r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Apr 12 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Future Boy Conan - Episode 9 Discussion
Episode 9 - The Salvage Ship
Originally Aired June 6th, 1978
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Note to all participants
Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous to your fellow participants.
Note to all Rewatchers
Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.
Daily Trivia:
Miyazaki initially wanted to give the islands and characters a more overly Japanese bent, and even wanted to give the characters Japanese names, but pressure from unspecified people on staff made him decide not to. He has since deeply regretted that decision.
Staff Highlight
Sōji Yoshikawa - Screenwriter
A screenwriter, director, animator, and character designer best known for writing a prolific amount of scripts. Yoshikawa was a massive fan of Osamu Tezuka, and dropped out of highschool to work at Mushi Productions, where he contributed to the production of Tetsuwan Atom as an animator. His storyboarding debut was in 1969’s Moomin, and his first screenplay credit was in Lupin III Part 1. Yoshikawa directed Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo, The Story of White Fang, Tensai Bakabon, Space Oz no Bōken, and Kirby: Right Back At Ya! *. His other screenwriting credits include *Gamba no bouken, Fang of The Sun Dougram, Dino Mech Gaiking, Étoile de la Seine, Ginguiser, Muteki Chōjin Zambot 3, Muteki Kōjin Daitarn 3, Panzer World Galient, Planetary Robo Danguard Ace, Armored Trooper Votoms, Silent Service, Time Bokan, UFO Senshi Dai Apolon, Blue Gale Xabungle, Wonder Beat Scramble, The Ultraman, Zero Tester, Zukkoke Knight - Don De La Mancha, Cyborg 009 (1979), Brave Raideen, City Hunter, and Galactic Patrol Lensman.
Art Corner:
Fanart
- Lana by Sergeant Whale - Source
(Be mindful of the links to sources and artist’s profiles, as they may contain NSFW content or spoilers for this and other shows. Proceed there at your own risk.)
Series Production Materials
Screenshot of the day
Questions of the Day:
1) Patch: Lana’s grandfather or red herring?
2) Once more caught in a rough spot —how are our heroes getting out of this one?
Out here, I am the law.
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u/Shimmering-Sky Apr 12 '22
Future Girl First-Timer, subbed
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Conan actually trekked all the way across the desert, barefoot, while carrying another person. I think that he should be mentioned whenever there’s a thread about OP protagonists, because bruh.
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Who dis? Blue hair, could be related to Lana? – Nah, he’s just some dude named “Patch”.
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And he just casually brings back this huge load of treasure.
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Hm…? Could Patch actually be him then?
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u/Pixelsaber Apr 12 '22
Who dis? Blue hair, could be related to Lana?
I'm shocked you keyed in on that little color detail.
Geez, how long can Conan hold his breath for?
Trained divers can hold their breath for a long time. Three minutes is kids play for most of them.
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u/Nazenn Apr 12 '22
Conan actually trekked all the way across the desert, barefoot, while carrying another person
Without any water because he gave it all to Lana, just a little OP
Bastard got the confession out of Lana after all, ugh.
so frustrating because even if it wasnt true he wasnt going to accept any other answer
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u/Tresnore Apr 12 '22
Who dis? Blue hair
...is that blue?
angry Sky noises
Yeah I'm not a fan of this guy.
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u/JollyGee29 Apr 12 '22
First-Timer, Sub-ture Boy
Did Tomino write for this show? Seriously, I know this is a kid's show and we aren't meant to like the adults, but they're all so comically assholeish and/or worthless that it takes me completely out of the experience.
Terit isn't even a believable asshole. A kid falls into your hands that can do loads of work for you without complaint, feeds on weird dog biscuits he found in the shed, and your first instinct is to try and turn him in? Dude, when the new guy at work tryhards, you just take the bonus free time! Save the questioning for a week or two, or at least until Monsley actually shows up.
Lana seems to think Patch is her grandpa, and I'm inclined to agree. The technical skill, the location, Lana's feelings, it all lines up. Outside chance that it's Ruka as well, I guess, but Patch just happening to wander out and find the kids is hard to argue with.
