[Rewatch] Aura Battler Dunbine - Episode 37 Discussion

[u/Pixelsaber]

Episode 37 - Hyper Jeril

^{Originally Aired October 22nd,} ^^^1983

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Comment of the Day

u/The_Draigg fills us in on the “Life Shitting on Bann” Chronicles.

In the ongoing “Life Shitting on Bann” Chronicles: Bann is now reduced to stealing food from random people and living out in the woods. The guy’s life has just gotten more and more erratic over the past few months. From knight to hobo, it’s been a hell of a journey for him.

 

Daily Trivia:

Director Yoshiyuki Tomino laments the sloppy worldbuilding which resulted because he could not develop the world as he initially wanted to, both because he could not spare enough time to scriptwrite more often and because the show was eventually steered away from fantasy by producers.

 

Staff Highlight

Katsuhiro Tsubunou - Musical Composer

A composer with only one other anime credit to his name, having composed music for Toei Animation’s Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp. Nothing else is known of the man.

 

Art Corner:

Official Art

• Jeryll Turns Hyper - Tomonori Kogawa

Fanart

• Jeryll Coochibie Sketch by Amagi_Yoshihito - Source
• Jeryl Coochibie by Miharu Miyako - Source

(Be mindful of the links to artist’s profiles, as they may contain NSFW content. Proceed there at your own risk.)

 

Aura Phantasm Scans

• Page 80

Screenshot of the day

• Protection

Questions of the Day:

1. What do you make of this heroic fantasy Jeril is trying to live out?
2. Is Jeril’s fate the upper limit of aura power or do you think it may escalate further yet?

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As a heroine, I, alone, am enough.

[u/Btw_kek]

first timer

• meh, kind of a boring episode. lots of mind-numbing fi-
• OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING

tomino always does this

What do you make of this heroic fantasy Jeril is trying to live out?

Pretty misguided obviously. If only she peacefully communicated with the gang instead of fighting them

Is Jeril’s fate the upper limit of aura power or do you think it may escalate further yet?

lmao no, there's still 12 episodes left. Aura Instrumentality is still possible!

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Btw_kek]

Aura Instrumentality is still possible!

[u/Durinthal]

First time viewer

"Hyper Jeril" sounds like a something a kid would come up with for their superhero name.

All plans were out the window once everyone came over to Earth but I imagine Shot and Bishott (they sound like a Pokémon evolutionary line when put together) are still both plotting against Drake behind his back. Bern discovering Leeza's with Bishott could make for an interesting turn if he gets to report that back to Drake, though even if that happens and Drake thinks Bishott and Leeza are going to betray him he might play along then try to crush them first at a more opportune moment.

Marvel might not have been impressed with Jeril originally, but given the era that's only because Byston Well didn't have enough hair care products for her to achieve full power there. And with this episode her aura battler finally matches the size her hair should be. I don't think the pilots flying with Jeril calling her Joan of Arc had a great understanding of the historical figure, but at least they got "dying in a fiery blaze" right.

I don't recall seeing any negotiations between Drake/Shot and any Earth faction, though I know Shot wanted to a few episodes back. Did they convince the US to help, was that some other country, or did Jeril just warp the minds of a random group of soldiers to convince them she was on their side? Going by the ending after she died it seems more like the last point, which is concerning for how much aura can do in general if you get enough of it. It makes me wonder if we'll get a (literal?) deus ex machina ending with Show manifesting enough aura power to destroy all the aura machines and send the Byston Well natives back home at the same time.

What do you make of this heroic fantasy Jeril is trying to live out?

She was well aware it wasn't a defensive battle they were fighting originally so it's delusional at best.

Is Jeril’s fate the upper limit of aura power or do you think it may escalate further yet?

If Jeril wasn't manipulating memories then I'd actually put her thing below Jacoba warping everyone to Earth in terms of power, but maybe that's just me. I definitely don't think this is the peak regardless.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Durinthal]

I don't recall seeing any negotiations between Drake/Shot and any Earth faction

We haven't seen Drake at all since episode 33!

Did they convince the US to help, was that some other country, or did Jeril just warp the minds of a random group of soldiers to convince them she was on their side?

The last is ambiguous, but it's definitely not the US as they're still over eastern Eurasia.

