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Dec 26, 2009 12:10 PM
#1

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THIS IS AN ANIME ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS THE NOVEL HERE (I'm talking to you wakka9ca).
----------------------------------------
I'm amazed. Great closure of the great anime. If I were to be objective I would have given it an 8/10 but for many reasons I consider it to be a masterpiece and give it Goral's seal of approval ;).
I didn't expect that everything would end so fast. Erin has been shot at the beginning of the episode and when it seemed that creators might want to make a tragic ending Lilan saved the day but in what style... I was awed and my jaw went down to the floor when I've seen Lilan transporting Erin using his fangs (the same fangs that a while earlier cut Erin's finger's off) and mouth. Add to this incredibly expressive music and images and you've got an epic scene.
I was surprised however that Ial was so careless that he let daimiya get away but all in all he redeemed himself and killed him in one swell swing (BTW, the way he did it was great, Matrix can't compare to it ;P).
And the last scene - <wolf-whistle> - I've never seen such wonderfully drawn anime character before (at least from profile view).
It would seem that the series has ended definietly but continuation can be made very easily provided that DVDs and Blu-ray discs will sell so let's make it happen boys and girls. I'm counting on you ;).
Dec 27, 2009 3:08 AM
#2

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Dec 2009
17
I think I agree with everything goral said.... Except I kinda hope there isn't a sequel....at least not one that follows the novel....I really think the anime ended perfectly
Dec 27, 2009 10:37 AM
#3
Observer

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This season covers the first TWO books of a series of FOUR. So a sequel is definitely possible.

It looks like they will make summary episodes for now, that will condense the entire story into 10 episodes starting in January.

Beautiful ending by the way.
bla bla bla
The endless debate between fans and haters. At one point, after spending a lot of time on MAL, you just realize it's totally pointless.
Niko-kun said:
On MAL, everyone who has used the lame rating system becomes a critic and an intellectual by default, haven't you heard?
Dec 27, 2009 2:01 PM
#4

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Apr 2009
3624
I want to watch it!!! T_T
First time I'm so desperate for the subs to come out sooner ToT
Dec 27, 2009 3:17 PM
#5

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Sep 2008
1836
perfect ending to a perfect series.. well in general.. could have moved a bit faster but other than that great :)
Dec 28, 2009 1:46 PM
#6

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9/10 for amazing storytelling coupled with memorable characters. Great ending too.


"There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled,
which leads to an unknown, secret place."
Dec 28, 2009 3:23 PM
#7

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Feb 2008
5383
wow, how about that ending.... that was awesome. the prologue was a nice touch too. no need to ask who the father is hehe the resemblance is obvious. it has been a while since there has been an anime like this.
Dec 28, 2009 4:06 PM
#8

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Jesh looks like his father X3


Dec 28, 2009 6:49 PM
#9

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Who's the father? Ial or Tomura? Hard to tell since the kid has an optimistic look on his face like Tomura but has the same hair as Ial lol.

Episode was fantastic. I was hopping for a little more info on what happened after Erin was saved though :(. Didn't like how they just skipped ahead a few years and teased us with a new child and a marriage between the queen and whats his face. I was also hoping to see the reaction of the mist village to what Erin did :/. O well still a solid 10/10 for me. If they do make a second season I'm sure it will answer these little questions.

Worth the watch and definitively worth the buy when it comes out. Support this show!
Dec 28, 2009 9:00 PM

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Nov 2008
1082
Absolutely amazing anime.
I was really surprised when Erin got hit with the arrow; unexpected.
DeathfireD said:
I was also hoping to see the reaction of the mist village to what Erin did :/.

True. The only thing about the anime is that the mist people seem to be.. absent when it comes to Erin. I guess that that one guy has kept Erin's actions a secret from the village.
Dec 28, 2009 9:45 PM
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Nov 2009
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I went ugh through much of the episode, hoping it would finally end. I still don't know what the relationship between Erin and Lilan is anymore. I went ugh when Nugan reared his ugly head, a one-dimensional character full of contradictions that make this a children's show. I also went ugh at Erin thinking she could just stand there threatening suicide so easily, and went ugh when they all gasped that Mr. Evil Uncle actually had a plan and wasn't going to just stand there like they all hoped, this being in the prior episodes. I went ugh when the horsemen shot at Erin, when the Ohju clearly had saved Shunan's life by immobilizing Nugan's entire army, and they could so have easily shot Shunan in the process or enraged the Ohju when he was on Lilan's back. I went ugh when they skipped the latter half of the battle when clearly the two touda armies were still fighting each other and completely ignoring Seimiya or Shunan, with or without flag raised or Lilan flying around. They shouldn't have killed Damiya. Instead, Lilan should have eaten Nugan alive, limb by limb. That guy is the slowest anime character I've ever known. I'm not even sure if this is an anime only ending. 5/10 for the last episode.

