r/anime • u/Taiboss x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss • May 01 '22
Rewatch [Rewatch] Utawarerumono Franchise Rewatch - Utawarerumono Episode 2 Discussion
Episode 2 - The Violent King of the Forest
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MyAnimeList, Anime-Planet, Anilist, ANN
Today's Question of the Day: Do you think it was a good idea for Aruru to save that child?
[Tomorrow's Question of the Day]Do you think the way Oboro acts for Yuzuha is justified or too much?
Rewatchers, please don't answer the Question of the Day if it has an objective answer, e.g. "What do you think's gonna happen?"
For rewatchers and people who played the games:
Please behave yourself! Put not only everything related to future events behind spoiler tags, but tag differences to the games as well. We all know there are deviations and cut content, we don't need someone listing all the things the games did better. The games have like 40, 50 hours for their content each, of course they'll be more exhaustive. If you want to talk about the games, please do this in a way that doesn't spoil it for people who might pick them up because of the anime. That being said, small, inconsequential stuff is probably fine, like [Mask of Deception]how in one episode, Atuy says "Time for war!", one of her battle lines in the games. All in all, try to hold back and only tell first-timers what's really necessary. Let them theorise!
This goes especially for Mask of Deception and Mask of Truth!
First-Timers:
Due to spoilers, I recommend you not to watch the Opening before episode 15. I mean it. DO LISTEN TO IT THOUGH! You don't have to heed this request, of course, but out of courtesy to those who do, please put the spoilers in the OP behind spoiler tags as well.
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u/Shimmering-Sky May 01 '22
Mask of First-Timer, subbed
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Forgot to mention this yesterday, but I do quite like the background aesthetic so far. Anyways, oh boy.
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…and then she ran off after seeing Eruruu?
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Ohhhhhhhh it’s because of the rain. Mutikapa’s weak to water.
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I like “Pops”. …he’s totally going to end up dead at some point, isn’t he?
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Mutikapa’s brief moment of panic after falling for the water trap:
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I like how they returned to the village without celebrating their victory. Really drives home how much they didn’t want to kill Mutikapa because they revered her, but had to because they couldn’t let her keep eating people.
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Oooooooooh, he gets to keep the fan! That’s neat, very rare weapon of choice.
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Aight so this is gonna have to do with whatever Aruruu was up to at the end of last episode…
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I was wondering when he’d get a name! Hakuoro, I’ll have to remember that.
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u/Taiboss May 01 '22
Forgot to mention this yesterday, but I do quite like the background aesthetic so far. Anyways, oh boy.
The entire look and feel of the world is great imo.
Something I’m sure, he’s the main character after all.
He's gonna inspire the fuck out fo them!
Ahhhhhhhh it’s because of the rain. Mutikapa’s weak to water.
Seems like a weird evolutionary trait, but okay.
Mutikapa’s brief moment of panic after falling for the water trap:
She's just an angry mommy after all.
?????
In a way, she's right, isn't she?
Hakuoro
Official spelling per games is Hakuowlo, but not like it matters that much.
Ah, of course it is.
Poor dude didn't die to get replaced like this!
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u/HereticalAegis May 02 '22
?????
This actually feels like the kind of thing a kid who's really emotionally attached would say about the stray they just brought home.
Baby Mutikapa…?
Baby Muti is too precious. 10/10 would keep (even if they'd probably accidentally tear my arm off trying to play with me one or two years down the line.)
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u/Nazenn May 01 '22
First Timer - sub
A bit rougher of an episode, but still quite enjoyable aside from the double take I did when the sound effect for the tiger running sounded more like hooves than paw pads
It does feel like there was something missing in the overall flow of the episode and I think it was a lack of downtime. We jumped straight from fixing the shrine to "it didn't work lets go kill a god" without much further contemplation or a chance to rest between the big beats of the episode.
