Katanagatari 12

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOGAMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

That's how the episode starts. A very sad moment, Togame dying between Shichika's arms. Emonzaeomn purposedly didn't shot her vitals to allow her to speak her final words.

She tells Shichika that she lived her life scheming, using even her own emotions as pawns. But in the end she was happy... She also told Shichika to forget about her and live his life. The final request of Togame, oddly enough, is for Shichika to spread the use of cheerio over Japan.

This was a beautifully sad scene, very moving and well done. The great thing is that it's at the beginning, this way they have the rest of the episode to lift our mood.

Shichika infact wants to get killed and he heads to the castle seeking for Emonzaemon.

His resolve is unshakable

His mind is set

At the same time princess Hitei was received by the Shogun who has 11 bodyguards with him.
Shichika enters the castle and he really has another look. He is the completed deviant blade and now he doesn't have any restriction. The orders "don't break the blades" and "protect yourself" are not effective and he can show his full power.

The soldiers facing him are of no effect and princess Hitei proposes the Shogun her Emonzaemon and his 11 bodyguards will use the 12 deviant blades to oppose him.

The following fight is really epic as Shichika faces them one by one and makes short work of them. He breaks all the blades and kills many of the bodyguards. The poor little girl holding Seito Hakari (the sheat) gets only hit on the head and not killed.

Zettou Kanna

Zantou Nakamura

Sentou Tsurugi

Hakutou Hari

Zakutou Yoroi

Sautou Kanazuchi

Akutou Bita

Bitou Kanzashi

Outou Nokogiri

Seitou Hakari

Dokutou Mekki

The last opponent is Emonzaemon with Ento Jyu. When asked if he is seeking revenge Shichika answers that he wants to be killed and believed Emonzaemon is the only one who could be able to do it.

The fight is fierce and spectacular. Shichika moves extremely fast to apparently avoid the shots, but then he gets close to Emonzaemon and reveals he didn't try to avoid them. He decided to take them from the start. He doesn't need to protect himself anymore!

An impressive fight!

When it looks like Emonzaemon would be the winner Shichika finishes the fight with his final completed "Shichika Hachiretsu Kai". Entou Jyu is destroyed and Emonzaemon final words are for HItei hime.

Entou Jyuu

Shichika reaches the last floor where the Shogun and Hitei are waiting. Before the fight with Emonzaemon started she told Shichika he could have killed her if he defeated Emonzaemon. She also revealed him that for Shichika to win was according to Shikizaki's plan and for her either to complete the plan or to stop it was good. Shikizaki Kiki saw that a hundred years from now Japan would be invaded by a foreign country and destroyed. To avoid this he had to change history by destroying the current shogunate.

Shichika gets to the last floor and Hitemi hime tells him he can kill her. But he says he has the strenght to kill just one more person. He approaches the Shogun. He wants to make him an example. He kills him with an incredibly powerful attack (if there was any need of it!) screaming "cheerio"!

!!

After the ending song we see Shichika drawing a map of Japan at a small stand by the roadside. He went with Togame's dream in the end. Hitei hime sits near him, even if he tells her he doesn't want her to follow him :)

She looks happy, finally

Hitei hime wears Emonzaemon's mask over the head and seems a much more lively and happy person. She tells Shichika that Shikizaki's plan to destroy the shogunate and change history failed in the end. Simply, the successor of the previous Shogun stepped in and took the charge. Shichika tells her that it's not such a problem after all. They have to believe in the future warriors to be able to defend Japan when the invasion will come.

They seem to enjoy their journey together :)

The two resume their journey...

It was a beautiful ride till the end. Very sad story, but definitely beautiful. Shichika grew from the soulless killing machine at the beginning to a full person. Even Hitei hime is shown to be happy in the end.
Togame's story is really sad and they were able to convey strong emotions. The choice of putting the saddest parts at the beginning of the last episode is very good. The ending left me sad, but still happy and I felt the story was complete.

Katanagatari is an unusual anime for being spread over a year with one episode each month. The episodes are longer than usual and they are all very good. I hope we will get more anime like this.

Ultimately for me this is one of the best series this year, if not the best!

To Aru Majutsu no Index II 10

Oriana gets beaten.

Somehow this episode felt much shorter then the others.
The main event is the fight between Touma and Oriana where he manages to show off his cool side... and beats another girl!

