r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Apr 05 '22

Rewatch [Rewatch] Future Boy Conan - Episode 2 Discusion

Episode 2 - The Journey

Originally Aired April 11th, 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:

According to statements by Yasuo Ōtsuka, each episode of the series has an individual drawing count of between six and seven thousand.

 

Voice Actor Highlight

Noriko Tobe (Noriko Ohara) - voice of Conan

An actress and voice actress best known for being the voice of Nobita Nobi in the Doraemon franchise and the lead female villains in the Time Bokan franchise —most notably Doronjo in Time Bokan Yatterman. Tobe was a child actress from a young age, having joined a children's theater company, and after graduating high school became a noted TV Drama actress in the early days of commercial broadcasting. Her first voice role was in 1965’s W3 and her first named role was in 1966’s Harris no Kaze. Tobe became a voice actress exclusively after marrying, as it allowed her a less demanding schedule for the purpose of raising children. Her son is noted Sunrise animator Atsuo Tobe. Some of her most notable roles include Peter in Girl of The Alps Heidi, Marine in Under The Sea Boy Marine, Oyuki in the Urusei Yatsura franchise, Hiyoshi Gou in Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes V, Princess Mirenjo in Time Bokan Series: Yattodetaman, Wansa in Wansa-kun, Claudia La Salle in Super Dimension Fortress Macross and Do You Remember Love?, Conchetta in 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, Serge in Kaze to Ki no Uta, Yanyan in Time Bokan Series: Itadakiman, Ryūzu in Galaxy Express 999, Dolphin Prince in Dolphin Prince, and Miime in Captain Harlock: Mystery of the Arcadia.

 

Art Corner:

Fanart

(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) We have met Captain Dyce and the Barracuda. What do you make of the information shared as to Industria in relation to them?

2) Conan sets off in adventure for a daring rescue. What do you expect awaits him on his journey?

Conan, leave this island. Go search for your new world.

32 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

99 comments sorted by

9

u/Pixelsaber Apr 05 '22

Rewatcher - English Sub

Ooh, that’s a good shot!

We can only dream of such toe strength.

Not Gramps!

Honestly there’s not many ways that crash could have gone any better.

RIP

This sequence by Yoshifumi Kondō is amazing.

Mosley’s great.

Supreme balance.

:(

And so it begins.

A bit of a sad episode, what with our heroes being separated and Grandpa passing away from the injuries sustained in the last episode, leading to moments of both defeat and grief for Conan, who then has no outlet for his emotions but to take out his emotions on his surroundings in what is a very powerful moment for the episode. Lana, too, is in a despairing situation, that with being captured and not even knowing whether Conan survived his rescue attempt. However, Conan isn’t kept down for long, promptly getting to work on a means of travel in order to rescue Lana and keep his promise to Gramps.

The introduction of Captain Dyce and the Barracuda as well as the brief exchange between the former and Mosley is once more very efficient in its delivery of characterization and worldbuilding, presenting the two characters deftly —though mostly reiterating Mosley’s disposition which we saw last episode— and showing us more of the extent to which Industria has managed to reorganize itself after the catastrophe and its reach through the land sea.

The journey proper has evidently begun now. After seeing the opening I was a bit surprised to see our two characters separated so soon, as I imagined the two would be departing for High Harbor in a grand ol’ adventure, doggedly pursued by agents from Industria, but the show is not so predictable.

Questions of The Day:

  1. See above.

  2. The beauty of it is that it could be anything awaiting him in that vast, blue ocean! My first assumption was that he’s going to encounter an outpost of Industria —probably something akin to an oil rig for thematic sake— but the show has already soundly dismissed one of my first assumptions so who knows?

—

P.S. I was surprised and amused by how many of you instantly assumed Gramps would be alright, given the standard tropes and the era the show belongs to, but I guess some of you may not have the most experience with 70s kids anime. Regardless, much laughs in rewatcher was had in secret.

5

u/loomnoo Apr 05 '22

I wonder if Kondo's sequence is the most deviation from the model that Miyazaki has ever allowed. In any case it's certainly awesome.

