As most Kobato. fans know, the anime was technically going to adapt their other manga Wish, which actually connects to Kobato. anyway. Kobato. includes many crossovers, but like Tsubasa (and Holic) actually connected to the CCS story, it seems that Kobato. does the same with Wish.

Not that I ever read Wish. I hope no fellow CLAMP fans get on my case when I say this, but CLAMP works can be hit and miss with me. Wish is a miss…for me. Great CLAMP-ish work I’m sure, but not for me. So I’ve been meh on the whole wish adaptation all along. Not against it, just…don’t really care about it.

So I’m probably going to ignore all the Wish stuff because I didn’t read it and therefore get none of the fangirly giggly pleasure the rest of you Wish fans probably do. And I just don’t want to bring any of you down. So I’ll leave it at that.

Tastes can be a strange thing. Even with that similar fluffy CLAMP tone, some things just hit you and some things just might not.

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Episode 02 – Kobato Broke My Logic

Everyone has their point where they can’t even shrug stuff and say, “Well it’s fiction” because it just reminds them too much of real life. Personally for me all of Kobato’s wild…logic-lacking (the whole series, not just Kobato herself) hit my brick wall of nuh-uh.

Simply put, having actual circumstances and a whole conversation where Kobato is officially volunteering for the daycare puts me very much standing beside Fujimoto going, “Yeah wtf Sayaka-san?”

Lots of people can pretend to be sweet. Lots of people that are genuinely sweet and clueless can actually be dangerous too. Especially to kids. So uh…yeah. Don’t trust kids that aren’t even yours with someone you don’t know.

Enjoy the unrelated adorableness of Kobato while I complain.

The reason why this hits me so hard is for the very same reason why I love the daycare portions of Kobato. I volunteered at a daycare twice before. And you know what? Had to fill out five pages of forms and I did so happily. Normally they seem quite realistic to me, so when it…just plain isn’t it bothers me.

So yeah. This worked in the manga where it’s kind of glossed over, but having Kobato just being around the kids and being left alone with them not five minutes after Sayaka lets her in bugs the crap out of me. It kind of ruins me feeling bad for Sayaka’s daycare going down. I mean if I was a mother and found out about this sort of thing I’d have my kid pulled out of there so fast.

Overall, it’s just something that couldn’t be avoided, but it still irks me. It’s the difference in pacing so they fill in the obvious gaps but…I don’t know. Sometimes the gaps made the story work better.

Oh and the first person to complain, “But it’s fiction~” gets a slap right through the internet. I know that. But it’s still a legitimate complaint of mine when one of the things I adore about this series is its balance between naivety and realism.

In this episode, the only one with any sense of realism is Fujimoto. So that makes it hard to see him as the guy who’s too harsh because everyone else is taking things too lightly.

And speaking of Fujimoto…didn’t like Kobato seeing him as wounded so soon. We’re in episode two, don’t turn Kobato into the girl who instinctively knows everything about feelings yet guys. I don’t think there was any context for her to even assume that.

I also felt like the new bits of Kobato being…cute kind of feel like they’re trying too hard. The dance Kobato did made me feel more uncomfortable than the usual, “D’aww~ Kobato is so cute~” Maybe from me still being stuck on the “Why the heck is she around the kids?” combined with some fangirl annoyance of “Why doesn’t she hold more of a grudge against Fujimoto?” (I love sweet Kobato getting angry~). But I really think the moment was just more awkward than cute. But that’s just my opinion.

Now aren’t you fans who were still full in love with the series glad I didn’t blog it on time? I just don’t feel motivated to blog when something bugs me so early one.

Of course, none of that is to say that it made me love the series any less. I am always fully prepared to accept an adaptation as a new work and separate it. But knowing what you know, you’re going to have expectations, even if unintentionally, and you’ll get disappointed when things don’t quite match-up.

Now on the positives.

This is absolutely one of my favorite moments in the manga. There are quite a few moments that stand out in this series as good moments. Pretty much any healing moment qualifies. Pretty much every time Kobato shows off her trademark smile. But even among those Kobato’s first healing really stood out. She was trying so hard and then, when she didn’t even realize there was a problem

Also, I think a lot of people can identify with the child. Even if you were never in a similar situation, if you know your mom (or dad) is a good parent you don’t want people saying bad things about them. Especially when you’re that age and you don’t know to ignore it or how to set them straight.