Overall it was a good series, nothing really consistent though, marred by aggravating simplicities, omissions, ambiguities, and plotholes that the Japanese so love in their storytelling, as well as an over-indulgent slow pace that probably served to get the kiddies to go to sleep before bedtime. 8/10 overall, saved by the dozen or so episodes that I really liked.
Dec 29, 2009 12:31 AM

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@siberstorm27
Isn't that obvious how Erin's and Lilan's relationship looks like? One another forgave each other and their relationship became much healthier. Erin got rid off the whistle that was like a whip and Lilan accepted her and wanted to be with her even though he had a freedom to go his own way. We know that Lilan is still with Erin since Aru is there (and he isn't mature yet).
About Nugan, yeah he was one-dimensional character but what did you expect for him to be? His character was briefly covered in like 5 episodes... He certainly wasn't full of contradictions if you think that way it means you haven't been paying attention while watching this show. He envied his brother from the start but at first he adored him. When Shunan told him however that he doesn't want to be a stupid brute like him that only swings his sword and that he would like to find a peaceful solution to his country's problems he got mad at him. He wanted to be like Yaman Hasel and be the tool in the hands of Jeh's descendants. The problem was he was ignored by his father and his strength wasn't acknowledged by Harumiyah (who didn't give a rat's ass about Wajaku) so his frustration grew. Daimiyah saw this, used him and manipulated him. He thought he was defending the country by attacking the "rebels" (or he wanted to believe it because his envy blinded him). In short he was stupid and acted like a retard so no, he wasn't full of contradictions.
As for Erin threatening she would kill herself, I don't see why would someone be annoyed by this. Daimiyah needed Erin, without her in the picture Shunan would win (or so Erin thought) and she had to act like this since he took control over and wanted to massacre Wajaku. She didn't have a lot of options at this point, she could either do what he said, disagreed (and endanger the lives of people in Kazalm) or threaten to kill herself. Unless you have a better idea? The people's gasp about Daimiyah having a plan wasn't strange either. You're looking at Daimiyah from a viewers perspective not the characters that knew him and that's really stupid. No one besides God could know that Nugan would betray his father and brother and decided to kill hundreds of his own people (and there wasn't a force besides Duke's army that could threaten Duke's army). So when they've seen that an army of touda massacres Duke's army they were shocked. Every human in his right mind would be.
The only credible thing in your list of nitpicks was the way how Erin was shot. It could be explained if they didn't see Shunan on Lilan's neck that Lilan paralysed both enemy touda and their touda so it would be safest to assume it's an enemy. This scene could have been much more convincing if the arrows came from the enemy and the only thing that explains this a bit was a shock of seeing ohju and the shock of being attacked by fellow comrades resulting in a confused state of mind shooting everything that's not Shunan.
As for the ignoring the blue flag, well I don't see why that would be strange. Nugan has already made up his mind, he wanted to kill the rebels. He couldn't have known that Seimiyah wanted to marry Shunan and didn't consider him as a rebel. How could he know? Would he heard about it? See it from a mile? Don't be silly. Add to this that he was in the middle of the fight (and didn't have time to pay attention to what was going on far away) and you'll have your answer. As for the flag being raised, anyone would raise it if an army of touda was coming and I would be defenceless. Blue flag meant nothing to Nugan, he wanted to kill the rebels, end of story.

To the ending I give 8/10 (which would be my overall score if I were to be objective) but overall it was the best anime I've seen in years and will be my favourite for a long time. 10/10
Dec 29, 2009 1:22 AM

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Apr 2009
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Loved this episode. Loves this show.
The ending was so perfect in my opinion, despite so much happening. And when Erin chased Lilan away, and when Lilan came back... I watched it all teary-eyed ;_;
The anime gets a solid 10/10 from me.
Dec 29, 2009 11:33 AM

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I wanted more of Erin x Ial but it's all good, at least the kid looks Ial's.
With such an ending of the story the creators of this anime reminded of who they are. After Seirei no Moribito this was another outstanding work. I can only hope for more series of this kind.
Dec 29, 2009 3:25 PM

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I think it's going to be interesting to see how the country will survive now that the Duke's Touda army is basically in ruin, and that was basically the only advantage they had in protecting the queen against neighboring country's. Now that we knew Touda have been leaked outside of the Duke and Queen's realm we can also assume if and when they make a second season there will be a lot more Touda vs Touda battles :D.

My only worry is that Erin's nightmare of using beast lords as weapons might still become a reality. But in her case she'll probably use it to protect everyone somehow and in the process either die or get really hurt which will result in her son trying to bring peace to the world in a similar yet different fashion then her mother :D.
Dec 30, 2009 10:28 PM

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That ending really left me wanting more episodes.

Hope we get a sequel~ 8/10 overall from me. :)
Jan 6, 2010 1:44 PM

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Jun 2008
743
can anyone who has read the last two novels, spoil the events for me (PM PLS)

anyways as for the anime, at first i was very unsure about watching this because of the art style used, but im glad i gave it a shot and finished this series, it was awesome.
Jan 8, 2010 3:44 PM

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Jul 2009
139
Glad the bastard Damiyah finally got what was coming to him. Way to go Ialu!