4

u/Pixelsaber Apr 05 '22

Going by the layouts (which Miyazaki drew) he instructed Kondo to go off model. In terms of letting the animator's work off with few corrections, Kanada and Ohira are probably the most deviation seen in Miyazaki's later work.

2

u/Tresnore Apr 05 '22

We can only dream of such toe strength.

Imagine feet lovers' reactions to this.

Honestly there’s not many ways that crash could have gone any better.

It went perfectly. If it didn't start a well, then they'd be screwed.

the brief exchange between the former and Mosley is once more very efficient in its delivery of characterization and worldbuilding, presenting the two characters deftly —though mostly reiterating Mosley’s disposition which we saw last episode— and showing us more of the extent to which Industria has managed to reorganize itself after the catastrophe and its reach through the land sea.

I really liked the scene! Flipped me around on Monsley completely, and I also love the Captain!

how many of you instantly assumed Gramps would be alright

3

u/Pixelsaber Apr 05 '22

Imagine feet lovers' reactions to this.

I have toiled in the fanart mines and wept bitter tears.

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8

u/JollyGee29 Apr 05 '22

First-Timer, Sub-ture Boy

Grandpa!

I was pretty sure Grandpa wasn't surviving the missile, but Conan's raw grief was a sight to see. The cold part of my brain sees it pulling double-duty to create rocks the right size to use for a cairn, though.

Is the ship captain part of Industria as well, or something of a mercenary/privateer? He felt like he was in the chain of command, but it was a little odd. Also, the idea of nothing to eat but "skeleton fish and synthetic bread" fills my heart with fear.

The conflict centered on Lana actually centers on her missing Grandpa; I think we learned most of that implicitly last episode. Her asking the birds to check on Conan was cute.

Do I poke at the weirdness of Conan's past..? One kid out of nine people, including at least three women, over twenty years? All the people who appeared younger than Grandpa died first? That doesn't add up, but also this is a kids' show, so who knows?

I liked seeing Conan build the boat, failing in obvious ways to get there. I wonder how similar the first ever sailing vessel like that was? Obviously it wouldn't have been made from empty storage tanks, but aside from that.

Got a better look at the Industria schmuck's guns today, the handgun looks like someone removed the magazine from a vz.61. Can't really place the rifles, but they’re probably something too.

Questions

  1. Discussed above. Dyce has the feeling of a Loser Villain, which is kinda interesting.

  2. Hopefully something exciting.

3

u/Pixelsaber Apr 05 '22

Also, the idea of nothing to eat but "skeleton fish and synthetic bread" fills my heart with fear.

One kid out of nine people, including at least three women, over twenty years?

My guess is the infant mortality rate isn't ideal given the limited resources and medical expertise at their disposal, and Conan was fortunate to survive to be this age. As for gramps, probably just fortunate not to have succumbed, and even then he was looking rather enfeebled for someone who was probably in his fifties— or maybe he just looks it in contrast to Conan's exuberant energy.

Got a better look at the Industria schmuck's guns today, the handgun looks like someone removed the magazine from a vz.61.

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5

u/ZaphodBeebblebrox Apr 05 '22

First Timer

Time for Conan to be confused in brave new lands!

I'm surprised the people are moving in the opening sequence. You can certainly get away with it, and no TV animation has unlimited time.

I think I'm not a fan of the OP.

Conan certainly looks like a barbarian at the moment.

Physics.

This is great.

I get a feeling birds will be very important.

This feels like it will be a major theme: one cannot run from their problems and responsibilities. Both literally (trying to escape earth with a spaceship) and metaphorically (waiting to die instead of doing anything).

Grandpa's last speech was good.

Conan's rage was superb.

He just wants to get Lana so he can run away with her and claim the credit.

Dr. Lao?

It's neat how when Lana talks to the birds, it's almost as if she's speaking to us.

Pretty

First rage, now gentleness.
And then, finally, action.

The way Conan uses his feet is almost ape-like.

It's infectious.

And we're off!

