Astro Fighter Sunred 03-04

The note taking proceeds slowly. Ep 3-4 info is appended below; the above scene demands more word count; it is one of my favourites and was an early hook and spur to pick up the rest of this series. The context is that Geirus (the squid monster) apparently kidnaps Toshio; Florsheim sends a badly made VHS tape to Sunred, demanding that he turn up for a fight or else. Despite being an Evil Organization, the Florsheim gang mean the boy no harm; Usakotsu as well as Medallion are kept busy entertaining him with itself and via a console fighting game respectively.

Just as General Vamp is preparing dinner (Toshio specifically requests hamburger), Geirus brings the horrifying news that Toshio is supposed to have tutoring that evening!! Vamp is aghast and anxious that he has come so close to interfering in the child's education and calls up Toshio's mother to apologize and to make arrangements to send Toshio home for his tutoring (and with dinner). The entire conversation is uproariously funny.

First, Vamp is in his housewife apron and even his posture while speaking on the phone just screams Middle Aged Housewife. His speaking manner to Toshio's mother is extremely formal and polite but also with the long drawling of vowels that you'd associate with long winded naggy MAHs. This is in complete opposition to the content of his initial dialogue: "Greetings to you, I am Vamp, a person from the Evil Organization Florsheim, yes, an Evil Organization. Today we took your son hostage, yes, took him hostage..." And the implied reaction of Toshio's mother is not panicked in the least as the conversation carries on as if they were discussing the weather.

One of the oft-mentioned descriptions of AFSR is how the hero and villains are deeply immersed in mundane everyday Japanese life. For me, this segment shows one of the reasons why this formula works so well is how nonchalant everyone is about Florsheim being an Evil Organization and treat the Monsters like ordinary people. While it is true that Florsheim never does anything remotely evil against the civilian population and do all the things that blend them into that mundane everyday Japanese life, it is in moments of discordance like the above where you'd expect a normal mundane Japanese housewife and mother to go batshit from the horror of her son (1) being kidnapped by (2) an Evil Organization of (3) Monsters but instead she gives Florsheim a free pass. And even a real gift of beer, in appreciation of having entertained Toshio for a whole afternoon and making him dinner, which the Monsters of an Evil Organization enjoy together, very much like a cozy family ("You've got ketchup on your face, Vamp-sama." "Oh so I do." Everyone LOLs), the strains of a homely tune playing in the background. While the titular hero, who never gets a free pass, has been forgotten.

Though perhaps Florsheim has got its existential priorities right as Hell hath no fury like a mother whose kid's education is being interrupted.

Sunred 03:

Gaiman's Ambition: I want a dog.

OP: Bike price: JPY 1,000,000

Usakotsu Shocking Secret!?

Not enough change, drinks vending machine rejects note five out of ten times.  Tries to dispose old frying pan in can recycling bin. Sunred (t-shirt: 久地) chances upon Usakotsu.

Eyecatch

Short corner- On the way: Sunred sees news about serial killer target, escorts Kayoko home from train station but denies concern.

Eyecatch

Short corner – Running in: Monster gets mistaken for someone else.

Eyecatch

Horror! Florsheim Operation No.1

Geirus 'kidnaps' Toshio, 'anonymous' demand, on VHS tape, sent to Sunred; Toshio 'released' for tutoring with hamburger dinner and sent by air, his mom gives Florshiem a gift of Asasi beer which they enjoy. 08:34PM: Sunred (t-shirt has no words) is still waiting at the park (appointed time was 7pm).

Sunred 04:

Crisis! An Assassin from China!?

Grasshopper monster Doga ponders lack of achievement since leaving China two years ago. Drudgery of conbi part-time work, co-worker mentions Florsheim, hope for achieving dream. Sees Tiser, Vamp, Combat Goons, Medallion decide against fight due to rain. Back to old ways.

OP: Bike price JPY 999,800

Short corner - Crisis! General Vamp – he's lost something on the train but his spear is found.

Eyecatch

Dramatic! Death Match at Futako-tamagawa

Vamp, Gadgem, Combat Goons take the train to Nikotama's Takajima-en shopping mall to attack Sunred, based on Kayoko's info. He (t-shirt: 新車情報) is queuing to buy melon pan for Kayoko. Vamp chats with Mrs Takeuchi. Kayoko sells insurance for a living. They decide to kill time until he is done but Vamp gets lost in the mall. Kayoko feels the melon pan wasn't worth the queue.

Related posts:

1. Astro Fighter Sunred 01-02