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Dec 8, 2012 8:49 PM
#1

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Aug 2008
2128
THIS IS AN ANIME ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS THE MANGA BEYOND THIS EPISODE.
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Thanks God! This episode is 12 min long!!!
And I totally loved it! I've always been interested in Myoue and now, he finally got an episode! yay
It was pretty well done! I especially liked the scenes when the character just stared at each other! :D Koto is an amusing character! I like the reason why she named the 2, a and un!
and I need to rewatch it with sub, but do you think the things that are disposed in the train were the things that flew away last episode? :O Well, it hints that the train is going to deliver the stuff to Koto (woman).
and I don't get why the character at the beginning is voiced by Ishida Akita too! He doesn't look like Sensei though...ah but the monk has red eyes too, it might be the same person then! and he's with the dog, one more hint!

next episode better be at least 12 min! and then, I'm going to wait for a TV sequel!

and I wonder why all the thread on ep 1 and 3 got deleted... (because of the troll accident?)
KuriniDec 8, 2012 9:15 PM
Dec 9, 2012 4:09 AM
#2

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heh his hoplessly waiting for his master to return but Koto resembles his master too so thats why he can wait happily
Dec 9, 2012 3:32 PM
#3
めんどくさい

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2874
Kurini said:
Thanks God! This episode is 12 min long!!!

I rated it higher just because it was a little longer.

Kurini said:
but do you think the things that are disposed in the train were the things that flew away last episode? :O Well, it hints that the train is going to deliver the stuff to Koto (woman).
Seems reasonable to consider that.
Dec 9, 2012 4:56 PM
#4

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Oct 2012
3
this was a pretty good episode. I like how this story is coming around full circle and Koto is hilarious. Next episode is 12/22, so looking forward to it and hope its a longer one.
Dec 9, 2012 6:59 PM
#5

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May 2011
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KhanhCPham said:
The music is incredible.


This episode had some amazing scenes, and the music was the best part of all. I keep rewatching it just to hear the scores. ^^=
Dec 9, 2012 9:07 PM
#6

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47
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana
"A" and "Un" are pretty much "A" and "Z" of the English alphabet.
Nice naming sense.
The plot may still be a blur, but I definitely think whoever goes on the train, goes there move to the afterlife. In other words, die.
This is why Koto looks at the train departing and comments how sad it is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_on_the_Galactic_Railroad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_Express_999
The origin of these stories has passage towards the afterlife being symbolized by a train.
This concept also shows in many Western works like Harry Potter.
http://i.imgur.com/fdJwX0y.jpg
Another feature of the animation style is that the "people" that trudge past Koto when she walks out from the train station is that they have no features. i.e. We're meant to think that they are of no importance. These people have already accomplished what they had set out to do, and head there to fade away.
This may be further explained by the scenes of the inside of the train. Most of them are objects or things that symbolize imminent disposal or death.
http://i.imgur.com/cGLaw6I.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Qfgr5SH.jpg
The doll shown here most likely represents the story of the matchstick girl, a story that tells of death as if fading into a happy illusion, casting aside the worries of living.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Match_Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&hl=en-GB&v=yUSzQBaWq0Q Look at the outfit shown.
The birthday cake is representing the way most modern people recognize the passage of time.
Even the old lady there depicts a widow that is seeking her end.
The faceless people that board the train become the objects and trinkets that were important to them in life, as they prepare for departure, since most of the objects have the theme of "Used goods" or "Things that used to be important to me".
As Kyousogiga has so far been showing a perfect society where everything repairs itself without even being thought about, and objects being disposed just by thinking about it in the last episode, perhaps people here are immortal, and that is why they have to make a conscious decision to end their lives; by boarding the train.
Regarding the meeting of the three, you can clearly tell that the meetings are just another way to mark the passage of time in this Mirror Kyoto, as they all wait for the return of "Koto".
The three are shown to have their own unique outlook on waiting for Koto, but to emotionally distance themselves from the matter, they decide to talk about the common story of Hachiko.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D
Yase Douji decided to carry on with her own life as she waits.
The monk is skeptic about the return of the "king", but has nothing else to look forward to.
The monk calls her out on her ambitions by stating that she's not actually waiting for the master's return, but rather wishes to meet her end as having waited for her master.
This obviously enrages her, because she seeks a distinction between her and Myoue.
Another thing to note was that Myoue and the other two had been waiting for hundreds of years.
http://i.imgur.com/CkC2tql.jpg

TL;DR I think the train signifies death, and this story looks at the very human behavior of relating to characters in a story, and the concept of "self-insert characters".
AnvicaMay 16, 2013 5:30 AM
Dec 10, 2012 3:45 AM
#7

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Oct 2011
1049
best episode yet!!! a treatise on buddhist thought....the beginning and the end, rebirth of an old monk as a young and obnoxious schoolgirl, the dog that waited (and why), beauty in sadness and laughter in the silliness of it all! this show is pure and unadulterated pleasure - there should definitely be more!!!
Dec 11, 2012 6:11 AM
#8

