Forum - View topicMoyashimon / Moyashimon Returns (TV).
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Ohoni
Posts: 3421 |
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The anime only wrapped in Japan last December, it's only been two months. Second seasons of anime don't typically show up until the season starting six months to a year after the first, and sometimes show up long after that. |
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Jozoiscute
 Posts: 252 |
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I kept up with the EPS as they went along.
I enjoyed them. I've been a big fan of body SiFi films (like “The Incredible Voyage”, “Inner Space”, and “Osmosis Jones”) for years. The series reminded me of “The Magic School Bus". It was entertaining and informative....like something a teacher would show his science class. 
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Kirkdawg
 Subscriber Posts: 742 Location: California, USA |
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Wow, only eleven episodes? I finished this show last night sorely craving more. Looks like I'll have to settle for the manga, because there's SO much potential to expand upon the story and I really enjoy the characters. Maybe it's because I'm in my 3rd year of college and I can relate to this scenario somewhat easily, but I am super hooked on Moyashimon.
I'm hugely surprised that the discussion for this show is only 2 pages long, kinda gives me the feeling this is another one of those unsung gems that is just waiting to get picked up. |
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kornpone
 Posts: 55 Location: West of the Yodo River |
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Yup, this one's kind of a rare gem
Luckily there are plenty of fans in Japan, however, and the franchise has expanded with a live-action series (currently airing and now up to ep 8): http://moyashimon.noitamina.tv/ (momentarily the site appears to be down) Live-action? --you might ask. It's fairly cleverly done, with CG renditions of the microbes that follow the original character designs closely. They're not visible to the viewer all the time, but they're around enough to liven up a lot of key scenes. All in all it's a highly entertaining show. Anyone who liked the previous incarnations will likely get a big kick out of this series. |
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Dorcas_Aurelia
 Posts: 5344 Location: Philly |
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I had started watching Funi's stream of the live-action, but gave up midway through the episode where we saw how the use of the aphrodisiac turned out. It ruined the show for me. Well, that, and the direction that Tadayasu and the goth loli's relationship seemed to be heading. spoiler[Yes, I know it's Kei.] The whole resolution of the aphrodisiac's effect was just uncomfortable. Also, inconsistent. When they auction it off to the head of the campus security, his use of it causes him to become an attractor for the opposite sex. When it's used later, it lowers the inhibitions of the girls who drank it. The anime made it clear that Keizo's tonics didn't actually work, and the peculiar behaviors of the characters were caused by the influence of alcohol (which fits perfectly in the context of the series). Also, the little morning after bit with Muto and Hazuki lasted about 3 seconds there, rather than bludgeoning us with the awkward, creepy scene where everyone walks in on them (and Hasegawa makes things worse by repeatedly kicking the guys onto the bed too as punishment for being indelicate). spoiler[Back to the Tadayasu/Kei thing, the way it was being handled made no sense. Kei contacted Tadayasu by phone, seemingly in his male voice, to meet up in person at least twice. Then, at the actual meetings, allows Tadayasu to believe that he is someone else. In the anime, Tadayasu figured out who Kei was by the time Kei kissed him, so there wasn't this dishonesty and seduction going on. This also mucks up the Tadayasu-loses-his-ability plot a little, as the basis for this was an incredibly shocking event occurring (it also happened once when he was young due to a near-accident, I believe), which makes sense when it happens after he discovers his longtime best friend has made a major change in his lifestyle, but not so much as the result of making out with (who he thinks is) a girl and then passing out.] Also, I don't recall ever getting an explanation for the first time Tadayasu and the upperclassmen were trying to steal vegetables. In the anime, they made the point of explaining how they were tricked into it, and it was kind of a campus-wide event to teach the students to beware that particular field because it was treated with certain pesticides (or something), making those vegetables was unsafe to eat. |
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kyokun703
 Posts: 2505 Location: Orgrimmar |
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I feel the live action just didn't translate well from the anime. It's too over the top, too exaggerated for effect.
I still love the bacteria though. They are just so darn cute. And I like the ending credits of the episodes where they name off a bunch of bacteria in the book. I hope somebody gets the anime; I don't really care who. I know Media Blasters was rumored to have it a while ago, but they don't seem to be doing much anymore. I think Nozomi could do a very nice sub-only set of this, being a short, niche series. |
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Spastic Minnow
 Bargain HunterExempt from Grammar Rules  Posts: 4640 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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It's only a 4 1/2 year break, why not just revive the old thread for Moyashimon Returns? It is apparently returning right where it left off.
