:43 AM 8/1/2019

After Tsukasa declared he was going to kill all the adults, I've been thinking that maybe one of the premises of this series was in reaction to the current popularity of things like Persona 5, which often shouts things like "adults are shitty and need to be rebelled against".  I hope this isn't an emphasized interpretation of Dr. Stone, because I don't think either extreme is right.  Plus, it reminds me of that fan-made Smash Bros cutscene of Joker talking down to Snake.  I couldn't even finish it, because that unprovoked hostility and automatic prejudice against all adults in that portrayal of Joker, felt like a smear against his true personality.  In Persona 5, Joker is not only willing to collaborate with and confide in adults, but he is also open enough to not be unprovokedly hostile.  But I understand that a lot of Smash Bros players are only familiar with a superficial understanding of who Joker is, and the trailer is very much about Rebellion, with Ryuji declaring that they'll take down "shitty adults".  But Joker---Akira/Ren isn't about rebelling against everything and everyone just for the sake of anarchy.  He's a kind person who is willing to give people a chance and meet them with neutral deference.  He only rebels against the truly evil villains from both the adults and the juvenile worlds.  He isn't one of those posing, cynacle, hipsters looking to demean anyone who follows rules what sheep they are.  He's a kind person who made a lot of confidants out of adults and was sympathetic enough to listen to everyone's problems and support them.  He's not the selfishly-focused anarchist type.  

6:33 PM 8/22/2019 Need to also remember to watch: Given Fire Force - Dr. STONE Episode 4 – Fire the Smoke Signal - 11:27 PM 8/22/2019 continue - 11:51 PM 8/22/2019 done ep4 - 12:29 AM 9/27/2019 Oh wow.  I didn't write any reaction notes.  O.o!?!  

[mysticdragon3md3]

late post reactions to P5A ep6

11:21 AM 5/12/2018 Just remembered that a new ep of Persona 5 the Animation was today at 10am.  ep6

Look how mad MOrgana is at Yusuke's "confession"!  LOL

I don't like how Ren seems to snub Ryuji a lot so far in this anime.  

"What do you want to do?"  "There's something I'm curious about."  If the AkiRyu fandom doesn't use these screengrabs for some jokes, I'll be very surprised.  

Morgana and Ryuji are playing shogi together?  ^o^!   Serious closeups on Ryuji and Morgana while they talk about possibly targeting Madarame.  

Hey, that's the restaurant from the game!  I didn't even know it was in Yusuke's route!  

Ryuji is being too straightforward about the Madarame rumors.  Yusuke getting in Ryuji's face was good dramatic blocking, but it started to make me angry at Yusuke.  The direction did everything it could to make us feel Ryuji being intimidated.  Makes me protective over best boy.  I get that the scene wanted to condense all the accusations vs Madarame into a representative, but that kind of hurt.     Later gotta screengrab Ren and Morgana looking into the window they're about to jump down into.  ^.^  

Ryuji got angry when Madarame's shadow said "They need to be broken in..."  And he's so angry he runs in.  This would have more weight if we knew Ryuji was physically abused by his father and had to watch his mother get abused the same way.  

The camera wouldn't show Yusuke's face when Ryuji directly hit the truth.  

I really like this incognito meetup with Nakanohara.  Like they're real con artist pros!  ^o^  

Wow, this Nakanohara guy is really nice.  Worrying about Yusuke and not wanting him to end up like their senpai who suicided.  I don’t remember this compassion in his characterization from the game.  

[mysticdragon3md3]

got lazy watching P5A at air-time after 4/28/2018 ep4

4/28/2018:  Woke up this morning and watched Mother's Basement's video essay saying P5A was pointless.  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbzyzRdcLmo] I disagreed, wrote some thoughts, and didn't feel traumatized by a favorite YouTuber dumping on something I’ve been enjoying, because Geoff writes in a way that feels objective and accepting of differing opinions.  ^-^ 

12:31 PM 4/28/2018 As much as I enjoy Geoff losing his mind, ranting over stuff, I still enjoy that his video essays do carry an aspect of objective acceptance of differing opinions.   It occurs to me that Geoff/Mother's Basement feels the way I did when I first watched the Daybreakers OAV.  At the time, I was still so steeped in my attachment and protectiveness towards the actual Persona 5 game, that I could only see the OAV's flaws.  

