Magical Girl Nanoha StrikerS 1
*cue Roulette Roulette fanfare* Ooh, MAHO! Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Episode 1!
Subaru: Nani yantennoyo!? Sensei dazou!
Nanoha: Yoshi yoshi...
Subaru: Baka! Hau hau!
Sorry, just couldn't help it - Subaru, who is also voiced by Chiwa Saito, just sounded too much like Becky Miyamoto especially in the opening scene. Saito would have been a perfect choice if Subaru was a brat but thankfully she's just a crybaby and the tomboy edge in her voice does fit the bill nicely.
Against my normal inclinations of anti-cute, I also found - much to my surprise - Reinforce Zwei to be absolutely adorable!
Tiana's character design just makes me think: Asuka Langley, Eri Sawachika. Mai Nakahara of Mai 'BOING BOING FUTURE NOURISHMENT OF YOUR CHILDREN' Tokiha fame does annoyed and snarky very well. Definitely one of her roles that I enjoy without reservation after the vacuity and self-reference-in-third-person of that annoying StoPani lead character whose name eludes me at the moment.
Unlike my good brother, I am detecting zilch yuri potential between Tiana and Subura. There's no yuri tension at all, even of the one-sided type. Even Fate x Signum give off much stronger possible yuri vibes. Since I rely heavily on OP and ED cues, both of them seem to have very different preoccupations though they are room mates and merge into the Dark Crystal (Red Edition) separately.
Speaking of yuri pairings, while I share the general sense of relief at the upgrade from loli to oneesama, I have this ominous feeling that the Nanoha x Fate relationship has regressed to 'just best friends'. Nanoha is giving me a Lone Wolf vibe, the sense of estrangement that she had before she met Yuuno and Fate.
While I enjoyed the Secret Ambition ED for its energy, I also found its visuals and wistful tone to be rather melancholy. Although she's by herself as well in the Little Wish ED, it still feels like she's dedicated the song to Fate. Ditto for Spiritual Garden where it seems she's virtually serenading Fate and confirmed by how they come face to face with their own Tree of Promise the background of the A's ED sequence. What I got from the A's to StrikerS comics and this first episode is that Nanoha has her eyes fixed firmly on her career and the freedom of the sky. And Secret Ambition seems to address a different close companion and soulmate - Raising Heart, thus assigning Fate and the others to a support role. orz
Ah well, there's still Signum-oneesama. Will be interesting to see the dynamics of the relationships among the personnel of Fate's Lightning squad. Probably Fate as MILFate and Signum as the laconic, mumbling-from- behind-the-newspaper Daddy figure.
But there are still some positive signs from the OP (rather than the ED). Fate x Nanoha FTW!
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April 6th, 2007 - 13:06
Oh my god, Zyl. You absolutely killed me with this review.
“…after the vacuity and self-reference-in-third-person of that annoying StoPani lead character whose name eludes me at the moment.”
This is going to make me laugh out loud at inappropriate moments all day long, I can tell.
I agree with you in just about every aspect. But gosh, now that Fate and Nanhoa are growned up, I wouldn’t mind there being something between them.
I was also suprised at how nice Vita cleaned up.
Roller Skates and 80’s music video costume, with weapon that defies the second law of thermodynamics – Subaru is the new heroine of the age. For twenty years ago.
Did I mention that the line “…after the vacuity and self-reference-in-third-person of that annoying StoPani lead character whose name eludes me at the moment.” absolutely KILLED me? LOL
Cheers,
Erica
Hungry for Yuri? Have some Okazu: http://okazu.blogspot.com
April 6th, 2007 - 14:51
EPISODE 2: HINTS AT YURI!
Oh, and moar Reinforce-tan :3
April 6th, 2007 - 15:18
“Probably Fate as MILFate and Signum as the laconic, mumbling-from- behind-the-newspaper Daddy figure.”
~~~~ ~~~~
Best line from this entry. ^^;
Cheers.
April 6th, 2007 - 16:10
The combat wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping, especially the “Wing Road” attack. It’s supposed to be really fast, but it looked really slow and took forever to set up. Perhaps if she was named Ferrari instead of Subaru that might have helped. Interesting that she wears so much protection on the elbows and knees, but doesn’t use a helmet.
I look forward to watching Fate and Nanoha decide that the youngsters aren’t up to carrying the show and simply taking over the majority of the screentime.
April 6th, 2007 - 16:14
Also, Teana kinda reminds me of Asuna from Negima.
April 6th, 2007 - 18:52
Erica, I derive making utility from blogging when the odd post makes readers guffaw out loud in the office or, even better, spit their food or drink at their monitors. MWAHAHAHAA!
DrmChrs0, I certainly hope so! The girls in men’s dress shirt PJs! Haa haa. But then again, it looks more like they’re having a hangover than a yuri slumber party…
Skane, I’m starting to suspect that the pink-haired loli could be a possible Fate x Signum love child…
Kabitzin, IMHO the fighting in Nanoha has never really been exceptional anyway. But the way it’s conveyed just presses my nostaglia and (good) cheesy button. Granted, nothing that makes me want to stand up and shout: “EXCELION BUSTER A.C.S. DRIVE!” yet.
Agree completely with you that the Nanoha-Fate-Hayate trioka should come to the fore later. The four new characters will probably be used (1) to maintain some appeal to the lolicon fanbase, (2) show the original cast’s character development. Pity that Signum and co have been sidelined and Arf has completely disappeared from the OP, ED but everyone was initially worried about over-crowding and lack of focus – even though it’s gone from the 13 to 26 ep format, some tradeoff has probably been inevitable.
April 7th, 2007 - 05:07
>>Probably Fate as MILFate and Signum as the laconic, mumbling-from- behind-the-newspaper Daddy figure.
Pure win
Caro: Signum-Onee-sama, can I go on the new mission with Nanoha-san’s team? She said it’s ok if it’s ok with you.
Signum: *Peers over newspaper and puts down her cigar* Go ask your mother.
I still think Nanoha and Fate are quite close. Did you catch that awesome Double Tech they pulled of in the OP? That’s serious teamwork there. It puts Chrono (Chrono Trigger) and Frog to shame
.
>>Zyl
>>Arf has completely disappeared from the OP, ED
Has anyone figured out why yet? Where the hell did she go?
April 7th, 2007 - 05:18
Arf is supposely helping Amy babysit Chrono and Amy’s kids. Suppose to be twins.
April 7th, 2007 - 16:04
I read that Arf believes that Fate no longer needs her combat support, since Fate is a rank S mage now. Therefore, Arf is supporting Fate with household duties.
SPINOFF!!!
Hard to believe Amy and Chrono ended up together. At least Yuuno is still struggling and single.
April 7th, 2007 - 16:08
Am I the only one who looked at Reinforce-tan and thinking ‘Jun dyed his hair, got contacts, learned magic, then used it for a sex-change after all!’
…
Still, I enjoyed looking at Subaru and company… but we needed more Fate-oneesama or Fate-okaasan.
April 8th, 2007 - 05:30
Finally.
A review of this.
I was worried for a while there Zyl…
Any who, Itoo feel the same as you on the whole thing. The ED especially was…MEH!
And listening to Megami Striker S Sound Stage, I was even more panicked.
I will just have to cross my fingers on this one.
Hopefully, things will pick up in ED 2. There is 25 more eps after all.
I will have to listen to the ED again and see what you mean with it being like that of A’s(Dedicated to Fate)
“2 is on tonight…Can’t wait…
April 8th, 2007 - 06:27
Some random 4Koma humour.
Perspectives
Cheers.