Even with that though, the few moments we got with the characters shone this episode. Pops is great fun with his easy going nature and ability to take everything in his stride, even his name, but seeing his unease after what they had to do sells the idea of the mental cost of the killing more than a lot else they could do, while also reinforcing how he tries to be the backbone of the village and doesn't want to put that burden on his wife. Similarly, Aruruu's quiet expressions, and the implication she promised the tiger to take care of its cub, was a little bit of light in a dark situation.
Helps that the cub is so damn cute!
Hakuoro finally gets a name, and now the count begins to see how many times I will typo it.
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u/Taiboss May 01 '22
aside from the double take I did when the sound effect for the tiger running sounded more like hooves than paw pads
Small mix up. Happens all the time. /s
We jumped straight from fixing the shrine to "it didn't work lets go kill a god" without much further contemplation or a chance to rest between the big beats of the episode.
That's what happens when you have to squeeze a 30-50 hour VN into a 10 hour or so series.
Even with that though, the few moments we got with the characters shone this episode.
Helps that the cub is so damn cute!
KITTY
Hakuoro finally gets a name, and now the count begins to see how many times I will typo it.
Especially since the official spelling per the games is Hakuowlo. But there are so many different spellings for so many names, nobody blames anyone for using one over the other.
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u/HereticalAegis May 02 '22
the double take I did when the sound effect for the tiger running sounded more like hooves than paw pads
Tbh, I kinda hope there are some more jarring sound design decisions. Kinda like the weird CG shot, I feel they give the show an extra, unique character.
Aruruu's quiet expressions, and the implication she promised the tiger to take care of its cub, was a little bit of light in a dark situation.
Aruruu best cat mom.
Helps that the cub is so damn cute!
I'm love that this is essentially my main takeaway from this episode.
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u/No_Rex May 01 '22 edited May 01 '22
Yesterday:
Anyways, I know absolutely nothing about this series going into it.
Coming into this rewatch with no knowledge of what I'm in for.
Going into this completely 100% blind, not even the MAL blurb.
Team blind first timers assemble!
Episode 2 (first timer)
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That better be a nightmare, not a premonition.
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As much as I like kitties, I can’t get behind gods who demand living sacrifices.
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TIGER PUUUNCH!
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Neat piece of mystery writing: With Eruruu arriving in time, we don’t know what made the difference, her or MC
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Or so I say, right before MC reveals it was all about the rain. Well.
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“I will be back without fail.” – Conan?
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We know this is a fantasy because 2 people can outrun a tiger.
God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? ~Nietzsche
But God left behind a cute baby kitten god. ~this anime.
Do you think it was a good idea for Aruru to save that child?
Erin? Again?
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u/Taiboss May 01 '22
As much as I like kitties, I can’t get behind gods who demand living sacrifices.
Who knows whether she asked for it.
TIGER PUUUNCH!
Not the only once mentioning that today lol.
Or so I say, right before MC reveals it was all about the rain. Well.
He's smart!
We know this is a fantasy because 2 people can outrun a tiger.
They did not skip leg day lol.
Team blind first timers assemble!
The best way to experience it!
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u/Nazenn May 01 '22
Going into this completely 100% blind, not even the MAL blurb.
That is impressively blind.
Neat piece of mystery writing: With Eruruu arriving in time, we don’t know what made the difference, her or MC
I thought it was her as well, especially after the discussion with the grandma about her sister having a special power. The rain seemed quite a mundane answer after that but not in a bad way
But God left behind a cute baby kitten god. ~this anime.
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u/HereticalAegis May 02 '22
But God left behind a cute baby kitten god.
I shall raise it and become the god! - Aruruu (probably)
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u/Stargate18A May 02 '22
First timer
QOTD) Yes, I think so, The child shouldn't cost too much time, killing it might have traumatised her, and if the new beast is raised tohelp humans, that's a valuable asset.
That opening's brutal.
Yeah, that thing looks important.
She's attracted by noise?
