Nadeshiko invites Amu to watch Kuukai’s soccer practice. Kuukai is very skillful, as the team’s captain, so Amu does a chara-change to own up all the starters. Bench scrub Yamada slips when he gets open for a shot, but Amu cleans up after him. After practice, the coach calls out the starters for tomorrow’s game against perennial champion Seifu Academy, and Yamada’s name is not called. In spite of his disappointment, Yamada continues to practice very hard on his own.
Of course Yuu can’t just let Yamada work out his own problems, and makes Yamada feel like hard work can never trump genius. Yamada almost fights it off, but in the end he succumbs to his own X-Chara. Yamada begins pouting like every other self-involved athlete and states that it doesn’t even matter who wins. Naturally, Amu changes into Amulet Heart and blasts the X-Chara. Freed from the burden of angst, Yamada subs in and cuts hard to score the tying goal in the final seconds.
I’m not a huge soccer fan, but this episode was actually very exciting. Amu’s moves had a slightly clunky animation, but I was impressed that they actually tried to animate the whole thing (instead of a “running in front of the ball” sequence). Even the end was excellent with the fantastic GAR friendship, and Kuukai uppercutting Yamada hard for throwing a pity party.
Of course, Yamada is rather lucky that Kuukai attracts four-man coverage, even without using his chara-change. Still, Yamada did what he had to do, and I was glad that his practice paid off. That Yuu guy is such a major jerk, both in his evil form and in his maddening goofy form. Lastly, I was surprised that Nadeshiko decided to chara-change just so she could cheer on Kuukai.
5 Comments
‘Maddeningly goofy’ definitely describes Yuu to a T. He’s twice as annoying as Vash or Abel.
I dunno if Nadeshiko really decided to chara change, or if it just kind of happened…..kind of like how Amu is always messed with. xD
Amu’s soccer moves were pretty awesome. I love how they just kind of let her play when she interrupted the middle of their game.
The soccer animation was pretty gangsta! Especially those ridiculous moves Amu did. I’m surprised no one questioned her about that, but if she makes a goal, I guess there really is no reason to ^_^
I’ve wanted to ask you this for a long time, but I was too embarrassed for not knowing the otaku language *blush*. What exactly is GAR? Is that like, really macho manly or something? Or maybe involves pirates?
I’m glad we’ll finally get to see the artist chara-change! Puffy hats are SO in this season!
*blush*
Well, since it’s your first time, we’ll be gentle: behold the meaning of GAR. You were on the right track, although pirates are not always involved.
Thanks for the link! You see (surprisingly), I’m not a 4chan-er, so you’ll have to excuse my noobism. and yes, gentleness is a must for first-timers! :P (I’m more of a ninja fan btw…)