But by 2 weeks/anime episodes ago, I was already lamenting any criticisms I had against that OAV, because the anime's All-Out Attack sequence was sooooooo bad.  o~o;  I totally agree with Geoff that the All-Out Sequences totally could have been high-quality stock footage that they just re-use every episode.  It could have been like any Toei anime.  It works!  Though it's repetitive, it looks nice every time and saves more animation budget/time for animating actual new scenes.  Yeah, the anime would have done much better to just insert the videogame's actual All-Out Attack sequences.  ~.~;  But it's been improving little by little each episode, so I'm not losing hope yet.  

As to the question, "What is the point of this anime adaptation?" or "How can anyone like this?".  I think the answer is simple:  fanservice.  Episode 2 and 3 was just so much fodder for the AkiRyu community alone, and just the hints I hear from the AkeShu community, they’re squealing their minds out.  But more than just providing more "canon" frames of official art of Ships together, I think it's fanservice in the way of allowing fans to just have more time with the characters we love.  Just reliving the same instances from the game, in a different format, without the pressure of controlling anything, or even just being chucked out of 1st person and into just the spectator perspective, makes the same story/characters seem a little fresh and new.  Like re-watching Disney movies in another language, or re-watching an anime dubbed.  (By the way, go watch Mulan in Chinese, especially if you're not fluent in Chinese.  It's like watching it for the first time all over again.)  It's like going over a photo album, except some things have changed and you won't know what until the page is turned.  I don't know, I just like reliving this story and these times with these characters.  (Then again, I can watch my favorite movie/series twice a day, everyday, for a month.)  Even if it’s technically repetitive, I still want to spread out that time with these characters and relive it.  

And kind of essential marketing, when I remember how much we all used to gush over Haikyuu, but now, with the exception of Good Smile Company’s new Nendoroids, it seems we all forgot about Haikyuu---and that was a really good show!  When I walk the aisles of recent artist alleys, seeing all the Haikyuu merch that we used to be so excited about, but being overlooked by customers, in favor of currently-airing series like BNHA, I feel very thankful that this anime adaptation is reviving the P5 fandom.  With every Saturday and every new episode, a flood of social media posts and fans come out of the woodwork.  It makes me feel good to know that the fandom hasn’t forgotten P5, to move onto other things.  Which is especially easy, since the Dancing Star Night spinoff game, which is keeping the fandom alive in Japan a year later, isn’t (yet) localized.  

But yes, watching P5A is very much like watching a Let's Play of the game.  And I know because I watched a playthrough of the game without playing it.  That's actually how I got into Persona 5, and it was my first in-depth experience with ANY Persona.  And yet, it was very effective and intense for me.  The common question for anime adaptations of games is "Who is this for, when you can just play the game?"  This is for high-anxiety people like me, who are so afraid of the pressure of playing, of being responsible for the character's actions, of the intensity of being virtually placed in those moments, that I've been putting off playing the game, even though it's been on my shelf since last Black Friday. I even bought the PS4 for it!  Though I already watched all the Let's Plays and all the spoilers, yes, I bought the videogame.  I have a history of still enjoying playing a game even after watching all the cutscenes.  (It worked with DMC3 and I know it’ll work with P5.)  That’s how different playing a game is for me vs watching even the same story; that first-person intensity probably makes all the difference.  Though I STILL haven't played it yet.  Book aficionados are always bragging how reading novels is so much more intense, personal, and  just better than watching a movie adaption, but I think videogames have got reading books beat, when it comes to immersion.  (At least when a game is made well.)  And it's because of that immersion that anxious people, HSPs, etc. just need some distance.  The same things which makes books and videogames so effective, can over-stimulate anxious HSPs, and make it too much to experience.  The dampening distance created by less intense adaptations, like a video that plays regardless of pressure on the viewer to interact and be proactive, is just what over-sensitive people need, to be able to take part in a fandom/franchise.  And I really like this world, this fandom, and as I'm discovering, this franchise, which never caught my eye before.  So even though there's an enormous list of other great anime to catch up on, I still keep coming back to this P5A, the same way I keep re-watching Natsume Yuujinchou instead of checking out new shows.  It's comfort food.  I'm already familiar, and I could be watching different and maybe better things, but...I just can't take the intensity of a new show all the time.  Yes, this anime series is just a marketing tool.  (But I think it's also fun for pre-established fans of the game to re-live the story and spend more time with these characters.)  But if it can bring in new fans, even just to spark the curiosity into checking out the videogame, why not?  Sure, you could say an anime adaptation could be so bad that it would turn off the curious from checking out the videogame.  But I don't think this anime is that bad.  In fact, it's been making slight improvements in each successive episode.  Then again, maybe my bar is just reeaaaaaaaaaaally low, after watching the Dramatical Murder anime adaptation, and still trying to scrape some enjoyment out of that, after having been attached to the game.  Though it is a shame that the anime couldn’t have taken more liberties or done something more interesting, given that the director(s) seem to be very skilled.  

