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May 6, 2006

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XXXHOLiC #4


Since Shinsen’s version is taking long, I’ll do with Kyuuketsuki’s one anyway (but I don’t recommend it, as there are a few lame mistakes)…

So let’s talk about the first scene. I have absolutely no complains about the comedy-centered parts of this adaptation. After 4 episodes I think I can tell that they’re so perfectly done. One of the problems with Tsubasa is the lack of SDs, distortion, SFX, etc, but they are all very well presented on XXXHOLiC. The animators might do a mistake or two with Yuuko, which is understandable since it must be very hard to draw her (you have to be careful when you draw fancy/elegant people to not make them look ridiculous), but Watanuki is just flawless. His movements and actions couldn’t be better.

So, back to the first scene, it was greatly directed/planned, IMO, and the fact that Doumeki is there is just a detail, it even makes it looks funnier.

Pause to comment on the title frame, which was slightly changed (for good), but apparently just for this episode since on the next one we’re back to the simple title frame.

Pause to comment on Yuuko and Mokona drinking: nice ! We need more of those xD

When Watanuki arrives at the store all so happy (Isn’t it perfect when he spins around? XDDD), Fukuyama Jun is, as always, just perfect. I heard that when the director and Ohkawa-sensei listened to his audition, they said right away “This person!”. I can totally see why~!

At the scene with Yuuko and Watanuki walking on the streets, I miss the gray people (in the manga they have a LOT), but on the other hand, I loved the part where Yuuko tells Watanuki that girls love Divination and that way he can make a connection with Himawari, and he goes “Shiritai desu~~” in such a cute way, with trumpets at the background xDDDD Just amazing. And just like the manga too. That’s what a good adaptation is, IMO. To stick with the manga, but to “transport” it into the anime field, I would risk to say that if that scene was made by BeeTrain, for example, the trumpets just wouldn’t be there, and it would be just a lame copy of the manga’s panel.

Sayaka Ohara also deserves to be praised, though, she’s very cool at the scene where Yuuko suspects of the fake fortune-teller’s place. I just think it would be good to show Yuuko’s worried face, though.

Dumb Mokona playing with the spoon ¬¬ Sometimes Mika annoys me, really… I’m starting to agree with amewarashi, Mokona doesn’t look like Larg, I swear sometimes I want to punch him/her/it hard on the face xDDDD

The fake fortune-teller looks weird… sometimes her head is kinda small and her shoulders are weird O.o Also I wasn’t expecting her pinky clothes, I think black, like in the manga, looked nicer.
I liked how Yuuko totally cut Watanuki when he would thank for her service and asked about tonight’s weather.

Searching for the Obaa-san was nice… I like the SFX when Yuuko is performing her magic, it’s the same they used at episode 1, it reminds me of static waves XD I wish I could have one of those u.u However, I think it’s a bit weird how she physically put her circle full of symbols on her lap to perform her magic O.o I think it would look cooler if the symbol showed up by itself, like in the manga.

Pause to comment on the background images… I really really like the watercolor effect ^^

Differently than the fake one, the real fortune-teller is great. The Obaa-san is really really nice xD It’s so funny to see someone calling Yuuko by “Yuuko-chan” XDDD Also, I loved her seiyuu, she sounds very lovely.

The fortune-reading was also nice. I liked when Watanuki bumped on the table after the obaa-san told him that she asked for his name just to know how she would direct to him xDDDD So cute him saying what he learned from Yuuko xDDD I think those little details make all the difference, and it was also on the manga, so…
They also kept the butterflies flying on Watanuki as in the manga, which was more like a visual drawing effect than anything else, and all the smoke surrounding the obaa-san’s gadget xD

Here again Fukuyama Jun plays greatly a very sad but relieved Watanuki, when he hears that his parents are resting at peace.

I personally think that even with all the changes on the plot-line, the story is still flowing perfectly, to me at least.

Well, I guess that’s pretty much it… It’s been more than a week since I watched it so a lot of the excitement is gone xD But I still loved it, I think the mood is being transmitted very well.

Good points:
– Good animation.
– Faithful to the manga.
– Comedy-centered scenes very well-done, and thus, funny.
– Fukuyama Jun deserves a bow for playing so well Icchan’s step-son Watanuki.
– Nice seiyuu choice for the obaa-san.

Bad points (it’s getting hard to talk about them, believe me):
– Sometimes the fake fortune-teller looked weird, and sometimes Yuuko did too.

