Review por Wakaranai AnimeBlogger:

I’m going to be forthright with you here, ladies and gentlemen; the fact is that I really wanted to enjoy and appreciate this episode of Ergo Proxy, and, even more so, I tried to do just that while I was viewing it, but ultimately I could not. This particular episode, pulled out of the crowd, is a good example of how poor execution, or, more specifically, poor animation, can bring good concepts to ruination and waste, and really tear down someone’s enjoyment. So the episode came out poor over all, but at least it contributed some valuable story development to the show, which somewhat dampens my negativity. That’s right, folks, we have answers on Ergo Proxy! I was beginning to wonder if it would ever come. There was very little character development going on, with pretty much the only interaction of significance being Real’s conversations with Daedalus, which furthered their trust and friendship.

To be fair, I’d have to describe this episode as simultaneously the ugliest and most beautiful episode of Ergo Proxy yet, however, when all’s said and done it certainly looked like it was the cheapest. It was beautiful in its direction, palette, and backgrounds, and had the potential to raise the sexy stylistic gloss of the show to new heights. It was ugly in its actual cel animation, which lacked detail, consistency, fluidity, and in a number of cases, just plain accuracy. The number of different looks Real’s face went through this episode (and I don’t mean expressions - I mean facelift kind of changes) was both surprising and appalling. One minute she looked like a tired middle-aged woman who’d just been beaten with a stick, the next she looked like the real Real (pardon the pun) only with an unnaturally elongated face. At least her ass looked good, from what we could see. The fight sequence was an utter joke. A bunch of coloured misshapen squiggles faced the wrath of reused cels (Real firing her gun dramatically, anyone?) in a brawl that would have been more impressive if they’d just glared at each other. I had much love for Manglobe before this atrocity, now I have no faith in them whatsoever, and I could really see them screwing up the awesomeness of the show.

The story was where this episode didn’t dig a hole and bury itself, and for that we can all be glad. So it’s now established that what we’re dealing with is more than one Proxy, and it’s also very heavily hinted that Vincent is either a Proxy, or he’s somehow tied with them, but I’m starting to suspect that it’s the former - somehow. The whole idea of Moscow, which had only been referred to in passing before, is bought up enough so that we can get a clear idea of what it is. It seems to be some sort of opposing civilisation, or nation, and it seems likely that that’s where most of the immigrants came from. Perhaps, and this is just a vague guess, Moscow will be a religiously oriented society would provide an interesting contrast to a society that has turned itself into a machine in order to function optimally. The fact that humans are produced just like Autoreivs is an interesting concept, one which I’m sure will become important in the future. There is still a strong air of mystery, but this episode, thankfully, filled in some many gaps and gave some speculation allowing the viewer to get a better feel for the direction of the plot.

The music was unremarkable, but certainly not bad. So far, the score has not been overly repetitive, which is a common trait of anime music production. All this amounts to an episode that could have been pretty darn good, with a strong (excellent) visual style and some concrete story furthering, but, due to mightily failed production, it keeled over. I expected far more from this show, and far more from Manglobe. The writing and direction can only go so far to repair that, especially as we’ve seen how good the animation can be.

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Review por Wakaranai AnimeBlogger:

Well, this episode was a damned nice surprise, more than that, it was just awesome in the general sense. I must admit, I was beginning to doubt the quality of the show, and the direction it seemed to be taking. But, after two episodes of rather slow, also rather forgettable reflection and discussion with a number of irrelevant characters, this episode jumps back into gear and provides some quality action, plot progression, and emotional matter. It’s the best episode so far, and overall one of the best episodes of anime I’ve watched for a while. The dark, stylistic grit of the show’s presentation remains in this episode, but the animation is significantly better, and the plot remains in the same fashion, but the way it is paced and interlaced with other themes works really well this time, being compelling rather than dim. The intelligence of the show is upped a notch now too, with numerous clever schemes and some great twists, which kept my enjoyment spiked.