It actually reminds me of something that came up in Fruits Basket a lot. Adults talking around children or about children because they “don’t understand” when of course, they do.

Anyway, the anime did a lovely job adapting this scene and the music (familiar from Kobato’s song in the first episode of course) very much helped. I was wondering if it would be an ongoing thing in scenes like this and I don’t think I’d mind if it was. It’s a nice thing to carry on…as long as they don’t wedge it in where it doesn’t fit (which I don’t think they will). The whole thing got me teary-eyed very much liked when I first read the manga. It also made me firmly decide that Kana Hanazawa is Kobato.

Sometimes you have to get used to a seiyuu playing a character for a while, but as of this episode every character just sounds so natural. Especially Kobato in every way (except maybe the singing, but even there I’d argue that more attention was paid to the sound of Kobato’s voice, not her singing expertise and I think it works in that way). The only exception might be Ioryogi, but I say that’s mostly because looking at him when he’s a freakin’ stuffed dog just makes the whole thing absurd.

The addition of a minor hint about Kobato’s parents was nice too. The hint is basically that she doesn’t have any. Or rather that she probably doesn’t have a father. It was also nice that the cute “healed” kid from the episode asked her and seemed sad for her. Nice bit of foreshadowing there.

And the last thing was that this episode made me really figure on why Kobato x Fujimoto is such a popular pairing (aside from the obvious d’aww-ness from both parites). Fujimoto is the perfect example of a pessimist and Kobato is optimism personified. So they balance each other out and stuff. The same with Kobato being naive and Fujimoto having a really good grasp on the world (especially the bad things sadly). Which really comes in handy in a future scene that I really, really want to see.

But…I’m kind of betting Fujimoto plays the jerk who is really mostly hinted at having a soft side (but hardly ever around Kobato) until the episodes hit double digits. Which is actually what I want. I’m sure fans all like seeing Fujimoto’s nice side (oh I love it~) but it doesn’t mean as much if it doesn’t come with the full development he should be getting.

So, this episode makes it clear that this is an 24-episode adaptation of a four volume manga, happened to hit just a few spots I don’t like (moving stuff around to mess up with some character development and therefore lessening the impact it should make later), hit an annoying little snag of reality where I can’t just shrug it off, but it’s still good and heart-warming.

I’ll just say please don’t move around the development for Fujimoto and how Kobato and he view each other too much from now on. Like my reality-snag says, Fujimoto as a realist has a reason not to trust Kobato, but don’t hang onto that too much either. *sigh* Relationships that get off to a bad start are hard to develop, so I’ll give them some slack, but it’s hard. Me being who I am.

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Episode 03 – Rainy Days Make Me Smile~

This is one of my favorite chapters of the manga. Maybe my favorite. Because it’s so hard to decide on favorite chapters later when they so often end in cliffhangers or are separated into different parts. But out of the

Coincidentally~ This is also the first story from Kobato I read. Back when my brother had a subscription to NewType USA I picked up an issue because the cover was somehow relevant to my interests and I read this story. Because of the nature of the exams portion, you could actually do that with most chapters and not really get lost because you didn’t know something. Sometime after I think I read the Christmas one which I also remember fondly, but more because I totally love Christmas. But those were the only two I read out of sequence.

Anyway, I just loved Kobato learning this small piece of unfairness in the world, but still being rewarded with kindness. Stuff like this actually does happen every day and you’ll probably encounter a story like this at least once in your life. For me at NYAF, I lost my (second) autograph ticket for Yui Makino, but someone I was standing in line with gave me theirs (and thank you again kind sir!). Even though I said no at first and since it would be my second, he

That’s what I really love most about Kobato. The heart-warming, “healing” stories that still seem realistic. At least to those who aren’t too cynical yet and have been fortunate enough to encounter these small little moments of kindness. It really can brighten up your day even when you’re feeling horrible.

Kobato is the ultimate cure for a bad day! So does the adaptation of my favorite story measure up? Let’s find out…

Not CLAMP, but pretty damn close.

