#episode comparison

[ninjagirl18blog]

YU-GI-OH ZEXAL & ARC V COMPARISON

The Kastle Twins & The Obsidian Siblings Comparison

Episode 114 (Zexal) / Episode 145 (Arc V)

Episode 78 (Zexal) / Episode 119 (Arc V)

Episode 91 (Zexal) / Episode 119 (Arc V)

[tostrekkiegirl]

Just a thought about “The Tholian Web” vs “All Our Yesterdays”: I just realized that Spock and McCoy’s attitudes about their situation were reversed. In TTW, Spock stayed in Tholian space because he thought there was still a chance to recover the captain, while McCoy thought they needed to get out of there because he didn’t think the captain could have possibly survived, and the space was negatively affecting the crew’s minds. In AOY, Spock thought there was no way of getting out and wasn’t even going to try, while McCoy insisted there had to be a way out and they had to try despite what Zarabeth said. 

At one point, McCoy said, “I don’t believe it Spock. It’s just not like you to give up trying.” He’s right, and “The Tholian Web” is one of the best examples of that.

[whereyoursoulresides]

DiC Dub. vs Sub, Episode 21/25 - “Jupiter Comes Thundering In”/”Jupiter, the Brawny Girl in Love” Pt 2

After so long, here is part two!!

Because of the massive break in between the two, I’ve had to switch gears a little with my explanations, but hopefully they’ll still appear coherent! Without further ado, the remainder of this episode of Dub vs. Sub!

Previously, I covered the manners in which the episode begins to establish the foundation for both diverging character arcs. Propped with knowledge from both Beryl and Kunzite, Zoisite takes his charge with perfect grace and professionalism. Meanwhile, DiC's Zoycite is introduced as being far keener, promisingly relentless, and a more dangerous adversary. If Zoisite was concealing his fangs, as it were...then we were introduced to Zoycite flashing hers.

If it sounds like I'm bashing a dead horse with this difference a lot,  perhaps it's also because the DiC dub seems to do so with as much vigor. Certainly, I can't assume writers' intentions when they re-wrote the character for DiC. However, DiC seemed to find as many opportunities as they can to showcase Zoycite's contrary presentation of Zoisite's original character as often as they can, even when they didn't necessarily have to...

This bit of exposition was given right at the very beginning of the DiC version when no such introduction was made in the original. Possibly, DiC made this change to ramp up the story's dramaticism. However, DiC's reputation for obvious exposition leads me to believe otherwise, especially when it starts cropping up in later episodes more frequently, and for no other reason. 

(For example, yes, I understand that the following screenshots are referring to Lita / Makoto. However, if you look at Zoycite’s arc as a whole, it is also an excellent setup to the infamous “Disguise” episode...and I feel it is also a great representation of why DiC so desperately wanted to sow these character changes into Zoycite. For if they hadn’t, and Zoycite remained exactly as Zoisite in all manners except gender... how different would “she” be, a beautiful female soldier fighting for love, than another titular character we know?)

Anyways, I digress, and will return to the above bracketed point once we reach that particular episode. In the meantime, please enjoy the following comparisons remaining from the episode below...

1. Zoycite’s keenness, and further proof that DiC can’t stand empty sound space, even if it’s to imply a character’s softly - and ominous - coming).

2. I wish there was a way I could put audio clips in these tumblr posts, because I do love how both these characters are still portrayed with a sense of play...Zoycite’s acrid, saccharine poison, and Zoisite’s breathy, cotton-candy kiss of death.

3. If I could put in audio clips, this is where we would hear Zoycite’s syrup literally curdle - her voice rips into an edge of monstrous roughness, similar to other other monster-of-the-day characters that were also portrayed by the same actress. Meanwhile, Zoisite’s actor speaks with a softness of a snake beginning to gently suffocate you..

4. Goddamnit Zoi, you are so fucking cute, I will never get over how you call out your own name like you’re a fucking pokemon <3.

(Side Note: Zoisite’s use of his own name may seem vain, but I tend to read it less as a form of vanity, and more of a form of cute-speak. It’s yet another way he downplays the perception of his potential: to evoke the sense of adorableness, of femininity, a way to startle the opponent into a sense of lowered security. Honestly, I’m sure this isn’t so much of an actual farce he puts on and is genuinely how he expresses himself, both on the job and at home, but it works! Note that in the future, whenever Zoycite uses the same tactic, she never says it in the same, diminutive cute way. Her spell-cast is always aggressive, shouted in determination and confidence).

