I now return to my devotions as prescribed by the Worshipful Order of St Nagato-chi. As Episode 00 was aired in my ignorance of the Good News that is Yukiism, this post seeks to remedy my previous negligence. For explanations of the awesomeness of this episode from people have studied film and media, see jpmeyer and hung.
There’s something about the Mikuru beam above, especially when contrasted against the crappy special effects later. Only after reading Chapter 3 onwards of the light novel’s 2nd volume did I realize that Yuki had just saved Kyon’s life. Haruhi’s powers had caused Mikuru’s coloured contact lense to actually fire a real beam.
Loved how Mikuru scampers down the street while Yuki is still in sight. Another funny thing about the movie was how Haruhi had cast Mikuru as a time traveller, Yuki as an alien and Itsuki as an ESPer. Itsuki seems to blame Kyon for this and in the novel, he does tell Haruhi about it at the end of the first novel. Though she didn’t believe him, she promptly assigns those roles when casting them for the movie. I’m guessing that he does tell her in the anime continuity too but that it’s off screen, after the Haruhi x Kyon Only Mystery Patrol at the end of MoHS VI.
In the novel, there’s another mishap with the Mikuru Beam slicing through the fence around the pond. What we do see is Tsuruya going out of character by laughing at Mikuru (though I loved how she dodged under the brim of Yuki’s hat to get at Mikuru) as well as causing a continuity error that Kyon points out later.
I’m not sure that Yuki and Itsuki’s conversation was scripted by Haruhi. It sounded a lot like a negotiation between on-site representatives the Integrated Data Sentient Entity and The Organization and seems to build up to the events of the novel’s fourth volume. The top of Yuki’s hat showing after she supposedly ‘disappeared’ was also funny.
Reading off the notes for the advertisement.
Just like how Kyon talked about smashing Itsuki in a rage for being so intimate with Mikuru, I wanted to smash him into smithreens for stringing up Yuki into a love triangle. Even if it’s all pretend. -_-;;
Back to the cheesy fights - love the running onto camera instead of starting the take only when they’re in place and then moving to suit the camera’s framing rather than the other way round.
The director appears shouting for Mikuru to fight back and teachers demanding to know what’s going on. All of which could have been edited out during post-production but that would only make it less funnily awful.
Quick thinking by Yuki but also breaking the fourth wall.
More incongruity of effects. Very bad (fake) effects with the use of Haruhi-bestowed powers captured on film.
And that’s a wrap for the selection of Yuki screenies for this episode!
A selection of images downloaded from danbooru of Yuki in her magician’s outfit:
Battling Mikuru
Figurine: Just not the same without the big hat
Stars
Pencil drawing
Strong wind from the bow
Chibi magician
Chibi magician 2
Chibi magician 3
City backdrop
Simply magical
There is something mighty suspicious about that figurine that book doesn;t resemble something Yuki-san would read.
If I felt the urge to kill Itsuki after the hug but not at the bento nor the love letter that does constitute righteous fury and not petty jealousy, right? Also is Yuki being on top of Mikuru is a good thing?
One of the funniest anime episodes ever made. The cat hanging off Yuki’s shoulder had me nearly on the floor the first time I saw it.
That figurine is a photoshop. It is actually Louise from Zero no Tsukaima.
>>> That figurine is a photoshop. It is actually Louise from Zero no Tsukaima.
I suspected that. Thanks for the confirmation, Skane.
Still does not fail to impress. The narration is excellent as well; I guess it is the bizzare wording that I find amusing. Things like ‘combat waitress and alien magician’ and the ‘love triangle’ line, too funny.
whoa, that’s so interesting, didnt know yuki saved kyon by wrestling mikuru to the floor.
Anyway, the snapshot (1st picture) with the “Be brave!” simply rocks!
Yeah, in the novel, Kyon even sees the holes that the Mikuru Beam burned into Yuki’s hand. Of course, the poor girl can’t be blamed for any of this since she didn’t know what was happening and couldn’t control it anyway. The way Yuki tries to prevent Mikuru from having Beam relapse was also hilarous.
wow, ouch! The novel actually went on to describe the beam burning into Yuki’s hand? I guess that’s not captured in the anime. Yeah, Mikuru cant be blamed. It was an accident.
Thanks man, you just gave me a rather complete overview on episode 00 (along with the 2 sites that talks about filming concepts) :P
I think I can enjoy episode 00 much more now, becos previously, I was trying to focus on what episode 00 was trying to say in terms of the plot based on that single episode. I only thought it was an innocent parody of a collection of other shows by using amateur actors (as signified by Mikuru’s shaky attack poses).
Now, armed with the concepts of filming and with certain details highlighted in the novel, the main focus would be to simply laugh at the flaws associated with amateur filming and notice the twists that’s related to the actual story setting (like mikuru beam turning real due to haruhi).