The Blue Fox Alley » Kara No Kyoukai

Kara No Kyoukai: Tsuukaku Zanryuu

The Sojourner — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:26:10 +0000

Hey Shiki… Is there nothing in this world that could possibly put a smile on your face?

Hmm…

……….

Silly boy! Of course there is!

Alright, it is official. Everyone in this show is crazy! Touko either has a great understanding of Shiki or she is just nuts for letting Shiki go after Fujino while knowing how dangerous it is to tackle the problem alone. Let us not forget about her being so indifferent when realising that Shiki had just lose an arm! Shiki babbles a lot and her rhetoric words confuse me! Mikiya stumbles across a suspicious girl (Fujino) on the streets and takes her home! Oh wait, he is just being a guy. Hehe…

This chapter feels rather filler-ish to me because it is slightly off tangent to the main story revolving around Shiki’s past. But it is not totally void because we are told about Shiki’s clan being guilty of training its descendants to obtain certain ‘powers’, as well as Shiki seeing a reflection of herself in Fujino’s deeds. And come to think of it, Kara No Kyoukai has a rather similar feeling to The Dark Knight because while it feels plausible, it is rather hard to believe what it is saying. But the next chapter promises to reveal more about how Shiki came to obtain the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.

By the way, I would have taken a look at Touko’s file to remember the face of the killer unlike Shiki who simply said ‘I would know when we meet’.

Oh and… This show is another reason why rape is not a good thing.

Kara No Kyoukai: So Satsujin Kousatsu was a bigger cocktease?

The Sojourner — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:19:48 +0000

Oh look at me. I am so mysterious and profound as a character because I am staring into nothingness in the middle of a snowing night…. But those losers at Blue Fox Alley still think I am lovely.

At the end of the first chapter, Fukan Fuukei, we were offered a small glimpse into what we could expect in the second chapter. Satsujin Kousatsu the first half, as the second chapter is named, explores the past of Ryougi Shiki prior to the beginning of her career in slicing tissue paper ghosts on top of buildings.

Perhaps it is what the story wants to do. It dangles a piece of meat to attract my attention and withdraws at the last minute to keep me craving. However, I believe this would have to be the limit for me. It may have worked fine with me in drawing my attention during the first chapter and the second, but from here onwards perhaps a different pace of shedding the light would be preferred.

While the second chapter may be more informative than the first, but it is still too slow for me so that was what deemed it as a bigger ‘cocktease’ than the first was. The logic lies in expecting a lot more after watching the first chapter yet the second was not satisfactory in quenching our thirst of knowing more. So yes, the second chapter did put in some effort in explaining the big picture but it was not enough for me.

However I am not going to say Satsujin Kousatsu was disappointing, it was reasonably done but I believe it could have been better. So those were my thoughts of Satsujin Kousatsu in macro scale.

The scenes were sort of smooth flowing in its subtleties, mainly because of its slow pace. And what really impressed me was the way buildings and most scenery were depicted in both chapter one and two. So one of the themes of the story is about the identity of one’s self and alienation, which is strongly accentuated by the drab portrayal of the surroundings. This is most obvious especially in the first chapter with most of the scenes showing decrepit and abandoned buildings. It helps to generate a sense of unfamiliarity.

Apart from that, I am still have some difficulty digesting the scenes where Shiki is seen standing next to the corpses. I know the show needs to create this mysterious atmosphere but it was too ‘lolwut’ for me. Especially the one where she smeared blood over her lips.

P.S Mikiya is infatuated with Shiki. He dreams of the two of them sitting on a tree and doing stuff together.

Who’s there?

O HAI.

Holy! I am getting laid tonight!

Or maybe not.

The Ominous Prelude Of Kara No Kyoukai

The Sojourner — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:00:33 +0000

It offered nothing but an surreal touch.

Or I could say ‘I was WTFed by it and it was great’

So allow me to express my surprise towards how the first of a series of film-length animated shows of the TYPE-MOON tale -Kara No Kyoukai- was done. Mind you if you think otherwise, because I am not very well acquainted with TYPE-MOON so I would not possibly know how it ’should’ have been done. I did not read the novel.

It did not suck. It was not stellar. But it was definitely something.

Neither am I all out to criticise nor do I have the intention to exalt it. There is only my simple observation to be offered.

