HZ115 thoughts now that I finished the whole episode
New OP and ED are SO GOOD! Like Iolite by Eve is such a bop and the visuals are fricking fantastic, same for the ending!
I actually liked Lacey's exposition about BB academy and Terrarium (as someone who still didn't played SV dlc, I rlly appreciate that).
It was nice to see some characters again like Nemona, Anne and Briar as well as Cyrano, Lacey and Drayton (yes Ik their names)
The battle between Roy and Nemona was actually pretty spectacular this time around. The animation also looked gorgeous in it
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This bit actually made me laugh out loud XD
6. In conclusion: I think it was an awesome episode and an amazing way to kick off next arc. Can't wait to see RVT blorbos getting stronger! (and possibly catching/evolving mons👀)
I'm not that into the new opening song, but I found the visuals of the opening to be quite nice! However, I fully enjoy the new ending~ very pleasing to both listen to and look at. Might give me some new avatar ideas~
Maybe later I'll find a better quality of this shot lol. Or of any other shots I liked. Was very happy to see Amethio, Friede and Ann be included in the opening, and ending for former two. Also, I will concur, it still doesn't give me final arc vibes. But we'll see.
Not a lot to write about them, but still a few things I want to keep because I've been enjoying their characters so far. The anime is my first proper exposure to their characters.
Something to note.. Taro addresses everyone with honorifics (she uses "-san" with Liko and the others), yet Kakitsubata is the only one she calls just by name. Taro is serious and polite, so it definitely stands out to me that she has distinct interactions with Kakitsubata and that he is the only one so far she feels comfortable enough to address by name only. I'm curious about the way she refers to other characters in the Elite Four in the game. Maybe Kakitsubata is the only one she has this kind of closeness with?
Either way, Taro calling Kakitsubata without honorifics implies a history between the two of them and a closeness that Taro doesn't necessarily have with others. Perhaps they were acquainted before going to Blueberry Academy. They both have legacies regarding Gym Leaders (Taro's father is a Gym Leader, Kakitsubata's grandfather is a Gym Leader), so there are similarities drawn between the two of them.. This point of connection between them could be one of the reasons they seem to be close? I am not sure. But I find it interesting that the simple fact that Taro calls Kakitsubata, well, just "Kakitsubata" is something that makes me imagine different possibilities and wonder about their past? Somehow, Taro doesn't strike me as someone who would drop honorifics for someone she just met at school..? So, it makes me think that Kakitsubata is someone she knew before school and that he was part of her life before going to Blueberry Academy? It's just speculation. It could explain the fact that they both seem used to each other's personalities and quirks.
Other than that, I liked their interactions in general. Taro seems to be comfortable enough around him to call him out on his behavior and antics. She knows how he works (the way she immediately understood that he made Roy get points for him on his Rotom Phone by making him do his activities, etc). Kakitsubata using her catchphrase (the opposite of it) right back at her was also another fun moment that made me think "there is a history between the two of them" because a character being associated with words another character uses feels like something that highlights a bond and everything it entails? I liked Kakitsubata's playful voice when he said "ii to omoima~su", the banter between the two of them was cute (the PR account made a gif of it too).
Something else I thought was cute is that Taro's Plusle and Minun helped Kakitsubata loosen up by using their electricity in HZ117. In general, I love when characters' Pokemon interact with another Trainer, and what that might say about the relationship between the human characters (for example, Gibeon's Zygarde reaching out to Lucius independently and Lucius understanding Zygarde in turn, Friede's Lizardon listening to Orio's commands, etc..). I thought it was surprising (in a good way) because I think it's another element that fleshes out Taro and Kakitsubata's relationship? It's very casual but says a lot about the two of them. Taro's Pokemon helped both Kakitsubata and his Kairyu. They seem eager to help, but either way, Plusle and Minun feel close enough to Kakitsubata that they are willing to do this for him out of their own volition. Taro didn't intervene in this. Kakitsubata thanked them for their help (so he doesn't take them for granted and properly thanks them), and he is also the one who provided the answer to Taro's quiz and explained to Uruto what Plusle and Minun were doing. It shows an understanding and knowledge of her Pokemon. I liked this bit in general, it falls in line with my thoughts about Taro and Kakitsubata having a distinct relationship and a particular history. It's showcased through their Pokemon too.