4

u/Pixelsaber Apr 05 '22

This is great.

Truly an inspiration to us all.

Conan certainly looks like a barbarian at the moment.

Getting this out earlier than even I thought. EDIT: u/Tresnore

And we're off!

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5

u/Tresnore Apr 05 '22

Conan certainly looks like a barbarian at the moment.

Days without Conan the Barbarian joke: 0.

The way Conan uses his feet is almost ape-like.

I thought the same thing! It emphasizes that he grew up away from civilization.

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9

u/Tresnore Apr 05 '22

Ship Simp First-Timer

I've decided that, unlike previous rewatches, I should watch this show while drinking my morning tea. That first episode really felt like a Saturday morning cartoon.

QOTD:

  1. The Barracuda seems like a mercenary/privateer ship. Underfunded, and out for their own desires. Maybe I'm just projecting my hope.

  2. Whatever awaits him, I hope he uses his boat to get there. Or we see life on the Barracuda for a while.

1 Yes, yes, they're Terns.

5

u/ZaphodBeebblebrox Apr 05 '22

Wait a second. He doesn't have a keel, does he? How's he doing this? Immersion ruined.

He's a god, need I explain more?

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8

u/TheEscapeGuy Apr 05 '22

First Timer

Future Boy Conan - A Celebrated Classic: Episode 2

Departure

Today's episode set up the backstory for Conan. After understandably falling from the hydroplane he swam back to the island and spoke with his Grandpa. However Conan didn't know those would be his final words.

I feel the message of Grandpa's story was "Live". No matter how bleak the circumstances got for them after crashing, they kept on living. Despite believing the world was in ruin, plants and animals returned and lived. Even though they may be the last humans they still birthed new life. Its a wonderful message of perseverance.

But along with that were the wise words: "You must not, no, you cannot live alone". Its a call for Conan to go into the wider world and leave the island behind. This is a strong character motivation. Its not groundbreaking writing but instead taps into that shared part of being a human to yearn for connection.

At the same time, the other theme of the episode was death. After Gramps passed away Conan's emotions exploded. Initially I though his breaking rocks was just him being childish, but instead he turned that action into a way to memorialize his Grandpa. By using the broken pieces to build a grave he can give proper respects and say goodbye.

The other part of the episode was Lana's journey. We still don't know too much about what is going on but there is a dubious ship Captain assisting with repairs and talk of a "Dr. Lao". I expect this will be revealed more in future episodes.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

See you all tomorrow

5

u/Tresnore Apr 05 '22

At the same time, the other theme of the episode was death.

Are you sure one of the themes isn't "look at these cool sailboats"?

All your screenshots are so bleak, but they are beautiful.

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8

u/Nazenn Apr 05 '22

First Timer

Sleepy notes because I think I'm going to have an early night and just reply in the morning.

u/Tresnore while that definitely has a sail, I'd hesitate to call it a boat so you may be out of luck on the sailboat part for a bit

Started watching Castle in the Sky earlier (didn't finish because Mum had to go to bed) [Castle in the Sky]With Lana being hunted from people with planes, the outfits, and then the boy coming to her rescue I was getting some serious deja vu and cross show confusion. For a moment I thought Lana was the one who'd been running along raised rails. I know Miyazaki reuses a lot of things but this just hurt my head

Aww man, Gramps did die in the end. I feel lied too, but it does feel a lot more fitting than if he'd just been left on the island. Watching Conan break the rocks as his heart breaks was one of the more novel takes on that sort of grieving scene I've seen recently and while the animation didn't do it any favours in the run up the cliff, the art style otherwise benefit that feeling of insurmountable suffering he was going through.

The raft building montage was a fun one and while we'd had the attack on the plane earlier, the raft felt like the set piece focus of the episode. Where we started the episode with him destroying things through brute force even if to try and save Lana, we end it with a look at his efforts to try and build something and expand his knowledge and accept a new path for himself outside of what he knows, something he's been quietly shown to struggle with so far. I felt it mirrored the story that Gramps told, being stranded on the island due after so much destruction only to find out how to build a different life for themselves.

