So I watched it, and I liked it! ^^
Detailed comments behind the cut.
The OP:
I really liked it. It follows the same strategy of Season 1’s. NOBODY KNOWS is very nice, I still like 19 Sai better, but I also liked this one a lot (as expected from Suga Shikao), can’t wait to have the full version. I specially liked the fact that they used a lot of splash pages from the original manga to base on, and a tankoubon cover too. I also enjoyed that we can get a quick glimpse of the many arcs that are to come, just like Season 1’s OP. Oh and one last thing, great to see Ohkawa is still credited as Executive Producer *loves*
The episode:
– Jun Fukuyama is absolutely great. And he was worried because he hasn’t played Watanuki in a long time? It seemed like he had played Watanuki only 5 minutes ago.
– Black Mokona irritates me xD
– I actually liked that they introduced Kohane here, in the TV. I thought her appearance was so out of the blue in the manga, and I didn’t think she would last more than an arc. This is one of the few negative points of the manga. This way, we’ll know who she is when she actually appears.
– Yuuko’s TV is OLD. Where is she, in 1955? xD
– Now I get what director Mizushima meant in that Dengeki event report when he said this Season would be very faithful to the manga, even more than Season 1, and that they would consider every frame from the manga (and what he said about the effects too!). Now I get it! If you look in the manga, not just the angles and speech but also those nice and stylish background effects are in the anime too! I think Season 1 lacked those kind of effects.
– Yuuko is reading Afternoon magazine? She should be reading Young Magazine, right? Maru and Moro are reading the Chobits book, The Empty City xD
– I don’t like the effect from Yuuko’s smoke.
– Haha, the angry cat is there xDDDD I’m so happy they kept it, it should be like that xD
– Yumegari’s book is there~ Hope they show its title *crossover freak*
– The Alice in Wonderland part was really stupid. They changed it just because it’s not summer in Japan so Yuuko can’t eat in her yard? It looked completely out-of-place. Really bad idea.
– Black Mokona irritates me.
The ED:
It’s stupid xD I think they should have introduced the patterned Mokonas earlier. Kagerou still remains being my favorite ED sequence. As for the theme song, Honey Honey, well, it’s definitely not the kind of song I would have in my playlist.
Overall, I think it was a very nice episode. I had a good first impression of it. The character design looks much better and closer to the original, specially Yuuko (thanks, CLAMP). As I mentioned above, this episode was close to the manga not only in its script but also in its visual appeal. I just loved the patterned backgrounds, it’s so nice to see them in color, I missed those in Season 1, they are part of XXXHOLiC’s trademark xD. Thumbs up to Watanuki’s weird and exaggerated deformations, too. Together, these elements help to build the XXXHOLiC atmosphere.
I was hoping to hear a new soundtrack, or at least new tracks, maybe they’ll introduce some in later episodes.
The animation looked slightly better too, at least it looked pretty constant throughout the entire episode. I don’t think we’ll be getting anything better than this.
Anyway, it was like a new episode of Season 1, only improved (which is great xD). I just hope the animation level will be equal for all episodes, and not only to those directed by Mizushima. If they treat all episodes like they treated this one, Season 2 will be great.
Now… where are Ohkawa’s episodes?
40 thoughts on “XXXHOLiC◆Kei #1 Review”
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Chibi Yuuto's CHRoNiCLEs 
Doumeki Sexy! XD
Yo! Hello Chibiyuto!
I just had finish the episode! And I love it! Kei is going to be a good second season!
Like you, I don’t understand the Alice in Wonderland part…
I hope we are going to have an episode in wonderland in the future, like CCS, and not juste 3 minutes in the first episode…
…
But I love Holic Kei! I’ts sure!
PS: Domeki is perfect! (>___
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Re: Doumeki Sexy! XD
I think we’ll have these 3 minutes, only. I expected something completely different, I was so disappointed with it ^^”
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Not just Afternoon, mind you.
Yuuko was both watching (when she’s surfing channels) and reading Afternoon’s Ookiku Furikabutte. I thought that was so amusing~
I agree about the background effects and the manga-faithfulness! The scene with Doumeki’s eye appearing spider-bound was a complete and total mirror to the manga. I even pictured the background being purple in my mind~
The new OP is less spooky and more upbeat, which is ironic considering the second season’s material… then again, I can’t understand the lyrics so it may just sound slicker to me. I don’t know if I like it more than 19sai, but I definitely like it a lot. As for Honey Honey, well… it’s very different. I’ve always been fond of lame happy J-rap, so I can’t complain. The animation is a little boring/random, though.
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Re: Not just Afternoon, mind you.
I noticed Ookiku Furikabutte on TV and the magazine cover too! I bet Yuuko’s a fan of AbexMihashi xD lol. Actually I have a feeling CLAMP likes Oofuri.
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Re: Not just Afternoon, mind you.
>Yuuko was both watching (when she’s surfing channels) and reading Afternoon’s Ookiku Furikabutte.
Oh so that was the baseball game! Did we get any kind of reference in the manga or the producers simply thrown in there? I don’t remember anything but maybe it’s my memory ^^”
>The scene with Doumeki’s eye appearing spider-bound was a complete and total mirror to the manga. I even pictured the background being purple in my mind~
Exactly! I loved that part!