You know how most animes would have an explanation of certain fighting skills and the reasons for what has occurred? Well Kara No Kyoukai -Fukan Fuukei- does very little of that and we are plunged right into the midst of everything. The first chapter of the seven is even not the beginning of the story in terms of chronological order, as we see the characters (Touko, Mikiya and Shiki) all settled down in the atmosphere and doing their stuff.

The first chapter begins with no obvious introduction to the characters. One of them, Mikiya, did nothing much as he was in a coma. In fact, the story can be summarised simply as our tsundere female protagonist slicing up ‘ghosts’ on a ceiling while she and Touko attempt to solve a mysterious case of suicides.

So here is what annoyed some people- we have no idea why Shiki has those creepy eyes that distorts her perspective and the occupations of the three main characters are not specifically stated. We do not know what is going on! Although I am sure more information can be obtained from the official website and other sites but let us focus on Fukan Fuukei itself.

Before we question why the seemingly abrupt entry into the Kara No Kyoukai universe, perhaps we ought to ponder over the intentions of the director/writer in making this the first part of the entire story. I noticed the likelihood of getting disappointed if I were to watch a certain show with certain expectations of how it would turn out to be. Because very often or not, Murphy’s Law is in play and things will not go the way we want it to be. For example, I was initially very upset at Code Geass due to my obstinate expectations of it being an epic and serious show. I was wrong, it was not an epic show but an EPIC show. (epic and EPIC are two different categories. Also, an EPIC show is not an epic show of greater magnitude.)

What I am trying to say is watching a show is like going on a tour in a foreign country and the story itself is your tour guide. Just follow the guide’s instructions and stop your persistent demands on having Chinese food when there are already plans to head to an Italian restaurant. While I can understand the frustrations of some people after viewing Fukan Fuukei, I found myself much at ease by allowing the story to guide me without asking too many questions.

Apparently it is the plan that not too many details will be revealed in the first chapter, and it is this approach that can be considered as a double-edged sword. You will either be awed by the dark world of Kara No Kyoukai or find yourself shrugging frequently.

At this point, you would have notice that I have not really covered much about Fukan Fuukei except for the fact that it is rather ‘confusing’. Well because it is ‘confusing’, I cannot possible abstract any insights from the dynamics of the characters yet. I do not know why Shiki is such a reticent character. I do not know the role of Aozaki Touko in the story yet. And I do not know the relationship between Mikiya and Shiki.

Fukan Fuukei, in my mind, is not the beginning of the Kara No Kyoukai tale. But a small glimpse into the world that has spurred me to delve deeper into it. An ominous prelude indeed.

Oh by the way. The preview of the next chapter suggests that we will be going back in time to explore the background of our female protagonist Shiki. Perhaps that will satisfy those who are still willing to stay for the ride.

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ID Sojourner: And now for some silly screenshots! Incoming gay picture spamming!

That day, the eroge I had pre-ordered finally arrived.

So I made my way to the store hastily.

However

Something tells me…

I am not in Akiba.

I kid not.

As fear gripped as I had no knowledge of this place.

OMG. There are others who are lost as well.

Mummy once told me not to speak to strangers… but…

I had to help them!

Must help them… oh.. nevermind…

Somehow I got in. And the place is SO creepy! So I took out a knife and struck a cool pose while advancing deeper into building. I am like in a haunted mansion!

My scalp was itchy.

My back was violated.

‘GIVE ME YOUR NEW EROGE OR ELSE!’

‘NEVER!’

OMG. Someone failed to pre-order that game and wants to rob me!

‘Uh… at least lend it to me?’

WHAT! THAT IS EVEN WORSE!

‘THEN YOU SHALL BE PUNISHED!’

Somehow, I managed to escape and revenge was on my mind.

This time, I am wearing my lucky red jacket.

Practicing on my glare. I AM GUNDAM COOL.

There is a reason why I am wearing this raincoat.

‘I see you are back. And what is with the raincoat?’

So I can do THIS!

AND TO FEEL THE MOOD OF THIS FIGHT… ALLOW ME TO OFFER THIS PIECE OF MUSIC!

Now let us proceed! This is how it is done.

First I whip it out!

Then I thrust it!

With great force! Every angle…!

It penetrates!

Until…!

With great strength…!

I… ram it in!

In the end… we are all satisfied.

I use 50 mana points…

… and execute ‘force grip’.

Squiish!

Gyaaabooo!

THE END

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Hey Shiki! Yo Shiki!

What is it?

ID Sojourner tells me that they are gonna nerf your force grip in the next movie!

Nyoron~