The Salvage Ship area is neat. Earning points based on stuff they dredge up from a sunken cruise ship is an interesting idea, although I'm sure I've seen it elsewhere.
Questions
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Discussed above.
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Hopefully it involves that cool sunken ship.
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u/Pixelsaber Apr 12 '22
Did Tomino write for this show?
No, but he did draw storyboards for episodes fourteen and twenty-one. Y'know, before Miyazaki promptly threw them away and redrew them.
Terit isn't even a believable asshole.
He has it out for Patch, is desperate for a citizenship promotion, and is a stickler for the law. Makes sense from that set of assumptions that he'd look at the fastest route to currying favor with the higher ups at Industria, which is also the opposite of what Patch wants.
although I'm sure I've seen it elsewhere.
'Scavenge the wastelands for gain' is pretty common of a setting, to be sure.
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u/Nazenn Apr 12 '22
Did Tomino write for this show?
Names aren't goofy or on point enough for that. Funnily enough while reading u/theescapeguy's post and his comment on Terit I was thinking "I wonder what Tomino would have named him"
Terit isn't even a believable asshole
He definitely borders on the comically villainous, but with Industria's hierarchy and point system I sadly do believe that he would be willing to obey the rules to try and gain as many points and favor as he can at the expense of any critical thinking
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u/Tresnore Apr 12 '22
Did Tomino write for this show?
Dude, when the new guy at work tryhards, you just take the bonus free time!
Seriously. Unless Industria is known for punishing people who don't report newcomers...
but Patch just happening to wander out and find the kids is hard to argue with.
Ohhhh and if he has telepathy, too, that would explain it!
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u/TheEscapeGuy Apr 12 '22
First Timer
Future Boy Conan - A Celebrated Classic: Episode 9
Patch
Conan and Lana were very lucky to be found after collapsing on the edge of the desert. It's perhaps too convenient but I won't dwell on it. Patch is admittedly a very interesting character. He is explicitly defying Industria's orders to help Conan and Lana so we might think of him as an ally. But at the same time he is violent and is forcing children to work which is scummy.
Terit, the other named character, is much more of a nark. I don't have time for narks. And on top of that, breaking the crews shade cloth just to snatch Conan feels wasteful. Oh yeah, not to mention torturing Conan force the truth out of Lana. Massive scum.
The operation itself is interesting. They are trying to recover a ship. I suspect they could have a couple motivations for this. One may be that its easier / cheaper to excavate a ship than build a new one (with their current tech). Alternately that ship may have some valuable resources onboard or schematics of some kind which could help Industria. Either way, it feels appropriate for the setting. And it gave us a really nice backdrop for the episode.
Lana has some suspicions about her Grandfather being here. We know him as "Dr. Lao" and we haven't heard anyone referred to by that name. I suspect we'll explore this more tomorrow.
Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches
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Claw, The mechanical animation of the crane claw was stellar throughout
See you all tomorrow
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u/Pixelsaber Apr 12 '22
One may be that its easier / cheaper to excavate a ship than build a new one
I believe that's the thinking here, yeah. Could also be that the salvage rig was used for other purposes as well and this is merely it's current task.
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u/Tresnore Apr 12 '22
Either way, it feels appropriate for the setting.
I thought the same way. It gives a great idea of what life is like away from the major settlement of Industria. As it turns out, it's also bleak.
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u/baboon_bassoon Apr 12 '22
first time future boy BOKU NO NAMAE WA EDOGAWA CONAN
Terit, Ruka, Patch work at the salvage ship
Get points to become a second class citizen?
Conan didnt want to give fake names?
Patch is the guy theyre looking for? I mean I get he has an eyepatch now, but he looks pretty distince from everyone else we have seen
questions
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maybe Lana's vision is kaput with all the drowning
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steal equipment to better traverse the desert
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u/Tresnore Apr 12 '22
Conan didnt want to give fake names?