(Extra Side-Note: Another +1 for how many times Zoycite will say she is excited to please Queen Beryl. I’m keeping count for an explicit reason. Infer that what you will, and please imagine it with the same kind of “ding” that’s heard in CinemaSins.)

5. I mean, apart from the usual (Zoycite’s kneejerk reaction is to be antagonistic, while Zoisite is actually only politely informing Makoto that she does not have to engage, etc, ...he literally does not coax, mock or challenge. We will see later that Zoisite treats physical bloodshed and confrontation as unnecessary and only as a last resort, while Zoycite is spurred by challenges) - I also love how Zoycite’s dialogue also reflects this difference. I’ve talked at length at how Zoisite is always unfailingly and elegantly polite before, and now look at Zoycite’s speaking mannerisms: uncouth, aggressive, and filled to the brim with attitude when the opportunity arises. ‘SCUSE ME, indeed!

6.Further point regarding Zoycite and Zoisite’s divergent opinions of physical or violent confrontation: one disparages it, considering it barbaric, and that he is above it (often literally). The other laughs in the face of it, and has no qualms dishing it out as a threat...or is more than ready to follow it through.

(Also: buzz off omfg)

In fact, we see their opinions play out beautifully below:

7. After being punched, compare these reactions: one promising brutal threat, and the other fucking gobsmacked it even happened. Also, their differences in priorities.

While that may sound like I’m making a dig at Zoisite, I am legitimately not. I know this scene tends to be one of the ones that famously evoke the idea of Zoisite’s vanity, but I tend to read it another way. Yes, Zoisite’s face is precious to him, and yes, it could also be read as a stereotypical portrayal of a feminine gay character. 

However, this scene is not meant to illicit laughter. Nor it is not meant for us to startle with incredulity of how silly it is that he is upset his face his hurt. In this scene, Zoisite is truly shocked - his words are less an angry tantrum and more a statement of startled fact. He hadn’t anticipated Makoto could get that close to him, could actually touch him, much could actually strike him. And, in a place that is fiercely protective of, not because of his vanity...but because it is a precious commodity in the main force that drives his arc. (Yes, it’s Kunzite.) It’s no surprise that Zoisite’s beauty and “beautiful face” gets mentioned so often at key moments in his character development. His arc starts with a punch in the face, rises with gentle caresses, and - after a similar injury - crashes.

All of these subtleties, however, are swapped entirely in Zoycite’s case. Her face is not a fragile commodity by which she holds dear...in fact, it is of little importance to her. Her immediate concern is vengeance - more so than the injury on her face, it is her ego is bruised, and damn anyone who dares to make that mark.

Anyways, before I digress further, let’s round back up to the remainder of the episode. These last few scenes only continue to consistently show the differences in Zoycite’s and Zoisite’s professional approach. There isn’t as deep to note, with one exception at the very end...

8. If you haven’t already caught on, Zoycite really wants this fucking crystal.

9. Up above, DiC makes as much of an effort to showcase how much joy Zoycite derives from her job. Being a Negaverse warrior is an excellent honour - your true self - and boy, is she enjoying exerting her power over those below her. Zoycite’s ambition is demonstrated not as an ideal professional characteristic, but the potential in her to throw a coup if she wanted to. She is power hungry, and that grows recklessly to dangerous heights as her arc progresses. Notice that Zoisite says none of these things...because it isn’t power he seeks. He approaches his subject with almost professional indifference: he seeks no more than the objective of his task. And don’t worry, “it will only take a moment”.

10. This has always been one of my favourite scenes. I just love how Zoisite politely “nopes” out, while Zoycite - and I fully believe it - has a fucking victory celebration. (Don’t think for a moment Zoycite is just jesting, she probably told Malachite to set out the champagne before she left on the mission!)

And again, note the increased victorious laughter, where there was none before...

And FINALLY, the one ODD thing that happens a LOT throughout DiC’s version of this character arc. Remember how I mentioned in a previous instalment that DiC seemed to like to inject extra dialogue and laughs that could exposit Zoycite as a fundamentally meaner character than Zoisite?

Hey look, it happened again:

Like, this may not seem like much of a deal, but think about it. We had a scene earlier where Zoisite’s words basically remained the same in conversion (the “order” scene). We’ve had many instances where the original dialogue/script did not need to be changed, and yet was tweaked in just certain places. This seems like a wholly unnecessary change, so why do it?