Absolutely loved the scene where Lilan rescues Erin and flies off with her. The look in Lilan's eyes was so expressive! <3

Love this show!
Jan 10, 2010 5:13 PM

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Great show from start to finish! The scene where Lilan saved Erin was just amazing... I also liked how she looked like her mom in the end. Although the conclusion is going to be depressing I hope they animate the last two novels.
Feb 26, 2010 4:10 PM

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This series keeps amazes me as always. I loved that scene where Lilan saves Erin.
Feb 26, 2010 11:42 PM

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The ending really disappointed me. I appreciated how all through the series Erin was independent and I had hoped she would continue that way. But, like every other woman in this show, she had to get married (presumably) and have a kid. It seems unnecessary and takes away from her as a character.

Also, goddamn Seimiya is dumb.
Mar 13, 2010 11:54 PM

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lol
Are you a feminist? Of course she would get married and have a kid, that's what every normal woman would do. Especially if she was intelligent, beautiful, healthy and found a good partner and candidate for father. Could you elaborate why does it take away from her character? Do you think she became Ial's slave?
Mar 14, 2010 5:45 AM
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It's also quite clear that many of the people she looks up to are parental figures. Also considering that the first 1/3 took place when she was a kid, it kinda neatly brings things full circle.

By the way, this series was almost as epic as Legend of the Galactic Heroes, or 12 Kingdoms. And that's saying a lot. I enjoyed it. My main quibles would be some visual flaws here and there, though generally pretty minor. Also why didn't all her other classmates voices deepen? All those guys still sound like they're in grade school :P. Does becoming a Beastinarian inhibit your voice from breaking?
Mar 14, 2010 5:32 PM

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Jun 2009
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It's been awhile since I've seen the ending… so I've had time to think about it a bit. Overall, I enjoyed the show, and thought the ending wrapped things up nicely in terms of the Lilan and Erin relationship. The scene of Lilan picking up Erin and the music was well done.

Beyond that, I thought more could have been done for completion. To me, it felt like they were trying to fill the time span by showing the yellow figures of people at the end and the scenes of nature in the beginning. Also, the scene with Kiriku and Wadan at the end could have been replaced with something like Erin and Saju talking (to show that Saju knows that Erin is alive). That was one of my biggest hopes: getting some closure to Erin and her village rather than having to assume she did/didn't reconnect, since they showed us the grown-up versions of Ake's people. Other small things that I hoped were wrapped up better were what specifically happened with Erin after this incident (instead of warping to the future), and also Soyon's involvement with the Kibas' deaths. True, Nason claims she did it to obey the code but that contradicts what Soyon was telling Erin in the bath about how she gave up the Mist People code.

Also, I still don't get why Soyon told Erin to stay silent about her observation right after their deaths. I always thought there would be some big reveal where the 'gifts' that Damiya presented to Ake were the real cause of their deaths, hence making him even more of a bastard (and more of a reason for Erin to dislike and go against him). In that sense, it would make sense for Soyon to say that since it would risk publicly showing early on that someone in the Queen's quarter is conspiring against the Grand Duke, thus hastening the internal turmoil of the country (and Soyon didn't want to see that happen). Maybe this issue is addressed in the following two novels? I also agree that seeing the Mist People's reaction to Lilan's intervention would have been nice.

I still think this show is a hidden gem among today's anime and I'm glad to not have passed it up. It did a great job with keeping an interest in the story, developing the main characters, and making (most) people actually care about the heroine. I'll miss seeing the younger Erin. The disappointment in seeing the older Erin with her kid is out of not being able to see what happened in-between. It's also bittersweet in the sense that, if there is a sequel, her kid will probably take over the role as main character while an attachment to Erin is still there for the viewer.
Currently blogging: Kemono no Souja Erin
http://blog.thepechinator.com
Mar 14, 2010 9:15 PM

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Great pick wasn't it? I am glad to be one of the very few, (when MAL showed the number of Erin viewers was 200ish) who loved the story right from the beginning and I am glad that I wrote that short review after episode 14, which was a creation from my urge to repel other reviews that time, those that claimed the anime to be a mere children's anime. And I am glad to think that many actually PMed me later on for my review that made them watch this anime.

Putting that aside, its great to see Erin is inside Top 120 Anime TV Series in MAL. And almost 800 fans actually finished it and almost 2800 fans are still watching it, or have plans to watch it. I can only wait and see where the ratings hit in near future, because the anime is worth much more than what its actually being rated at the moment.

As for the anime, a 10/10 as it is, will remain my all time favourites. It was a warm anime with admirable characters and a powerful storyline. While many has complains about how the anime ended, i would ask them to actually show me 10 anime that rounded up so nicely like Erin. You'll see people getting heads over hills with many anime, which have nothing more than fan service shots and iffy story lines. while moe and tsundere are taking away the majorities' interest from anime based on beautiful stories like Kemono no Souja Erin, I can't really blame majority of anime fans for NOT loving this show, let alone, give it a try.

That being said, I won't be a man of guts and admit in all honesty that this anime made me cry, number of times, not only with heart-wrenching moments but also for the times when i felt warmth through the anime. This anime will remain a real gem, in the history of anime.