I’ll say the anime passes with flying colors. As always one frame of CLAMP artwork can portray a lot more than the anime can, but they do as well as is possible…I think. I’ll just say that it wouldn’t have hurt them too much to linger a bit on Kobato’s lessons. Learning that people will take things and then learning that people will also just give things away. Especially the latter since they just went to adorable Ushagi-ness afterward (AKA the eyecatch).

Though the addition of someone returning the umbrella leaves me stuck between, “That kind of ruins the message.” And “oh isn’t that nice.” Since I have such a love for the manga story, I’d say it’s mostly the former, but it’s not that bad. I guess. I still have my super short manga story. *cuddles it*

The only thing is that it’s not really the main story of the episode so I guess it can’t be helped. The anime added in a little story with…well I guess a filler girl (though I liked her, I guess I’m still used to crappy kiddy filler girls since this surprises me so much). It doesn’t measure up to my favoritest rainy day story, but it’s quite a nice one.

Kobato…healing hearts…

…and unknowingly part-timing as cupid.

Seriously, this series is magical because it got me all “Kyahaha~” at the end of the episode for a one episode couple. It helps that they’re such a stubborn, high school, first love sort of couple. So cute you guys!!! I would also say that it helped other fangirling when Kobato said that the boy was mean like Fujimoto and then the two go on to become an umbrella-sharing couple…Kyahaha!

The story also made a nice little connection to Kobato being a “magical girl.” In all the usual sense of the genre, she isn’t. But as an actual person I think she is. Making friends wherever she goes. This week Mutsumi, next week Kohaku. And since nothing magical needs to happen to these friends, it still works logically too. Lots of people have poor, wounded hearts.

It really was a nice little story that took advantage of that romantic sharing an umbrella thing they have going in Japan. Which when I think about it really is way too cute. We don’t really have cute romantic stuff like that in America. *pokes stuff with a stick* Even fictional romance is usually so basic and boring.

Now on all of the other stuff.

First off I would like to say that this week adding in missing details made the episode better where as last time it lead to my snagging logic fail moment. I’m specifically referring to Sayaka bringing Kobato to Chitose’s home whereas in the manga she kind of just…miraculously gets a room there. I guess through the same Ioryogi magic that gets her clothing and dove-shaped cell phones (I’m serious about that, it really will appear, you just wait and see).

So I guess just a week to forget Sayaka’ saintly stupidity is enough to cross off the stupidity because now Sayaka just seems like that very kind person who sadly gets taken advantage of.  So “stupidity” might still be right anyway, but to a less harsh degree. Like…I feel bad for poor Sayaka-san instead of going, “Psh. Well yeah. Don’t be stupid, Stupid.

I say this is actually the proper response to Chitose, the world’s best landlady.

On Houko Kuwashima as Chitose…I’ll say I approve. It’s been so long since I watched Chobits that it didn’t even make me pause for a moment. And I don’t even remember who played her in Piffle World in Tsubasa Chronicle so that  doesn’t really come into it at all (looked it up, Chieko Honda). Though oddly enough when Houko-san plays a teenager I keep thinking the voice sounds older and in this case of course I think Chitose sounds younger. But it’s okay since that’s just how Chitose is. So nice and youthful because all the youthful looking people in CLAMP manga are the nicest. Seriously.

I say double human loli Chii is even cuter than persocom Chii.

…And holy crap Megumi-san. Granted, I’ve only heard her as Ranka, but I still didn’t expect…I mean Megumi Nakajima just has this very recognizable voice. I always thought of her as more of a singer, but she really does have the talent for voice acting too. She just made such an adorable Chiho and Chise. I don’t think she sounds very Chii-like, but…who cares it’s damn adorable. Also…twin voices. Double cute!!!

You know before they were voiced I never really paid that much attention to Chiho and Chise but now I can’t wait until they appear again. Too cute~

Also for the weekly Fujimoto x Kobato stuff.

“You’re one minute and 23 seconds late.”

“One minute?”

So let the cheek pinching commence!