Bringing back that "Akria vs Ren" war was a hilarious touch.  

1:09 PM 4/28/2018 https://youtu.be/mxfefiuAtQ8

Ooh!  Someone posted the P5A ep4 opening sequence, and it's brand new!  *O* Oh my goawd!  It actually showed Ryuji posting up those Calling Cards!  ^U^   That was nice.  I liked it.   If Mother’s Basement did a “What’s in an OP” on this, he’d probably complain about the cliche sky shot at the end.  Frankly, I do too.  It’s hackneyed.  I get the symbolism, but I actually kind of prefer the ending shot of the first 2 eps’ temporary opening sequence, with Joker firing his gun towards the camera and all those graphics/stars flying around.  ^.^;;;;  

1:28 PM 4/28/2018 https://youtu.be/THftcierPG0 Pixie Falls For Joker In P5 The Animation posted by Harry Type-C Oh they found a use for the red eyes on Joker!  ^o^  

1:34 PM 4/28/2018 Here we go.  Persona 5 the Animation ep4.  [I’ll add screengrabs when I have time.] "A dumb kid trying to sound mature."  LOL  And Ren says nothing!  LOL   "It's cute!"  "Well, if you say so, Lady Ann!"  LOL   "Go Go Mask"?  At least it wasn't "Go Go Kamen".  I'm tired of comparisons between Joker and Tuxedo Kamen/Mask.  Postponing Ren's code name?  Is there going to be a special reveal for the end?  ^.^?   Morgana charging towards the treasure!  ^o^!!   "I'm not expecting much..."  Oh, c'mon, Ann!  Not after that shot was giving such a heartwarming moment. "I'll kill that cat later."  LOL   Nooo!  I don't want to say goodbye, Arsene!  ;o;  "We shall meet again."  I've always had a problem letting go, especially of my old selves.   I love that "ice queen" look on Ann.  Perfect for this moment.   Oh, Morgana!  Clinging to the treasure!  LOL   Run!  Run!  Run, everybody!   I like the camera going to Mishima when Ann talked about Shiho having to pretend to not see things.   Wow.  They really needed more time to cram the story.  It's going over the credits.   Joker.  "I chose it because it seems like you've got something."   "Nya nya urusai da."   "And I was going to offer to name it.  I have some leftovers.  Hang on." Woah!  Jumping ahead much with this preview clip!  Why are all the Phantom Thieves already together?  Why is Akechi already throwing down his blackmail ultimatum?!?  

[mysticdragon3md3]

reactions to P5A ep2

Cat bus tail!

The cut-ins work really well.  Whether in the Metaverse or the real world.

Shiho looks REALLY different!  O.O  Not bad.  I was just very surprised.  o.O

This is the one time I've ever seen this cliche where they share the last bread.  ^o^

Goddamnit...Why is he so effortlessly beautiful?!