As for episode 50, just to clarify, who the boy is, Jess (Jessie) is the fruit of the love developed between Erin and Iaru (Ial). It was revealed with the yellow character shots. While very few are concerned whether it was Iaru or Tomura that Erin ended up with, you can clearly see that while Tomura is being shown with the Kazalm's group, Iaru was shown separately who finally found his happiness and working as a craftsman of harps. Also, episode 46, 'Their Bonds' revealed that love developed between those Erin and Iaru.
shanimebibMar 14, 2010 9:31 PM
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Mar 14, 2010 9:32 PM

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You'll see people getting heads over hills with many anime, which have nothing more than fan service shots and iffy story lines. while moe and tsundere are taking away the majorities' interest from anime based on beautiful stories like Kemono no Souja Erin, I can't really blame majority of anime fans for NOT loving this show, let alone, give it a try.


Exactly! There are a lot of shows with that type of stuff. That's why I found this series so refreshing and a nice change of pace. Not much to add... just glad to see others feel the same way ^_^.

Well, Erin didn't make me cry, but it got me closer than any other anime. After episode 7 I couldn't sleep/finish my dinner for the rest of that night.
Currently blogging: Kemono no Souja Erin
http://blog.thepechinator.com
Mar 15, 2010 4:27 PM

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The ending was a bit predictable, but awesome nonetheless. It was such a pleasure watching Erin turn into such an strong willed and kind woman. It was also wonderful to watch her ever evolving relationship with both Lilan and Iaru.

I'm so glad she was able to live out the final words her mom left her, "Live and be happy." From the last few scenes, in which she looks so beautiful in, we can see that.

More so than the anime being licensed, I hope the novels are brought over. Getting both would be fine, too. ^^;
Mar 31, 2010 8:24 AM

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ThePechinator said:
Well, Erin didn't make me cry

Wh-wh-what? Well, I can live with that. I had to cry multiple times during the show. The bond between Erin and Lilan is wonderful. I really liked the way they showed the relationship with Erin and Ial in the end, well, with 'Jessie!' and a young boy appearing near to Arrow. There are still some questions left indeed, but all with all, this was a great show. Too bad it had fillers, otherwise it'd give it an 9. They stretched a bit too much with the last few episodes, but okay. Also, the Touda vs. Touda battle looked pretty awkward with the animation. Geh. Another minus: repetitive animation. Anyhow, back to the good points.

Awesome story is awesome. I'm glad they wrapped it up like this. I hope they won't turn the other two novels in an anime, because I'm sure I'll cry my eyes out if that were the case.
Dutch anime blogger with a love for Ikuhara's antics and proper storytelling.
May 29, 2010 3:09 AM

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31
it was a nice anime i liked it
desolatoApr 13, 2011 1:14 PM
click me plz
Jun 17, 2010 9:14 PM

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Plate said:
The ending really disappointed me. I appreciated how all through the series Erin was independent and I had hoped she would continue that way. But, like every other woman in this show, she had to get married (presumably) and have a kid. It seems unnecessary and takes away from her as a character.

Also, goddamn Seimiya is dumb.


+ 1

I dropped this series because this is definitely targeted towards 12-15 year olds. I was expecting something more mature like Spice and Wolf and Mushishi but this is nothing more than another re imagined version of Heidi. A kid's show for kids.
Jun 18, 2010 9:35 PM
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arimakenshin said:
I dropped this series because this is definitely targeted towards 12-15 year olds. I was expecting something more mature like Spice and Wolf and Mushishi but this is nothing more than another re imagined version of Heidi. A kid's show for kids.


But... but... where's the magic?
Yeah, that may be a show mostly directed to a young audience, but this show has such a spirit! And for a show directed to kids, it is so much full and complex. Yeah, finally a show that don't treat the kids as idiots.

Personally, I have really liked the animation, which was so nicely done, and the atypical design, closer to cartoon but not too much. The story was also very complex, and if it bears plot hole, it will probably be solve with the next season, if it ever sees light.
Sep 11, 2010 8:08 PM

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Tonyy55 said:

But... but... where's the magic?
Yeah, that may be a show mostly directed to a young audience, but this show has such a spirit! And for a show directed to kids, it is so much full and complex. Yeah, finally a show that don't treat the kids as idiots.

Personally, I have really liked the animation, which was so nicely done, and the atypical design, closer to cartoon but not too much. The story was also very complex, and if it bears plot hole, it will probably be solve with the next season, if it ever sees light.


Your view is hyperbolic. As a kid, I remember reading many books and watching (albeit close to 1) TV show that did not treat me like a kid and expanded my imagination.

You give too much credit to this anime series. Of course, this series is different from the moe garbage always shown on TV and it's great for kids whose parents want them to see a different show with Japanese animation. That's all there is to it. It's very creepy to find other members stating how they cried several times during the anime, which even a kid would find as a very extreme reaction.

Maybe many MAL members watched so much garbage that their standards have dropped so low that they rated this show as high as it's currently sitting. Then again, many rated Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as the top 10 shows of anime, which is quite sad.
Sep 17, 2010 12:52 AM

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I'd like to add somthing I've been itching to say since I finished this series a long time ago. I read this comparison between the TV show and the two light novels, and I was shocked. They toned down pretty much everything that was mature about the books, turned Jon into a farting idiot, introduced the uncle-nephew pair for the humor, and stuffed the whole show with painful fillers, unnecessary flashbacks for the senile and scenes that seem to drag on forever just so they could reach the 50 mark.