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Re: Not just Afternoon, mind you.
>Oh so that was the baseball game! Did we get any kind of reference in the manga or the producers simply thrown in there? I don’t remember anything but maybe it’s my memory ^^”
No, it wasn’t in the manga. Perhaps someone on staff is related to that series somehow?
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Re: Not just Afternoon, mind you.
Perhaps… perhaps it airs on TBS? xD
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Re: Not just Afternoon, mind you.
Fukuyama Jun does the voice for Izumi (he’s the one on the tv)in Ookiku Furikabutte. I believe oofuri and xxholic have the same director too or something like that.
Really hoping this is hinting a new season for Oofuri vvv
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Alice part was just a fanservice.
Can you hear fangirls scream?
I can…I can hear:” Kyaaah! Watanuki in a cute dreeeeesss~~”
Hm ) I’m a fangirl, but I don’t like when boys wear dresses or other stuff like this.
Anyway, I like that in this scene Watanuki didn’t show any…hm… of shame… he just asked :”WTF, why the hell you put on me Alice’s dress” %)
So… I was still impressed by the moment where Doumeki pushed Watanuki to the wall and I can’t feel the stupidness of this absolutely random part %)
Anyway… Zashiki Warashi looks like a boy in the opening or is it just my imagination?
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>Alice part was just a fanservice.
Totally, and a complete out-of-place one.
>Anyway… Zashiki Warashi looks like a boy in the opening or is it just my imagination?
Maybe they changed her looks after what Ohkawa said in the event XDDD
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I didn’t like ending either, just repeating Black Mokona with color patterns… I actually was shocked that Kohane appeared briefly and earlier in the anime.
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I was very chocked too! I saw the Young magazine scans but I thought it was just a shot from a future episode.
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chibiyuuto-san!, love reading your reviews xD
I really loved Nobody Knows, I still like 19sai better but
Nobody knows is definitely not a disappointment at all 🙂
though I still wonder why they make really silly endings for holic? xDDDDD
I have nothing against it, though…my fav is still kagerou
I liked the episode overall 🙂 it was really faithful to the manga!
which makes me happy….and the animation was good and constant
and judging by the preview of the next episode, it seems it’ll be good 🙂 (XD it seems)
I pray they will be constant through out the series xD
see ya next post!!! x3 do well!
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Thank you mina_akira! ^__^
I loved Nobody Knows too, can’t wait for its full version ^^
>and judging by the preview of the next episode, it seems it’ll be good 🙂 (XD it seems)
Indeed it seems so. The only thing I didn’t like was that it seems they didn’t use the same colors for Yuuko’s clothes, which makes me mad xD
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xxxHOLiC Kei- FINALLY!!! 😀
I loved the OP as well, but the ending song was sorta bleh…
The mokonas were so cute!!
I didn’t really get the Alice in Wonderland part as well, yuuto-san.
The apples in the trees looked kinda lame as well.
Is it just me, or does Watanuki’s voice sound deeper? XD
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Re: xxxHOLiC Kei- FINALLY!!! 😀
>Is it just me, or does Watanuki’s voice sound deeper? XD
I think he sounded the same to me, right-on, actually ^^
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Woo! I will have to find this and watch it!
by the way, they have a new background image for the Tokyo Revelations site. It has C!Syaoran and Infinity!Sakura. 🙂
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You really should watch it ^^
As for te TTR wallpaper, yeah, they have uploaded it a few weeks ago ^^
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girl? man? girl? man?
SummerBirds said “Zashiki Warashi looks like a boy in the opening or is it just my imagination? ”
Oh! I though the same the first time I watched the OP!
That’s me or his chest is that of a man… (y___y)”
The OP!! I can’t wait the full version!!! I love it! More than 19Sai! Really more!
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Re: girl? man? girl? man?
Like I told SummerBirds, maybe Ohkawa hinted them something xD
I think “she”‘s not supposed to have breasts at all since she’s genderless, it seems.
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Dear gawd, I seriously hope Ohkawa-sensei was half-kidding about Zashiki Warashi. Half in the sense that “Yes, she’s not a girl” and “No, she’s not a guy either”. Trying to cling onto the image of Zashiki Warashi wearing that pretty dress in Chapter 121. That’s so girly. @@
On the subject of HOLiC -Kei-, props to the episode for being so faithful to the original, even to the point of considering the details of the background and frame shots. Animation is better than the first season but there’s still room for improvement. NOBODY KNOWS is awesome! With that alone, me am a happy fan. ^^
Keiri
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I think “she”‘s genderless, you can’t see any breasts on her chest, for example. She’s not a girl but not a boy either.
>On the subject of HOLiC -Kei-, props to the episode for being so faithful to the original, even to the point of considering the details of the background and frame shots.
I loved that too, I hope this will repeat itself for future episodes ^^
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I tried to ignore the Alice part, it made absolutely no sense.
I’m also hoping that the animation will remain the same. *crosses fingers*
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Totally. They took Yuuko’s parties way too seriously. As if she would do all that just for a cup of tea *rolls eyes* This is the sort of thing that only happens in the anime.