REBELLION!  ^o^  You can’t break his spirit!

Well, at least this version of the track team aren't such jerks.  At least they had the decency to feel bad about Ryuji's leg then stop the topic when they saw it was really effecting him.  The guy with the headband though, he looks like the type to assume Ryuji’s clenched fist means he was about to pick a fight.

I really like this short clip here that shows Kawakami felt bad that Akira/Ren was being ostracized by the other students.  It gives more emphasis to the upcoming talk she has with Akira/Ren, in the next scene, about staying away from Ryuji, so his reputation doesn't go down even further and make everyone treat him worse. 

I love these little scenes that show how everyone feels without stating it.  

Did you say "Sakamoto"?!  <3 <3

I didn't realize before how casually dismissive Ryuji's tone on this line was.  The game's English dub made him sound so much more submissive.  The anime makes it seem like Ryuji is either settling into his image as a “delinquent” or he’s just given up on the teachers (which, after what he’s gone though, isn’t unwarranted).  The game subtly conveyed Ryuji being ill-fit to the “delinquent” image that everyone was forcing onto him; kind of hinted that he was a nice guy in reality or that the rumors were complete BS.  Though, both interpretations are good and both have interesting perspectives.  

I love that Akira/Ren was conscious of Ryuji's subtle actions.  

...Actually, a lot of the characters have been like that so far.  Very observant of others’ feelings and just a really efficient way to show how empathetic characters are.  Actually the whole direction of this show seems to be like that. ��^-^  When I first heard the announcement for this series, I was afraid it would have some direction failings, like the Daybreakers OAV.  I'm so glad that worry can be withdrawn.  The direction is good!  ^-^  

He said "Isekai Navi".  LOL  ^o^  Isekai is such a popular genre right now, I wonder if Ryuji has been reading some manga like that and secretly notices some familiar tropes when they go to the Metaverse.  ^o^

Yeah, we almost died last time---Let's do it, bro!

Now that Ryuji mentions it, there really is a difference with how much more quiet/subdued Akira/Ren is in the real world vs how much more talkative/commanding he is in the Metaverse.  I like that this anime chose to draw attention to that.  (Maybe I'm just starved for direct characterization for Akira/Ren after the game. LOL)  

I know that this scene wants to draw the audience's attention to how uncomfortable Shiho is to be left alone with Kamoshida, but it unfortunately makes it look like Ann is just running away to leave Shiho with the scary guy.  But seriously, Ann has no idea Shiho is in physical danger.  Ann thought she was the only one in physical danger, since she was using herself to distract Kamoshida from threatening to take Shiho out of the staring lineup.  If Ann knew that more than just Shiho's starting position was in danger, she totally would have stayed or made up an excuse to pull Shiho away.  

Morgana gives a lot more explanations and more immediately.  I think it's an improvement!  No one better complain about any "exposition dumps" because these were a godsend!  Makes more sense for Morgana to explain everything right away too!  Why wouldn’t he explain everything right away, when it would make Akira/Ren and Ryuji more useful?  Really draws attention to how much of the game was just running around, based on misunderstandings.  Maybe we won't get the, "Ryuji running around, trying to free the Palace prisoners before even knowing who they are, because he's just THAT nice and protective of a guy", but this was really efficient storytelling, and this series is probably only going to be 12-13 episodes.  (Anyway, Ryuji just taking the lecture from his former teammates and returning to the Palace for them, already say that he’s a selfless person at heart.)

Holding on a little too long, Joker?  ^.~  (Nope?  Just me?  LOL)

Everyone wants to pet the kitty!  I can't tell if Ryuji has a soft spot for fuzzy animals or he just wants to be able to say he touched a "monster cat".  LOL

He's transformed into his Metaverse outfit, but he can't summon his Persona!  Yes!  Begin the foreshadowing so that Noir's introduction will make sense!  I just love how much this anime is fixing some mistakes/ambiguity from the game.  ^__^  Also shows that the director is thinking head.  ^_^

It only just now occurs to me that Ryuji's original track coach tried to stand up for Ryuji, after Kamoshida broke his leg.  The way Kamoshida put this, it sounds like Kamoshida was initially just going to break Ryuji's leg, but when the track coach tried to stand up for Ryuji, only then did Kamoshida decide to get that coach fired.  I wonder what happened to that coach if he actually cared about Ryuji and the team enough to stand up for them and lose his job.  ;.;?  

