Mouryou no Hako – 01: Not Awesome, I Can’t Deal With That
Girls talk too much … right?
I honestly don’t know why I held high expectations—-or any at all—-for CLAMP’s new anime entitled Mouryou no Hako. I was quite sure of myself when I told hazy that it couldn’t get any worse than long legs, but the first episode definitely proved me wrong. In fact, it was so urgh that I don’t think I care what happens next. And I’ll just quickly apologize beforehand if I’m starting to sound really harsh, but let’s face it, this is what I truthfully felt. And in case you’re wondering, I did watch this RAW, but even with subtitles, this episode would have most certainly bored me anyway.
Even though I know I really shouldn’t be judging this series from the very first episode, it just really sucked full-stop. Sure, you’ve got the creepy white-faced talking dolls and ugly men, and if that wasn’t frightening enough, you’ve got a pair of homosexuals cast as the main female leads. Personally, I don’t have anything against homosexuals, really, but I didn’t think the first episode was going to focus entirely on Kanako and Yuri’s relationship … and … funny dancing.
While the plot regarding mutilated bodies found scattered across the town and a group of high-school detectives investigating on the matter sounded cool—-I mean: awesome—- it seemed almost as if CLAMP suddenly remembered that Mouryou no Hako wasn’t about two chicks making out and decided to chuck in a “scary-cliché” train scene in the last few minutes to grab our attention. But I was long gone before that. I don’t know what disappointed me more: the fact that this episode was terrible, or that I was actually expecting something from it.
This is not a “CLAMP anime,” CLAMP only did the character designs. It’s an adaptation of a novel by Kyogoku Natsuhiko.
Btw, I thought the first episode was awesome.
How come the character designs in the caps look cutesy? It looked so much better when I looked at the sample drawings that were in Newtype(?) I’d still check out the series anyway, even if just for the first impressions if ever I won’t like it. xD
Wait, what?!? *re-reads the post again* I never knew that this had Yuri vibes (unless maybe it was just for this episode?)… I guess I got too engrossed on the “mystery” aspect of it and my brain was selectively processing what I read. Orz. Anyway, I guess we’ll just see.
(Sorry for the double post, the edit button was gone before this particular info sunk in ^^;;)
hmmmm, I was going to look into this series over the weekend… meh, go listen to Santo
@kuromitsu: Thanks for letting me know, I really should make sure I get my facts straight next time
I still didn’t like the episode though
@hazy: I was engrossed in the mystery part as well, but …
@Ryan A: I’ll listen to Santo over the weekend too
blissmo, this series reminds me of Lament of the Lamb (the one that I was complaining on my blog). Maybe it’s so psychological to the extent that I totally don’t get what’s happening. Yes I watched it raw too but I’m not so n00b as to don’t get what they’re saying in Japanese. I just don’t get what they’re doing, too mind boggling for me. The “horror” moments, like the mum’s creepy slow motion shouts and come to live dolls, are so boring that I won’t exactly categorize them as horrifying or terrifying in anyway. @_@ Really, what is episode 1 on would be my question to those who understood what’s happening for this series.
@Hynavian: I barely understood the Japanese as well, but I knew something “wrong” was going on lols. For some reason I’m glad you didn’t enjoy this much either XD
You were probably bored because the first episode only introduces one main character (and that’s barely for a few minutes), as the girls are not the leads in the story… they merely introduce you to the main characters. Suffice it to say, the real story begins after Kanako is taken away to a hospital and disappears; bizarre murders of girls being dismembered and put in boxes begins shortly after… along with the story and introduction of the main characters.
I swear to god it feels like you just set out to piss me off sometimes. this is my favorite of the season.
@killbethy: That makes this series sound a whole lot more awesome
blissmo: (sorry to hijack this post comment area buuuut) WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS POST D: http://yukan.dasaku.net/miscellaneous/site-news-miscellaneous/site-news-and-thats-the-end-of-that-chapter/ ????? I never got a chance to read it… it blipped and then when I tried to load it nothing @_@
ohhhaha, dw, im sure you’re in for a better treat
just by reading ur post i can surely say that u don’t know anime, u dont even know is not clamps work but just the characters were designed by them. and that’s not u all r judging a masterpiece when u don’t even know who the creater is and what the girl’s were talking about ,she is not yuri she really love another girl for her beauty ,u can see it where she was lloking at herself in the mirror she thinks she is no pretty but the other girl is and she wants to be reborn as her.that’s not yuri! and u watched it raw when u know nothing just don’t judge it.
@Laiba: I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think people can “know” anime. I respect your opinions, but don’t tell me not to judge something when clearly you’re judging me just by reading an article based on an anime I obviously don’t like. You can’t say someone “knows” anime because people have various opinions so when they watch something, they interpret it differently. Just because someone doesn’t like an anime doesn’t give you the right to tell them that they don’t know what they’re going on about, but yes, I admit that I didn’t know the full details of this anime so my “review” on it was not fair or totally honest, but here’s the gist of it: I don’t like the anime at all.
C’mon,that was just the first episode…the mystery isn’t just begun yet….These girls aren’t the main characters,there are 4 men (like the op) that served as main characters.
By the way,you said you don’t have anything against homosexuals,but your entire post stated in contrast to that statement.
In summary,you just don’t understand this anime.Maybe it is too deep for you…so yes,drop it is a good idea for you.
Well. You are only partially right. AND only partially. I guess it all depends on the type of person and preferences you have. I for once liked the anime. It is not as impressive as other mystery, psychological animes I have seen, But it is ok. Like the first person to comment here said. You need to pay more attention to the authorship and stuff. THis is NOT a CLAMP anime. In fact, I don’t think they have EVER made any anime. They simple do characters designs. And just like all other character desgins they have made in the past (Code Geass, xxxHolic, Tsubasa to name a few) it is awesome. There characters are simply beautifully rendered. I guess if you dont’ mind some yuri, slow developing plot and you love quality art, this anime is ok.
Is it yuri???
As far as I know the lead characters are the detectives, aren’t they?
It’s gonna be quite disappointing for me if it was. I mean why focusing on the insignificant love story of 2 lesbians? The plot is much deeper and darker than that. The anime has nice art and great soundtrack, what a shame…
I just hate how many animes are taking Yaoi/yuri direction, by 2011 90% of animes are gonna be yaoi/yuri. I guarantee that.
Like everyone else, firstly I must state that this is NOT CLAMP’s work, CLAMP only did the character designs and such. Assuming that you do know its not CLAMP’s work, and your criticism still holds, I can only say you jumped to conclusions in this post. Mouryou no Hako is a murder-mystery-supernatural series, not about the two girls, Kanako and Yoriko. The series only began (admittedly, misleadingly) with the friendship of the two girls, and from there on, takes a turn into the actual murder spree.
I kind of understand why it can turn you off initially. Afterall, there is too much fantasty at the begining and Yoriko – I must say, that girl is seriously deluded, almost half-crazy. But considering from the perspective of her school and family life, I can see how lonely and isolated she is from everyone which makes her vulnerable to fantasies. The key to watchign this series, is being able to separate fantasy from detective, piecing a chronology of the crime, first before you consider the symbolism. Otherwise, it will just mess your head up big time.
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