Shigofumi – 02
“Kotodama (コトダマ)” by ALI PROJECT – Haha, I love ALI PROJECT. What? No, their songs don’t all sound the same! Anyways, the song is quite fitting to the show. The animation is unique and very well done.
Summary:
Kanaka suggests that Fumika flee, as Asuna is not normal. Seeing that Asuna has something important to keep and something had interrupted her, however, Fumika suggests that she is normal. Fumika only wishes to confirm one thing from Asuna. When Fumika asks if Shota was her boyfriend, Asuna replies that she has been with many boys. Fumika uses her staff to disappear, causing Asuna to slash the wind. When Fumika and Kanaka return to Shota’s usual room, Kanaka expresses her shock about the Shigofumi they are dealing with. Fumika replies that the letters can be used in this way too, as sadness and hatred are part of human nature as well. Teleporting again, Kanaka wonders to Fumika why Asuna would kill her father. However, Fumika only states that this has nothing to do with her job. While Asuna begins digging a hole to put Shota in, she remembers the murders she has committed up to this point. While two women watch Asuna and a group of kids play with Miku, the younger woman notices how much Asuna looks out for her younger sister. The older woman recalls that this is because their father was not the most admirable person. Asuna had actually been forced by her father to use her body to make money. When her father one day mentioned that Miku would also be used, Asuna murdered him with the knife she now holds in her hands. Asna’s thoughts are interrupted by Miku, who wishes to sleep with her older sister. Asuna declares to herself that she saved her younger sister, and their future.
The next day, Asuna is shocked to find people at the scene of Shota’s death. Investigators also approach the older woman from before with questions about Asuna’s relationship with Shota. Asuna wonders how people know of this, when no one should have known of their interaction. Avoiding being seen by passing officers, Asuna decides to change her appearance. Asuna finds that she cannot yet call Miku, when she is approached by Fumika and Kanaka. Realizing that their previous meeting was not a dream, Asuna wonders what Fumika did to deceive her. Fumika only holds out a letter, explaining that it is from the Shigo’s world. She further reveals that it is from Shota, and that Shigofumi carry the last messages of dead humans. Fumika states that she does not care wether humans are alive are dead. Humans will eventually die, and it is only a matter of how soon. As there are no people around, Asuna takes the chance to assault Fumika. Fumika quickly uses Kanaka to knock Asuna over, however, then aiming her gun at her. Fumika states that there should still be lingering feelings of the heart, before leaving Asuna speechless. Asuna is left with the letter in her hand, which she finally opens. Elsewhere, two investigators search for Asuna. One of them says to be careful, as she is a pure blooded criminal.
As Asuna runs in panic, she recalls what was written in the letter. In the letter, Shota apologizes for not realizing Asuna’s feelings. He states that he was only thinking of himself, but thanks her for believing in him and his rocket. Asuna is unable to believe this, as she had killed him. Asuna was the one who believed in Shota. Asuna states that she hated Shota. The talents she had such as being a student council president and piano player were lies, but Shota had real dreams and looked to the sky. Unveiling the rocket, Asuna recalls that what she wanted to believe in was not Shota’s rocket, but their future. Asuna finally prepares the rocket for liftoff, but the investigator Nojima Tatsumi finds her in the meantime. The rocket is covered while Tatsumi confronts Asuna, so she rushes to cut the canvas free. The other panicking investigator shoots Asuna upon his arrival, leaving her only able to watch as the rocket goe off. In the distance, Miku sees this as well. Fumika later delivers a letter to Miku, claiming that it is filled with wonderful feelings more pure than the world can offer.
Preview: Friends.
Impression:
Oh my god. No you didn’t, JCStaff. Shigofumi is a masterpiece. I am saying that right here and now. No, I don’t care if I have only seen two episodes. I am ready to prove myself by the end. The story, the composition, the score…….everything is beautiful. This episode gave me chills all over the place, especially with the issue of human nature being brought up. I was getting some Jigoku Shoujo vibes from this episode, but it is definitely not on the same level. The writing in this show is believable, and so much more intense. The messages left after watching an episode are so much more powerful, and how it all comes together is what does it. The bed played a shocking role in this episode with the foreshadowing we were given last week, and things like Fumika disappearing as Asuna ran past her were genius. I don’t think I even need to go into Shota’s last letter and the firing of the rocket. What a spectacular ending for the end of a two episode arc.