The answer is: in changing Zoisite’s gender, DiC encountered a whole other problem. And that problem was: a female solider character, who’s primary motivation was love, a love that could be read as more complex, established, and equally both inspirational and problematic ...could end up becoming an unintentional role model for DiC’s demographic. Figuratively speaking, the tragedy by which we all love Kunzite and Zoisite’s humanity for carried a message that DiC feared might be misconstrued as another example of a miracle romance - because at that point, superficially, the character would no longer be any different than Sailor Moon. iIf Zoycite also fought for love, then her motivations would blow a hole right in the Power of Love message that DiC’s Sailor Moon stood for. And, if she was as dedicated to Malachite as Zoisite was to Kunzite - questionably so - it would also rip a massive hole in DiC’s message of Girl Power. 

I’ll talk more about this in greater detail as those essential scenes crop up throughout the arc. For the time being, let’s simply observe that for all the animosity Zoycite gets in the DiC version (even by other characters in the same universe), that Zoisite was never perceived in the same way, even by his enemies. And there’s a reason for that.

[meimi-haneoka]

Hello! I know I’ve pretty much disappeared from tumblr but I’m currently in vacation in a pretty location in Southern Italy and having a great time! Today I was able to watch episode 20 on NHK Etele and I was glad to find they have aired yet another fixed version! I’ve put 10 comparisons here, but there are many many more on a Twitter thread I did on my account : https://twitter.com/sakurachan84/status/1029690367866818560?s=19

In that thread you will also find some NEW frames (in this episode they added quite a number of frames), all in all I can say they have almost redrawn the entire episode with good results! The fans can be rest assured and start to preorder now their BD/DVD copies!

[heavnofhell]

{This was honestly all I could think of when he delivered that line in 12x23}

[meimi-haneoka]

Fixed frames for episode 21 of Clear Card!! These are only the main ones, you can find more (even scenes in which they changed the effects) on my Twitter post : https://twitter.com/sakurachan84/status/1032224118022782976?s=19 and https://twitter.com/sakurachan84/status/1032225255102799872?s=19

[meimi-haneoka]

Episode 17 has been fixed!

Don’t know if anybody talked about this here yet, but today episode 17 of Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card aired on NHK Etele and, to my big surprise, they already aired the fixed version!!

Remember how everyone complained about the poor quality of the art? It was judged as the ‘worst episode’ of Clear Card, but as I strongly hoped, they managed to fix all the weird shots and collapsing frames!

Here I’ll show you a direct comparison I was able to put together with what I had at the moment of the airing (only old screenshots from my Twitter account, as I didn’t have a copy of the 1st version of ep. 17), but if you browse on twitter you’ll find more! (sorry for the bad screencap)

Before

After

I think the difference is apparent especially in the staff, right? And this is just one sample of all the shots they fixed! We definitely should look forward to those next BD releases!

[meimi-haneoka]

Last comparison (sadly) for the fixed frames of Clear Card episode 22

Episode 22 of Clear Card anime aired yesterday, August 29th, on NHK Etele, marking the last broadcast on TV of a CCS anime, for the moment!

The broadcast on Etele has always been kept in high consideration, because it’s got a broader and bigger audience than NHK BS Premium (being a free channel), and incidentally the whole staff and cast waited the same period to do the traditional 打ち上げ party (a party that symbolizes the positive conclusion of all the job on an anime series/movie etc.). It’s been postponed until now likely because the animators were still busy fixing the last episodes of Clear Card.

Staff and cast tweeted about the party about 1 week ago, and they all wished for a second season for Clear Card. Motoko Kumai (Syaoran’s VA) was particularly impressed by how the anime staff wished for a second season as well. The enthusiasm is not only from the fans, but also from the insiders. Everyone want a sequel for the Clear Card anime, and here I’m hoping they’ll announce something soon!

So now starts a relatively “quiet” moment for CCS, but they’re doing their best to keep the hype alive, with the collaboration with Sanyo Railways going strong (I was reading the other day an article saying that people from Korea or Taiwan came to ride the decorated train!) and the upcoming exhibition at the Mori Arts Gallery center in Roppongi, from October 26th. And of course, the manga by CLAMP!

Well then, let’s see some comparisons of the fixed frames for episode 22!

These aren't all the fixed frames, I spotted more that you can see on my Twitter thread here .

This episode was already pretty much well done, in fact most of the changes have been dedicated to enhancing the special CG effects and such. What now?? I can only say that whatever way they’re gonna choose to give us a sequel (anime series, OAD, movie), I hope this time they’ll animate it properly with the best animation they can achieve. But if for some reason they’ll find themselves again in the situation of “gotta fix it later”, then it’s ok. As long as there’s a sequel!!