1. 

   Sherman, the Ramni
   December 14th, 2007 - 15:04

   In my case, Nanaka didn’t really cut the way Kotori did. True, she’s honest and way stronger than her (possible) grandmother, but something just doesn’t fit. Not that I wish to imply (…you have been sleeping on the job?? LOL HL2) that Nanaka is a bad character, but Kotori stabbed my heart deep with just 1 episode, and she still doesn’t let go (proof of that is my addiction to watch D.C. ep 23 again and again, and the sheer amount of Kotori pics in my hires folder). Nanaka, in the other hand, won my affection in ep 7, but when the episode ended, she ended too, and hasn’t resurfaced again.
   It’s very sad, I know, and I know because I devoured bluemist’s summary about her path in D.C. II. So much potential wasted… oh well, that happens a lot in anime these days. Even more in D.C. II anime, so poorly executed that I don’t know what would be more effective: to kill all of FEEL’s staff and burn their offices to ashes, or to stir a public revolution and demand a remake of D.C. II, a-la-Negima.
   P.D.: No matter how cute you are or how much do you love your nii-san, Kotori deserved Jyunichi’s heart. Eat lead, Nemu.

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2. 

   dsong
   December 14th, 2007 - 16:25

   FEEL really botched the D.C. II adaptation. Choosing Koko as a heroine is not a bad idea if this is meant to be the first half of a 26-episode series, but the execution was totally off. Koko’s path is compelling BECAUSE of the love triangle and the band; two aspects that were decidedly muted in this adaptation. Instead we get episode after episode of Minatsu, and Yoshiyuki being an “inconsiderate” boyfriend. Bleh.

   The better approach would’ve been to establish the love triangle and band dynamics early (Episode 3 was particularly promising; a shame that they never followed up on it), and have Yoshiyuki to choose Koko near the end… only for Koko to meet her untimely end. They could’ve then transitioned into the main story with the Asakura sisters and the sakura tree. Oh well – maybe Circus calls ZEXCS to animate the second half?

   P.S. I may be in the minority opinion but I think it’s the absence of Sakura, and not Kotori, that killed DCSS. Let’s not forget that Sakura was the one who actually HAD Jyunichi’s heart, until Nemu stole him away from her…

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3. 

   Sherman, the Ramni
   December 14th, 2007 - 22:58

   @dsong
   This D.C. should have been something like:
   - Presenting characters, heroines and some fanservice ^^
   - 13 eps of for-the-lulz fillers (and some sweet moments).
   - The main story; let’s break everyone’s hearts! Let’s destroy friendships in the name of love! Let’s make Yoshiyuki and the girls face the hardest decisions of their lives!
   Ah, errr… that was identical to the 1st season LOL

   P.D.: Don’t think so. It was the lack of real drama.

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4. 

   lulu
   December 15th, 2007 - 00:33

   petition for dcIIss by ZEXCS, anyone? XD

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5. 

   Ivy
   December 15th, 2007 - 08:16

   Back on the main topic I didn’t like Nanaka in the very beginning (her looking like Kotori didn’t change anything either) her manipulative actions were very misleading and odd. Then came the excellent episode 7, I loved the scene in the roof top it was really well-done (Feel for once did something good worth bragging about). During that scene I thought Nanaka was projecting her great grandmother protecting others and being selfless as you stated, but then I realized I was wrong. If Kotori was put in the same position she wouldn’t have said anything even if the guy would return her feelings. In the other hand Nanaka would’ve said something if Yoshiyuki actually had feelings for her, but since he doesn’t she refrained from doing it and fashionably dispels the awkward air by giving him advice. Thats one of the biggest differences I’ve seen between the two girls.

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6. 

   Stripey
   December 15th, 2007 - 10:41

   Sherman, the Ramni: Kotori will always be my top anime character too No one comes close and I don’t foresee anyone doing that in the next ten anime years. It’s a pity about Nanaka’s unrealised potential. Imagine DCII going Nanaka’s track, it’d be 13 ep 7s back to back. That’d be anime nirvana XD

   dsong: I’m of the impression that it was Aishia’s presence that killed DCSS. Sakura’s tale was told in DC so going a Nemu vs Sakura route in DCSS would roll back the plot. Nemu needed a new challenger in DCSS and the only worthy haremette was Kotori. But instead of pitting them against each other, it turned into a coming of age story of a maiden’s heart. Not to bad per se but disappointment for original fans of DC. XD

   lulu: ME! DCSS under ZEXCS direction would undoubtedly be superior in the catfighting department

   Ivy: Spot on! And I’m hoping that Nanaka fans would love her for who she is and not as a Kotori clone since they are markedly different.

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7. 

   dsong
   December 15th, 2007 - 21:25

   So true, Stripey; Aisia was the one who killed DCSS. While Kotori and Sakura could’ve been utilized better, let’s not overlook the elephant in the room.

   As for D.C. II I feel cheated that ZEXCS didn’t take over the project. We could’ve literally had two battles in one series: the Koko-Nanaka fight in the first half followed by an epic siscon matchup (Yume vs. Otome) in the second half. Maybe they’ll take over the second half of D.C. II? One can only hope.