Anyway, I am pretty interested in their dynamics. I like the concept of interactions between a serious girl/honor student kind of character and a laidback guy.. Reminds me of a particular shoujo I read. It's interesting that both of them are on the same level too, since they are both part of the Elite Four so it's not like Kakitsubata is "less" than Taro in terms of "smarts". They navigate academics differently and have their own strengths. Also thinking about how Taro specializes in Fairy Types, while Kakitsubata specializes in Dragon Types, so Taro has the "upper hand" against him in such a context.
As an aside, Taro really has a pleasant voice. I enjoy her deliveries a lot, and I could listen to her talk for hours.
Character relationship chart for the new chapter (Rising Again).
Link to it here.
Points of interests about this updated character relationship chart is Amethio being in the middle of both sides (RVT and Explorers) and not affiliated to any party. He is not pictured as being part of the Explorers currently, given what Spinel did.
There are arrows connecting him to both sides. He is working together with Zir, Conia and Hamber and he is officially described as cooperating with the RVT now. Which was never shown before on the relationship chart, so it's important. They are officially allies now! (he did tell Liko and the others that their paths would cross again.. so it feels satisfying having this reminder)
Also noting that the small text below Amethio's character mentions that he made a comeback after reuniting with Liko, which makes me insane. It's the way ep 104 was so emotionally meaningful for both characters, and the way Amethio allowed himself to live again and take a step forward thanks to Liko, which he acknowledges himself.. The sheer significance and beauty of it all. Ok.
Also, it's Friede's turn to be shown as a silhouette on the relationship chart. Amethio was framed like that in the previous one too. My narrative parallels of all times.
I wonder if Friede will show up with a slightly different design when he comes back.
Going over information for October episodes (from HZ112 to HZ115).
Also promotional material for Episode Mega Evolution in general (there is lots of it).
Info for HZ112 (here), HZ113 (here), and HZ114 (here).
Other promotional stuff around Episode Mega Evolution include (lots of links, so I'll just make a list for stuff that stood out to me):
scenes featuring Roy (here),
scenes featuring Uruto (here),
a key frame of Matiere (here),
a key frame of Uruto and Yamirami (here),
an interview with Natsumi Fujiwara (Uruto's VA, which can be found here),
an interview with Yuka Terasaki (Roy's VA, which can be found here),
an illustration of Uruto and Yamirami (here),
an illustration of Roy and Achigator (here),
there will be a third illustration on October 9 apparently (will add it to this post if I remember to do so)
Stuff that stood out to me in these links.. The Uruto lore that dropped, which is that he is apparently from Kalos, more specifically Miare City as he says that he would be suited for Mega Evolution as a native of Miare City. I think it's neat. Especially when I think that we got several blonde with blue eyes characters from Kalos in the past, so I like that Uruto is the Miare City character this time.
The illustration/key frame with Uruto and Yamirami are cute as hell.. Matiere's key frame too. The bits I'm most curious about from these episodes are around Uruto and Matiere in general. Uruto's character, his past (which will apparently be revealed too!), his relationship with Yamirami, and his relationship with Matiere. There is apparently a story behind Uruto and Matiere, and he is living with her during Episode Mega Evolution. Which is curious to me, because it's implied that the one who gave Uruto his Kairyuu is his relative (probably his father), so did he run away from home? Did Matiere feel sorry for him and couldn't leave him alone, so she just invited him to live with her? In the games, Matiere was an orphan, so if she is one in the anime too, it could explain why she took in Uruto because maybe she saw herself in him. I think it's interesting that Uruto has emotional ties of varying degrees to different female characters (Liko, Diana, Mollie, Matiere), it makes him more compelling to me. Matiere was probably my favorite XY game character when I played those games and I found her story emotional, so I look forward to seeing how she'll be in the anime (especially since my favorite writer is the one writing her).