Now if they had retained the light novels version and been true to it, and made the show like 25 episodes, I would have given it a much higher score.

I also felt that the fans were being hypocrites when they denied the show was for kids. My post above is enough to prove them wrong, apart from the obvious kiddy animation (I'm in love with the background art), the kiddy action, kiddy flashbacks

...the fact is that the light novels theme was toned down for kids. That doesnt make it bad, but the show could have been whole lot better if it followed in the footsteps of seirei no moribito and made the show more adult friendly.

I've also heard that the next two novels are quite tragic and dark. Now how will they make an adaption on that and call it a sequel to a show that was tailor made for kids :S
"...our faces marked by toil, by deceptions, by success, by love; our weary eyes looking still, looking always, looking anxiously for something out of life, that while it is expected is already gone – has passed unseen, in a sigh, in a flash – together with the youth, with the strength, with the romance of illusions.” - Joseph Conrad ('Youth')
Sep 27, 2010 4:45 AM

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arimakenshin said:
I dropped this series because this is definitely targeted towards 12-15 year olds. I was expecting something more mature like Spice and Wolf and Mushishi but this is nothing more than another re imagined version of Heidi. A kid's show for kids.


I don't think you should have posted. It serves as nothing more than flame-bait to post on the last episode discussion of a series to say you dropped it. To say the show is targeted at people around 12-15 (Specific much?) is false, the show has been made to be accessible for people of all ages and that's why it doesn't cater to your tastes, it isn't going to be incredibly complex as that would deter anybody under a certain age from viewing it comfortably. It's a family series for everybody to enjoy.

Spice and Wolf is NOT complex. It is clever, but it is in no way superior to Erin. Thought I'd throw that in there.

I also felt that the fans were being hypocrites when they denied the show was for kids. My post above is enough to prove them wrong, apart from the obvious kiddy animation (I'm in love with the background art), the kiddy action, kiddy flashbacks


Like I said in my reply to arimakenshin, the anime has clearly been made with families in mind. It works well that way. I'm 19 years old, almost 20, and without a doubt enjoyed the method of story telling for this. Even if it had its childish moments, it also has its mature moments. I will most definitely have to read through the novel in the future as I'm all for dark and tragic (Which the anime was at times) but I'm fairly sure if it's dark and tragic, my experience with Berserk will just take a poo all over it. I doubt the show would be MUCH better if it followed the novel to the tick IF it's as different as you say, but would fit your preferences more, therefore maybe being much better for you.

Plate said:
The ending really disappointed me. I appreciated how all through the series Erin was independent and I had hoped she would continue that way. But, like every other woman in this show, she had to get married (presumably) and have a kid. It seems unnecessary and takes away from her as a character.

Also, goddamn Seimiya is dumb.


I can pretty much agree with this post entirely but I won't be so quick to judge. I don't think it takes away from her character to want to continue her family and live a normal life, however I believe the way they just throw it in your face in the last 5 minutes is questionable and the reason for it feeling out of place.

I liked the last episode but it was disappointing, it feels like they may make a second season. I say this because of the loose ends that came with episode 50, it doesn't actually go into any depth with the characters and what they may go on to do, who is Erin's lover, and generally what happens from here on? I'd love to read the novel.

Still, a 10/10 from me. The series is unique in it's storytelling and it was very heartwarming. The artstyle had me hooked from the get-go, the hand-drawn backgrounds are gorgeous and the fact that the whole thing looked pretty much like a sophisticated childs fairytale or story book was a big winner. The music was amazing from start until finish and all of it is memorable.
Sep 27, 2010 11:06 AM

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Psychodrake said:



Like I said in my reply to arimakenshin, the anime has clearly been made with families in mind. It works well that way. I'm 19 years old, almost 20, and without a doubt enjoyed the method of story telling for this. Even if it had its childish moments, it also has its mature moments. I will most definitely have to read through the novel in the future as I'm all for dark and tragic (Which the anime was at times) but I'm fairly sure if it's dark and tragic, my experience with Berserk will just take a poo all over it. I doubt the show would be MUCH better if it followed the novel to the tick IF it's as different as you say, but would fit your preferences more, therefore maybe being much better for you.
.


I would actually disagree with the last bit. Its not just about preference. Take serie no moribito for instance, a light novel by the same author and adapted by IG. Use the same animation that was in Erin, turn Jiguro into a farting idiot, bring in tons of flashbacks so your tiny memory retains the story until the very end, and brng in a stupid pair of buffoons who're actually more retarded than the great barney himself. Make it at least twice as long as it should be. Remove the blood and violence, and the awesome set-pieces. People like you would still enjoy it, but its not the same thing...its more like you're degrading something and making an inferior version of a decent story.
I dont know if you're seen moribito; but if you haven't, I'd highly recommend it. Its an epic fantasy by the same author. Moribito was not toned down, and its still something I would have enjoyed as a kid. The stories in the novels were meant for all ages in the first place, there was no need for toning it down any further, except for the violence.
"...our faces marked by toil, by deceptions, by success, by love; our weary eyes looking still, looking always, looking anxiously for something out of life, that while it is expected is already gone – has passed unseen, in a sigh, in a flash – together with the youth, with the strength, with the romance of illusions.” - Joseph Conrad ('Youth')
Sep 27, 2010 12:07 PM

