I.D. Analysis – Midweek of 3rd – 7th in review

After all the heavy drama series, it was time to watch some light hearted comedy and I got more than I bargained for with some serious laughing bouts for Lovely Complex Episode 5, as well as some sweet moments in Hitohira Episode 6. Of course, I realized that I have been keeping rather quiet with Ookiku Furikabutte, possibly the anime that got me hooked into playing MVP NCAA Baseball 07. Of course, I used the Long Beach State since it is pretty amusing to be using the team where I will be traveling to very soon.

Anyway, idle talk aside, it’s time to write about my anime experience for the past few days!

Hitohira Episode 6: Click here
Ookiku Furikabutte Episode 4:Click here
Lovely Complex Episode 5: Click here

Hitohira Episode 6

This episode deals with Muji, who has actually run away from the training after some harsh words by Nono. Eventually, she realizes that she has said many hurtful words toward Nono, someone who loved drama so much. They finally got back together as they resumed their practice, with the fireworks being the finale of their last practice.

I really like the coming of age for Muji when she finally decided not to run anymore. In a way, Muji often asks to be rescued by a guy, which is probably easy for such an adorable girl like her who has difficulties even to scream for fun if she requires it. However, Nono’s insistence and perhaps rashness has allowed her to break through Muji’s fragilities and allow Muji to finally allow herself to try for once.

It is also a bit of character development on Nono when we realize that she lacks courage as well. In a way, she cannot be forefront like her best friend, Mirei and it’s perhaps as well that Katsuragi is the only one who probably understands Nono’s intentions the best. Yet, his aloof and “let it go along” is perhaps a sign of his maturity to let matters flow on his own rather than interrupt them. To add ,the little fanservice created in the bathing scene and the heartwarming end is always something good to conclude this arc. Yet another sweet episode ended.

Ookiku Furikabutte Episode 4

To start off, I thank Seleria’s summary for the first few episodes because I have problems with names.This episode starts off with Mihashi pitching for the first time against his former teammates and surprising them with an initial fastball and accurate slider and curve pitching propelled by Abe’s good judgment of the batter’s body language. When it came to their time to bat, Tajima successfully dealt with the forkball after stepping forward, hitting it through second base. However, Hanai tried to do the same but failed to hit the forkball. Momoe told him to figure it out as the opposition’s fourth batter was pitched out, and Mihashi successfully struck out the rest.

This totally rocks. Seriously, if you are not a fan of baseball (which I wasn’t until I watched it), you should still give this anime a try because the main wimpy character is just about the most hardworking yet least confident person I have ever seen. In a way, I can feel some of him in me, since I always do not think that highly of myself even though I work quite hard in school and work to be honest. I also enjoy the fact that Mihashi is a control pitcher, rather than a fast ball 4seam pitcher, or a screwball specialist as his curve, slider pitches (things you learn after reading a bit of wiki) are more of technical placement hits.

I also enjoy the development between Abe and Mihashi, and Mihashi even got a little over himself at the end when he raised his hand in trumpet before putting it down worriedly. Still, he is finally in a team that knows and respects his talents, unlike the myopic former teammates that only know about power rather than control. Control, under a masterful catcher, is perhaps the biggest weapon. I also wondered about Hanai’s strength as a batter, and it’s also realistic that none of the batters are the type of home run hitters, compared to the enemy’s fourth batter. It makes teamwork even more important than it is now. I cannot wait to see whether Hanai can find a way to get a run.

Lovely Complex Episode 5

This episode starts off with Atsushi happy that such a cute girl like Seiko kissed him and asked him to be her boyfriend. As they went into a body check up, Risa grew two more centimeters as she started to feel depressed because Atsushi would never like someone so tall like her. We then discovered that Seiko was in fact a trap, with Atsushi totally disgusted at the notion. After a few attempts to throw herself at Atsushi, a few girls’ taunting of her and Risa defending her made her cry, but Atsushi appeared to comfort Seiko and said that she was not disgusting even though being her boyfriend was disturbing. At the school festival, Risa carried Atsushi to dress up, as she no longer was binded by her height anymore.

I so love this episode! Seiko is like the most epic trap ever in history. I really thought that she is a gal, and I am like totally stunned for a moment (my wifey went LMAO when I told her about an epic trap) before recovering from my initial shock. This is like a very good twist for a shoujo series, because you usually do not have traps flying around in traditional shoujo styled series. Nevertheless, I really like Risa more and more with her huge reaction when she realized that she is in fact falling in love with Atsushi.

She’s actually very pretty but I do not know why no one sees the beauty in her. After realizing that Seiko is a trap, I somehow managed to chuckle whatever Atsushi sees her and he goes like “Don’t do that!” and “Don’t come close to me!”. He is seriously petrified and who would not, if such a cute girl is in fact a guy. It’s really disturbing with the phermone release. The next episode also holds interesting revelations as Risa is going to confess. Oh no, better not let her be rejected. Please no rejection!