Talking about the plot first, possible because, as we’ve known it, the plot was one of the least important aspects of this week. The search for Proxy, and the answers regarding the rulers of Romdeau’s involvement are put aside, and the focus is on getting the characters out of their present situation. I thought that, when Real exited Romdeau, things would start coming together, but this episode ends with a very fragmented story. No answers were given, but the plot wasn’t obscured any more either. It didn’t really bother me, because it wasn’t filler, nor was it uninteresting. We have multiple factions, divided by their goals and motivations, and in one case, by vast distances, who are all revolving around the core mystery of Proxy. We have Real, and her allies; we have Raul and company; and we have Vincent and Pino, currently tagging along with other escaped outcasts, heading in the opposite direction. I do wonder how they’re going to be reunited (because it’s pretty obvious Real and Vincent will be), and how their separate paths will intersect from now on.

Many of the characters who I didn’t find so intriguing before, were quickly and expertly fleshed out this episode, and that I accredit to the fine writing. Raul, who I thought would end up as one of the ‘good guys’, clearly has a menacing ruthless streak in him, one which is very subtlety played off against his own human weakness. He seems to enjoy his position in all of this, and his lack of value for human lives is evidently one of the things that permits his beliefs. I want to seem waver between antagonist and protagonist further into the show. Real’s stubbornness, and arrogance in the way she treated the outcasts was interesting to see. She’s obviously not the all-round hero you might expect, although I think her approach to them was not born from hatred or malignancy, but a complete lack of comprehension of their situation.

Vincent wasn’t improved much as a character, but he kept his eyes open, which I much prefer. There is something eternally unsettling about a character who does not open their eyes. There were two tragic deaths this episode, both of them rather touching and memorable, unlike the loss of Timothy. Queen and Fude (however the hell you want to spell his cursed name) never really appealed to me before now. But as they were written here, I got a feel for their characters in an instant, and really got to like them. Queen was intelligent, and a strong presence, displaying admirable (if not always honest) leadership abilities, and it’s a shame she died. Fude, unlike his ceaseless lies before, finally did something worthy and made a great sacrifice in order to protect both Real and Vincent. His death, with his final moments spent overlooking the city, was excecuted (pardon the pun) perfectly.

An important part of why I came to like these two, was their interactions with Pino. Pino seemed to recognise both of them as a father, or at least parental figure, as they sort to teach and protect her. Fude’s talk with her about loneliness and death was really cool, especially Pino’s reaction to that loss. It’s really the first step she takes in shedding a more robotic personality, and gaining a real depth. The way this was reflected in Queen’s death was just fantastic.

The animation was excellent this episode, in terms of detail and fluidity. The direction was just amazing, with nearly every frame having a strong visual impact. Even the music was far better than usual, with some new music, and excellent usage as score, keeping things intense and thrilling. In conclusion, this episode included everything I wanted to see from Ergo Proxy, produced excellently, and written very well. I was tempted to give it an A++ rating, but its themes and concepts aren’t quite at that level. I hope the show surpasses this in episodes to come.

Review por Wakaranai AnimeBlogger:

I’ll have to reiterate just how in love I am with the OP, both the music and the visuals. I was surprised to see some changes evident this time around. All of the shots which display the cast have been edited slightly, given more of a gritty, abstract feel, to match the style of the rest of the OP. It might not make the characters clearer, but it does succeed it what it aimed to do.

Someone should have informed me as to this show’s sporadic schedule; I was about ready to assail Yoroshiku-subs with fire and crude weaponry for the prolonged wait for 5. As it turned out, it’s the Japanese tv-station I should be after! And, really, I’m getting dangerously close to adding Manglobe to that list for their work on the show. The show’s quality is still above average, but it’s not the kick-ass, superb series it was supposed to be. It could just be off to a shaky start, but this week I began to suspect otherwise. I am usually able to pardon less-than-desired production quality for strong content, character depth, and atmosphere. This episode had the seeds of potential for each of these things, but failed overall, and, in this case, I think I didn’t excuse the production values, letting it mar my experience instead. The plot was under consideration, but it was not actually moved forward; none of the characters really showed evidence of change, or were looked at in a more insightful manner; and where other episodes had a consistently strong dark mood, this time the show was devoid of a strong style.