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8. 

   holyman282
   December 15th, 2007 - 23:21

   I can see what you are getting at stripey and I myself am guilty of liking Nanaka simply because of her uncanny resemblance (physically off course) to Kotori. I fear my affection of Nanaka was merely inherited along with the Shirakawa name.

   I do see that their personalities are completely different but it will be a long time before the shattered memories of our goddess Kotori dissapear whenever I see Nanaka.

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9. 

   Skua
   December 16th, 2007 - 21:04

   “Oh well – maybe Circus calls ZEXCS to animate the second half?”

   Circus’ writer handled the story direction (in addition to fully endorsing it, this means they mandated the direction themselves), so why blame FEEL?

   Had ZEXCS gotten the contract, the series would probably have proceeded the same way. After all, the studio remains constrained by the specifications of the director and lead writer (appointed by Circus for D.C. II), which is why D.C. II already differs so much from DCSS.

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10. 

    Stripey
    December 17th, 2007 - 07:14

    dsong: Zexcs does love confrontations exceptionally well which is what I love DCI for. It’s a pity DCSS and DCII is helmed by FEEL which just doesn’t the edge to execute potent love dilemmas like Zexcs. I don’t think there’s a 2nd half of DCII. It’s 13 eps and all we’re going to get is a Minatsu scenario mixed with Koko plot. Disappointing to say the least. And I hear there’s a movie but I haven’t gotten any confirmation about it online and am starting to think it’s a grand illusion dreamt up by fans disappointed with DCII. Can anyone point me to the source of info?

    holyman282: Heh, thanks for making this post worthwhile. Nanaka is definitely no replacement for Kotori but she surely has ample charms to stand on her own.

    Skua: And I think that’s why it’s mind-boggling. I’m not sure why the game company would want to disappoint game fans by choosing the least of the routes. I think when we say FEEL, we generally mean the production team that handles the anime, including the CIRCUS scenario writer. This reminds me of Tsukihime and F/SN which could have been so much more.

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11. 

    Sherman, the Ramni
    December 17th, 2007 - 07:44

    Maybe someone in CIRCUS didn’t like ZEXCS’s style? I for one think it was GREAT.

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12. 

    Stripey
    December 18th, 2007 - 06:55

    I wondered about that for the longest time. Maybe Zexcs took too much liberties with the game routes? But like yourself I thought the Nemu X Sakura focus was great. Right from ep 1, the direction was set and every ep never fail to build on the main theme. One of my 3 all time fav anime.

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13. 

    Taiyaki
    December 18th, 2007 - 07:25

    I’m sure there’ll be more Nanaka goodness on the seoncd half.

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14. 

    Sherman, the Ramni
    December 18th, 2007 - 12:04

    Heh, everyone’s assuming there’ll be a second season xD. Nice lobbying.

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15. 

    dsong
    December 18th, 2007 - 18:01

    Let’s not give up on Nanaka just yet; if (when?) Koko bows out she will battle the two sisters for supremacy.

    But Nanaka’s big problem is that she is simply outclassed. She may be the “idol” in her class but Otome is the one person who is higher up on the ladder. Add to the fact that Yoshiyuki is likely a closet siscon (otherwise this wouldn’t be D.C.), and Otome is more deeply connected to the sakura tree, and I don’t think Nanaka will fare any better in the second season.

    Still, she is a fine character and there is no shame in losing to a superior opponent. Unlike poor Kotori, who FAR outranked the field, and was the logical choice… someone page Jyunichi and let him know that it’s possible to have a sister, a cousin, AND a girlfriend. But then again, it would’ve been painful to see Kotori spit out sakura petals…

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16. 

    Stripey
    December 19th, 2007 - 00:00

    Actually I’m really confused now. From what I understand, DCII is only 1 cours. I’m not sure if there’s a 2nd season but I heard something about a movie which I’m unable to authenticate. Maybe someone in the know could enlighten us all? After all Nanaka/Yume/Otome and even Anzu fans needs a glimmer of hope.

    As for Kotori, there’s no anime character that comes to close to her position in my heart but DCI had to be Nemu’s win. I’d accept a Sakura victory too but Kotori in spite of all her goodness just does not have that love-history with Junichi that can challenge Nemu-Sakura-Junichi love that began from their childhood. DCSS on the other hand, Kotori with her 2 years of care for Junichi should be grant her sufficient credentials as a worthy challenger to Nemu. Sadly they didn’t take that route but squandered it with Aishia silliness. My heart still bleeds thinking about it XD

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17. 

    Skua
    December 19th, 2007 - 01:11

    From what fans are saying, the ad blurbs for upcoming D.C. II character CDs describe Koko as the heroine for the first half of the anime (and Minatsu as the character with the leading role).

    This implies a second season somewhere down the road. Circus originally announced that they hoped for the longest possible run (as if they had some kind of leeway, depending on the circumstances), so Starchild possibly finalized the exact length as they went. With the current pacing, they’d need at least three 13-episode blocks to cover every character, so if the total episode count is 26, I’d expect the next half to cover Otome/Yume.

    Storywise, we’re still watching pre-D.C. II since they haven’t even introduced the main plot yet!

    >>”I heard something about a movie which I

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18. 

    Stripey
    December 19th, 2007 - 05:22

    Thanks so much Skua! At least there’s hope for us all DC fans! A Nanaka-centric movie would surely be a box office hit!

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