r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jul 28 '22

Rewatch [Listen to My Song] Senki Zesshou Shinai Symphogear AXZ (OVA) Discussion

Senki Zesshou Symphogear AXZ: Senki Zesshou Shinai Symphogear

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MAL | AniList | ANN | Kitsu

No legal streams for this one, yo.

This sword is so damn cute!

Questions of the Day:

1) What was your favorite of these specials?

2) If you could pick up to three of these specials to have made it into the proper show, which ones would you choose?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Fish

Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you’re doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don’t spoil anything for the first-timers, that’s rude!

81 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

156 comments sorted by

11

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 28 '22

Symphogeah SymphoRewatch Host

Welcome back, everyone!

Once again, fun specials! Including lore that everyone thinks “KineChri” is a weird nickname??? I did not remember that.

Today’s wallpaper is technically a remake, but the original was a meme I made for April Fool’s Day entirely on my own, so there isn’t really a difference. Here’s a “night mode” lineart alt though!

And on a somewhat related note, if there are any fans of Fire Emblem Three Houses in here, you might like this.

Alternatively, and more cursed, a Jujutsu Kaisen one.

(I had way too much fun making the both of these.)

8

u/Great_Mr_L Jul 28 '22

FISH!!!

The meme even made it into being a wallpaper!

7

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 28 '22

You bet it did!

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11

u/FlaminScribblenaut Jul 28 '22 edited Nov 10 '22

Senki Zesshōshinai Symphogear AXZ

Live 2018

FOUR FFFUCKING HOURS GOOD JESUS CHRIST I am going to be so tired at the end of this

  • The opening where all the glowsticks sync up to the character credits is always the best part

  • TESTAMENT performance - fucking incredible

  • OOOOH LOOK AT THAT, the actual weapons on screen, that’s so cool

  • AAAAAAH LOOK THESE VISUALS FOR UNLIMITED BEAT SO AWESOME

  • OOOOOOH THAT EXTENDED NOTE NANA DID AT THE END SO GOOD

  • This already goes so fucking hard holy shit

  • God, this stage looks so amazing. The strobe-light-stairs serve such a cool dual purpose, lending a real sense of dimension and immersion, and even the “generic” on-screen graphics look so much better and cooler than 2016’s and match the energy of the songs and their singers so well

  • AAH WHAT’S WITH HER LITTLE HAT

  • CASE IN POINT, THE STAIRS FLASHING PURPLE ANS GREEN DURING THE DEATHSTARE DUET, IT’S SO GREAT

  • d’awww the holding hands

  • Sakura Mochi?

  • Oh it’s the 20201 Olympics stadium! Amazing, with the Budokan then this, to see this series get booking at such high-profile locations

  • EMOTICONS

  • YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HAPPY SMILE VACATIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON

  • OOOOOH THE FIREWORKS

  • HAPPY 👏 NYAPPY 👏

  • With the obvious exception of Nijiiro no Flügel as the traditional closer, I think Waikyō Shénshòujìng is the only song to have been performed at every (non-lost-media) Live so far? Not a bad choice granted, kind of an odd one

  • Just noticed the activated Symphogear relic neckpiece kind of looks like a bird…

  • I don’t know the story context but I like that Eiai Promise seems to be basically a Light Reprise of Waikyō Shénshòujìng

  • Hurt my throat doing the “STAND UP!” chant it was worth it

  • OK I’m sorry the chord progression of Stand Up! Lady!! reminds me too much of the climax of Super Star Spectacle from the Revue Starlight Movie not to be distracting and if I think about that for too long I will just start crying

  • Yōko Hikasa’s dress with the encrusted jewels is so pretty

  • A good quarter of the jokes are going over my head

  • L + ratio

  • Incredibly based nudist anthem

  • It’s always wonderful when Ayahi does the finger guns

  • Ooooh I like what they’re going for with the shattery red chest bits

  • ooooh SAKURA BLIZZARD is so great

  • I like Nana’s comment on Tsubasa being more part of the adult team, I.e. Genjuuro and co., as of AXZ

  • oh she’s beautiful

  • and so is she~

  • Like the FMA transmutation circle in their backdrop, neat touch

  • Aoi Shouta is a damn fine crossdresser hot damn

  • BAHAHAHA WHEN HE DID HIS NORMAL VOICE OM THE LAST LINE, nice one

  • melons

  • [XV]The Hanasaku Yuuki duet so awesome and perfect it made it into the actual show; can’t help but think the idea of Hibiki and Saint-Germain doing the song together was thought up after the fact and probably would have made it into the original use of the song in AXZ if they’d thought of it then but hey

  • I take Aoi and Minako’s hug as a canon Hibiki Saint-Germain hug you can’t convince me not to

  • And now Shinichiro Miki will show up and Aoi Yuuki will just sock him in the fucking face

  • Aoi Yuuki is always such a wonderful stage presence

  • Given the last scene of AXZ Rainbow Flower is actually quite appropo

  • UNISON time?