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18 thoughts on “XXXHOLiC #4”

  1. Oh – I suggest you catch Mishicorps version – they put it out pretty quickly and I haven’t caught any mistakes ^^

    I really liked this episode – the mysticism of it came through nicely.

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    • Ow I have it and I watched it firstly than Kyuu’s. And yeah, it’s better than Kyuu’s one.

      >the mysticism of it came through nicely.
      So true ! I’m happy you liked it as well ^^

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  2. Wow, if it’s starting to annoy you, too… O_____o More than the spoon thing, it was its whole attitude after they left the fake divinator’s house what killed me. anime!Mokona has less of an attention span than a mosquito.

    I don’t know, the metal sigil there annoyed me. It made her look like a cheep sorceress, and makes me wonder if she can perform any magic without that thing -she’ll have a problem if they adapt the wing parasite saga. But then again, it was a direct consequence of let’s-cut-any-hint-of-TRC-and-CCS. If anything, this shows me He-who-must-not-be-named and his kind of magic won’t exist at all in this TV show.

    Oh, and I agree wholeheartly with Fukuyama being perfect for the role. Then again, I wasn’t surprised, because I examined the roles I knew from here when he was casted, and combining them all had a lot of potential. I had heard him in an angsty-pants role (Gankutsuoh), so I knew this scene would be a piece of cake, also.

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    • Fukuyama is what keeps me watching this anime, really. I know, I said I’d stop, but I was weak and searched for it in Youtube… He makes a great Watanuki.

      Aaargh. I saw your He-who-must-not-be-named line and my first thought was “oh crap, I have to finish the Horcrux bunny!” *headdesk* I need a life.

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    • >Wow, if it’s starting to annoy you, too…
      Sometimes I roll my eyes, yeah ¬¬
      I think Larg needed a voice similar to Kero… Mika could still do it, but she’s too “sweet” I don’t know, she should be more naughty you know? XD I don’t know if you got the meaning…

      I didn’t totally approve the metal sigil either… I hope that the thing will actually magically appear on the wing parasite arc u.u
      I’m very sad about all the CCS references being cut… maybe that’s the way clamp found to make the manga different than the TV series…

      About Fukuyama, he’s awesome >.< This is the second role I see him dubbing, the first one being Kotarou from AL, but Watanuki is WAY more "BLAH" XDDD
      By the way Fukuyawa dub him, you just cannot not sympathize with him !!

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    • what was fukuyama in gankutsuou *loves that anime*?

      hmm, i didn’t think the anime mokona seemed any different than the manga, or at least not enough that i noticed it.

      i have elected to keep the faith on the subject of yuuko’s magic. but i agree, i don’t think clow reed will be showing up, which makes me very sad. for instance, at the end of episode…was it 2 or 3, when yuuko was talking about how watanuki makes a good houseboy, she was talking to clow in the manga, but not in the anime. *sigh*

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    • Ow is not over yet? Bittorrent sucks big time for me >_> Have you ever tried mirc? It’s a saint thing, really XD

      I’m glad my review makes you want to watch it ! I hope you don’t change your mind after you watch it ^^

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  5. Hi there! Now you know who I am, right?

    I don´t have a thing to complain about this episode (you´ve already mentioned the small problems, so I don´t have to.). And despite the fact that she was a little weird in some scenes, she was really AWESOME in other ones!! Some of the best Yuuko´s pictures are here. Specially with that white dress!

    The episode was quite faithful to the manga, and this is my favorite arc from the whole manga (I haven´t read everything, but it´s the best so far), because this is where CLAMP shows the occultist philosophy (not only xxxHolic, but almost every CLAMP manga is based on occultism) and the way of living of an occultist (a.k.a. Yuuko or the oba-chan) in its most charm. It shows situations, problems, frustrations and opinions that are taken from real life and the references are all correct. I love those CLAMP girls… they´re perfect even on that.

    Tokyo Babylon is also wonderful if you´re looking for correct references.

    See ya

    *Yuuto-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!*

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    • Ow yeah, -now- I’m fully aware of who you are xDDDD

      Ow I’m very glad that you also don’t have nothing big to complain about this episode, I’m really liking the series.

      Ow is this really your favorite arc? How cool for you then ! I’m not sure which one is mine… but I really like the Monkey’s Paw one… I hope they do a good job with it.

      See you Tuxedo-san XD

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      • You see, after all that time, I´m almost giving up on the crossovers. If they find a way of convincing me they´re not necessary, I accept it. It´s not good, but it´s the truth.

        Are they testing us or something? I feel apathy already…

        Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

        See ya

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