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Dec 2011
6101
Oh, we finally got some background story to Myoue.
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Dec 11, 2012 6:20 AM
#9

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May 2012
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did anyone else noticed that they left the dog at the train station xD
Dec 11, 2012 9:29 AM
めんどくさい

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Sep 2011
2874
remonkip said:
did anyone else noticed that they left the dog at the train station xD
From what I've seen the dog has always had to find his own way around much of the time. On the other hand, from what I've seen I would not be surprised if he has means other than just walking.
Dec 12, 2012 12:58 AM

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Jun 2009
552
This series has a FLCL feel to it. A vague, disjointed storyline and incomprehensible actions taken or words spoken by the characters but still somehow enjoyable and beautiful in its own way.
Dec 12, 2012 7:35 AM

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Nov 2007
31283
Ishida-san's character is back! So he gave the monk title and power to SuzuKen's character when he left. Interesting.
I Two Syaorans from Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE and TRC!!!
Dec 13, 2012 9:00 AM

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7087
Very awesome episode! It was a lot more fun than usual and that scene at the end was very nice too. ^^
Shame there's only 1 episode left.

Anvica said:

+1
Thanks again for the explanation. I swear, I can't make any sense of this show at all so it helps a lot to have posts like these around.
-Kenshin-Dec 13, 2012 9:10 AM
Dec 13, 2012 11:41 PM

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May 2012
128
i really enjoy watching these episodes. i would love to see more after the 5th episode. an anime would be awesome i love all these characters and the story (from what i understand lol)

Dec 16, 2012 2:12 PM

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Feb 2012
5478
That has been the most satisfying episode so far, Koto makes life better.
Dec 19, 2012 11:59 AM

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Dec 2010
47
kenshin_sama said:

+1
Thanks again for the explanation. I swear, I can't make any sense of this show at all so it helps a lot to have posts like these around.

No problem :D I actually made that post hoping you would read it.

AnvicaDec 22, 2012 12:11 PM
Dec 21, 2012 4:13 AM
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Jul 2018
564612
I'm still not sure what I'm watching here.
Dec 22, 2012 10:55 AM

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Nov 2011
127893


This episode gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling especially the dog and that ride during the sunset. "You're it!"
Mar 7, 2013 3:14 PM

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Apr 2012
391
That art! That music! *starry eyes*

Ahem... personally I'm not that big a fan of Myoue, but that doesn't change the fact that the art and music remains awesome. Also, I loved the reference to Hachiko (it got me all teary-eyed just by remembering it).

I hope Koto and Myoue don't end up together or something like that though, it would kinda ruin this series for me. The music and art at the end of the episode definitely gave me too many marriage associations... Lady Koto x Koto all the waaaaaaay~

Anvica said:

Thanks a bunch for the explanation, it did wonders for my brain!
Jul 9, 2013 8:32 AM

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May 2012
25827
This episode was kinda beautiful, really liked the art style in this! Nice setting and atmosphere around this episode! Up to the last one.
Sep 24, 2013 7:24 PM

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Jan 2013
11047
i dont know what's happening.
Oct 26, 2013 4:47 AM
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Aug 2011
1165
This was great.
Nov 1, 2013 12:06 PM

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Jun 2012
1347
Anvica said:
Damn, that seriously changed my entire outlook on this series. I mean I'm not surprised that it's got all kinds of metaphors, given the initial Through the Looking Glass references... but still, that gives me a much more serious perspective on this random as hell anime, lol.

cladinpink said:
That art! That music! *starry eyes*

Also, I loved the reference to Hachiko (it got me all teary-eyed just by remembering it).
Yeah, same here! xD
I'm glad there are others who got that reference. The movie was sad as hell... one of the few times I just couldn't stop from crying even though other people were watching it with me. >>
HalibelTheEspadaNov 1, 2013 12:10 PM
Jun 1, 2014 6:16 AM

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Aug 2013
15793
OMG <3 Awesome scene when he grabbed her hand .... I really love the OSTs here <3

LCWS | SCS | TCO | NC | DNC
Jan 8, 2015 3:13 AM

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Feb 2013
1926
Didn't expect them to talk about Hachiko. This episode was more confusing thant the others. Thanks for that explanation though.
Jan 19, 2015 10:40 PM

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Jun 2014
1377
Koto is freaking adorable.
None of the above theories make much sense though, cause we know that monk guy is still around. We saw him in the first ONA. the 25 minute one. as well as epidsode one, cause he was the one who taught Koto right?
Be sure to message me if you quoted me and want me to respond! Just give me a link to the forum, because usually I leave my comment, then leave the forum.
May 18, 2016 1:34 PM
Ceasefire NOW

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Aug 2009
3699
Mmm guess I should watch the TV series again.
Jun 22, 2021 3:33 AM

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May 2020
1885
Poor Hachiko LOL, they really ripped into him.

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