Spring 2013

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

Okay I managed to watch a RAW of Episode 11 titled "Jidō Hanbaiki" (Vending Machine). My Japanese is admittedly terrible and I should really just be watching a subtitled version (whenever the fansubbers are done), but from what I understand, it is showing the part of the arc where Touya meets 10031 and 10032 from Misaka's perspective, with more amusing moment of Kuroko freaking out over the thought of Misaka meeting up with a boy. Won't say much more since semi-spoilers but it's great to see that they didn't just reuse the footage from the Index version of this arc, it's all new animation and voices once more.

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

Firewind, Google UTW, they get subs out faster than anyone (usually within 24 hrs of airing in Tokyo) Unless it's Horrible subs with their straight rips off Crunchy Roll, etc., but I don't think Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is on any Western streams...

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

It's a Funimation licensed anime so no, it will not appear on any streams, nor will it come to Europe any time soon. We are still waiting for the first series of Index. Funimation are dicks like that with making shows US ONRY in availability (even refusing to ship outside the US in a number of cases), then have the nerve to whine about their shows being so heavily pirated outside of the US and using it as an excuse to refuse to release stuff on Blu-Ray. Basically Funimation are the Ubi-Soft of the Anime Industry, pirates offer a far better service than them and they use it as an excuse to be as anti-consumerist as possible instead of giving us a reason to actually buy their stuff.

It doesn't help that the entire rest of the world isn't even in DVD Region 1 so for the rest of us in Region 2, finding a region free DVD player can be a pain because retailers refuse to stock them as it encourages people to import far cheaper Region 1 DVDs. Anime piracy in Europe is rampant because it simply isn't available here and when it is, it is always at a ridiculous price.

And thanks for reminding me of UTW, I forgot all about those guys.

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

If you think Fun-baba is bad, Aniplex is even worse, as they're scraping the skin off their customers. I refuse to purchase their SAO release as it is not only a travesty (there's less meat on their release than the ones JP buy) but a slap to the face in terms of pricing and serialization.

Oh and Toaru Kagaku no Railgun 12 is awesome with a wink and a nod to Titan ... you'll understand what I mean when you see it.

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

I saw it. The Episode was another tear jerker given that in 13:

semi spoilers for those who haven't seen series 1 of Index

Touma's going to find what's left of 10032 and Misaka is going to go into full of death seeker mode

But again, it was great to see that they didn't just recycle old animation and voices for it. I've really enjoyed seeing the whole arc from Misaka's perspective. I actually prefer Railgun as a whole over Index due to the sheer amount of character development that goes on. Just about everyone on the Science side has had some kind of development.

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

I think given that light novels are pretty soulless (AFAIC) and only serve as transcripts to a soon-to-be-released-manga, the anime team didn't have any clear direction and had to do the best they could. With the first season of Railgun, I'm sure they were allowed certain liberties and now with the manga helping to bridge that divide, the team got a bit more content and inspiration to really flesh things out in "S". I just wish they could "redo" Index, but with "S" out, they'd have to just focus on the Magic side of things a lot more (It could just be me, but in Index, they gave very little depth to either Magic and Science, and half the time I'm reeling with the speed of which the story progressed at)

Edit: Just to be clear, not all light novels are like this. Reki Kawahara's works are in-between and had more feeling, depth and content than many other light novels (called novellas in the Western world)

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

I agree, Index, especially Index II just seemed to be there purely to advance the plot. A friend and myself both describe it as "Touma goes somewhere and something happens, with him reacting to it. Then Touma TOUMA PAUNCHES people while shouting about illusions and stuff". Index also suffers from characterisation being utterly dependant on the writer.

I was disappointed that Index II didn't do a great deal to flesh out the Magic side outside of adding even more MacGuffins and sub factions that are really parts of bigger factions, but not really because the plot says so right now etc, etc

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

Appropriately enough since I've had "Only My Railgun" stuck in my head all day today, it did also remind me of a Vending Machine in a local park back when I was about 14-15 that was like the one from the To Aru Universe.

Basically it had a really old style lock so if you kicked it the lock hard enough, the door would spring open and you could grab whatever ice cream or drink from it and, and be able to close the door without anyone realising what you had opened it up. I think they ended up fitting an alarm to it later though.

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

I've had experience with a vending machine quite eerily similar to Misaka's one at the local military base (Fort Shafter) I used to go on base a lot since my dad was in the Army, and once it ate my quarter and I was mad. Shaking it didn't help so I gave it a good boot on the side of it and an item popped out (completely at random, just like in Toaru) It'd only do so AFTER you deposit the money, so it would make for an interesting conversation starter, albeit annoying as fuck if you had wanted something specific.

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

I loved the pacing in #13, with tension building up to that fated showdown on the bridge. Seems like there's a lot that they fleshed out, so Index S1 (Sisters Arc) makes a lot more sense.

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

Technical issues other things kept me from watching it last night but I'll be watching it later for sure .

[Zempten]

Re: Spring 2013

I'm watching on anime fushigi >.>;;

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

Episode 14 ... such a beautiful episode.

[Firewind]

Re: Spring 2013

Agreed there. The writing and direction was excellent plus you had the entirely of Miskaks's internal thoughts during the bridge encounter which does explain a lot as well.

Next week it's Touma vs Accelerator. Can't wait to see that fight with Railgun S's higher animation budget. Seriously you can make a drinking game out of how any animation errors that Index I has XD

[Aeni]

Re: Spring 2013

Episode 15 was action packed and still had a lot of heart and soul to it. Is it just me or did JC Staff did a complete rework on the emotional aspects of the series? Railgun is so much more than what Index could've been. I just hope it carries forth into Index III.