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eyerok said:
Psychodrake said:



Like I said in my reply to arimakenshin, the anime has clearly been made with families in mind. It works well that way. I'm 19 years old, almost 20, and without a doubt enjoyed the method of story telling for this. Even if it had its childish moments, it also has its mature moments. I will most definitely have to read through the novel in the future as I'm all for dark and tragic (Which the anime was at times) but I'm fairly sure if it's dark and tragic, my experience with Berserk will just take a poo all over it. I doubt the show would be MUCH better if it followed the novel to the tick IF it's as different as you say, but would fit your preferences more, therefore maybe being much better for you.
.


I would actually disagree with the last bit. Its not just about preference. Take serie no moribito for instance, a light novel by the same author and adapted by IG. Use the same animation that was in Erin, turn Jiguro into a farting idiot, bring in tons of flashbacks so your tiny memory retains the story until the very end, and brng in a stupid pair of buffoons who're actually more retarded than the great barney himself. Make it at least twice as long as it should be. Remove the blood and violence, and the awesome set-pieces. People like you would still enjoy it, but its not the same thing...its more like you're degrading something and making an inferior version of a decent story.
I dont know if you're seen moribito; but if you haven't, I'd highly recommend it. Its an epic fantasy by the same author. Moribito was not toned down, and its still something I would have enjoyed as a kid. The stories in the novels were meant for all ages in the first place, there was no need for toning it down any further, except for the violence.


I know where you're coming from. I'm still slightly annoyed that the anime was toned down, I dislike it when a novel or manga is simplified for a larger audience, but you have to think of it from a different perspective every now and then. If you say the novel is intended for all ages, that's enough for me, I was starting to think it may have been a more mature light novel hearing it was considerably darker and more tragic than the anime. Still, the anime managed to capture me. It was a very enjoyable watch and never felt like a waste of time, there were a lot of flashbacks but they were usually short scenes with only two full recap episodes throughout the series. Let us compare that to Gundam Seed where they run out of ideas and spam nothing but flashbacks for almost 10 episodes (Maybe even more).

I can't comment on the story itself being degraded - It has a nice story, if it's a downgraded version of novels story, that is even more hype for reading the novel. The world of Erin from the anime felt alive, lush and busy, something a lot of longer anime series fail at in my opinion. The production values aren't too shabby either apart from the random 3D scenes that don't look too good.

I really hope the novel gets published in English, I feel like I'm missing out. I'll also be giving Moribito a go, after hearing it was the same author I couldn't hold myself back.
Sep 28, 2010 12:20 AM

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Its not that the story itself was changed or anything actually, just a couple of minor changes not significant individually but taken together they did help in changing the tone of the story. The sequels to the adapted material are a bit darker, according to dtshyk.

There's a little anime-novel comparison done by someone, its for the first light novel (the anime version adapts the story of the first two light novels, the two sequel novels that follow are based around the grownup erin, from what I gather)


http://blog.lhyeung.net/lang/en-uk/2009/09/16/kemono-no-souja-erin-novel-and-anime-comparison-vol-1/
"...our faces marked by toil, by deceptions, by success, by love; our weary eyes looking still, looking always, looking anxiously for something out of life, that while it is expected is already gone – has passed unseen, in a sigh, in a flash – together with the youth, with the strength, with the romance of illusions.” - Joseph Conrad ('Youth')
Oct 6, 2010 2:23 PM
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It. Was. So. Friggin. Slow.
A length of around 36 ep would've made this show better. I'm all for slow pace when it's actually meaningful and builds up the athomsphere, but there were episodes that didnt really have anything happen and all those superlong scenes of scenery and silent moments got a bit tiring.

Otherwise nice, especially the first 20 or so episodes that centered around Erin's growth and not the country... And the OST became a bit repetitive by the end.

Even though the middle of the show was so slow this ep kind of felt too short to resolve everything. It omitted Ial+Erin moments, the side-characters reactions to the events and, uhm what happened with Ngan?

Still enjoyed the series but I expected more after Seirei no Moribito :/. 7,5/10
May 4, 2011 8:00 PM

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koreye said:
I dont know if you're seen moribito; but if you haven't, I'd highly recommend it. Its an epic fantasy by the same author. Moribito was not toned down, and its still something I would have enjoyed as a kid. The stories in the novels were meant for all ages in the first place, there was no need for toning it down any further, except for the violence.