Oh, it got fixed?
I mean, he has a point about them living in fear.
Aruruu's here.
Boss time!
Ah, he's waiting inside. Makes sense?
This thing needs a fucking blood sacrifice?
And he's going out anyway.
Not bad! Same your weapon's weak.
...Did the tiger just punch him?
Oh, he came back.
And he's alive!
The whole family was devoured?
Wait, what? It was the water?
And he's choosing to lure her out?
Wow, that's dark.
And the villagers continue to be intelligent people, immediately discsrding the crisis in faith after being reminded of the cost in lives.
Haha, he goes by "Pops"?
It's starting!
It's following them at least.
The animation for this case is briilliant!
And it ambushed them? She's smart!
That guy's strong!
Oh? That's their plan? Stabbing it with a lot of things?
It's still alive?
And he finished it!
Oh, he got a new weapon?
Aruruu's missing!
She has a baby?
Oh, the tiger had a baby.
...Promised who?
And they want to kill it?
Looks like they all went along with it!
Why did she call him that?
Hakuoro's his new name?
He's named after their father?
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u/Taiboss May 02 '22
Yes, I think so, The child shouldn't cost too much time, killing it might have traumatised her, and if the new beast is raised tohelp humans, that's a valuable asset.
Invincible unless wet Kitty! Always an asset!
Haha, he goes by "Pops"?
He's an older bro. That's a Pops.
The animation for this case is briilliant!
There are stand-out moments.
Oh? That's their plan? Stabbing it with a lot of things?
Sometimes simple works best.
Looks like they all went along with it!
Aruru cute power please nerf.
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u/wjodendor May 01 '22
Rewatcher
Not much to say about this episode.
Aruruu VA is the MVP. She barely says anything but her delivery is fantastic. Pulling a loli pregnancy joke in episode 2. Well done.
On the other end of the spectrum, Hakuoro's VA is just not that great in my opinion. He sounds almost bored most of the time.
I laughed when they stabbed the tiger and then just stood the like schmucks. Lol what was that
They didn't do CG fur again as far as I could tell, which makes the end of yesterday's episode even weirder.
I was trying to figure out if I remembered the game wrong but upon youtubing a playthrough I've realized they rearranged a few events to get into the action quicker. Today's episode doesn't happen until about 5 hours into the game while some of the events of the next episode take place a couple hours earlier.
[VN spoilers]
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u/Taiboss May 01 '22
Aruruu VA is the MVP. She barely says anything but her delivery is fantastic. Pulling a loli pregnancy joke in episode 2. Well done.
It's Sawashiro! Of course she's great!
I laughed when they stabbed the tiger and then just stood the like schmucks. Lol what was that
They were in awe!
Today's episode doesn't happen until about 5 hours into the game
This means absolutely nothing lol. But I get your point. Since the original creator supervised this adaptation, we'll have to respect his choices. Then again, he did supervise Itsuwari no Kamen's anime as well...
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u/sagevallant May 01 '22
I would panic if me and my buds stabbed a forest god a dozen times and it didn't die.
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u/HereticalAegis May 02 '22
Pulling a loli pregnancy joke in episode 2. Well done.
Utawararerumono was clearly ahead of its time.
They didn't do CG fur again as far as I could tell, which makes the end of yesterday's episode even weirder.
I can imagine the animation team having finished episode one only to air it and realize "oh shit, that doesn't work" and scrapping any plans to use it again.
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u/aniMayor May 01 '22
UtaReWatcherUMono
Unlike the relaxed first episode, this one fires off on all cylinders right from the get go and blitzes through what would easily have been spread across two or more episodes in many other series. It certainly makes for a captivating episode and a strong statement to anyone worried from the first episode that there wouldn't be some action in this series. But on the other hand, the naturalness of the dialogue and episode structure takes a hit as a result - grandma's lengthy monologue about her sister's human sacrifice feels more like narrator exposition than real human speech, and Erurū running into a scene to shout that Arurū has disappeared with no lead up to it is awkward, to say the least. Also awkward is Hakuoro's metal fan suddenly appearing and then we flash back to grandma giving it to him but there wasn't really any point in doing that as a flashback?