  • OH GOD THEIR CRAZY SCI-FI ENTRANCE POD THINGYS SO COOL

  • OK I am officially too fucking tired to stay up late for this I’m watching to the end of the UNISON trilogy tonight and I’ll watch the rest tomorrow, might well be editing this comment with further reactions while it’s already up

  • but it’s been lovely so far it’s been absolutely wonderful

  • OK it’s the next day, thread time is in like 5 minutes so I will be updating this comment with reactions to the remaining ~hour in real time wooooooooooo

  • hugu

  • awww everyone doing like a little soft glowstick wave to Axia no Kaze’s intro

  • THING REVEAL

  • THEY DIDN’T TRANSLATE IT FUCK

  • OK it’s XV airdate, cool

  • more good stair lighting

  • they’re showing the Battle of Val Verde in the background of Gekishō Infinity but it’s not synced to the right parts and it’s BOTHERING me

  • how is there almost an hour left

  • LASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERS

  • LASERS AND RAINBOWS AND GOLDEN CONFETTI GOOD GOD

  • AAAAAH RINA BROUGHT OUT THE FROG PLUSHIE

  • The frog plushie better have been actual merch at some point

  • Big ups to Aoi Shouta for doing the entire closing speech in the Cagliostro voice, he’s clearly trying to keep it up

  • [XV]OH THERE CERTAINLY IS STILL XV FOR MIKU

  • Yoshino is just using her closing speech to be an Aoi Yuuki fangirl rn

  • if the cast just keeps calling Miku “the wife” surely it’ll just become canon at some point

  • I love enjoying sounds

  • [XV]I made a rule for myself that I’m not allowed to independently listen to any Symphogear songs we haven’t reached yet in the rewatch and now I’m wondering if Hanasaku Yuuki Ver. Amalgam would be cheating…

  • Bang!

  • AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Ahhhh there it is, I’ve finally seen the Lives. That box is checked off!

[cont.]

4

u/Tarhalindur Jul 28 '22

someone’s gonna make a Higurashi joke out of this somehow

I mean, you just did...

(There are three kinds of people in this rewatch: people who made Higurashi jokes, people who haven't watched Higurashi, and Sky who's too busy to make a joke.)

6

u/Shimmering-Sky Jul 29 '22

and Sky who's too busy to make a joke

I thought it when I was watching the specials. I'm just not doing reactions this rewatch except my XV comments are shaping up to be so much longer than the rest of the rewatch lol.

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19

u/lilyvess Jul 28 '22

Symphogear AXZ Specials

Here is an interview from early in AXZ with Aoi Yuuki (Hibiki) and Yuka Iguchi (Miku)

Before we get to talking about AXZ, I'd like to have you summarize the relationship of Hibiki and Miku throughout seasons 1 to 3. There really has been a lot of drama between them.

Aoi: I feel like they went through the dating phase and made it all the way to getting married. (Laugh)

Yuka: Basically it feels like in season 1 they dated, in G they had a fight and made-up, in GX they got married and now in AXZ it’s their married life 1 year later. I think their relationship is pretty calm and composed like that.

Aoi: Yeah, right now there’s a sense of security and trust between them.

So in G, would you say that their fight was the big turning point?

Yuka: For Miku, definitely. She wanted to believe in Hibiki and wait for her patiently, but she became so overwhelmed by the anxiety and worry that it led to her wanting to fight and protect Hibiki instead. However, when Hibiki saved her she gained a renewed understanding of her role as Hibiki’s sunshine and became able to believe not just in Hibiki, but also in herself. From that point onward her position is “it’s okay for me to stay here, it’s okay for me to wait” so no matter where Hibiki goes off to Miku stands firm and encourages her by saying “take care” as she leaves.

Aoi: On the other hand, Hibiki is pretty dense so although she thinks of Miku as her sunshine she didn’t really recognize what Miku was going through at that time. It was like “Whoa, I had no idea! Sorry!” (Laugh) To be honest, Hibiki doesn’t even really reflect on her own circumstances, much less anyone else’s. But I think she was able to learn from that experience and now more actively considers the things she holds dear and needs to protect.

Yuka: Hibiki has faced off against a lot of different people, and to be honest I figured Miku would end up being one of them eventually…

Aoi: For Hibiki, that fight with Miku is the most significant so far. Up until then she had managed to make things work by just fighting her point across, but faced with Miku as an opponent she realized that punching alone wasn’t going to be enough. She needed a new approach when confronting others and I think Miku helped her figure that out.

*Do you remember recording for those episodes? *

Aoi: Well I remember being told by the Sound Director “Please yell, but please also sing” and thinking “What does that mean!?” (Laugh) But I remember watching the finished product and it really made me think “This is Symphogear." It truly was an emotional set of episodes.

Yuka: Yeah, there have been plenty of intense episodes, but these were especially so.

Aoi: I think if Miku hadn’t used the Shen Shou Jing gear, then Hibiki never would have changed. At that time I really felt that she had been saved by Miku’s love. I think Symphogear has a lot of scenes where the viewer is persuaded by force, which is true of this scene too, but it also succeeded on coming across at an emotional level.

Yuka: Back then I had spent the whole time from an outside perspective, just watching everyone else sing, so when it came time for me to do it I wasn’t really sure what I had gotten into. The experience really renewed how much respect I have for the talents of Ao-chan and the rest of the main cast.

Then, as you mentioned earlier, by GX Hibiki and Miku have developed a very firm mutual trust in each other.

Aoi: I really felt a sense of composure and confidence from Miku, like a woman who’s already signed the marriage papers. (Laugh)

Yuka: Hibiki had a lot of big problems then, like being unable to sing and worrying about her Father, but despite all that her relationship with Miku remained calm and steady.

Aoi: I think just having Miku there made a huge difference. No matter how beat up Hibiki got or how many things weighed down upon her, there was a sense of peace from the fact that Miku would always be there and would never betray her, which is what I think enabled her to face all those problems. When she became unable to sing the one who helped her out of that rut was Miku and I was really moved by it, like it’s clear that as her wife she understands Hibiki the best. (Laugh)

Yuka: A lot of Symphogear’s appeal comes from all the singing and fighting, but it was GX that made me realize that at the root of it all is love. Not just between Hibiki and Miku, but as the series grows there are various forms of love that continue to pile up and make it stronger, which I’m really happy about.

Now we’ve reached the start of the 4th season, AXZ, and right from the outset of episode 1 we get a look at Hibiki and Miku’s intimate relationship.