These close-ups look pretty good.

Again, another explanation perfectly timed to explain what's going on.  Because I don't want people unfamiliar with the Persona videogame to be completely lost when they watch this.  (That wasn't fun when I tried to watch the Persona 4 Golden anime.)  Just clearly stating that this is a world where emotions become reality, explains why Ryuji suddenly gets power and why Akira/Ren will suddenly be able to summon his power when he had just failed to do so previously. Again, good foreshadowing for later.  

Totally playing up the "devious outlaw" image.  LOL

More nice closeups.

Summoning Arsene from the mask just looks cool.  ^_^

OMG.  Taken directly from the game.  I'm sorry.  I loved it in the game, but it's just too jarring in the anime.  I mean, the game's UI/UX design throughout the gameplay established something this stylish to happen.  What in the anime did that kind of setup?  I suddenly feel VERY BAD now that I criticized the Persona 5 Daybreakers OAV's direction during its fight sequence.  (It wasn't that it wasn't stylish!  It was that its pacing lagged in some parts, especially contrasting the fast pace of the music, feeling out of sync.  That was the only thing that made it seem not stylish enough!)  But after P5A ep2, I'd love to have the Daybreakers OAV's fight scene.  x~x;  Of course...such a scene looked VERY expensive to animate, and that was a 22 minute OAV; this is a 12-13 episode anime.  So I understand.  Please cut your budget where you can.  I'll take re-hashes directly from the game (with minimal anime redraws) if you'll just fix some of the inconsistent characterizations and plot flubs.  

Cute kitty. <3

Grab his hand.  ^_~

Yes.  Thank you for filling us in.  

Again, another closeup of subtle reactions.  All the explanation we need.  Good direction.  ^-^  Just as effective as that whole scene from the game when the lady was threatened into not helping Akira/Ren---but here it’s all in 2 seconds!  *o*

Noooooo~!  ;o;!

Oh, Ryuji's over-emotional reactions.  ^_^  At first, it was really jarring, almost childish.  But it's just so honest and authentic that you can't help but feel he's trustworthy.  Then these outbursts just become really endearing.  He's a good boy.  

I know they're just reusing the previous frame of Akira/Ren on this close-up, but it just worked really well!  Gave emphasis to what Ryuji just said about how what Akira/Ren did wasn't wrong.  Strangely, in the game's version of this scene, Ryuji didn't say all this stuff about "You can't just walk away when someone's in trouble, right?  That's why you helped her.  How is that wrong?  It ain't at all!", instead, he ranted about how evil the guy who framed Akira/Ren is.  The anime makes it a point to say this line, even though it is pretty much a reiteration of the same thing Arsene already said to Akira/Ren, right before his Awakening in episode 1, to steel Akira/Ren's resolve.  It seems that the director is trying to point out this theme here.  Because a crucial moment like his Persona Awakening and this moment given dramatic emphasis through these suddenly close-ups and direct eyeline, are both talking about the same thing, with almost the same phrasing.  Maybe Akira/Ren has been carrying around some self-doubts about him doing the right thing to help that lady.  Maybe the weight of the consequences and punishments have been making him double-guess his resolve to do the right thing.  Maybe his character arc in this anime series will be to unquestionably reclaim his resolve to follow his own decisions and do what he thinks is right.  I can see that as an awesome moment in the series climax.  *o*

Akira/Ren, you rebellious little shit…  Stop teasing and just take the invitation.  LOL  Well I guess he's getting pretty familiar if he's already comfortable enough to be playful.  ^.^;

I love how Morgana has to continuously hop upward to appear in frame.  ^u^  Watch his little paws swinging up and down!  ;u;!