Dear Kyoto Animation,
First off, let me applaud you on your work with the Kanon remake. I like it a lot. It’s a great show. Rather, it was a great show. Yes, you guys pretty much fixed all of Toei’s major errors. You made the artwork better, improved the animation, gave it a longer episode count; all that good stuff. However, you neglected to fix the most important thing: the winning girl.
As any sane person may have assessed, the main thing that ruined Toei’s rendition of the Sad Girls in Snow epic was who eventually won in the end. Ayu is not a good character. She is uguu, taiyaki, pounce and then repeat. A story around such a person does not make for a compelling series finale. However, a cousin does. Not just any cousin, though. A cousin who holds an unrequited love for the (dashing) male lead who (for some reason) doesn’t give her the time of day. There’s just… so much stuff there. Far more stuff than some girl the main character met when he was younger who died because she was stupid and fell off a tree, and then comes back as a ghost. Who cares? She is dead, a stiff, gone to meet her maker, and ate her pancakes. You can only write so much about a dead girl. And whether the viewers care or not is a whole another issue you have to wrestle with. It is quite clear that everyone cares for Nayuki. Furthermore, it is far more plausible for a romantic relationship to form between Nayuki and Yuuichi given their history. Ayu and Yuuichi’s relationship is forced. Right from that kiss at the end of episode 19. There was nothing leading up to them “loving” each other. Sure, close friends maybe, but love? Give me a break, KyoAni.
Sincerely, Wildarmsheero
P.S. I did appreciate the Mikuru look-a-like in episode 23. However, I still won’t forgive you for the Ayu ending. Not even for a strawberry sundae~
P.P.S. What a slut (nsfw)
PS, spoilers.
I haven’t seen past, um, episode 11 or so (though you weren’t the first to spoil me), and I have to say so far I’m not buying Yuuichi being attracted to any of his harem. He likes being around them, and loves messing with their heads, but everyone in the show seems completely sexless.
Awesome top pic though. Sad mahjong player in slow FTW~ :P
And I really need to continue watching that. I’m still on episode 1. :3
Joe: Yeah, spoilers. I just figured everyone has already either watched the Toei version, watched this version, played game or read summaries. Like all those F/SN people.
As far as the girls being sexless goes… it depends on your tastes. I find all of them to be quite sexy :)
BigN: Oh fuck, that’s an Akagi reference, isn’t it? I should have known. I saw part of an episode of that late night one Otakon. It was surreal.
But yeah sorry spoilers. At least I ruined the worst girl’s story. The rest are better :3
I liked Ayu in the Toei one, I felt that relationship was way more believable than this one, and Ayu didn’t seem as loli or as dopey as she is in this one. In Kyoto’s they really overplayed her childish behaviour and then rushed the romantic angle in a way that felt really awkward. Still if you haven’t seen Toei or the game, it’s not over until the fat lady sings…not all answers to everything are revealed until the finale. Remember there’s still a lot of stuff that can be buried in 7 years…
I actually liked Ayu more in this version. She was a bit cuter. But still extremely shallow and boring.
I hardly remember the Toei version, but I do remember a silly ending which came out of nowhere where Ayu “rises again.”
Honestly Nayuki ending, guys. KyoAni, what’s your problem?
Ah, it’s too bad the Japanese love Ayu to pieces, huh?
It’s really bad when West and Eastern tastes clash so much over which characters are liked.
But yeah, can’t really fault KyoAni for picking the most popular and profitable character…. >_>
Especially when, as far as I can tell, they were right about it too. And no, they don’t have to care about who’s well liked outside of Japan. :\
I’m sure I’m just stating the obvious though.
Does that mean the Japanese prefer Asa out of all the Shuffnle! girls? I could have sworn they’d love a woman like Kaede…
As far as I know, the only reason Ayu was chose was because she was the “true ending” character. Or so I heard.
Heh I think Ayu was the most popular character in Japan, and also the “True ending” Don’t get me wrong. I like Nayuki very much and she’s cute but a Nayuki ending doesn’t fit have the epicness as Ayu’s deus ex miracle. Although the Ayu Yuuichi love seems forced, a Nayuki Yuuichi love would be just as wierd. I mean Yuuichi sees her as a cousin and Yuuichi usually forgets the promises he makes to her. I’m a Mai fanboy but I think Yuuichi shouldn’t really “end up” with any of the characters, although I had no problems with the Ayu ending.
And no, your assessment about Ayu ending = runied Toei isn’t true imo. I personelly think it was the CHIN OF DOOM and 1000x speed on the arcs. 13 eps ftl
Ayu’s “epic” is poorly written and stupid.
But yeah, Nayuki and Yuuichi would still be a little forced, but it’d warm my heart >:|
man nayuki for ever it can be realy weird to see cousin love but that is not that rare but the way what they forced the ayu x yuuichi was aufull they literally trow away the rest of the characters even a shiori ending would be great.
and for asa kill that bitch for Pete’s sake KKK for ever!
i like nayuki for many reasons mainly she is like me example we both love cats and we are allergic to them lol
PD: Nayuki FOREVAR
I do agree that Ayu has the least interesting story, however i did not “dislike” her she was cute and entertaining(keep in mind i am a huge Loli myself so this statement is a bit byest , HOWEVER! Shiori was defently the best : D
PS too lazy to spell check.