How Kurumi carried the franchise and destroyed it (LN readers)

slugdirsh said:
Why were blu-rays for S1-2 that much better?

slugdirsh said:
On another note: i’m in agreement with you. The impact and emotional appeal is not quite as there as it was in prior seasons. OST, character expression, vibrance, movement.. it feels flattened. Nia and Mukuro’s love feels contrived and forced. But, do consider that as a LN reader, your opinion will be naturally hyper critical, especially compared to the anime-onlies. As one who hasn’t read the novels myself, I am still enjoying the season for its lore exposition and continuity. S3 had a plethora of issues. I may just read the novels myself to experience the true story. This is the sad reality most LN readers face with time constraints on adaptations, ones that novels don’t have.
Not every LN based series will have the blood, sweat, and tears poured into it that Re:Zero, Mushoku Tensei, and Monogatari had.

icefirestone23 said:
Ragnarok isn't getting adapted in the last 4. It is has been leaked by ep titles. The pacing for S1 is no different from S4. S1 covered 4 lns and truncated Yoshino's. S1 had issues with animation like the can flying down the street which look unpolished. RZ covered 15 lns in 4 cours so its pacing is more or less the same as DAL.

This post doesn't consider context. A1 is highly unlikely to go all the way for 86 and give a season for every 1-2 ln volumes. A1 is guaranteed to leave it in the corner in favour of Sword Art Online. 86 had disappointing disc sales, and I don't think its lns sales can put it above SAO. The same thing people said about 86 people said about A1's Magi adaptation. Now in 2022 magi fans are crying for another season regardless of the studio.

The anime scene is that competitive. Most shows cannot go past 2 cours and can barely adapt 5 lns before being dropped. If the anime goes at a sluggish 1-2 lns per season and doesn't bring in profit, production committees will drop it. DAL is on its 4th season and managed to get more than halfway through 22 volumes which is considered an extremely difficult feat for a ln series. DAL already has more scales figures than Overlord, Mushoku, Konosuba, Tensura so it's anime already performed well. When it comes to ln series, any boycotts is just going to hurt chances of another season and people will then be crying for another season regardless of studio.

Peter Payne from Jlist (someone who is deeply knowledgeable and works with anime) already acknowledges it as a major franchise. https://blog.jlist.com/your-friend-in-japan/why-is-date-a-live-so-popular-here-are-six-reasons/. R/anime, mal scores, and ANN scores are also a poor reflection of the health of a show. Once again, look at Magi. Anime is more niche in the west than it is in parts of Asia. The west is primarily dominated by hollywood, especially disney's star wars and marvel.

Laplace_kun said:


S1 BD has episodes over 24 minutes.

Also these are more plot heavy episodes.
RZ has bigger arcs, so they rushed Arc 3 and somewhat managed with Arc 4 using 29 minutes eps using lack of personnel.

That is dedication.

Regarding 86, you can take a look here: https://www.reddit.com/r/EightySix/comments/oxrt1g/comment/h7p0s7f/

Otherwise agree, what sells is unpredictable

icefirestone23 said:


S1 was just the encore ova. It didnt give time to expand the runtime for main series.

Rz still got criticized for animation downgrade in s2 as well as omitting novel parts so it is not immune.

86 undersold dress up darling and world's end harem. It's night and day the merch 86 got and sao gets. Dal iv is getting more or on par # of scaled figures with sao alicization esp recentlgly.
Although there is hope for 86, i suspect a1 will drop 86 like magi.

Having popular characters is important for getting audiences which is why dal iv is tracking on anime corner, topped ami ami hot blu rays for weeks. There is a reason why venom succeeded and morbius flopped. People will stick with shows if they like the characters.

Laplace_kun said:
[

Rz did the long episodes DESPITE the lack of personnel and COVID situation. That's adaptational dedic

DAL will be forgotten mostly except for a one waifu show. I wasn't ever really talking about sales mind you; even glorified porn can sell well. If people hear something is uncensored in BD version, they'll rush to buy them.

icefirestone23 said:


That isnt the case. Dxd hero had terrible sales drop. Showing a censored version didnt help at all. In fact, it jusy turn off viewers fron giving it a shot. This is why hard ecchi is in decline. Dal wont be quickly forgotten considering how long it has managed to run, how kadokawa featured it in the light novel expo, the sheer amount of merch and promotion.

Laplace_kun said:
We all know that Kurumi is the first spirit conceptualized by the author.

She is the first spirit who wasn't sealed, and had the first dark arc.

DAL was like a widget waifu of the week series until she came to shake things up with her gothic dress and bloodbath.

Kurumi is also a plot enforcer as she has a different goal from Shido. When Westcott and Elliot don't do their bits, she is the one who is instrumental for uncovering DAL lore.

All these reasons, and add the spice of yangire nature, the franchise has milked her appeal to death.

While many will come to DAL just for her, it also means that everything else is hurried by the studios; increasingly so, as the seasons go on and makers became desperate for sales.


S1 and S2 blu-rays present a significantly better anime than their TV aired counterparts, but I wonder how many even cared to see that?

S3 made a mediocre presentation of the best arcs (till then) - Origami Angel and Origami Devil. It destroyed the fan favorite Itsuka Disaster Arc.

Now, as the top reviewer here has correctly pointed out, they went through the motions for the Nia and Mukuro arcs to make way for Kurumi arcs.