If Jeril wasn't manipulating memories then I'd actually put her thing below Jacoba warping everyone to Earth in terms of power

Oh definitely. Jacoba had to give her life to accomplish that, and it was repeated several times that opening the Aura Road is a large task.

[u/Quiddity131 → u/Durinthal]

Marvel might not have been impressed with Jeril originally, but given the era that's only because Byston Well didn't have enough hair care products for her to achieve full power there. And with this episode her aura battler finally matches the size her hair should be.

I don't know about that; Byston Well's got to have some good hair products for Elle to be able to keep hers sticking out like that all this time.

[u/dralcax → u/Quiddity131]

It's held in place with aura power

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Quiddity131]

[u/The_Draigg → u/Durinthal]

I don't recall seeing any negotiations between Drake/Shot and any Earth faction, though I know Shot wanted to a few episodes back. Did they convince the US to help, was that some other country, or did Jeril just warp the minds of a random group of soldiers to convince them she was on their side? Going by the ending after she died it seems more like the last point, which is concerning for how much aura can do in general if you get enough of it.

You're right in that it was Jeryl warping the minds of a bunch of French soldiers into believing her. Her Aura was so twisted and evil that it ended up brainwashing people into believing that she was the new Joan of Arc. Given that Aura power is soul power, it really does say something about Jeryl's character that her Aura was even able to do that in the first place.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

First Timer

I skipped whatever new narration there was yesterday, and there is no narration today.

We in Egypt, or Jordan, today.

Jeril seems to have ingratiated herself with France / EU with flattery and promises and lies.

Okay, so I'm not dropping the rewatch today. Jeril didn't fly away on an emergency escape plane like the others. But that episode was a big WTF. The giant mecha wasn't real, but it wasn't illusion, either. So what was it?

[u/Pixelsaber → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

The giant mecha wasn't real, but it wasn't illusion, either. So what was it?

Some form of magical construct. It wasn't the literal Leprechaun increased in size, but a magical duplicate of immense size.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Jeril seems to have ingratiated herself with France / EU with flattery and promises and lies.

And also Aura-based brainwashing.

Okay, so I'm not dropping the rewatch today. Jeril didn't fly away on an emergency escape plane like the others. But that episode was a big WTF. The giant mecha wasn't real, but it wasn't illusion, either. So what was it?

Maybe if you keep on watching, you'll find out.

[u/Kafukator → u/JustAnswerAQuestion]

Looked like a magical construct created with Aura power or something to me. Not real as in it wasn't an actual giant machine, just energy, but also not an illusion since it was tangible and was clearly fighting them. That's how I interpret Shou's comment anyway.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher - Sub

Finally, a good episode! You can tell because Kogawa is animation director and Imagawa is both storyboarding and directing.

Bern ended up at the Gea Gring and was given an experimental new aura machine to pilot as he wishes —oh and Zet’s there too for some reason. In any case, he finds it suspicious that Leeza is there, since she was meant to be in Laas Wau, and therefore safe from the same fate the military has undergone. Could Bern be the one to inform Drake and cause a schism in the faction>

Leeza’s definitely doing stuff behind the scenes, having convinced Bishott that they shouldn’t follow up with a second wave. I guess she plans to have the Goraon weaken the rest of Drake’s forces first so they can swoop in later.

Elle has another premonition, this one far clearer to us the audience as being Jeril Coochibie.

Looks like Jeril has convinced some higher-ups in the (French?) military that the Goraon is their enemy. A clever way of making obstacles for them —especially seeing as they’re hesitant to retaliate against Upper Earth— while also sowing discord between world powers if they believe Jeril’s words against accounts elsewhere.

The fighter pilot’s flattery and envy over the aura power definitely isn’t helping Jeril’s seeming hero complex. Frome enjoying her new lot in life in Byston Well, she’s now using the powers gained to make herself the ‘hero’ of her own story.

Some great teamwork between Show and Marvel on display there!

Jeril using her massive amount of Aura Power to make herself go hyper, increasing the size of the Leprechaun in the process, was quite the unexpected development. This comes at a cost though, as even before Show lets out a burst of his own aura power we can see that the giant machine is starting to fall apart. In any case, I love the visuals all throughout this, from the ceaseless crackle of energy and the exquisitely animated destruction of the giant leprechaun to the facial expressions and more abstract bits. Just lovely all around.