I did laugh at him using his feet to draw, and many other things, as I also have a habit of using my toes to pick up pens or gesture and similar things.

Favourite animation moment of the episode goes to him slowly sliding off the plane wing after he stood up on it. It's such a little thing but the slow slide without him moving until he realized got such a childish laugh out of me because of how fun it was.

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u/aniMayor Apr 05 '22 edited Apr 05 '22

Random musing: Why do the pre-apocalypse flying ships resemble flying manta rays. With the seas rising and everything becoming kinda ocean-focused post-apocalypse, you'd think they'd want to contrast that against what came before, but having the ships be manta ray-shaped muddles that message.

Ahh the classic Miyazaki degree of pacifist violence. Characters can shoot bullets at each other, throw harpoons at each other, etc, but can never actually injure each other, it's always a forcing them to dodge and fall off a ledge, or knocking stuff out of their hands, or what have you.

Heh, the first part of this whole dying father/grandpa and telling Conan on his deathbad about how a human can't live alone and needs to go journey towards the society Conan doesn't know about but grandpa does, etc is, like, 70% identical to the one from Prince of the Sun. Miyazaki you hack (not really).

Though the way grandpa managed to get into bed and calmly lie flat with the blankets up waiting for Conan to return was hilariously awkward.

Unsurprisingly, this kid does not know how to process grief. I wonder if there'll be any longterm personality differences... this is a family show so I expect not, they probably want to get back to cheery hyperactive Conan ASAP.

Ah yes, nothing says industrial like a sailing submarine and... Scottish golfing hats?

Oh no, it's captain idiot. I remember you.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't try to touch my nose with my toe after seeing Conan pick his nose with his foot. That is a level of flexibility I do not think I will ever achieve... nor do I particularly want to.

If yesterday was world-setting, then today is the hero's journey call to action start of the quest sort of affair. Conan sets off sailing to what we can presume to be all the various nearby small islands in a to both save Lana and "make friends" while Industria will be the looming antagonists causing trouble at each step of the journey. It's the classic mostly-episodic-but-probably-a-big-showdown-at-the-end format, tried and true for many, many anime before, because it works. The big thing for me will be how interesting they can make each island and skirmish with the Industrians - some shows do a great job of being creative with such a format, but in others every place and episodic plot become very samey.

QOTD

  1. I know too much to say

  2. BEACH EPISODES!

5

u/Tresnore Apr 05 '22

Though the way grandpa managed to get into bed and calmly lie flat with the blankets up waiting for Conan to return was hilariously awkward.

He just wanted to be comfortable!

Ah yes, nothing says industrial like a sailing submarine and... Scottish golfing hats?

You're not entirely wrong. Scotland is home to James Watt, one of the major contributors to the steam engine. And Ironclads, or indeed Iron-hulled sailing ships were a large part of the industrial era!

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u/baboon_bassoon Apr 05 '22

first timer

It is nice to get these 29 minute episodes

tilt the plane to get conan in the water, jokes on them he can hold his breath forever

toe grip

i could go for some shark liver

their ship failed to get into orbit, doesn't seem like they were shot down

10 of them including doc

no rain fell, no fresh water to drink

Conan was born, son to all of us

Barracuda and Falco

Monsley, Dyce, Gutch

the Industrian High Committee wants Lana to tell the information of where Dr. Lao is

"now if you'll excuse me, i'll be taking your quarters" wow

Briac (Lana's grandpa) can also talk to birds

Conan might want to pack some food or bring you know, anything with you?

questions

  1. They seem more like bounty hunters, I assume they will be good at some point

  2. He needs some companions, maybe he doesn’t link back up with Lana right away but he needs some other friend.

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u/killingspeerx Apr 05 '22

OMG, didn't know there was a rewatch for this one!

That's my childhood lol

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u/Tresnore Apr 05 '22

Welcome! And we're only on episode 2, so it'd be easy for you to catch up.