Girl bashing: Touma 2 - Accelerator 1

Oriana doesn't seem to be very bad and given also the significant amount of screentime she is getting, she could even become a recurring character...
It's true that she set the trap that injured Fukiyose and that she tortures Tsuchimikado with a spell (although she wasn't targeting him), but at least she didn't show any distorted facial expression yet.

It appears that what was being traded is not the stab sword, but "croce di Pietro" an item that would make Academy city a Roman church possession. This would unset the balance of the world so it is much worse than they initially thought.

What? And why is it here!?

Of course, we are also pleased by some Index and Biribiri action!

Index has changed her usual nun outfit to a cheerleader one. She looks totally different :D

Index jumping is cute :)

Touma suddenly remembers the fanservice event of last episode

Index has evolved from biting to bashing

You finally realized!

At the end of the episode there is some Biribiri show when together with her mother she meets Touma's parents.

Mikoto unaware of what awaits her

Still not blushing... need some help

Misuzu likes to tease her daugther :)

And Mikoto is such an easy target

Mikoto quickly realizes who Touma inhereted from :)

Oriana changed to an even more revaling outfit

Well said

They go to eat together and when Index and Touma wander in the same fastfood Mikoto and Index start to quarrel. They really are rivals :)

Must be careful entering a fastfood

You never know who you might meet :)

Ah, yes, the compulsory umi no fanservice episode

You don't know but Touma saw you in a swimsuit. Actually all of Academy city did...

Index angry face!

Such a weak denial...

That's true

This is a declaration of war!

The animation quality felt a little lower than usual, I hope they are saving up for the final episodes!

By the way, I wasn't expecting this smile from Laura Stuart!

Such a wicked smile from Laura Stuart... NOOOOOOOOOO!

To Aru Majutsu no Index II 09

Back into action

After the last episode acted as an introduction to the new story arc with lots of fanservice this new episode brings back some action.

The blond girl realized she was followed by Touma and decides to escape. He informs Tsuchimikado and they start to chase her.

When they reach the bus terminal she set up a lot of traps and Touma shows off his Imagine Breacker to neutralize them. They loose track of her and Stiyl tries a finder spell, but he is countered! Apparently the girl, who is revealed to be called Oriana Thomson, was able to setup a counterspell for Stiyl: whenever he uses magic it will activate hurting him badly.

But they need to find her quickly.

Tsuchimikado and Stiyl agree in exploiting the counterspell to locate her. This will hurt both (Tsuchimikado is an esper and takes damage whenever he uses magic. His ability is to regenerate quickly, that's why he can still use magic, but only at the cost of a great pain). Touma opposes the decision, but the two go on. They find her and Stiyl is left there unconshous while Touma and Tsuchimikade go after Oriana.
Meanwhile she setup a new trap. She cast a spell on one of the poles of the next event. Whoever touches it will take lots of damage and if he isn't a mage he will risk his life. The pole will be used in the middle school ball competition. Touma and Tsuchimikado manage to infiltrate.

Of course, the school they are going against is Tokiwadai :D and Misaka notices him immediately. When the match starts it suddenly becomes a battlefield with all the espers using their powers. Touma and Tsuchimikado start to search for the enchanted pole.

After some time one of the poles start to fall bringing down a second one with it. They might hit a girl and Touma promptly dives to save her. He manages to push her away, but now he might get hit. Misaka saves him with a railgun shot!

Here starts the Biribiri show :)

Tsun

Touma has probably forgot about the batsu gamu!

Tsun

Tsun-tsun

Super cute Misaka!

Touma, you always get to say the right thing...

Dere-dere

She is totally blushing

Get ready

And Touma manages to waste everything!!

At the end Fukiyose touches the enchanted pole and Touma just manages to cancel the spell. Fukiyose is unconshous and she is taken away with an ambulance.

This greatly strenghtens Touma's resolve to find Oriana (and we will probably see another girl beaten, like Awaki and Agnese before).

In this episode Index only got a very short time, but it is always worth it :D

... fukou da ?

That's not it!

Fukiyose to the rescue.

Nothing to say about this screenshot. It is just too cute to leave it out :)

Poor Index... I hope you will get more screen time next time!

Index 2 continues to deliver!