NOTHING MAKES AN IMPACT. Not Westcott's twisted villainy. Not Mukuro's emotional issues, Nia's suffering, Shido's characterization - you speak of it.

If they adapt both Refrain and Ragnarok in the rest of the four episodes, it's all gone. Down the drain.

Vol 16 onwards is peak DAL, not the "Kurumi show" advertisement that Geek Toys is making it out to be (They even made an EARLY adaptation of DAB, whoa!)

Now, this might sound like a rant, but these are my raw feelings.

This was a really nice show which had a ridiculous premise but had it's own charm and surprisingly deep hidden story backed by continuous foreshadowing and development . Now it's a One Spirit Show.

Kurumi is in my top 5 favorites from the novel, so obviously I don't dislike her. The title here just presents a sad irony.

ViciousAnime_ said:
I swear I’m the only one that doesn’t really like her. She’s my least favorite

KayShawn258 said:

same lol

i dont really get why people like kurumi

i used to think her as "oh shiny eyes" lol

Laplace_kun said:


Because yangire, some "dangerous and aggressive" girl tendencies and "less vanilla" are traits that catch the view of the common viewer faster. Also she's "unconquered" unlike the other girls.

Though I'd take the villainy of Westcott over her grey nature any day.

Origami is more complex character.

Even the semi-anime original Mayuri has better design than Kurumi.

Shido's character development, backstory and versatility makes him a better MC to follow.

The Yamai twins are more entertaining in terms of screen presence.

But Kurumi will take spotlight for the reasons above and because the author uses her as a lore unpacking device.

However, I'll believe you'll like Kurumi more through the current arc and the next arc.

KayShawn258 said:

ngl, i like origami way more

and i hate kurumi more after her arc lol

especially when her mysteries were told

Laplace_kun said:


Fair, lmao. How about Rinne?

Laplace_kun said:
We all know that Kurumi is the first spirit conceptualized by the author.

She is the first spirit who wasn't sealed, and had the first dark arc.

DAL was like a widget waifu of the week series until she came to shake things up with her gothic dress and bloodbath.

Kurumi is also a plot enforcer as she has a different goal from Shido. When Westcott and Elliot don't do their bits, she is the one who is instrumental for uncovering DAL lore.

All these reasons, and add the spice of yangire nature, the franchise has milked her appeal to death.

While many will come to DAL just for her, it also means that everything else is hurried by the studios; increasingly so, as the seasons go on and makers became desperate for sales.


S1 and S2 blu-rays present a significantly better anime than their TV aired counterparts, but I wonder how many even cared to see that?

S3 made a mediocre presentation of the best arcs (till then) - Origami Angel and Origami Devil. It destroyed the fan favorite Itsuka Disaster Arc.

Now, as the top reviewer here has correctly pointed out, they went through the motions for the Nia and Mukuro arcs to make way for Kurumi arcs.

NOTHING MAKES AN IMPACT. Not Westcott's twisted villainy. Not Mukuro's emotional issues, Nia's suffering, Shido's characterization - you speak of it.

If they adapt both Refrain and Ragnarok in the rest of the four episodes, it's all gone. Down the drain.

Vol 16 onwards is peak DAL, not the "Kurumi show" advertisement that Geek Toys is making it out to be (They even made an EARLY adaptation of DAB, whoa!)

Now, this might sound like a rant, but these are my raw feelings.

This was a really nice show which had a ridiculous premise but had it's own charm and surprisingly deep hidden story backed by continuous foreshadowing and development . Now it's a One Spirit Show.

Kurumi is in my top 5 favorites from the novel, so obviously I don't dislike her. The title here just presents a sad irony.

Playcool said:

Really, why did you waste your time writting this rant?

Did they even given hints that they were gonna cramm 2 volumes in 4 episodes? Yes this season is rushed, like most DAL's seasons are,

yet 4 volumes is doable and it was clear they were going for that from the start, so again, POINTLESS rant.

And POINTLESS click bait title, here I though you actually had something interesting to comment.

Laplace_kun said:


Why did you waste your time reading the "rant" and writing a useless reply to it? At least I know what I am doing, and my time is in my hands.



Most DAL seasons? Well technically wrong



Not POINTLESS (you don't have to write in capitals just because you got frustrated), because adapting Ragnarok too wasn't the only issue presented in the post.



It's not a click bait title, if you have problems in comprehension skills, my condolences.

Now don't waste my time writing useless shit.

Playcool said:

I assure you I wasted must less my time reading than you did writing, but what was annoying is that I expected you to write something about the title that I could think about, that presented a valid argument, which you didnt.

" It destroyed the fan favorite Itsuka Disaster Arc."
It is statements like these that made me read faster and avoid referring to your other points, that volume is far from being a fan favorite, wtf you are talking about?!
Origami's is better, and if I had to call anything fan favorite, it would be Kurumi's right now.

From the episodes we got, it is clear your worries about them cramming Ragnarok here are invalid.
Considering at episode 10 was still at the halfway point in percentage of Vol 16.

So yes, it was POINTLESS for you to create a post and rant about that, it is clear with the pacing they are going that this is gonna end on Refrain.

I don't think Kurumi destroyed the franchise at all, and I expected a more valid argument from you, so pointless. Wait, forget to say POINTLESS.

Sorry, let me correct that, all DAL seasons are really rushed when compared to the source material, there are worst causes of course, but great pacing was never a strong suit for the anime adaptations for DAL.

so you should have been more patient on that front and not jumping the gun right at the very start of vol16.