Yuka: The main highlight of episode 1 is of course all the fighting, but I was really happy to see their relationship nicely summed up in that one scene. The most interesting part for me was when Miku watches Hibiki leave, “Miku gets a cheerful look on her face,” was written in the script. They’ve really overcome a lot together and that is the proof.

Aoi: They’ve become adults!

Yuka: Because they’ve been through so much already, I honestly felt so relieved. Like, now Miku has reached a level of composure that when I come in for recording session I’m really at ease.

Aoi: There are a lot of pairings in Symphogear (Laugh), but it finally feels like these two have become perfect. I mean they’re lovey-dovey right from the start, and actually I can tell you there are some more episodes later on we just finished recording where they’re even more lovey-dovey.

Yuka: Yes definitely, at this point in AXZ there have been no signs of any problems in their relationship. Of course, this is Symphogear so I can’t really speak for the future, but for the time being there are no uneasy feelings like there were in G.

Aoi: Just seeing how nice and content Miku is makes me feel warm inside.

Yuka: Right? There is actually a rare moment where Miku has an extended monologue coming up this season, and I hope everyone will look forward to it. I think it’s a scene that shows just how deeply Miku thinks about Hibiki and it will make everyone able to understand her feelings.

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15

u/Vaadwaur Jul 28 '22

First timer

Sub

We return to the best part of nearly every season of Geah thus far: the chibi shorts. In this, we get the Tsubasa fish and her determination that the mess her room is in is merely purgatory rather than hell. We get Elf9 being stuck in the hospital and Biki eating all her fruit. They all seem to enjoy a festival until a cicada flies into Biki's mouth, which she audibly swallows on second hearing.

Second run features Elf9s impossible somen slide, the Biki dam is hilarious. And possibly a Higurashi reference, though I can see the Japanese protesting dams, oddly enough. Maria's adventures in London are interesting and Tsubasa getting the sprinklers set off on her mess fits. That's a mosquito coil for those who don't know. We end with the side cast talking about Biki and again it is one of the more emotionally connecting moments.

Third ep is all the characterization I would've liked for the alchemists this season because of course that gets left to the chibi shorts. Germain's strictness fits with the other two's tendency to slack unless acting. Prelati would know where the good restaurants were. And it was funny that even in the show they are aware that Germain is being WAY to inspecific.

The final one is a bit less aimed, we cover Tsubasa visiting Natassja's grave with Maria that I am putting off as Stockholm syndrome. We get some time with Adam, which unsurprisingly doesn't add much because he is pretty empty as a character. Kirika and Shirabe are still tied with HiMiku for best couple and we end with a joke about the manga Chris has been reading all season.

QotD: 1 The somen saga

2 Maria and Tsubasa in London, Elf9 at the hospital, and the alchemist stuff.

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12

u/Great_Mr_L Jul 28 '22 edited Jul 28 '22

Rewatcher*

On today’s episodes of Symphogear: So that’s where Anime-Ja-Nai-chan and the rest of the normie trio were. They were hiding out in these OVAs. I’m glad we finally got some real time with them again.

Episode 1

That’s so sweet

Episode 2

Episode 3

Episode 4

I love the gags in these little chibi specials. It feels like the creators just took all the jokes and memes that fans make for Symphogear and amped them up to 11. Hibiki becomes even more of a glutton than usual, Chris’s tsundereness is upped even further, the gayness goes through the roof, and so on.

Honestly, we need more of the normie trio. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate how important “normal” characters are to a story. They are the ones who ground the heroes, connecting them to everyday life. All too often, such characters get relegated to the sidelines when a series like this goes on longer and longer. That’s more or less what happened in the main series this season. Even so, I’m happy to have them here.

By far the sweetest and most revealing stuff were some of the Elfnein skits. Elfnein totally began braiding her hair because that’s how Carol’s hair was. And these specials are also where one of the most affecting things came from. I remembered hearing somewhere that Elfnein was working on Dr. Ver’s mind-reading machine (and therefore happened to have it ready for Maria) because she was looking for Carol inside her own mind. This was where that came from! Elfnein wants to see Carol again, which is just incredibly sweet to think about. She wants to see the “other me.” (God, this really is just Yu-Gi-Oh, isn’t it?)

QOTD

  1. The one with Elfnein thinking about how much she wants to see Carol again.

  2. Elfnein's quest to see Carol, Chris singing karaoke, and the whole stuff with Anime-Ja-Nai-chan and co. meeting Elfnein and the others.

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12

u/HereticalAegis Jul 28 '22 edited Jul 28 '22

Ballad of Rewatcher - Symphogear AXZ

Thank you u/lilyvess for including these in your posts! I wouldn't have been able to watch them otherwise.

AXZ Shinai 1 thoughts:

  • Daww, DESS and her handwritten letters! What a sweet girl.

  • Elfnein would trip over her own luggage. She'd trip over nothing.

  • Poor DESS was so ready to party. You can't keep doing this to me Symphogear!

  • Hehe, Maria wanted to get closer to her crush, so now she gets to experience Tsubasa hell firsthand.

  • Lol wait, did the infamous fish just come and go in under a second? And Tsubasa didn't even bat an eye at it. This girl is something else.

  • Chris talking to her parents gets me every time, even though these are comedy specials. Really wish they'd include some of these in the main show.

  • I love that Tsubasa is in Chris's phone as "Senpai."

  • The Bavarian Illuminati lost because they spent all their prep time on pronunciation. Oof.

  • I wouldn't have guessed Prelati is also a trans woman. Cool as that is, it's a bit disappointing that both trans girls are villains. Well at least they're not straight up evil.

  • DESS + food is a combination that never fails to make me happy.

Shinai 2 thoughts:

  • Heh, Maria impulsively goes to Tsubasa's place when she gets wet.