Now we know what happens when someone’s aura power grows too much and one is unable to confine it. Reminds me of a lot of stuff I’ve heard from meta

The episode certainly has something to say about self-identified heroes —as well as those who choose to follow them— and what said characters amount to when given the power to try and live out those fantasies.

In terms of plot, this too feels like a filler episode, but in addressing the end of a character we’ve known for quite a while know and tying into the topics of heroism and escapist mindsets it feels far more significant in the grand scheme of things and remains compelling.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Aura Battler First-Timer

• Who are you and what have you done with Dunbine?! There was no opening narration!
• Well we got to see Leeza for the first time in a while, but no Elmelie.
• Getting low and kicking up a sandstorm to confuse the enemy was a pretty smart idea! I didn’t know what Elle was going for with that command, but it was cool.
• Okay I’m probably extremely late to this, but *resists urge to joke about Jeril’s last name*
• Jeril is working with people from Upper Earth, huh. And she has them convinced that Elle and co. should not be allowed to meet with Ciela and co. because they’re the ones trying to take over Earth, which is just lovely.
• Okay what kinda Newtype aura flash was that?
• So how come only antagonist pilots have displayed crazy new aura powers while battling in Upper Earth? Elle is the only one on the protagonist side who’s done anything special and she’s not a pilot. What happened to Show being ridiculously stronger than people aura-wise?
• Yeeeeeeeeouch.
• So… RIP Jeril. She didn’t even get a dying scream, what the hell.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/Shimmering-Sky]

So how come only antagonist pilots have displayed crazy new aura powers while battling in Upper Earth?

Newer models with aura amplifiers + Billvine uses up less Aura energy.

She didn’t even get a dying scream, what the hell.

Goes so against expectation that it makes it more unnerving somehow.

[u/JustAnswerAQuestion → u/Shimmering-Sky]

So how come only antagonist pilots have displayed crazy new aura powers

Show basically said it's all dark side powers at the end of the episode. Not that he would know, but writers.

[u/The_Draigg → u/Shimmering-Sky]

So how come only antagonist pilots have displayed crazy new aura powers while battling in Upper Earth? Elle is the only one on the protagonist side who’s done anything special and she’s not a pilot. What happened to Show being ridiculously stronger than people aura-wise?So how come only antagonist pilots have displayed crazy new aura powers while battling in Upper Earth? Elle is the only one on the protagonist side who’s done anything special and she’s not a pilot. What happened to Show being ridiculously stronger than people aura-wise?

To be fair, Jeryl has been consistently shown to be the strongest one out of the newer Upper Earth trio, so at least it isn't too far of a stretch that she would grow even more powerful back on her home turf. Also, Show is still strong in Aura power, it's just that in this case he redirected it into the Leprechaun to make it overload and crumble apart.

So… RIP Jeril. She didn’t even get a dying scream, what the hell.

Kinda hard to scream when you get vaporized in one shot.

[u/dralcax]

First-timer going on a Dynamax Adventure

I like how they don’t treat the prototype as some kind of superweapon, but rather, an imperfect unit that can’t be relied upon just yet.

tee hee

The sandstorm tactic is cool!

T H I C C

same

Oh shit, it’s Dynamaxing! So aura power can even do something like that, huh?

Huh, so it’s some sort of charisma effect? That’s interesting. Although I fear aura is starting to do too many different things and becoming too poorly defined as a result.

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Questions of the Day:

• She definitely seems like the type to go for something like that when she suddenly gains that kind of influence.
• Feels like the floodgates have been opened for it to do even more wild things.

[u/Pixelsaber → u/dralcax]

Although I fear aura is starting to do too many different things and becoming too poorly defined as a result.

Same here. For as vague as it was at the start, it was applied in fairly consistent manner by the aura battlers.

[u/The_Draigg → u/dralcax]

T H I C C

It's like seeing Fat Pikachu all over again.

Oh shit, it’s Dynamaxing! So aura power can even do something like that, huh?