Onto the plot first: I’m all for slow and cryptic exploration of a plot, in fact many of my favourite shows have engaged in this method of storytelling. I like it because it’s almost a way for the viewer to engage in a journey with the show, similar to how the characters do, and this obfuscation can make the plot so much more rewarding. However, right now, it’s starting to become slightly annoying with Ergo Proxy. By now, I’d like to either see some telling hints, or, at the very least the makings of a great plot. If I saw that potential, I could endure slower progression. I don’t see it. Things have just been broadening out, and many elements that made the story thrilling to begin with are fading, like the chase with Vincent and monster, Lil’s restricted investigation. Instead of sticking with something strong, it just seems to be meandering around. We know there’s something very strange going on with Vincent and that monster.

It’s been suggested that Vincent actually IS the monster, but this episode essentially proves to the contrary, by showing the monster escape the scene, while Vincent had remained floating in the water. What we do know is that there is some sort of tie between him and the monster, as it only seems to appear around him. What I need to grasp is, why was it chasing him earlier, seemingly with lethal intent, yet this week it seemed more like the monster saved him by drawing away the Techibi.

The characters this week didn’t fare too well, well, the main ones anyway. The supporting cast actually came along way. Characters I hadn’t been fond of before, actually brought some interest to the episode. Queen is interesting as the strangely deep, intelligent, and sceptical ground-dweller, and Hude was quite amusing as the compulsive liar, especially when the web of lies he’d constructed began to unravel, and his façade of leadership crumbled. Pino remains too damn cute for her own good, and this is oddly enhanced by just how out of place her charming innocence is in the dark, morbid world of Ergo Proxy. I don’t like how she has been fit into the story though, it just doesn’t seem like she needs to be included. That Timothy kid wa annoying, and although it was forcefully melancholy when he died, I still thought to myself that at least I didn’t have to listen to his awful voice again.

Vincent is still moping about, relying on others to make choices for him, and not exhibiting any real character strengths. Although, he did begin to challenge returning to the sanctum of Romdo after experiencing the lives of those on the outside. Lil’s character didn’t work for me this time. I’m not sure what she’s aiming for in her investigation right now, and whether she cares about anyone else, or even herself. Hopefully next week will be told from her perspective so I can get a grip on where she’s at right now.

Yes, me and the production values did have issues this time around! There was a surprising, and equally annoying, lack of both detail and consistency in the art. In the end I think it might have been a shift in style on the part of a different animation director, and the look of it felt very Manglobe, but it just wasn’t good enough. Perhaps the overall intentionally haphazard style of Samurai Champloo made me less nitpicky. No, I’m sure Samurai Champloo’s animation was much superior to this. The music, too, looks to be less than satisfactory. I expect a lot from music, as good music is what makes me remember a show above all else, and the good music the show does have is getting repetitive. Interesting, but not great or exciting.

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Citação de Linarde:

Depois de uma longa paragem, a PaM volta a FMP, e agora com tradutor novo. Neste caso, tradutora, a p0is0n_girl.

Devido à qualidade do seu trabalho, passará a ser a tradutora de FMP, o que acaba por ajudar muito a malta da fansub, que neste momento anda sem tempo para nada (trabalhos e preparação para a época de exames da faculdade )

Esperamos assim que uma paragem como esta não volte a acontecer em FMP.

Mais uma vez, as nossas desculpas a todos.

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Review por chicowcs:

Os criadores:
Full Metal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, lit. Alquimista de Metal) é um mangá criado por Hiromu Arakawa que foi originalmente publicado pela Shonen Gangan, revista de mangás semanal japonesa.
Além disso, FMA também foi transformado em uma conhecida série televisiva com o mesmo nome, um longa-metragem, e vários jogos.
O mangá consiste, até agora em 12 volumes e 52 capítulos, enquanto o anime consiste em 51 episódios e o filme Conqueror of Shamballa.