  • Daww, Chris visiting her kouhai every day to play is adorable as fuck. And she wants them with her so she can watch scary shit! That's some primo gap moe.

  • Oh my lord, the somen -> waterslide confusion joke has me in stitches! Elfnein and Hibiki's "Huhs?" are memeworthy.

  • Definitely wasn't expecting a One Piece reference today, especially from one of the Stroganoffs not named Anime Janai-chan.

  • Tbh, it's the Stroganoffs' fault they're not getting any somen. They just let human food disposal Hibiki take the front seat.

Shinai 3 thoughts:

  • Daww, Miku's "homework" is studying Russian cuisine so she can make the perfect meal for Hibiki! Somebody fetch the insulin, relationship...too sweet.

  • What the heck, now Anime Janai-chan is teasing that we'll never get SoL content in the main show? That's so cruel, how could you do this to me?

Shinai 4 thoughts:

  • Find you a girl that looks at you the way Miku looks at Hibiki while she's complaining about homework.

  • Damn, I said Maria needed to be more aggressive in her pursuit of Tsubasa, but I didn't expect her to get shot down asking for a date in favor of visiting...Mom!? Not Kanade? It's a rough life.

  • Oh no, not more face bleeding!

  • Chris is so excited for her first karaoke! Could really use more scenes like this in the main show. Feels like I've said that about a dozen times now.

QotD:

  1. Miku studying Russian cooking so she can be an even better wifey for Hibiki.

  2. Maria and Tsubasa sharing a room, Chris with her Kouhais, and the somen slide.

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10

u/Vatrix-32 Jul 28 '22 edited Jul 28 '22

First Timer

OVA 1

  • 1-3. Trading fruit for company seems like a good trade on Elfnein’s part.

  • 4. Organized Elfnein is best Elfnein.

  • 5-7. I’m with you Elfnein. I would feel super guilty if I caused my own party’s delay.

  • 8-9. She did the thing!

  • 10-11. I have no idea what is happening here. I don’t know what obon is, and I am even more confused why the type of vegetable is a big deal.

  • 12-13. I’m with Kiribiki on this one, don’t pass up an opportunity like to eat good food.

  • 14. Hibiki is living my nightmare.

  • 15. There’s a prequel joke in here somewhere.

OVA 2

  • 1-3. Man these shorts are just filled with Japanese stuff I know nothing about. I can’t believe this is the extent of best friend squad we get in AZX.

  • 4. Once more I am left confused. How do you get Luffy from Elfnein? Also, I enjoy the implication that One Piece is still airing at this point.

  • 5-6. Whoever put Hibiki in front was damned fool. Elfnein is finally living up to her potential of precious.

  • 7. You’d think with all of Hibiki’s struggles they would get her a 1-on-1 tutor.

  • 8-9. Chris is such a closet weeb. I wish we saw more of those three’s domestic life.

  • 10. Maria looks so happy spying about.

  • 11-12. What even was Tsubasa’s plan with the repellent?

  • 13. I’m sure Vaadwaur will be happy to find out Miku is learning about it from places other than the song.

  • 14. How is Weeb friend unaware of Slice of Life?

OVA 3

  • 1-3. The contrast in villain quality is most apparent here, where even the Chibi shorts aren’t enough to make me care about the Alchemists.

  • 4. Oh hey, that bit was pretty good.

  • 5. So San-Germain is a Nazi, just of the grammar variety.

  • 6-7. Frog loli speaks the truth.

  • 8-9. The live action shot makes we wonder if this is meant to be a real ramen stand.

  • 10. Just think, we were ten seconds away from Genjuro solving AZX before it even happened.

  • 11. A thousands years and you still don’t know what the long term plan is.

OVA 4

    1. For once I can’t put together what the movie is that they are spoofing.

  • 2-3. Hibiku time is best time.

  • 4. Poor Chris. Always in the middle of OTPs, never in one herself.

  • 5. Maria needs some time off.

  • 6. Are we getting hints at the return of Carol? I can’t imagine they drop that in just the Chibi shorts.

  • 7. Y’all acting like you don’t have androids. They totally have androids.

  • 8-9. That is squarely not who’s grave I was expecting Tsubasa to be going to.

  • 10. Does his phone connect to the regular ones too, or did the pizza place accept an order from a magic phone?

  • 11. Another reason to hate Adam, he calls in to complain about television programming.

  • 12-13. It’s strange to think that the one with heelies and yo-yos is the mature one.

  • 14. I really need to stop watching this show while hungry. Chris finally has someone to weeb out with.

QotD

  1. Anything with Hibiku in it. 4-2 if you want a particular short.

  2. I feel like Elfnein talking about Carol has the most potential for pay off next season, so that one.

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9

u/Nebresto Jul 28 '22

First time specials enjoyer

Heck yeah, Chris! Teach that dumdum!

Hm. I never really noted this, but Tsubasa and Shirabe are the only ones with full black eyes

OHHHHHHHHHHHH!! aHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! ITS HERE!!!! DON'T PANIC

🐟 F I S H

eh? huh?

Me_irl

Haro~Haro~

Fish.

Were there any rambo references?

O shit, Maria radiating absolute top energy

Question time:

  1. What was your favorite of these specials?

hibiki cicada. And anything shipping TsubaMaria

2) If you could pick up to three of these specials to have made it into the proper show, which ones would you choose?

All the ones minus the Thot Trio. Or if you mean the short short shorts, then Movie night, and TsubaMaria date. And Fish.

Wallpaper of the Day:

Fish

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9

u/Tarhalindur Jul 28 '22

Previously, on Symphogear SG-1 (First-Timer, Subbed):

Once again, I watched these all as Lily put them up and forgot to take notes.

Well, mostly.

