The second episode of Genshiken 2 aired last night, and unlike the first episode it features the OP animation and opening theme song in all its glory – frankly it’s nothing like what I was expecting, and it blew me away. The entire OP sequence is directed by veteran animator and eromangaka Urushihara Satoshi, and unlike the original Manzo OP which centers around the club enjoying their daily activities this one soars into the realm of otaku myth, transposing characters into the roles of giant robot heroes. The OP theme song itself does the job fine, but what really knocks you off your feet is the animation. I can’t believe they had the budget to do this. It’s not up on YouTube yet, but Nico has it here (registration required); screencap of the Urushihara credit below:
I haven’t seen anything this awesome in years.
Pure awesomeness. This only OP blew away the entire season one budget.
For the YouTube inclined : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1JFcG2ESXc
You know what would be beyond awesome? If they changed the OP every episode, using a different anime classic each time.
…
Yeah, I’m bored and I have nothing to do right now. orz.
This is so fucking awesome.
What a great parody of the traditional Gundam OP.
Gundam Seed ops aren’t traditional Gundam ops.
For equality’s sake here’s a hi-def version of the ED:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8dPqVqI3XQ&mode=related&search=
I really like this, it’s very pretty and I love how the Genshiken’s clubroom changes from line art to almost photographic colour. I’d have that as a wallpaper.
The Gundam Seed comparison is perfect. The end of the OP, with Sasahara being greeted by the triumvirate of perfect girlfriends, veers a uncomfortably close to the otaku wish fulfillment angle, but the whole thing is still saved by Crimson Comet Madarame.
Nothing to do now but sit on my hands till the DVDs come out. ;_;
>>lostdog
I would argue that the entire thing is otaku wish fulfillment, every last blessed second of it, and I love it that way. However I don’t think they’re being portrayed as his girlfriends; he really only does have eyes for Ogi.
I was wavering on the DVD release, but I think I’m going to have to spring for it after all…
>>Sydney2K
I really like the ED as well, I think it’s equal to that of the original series, and I like how the image is gradually colored with the areas most important to the club members being colored first (if we assume the seats symbolize the people themselves). Musically I prefer the ED to the OP, I think.
Now that I think about it, odds are good that Urushihara Satoshi drew the Gungal Bleed poster we saw at the manga-ken in the first episode. I’m not sure about the Reass Mood one, though.
>>Fabien
That’s a great point. I was thinking it looked a lot like his work when I first watched the episode, but now that we know he’s on board with the project it seems to be a virtual certainty.
It makes sense given that he seems to have been doing other work for Media Factory recently (the Ikkitousen Dragon Destiny ending animation in particular).
“You know what would be beyond awesome? If they changed the OP every episode, using a different anime classic each time.”
Do you think they would have the budget for that? :P
Hmm. I wonder if it’s going to be the Gungal opening the whole series, or if they’re going to change it up at all.
Hmmm.
But it was quite nice. ^^ A Manzo song would have been preferred, but the song they used it also good.
It’s ok, but uh… there goes the budget?
Given the rather placid content of the manga, as long as the characters stay on model I can’t think of anything they could’ve spent the budget more effectively on.
Well, maybe more Ohno fanservice.