Clannad – 11
Kyou is a mahou shoujo!
Summary:
Kotomi wakes Tomoya from his peaceful sleeping in his classroom with her horrible violin playing. When some students question Kotomi’s relation to Tomoya, Kotomi can only recite her regular introduction to them. Kyou and the other girls appear after a bit more of Kotomi’s screeching sound, and they do their best to stop her. When everyone meets in the clubroom later, they notice that Kotomi has been practicing her jokes. Ryou and Nagisa reveal some of the drama club’s props, causing Kotomi to do more strange things. When Kotomi starts playing her violin again, Kyou suggests that she will have a chance to let many people hear her playing later. Ryou and Nagisa then leave with Kotomi to practice elsewhere, but Kyou keeps Tomoya from following. She suggests that this is to help Kotomi meet more people, as she is always hanging around Tomoya only. While Nagisa and Ryou keep Kotomi company, Kyou is left alone with Tomoya. Outside with him, she asks what he would do if there was someone who would go out with him. Tomoya’s answer isn’t very direct, and Kyou leaves him when the bus arrives.
Tomoya leaves his house early during the weekend, and makes his way to the library with no where else to go. Inside, he finds Kotomi who has been practicing her violin. After their usual exchange of words, Kotomi reveals an apple pie she made for both of them. Tomoya praises Kotomi for the delious pie she has made on her first attempt, causing a change in her demeanor. Kotomi asks if Tomoya would read a book with her, but he instead suggests that she read one to him. Tomoya falls asleep, however, forcing Kotomi to wake him from a strange dream. When Tomoya sees Kotomi off afterwards, she expresses how happy she was for him to keep her company.
The next day, the regular group does their best to gather an audience for Kotomi’s violin recital. Many people are caught in the event, and Tomoya notices that Tomoyo has a respect for a supposedly famous Misae who was once a student council member. Kotomi finally shows up, but the result of her violin playing is devastating. On the way home, Tomoya wonders to Kyou and Ryou why they are trying so hard to help Kotomi. They decide that it is because of her childish nature, and the feel that they can’t leave her alone. The group’s attention is suddenly brought to an old man who is seemingly assaulting Kotomi, so everyone rushes to her aid. The man simply leaves afterwards, but Kotomi is left in panic.
Preview: More Kotomi action.
Impression:
Hmm, I’m still interested in why Kyou is getting so much screen time in Kotomi’s arc. I would go on about the episode length and combination of arcs, but that’s been said elsewhere. I’m continually being impressed with what Kyouani and Key bring to the table. Right when I thought Kotomi’s personality points would get old, they threw some very new stuff at us. The mahou shoujo stuff came out of nowhere, and Kotomi’s dry humor was hilarious. Tomoya’s dream sequence was actually really awesome, even if it was parody. Of course, the end of the episode was definitely the highlight for me. I was dying when even botan fell over from the sound.
Although it seemed like nothing productive happened in this episode at all, there were actually a few revelations about Kotomi’s character. Her hopeless personality was brought up, but that really goes into her background. The biggest hint was her reaction when Tomoya praised her cooking. It’s like she has never been praised for things before. Her appreciation for Tomoya’s visit was genuine, and I’m sure she thinks a lot of him for introducing her to so many friends; something that she has been void of for a long time. The old man at the end of the episode obviously has something to do with her as well, but it’ll probably be awhile before we discover exactly what.
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First, and Clannad rocks.
Every time I watch a new episode of Clannad, I’m left with the impression that I enjoyed it a whole lot more than I should have. I guess I should say that the material is pretty meh, but it’s executed very well. Anyone else get that feeling?
Oh, where to begin? All right, how about the beginning when Kotomi sounded like a drawling Japanese version of a Southern hick, complete with bad noun-verb agreement. Then that horribly butchered “Ratin” incantation Kotomi tried out, of which she unironically wondered if she even said it right. I woke up half the neighborhood yelling “Ya THINK?!” Then after getting over that they hit me with that magical girl parody (is “osakana daiiiisuki!” supposed to be a subtle reference to Puni Puni Poemi?).