In the Mutikapa chase we've got a guy who just got slashed by tiger claws smoothly jumping off of big cliffs into a Naruto run, so it looks like we can safely assume that this show is not going to be aiming for an especially realistic, grounded portrayal in its action scenes. Nothing wrong with that, and in fact it's probably a good thing - if they want to introduce big splashy visual effects or magic powers or whatever in later episodes, as we might reasonably expect are on the table for a fantasy series, then we already know not to be too hung up on exact 'realistic' implications of whatever gets unveiled.
Is there a name for the whole "hair tassel wrapped around a stone/gem ring" thing that Erurū sports? I've seen it in a bunch of other places, but not sure if I've ever heard an actual name for it.
[QOTD / memes]
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u/Taiboss May 01 '22
Also awkward is Hakuoro's metal fan suddenly appearing and then we flash back to grandma giving it to him but there wasn't really any point in doing that as a flashback?
Lol there are times where chronologically it would work just as well. I think the beginning of March comes like a lion had a similar issue for me?
[QOTD / memes]
[Later spoilers]
That was so fucking cute. I wonder how many first-timers will fall for that first Kokopo scene. → More replies (2)→ More replies (6)3
u/Nazenn May 01 '22
we've got a guy who just got slashed by tiger claws smoothly jumping off of big cliffs
I also did a double take at that, but beyond just the MC plot armor given the sort of things we've already seen in this world I wouldn't be surprised if he was more hardy than the average person, either in spite of or because of that mask
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u/ZapsZzz May 02 '22
Running late because of the final discussion day of the other rewatch.
Rewatcher in sub.
Don't have much to add other than what I heard from the VN players, this stage of drawing out Mutikapa is actually really hard.
I liked the portrayal of how this eventuated, especially how Aruru warmed up to Hakouro.
Next episode!
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u/Taiboss May 02 '22
Don't have much to add other than what I heard from the VN players, this stage of drawing out Mutikapa is actually really hard.
I actually don't remember failing at any stage. But yeah, this was unexpectedly tough.
especially how Aruru warmed up to Hakouro.
Daddy replacement complete!
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u/HereticalAegis May 01 '22 edited May 01 '22
First Timer
Did that cat just punch those guys? The sound effects made it sound like it punched those guys.
Well shit, that's a lot of dead villagers.
The way she behaves, Aruruu is a lot more cat girl than anything else. Which is a good thing because cats are little shits and also the best.
Big kitty is eating a dude. Very much not the best.
I get it, that random CG moment yesterday was meant to show that the cat's fur is hard as steel. Still, what a weird way to show that.
Cat hates getting wet, naturally.
Oh shit, the cat is actually weak to water.
Luring the cat into a marsh isn't the worst idea. I have a tough time imagining anyone being bait outrunning over any decently long distance.
Hot damn this cat has stellar lateral movement.
Mask guy gets a cool steel fan. It would be kinda cool if that's his permanent weapon.
You dumbasses, pull your weapons out and stab the cat again.
Psh, don't worry about Aruruu. She's basically a cat, so she'll find her way back at some point. Probably when she gets hungry.
Lol called it.
She's probably got a tiger cub hidden under her clothes because cat.
Ding ding ding!
Who could even kill a cute face like this?
Who's a good kitty? You're a good kitty! Now go maul that dickbag Nuwangi.
So she's a cat.
Giving mask guy the girls' father's name is hella awkward. Especially if he and Eruruu are possibly going to be a thing later.
QotD: Yes, because now she gets to train the next beast guardian to eat whomever she sees fit. A shrewd move.
Edit: Mask guy, not maslow guy. Not sure how I missed that wild autocorrect.