Additional news about Episode Mega Evolution here (which I didn't link above).
A bit I liked is that they addressed the fact that Yamirami had a Mega Stone before his training even began because he likes collecting shiny objects. I like when Pokemon have their own quirks, so it's cute that Yamirami is just doing his own thing and collecting stuff. Especially since we know Uruto also likes picking up rocks from places he traveled to, so that makes them similar? Also, Uruto apparently had no interest in Mega Evolution prior to meeting Roy so I wonder what made him change his mind.
Matiere can also use Mega Evolution (which is good, and I hope we'll see her quite a bit in those episodes), and she has a Denryu who can Mega Evolve. I really like this Pokemon, so it's cool. I also noticed that in this picture, Matiere is holding a newspaper.. and if you look really closely, there is a picture of the Brave Asagi on one of the pages. This is post-Rakua, so it seems like the RVT got talked about in newspapers following those events and after Spinel painted them as reckless adventurers who messed up Rakua. I don't know if they'll talk about these events in the episode itself, but I like that they are connecting what happened in Rakua to Matiere in some capacity, since the newspaper she is reading probably mentions that.
Lucario has a nickname, which is Yellow Blast, which makes me curious about him.. Roy's VA mentioned that she really liked the reason Lucario joined Roy, so I hope we get to understand Lucario's personality more? I wonder what the reason is. My issue with Lucario is the fact that his focus was mostly battle-centric and that his personality didn't really shine through.. which didn't make me invested in him. I didn't have this issue with Yamirami (who is great all around). I am not sure if these eps will completely change my perspective on Lucario, but it seems like we'll finally learn more, which is very much needed.
Not sure what else to mention. I wonder if Cap's reason for following Roy will be brought up. I think I mentioned it in a previous post, but I want more on Cap's perspective. He'll be appearing in those episodes so I hope we see more of his feelings. I wonder how/why Uruto left to follow Roy, too. The summaries of the eps are all battle-centric, and it depends on how they're depicted for me to be convinced by them. But all the episodes are written by Kureha Matsuzawa (who is the script coordinator who handles the most pivotal episodes), and I love his writing so we'll see what's in store. I wonder if the episodes will be depicted as a kind of long flashback: ep 112 starting on the Brave Asagi, the RVT heading to Blueberry Academy to contextualize things, something happening that makes Roy and Uruto talk about their past together to everyone else, and ep 114 ending on the RVT reaching Blueberry Academy? I'd like to see the RVT more before we head into the next chapter.
My main points of focus for these episodes are Uruto, Matiere and Yamirami as of now.
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Additional info on Rising Again (here), and summary for HZ115 (here).
First episode of the new chapter will be written by lead writer Dai Sato (just like Mega Voltage's episodes were), so I'm curious about that. I'm happy we'll see Anne again. Seems like Roy and Nemo will battle again, so I just hope this confrontation will be more compelling than the previous one.
I'm curious about Taro and her dynamics with the group. I wonder if they'll meet Briar in this episode.
Not much to mention about this ep based on the summary. I just hope the visuals for the new op/ed slay. I'll be insane if I don't get to know more about Spinel and Agate before the end. I said it before, but it bears repeating.
Also curious in general about how this chapter will be structured. Not sure the focus will be all on Blueberry Academy, so I wonder if they'll go somewhere else..? Curious about how Friede will come back in the story too. I think taking him out of the narrative was a fitting choice (and the way he fell from the sky is still the best way he could have gone as a character if they were going to take this route), and it's quite bold that they are sticking to this narrative and not rushing his return.. Initially, I thought that he'd come back for the climax of Mega Voltage, but he didn't. Which means they have something else in mind, so I wonder what it is. I like this element of mystery around Friede. I do look forward to his return, and potentially a confrontation with Spinel..? Not sure about that one, though.