Or if not, I still thought I share some thought on the first series. It's certainly odd for a modern anime, even beyond its premise. It's funny, often laugh out loud funny, but its also slyly funny too. And as much as it is a bit of a sitcom in an odd setting its also an pretty good character drama. I mean, it's a show that features Yuuki, a character seriously exploring spoiler[his gender identity and possibility of being transgender] but it doesn't just play it for laughs- he's a genuine character whose feelings are being taken seriously. I have never seen an anime treat such a character as just another "guy," which seems to be where the series is taking "him." Some people masy be freaked out, but hey, that's normal too. Although, from what I saw of the live action version- I don't think that one was treated as delicately. I gave up on that show about halfway through. And it's not just Yuuki, they're all represented as alternately wacky or realized characters that defy one-dimensionality. I just finished a another rewatch, probably my fifth time or so seeing it. I'd also say it holds up pretty well. The jokes that rely on shock value are understandably dulled. You can only really be shocked to horrified laughter once by the Kiviak tasting but after that it can still be funny, and the strength of the characters certainly holds up. In short, man have I been waiting a long time for a continuation of this story. Now license it! Release the manga! I'll buy it, Somebody take the damn money!* *that's the band Ifihadahifi, from the EP "Nada Surf", named as such in response to Nada Surf releasing an album called "If I Had A Hifi" |
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yuna49
 Posts: 3804 |
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I re-watched the whole first season over the weekend in preparation for Returns. I knew the kiviak scene was coming, and I still couldn't stop retching while watching it. Like you, I was also impressed at how nonchalantly they handle Kei's situation. Everyone except for Hazuki seems to take it in stride, even the guy who owns the liquor store. As for the Aoi and Hazuki scene that Dorcas_Aurelia mentions, I think we're supposed to believe that Aoi is either a lesbian or bisexual. The fact that they're both naked when they wake up the next morning does leave one wondering what happened during the night. Aoi doesn't seem the kind of person to take advantage of someone, though, so whatever happened had to be a least somewhat mutual, even if experienced through an alcoholic haze. You'll notice that Aoi doesn't try to follow up with Hazuki later on when they're all sleeping at Haruka's apartment. Given her druthers, I suspect Aoi would prefer Haruka if the opportunity presented itself. Again all of this is presented in a matter-of-fact, non-judgmental way. (It's all just "brewing" after all.) And, the Aoi/Hazuki encounter does provide this quite lovely scene followed somewhat later by this hilarious one. What the series could have used was another straight guy who is more appealing than the second-year pair. From what I've read about Returns, though, the major cast addition is another woman, played by Sawashiro Miyuki. I feel sorry for the women in this show; they have such a limited selection of men, and none of them with the possible exception of Tadayasu (and Kei, though he doesn't really count here) has much to offer. I couldn't watch more than fifteen minutes or so of the first live-action episode. There's too much mugging and over-the-top antics in Japanese live-action comedy for my taste. I had a similar reaction to the live-action Nodame Cantabile, but the actors kept themselves more under control, and in Nodame's case mugging was part of her character. Nevertheless I did get pretty tired of Ueno Juri's performance by the time the movies were released. |
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Spastic Minnow
Bargain Hunter Exempt from Grammar Rules Posts: 4640 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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Moyashimon Returns episode 1
It seems odd to say but the most remarkable thing about this "first" episode is how very unremarkable it was. No stunts, none of the the show's infamous gross-out jokes, it just picked up directly from where the first season left off and told a very normal and rather technical tale about fermentation brewing. It was, truthfully, rather boring. Oh it had its moments, spoiler[Kei throwing a shelf through a window, Harusega whipping the upperclassmen duo, the professor disappearing and reappearing seemingly at will,] but it was all pretty tame. And then there's the big-eyed and simplified character design tweaks. Those are going to take some getting used to. Mutou in particular has really lost a lot of her visual appeal in the redesign and Tadayasu looks both feminine and childish now. I prefer the original looks of the characters but I think I can get used to them eventually. Still, happy to see the guys back together and am intrigued about spoiler[the mystery of the secret basement room were Kei seems to be secretly living and looking forward to Tadayasu apparently finally telling Oikawa about his ability. I'm thinking she won't believe him at first- although that goes against how most everyone else reacted, all basically believing it pretty easily.] |
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walw6pK4Alo
 Posts: 9322 |
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I sure do love learning about alcohol from microbes and crossdressers. I agree on the designs, they're less sharp and intense than they used to be, but Kei sure does look a whole ton cuter, even with the deep voice.
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yuna49
Posts: 3804 |
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While I love the microbes, too, I learned a lot more about alcohol from Bartender. My favorite story is probably the one about how scotch became the "whisky of rebellion." |
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Yttrbio
 Posts: 3714 |
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Episode 6 or so
With the harvest festival, I'd say that at least the absurd comedy is finally getting back up to speed. (I love their take on promotions) Character-wise, still not so much. |
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Pixelationist
 Posts: 111 Location: London, UK |
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It's still moyashimon so I'm liking it, just a few minor gripes.
I actually don't like the art as much this time round, the character designs feel slightly moe-fied, and Yuki's massive eyes just looks wrong somehow... I also lament how Muto's role has been diminished to just an extra who's always drunk, I hope she gets an arc before it ends. |
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Dorcas_Aurelia
Posts: 5344 Location: Philly |
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I got a really late start on this season, so I just yesterday marathoned all available episodes. I'm pretty much going to echo the opinion that the simplified character designs remove some of the series personality, as does the tamer humor. The resolution of the hidden door sub-plot was pretty anticlimactic, but I expected something like that, anyway. I think I'm most disappointed with how the show is pretty much skimming over Haruka's conflict with her father. It's the most interesting thing going on dramatically right now, and we're getting virtually no details.
The harvest festival helped bring back a bit of the fun, particularly the professorship boxing match. |
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Spastic Minnow
Bargain Hunter Exempt from Grammar Rules Posts: 4640 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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ep. 8
Oh my, Hasegawa is spoiler[angry, has a knife, and is drinking... one way or another, I don't think they'll be engaged by the end of the next episode...] |
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