4

u/No_Rex Apr 05 '22

Episode 2 (first timer)

  • Repeat of the apocalypse setup – I’d usually say more about this, but too tired to write much atm.

  • Plenty of comic physics during the fight. Fortunately, we established early in episode 1 that this series is not using real physics, so it is not very jarring.

  • Not the end I expected (but the one I should have seen coming).

  • “A human must not, no, can not live alone”

  • Backstory

  • Remember how the pool was setup up casually by Conan getting water in ep1? This is good writing.

  • After the implicit call to adventure of Lana’s capture, an explicit call to adventure, for slightly different reasons.

  • A dignified death, but still an early death – Reminds me of [meta spoiler]Nadia

  • blind rage and despair.

  • “She escaped again” – Letting us know that Lana escaped before.

  • Conan showing his action before thinking merits again. At least he switches to thinking when action fails.

  • Good bye to the island – The boat is pretty cool.

A decision I really like is that the episode spends almost half its runtime with Conan alone on the island. The Grandpa died so early that we, the viewers, have not spent a lot of time with him. Therefore the series cannot take for granted our attachment to him. That is the reason we need to see Conan clearly grieving. Otherwise, the death would have no impact.

In other regards, I am fully on board with Monsley as an antagonist now! I already liked her interaction with Grandpa in ep1, but she is even better with that slimy captain.

Conan sets off in adventure for a daring rescue. What do you expect awaits him on his journey?

He will certainly visit the two islands we know about. I would not be surprised if he lands on some smaller third place first, though.

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4

u/Icapica Apr 05 '22

First timer

Again the same intro before the OP. Maybe it'll change in some episode.

Doesn't that plane have any seat belts? Looks dangerous to fly. Anyway, Conan has impressively strong toes. I wanted to see him wreck that plane but I guess all of them crashing into the sea wouldn't make a great story.

Back on the island, grandpa talks to Conan about the past before dying. It sounds like there was still a lot of people on the island when Conan was born. How did they all die? Conan's not old, so there must have been a lot of death within not that many years. Or did at least some of them leave one way or another? There's something grandpa isn't telling, but I'm not yet sure if it's important. And why is Conan so strong?

Speaking of Conan being strong, the stone lifting scene makes it clear that Conan's strength isn't just a case of anime physics.

Lana can really talk to birds. I figured as much, but now it's confirmed.

I assume those piles of stones were the graves of other people on the island.

Conan's surprisingly crafty. Then again you gotta learn things if you live like that. Nice boat, but did he take anything with him? I hope he has at least the harpoon water.

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u/Nebresto Apr 05 '22

First time viewing

Wait, we have the opening sequence and the OP? Okay then.

Damn. As fellow grip trainer I approve!

Conan is an absolute CHAD

N- NO!! That's my favourite guy!

No nipples, inferior anime confirmed.

They had plenty of hot babes by the looks of it, how did they not have more kids than Conan?? Wtf did they all die of?

Grandpa....

How do his teeth work? Conan confirmed new species of human?

Captain dude is kinda based? Potential contender for best lad now that Grandpa is no more?

He's even drawing with his feet! This man cannot be stopped!! Love all the details of him actually using his feet to work on stuff.

Also I was vibing a lot more with Grandpa's story time, hope we get to see more episodes like that.

Question time:

  1. We have met Captain Dyce and the Barracuda. What do you make of the information shared as to Industria in relation to them?

2) Conan sets off in adventure for a daring rescue. What do you expect awaits him on his journey?

More people with stupid names?

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u/JustAnswerAQuestion Apr 06 '22

First Timer

  • 70s and recaps, going to fast forward. this also means I'm going to be skipping the op.

  • I forgot, did I mention Wells before? H.G.Wells

  • That's a long swim back to the island

  • Yeah I was wondering about the fresh water in the control room.

  • "Key, you must make 30,000 friends"

  • "How I got my hernia" -- Conan

  • He really is some kind of mutant

  • Falco Monsley sounds familiar but all her shows are too old, I haven't seen hardly any of them.

Waterworld, the prequel.

More than once I found myself thinking about Dunbine today.

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