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My musings on a review *spoilers ahead*
13 years ago
Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice...
I'll say it again, there are spoilers ahead. If you don't want anything ruined about the anime Cat Planet Cuties (Asobi ni Ikuyo!) then turn back now.
Still with me? Don't say I didn't warn you. This is the last chance to turn back and go watch the anime first.
Ok, now that the all important spoiler warnings are out of the way, let's get down to business. I enjoy anime, perhaps more than I should. One of the ones I've enjoyed the most recently is Cat Plantet Cuties or Asobi ni Ikuyo! (rough translation: I'm going to drop in!). Often after watching a series, I'll check out the reviews and see what other's thought. Often it lets me look at it in another light and think about other perspectives.
Then I read the one for Cat Planet Cuties and couldn't help but wonder if the reviewer really even thought beyond what was literally right in front of his face.
Here's where things will get very spoilertastic. Through the series, it builds as several 'harem' situations do and presents the lead male with a multiple options who are literally fighting for his affections. I will agree with the reviewer that it is very believable in their buildup. From there though, the thoughts split dramatically. In the last episode, the alien cat-girl (Eris) drops the bombshell that multiple mates isn't uncommon where she comes from. Raise your hand if you see that as a standard cop out and nothing more could be behind it.
... *waits*.... *kitchen timer ding*
Ok, for those who raised your hands, you agreed with the reviews I read. I know you couldn't see it for real, but my hand didn't raise.
Want to know how I could be thinking so differently? Do you think I'm such a geek/nerd/nekomimi fetishist that I want to see more than what's there?
While there may be some truth to the last one, I've actually worked hard to look at it from a neutral perspective and not let the inclusion of many feline traits cloud my judgement. While forming my opinion, I had a small revelation hit. Everyone who has a copy handy, watch the series again and tell me just how many male Catians you see. This should be very easy, and I'll even let you count the human (Kio) who was turned into one. Now, try your best to get an accurate count of the females. Anyone else see a HUGE disproportion in gender? Almost biologically impossible, isn't it? At least for a monogamous society. In a polygamous society, a population could be sustained by very few males. It's still not an easily believable ratio, but at the same time, the truth is often stranger than fiction.
Not seeming like such a cop out any more, now is it? Still a tad overly convenient, but not so bad.
But wait, there's more. Through the series, the two other humans (Aoi and Manami) both are nuts about Kio, and it doesn't take alien tech for everyone to know it. The two frequently fight with each other about trying to beat Eris to getting him as a boyfriend (or more). For those paying attention, Eris seems confused by these fights, often finding it almost amusing. Even when Manami (finally) blows up in Eris' face, the catgirl is almost completely unphased. There's a little sadness in her eyes for a second as she's feeling some empathy for the other girls, but then she drops her bombshell with a very happy smile.
Again, it looks like a cop out. Now think back to point A above and try to look at things from her perspective. She grew up on a planet where multiple mates was quite frequent and naturally wouldn't think anything of it, even though the others look confused as hell.
It probably looks like I'm trying to find something that isn't there and support what some believe to be a very flimsy way to avoid a final choice. Frankly, I don't care. I just call it as I see it, and I see something that is far more than what the other reviewer seems to have seen.
My entire point, just because you've seen something like it done before, that doesn't mean that it has the same weak reasoning. Sometimes many paths can lead to the same end decision and they might have even better reasons than you think. You just have to be willing to use the most powerful analytical tool ever developed. Your brain.
Ok, I feel better getting all that off my chest. Now off to get some more of the calendar project finished. Lots more porn to draw before the year ends.
BTW, I'm still open for commissions.
Still with me? Don't say I didn't warn you. This is the last chance to turn back and go watch the anime first.
Ok, now that the all important spoiler warnings are out of the way, let's get down to business. I enjoy anime, perhaps more than I should. One of the ones I've enjoyed the most recently is Cat Plantet Cuties or Asobi ni Ikuyo! (rough translation: I'm going to drop in!). Often after watching a series, I'll check out the reviews and see what other's thought. Often it lets me look at it in another light and think about other perspectives.
Then I read the one for Cat Planet Cuties and couldn't help but wonder if the reviewer really even thought beyond what was literally right in front of his face.
Here's where things will get very spoilertastic. Through the series, it builds as several 'harem' situations do and presents the lead male with a multiple options who are literally fighting for his affections. I will agree with the reviewer that it is very believable in their buildup. From there though, the thoughts split dramatically. In the last episode, the alien cat-girl (Eris) drops the bombshell that multiple mates isn't uncommon where she comes from. Raise your hand if you see that as a standard cop out and nothing more could be behind it.
... *waits*.... *kitchen timer ding*
Ok, for those who raised your hands, you agreed with the reviews I read. I know you couldn't see it for real, but my hand didn't raise.
Want to know how I could be thinking so differently? Do you think I'm such a geek/nerd/nekomimi fetishist that I want to see more than what's there?
While there may be some truth to the last one, I've actually worked hard to look at it from a neutral perspective and not let the inclusion of many feline traits cloud my judgement. While forming my opinion, I had a small revelation hit. Everyone who has a copy handy, watch the series again and tell me just how many male Catians you see. This should be very easy, and I'll even let you count the human (Kio) who was turned into one. Now, try your best to get an accurate count of the females. Anyone else see a HUGE disproportion in gender? Almost biologically impossible, isn't it? At least for a monogamous society. In a polygamous society, a population could be sustained by very few males. It's still not an easily believable ratio, but at the same time, the truth is often stranger than fiction.
Not seeming like such a cop out any more, now is it? Still a tad overly convenient, but not so bad.
But wait, there's more. Through the series, the two other humans (Aoi and Manami) both are nuts about Kio, and it doesn't take alien tech for everyone to know it. The two frequently fight with each other about trying to beat Eris to getting him as a boyfriend (or more). For those paying attention, Eris seems confused by these fights, often finding it almost amusing. Even when Manami (finally) blows up in Eris' face, the catgirl is almost completely unphased. There's a little sadness in her eyes for a second as she's feeling some empathy for the other girls, but then she drops her bombshell with a very happy smile.
Again, it looks like a cop out. Now think back to point A above and try to look at things from her perspective. She grew up on a planet where multiple mates was quite frequent and naturally wouldn't think anything of it, even though the others look confused as hell.
It probably looks like I'm trying to find something that isn't there and support what some believe to be a very flimsy way to avoid a final choice. Frankly, I don't care. I just call it as I see it, and I see something that is far more than what the other reviewer seems to have seen.
My entire point, just because you've seen something like it done before, that doesn't mean that it has the same weak reasoning. Sometimes many paths can lead to the same end decision and they might have even better reasons than you think. You just have to be willing to use the most powerful analytical tool ever developed. Your brain.
Ok, I feel better getting all that off my chest. Now off to get some more of the calendar project finished. Lots more porn to draw before the year ends.
BTW, I'm still open for commissions.