Oh well, if we don’t get into some drama soon, at least I can live off the comedy.
Random lol: \o/
M: No way. I totally get that feeling a lot. I’m like, “Wow this would have been really stupid if it wasn’t presented in this way…etc” It just proves how good of a job Kyoani/Key do on their works.
ItAintEazy: I love the comedy, but I also like funny anime. Kotomi’s speech is amazing! The mahou shoujo transformation had to be a parody of something, but I don’t watch enough mahou shoujo to tell you what. ;P
Oh well, something to say?
“I was threatened for eating lunch early half a year ago.”
“Man, It’s tough being a playboy”
Totali: My thought exactly like you. Kyou’s screentime are increased significantly. I’m guessing that Kyou/Ryou will be the next arc, but it will be shorter arc because they kinda combine in this arc as well. Kyou is my favorite character and combine her to other heroine’s arc is not acceptable to me. Also, we need more Tomoyo (she is my second favorite) and she is the only heroine that we hardly know anything about her. Then again, kyoani got only 24 episodes. They can’t really do much. Tomoya’s dream was just pain weird. Does it suppose to represent anything? Kotomi’s dry sense of humor is very funny. I thought in the end she will play violin perfectly, but I guess I was wrong.
Siva: Huh ??????
Siva: LOL!
kenshin514: Yea, a lot of people are starting to guess that the Fujibayashi sisters’ arc will be next, since some of it is already being inserted into Kotomi’s arc. I think Tomoyo’s arc will be longer than Kyou’s, since we’ve seen a lot less of her. The small part she had in this episode was kind of interesting though.
Tomoyo blushing and Kyou in a nurse outfit (weird dream?) is
This episode had so many great moments.
Particularly when nearly every character ended up coming to the recital I thought to myself “Damn I love this”.
Totali:
“It just proves how good of a job Kyoani/Key do on their works.”
Yeah, I keep on thinking how things are in the original novel. and that’s when I realize that it must take some real skill to combine a script, animation, and all to recreate the scene in an anime.
kenshin514:
I can understand why it might be annoying that Kyou/Ryou’s arc is being phased into Kotomi’s. The only reason I can give to Kyoani is that they are probably aiming for a good transition between arcs for balanced time.
Tomoyo’s my favorite character though I like Kyou an almost equal amount.
A wild guess: the guy is her father/uncle.
A wilder guess: Kyou’s arc melds into Kotomi’s for epic original drama. Since 24 episodes doesn’t look like enough if they’re going to animate Tomoyo’s After Story at this point, they need to hit the ground running after Kotomi’s arc and make it blend convincingly into Kyou’s. A seamless transition, so to speak.
Also, by Tomoyo’s After story I meant Nagisa’s. Sheesh.
I loved the recital part! So many casualties… even the kitty and boutan! xD
Kyou is so helpful and cunning… getting people to acually come, “punishing” the offenders, and also earning some extra cash. She somehow reminded me of Kyouya from Ouran.
It’s also good to see Tomoyo again.
I like the way they’re going about the arcs overlapping, giving us bits and pieces of the characters’ backstories while focusing on one as well, and like what Owen S said, also making seamless transitions from one story to the other.
Halcyon: Did part of your comment get cut off? :S I think what you wanted to say was that the dream sequence was really awesome though.
Avisch: The directing is just amazing. As unbelievable as things are, we can’t help but feel engaged in it all. That just shows talent.
Owen S: Haha, pretty rational guess. I still think the guy’s a child molester though. I’ve been hearing things about the after story and how it wouldn’t fit in too. I’ve never played the game, or even know much about it, so I can’t really say.
hazy: Poor botan….Haha, I knew Kyou was gonna do something crazy to get everyone together. She’s just that type. ;P The transition is definitely going really well. It’s amazing how they put together all these separate arcs into a continuous story with no stops.
I do not really care about Clannad except for the mahou Shoujo Kyou. Just that scene warrants the effort to plow through this episode ^_^