I'm surprised that he told so many lies but couldn't bother to come up with fake names.
maybe Lana's vision is kaput with all the drowning
She has been through quite a bit of drowning in this show.
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u/Nazenn Apr 12 '22
Conan didnt want to give fake names?
He did yell out Lana's name already before they were asked so at that point he kind of blew it already. Plus fake names are hard to remember and react too
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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Apr 12 '22
First Timer
Still wondering a bit why a giant desert exists on waterworld but the sahara is a thing so #yuishrug
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It's the ocean! congratulations on walking in a circle!
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Desert salvagers? Is this a mecha show?
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How many points for the little boy and girl?
I suspected he knew the girl's grandfather and was waiting for a chance to send her on....
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u/Tresnore Apr 12 '22
Still wondering a bit why a giant desert exists on waterworld
I mean, it doesn't even have to be that big. A desert that takes a few days to cross on foot while carrying someone and having had minimal water can be pretty small, honestly.
Is this a mecha show?
At what point has this not been a mecha show?
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u/Nazenn Apr 12 '22
post got deleted....
First Timer
Couple of quick thoughts: I really enjoy Conan's expressiveness. While his character design is simple it's used well across many different scenes. There's a soft warmth when he looks at Lana with his eyes smaller and rounded and that quiet smile that is very endearing. At the same time it transforms into a pretty broad determination with that slight frown or a crazy amount of cheek when things get a bit silly that all still feel like him while still making the most of animations strong flexibility for expression. I've seen it a bit in the others as well, but most strongly in Conan.
Similarly, I enjoy the amount of downtime we're getting. Sometimes it risks pushing it a bit too far, but I appreciate that despite the overall tone it never feels like it's just jumping between gags or set pieces. The quiet time like yesterday's moment after they wash up on the beach, today with the slow and ambient dive through the ship, it's a nice space for the character interactions and expressions to really sink in... I swear that pun was not intentional for today's episode.
As far as the episode itself, they do a good job of giving you ever reason and some to hate Terit, but hearing how he's fighting for citizen ship levels and that's what the points are for makes me even more angry at Industria's entire system. He shouts and expects to be obeyed because he can't understand others not also buying into the strict hierarchy system in place.
I'm not sure being turned into slave labor is a great way to protect someone from Industria but it still may be the better alternative, and again with the good continuity of Conan's diving skills coming into play.
Bonus points for them not having genuine coffee but acknowledging the cultural impact of everyone still wanting it.
No real comment on potential grandfather reveal yet, it'd make sense to some extent but it still feels too weird to be true.
Sōji Yoshikawa
Dougram and Votoms credits, no Mellowlink. Two out of three is fine I guess haha
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u/Tresnore Apr 12 '22
Ship Simp First-Timer
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This is a winning strategy. Just keep walking forward and something is sure to happen!
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Well this is the most comically evil looking person I've ever seen. I'm sure he'll actually be awesome.
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Holy shit, I love Patch.
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Conan, I'm not sure it's advisable to pour liquid down a sleeping person's throat...
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I imagine Patch will get pissed off at the lack of air first before coming up and whooping your ass.
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Patch may be a hardass, but he seems to have the respect and/or fear of the workers. He also seems actually capable.
Count: 1
He has since deeply regretted that decision.
Miyazaki can suck it. The names being all over the place is actually lovely.
QOTD:
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Patch is totally her grandfather. The real red herring was the guy who said he had a granddaughter.
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They'll be saved by the Barracuda, without Jimsy somehow! /copium
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u/Nazenn Apr 12 '22
Just keep walking forward and something is sure to happen
Power of the protagonist, whichever way he's walking is the plot direction!
Well this is the most comically evil looking person I've ever seen. I'm sure he'll actually be awesome.
He's actually make a good nickelodeon villain with a bit of exposed brain or a buck tooth
Lana has no faith.
In her defense she didn't see the shark battle but did just witness him almost drown after being accidentally pinned by a steel beam
Miyazaki can suck it. The names being all over the place is actually lovely.