I have seen Moribito, and it is a sack of shite. The prince is an annoying idiot for 12 episodes. Then you have two stupid orphan kids which the show focusses too much time on. A pansy doctor who has obviously castrated himself. The awful "political" plot, where nothing is complicated. Let's not forget random stargazer guy who also does nothing throughout the entire show except read. That's right, for 4 episodes you watch him reading. Then 8 episodes explore the prince's character now that he's not in a palace. Then the ending - don't get me started, it was godawful. I find it's in exactly the same mould as Erin actually, very bad story with some pretty good ideas, except Erin realises that the plot is extremely simple and aims to be a children's show instead. That's why I rate Erin.
Jun 12, 2011 6:02 AM

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I am sure, no-one is going to read/care about this, but I still want to reply:
ThePechinator said:

Also, I still don't get why Soyon told Erin to stay silent about her observation right after their deaths.
Soyon died trying to abide by her tribe's code. She couldn't however withstand her daughter getting eaten alive by Touda, so she breaks the code to save her daughter, which would be very risky if her daughter broadcasted her tribe's powers, since everybody would be all over Mist People for the mystical powers which are confirmed (People would be less likely to act if it's a mere rumor rather than confirmed). The code stated the skills of renditioner be secret, so that heaps of people dying (which is the reason why Mist People are acting like they do now) does not happen again.
Jun 26, 2011 11:22 AM

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Nice ending to a incredible anime.
9/10.
Sep 15, 2011 6:33 PM

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siberstorm27 said:
I went ugh through much of the episode, hoping it would finally end. I still don't know what the relationship between Erin and Lilan is anymore. I went ugh when Nugan reared his ugly head, a one-dimensional character full of contradictions that make this a children's show. I also went ugh at Erin thinking she could just stand there threatening suicide so easily, and went ugh when they all gasped that Mr. Evil Uncle actually had a plan and wasn't going to just stand there like they all hoped, this being in the prior episodes. I went ugh when the horsemen shot at Erin, when the Ohju clearly had saved Shunan's life by immobilizing Nugan's entire army, and they could so have easily shot Shunan in the process or enraged the Ohju when he was on Lilan's back. I went ugh when they skipped the latter half of the battle when clearly the two touda armies were still fighting each other and completely ignoring Seimiya or Shunan, with or without flag raised or Lilan flying around. They shouldn't have killed Damiya. Instead, Lilan should have eaten Nugan alive, limb by limb. That guy is the slowest anime character I've ever known. I'm not even sure if this is an anime only ending. 5/10 for the last episode.


koreye said:
I'd like to add somthing I've been itching to say since I finished this series a long time ago. I read this comparison between the TV show and the two light novels, and I was shocked. They toned down pretty much everything that was mature about the books, turned Jon into a farting idiot, introduced the uncle-nephew pair for the humor, and stuffed the whole show with painful fillers, unnecessary flashbacks for the senile and scenes that seem to drag on forever just so they could reach the 50 mark.

Now if they had retained the light novels version and been true to it, and made the show like 25 episodes, I would have given it a much higher score.

...the fact is that the light novels theme was toned down for kids. That doesnt make it bad, but the show could have been whole lot better if it followed in the footsteps of seirei no moribito and made the show more adult friendly.


Malestel said:
It. Was. So. Friggin. Slow.
A length of around 36 ep would've made this show better. I'm all for slow pace when it's actually meaningful and builds up the athomsphere, but there were episodes that didnt really have anything happen and all those superlong scenes of scenery and silent moments got a bit tiring.


Yes, yes and yes.

Episode 50 was pretty bad, as lady episodes go. Instead of starting with some new animation, the tight-fisted bastards decided to re-use the last few minutes from the previous episode. And then they had the OP track play alongside some utterly worthless images of the sky, to waste another minute or two. I felt dejected before the episode had even managed to get going--hardly the way someone should be made to feel at the start of the final episode of a lengthy series such as this!

Instead of Erin telling wolf-birdy to bugger off and leave her, as SHUNAN'S OWN FUCKING WELL HORSEMEN SHOT ARROWS IN HIS DIRECTION - AT HIS SAVIOURS - AS THEY JUST STOOD THERE, why didn't Erin get the hell out of there with them?... Oh, I know: to create some extra drama as Lilan decided whether to go back or not! (And what happened to the horsemen after Shunan was rescued from the clutches of his own army, exactly?)

The only highlight of the episode was the horribly one-dimensional pantomime villain of the piece FINALLY getting killed... but, even then, because the show was aimed at kids, they avoided showing Ial slicing him. Action without the blows being shown is as exciting as... well, no action at all.

Episode 46 and 47 were surprisngly good, in comparison to the last three episodes, as those added chunks onto the characters; Seimiya FINALLY stopping being a silly little spoiled bitch with a God(ess?) complex. But then, even after she knew that THE UNCLE THAT SHE PLANNED TO MARRY wasn't a nice guy, she had to wait until the very last minute to raise the blue flag of lower class marriage acceptance. The reason? For extra drama yawndowm, of course!

Moribito wipes the floor with Erin, as far as the anime adaptations go. Nothing of note outside of animal slice-of-life occurred occurred until the last ten episodes, and the political drama was ruined - to a certain extent - by a one-dimensional villain without clear reasons behnd his evilness manipulating a cast of idiots. I mean, what in the name of all that is holy was Ngan doing attacking his own people, AFTER the queen had accepted Shunan? HE HAD NO BRAIN AND EXISTED ONLY TO APPEAR AT THE LAST MOMENT. (And what the hell happened to him after his failure!?) I just couldn't fully immerse myself in a tale of political intrigue and betrayal where a dick without a motive toyed with brainless cardboard cutouts.

