Posts in Inukami! Category
May 4, 2006
This time we finally see how Youko became Keita's inukami... well, more like how Keita became Youko's, but anyways ;) This is actually not the first time the two met -- Youko remembers meeting him before, but Keita doesn't at all -- but we don't know the details of that first meeting now. You might think Youko was a bit more gentle back then, but that wasn't the case at all, as she was quite a tough case among the inukami. Keita finds that out rather quickly, shattering his dreams of having his own cute inukami-chan that will listen to everything he says ;)
After completing only half of the contract ritual -- inukami and inukamitsukai have to exchange something -- Youko breaks out using her jaen and goes on a rampage in town, setting shops on fire just to get a taste of chocolate cake, her favorite. Demons are after Keita now as well, so he goes to town to retrieve Youko, and he's got Youko's weakness to use against her. As we saw a few episodes ago, Youko hates cute fluffy dogs, and when Keita shows the dog to her she breaks down, crying and begging Keita to get rid of it. Of course, when he does she gets that evil smirk on her face and demands he become hers as those demons come to attack. Without any other way out, Keita agrees and Youko gives him her side of the contract -- that collar. She easily gets rid of the demons, but sets the building on fire in the process. And she's used up all her energy so she can't put it out... Oops (^^;;) But thanks to Keita they jump to a nearby water tank and put the fire out....
...so that's how it went. Back in the present, as Nadesico heads back home she talks to Youko about Keita. Of course, the nice talk about Keita stops as soon as Youko discovers an inappropriate DVD that he's bought. Ouch (^^;;)
Keita ain't going to learn, is he? Well, that's the default for this kind of couple, so nothing much to be done about it ;) Anyways, as I said last time, despite Keita's bad habits and Youko's attitude, they do trust and depend on each other. Kinda fitting that an inukamitsukai that doesn't act like a proper inukamitsukai ended up pairing with an inukami that was the same -- I guess nobody else besides Keita could've handled Youko. I wonder if we're going to find out when it was Keita and Youko first met, and maybe why Keita doesn't remember. Sounds like it'd be something rather important...
Next time, it's all Tomohane! In her character description on the website, it says that she likes Keita as much as Kaoru-sama, so I guess we'll be seeing how that happens :)
ほっちゃーん！ ほ、ほーっ、ホアアーッ!! ホアーッ!!
Hocchan! Ho, hooo, hoaaa!! Hoaa!!
Like Mamiko Noto fans have Noto kawaii yo Noto!, Yui Horie fans have this. Helpful to recognize it since you'll find this expression used on blogs and during jikkyous and the like whenever she shows up. It's supposedly what a journalist heard her fans screaming while covering a Futakoi event, but it actually wasn't said at all. Lesson over ;)
This time Nadesico stays with Keita and Youko on the suggestion that Keita made last time, supposedly so she could be an example for Youko to follow. Of course he's more interested in doing this thing and that thing to her than anything else, which makes Youko rather mad. Youko tries to prove she's as good as Nadesico, but she can't compare -- Nadesico beats her in every way. Cleaning, cooking, tails... and melons, too ;)
Meanwhile, Kaoru-sama's inukami hold the 23rd Banish Nadesico Commitee Meeting... not exactly nice there. Tomohane and Tayune come back with a report on Nadesico, saying that she seems to be getting along well with Keita. If they could get her to stay there they'd be done with things, but one person is in their way -- Youko. Tomohane suggests that they just go ahead and get rid of her -- what a nice kid (^^;;)
Youko wants to get a bit closer to Keita, some "skinship" so to speak, but Keita's not interested as usual. And it seems Youko can't stand dogs even though she's one. A messenger from Keita's grandmother comes to tell the two to come -- apparently she's got a job for them. The job is to go to Daidouji temple and handle a problem with somebody being possessed by a spirit there. Keita and Youko head through the town to the temple, and when they mention "Daidouji" the townspeople attack. They eventually get to the temple and hear the particulars about the case -- and it ain't pretty. Apparently a group of guys in a karate club have been possessed by dog spirits that couldn't ascend, so of course they act like dogs. One comes out and... yuck to say the least. Peropero as the title says (^^;;) Youko can't handle it and faints... did I mention there are 20 guys that are possessed? (^^;;) Apparently the only way to satisfy the spirits is to do as any good dog owner would do -- love and care for them....... Keita somehow gets the guts (well, he imagines taking care of Youko as if she were a dog and that does it...) and gets to work, petting the "dogs", and walking them and such. Easy to see why the townsfolk are upset, as the "dogs" 'cause quite a mess when they're walked through the town.
One night, one of the "dogs" is taken hostage by the townsfolk, making the other ones rather mad. Their eyes turn red and the run to town, ready to go on a rampage. However, Keita throws himself in front of the charging pack and calms them down. The townsfolk praise him as a hero. Keita rides off on one as the sun rises, making... yeah (^^;;) All of the dog spirits ascend in peace, so with the job done things are back to normal... well, not exactly as somehow Keita's acting like a dog. Youko'll take good care of him ;)
Well, that was as expected (^^;;) From reading the blogs of people who've read the novels, it seems there are more than a few of these stories with rather homo elements, so the anime is being pretty faithful to the original work... definitely not moe, aside from Youko, of course. And what's with the Nausicaa parody there? ;)
Those who watched Nanoha probably recognized the animation style this time as being familiar -- the sakkan (short for sakuga kantoku, animation director) was Yoshinari Saitou (also episode director this time and did storyboard). Saw many complaints among the Japanese bloggers about the sakuga being bad, but I'd guess that's because most of them didn't watch Nanoha and weren't used to his style. The interpretation of the character designs isn't exactly my preference (see Nanoha A's episode 7, for example), but the movement is good as expected so no big deal for me. Anyways, next time, some actual moe swimsuit service? Seems the other inukami will be making an appearance (including Tomohane) so I'm looking forward to it. Is it going to be as stupid crazy (that's a compliment) as these first two episodes have been? ;)
Opening: "Hikari" by Yui Horie - Hmm, not quite as good as other songs Yui Horie has done. Animation is pretty good, though.
Ending: "Yuujo Monogatari" by Aice5 - You can't go wrong with a chibi character ED. Cute :) Song's pretty catchy as well. taihen taihen taihen~
Since long ago, there have been inukami (dog gods) that can transform into human form have worked with a clan of humans, the inukamitsukai to exterminate the various spirits and demons that prey upon the world. They exist even now... As we start, Keita and his inukami, Youko@Yui Horie, fight a demon and exterminate it pretty easily...
In Youko's room we hear a very suggestive conversation between Youko and Keita. Youko thinks that it's a bit fast, but Keita's very much ready to do it... not that :P Youko wants to go out on a date. Keita's not interested. He leaves, saying he's going to walk around a bit... but of course he's sitting on a bench, looking at girls walking by, normal girls without tails. He doesn't much care for Youko. Of course Youko ends up looking for Keita and finds him staring at other girls, so she's rather pissed. And what does she do when she's mad? She takes Keita's clothes... zou-san ("elephant").... Keita gets arrested by the police and thrown in jail.
Seems like this isn't the first time it's happened since he's got some friends at the jail, a couple of... rather odd people (^^;;) Youko shows up to get Keita out. Turns out that she owns him due to their contract, not the other way around (notice the collar), so he has to listen to whatever she says. A man named Karina shows up ready with a job for Youko and Keita to take care of...