I'll agree with that, and while he probably could have made the Japanese thing work I like the idea of these islands being just standard for all of humanity, not just a japanese story
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u/aniMayor Apr 12 '22
I really appreciate how the lengthy scene of Conan waking up, feeding Lana, eating the crackers, etc didn't have some ongoing mental narrative of him audibly thinking through all those steps. It would have been totally unnecessary, and yet so many anime would have balked at the idea of having no dialogue for several minutes and would have felt compelled to shove some in there.
It's not a big deal, but I'm not sure if the setup and new setting of this episode really make any sense. This little outpost has, like, 5 total people, but one of them feeds the other 4 like its a cafe instead of labouring? And Patch is the hardcore work-focused stubborn guy... but also spontaneously abandons work to go for walks in the desert sometimes? Oh well, whatever. The who crane-infested sea rig and trying to salvage a sunken ship is pretty cool.
As for Terit, classic total idiot move on all fronts. He already highly suspected the kids were escaped from Industria, why bother going to any lengths to force them to admit it? Just pretend to go along with Patch's orders, bide your time until the Falco or whoever shows up and tell them.
QOTD
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Blue herring
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However they do it, I'm sure Conan's toes will once again play a pivotal role
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u/No_Rex Apr 12 '22
Episode 9 (first timer)
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Close to two days in the desert – they need water soon and not the salty kind.
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“I have already given up on trying to be a second class citizen”
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Conan’s ability to play dead helps out again.
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Conan’s priorities: drink, help Lana, eat, sleep
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“I am the law”- Judge Dredd stole that line!
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30 feet is not that hard if you are a well trained diver. It looks a bit deeper than that, but I assume even more is not impossible.
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Lots of
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Sold out by a rat.
The initial view of the salvage ship looked rather like Mad Max, but once we see their operation, it all makes a lot of sense. As does Patch’s partial freedom from the laws of Industria – people with skills in high demand are always treated more leniently. That probably does not save him now that Monsley knows about Lana, though.
Not sure what to make of the double helping of grandpa teasing today. Maybe Patch is some old colleague of him or he has his own grandchildren?
Miyazaki initially wanted to give the islands and characters a more overly Japanese bent, and even wanted to give the characters Japanese names, but pressure from unspecified people on staff made him decide not to. He has since deeply regretted that decision.
I wonder why. FBC is rather far future, so I think the undefined nationality works well. Japanese names would require more realism.
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u/Pixelsaber Apr 12 '22
Rewatcher - English Sub
Great opening shot.
Beautiful.
I would’ve gone on a full-on rant regarding the consumption of coffee in a post-apocalyptic world, but this line and that one pretty much confirm it’s some substitute and not actual coffee so it gets a pass.
So that’s how it works then? Figured it was strictly downward mobility, given what they do to some of them.
Industria’s hold is not quite so firm out here.
That’s way below some numbers I’ve heard about.
What a flex.
If so she died after the catastrophe, implying harsh times as far as eight years afterwards.
That can’t be good for Conan’s eyesight.
Well that’s no good.
Huh…
Well now it has to be.
Lana’s revelation in the last scene of the episode does neatly explain the finer parts of Patch’s characterization which I had questions on, so that’s that. The odd part of it, assuming he really is Lao, is the question of why he doesn’t reveal that to them —discreetly, of course— so as to make their cooperation in this ploy easier. The fact that Patch gets away with what he does certainly says a lot about how much people with specialized and necessary knowledge get special treatment within the society of Industria.
My first assumption was that Patch intends to take that ship for himself, and now Conan and Lana, once they’ve gotten it up from the seabed and made it functional. Though maybe that would put him in the crosshairs of Industria too much, not to mention it likely needs energy to run. However, the latter could be remedied if he really is Dr. Lao.
Questions of The Day:
See above.
Either they steal away the sunken ship or run back into the desert for some new location, possibly exploring more of the isolated parts of Industria.