*crosses fingers together*
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Plus, I don’t remind her ever dressing Watanuki in outfits like the Alice one, it made Yuuko seem more frivolous than she actually is and that bugged me a little bit, plus, I hated the Queen of Hearts dress, it was… yuck.
Spider Lady, Spider Lady, Spider Lady *grins*
Off-topic, methinks I shall be seeing a lot of Spider Lady cosplays this year and I shiver at what awaits me, as with all relatively simple cosplays the characterization has to be done EXTREMELY well (hair and makeup) or it’s going to like a plain girl in a negligee, I’m considering doing Yuuko and Spider Lady as makeup tutorials in an upcoming makeup workshop for the anime community (we usually have those twice a year)
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Hahaha I can imagine you cringing at the sight of a badly-done Spider Lady xD
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Poorly done cosplay by those who have no realistic view of their bodies and how their costumes look is one of my many pet peeves. I can’t recall how many times I have been in arguments where the only thing people tell me is “I’m just doing this to have fun.” and expect me to smile and tell them they look great. It’s been so many times that I hardly ever comment on costumes, except if I’m a part of the judges and even then those comments are made behind close doors.
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I didn’t like the opening much, it’s too still, it lacks the fast paced part on the first one that spice up the first one. The song is excellent, the images are excellent, but it lack rythme.
For the episode, the characters’ proportions are much better and the animation is more realistic. They look like they do in the manga. An excellent episode, I hope they keep it that way.
For the ending, it looks akin too the first ending. I miss Maru and Moro’s air guitar. XD
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You thought so about the OP? I actually enjoyed it ^^
>For the episode, the characters’ proportions are much better and the animation is more realistic. They look like they do in the manga. An excellent episode, I hope they keep it that way.
*nods* I too highly hope it’s not just because it’s a Mizushima episode.
>I miss Maru and Moro’s air guitar. XD
TOTALLY XD That was such a genius idea. They should have them back.
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The opening isn’t bad and I did enjoy it, I’m a bit disapointed because I prefer the first one and I was expecting something that fit my taste even more. That’s what I can for setting my expectation to high. XD
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Olá, Chibiyuuto!
Finally, the second season!!
Thanks for the EP review, whenever the fansub is ready, I’ll check it out!
See you around! :D/
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Make sure to check it out. I couldn’t wait for the subbed version to make a review xD
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@yuuto-san
Maybe it’s because I haven’t heard his voice in a while then. ^^
Overall, it exeeded my expectations.
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Ah~ I love it when animes are close to the manga 😀
So the alice part was….out of place~
Yuuko’s TV is OLD. Where is she, in 1955? xD Lol, maybe she got it as a payment?
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I agree that it would look weird for Yuuko to have a wide-screen TV xDDDD
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XD though one filling a whole wall wouldn’t surprise me~ (strangely enough…)
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Juuusstt watched the new episode! (I was so antsy I couldn’t wait for a good sub. I wish I’d followed the manga so that I could just watch the raw like I did with Tsubasa, but that won’t work here ): )
I somehow felt nervous about this season, maybe because the first season was a bit rocky and lost my attention for a couple of minutes. (lol… I think I’m trying to say that it was good just not awesome) But, this first episode was wonderful! I love Watanuki, and I could almost feel some yaoi love between Doumeki and Watanuki LOL~
I LOVED the OP song! I tried some of Suga Shikao’s other music but it just didn’t seem to perk my interest, maybe because it wasn’t following some neat animations xD?
Even though that alice in wonderland thing was odd, you have to admit that Watanuki as alice is funny xD!
Can’t wait for the next one (:
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> I tried some of Suga Shikao’s other music but it just didn’t seem to perk my interest
Really? Oh, I love Suga Shikao’s music.
Glad you liked the episode! Episode 2 is even better, at least I thought so ^^
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I’ve seen it too ! It is just great !
I agree with almost all of your comments ^^…however, I like the Wonderland part,it was strange and unexpected ! *I think it is in the atmosphere of the serie XXX Holic* => I think I don’t explain well what I want to say T_T
I’m happy Himawari-chan looks as kawaii as herself in the manga (I don’t think it was true in the first season (not every time) and the film).
Why Black Mokona irritates you ? XD
About the opening and ending. Opening is ok, but I’m not so found of the music. Nice nonetheless.
The ending…is weird. I like the music (but it don’t “match” with XXX Holic…I think I’ll be used to), and I like the patterned Mokonas (but unfortunately, just this part of the ending XD).
I am just sad that the preview doesn’t end by “Anata no negai o kanaemasho” sentence é_è
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>Why Black Mokona irritates you ? XD
It doesn’t look cute as in the manga… I don’t know why the producers are always showing Mokona sleeping, in the manga Mokona doesn’t sleep all the time.
Also, Mokona’s voice irritates me xDDDD
>I am just sad that the preview doesn’t end by “Anata no negai o kanaemasho” sentence é_è
Well-reminded! I am glad, actually. That was the caption of Season 1. Season 2 has a different message, I think.
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