Tearmoon Empire - Anime Discussion

jazzyjeoff

@Geezer-Weasalopes said in Tearmoon Empire Anime Announced:

@TheGrimLich @jazzyjeoff
While it's true that she is seeking to avoid being beheaded...she's focusing first on preventing the chain of events leading to a desire on the part of others to have her slain; if they have no motivation it won't happen.
Just in case she fails in that she's also considering how to get the hell out of Dodge when everything goes to pot, but that's the backup plan, not the preferred plan.
That she's choosing to attempt to change the course of her country in preference of just focusing on getting herself out of it is the thing that grants more validity to the external view than she (or at times the narrator) seem willing to concede. That's a choice she made.

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Geezer Weasalopes

@jazzyjeoff
I'm attempting to limit my comments based upon what has been shown in the anime so far, since this seems to be doubling as the anime discussion topic.
The 'no spoilers' thing.

myskaros

I updated the title to "Anime Discussion" to dispel any ambiguity.

jazzyjeoff

@Geezer-Weasalopes
@myskaros
Noted and post updated.
:)

jazzyjeoff

Wow! I was concerned that the episodes following the premier wouldn't be of the same quality as the first episode—but really they have been better, if anything. So, instead of reviewing what I loved about episode 3 (everything), I will go off on a silly tangent.
So, sometimes when I am lost in Tearmoon thought I imagine what a live-action cast would be like —which usually has me settling on a younger version of the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy-Mia, Willow-Anne, Giles-Ludwig and so on…) but I never thought about casting a narrator until watching the anime—but now I can't get him out of my head— someone who can run the gambit of perceptive and dramatic to judgemental and a little bitchy—yes, for better or worse, George Takei is now my narrator.

arghc

Having not read any of the books (or manga??) I checked out the anime because ppl on the forum mention Tearmoon fairly regularly. I appreciate that Mia is not reincarnated from our world, although she similarly has extra information than a regular character from her diary. A couple of meta-questions:

will her rewind + diary ever be explained?
I'm assuming that this fantastical element is the only thing and that there are no wizards and dragons in this world (or she'd be thinking of how to use such things to help her avoid her fate)?
Princess Mia. Do we ever see her parents, the King and Queen? I'm guessing not considering the accountant praises her having kinda sorta fixed the empire finances which you'd think supervised 12 year olds would not be able to do. 8-)

kuali

I'll spoiler the responses for the sake of any other anime-only people who might drop by.

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Lily Garden

@kuali said in Tearmoon Empire - Anime Discussion:

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jazzyjeoff

@kuali said in Tearmoon Empire - Anime Discussion:

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jazzyjeoff

At episode 4. Another perfect episode. Tearmoon has migrated beautifully between three different media (LN, Manga, anime). Of stories that I am acquainted with, only Bookworm did this as well—and Tearmoon is arguably better because the Tearmoon anime plays so well to Mia’s reactions—that it adds so much to the experience, even as the original story has been edited down. Yes, our wonderful narrator fades into the background —but Mia shines so brightly that he is hardly missed—this happens to such a degree that instead of detracting from the story, it actually justifies the anime’s existence to the readers of the LN—it is different than the LN and is still wonderful! (and, the inverse is also true, folks that are first introduced to Tearmoon via the anime will find new things to love in the LN!)
In so many other shows a character like Mia’s crosses the line into cringe—so over-the-top, but Mia so effortlessly moves from slapstick to drama and back—it really is art. Just beautiful!

TheWickerMan

Anne laughing right in Keithwood's face at the preposterous notion of Mia not being the Sageliest of persons is always extremely satisfying.

Abel and Sion join Anne, Ludwig, the Royal Guard, Tiona & the entire population of the Tearmoon slums in developing a heavy case of Mia-itis. Raphina with some early symptoms. Who will be the next victim?

jazzyjeoff

@TheWickerMan It helped that Keithwood played his part so perfectly with his short screen-time. Right now, he’s so much more interesting than the two prince’s that his words take on more weight—which makes it more satisfying when Anne laughs at his suggestion.
I know that the two princes will have their time to shine. But that even the 4th level characters can do so much in their short time is impressive (and I really like that the mob characters are not so mobby).

rsog412

Adding one very minor correction to what @kuali already said. I'll keep additional spoilers to a minimum.

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Gamen

Those five CG shots during the dance though... Was it because they felt it was a waste to build the scene and only use it for the sweeping shot? >.>

jazzyjeoff

@Ramen Are you talking about the distance shots? At any rate, all of these anime are made to hit a price-point and do things to minimize costs—and if you are unlucky some of those cost-cutting things will just hit you so hard that it keeps you from enjoying a scene (if I rewatch with the purpose of finding the shortcuts, they are pretty obvious). But on the first go-through, just watching to just enjoy the story, it was so well edited none of the cost controls bothered me and some even enhanced the story (I think that using stills at the right time can be very effective) and I loved how they interlaced the dance scene with the fight scene.

Gamen

@jazzyjeoff Yes, the distance shots. For what those shots were, and how little of the dance they made up, it was weird Mia and Sion were still CG in them, and animated so poorly, like mechanical figurines. I assume they're going to be replaced for the BDs, and they were just low priority because they were distance shots, with any time spent on them better spent on polishing the close shots. Everything else was fine, like the CG ballroom and bystanders, and even the few stills. it was just those five distance shots that still had CG Mia and Sion in them.

jazzyjeoff

@Gamen Yeah, I understand. There are some cost motivated animation decisions that if they bother you —you just can't unsee (and I think it might be better not to look for them, because there really is a lot that has the potential to poke you in your mind’s eye). But as I have said, the pacing and the editing has been masterful so far, and between that and the places that they have chosen to spend a little time/money, I am very pleased.

saskir

Hmmm am I the only one who was more bothered by the way Mia and Sion danced compared to the bad CGi?

I mean I don't see quite often Royal or noble dances where a princess shows her legs or jumps into the arms for a princess carry. But hey maybe the nobles there consider it peak.

Oh and one thing I am truly missing: More snarking comments from the commentator. He sounds more tame as compared to the books. Or maybe my inner voice made him more exasperated.

rsog412

@saskir said in Tearmoon Empire - Anime Discussion:

Oh and one thing I am truly missing: More snarking comments from the commentator. He sounds more tame as compared to the books. Or maybe my inner voice made him more exasperated.

I've always read the narrator as more gossipy. Like they're saying, "Of course, that's what everyone else sees, but you and I know what Mia's really like."

I think the anime captured that well.

There is less of the narrator in general, though. Things that would previously have been said by the narrator are instead shown by presenting Mia's inner monologue. I think that's just a consequence of the change in medium, though.

jazzyjeoff

I enjoyed episode 5. Mia and Anne remain pitch-perfect—Keithwood is also very good, and I almost wish that they could find an excuse to fit more of Liora Lulu in the story. I like the other characters—but they mostly serve as straight men to Mia and Anne. I guess the sword fight is next week (or maybe the week after).

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