Ahahaha~ I love it. Though I still think Fujimoto isn’t being as suspicious (not trusting) as he should be. He’s mostly keeping that stuff to Sayaka and just generally picking on Kobato. I still think he should be meaner…but I guess they’re just spreading it out more.

Anyway, as we find out later on this means Fujimoto’s already gotten used to Kobato. If he really didn’t like having her around he wouldn’t tease her. And that is just way too cute by the way.

But let’s end with the cutest thing ever. A sleeping Kobato. So freakin’ cute.

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Episode 04 – The Wish Stuff

So the Wish plot coming up in Kobato basically goes along with Kobato wanting to heal Kohaku…I guess. Would an angel even count? Well I guess they would, but it doesn’t matter because Kohaku is already happy. Yes as far as the Kobato. plot goes this episode was pointless. Awesome.

As I said in the beginning I never really read Wish and don’t really intend to, so I don’t really have feelings on the whole episode one way or the other aside from my usual process of loving every moment of Kobato on screen. So I guess Wish being adapted with Kobato leaves me a bit more on the bad side of feeling anything about it. Since it takes away from Kobato screen time.

Also with Kohaku’s appearance it does more of that shuffling of events a bit. At least of finding things out sooner rather than later. It doesn’t really affect it too much, but there’s more to be suspicious about Ioryogi for…though finding out the name Iorogi already does me irk me a bit. It’s a small thing, but it still irks me I guess.

Though Ushagi-san…really moves things up I’d say. I don’t even know what to make of it.

I will say that Kohaku might just be coming in handy if she…um…he? It seems just rude. Sheesh unlike other genderless CLAMP characters, fans are kind of evenly split on whether Kohaku should be he or she. Anyway, I was thinking Kohaku would come in handy for when Kobato starts thinking similar things about her own someone special. Ohohoho~

Or just that this one episode might be useful for Kobato to think back on. Still Ohohoho~

Now since the next episode seems to include some old dude I’m betting it’s another filler, though it still makes me wonder about how the heck Wish is involved in the story anyway. Especially since I haven’t read the manga. Maybe just a filler here and then later on Kohaku will come back every so often or something. When information about the Kobato anime came out and that it would include Wish, they made very sure to say that it was Kobato…just with some Wish add-in. This episode could be the extent of the add-in. But it could simply be relevant because of Kohaku’s apperance in the most recent chapter. We’ll see later on I guess.

Now for all the other stuff. Basically just Kobato x Fujimoto stuff again.

lol. Crying at trees. I love watching Kobato explain herself when it doesn’t explain anything at all. And then Fujimoto just goes along with it to use the opportunity to pick on her. So fun~

lol. Amusement park tickets. And in this one Kobato starts learning about all of Fujimoto’s jobs too.

Both scenes are caption-less, but you saw the episode anyway. I just wanted to comment on how I love the fact that almost all of Fujimoto’s scenes with Kobato are ending with him sighing and basically just giving in to whatever the heck is going on.

No one can resist Kobato! Not even cynical work-a-holics!

Though I still say Kobato takes Fujimoto’s teasing too easily. I want more adorable Kobato style rawr-ing.

Oh yeah plus this.

ROFL XD I love this anime. And Tetsu Inada is a hilariously awesome seiyuu.

Oh and because this occurred to me and made me want to slam my head into a wall when I watched the anime I’ll make you suffer with it too.

Impossible you say…

And those who are from my era of childhood all collectively slam their heads into their desks! At least the girls, don’t know how many dudes would be familiar.

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So basically episode two felt off in pacing to me and it still feels weird the way they mix some things up, but I’m pretty sure they’re going for an anime original ending here, not just an open end. That seems to be the way with most CLAMP adaptations…when a studio respects their work anyway and has them on staff. Meaning we don’t talk about Bee Train around here.

I mean Chobits and CardCaptor Sakura both had different, but tone-appropriate endings. And hey! Would you look at that! They were both done by Madhouse too!

Now all that’s left is to wonder where exactly that ending will go. Though we probably won’t find out much in that direction until double digit episodes anyway. So says the Madhouse adaptation history!

Tags: ahaha~, aww, cute~!, fangirling, kyaa!, ROFL, shipping

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 5:12 pm and is filed under Episodic, Kobato.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.