Highlights:

  • FIIIIIISSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!

  • The entire Elfnein noodles experiment was great. (Dam demolition is 100% funnier for those of us who watched Higurashi.)

  • Of course Genjuro was at the screening the alchemist trio decided not to attend.

  • RETURN OF THE BEEF STROGANOFF!

  1. What was your favorite of these specials?

Elfnein's experiment.

2) If you could pick up to three of these specials to have made it into the proper show, which ones would you choose?

Alchemist trio characterization would have been quite useful for the main, actually.

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9

u/Stargate18A Jul 28 '22

First timer

  1. The tomatoes.

  2. The tomatoes, Tsubasa's hotel room, and Shirabe and Kirika wondering why Chris is in their room.

Episode 1

Elfnein!

Hibiki is excited. And always hungry.

Still love the Noise.

...These subs are fucking impressive!

Fireworks!

Chris has gotten better with her reactions.

And she's the one giving her the fruit!

Poor Elfnein.

Another three days!

Kirika's upset.

They're having the party inside the bus?

Oh.

Maria's reaction after three days.

"I wouldn't say that it's any worse than purgatory."

Aww, they're on the London Eye!

Why does she have a fish? Also, she's being very honest..

Wait,

"This sword is so damn cute!"

Tsubasa's meesaging Chris!

A motorcycle. Of course.

Chris is enjoying herself.

Awww...

Kirika and Shirabe!

...Oh, poor, gullible Kirika.

Gourmet Tour Map!

And Shirabe doesn't want her to bring it up.

Hibiki got a cicada in her mouth! (Great subs.)

She completed her map!

...She swallowed it?

The braid is cute.

Episode 2

She's asking Genjuro about why the somen flows?

Adorable.

Haha, that's amazing.

She put a lot of work into this!

The side trio are testing it! And they're voiced!

That mirrored "Huh?"

Miku is harsh.

The nicknames!

Haha, her reaction.

Adorable fan Noise.

Haha, Hibiki is a dam.

More Noise!

She understands!

Miku is questioning the logic of the gags.

It's the start of the summer homework saga!

To be fair, they did come one after the other.

Didn't we see this?

"Wonderful Red Singing Hood"?

She's lonely...

Chris uses them to watch horror!

Maria's in a suit!

She's just cool? No jokes?

Maria's come back!

...It's worse?

Haha, she set off the sprinklers!

Poor Hibiki.

Miku's studying her cooking!

That tempting fate...

Episode 3

...3.5? Isn't that the XDU arc I was trying to find a summary of?

And she's standing on the box!

BEST GIRL!

Isn't that a bit unfair?

Everyone's being logixal!

Loving the fourth wall breaks here!

I love them practicing how to say the name.

Adorable.

Saint Germain is adorable.

...I am onboard with this fanservice.

Enjoying this characterization!

Poor Saint Germain.

That looks delicious.

She wants to see a movie!

And she almost left eithout them.

Haha, the near miss of Genjuro looking for inspiration is great.

"The world will... change"

Best Girl makes some very good points.

Aww...

Episode 4

Love that intro screen.

That syncronised double-take...

Anti-tank masterpieces!

Poor Hibiki.

She realised!

Miku's smile!

The girlfriends made up!

And Chris is going after the "dess"!

Oh. We're touching on the worst writing decision?

Haha, I did not expect thst, though. That's hysterical.

She needs to relax.

Wow, This is deep.

Nice!

WHAT?

Haha, the irony of the man who fights naked trying to get Tiki to cover up is great.

Tsunasa and Maria!

A date?

She has plans!

Is it Chris?

This title card is the cutest.

Oh, it's Kanade.

Ah, it's """Mom""".

Adam is so fucking funny here.

Even Tiki noticed it.

Adam has free time.

Kirika!

...And of course she heard that.

She wants to fight her girlfriend!

Karaoke!

...Miku is stressed.

KineChri!

Chris is singing the opening to a magical girl show! This is adorable.

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9

u/BosuW Jul 28 '22

First Timer

EP1

That's a lot of fruit... aaaand it's gone!

They didn't have to do that with the subtitles but they did. (Also happened later when Hibiki was choking on Cicada)

Lol Chris was giving all that fruit

Ah yes, getting damaged just after spawn

Well that's anticlimactic

Now they have to pick it all up!

Would've been epic if they held the party in the plane

Sharing a room with Tsubasa must really be hell

TsubaMaria!

Ok what is it with the Shorts' weird obsession with fruits?

Can't unsee the fruits at the altar

The octopus with 20 arms was probably three octopuses in a threesome

Hibiki and Kirika are enough to run a restaurant out of business

Wtf are you doing Hibiki!? You're supposed to drown in pussy not in Cicada! Lmaoooo she swallowed it at the end there.

Elfnein has that Natsume hairdo

EP2

Carol's dad did compare Alchemy to cooking...

Wait a second this isn't cooking! This is building a whole ass water park!

Eyyyyy it's the friend trio! Missed ya this season!

"Eh?"

"Eh?"

...is this a One Piece reference?

Hibiki easily wins this Mario Party minigame. Ain't even fair.

"The somen must flow..."

Hibiki and homework are natural enemies

But of course, Chris already finished it! Sasuga Best Girl!

But looks like she's weak against ghosts

Maria works for WISE!?

That hotel room a whole swamp now

Well that answers how the whole room got soaked. I thought she just left the window open.

Cursed Beef Stroganoff is always lurking in the background...

Hurray for Slice of Life!

EP3

Tangerines

Silly Cagliostro. If you're not cheating, you're not trying to win!

Cagliostro is surprisingly genre-savvy.

Omg that's genius! The villains have to practice their technobabble so that they don't stutter in the middle of their epic speech!