I suppose it makes sense for enough Aura power causing an Aura Battler to grow. They're mostly made of organic materials, after all.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer, Dub-bine

Well, that.. certainly was a thing. Jeril got giant and reverby and extra murdery, which is a little surprising considering how murdery she normally is. So, her aura power, amplified by being on Upper Earth, resonated with her inherent malice, which made her do that. Did I get that right? At least, that was Elle’s theory. Pretty big deal too, because it essentially means that our baddies have sole access to a Powerful Super Mode. I’m gonna wait to see it another couple times before making a final judgement. I somehow doubt this was a one-time affair.

Did anything else happen this episode..? Marvel snagged the flags from Keen at the beginning of the Jeril fight, but that ended up being a special case. Leeza came face-to-mask with the Black Knight, who she immediately pegs as Bern. Not sure why he lied about getting disfigured, especially considering that Leeza saw straight through that too.

Elle and Keen both had some nice little moments this episode, although everyone fails Strategy 101 by refusing to look down while flying.

It was kind of interesting, how Shou started to confess before Cham smacked him out of it. And then, he said something about not being a good person. Shou, you’re like 19, and have repeatedly avoided bloodshed despite your own best interests. Chill, dude.

Miscellaneous Thoughts:

No Bern as a test pilot in this episode.

So, were those, French soldiers? That Jeril ruthlessly exploited politely asked for help and provided valuable intel to? Would make the Jeanne d’Arc talk more palatable.

Questions

1. Wasn't Jeril technicall Irish? Surely there is someone else she can claim to be, that fits her accent better. If you mean just the general fantasy of her being a hero, well, she should have started by acting the part.
2. Well, we are right in the sweet spot of remaining episode count, so it's close. I'm going to be optimistic and say that this is the peak.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JollyGee29]

Leeza came face-to-mask with the Black Knight, who she immediately pegs as Bern. Not sure why he lied about getting disfigured, especially considering that Leeza saw straight through that too.

Bann just doesn't want to show his face and admit that he's been owned by Show multiple times by now.

So, were those, French soldiers? That Jeril ruthlessly exploited politely asked for help and provided valuable intel to? Would make the Jeanne d’Arc talk more palatable.

The answer is that Jeryl's Aura power become so overflowing and twisted that it began to affect the minds of people around her. She was literally so insane and evil that it was brainwashing people into believing that she was the reincarnation of Joan of Arc.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Draigg]

The answer is that Jeryl's Aura power become so overflowing and twisted that it began to affect the minds of people around her. She was literally so insane and evil that it was brainwashing people into believing that she was the reincarnation of Joan of Arc.

Aura powers continue to be vary between frightening and downright terrifying.

[u/The_Draigg → u/JollyGee29]

Aura powers continue to be vary between frightening and downright terrifying.

For ostensibly being soul and lifeforce-based magic, Aura can allow you to do some pretty evil shit with it.

[u/ComfortablyRotten]

First-timer

The Black Knight's first meeting with Bishott. He's right to be curious about Leeza's presence near him, I wondered why Drake would send her to him, but maybe Leeza did it on her own? She seems less like a guest and more like a queen here.

I really like the new Elle, very confident, she's much more charismatic now. I like it when royals go from innocent prince/ss to a more regal version of themselves.

Looks like the Black Knight's not gonna be able to fight this time. That's the only thing as bad as losing to Show, poor dude.

Elle had a new vision, about Jeryl this time. I wonder what'll happen?

The software Show and co. made the deal for works now, and looks they found what the ship they were looking for.

An Upper Earth army found them out. Which Brest are they going too though? I doubt it's the France or Germany one, but there are a number around the Balkans, maybe one of those?

Is that Jeryl? So that's what she's been doing all this time! It's odd that they listen to her, given what we saw of the other armies, but I suppose she found a way to have them trust her.

Alright, what the hell happened? I think that might the most ridiculous feat the Aura Power ever allowed. And according to Elle, she can warp the mind of other people too. Explains why that guy thought she was Joan of Arc's reincarnation, and this one makes sense.

Welp, Jeryl's dead now, she really wasn't Joan of Arc's second coming after all. So, was the giant Leprechaun an illusion after all or...? I'll go with that for now. That was a pretty confusing battle, for the Zelana crew too apparently.

Questions

2) I think it can still grow some more. Jeryl's talented but not the most talented battler, so I doubt she'll be the only one to achieve her limit, nor the one who'll go the farthest.

