Ooossu!

Before we jump into this episode, I want to restate how much I’m enjoying the Katanagatari style. The imagery and music fit together really well and I plan to watch the series again straight through on Blu-Ray when it’s fully released.

I agree with Shichika… what’s this poison Togame keeps talking about. Togame’s true motivations are still mostly a mystery and, while the swords probably do corrupt their masters, the story is just too convenient for her to avoid explaining the reasons why the Maniwa Corp. and the most honorable Japanese swordsmen deserted her.

Togame decides to test whether or not Shichika is a MAN! But her plan backfires in a strangely arousing way. Yan yan! Silliness aside, she’s still worried that Shichika can’t tell her apart from other people and might accidentally attack her in a fight. I don’t think she should be worried thought, since Shichika says he’s fallen in love with her, no matter how baffling his reasons might be to her. I totally sympathize with him I mean how could you resist this level of cuteness…

Shichika and Togame depart for Ganryuu Island to meet Sabi Hakuhei who has issued a direct challenge the Kyotouryuu head for a fight on his own terms and get the annoying spies off his back.

As they set out for Ganryuu Island, Shichika wonders how his sister is doing all alone on the deserted island.

Turns out the Maniwa Insect Squad plans to abduct Nanami so they can kill the Kyotouryuu head and steal the three Deviant blades he has collected so far. They sure have interesting outfits, but they match their Ninpou styles. I always thought that the Maniwa Corp. didn’t like working together so these three might be an exception. The Insect Squad’s styles have been passed down and refined to mastery over hundreds of years and are preserved in ruby soul-stones. I enjoyed these scenes because they give the Maniwa more character depth, rather than being the small fry of the month they were starting to become. Instead, this episode puts the struggle between Nanami and the Insect Squad front and center.

Apparently there are also some really attractive Maniwa heads, like Oshidori of the Bird Squad, which might imply that the first couple Maniwa casualties were the exception and were the only ones who liked to work alone.

Nanami is so calculating, ruthless, and terrifying! Her abilities are on another dimension compared to anyone on the show so far. Even her own father was scared to death of her abilities and refused to teach her Kyotouryuu, not that she needed instruction.

The cigarettes as incense was kind of amusing and sad at the same time. I really liked the Insect Squad and felt bad that Nanami had to kill them off. She didn’t have a choice since they were going to kidnap her and use her to kill Shichika, but her remorseless ice-queen personality had me hoping for less gruesome deaths for the Maniwani.

Maybe it’s just me, but I didn’t mind getting trolled by White Fox and missing out on Shichika’s fight with Sabi Hakuhei. If they do it again then I’ll be annoyed, but I’m excited to see more of deliciously evil Nanami!

Next episode:


YEAH Pirate battle!

Sword of the month: Namakura, the Decapitator

This episode has Shichika and Togame journeying to reclaim the sword from Uneri Ginkaku. I’m starting to like Togame more and more throughout this episode.

Togame is actually really cute, even if she acts self-centered at times. She just tries too hard and ends up getting burned for it most of the time.

Actually, which of you IS older? Someone tell me…

DAWWWW… Shichika’s plan was pretty amusing. I love the chibi reenactment of what would’ve gone down according to his plan.

Shichika grows up a little and becomes a more interesting person. We can’t really blame him for his lack of personality from living on that deserted island with only his sister after his father died.

The banter between Shichika and Uneri was actually really awesome. It brought out Uneri’s honorable qualities, differentiating him from the annoying babble of the Maniwani traveling circus.

HAHA! I didn’t see this coming at all! Shichika is a genius.

As much as I appreciate the artwork in this series, I’m disappointed with the fight scenes so far. I hope the rest of the sword fights don’t just involve eye-defying skills that we can’t see. I’m sure Shichika will have to fight a final battle with a swordsman head-to-head eventually. My bets are on Hakukei, with the badass catch phrase.

Oossu! Welcome to my anime blog! The post by ExecutiveOtaku over at THAT has inspired me to finally start a blog to put down my thoughts as I feed my insatiable anime addiction. So without further ado, Katanagatari episode 1…

Just seeing the opening, I’m already loving the art style. The opening song is pretty catchy too, but not too memorable.

I like how Nanami is the only one who senses Komori’s projectile shuriken barf. I hope we see more of her later in the series, but I don’t know the hell she’s going to get off that deserted island…

This show has a lot of potential and there actually is a good amount of interesting character development and background in this first episode if you can handle watching it a second time.

The directives that Kogame gave Shichika at the end were touching. Maybe Kogame’s looking for a hubby to boss around when she becomes the Shogun. I mean, she WAS checking out Shichika’s hot bod earlier.

I’m pretty sure Kogame is making up her plan as she goes along planning her revenge. That useless rambling throughout the episode was actually her stalling while she thought of something intelligent to say. Right, Miss Strategian?

Looks like she’s going to be our comic relief this series. Gyafun!

This series is going to be pretty epic! I’m looking forward to writing about the next episode.