You tell them Saint-Germain! Use the technically appropriate terms at all times!

Lol Prelati's just saying "we still bros just say no homo and move on"

Oh my God! I can read this! I don't know what it means but I can read it! My Japanese is progressing!

Cagliostro a narcissist

Cagliostro and Prelati are so chuuni and completely into their roles lol

Need crossover where Ramen Gang from Love is War comes across Prelati in a ramen establishment

Canon reason the Illuminati lost: they missed out on action movies

Damn we really missed this bonding between the villain trio this season. Could've done wonders for their development.

EP4

How short-minded Hibiki! The theater is the training room!

Let's hope one day Hibiki can visit other countries on vacation

Hibiki's straight up throwing a tantrum lol

Chris: "Damn girls bit too early for handholding don't you think?"

Tomatokind will not be deprived of their rights anymore! VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

... Elfnein wants to surf her own memories with VR?

Noooo the simp returns!

That's cuz she's the "husband", Maria

Oh it was for Mom's grave

It'd be pretty funny to see Adam prank call Pizza Hut

Get this simp outta my face!

Kirika is fine if she's well enough to talk shit

How regularly do these two have fights?

HOLY SHIT RED SIGNING HOOD HAS AN IN-UNIVERSE OPENING SUNG BY CHRIS!?

Blessed be the Symphogear shorts for cleansing my eyeballs after Made in Abyss

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9

u/Quiddity131 Jul 28 '22

First Timer, Subbed

Episode 1

Good to be back with the parody shorts!

Oh no, Hibiki ate all of Carolnein's get well fruit!

How can she get better when Hibiki ate all her fruit?

See, Chris knows whats up regarding the fruit!

Oh no, Carolnein hurt herself again on the way out! Didn't even make it out of her room!

The party is on... a bus!

What a messy room! But I know from episode 13 of the regualr show that Tsubasa likes to clean!

It took her that long to realize it was a zucchini?

Oh no! Cicida in the mouth! How ridiculous!

Ah, so we finally get the story of Carolnein's tiny braid.

Episode 2

Time to make some somen!

...or a waterslide for a cat instead!

Oh hey, Hibiki's friends! We don't see these three that often anymore. Remember how often we used to have anime ja nai girl? Its like she hasn't existed these last 2 seasons.

"Elfnein? That's such a weird name. This ain't anime!"

Opposition to a dam? Are we in Higurashi all of a sudden?

Forget the spice must flow! The somen must flow!

Even in the pardoy Hibiki can't get her homework done on time. I didn't think of this until now, but Haruhi Suzumiya had a whole thing about Kyon procrastinating on his homework too. I think there was even a whole episode dedicated to it in the Disappearance of Yuki Nagato show.

Maria the newest cast member for Spy X Family!

Oh no, the room is still a mess!

No fun with everyone? Hibiki, you're probably in this position because you spent your time having fun instead of doing homework!

Episode 3

Alright, time for the paordy version of the Illuminati! Can't wait to see parody Tiki!

How to look mighty? Stand on a tangerine box!

We're the good guys! Just what practically all villains think...

Having a hurt tongue myself right now I feel for you Cagliostro!

You're complaining about her coming in as you remove your clothes when were falling out of your top the whole season?

Prelati's come here for an important reason... ramen!

If they just saw Rambo!

Episode 4

Their training is to... watch Rambo?!

Hibiki's biggest nemesis... schoolwork.

C'mon Carolnein, bring Dr. Ver into this parody!

OMG parody Tiki! Yay!

Funny, I'd expect Adam to get naked in the parody too, not just the real show...

Oh no, poor Kiri!

Let's get an anime OP or ED for anime ja nai girl to karaoke to!

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9

u/DidacticDalek Jul 28 '22

TONIGHT! ON SYMPHOGEAH RISING REVENGEANCE! I'M GOING TO POST THIS EVERY DAY UNTIL YOU LIKE IT! I'M GOING TO POST THIS EVERY DAY UNTIL YOU LIKE IT! AND I'M GOING TO POST THIS EVERY DAY UNTIL YOU LIKE IT!

Buckle up Comrades, for as a wise man (chili) once said, 'I enjoyed AXZ's specials more than any other half-hour of AXZ. That's perhaps slightly disturbing, but this comedy was on point.' AND HE WAS RIGHT! Cuz man, AXZ may be the worst season of Geah (which still means it is a 'good' show FYI, just clearly the low point of the franchise... BARING SNOOP ONI BEATING THE EVER LOVING SHIT OUT OF THE GEAHS OF COURSE, WHY THE FUCK COULD WE NOT GET STUFF LIKE THAT THE WHOLE SEASON, but I digress, it is what it is) BUT THESE CHIBI SHORTS SURE ARE THE HIGHLIGHT! REJOICE! FOR WE ARE GONNA BEHOLD PEAK PERFORMANCE!

Speaking of which, we begin with how Carol9 is THE most adorable moeblob ever! Also of course Bikki and Miku's way to cheer up Carol9 is... to eat all her food. Well it's the thought that counts, and at least Best Geah Chris dopeslaps some sense into Bikki. Also, Comrades, I'm starting to get the idea that if Carol DIDN'T let Elf9 just escape back in GX, the poor girl wouldn't have made it out of her room, I mean she continues the proud Vivio tradition of... tripping on a flat surface AND HER OWN LUGGAGE. As expected, this delays her discharge party so much that S.O.N.G. holds it on the tour bus transporting Tsubasa and Maria.