Without all of the poor attempts at AMVs / flashbacks wherever possible, kidification, filler and the needlessly lengthy wolf-birdy saga, the series could have been fitted into 25-35 episodes. At the very least, I'd say that 25% of the content could've been cut without it hurting anything whatsoever. When a series opens with five straight fillers and moves onto farting/bee slice-of-life, something is very wrong...

...In spite of my negativity, I'm still going to give it 7/10 (edit: 6/10, after going over my thoughts). If it was THAT bad, I wouldn't have lasted for 50 episodes. But, the thing is, having watched Moribito and been impressed by its mature execution/tone, as well as seeing the Erin novel-anime comparison post, I'm well aware that the series could've been brilliant, had it been handled better, and that's what's really getting under my skin. I'd probably like the novels A LOT more; if only because I wouldn't have to endure vocal track repetition x100.
AironicallyHumanSep 16, 2011 7:48 AM
Sep 17, 2011 7:11 AM

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Maybe there were lots of inconsistencies like siberstorm27 said, but to me this anime could not have been wrapped up any better. (Well, I would have liked to see the Mist Tribe people's reaction, too, and I would have liked Erin's kid to have been cleared pointed out as being Ial's, but y'know... Can't have everything! Especially not with a limited number of episodes!)

The animation was great, too. I actually thought the more 3D-ish moments were integrated really well, and didn't seem to stick out at all. Lilan's saving Erin was a very pleasant surprise. I actually thought that relationship had been damaged to the point of no return, as evidenced by Lilan's repeated flashbacks of the time when Erin used the whistle.

Damiya got what he deserved. And, arguably, Seimiya and Shunan got what they deserved - each other and a little "happily ever after". (I don't actually think Seimiya really deserved that, seeing as she spent so much time being ignorant and blind to everything that was occurring in her own country, and arguably Shunan deserved better... But they both seem happy so whatever.)

Blahblahblah. Anyway I loved it. :) Enjoyed the series from start to finish (excluding a large majority of the Nukku and Mokku moments).
Nov 29, 2011 8:38 AM
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Great series, had a few flaws, but since I hardly come across an anime like this, I still gave it a perfect score. Worth to mention that I don't do that often.
Jan 31, 2012 6:30 PM
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This anime is probably one of the fastest I've ever finished. Absolutely loved it.. Perfect score from me.

I've noticed its been 3 years since the anime finished, and there is no sequel :'(

I think I'll have to look in to the novels..

EDIT: Tried looking for the novels, but are they even translated? Can't find anything..
RaiteiFeb 1, 2012 7:25 AM
Feb 19, 2012 2:44 PM

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I re-watched the series after listening to the soundtrack again one day. The harp melody is so beautiful. I do think this is a good anime with a good story despite the constant flashbacks, simple character designs, and mediocre conclusion. I forgot that they don't show Iaru in the final scenes but as a yellow portrait. Well, at least he is smiling and with a harp.

Still sticking with my 8/10 rating. I'm also interested the novel and hope that someone can translate it one day (along with many others). I can say that I will probably watch it again in the future like 12 Kingdoms or Gankutsuo (I've watched both at least 3 times).

I've seen Serei no Moribito but it didn't move me like Kemono did and I haven't had the urge to re-watch it.
Feb 21, 2012 9:02 AM

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ThePechinator said:
...That was one of my biggest hopes: getting some closure to Erin and her village rather than having to assume she did/didn't reconnect, since they showed us the grown-up versions of Ake's people...


Yes. I was waiting all throughout this anime for something like that but it just did not deliver.
May 23, 2012 1:43 PM
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Just finished it, I am biased with this show for now so I can only pass a good mark when I watch this series for a second time. This anime just touched me emotionally, despite the obvious flaws this show has.

However, there was some great character development for this series. You might expect it with a 50 episodes arrangement, I still liked to watch Erin grow up to a responsible girl. Everything she learned along the way it just touched me at the end.

For my feelings its 9/10 right now, but I'm still too biased right now.
May 30, 2012 10:29 AM
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I thought this was a beautiful series over all! Though there was one thing I was confused about. The way that I was introduced to this series was that me and my friend saw it on TV in Japan at the end of January....the only thing is, we spent the semester watching the entire series and didn't come across the episode we had originally seen...

...and that we could only find it with french subtitles originally, so I definitely want to rewatch it again, but with English subtitles. ^.^

Raitei said:

I think I'll have to look in to the novels..

EDIT: Tried looking for the novels, but are they even translated? Can't find anything..


Me and my friend were looking for them and we only found them in French and Japanese... One day I hope to get them in Japanese and try to translate them.
epobbpMay 30, 2012 11:27 AM
Jun 10, 2012 9:06 PM

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Yup I am just going to take my injured owner and take a round in the sky. I hope internal bleeding doesn't kill her!

But still, I think it would have made a much better impact if Erin had died. I think I know who the father of Jessie is lol
Even when I was in crowd, I was always alone
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