Changes made to Suzuka: Volume 5
Revision 2
Created on Thursday, 7th May 2009, 12:57
Change Submitted by Jitendar Canth
List of Changes:
- Change #1 - [heading][/heading][page1] <newline> <newline>[heading
- Change #2 - ion. <newline> <newline>[/page1]
- Change #3 - [/page1] <newline> <newline>[page2] <newline> <newline>[heading]Extras[/heading] <newline>Suzuka comes in an Amaray case with a reversible sleeve, and the inside image offers the slightest hint of sauciness, ‘girls in changing rooms’ kind of thing. <newline> <newline>The disc autoplays with a trailer for Instant Star Season 2, and the only way to skip it is with the title button on your remote. <newline> <newline>On the disc, you’ll find the textless credits, the Aoba High School Yearbook gallery offering a 45-second slideshow, and trailers for My Santa, Peach Girl, School Rumble, Case Closed, Tsubasa, Suzuka and the Z-Store. There’s also a trailer for The Slayers Next, which is currently being released by MVM in the UK. However I was surprised to learn that the Funimation version has been remastered, and looks a damn sight better than the UK discs. <newline> <newline>This disc also sees an actor commentary. Caitlin Glass (ADR Director) squeezes into a booth with Rob McCollum (Yasanobu) and Brina Palencia (Honoka) to talk over episode 19. It’s a nice track to listen to, some ADR anecdotes, and a little girly gossip over who should be really with whom in the show, as opposed to the scripted story. They also talk about what makes the show work, and how it strikes a chord with the audience. <newline> <newline>[heading]Conclusion[/heading] <newline>It feels like I’d never left the Suzuka universe, although rewatching the first four volumes certainly helped. The path of true love still steadfastly refuses to run smoothly for Yamato Akitsuki, while Suzuka continues to waver over her feelings for him. Half the fun is watching them inch inexorably closer, only for foot in mouth syndrome or crossed wires to thrust them apart again. If the will they won’t they stage of a relationship isn’t to your liking, then Suzuka isn’t the show for you, as it’s all about the delaying the moment. Of course if you’ve stuck with the show this long, then you already know that. <newline> <newline>At the beginning of this volume though, Yamato and Honoka were an item, which is a major impediment on the road to his eventual happiness with Suzuka, but fortunately Yamato’s own ability to say the wrong thing signalled the death knell for that relationship. It has to be said though, that Honoka’s unrealistic expectations didn’t help. The interesting thing to note at this point is that Yamato’s finally beginning to grow a spine. He’s been wishy-washy and indecisive, reacting to events, and not following the strength of his convictions. There’s finally some promise, when he ignores Yasanobu’s advice and decides to do things his own way. His way isn’t ideal though, and while at least he and Honoka manage to end things on friendly terms, his wish to spare Suzuka’s guilty feelings about the break up make him out to seem crass and objectionable. He really shouldn’t be surprised that Suzuka suddenly finds him obnoxious. <newline> <newline>In a way though, it is the best thing that could have happened to him, as all of a sudden he is alone and without support. He has to question just what he is doing, and what his motivations are. It means finally being honest with himself, although it does seem to send him back to square one. He realises that he is attracted to Suzuka, and she is the main reason why he is in the Athletics Club. The difference being that he has the ability, confidence, and training behind him that means he’s actually competitive. Or he did have the confidence until Suzuka started hating him. It means clearing the air between them, and there is a charming scene at a Laundromat where they talk things out. Of course Suzuka’s reaction leaves Yamato even more perplexed than before, but he must be getting used to that by now. <newline> <newline>Then comes the fateful decision, one that is flawed in so many ways. Yamato decides that the only way to earn Suzuka’s affection is to exceed her first love. You can see the logic of it. After all, Kazuki Tsuda holds a special place in Suzuka’s heart, and Yamato can see that she can’t help comparing everyone to him, but it’s the last thing that he would want her to find out about. Suzuka’s reaction is a little odd though. She’s always nagged Yamato about being irresponsible and careless, but all of a sudden when confronted by new, single-minded focused Yamato, she seems a little sad, as if she misses the old idiot. <newline> <newline>As usual I’m scratching the surface of this volume, there’s so much else going on that I’m surprised that it all fits neatly into 20-minute episodes. I also find that I’m holding a torch for Yasanobu and Miki, as with their constant griping and teasing of one another, they obviously belong together, and I’m just waiting for them to realise it. Suzuka still impresses me with how realistic it all is for an anime. When anime romances usually revolve around the harem genre, or with stereotypical characters that play to anime conventions, such as the meek, compliant girls who cook packed lunches, or tsundere girls who can be warm and loving, when they aren’t punching their love interests to kingdom come, it’s refreshing to seen teenaged characters written as teens, faltering their way on the path of first love. This Region 1 disc is just the thing if you are as impatient for your anime as I, and to cheer me up even more, volume 6 arrived in the mail this morning. <newline> <newline>[/page2]
Revision 1
Created on Thursday, 7th May 2009, 12:50
Change Submitted by Jitendar Canth
List of Changes:
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Change #1 - >[page1]
<newline> <newline>[heading -
Change #2 - eak Up
<newline>
<newline>Yamato m -
Change #3 - upport
<newline>
<newline>Solitude -
Change #4 - Regret
<newline>
<newline>Life has -
Change #5 - ration
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<newline>It’s Yam -
Change #6 - ion.