Um breve resumo da Historia da série:
A história passa-se num mundo onde a alquimia é uma ciência, e conta a jornada de um jovem alquimista Edward Elric e de seu irmão mais novo,
Alphonse Elric, em busca da lendária Pedra Filosofal. Mas o caminho que eles decidiram levar não é fácil, eles vão encontrar uma série de obstáculos
até atingirem o seu objectivo final: recuperar o que lhes foi tirado.

Uma das frases principais deste anime, que marca toda a gente que já viu FMA:
"Uma pessoa não pode ganhar uma coisa sem perder outra. Para ganhar algo você precisa de alguma coisa do mesmo valor."

Edward Elric e Alphonse Elric, irmãos que moram apenas com a mãe, pois o pai, um famoso alquimista da época, tinha saído de casa sem nunca mais dar noticias.
Os dois sempre muito unidos começaram a aprender alquimia (que no anime é como se fosse uma magia de transformar coisas em outras coisas etc.), e sempre que estavam a praticar alquimia sua mãe sorria lembrando-se do pai deles.
Um dia inesperadamente a mãe deles morre, e eles decidem aprender Alquimia Humana, para ressuscitar a sua mãe.
Considerada um tipo de alquimia proibida pois ninguém conseguiu usá-la e os que tentam acabam se prejudicando, mas mesmo assim eles tentam. Na noite escura, no momento da transmutação dos elementos no corpo da mãe, algo dá errado, e o irmão mais velho, Edward, perde a perna, e Al, o corpo todo.
Em um momento de desespero, Edward ainda consegue salvar a alma do seu irmão, trocando seu braço pela anexação da alma dele numa das armaduras do local ( Na casa deles).
Agora com 15 e 14 anos, Edward com braço e pernas mecânicas, e Al com uma armadura no lugar do corpo, saem pelo mundo para recuperar seus corpos.

Minha opinião:
Uma anime que trás consigo uma legião enorme de fãs. Considerado por muitos como o melhor anime de sempre, aconselho toda a gente que não viu este anime a vê-lo porque esta muito bom, para não dizer lindo.

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Review por Anime on My mind:

The flame haired, red-hot eyed seiyuu and Matsumaru continue their lives together, and Aka seems content the way things are. Matsumaru, though, isn’t as content, and he is starting to get the look of a whipped male. Pretty much a nothingburger with cheese episode as Matsumaru goes out forgetting that Aka doesn’t have a key, so he rushes back and catches her doing her typical, cheerfully cute thing. The two get into a somewhat romantic mood together, only to have Aka reject him once again.

Normally, blogging about an anime series that takes episode names from old Audrey Hepburn movies would make me question my masculinity, but Aka is just too cute. Episode 1 was Roman Holiday. 2 was Sabrina Fair. 3 is Wait Until Dark. 4 is going to be Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Aside from Audrey Hepburn, three things are keeping my interest: the first is Aka’s cuteness. She’s just adorable, and her cheery outlook on life is commendable if not infectious. I really like the scene where she’s practicing her voice out in the cold, dark night by herself. The second is Matsumaru and his quixotic quest for a gohobi. (Though, I’m not saying he should pull a Dave Foley and break out the, “I’ve already had her” line.) The anime series seems to be taking a decidedly different route than the manga and with these feel-good storylines; I’m not sure how much fanservice and casual sex can they cram into the series before it ends. At least Matsumaru tries. I’m rooting for him. Lastly, it would be awesome if Aka gets called in for a real anime show, like instead of “generic healing-type magical girl show,” they would actually be dubbing Nanoha. Of course, the greatest would be if Aka gets called in for Magikano. If you get that reference, +10 fanboy points. (Though for someone trying to be a seiyuu, she sure can’t sing an OP. Definitely not in that Horie Yui/Rie Tanaka/Ayako Kawasumi class yet.)