Saturday, June 26, 2010

*A GIANT THUMBS UP* for Angel Beats! i really did enjoy the entire series and 13 episodes is kinda short to make it an exceptionally "moving" series.

Yuri wakes up after losing consciousness back in Guild and sees Otonashi, Kanade, Naoi and Hinata beside her. Yuri then learns that the rest have already moved on and is glad to hear that but when she asks why are the four of them still here, they told her that it was because she was still around. The rest then sees that Yuri seems to be a little different from usual and suspects that she had already gotten over her regret in life but Yuri denies it, saying that as the leader of the SSS, her regret would be the most difficult to eliminate. But after Naoi tried to hypnotise her twice to make her speak the truth, Yuri gave in and admitted that she had already gotten over it and had no more regrets in her life. The five of them then moved on to the gymnasium and on the way, Hinata tells Yuri that even Takatmatsu had reverted back from becoming a NPC and have departed the world as well. Meanwhile, Kanade was humming the tune of "My Song", the last song that Iwasawa sang before she left the world and Yuri agrees that it was a nice song. In the gymnasium, the stage was taken care of, with the banner to mark the graduation of the SSS members. Somehow, Otonashi and Hinata sees that Yuri has become more girl-like after she returned from Guild and she even got easily embarassed with Hinata saying that she's cute like that. Otonashi then led the rest through the ceremony, singing the anthem that Kanade had composed (lyrics with Mapo Tofu lines), receiving a self-made graduating certificate and then singing the farewell song. With that, Naoi takes his leave first after crying in front of Otonashi, thanking him for helping him get over his regret in his life and then, he disappears. Yuri then went to Kanade and apologise to her with the fights between them and told her that they could have become great friends if they had more time and then, Yuri hugs her. Hinata then thank her for being a great leader and Yuri finally leaves the world. Next is followed by Hinata who thanks Otonashi for his help too and being a great buddy. Otonashi then asks Kanade if they could take a walk outside to have some fresh air. Outside, Otonashi asks Kanade if she would want to stay in this world together with him as he thinks that there will definitely be people like them, having regrets in their life, and that he could help guide them to move on and with Kanade by his side, he wouldn't feel lonely in the world. Otonashi then confesses to Kanade that he loves her and wants her to stay with him. However, Kanade refuses to reply and when asked by Otonashi, she replies that she'll disappear if she replies to his feelings as she was kept alive by Otonashi's heart and she was the one who had continued to live after Otonashi donated his heart after he died. Otonashi couldn't believe it but Kanade tells him that her only regret here was no being able to thank the person who had allowed her live on and that she knew it was Otonashi after stabbing him on the first day and knowing that he does not have a heart. It was further reinforced that Otonashi had regained his memory after lying on Kanade as his heart was in her after all. Kanade then asks Otonashi to say that he loves her once again but as she'll disappear as a result, Otonashi initially refuses to say it but gave in after pleas from her. Otonashi then hugs her, telling her to stay with him forever and ever but after finally thanking him, Kanade disappears and Otonashi was left alone and he cries after her disappearance as they'll probably never meet again. However, in the real world, Kanade was leaning against a wall and humming the tune of "My Song" and when Otonashi went past her, he somehows recognises the song and chases after her and touches her on the shoulder...

and it ends...

the initial part of the episode was rather plain in a sense that it was just a graduation ceremony being carried out, would've been better if they had used those scenes to add on more scenes from the real world. i really wanted to see Hinata and Yui =X just when i thought that everything was just a plain old ceremony, the climax came, with Otonashi suggesting that they should stay on and that was really something i did not expect. and the confession thing was rather "awkward" kinda like a little rushed in their "relationship" but perhaps it was the bond of them having the "same" heart. with that, i never really did expect Kanade to be the one who benefited from Otonashi (or was it just me? =/) and was Kanade dead? or just in coma or some sort as she would be alive if she had a heart transplant wouldn't she? (and since Kanade had came into the world of the dead waaay before Otonashi so whys that ._.) anyways, i absolutely loved how the climax was carried out with the beautiful song playing in the background and then the "time leap" i was waiting and anticipating for... =) *happy~*

overall, the series had a big "hoo-haa" even before it started airing and i was caught in it. it was the only series so far that i have anticipated almost every single episode and enjoyed every single one of it. the animation for the fighting scenes were great, story lines were great, and the emotional changes throughout a single episode was nice as well. music wise is definitely great and i definitely wouldn't mind watching it all over again. it could be more moving, given that it was a KEY production but the short 13 episodes was really too short =X really loved the series~ *DOUBLE THUMBS UP* xD

and the reunion :)