<newline> <newline>[/page1] <newline> <newline> -
Change #7 - ge1]
<newline> <newline>[page2] <newline> <newline>[heading]Extras[/heading] <newline>Suzuka comes in an Amaray case with a reversible sleeve, and the inside image offers the slightest hint of sauciness, ‘girls in changing rooms’ kind of thing. <newline> <newline>The disc autoplays with a trailer for Instant Star Season 2, and the only way to skip it is with the title button on your remote. <newline> <newline>On the disc, you’ll find the textless credits, the Aoba High School Yearbook gallery offering a 45-second slideshow, and trailers for My Santa, Peach Girl, School Rumble, Case Closed, Tsubasa, Suzuka and the Z-Store. There’s also a trailer for The Slayers Next, which is currently being released by MVM in the UK. However I was surprised to learn that the Funimation version has been remastered, and looks a damn sight better than the UK discs. <newline> <newline>This disc also sees an actor commentary. Caitlin Glass (ADR Director) squeezes into a booth with Rob McCollum (Yasanobu) and Brina Palencia (Honoka) to talk over episode 19. It’s a nice track to listen to, some ADR anecdotes, and a little girly gossip over who should be really with whom in the show, as opposed to the scripted story. They also talk about what makes the show work, and how it strikes a chord with the audience. <newline> <newline>[heading]Conclusion[/heading] <newline>It feels like I’d never left the Suzuka universe, although rewatching the first four volumes certainly helped. The path of true love still steadfastly refuses to run smoothly for Yamato Akitsuki, while Suzuka continues to waver over her feelings for him. Half the fun is watching them inch inexorably closer, only for foot in mouth syndrome or crossed wires to thrust them apart again. If the will they won’t they stage of a relationship isn’t to your liking, then Suzuka isn’t the show for you, as it’s all about the delaying the moment. Of course if you’ve stuck with the show this long, then you already know that. <newline> <newline>At the beginning of this volume though, Yamato and Honoka were an item, which is a major impediment on the road to his eventual happiness with Suzuka, but fortunately Yamato’s own ability to say the wrong thing signalled the death knell for that relationship. It has to be said though, that Honoka’s unrealistic expectations didn’t help. The interesting thing to note at this point is that Yamato’s finally beginning to grow a spine. He’s been wishy-washy and indecisive, reacting to events, and not following the strength of his convictions. There’s finally some promise, when he ignores Yasanobu’s advice and decides to do things his own way. His way isn’t ideal though, and while at least he and Honoka manage to end things on friendly terms, his wish to spare Suzuka’s guilty feelings about the break up make him out to seem crass and objectionable. He really shouldn’t be surprised that Suzuka suddenly finds him obnoxious. <newline> <newline>In a way though, it is the best thing that could have happened to him, as all of a sudden he is alone and without support. He has to question just what he is doing, and what his motivations are. It means finally being honest with himself, although it does seem to send him back to square one. He realises that he is attracted to Suzuka, and she is the main reason why he is in the Athletics Club. The difference being that he has the ability, confidence, and training behind him that means he’s actually competitive. Or he did have the confidence until Suzuka started hating him. It means clearing the air between them, and there is a charming scene at a Laundromat where they talk things out. Of course Suzuka’s reaction leaves Yamato even more perplexed than before, but he must be getting used to that by now. <newline> <newline>Then comes the fateful decision, one that is flawed in so many ways. Yamato decides that the only way to earn Suzuka’s affection is to exceed her first love. You can see the logic of it. After all, Kazuki Tsuda holds a special place in Suzuka’s heart, and Yamato can see that she can’t help comparing everyone to him, but it’s the last thing that he would want her to find out about. Suzuka’s reaction is a little odd though. She’s always nagged Yamato about being irresponsible and careless, but all of a sudden when confronted by new, single-minded focused Yamato, she seems a little sad, as if she misses the old idiot. <newline> <newline>As usual I’m scratching the surface of this volume, there’s so much else going on that I’m surprised that it all fits neatly into 20-minute episodes. I also find that I’m holding a torch for Yasanobu and Miki, as with their constant griping and teasing of one another, they obviously belong together, and I’m just waiting for them to realise it. Suzuka still impresses me with how realistic it all is for an anime. When anime romances usually revolve around the harem genre, or with stereotypical characters that play to anime conventions, such as the meek, compliant girls who cook packed lunches, or tsundere girls who can be warm and loving, when they aren’t punching their love interests to kingdom come, it’s refreshing to seen teenaged characters written as teens, faltering their way on the path of first love. This Region 1 disc is just the thing if you are as impatient for your anime as I, and to cheer me up even more, volume 6 arrived in the mail this morning. <newline> <newline>[/page2]
Initial Version
Created on Thursday, 7th May 2009, 12:48
First Submitted by Jitendar Canth