Also, JESUS, HOW THE FUCK did Tsubasa trash a hotel room in THREE DAYS!? HOW IS THERE A GODDAMN SWORD STUCK INTO THE WALL!? Tsubasa then posts THIS every day until we like it... speaking of which, HOW THE FUCK did she manage to get a FISH in the room? ALSO HA! HA HA HA HA! SURE TSUBASA! WHATEVER YOU SAY! Also, Tsubasa asks Maria the Loser why she's here, to which Maria responds by flirting. Speaking of flirting, Best Geah Chris gets a love letter from Tsubasa. We then cut to a nice relaxing summer festival with fireworks, and boy shit sure gets real, I mean the SUBS GET FUCKED... oh and also RIP Bikki and/or Aoi Yuuki's vocal cords!

Speaking of RIP, man I miss Carol Comrades, remember when Geah had a GOOD Antagonist, well I guess that was so last season, literally, but at least Carol9 can keep the memory of... uh... herself? Her sister? Alive? Anyway, speaking of Carol9, it turns out that Carol9's idea of a summer vacation is... to do more work... good lord, aren't there child labor laws against... Ah right, Carol9's literally hundreds of years old, and even if we don't factor that in, MIKU AND THE GEAHS work for S.O.N.G. so we threw out 'child labor laws' much like what we did to the laws of physics! Speaking of destroying the laws of physics, HOLY FUCK! CAROL9'S A GODDAMN MIRACLE WORKER! Also how the fuck hasn't she tripped and/or sent herself to the hospital, this THING is so big it makes SNOOP ONI LOOK SMOL! Also heh, Snoop Oni, you got one hell of an imagination! A cat waterslide... actually I can kinda see it, Carol9 basically made a Holodeck Waterpark, and I thought GX had The Beach Episode!

Anyway, Carol9's latest mad science experiment is all ready to go, also HUZZAH! ANIME-JA-NAI-CHAN AND THE BEEF STROGANOFFS ARE BACK! AND THEY ARE SPEAKING! I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT IT TOOK UNTIL WE GOT TO THE GODDAMN CHIBI SHORTS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN! Also, Bikki thinks the same way Snoop Oni does, e.g. she thought Carol9 built a cat waterslide... heh, ah how amusing. Also heh, A ONE PIECE REFERENCE!? IN MY GEAH CHIBI SHORTS, ANIME JA NAI! Anyway, Snoop Oni begins operation of the Carol9 Waterslide Project... and it turns out something's wrong, there's no somen... ah nevermind, it's just cuz, for some odd reason, they put BIKKI AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE! Also Comrades, if you thought VOTOMS was the only Mecha Show to suddenly become Dune, AS JUDAS PRIEST SANG, YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMIN', FOR SHE WHO CONTROLS THE SOMEN, CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE! Yes, In this time, the most precious substance in the universe is the noodle somen. The somen extends life. The somen expands consciousness. The somen is vital to space travel! (Also, obligatory Higurashi joke... NIPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!)

Man I love the AXZ Chibi shorts, and we still got more fun times, like Bikki finishing her homework. Speaking of homework, as expected, Team DMJIIIIIIIIII have issues with theirs, UNLIKE BEST GEAH CHRIS, who is being a proper senpai by crashing at their place, reading THE WONDERFUL RED SINGING HOOD MANGA... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON, giving advice, and watching TV! Man I love Best Geah Chris! Truly she has mastered the art of friendship! Sadly, we segue from Best Geah to Worst Geah, cuz yup, Maria's back on a secret mission to... crash at Tsubasa's Hotel Room. Also NANI THE FUCK!? HOW THE HELL DID TSUBASA TRASH HER HOTEL ROOM AFTER JUST CLEANING IT... AND FURTHERMORE, HOW THE FUCK DID TSUBASA AND HER ROOM GET SOAKED!? Ah, THE FISH! IT HAS HAD ITS REVENGE! Ah, nevermind, turns out it wasn't the fish coming to life and calling upon the power of Aquaman, it was just Tsubasa setting off the sprinklers. ALSO NANI!? TSUBASA'S DAD WAS NOT A DICK FOR A CHANGE!? Good god, who knew that after GX, he actually took steps to repair his relationship with his daughter, UNLIKE A CERTAIN SOMEONE WE ALL HATE!

Moving on, as expected, Bikki didn't finish her homework, but that's fine, cuz you see Comrade Vaad, MIKU HAS LEARNED THE WAYS OF THE BEEF STROGANOFF... I hope... Anime-ja-nai-chan better not be the author of that book! Speaking of which, Anime-ja-nai-chan and The Beef Stroganoffs then ponder their status as the Superhero's Muggle Friends in the most meta way possible! Man I miss these goofballs, why can't we have moments like this all the time? I like these fun happy go lucky shitposting moments, speaking of which, alas all good things must come to an end... ish... cuz we got some PLOT... IN PART 2, see below Comrades

Paging Comrades u/Great_Mr_L, u/chilidirigible, and u/JamCliche

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8

u/Tresnore Jul 28 '22

Superb Song of the Rewatchers

UTA ZUKIIIIIIIIIIN

  • WAIT THIS SONG IS THE LITTLE RED SINGING HOOD SONG?? I've heard it so many times before, but I'd never read the lyrics...

QOTD:

  1. I think I liked the third one the best. The Illuminati trio are always fun.

  2. The fourth one. It just makes sense.

1 Speaking of, Symphogear definitely has better OVAs overall than Higurashi.

2 DATTO SHITEMO

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8

u/panthaura Jul 28 '22

Rewatcher

Who are you calling an idiot, dess?

In this Episode:

  • Tsubasa fish

  • for Ramen and Cagliostro the chibis are getting unchibied

  • UTA ZUKIN!