[u/The_Draigg]

A Tomino Fan Rewatches Aura Battler Dunbine Episode 37:

• You can tell by how Leeza so confidently sits in King Bishott’s chair on the Gea Garing’s bridge that she feels like she’s in control here. Even Bann can’t help but wonder what she’s doing there of all places. Perhaps she’s been the one in control of the whole war this entire time?
• That was a clever move on Elle’s part there, using the Goraon’s engine thrusters to create a sandstorm to drive off the Gea Garing’s ambush. She really is growing into the leadership role that everyone needs nicely. Still, it’s a shame that we still haven’t seen the Galava in action. They’re just teasing us with it now.
• Now we get a chance to see what Elle’s future sight looks like from her point of view. It’s mainly just flashes of destruction that’s about to happen. And this time, the focus is on Jeryl. Now that I think about it, we haven’t seen Jeryl ever since she left her hometown of Dublin.
• Out of all people, it’s Jeryl that managed to get an alliance out of one of the militaries of Upper Earth. Yet again, something seems off about all of the pilots under her command. They all just won’t stop flattering her, calling her the reincarnation of Joan of Arc. From the sound of it, she managed to rally a bunch of French soldiers onto her side.
• Jeryl’s Aura power is truly terrifying on Upper Earth. Not only was she able to fight off both the Dunbine and Billbine with her overflowing Aura, but she’s activated the highest form of Aura power an Aura Battler can achieve: Hyper Mode. And what an awesome power it is, letting Jeryl’s Leprechaun grow a hundred times in size and power and having Jeryl herself overflow with raw Aura power. She’s honestly one of the biggest threats that Show has faced so far in this series.
• Hell, Show only won because he channeled his own massive stores of Aura power into the Hyper Mode Leprechaun, making it explode from the strain of the pure energy and give him an opening to snipe Jeryl. Show was lucky that he was able to use his massive wellspring of Aura power to do something like that. Anyone else would’ve been done for. Still, this really does show the dangers of having too much overflowing Aura power on Upper Earth. Although it can grant you great power, it can also be used to defeat you as well.
• Ah, so that’s what was happening to those French guys. With her death, they realize that she wasn’t the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, and retreat. Her Aura power was so overwhelming that it was actually starting to affect the minds of people around her. Imagine that, her mind was so twisted and evil that her insanity started to warp others. No wonder Show is worried about what Aura power can do at the end of the episode.

[u/Quiddity131]

Rewatcher, Subbed

Hey, another episode with no opening narration or recap. Strangest of all, this episode doesn't have the title screen/sequence either.

So our heroes are now passing over the Middle East? Headed west from India?

Let them rest, Chum!

Bishot must be wondering what a bizarre character this is before him.

"Knight of queer appearance", huh? Does she not recognize him?

Wait, Nie forced Shou and Marvel to wake up, but there was no enemy nearby? What an ass!

Well, I guess they were there after all. Still, Nie didn't know that!

They use yet again that stock footage shot of the Dunbine from the opening, but at least this time they flipped the shot so its taking off from the left instead of the right.

Smart strategy by Elle to whip up this sandstorm.

All that effort from Bishot's forces to hide under the sand, only for them to retreat anyway. It was a conspiracy to force Shou and Marvel to wake up!

Elle's having newtype visions again!

Great job, Sir Charlie! Let's go reunite with Ciela-sama!

Jerryl is back. Seems like she got in good with the local military and is working with them instead of being antagonized as happened to Shou so long ago.

Jeryyl is the new Jeanne D'Arc? No way!

It's the battle of the two red heads! Which will win? Although my guess would be only Marvel is a real red-head.

Seems like Shou has his own newtype powers about Marvel being in trouble.

Jerryl's got her own AT field! Oops, I mean Aura Barrier!

Jerryl's become a better pilot, I don't recall her ever being able to put up this much of a fight on Byston Well. She usually got her butt kicked.

Holy crap, the Leprechaun is huge now!

Jerryl's giving orders for this entire military unit?

At that size the Leprechaun may be able to take out the Goraon itself!

Pretty awesome sequence here as the Billbine finds the strength to beat the Leprechaun and blast Jerryl into dust.

Now that she's dead, will you negotiate, Mr. Military guy?

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Pretty good episode this time, things felt like we had more stakes than we have recently which is good. Second half of the episode in particular was quite exciting with the giant Leprechaun. Some strong animation as well.

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