On a lighter note, is there an inconsistency here? Asuna slashed at Fumika at the end of this episode. This time, they had time to exchange words beforehand. It’s not anything major, but something to point out. Fumika’s busting out of her gun was absolutely wonderful, especially when she threw it back into her bag. Also, everyone knows by now that I love psycho chicks. Asuka is a plus for me, even though she did not last for very long. Lastly, “boku” is STILL hot. I have become an instant Fumika fan. Wow, I am going to be ranting and raving about this show all season. i want to watch the next episode NOW. Yes, that means I am blogging this. There’s no way I can’t.
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Dude, to be fair: Their songs don’t just sound the same, they actually just are the same.
What the heck! Rentington you are scaring me with this insta-comment magic. But yea, ok….so they all sound the same. I still have a soft spot for ALI PROJECT. xP
What. I thought you weren’t going to blog this. ): Even from a SHAFT fan myself, I can’t believe I like this more than ZSZS. Especially it’s J.C.Staff’s whom has screw up several good shows in past two years.
One thing I can say for sure: This show is way too awesome. I wish someone could redone Shinigami no Ballad with this quality.
I’m not gonna lie…so far, I probably like this more than SZS too. I actually like JCStaff the most next to Shaft, but I admit they mess up on a few shows. This, however, definitely isn’t one of those shows.
I love how everyone was comparing this to Shinigami no Ballad before the season started. It is NOTHING like that show.
No, really. Shinigami no Ballad itself is awesome. The anime adoption just badly sucked. I still compare Shigofumi to Shinigami no Ballad, because second half of the light novel is nowhere near the first, from the brightly-themed everybody-happy ending to dark, gloomy and bittersweet story, just like what you get from these two episodes of Shigofumi or even more.
Oh really! Wow, that is unexpected. I thought the anime adaption was really, really bad. Now I’m trying to think about how that show would be with a darker tone….I did like Momo and Ai Shimizu as the cat….but that was about it.
The first two eps of this series have been pretty damn amazing. I wonder where it’s headed from here, though. After all, the characters who have received the most development so far are, um, well, dead.
Still… this show’s first arc has about as much “YOU WILL WATCH ME NOW” factor as anything I can remember seeing.
Now if only Fumika didn’t remind me of “The Postman” with that get-up of hers. Damn Kevin Costner movies.
Yep, I actually read the manga for Shinigami no Ballad. Let’s just say that the manga is much darker and more heart pumping compared to the rather mild anime. This one, however, is just pulse wrecking.
Bloody wicked stuff, if you ask me.
Though I’m not an ALI project fan, I find that it strangely fits with the series. To be honest, it sounds rather messed up and trainwreck-ish like to me, but that fits the theme of Shigofumi, which has a person dying every episode (Or there would be no story).
Wait until they introduce Konoe in episode four and watch the rating plummet like a guze no tomogara!
oh wait… Wrong show…
Wait until they introduce more booby maids and onee-samas and side step the main tsundere…
oh wait… Wrong show… Again…
I should stick to my saccharine and spices…
That said, still not picking up anything new, relying on hinano to tell whether there is enough hamaji per episode worth running through for. So far my flame hazes are fueling the fires of my life and hayate is providing the occasional laughs. Speaking of which, KITT sported a cameo in 40.
M: That’s the thing though! In just two episodes, they have managed to develop two characters out extraordinarily. I definitely felt attached to Shota and Asuna by the end, and watching the rocket go off was stunning. Also, haha, I love Fumika’s get up.
Impz: Where are you Shinigami no Ballad readers coming from!! I wonder if I need to put that on my read list…..
Sylon Beta: Haha, ALI PROJECT always get talk like this. Meh. Anyways, I’m not sure if they will continue to simply kill people off. From what I can tell, there will be new twists in every arc.
Di Gi Kazune: You have some kind of magic…because every time I do a reply sweep I see your comment popping up in the middle of my writing…..I just had to refresh/copy and paste after seeing that I had new mail T.T. Haha, you’re still watching Hayate? I dropped that at 15….though I’ll probably pick it back up to finish eventually. :3
I badly need fansubs for this show…
Sigh.
Subs. Want. Now. Wasn’t Baka-Wolf supposed to do this show?
Anyhoo, anyone else notice that same gun being fired during the flight sequence after Fumika said “0609″. Could it be Fumiko is doing this depressing job as penance for killing someone?
Another Jigoku Shoujo parallel!
Oh, and ask and ye shall receive…..but not on my anime blog! xD
Whaaa? I thought you had the power to grant us any wish
For people wondering about the sub: Menclave is working on this show.
ALI PROJECT FTW, period.