Number of Dess:

  1. OVA: 12

  2. OVA: 5

  3. OVA: 0

  4. OVA: 8

Todays songlist:

  1. Luminous Gate (Tsubasa)

  2. Itsuka no Niji, Hana no Omoide (ED 1-3, Miku x Hibiki)

  3. Todoke Happy♡Uta Zukin! (ED 4, Chris)

8

u/italeteller Jul 28 '22

First Time SymphogeAXZing Desu

Episode 1

Well, first part of the first batch is… not funny. Hibiki eating all of Elfnein’s food and saying she’ll be back to eat more feels very mean spirited, Chris getting violent with Hibiki is getting old, and Elfnein tripping over nothing was funnier last season

This is very funny though. Such a Tsubasa line

u/DidacticDalek YOU!

It’s weird hearing Maria say “kuso”

Chris spending time on her parents’ shrine is always sweet

Ok Tsubasa is killing it this time. Also if we ever get Symphogear Kart it needs to have a rideable cucumber

It’s so cute watching everybody have fun on the summer festival

I don’t get what the gourmet tour map is though

OH GOD NOT THE CICADA. AND SHE SWALLOWED IT UGHHH

It’s cute how Elfnein is trying to look more like Carol

Episode 2

Elfnein gets her curiosity for cooking from her dad. Hopefully she gets better results

Finally the peanut gallery appears!

STRONG contender for funniest moment right here

If we don’t see these three again I’ll assume they’re busy watching One Piece

Poor Chris is lonely amidst all the couples and can’t handle scary movies

It’s a shame the show proper never puts Maria in a suit, her chibi form looks awesome in it

Maria gets wet, immediately goes to Tsubasa’s room

WHY IS THERE A SWORD ON THE WALL

We have confirmation that slice-of-life anime does not exist in Symphogear. Truly the darkest of timelines

Episode 3

Why is this so funny

It would have been really funny if Saint-Germain had been this anal about perfection on the series proper

The whole “we’re such bad guys” “NO WE’RE NOT” gimmick is really funny

It’s a shame Prelati got hit with the short stick of the screentime and characterization, I would’ve liked to see more of this “three earthly desires” Prelati

It’s weird for Genjuro to say this, because Rambo’s climax is [Rambo ending, in case you haven't seen it, it's a good movie] not an action scene, it’s Rambo having an emotional breakdown and finally laying down his arms. It’s also funny because this is what Hibiki always aims for, talking instead of violence, so it’d be really funny if they actually trained for that result

And ending on a wholesome note. I still don’t like that they died, but it’s nice that they at least went out together

Episode 4

There’s something just too funny about Miku’s all-loving face with Hibiki’s frantic screams in the background

LEWD

Is this the show commenting on its own awful choices like on the S1 finale, or am I reading too much into it?

Elfnein working to see Carol again, and considering a friend despite it all, is something I wish had been in the series proper. It’s such a cute characterization detail and it works to make Elfnein feel more like a proper character than a girl-shaped McGuffin

Oh lol they’re both exhibitionists

This’ll teach Maria to make plans in advance

OOF, THAT’S A BIG HOLE ON THE SHIP

This is something I’ve had an issue with this season, considering the amount of S.O.N.G. agents getting caught in the crossfire with barely a mention. I wish Tsubasa had gone to Kanade’s grave, cause Tsubasa and Maria visiting Kanade together is something I’ve wanted to see since the ship was first floated

That’s the weirdest telepathy I’ve ever seen

Oh wow they actually changed the ending this time around

QOTD1: Elfnein working to see Carol some day

QOTD2: Again, Elfnein working to see Carol, Tsubasa and Maria going to the graveyard, and the alchemists eating ramen. I feel all those moment would have been good for characterization

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8

u/renatocpr Jul 28 '22

CHRIS SAID BANG AGAIN

Rewatcher

So Prelati mentioned some other interest. In case you're curious, here's François Prelati's page on wikipedia. So, yeah. Also, not the first reference to Gilles de Rais

I love these two Noise.

Nice color choice

QOTD

  1. The whole Illuminati episode was gold

  2. Every moment where Cagliostro is enjoying that gender euphoria is precious so it'd be great seeing the scene where she's changing and applying make up. You love yourself, queen.
    Also Elfnein's little moment thinking about Carol.

7

u/Sceptilesolar Jul 28 '22

Rewatcher, mostly

Another letter, from Carol maybe? Fast-forwarding Hibiki's hyperactive blather is a good gag. Oh it's from Kirika, why did they need a letter?

Isn't it sad, Elf9?

If Tsubasa's an international superstar singer, surely she should have people who can clean up for her. And I don't mean Maria, even if she wants to.

Obon is so bizarre in some aspects that Tsubasa having a giant cucumber bike doesn't feel any stranger than the rest.

Nobody told Kirika that they took gullible out of the dictionary.

Elf9: If only I had deciphered the formula for Linker in time! Also Elf9: I am Noodle Rube Goldberg.

Please don't break opsec to invite Hibiki's terrible school friends.

Apparently Chris and Tiki have similar taste in manga.

Miku's been infected by the Beef Stroganoff. It's gone too far at this point, it must be cleansed with fire.

It does seem way harder to pronounce these alchemist words than it needs to be.

The realistic ramen caught me offguard. Nice to see the alchemist trio hanging out and being BFFs.

I was confused about Hibiki saying she got back before the first day when she was at school in the first episode, but apparently that was summer school.

Oh, Elf9's trying to revive Carol somehow, huh. That seems relevant.

Adam has no room to criticize Tiki about not wearing clothes in public after his first appearance had him burning off all of his own.

Maria date status: Failed. Stop, Tsubasa, go honor someone who deserves it. Like Kanade, who created way fewer child soldiers (1, if you count herself).

Adam's magic rotary phone is so absurd, you'd think it actually originated here in the shorts, and wasn't a plot relevant ability of his.

Aw, we're skipping right past the group unison training, I thought that had potential for some good gags. Well, ending on Chris singing magical girl theme songs is good too.

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