Author: Juu-kuchi

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L/R: Licensed by Royalty Episode 05 – PG-Rated Professional

The PG rating’s a good thing by the way. This means no chance of insinuation over whether or not an act of taboo is being proffered. However, if it were the OTHER Professional, the one who is also an animu, then this episode would be kinda boring. His surliness has to go hand-in-hand with the sleaziness of his world.

Almost Animu for All Ages up in here, yo.

This is as of yet the highest point when it comes to an overall solid episode. Tension is right, the pacing is right, and the kind of conflict this episode presents is welcome. The fact their antagonist is a sniper, a profession involving pretty quick results unlike the plotting and planning of previous foes, helps matters. So this sniper comes to Ishtar for some job after killing off some celebrity of sorts, and it is up to L/R to stop him from killing his target. Matters get complicated when his daughter, unaware of his job, makes friends with Cloud 7 (beginning with a might bit cute scene with her and Rowe), allowing them to use her to their advantage in figuring out who he is going to kill. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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L/R: Licensed by Royalty Episode 04 – Sun, Sand, and Subterfuge

Well after the lean (but not quite nothing) burger of last week, it is nice to have an episode with a bit more substance. Even Jack agrees when he gets the feeling he’s being animated with effort this time around.

I’ve had pictures with Jack three times now as the article photo. He’s just so photogenic.

If last week was a downtime episode where everyone took a nap, then this week is one where people are having a ball. We are back to treasure guarding again, for L/R is tasked with protecting a royal treasure situated in a desert’s ancient ruins. However, what ought to have been an easy job turns out to be nothing of the sort when they go up against newbie fanboy doppelgangers, an elderly couple, and a scantily-clad trio that includes a Scot in drag for some reason. Don’t even get me started on how they have to stop it in time before a laser defense system being tested in the area goes back online, and how this is all some plan of a nondescript noble who will reward a cushy security position to those who get him the treasure. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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L/R: Licensed By Royalty Episode 03 – Low Time Preference

In economics, the term “time preference” indicates the value of a good or an item dependent on one’s patience to acquire such. If one has “high time preference”, the item is of high value to the individual right now; if one has “low time preference”, said individual is willing to wait for better return. In a crude sense, it is instant gratification versus delayed gratification.

So why on Earth am I giving you an economics lesson on a 17-year-old animu? Mostly because L/R at this juncture, makes you feel like they are going to take the sweetest of their sweet time to get going. The low time preference is so low it feels like it is six feet underground right next to Grandma. It would go a bit lower, but since it only has 13 episodes it needs to be close to the surface when it is time to clamber out of the dirt. Whether it succeeds or not, we will see in ten weeks. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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L/R: Licensed by Royalty Episode 02 – A Tasty Secret?

Oh my God, this show’s animation is embarrassing. Look:

Sure the Hellsing TV series had this problem too, but Kouta Hirano’s work is eye-catching enough to numb some of the pain. Here, such a shot rubs salt in the wound when juxtaposed to the preceding screencap. Then it rubs even more when you realize this is the DVD release of the episode, meaning it was not touched up in the slightest since its Japanese broadcast. I make a bit too much fuss, but yegad I have not been this turned off at an animu’s animation since the first Super Robot Wars TV series. However I don’t want to bog this article down any more of this. So I’ll conclude with this actual scene of animation. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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L/R Licensed by Royalty Episode 01 – Ishtari Royally Certified Artifact Futures

I’ve been meaning to watch this animu for the LONGEST time, plus I need to resume some article writing. What better way to kill two birds with one stone than to do this. Although this is on a Monday, anticipate it being on Sundays like my previous ventures.

Indulge me. Let us go where no one’s gone before.

Before we begin, how can you NOT be intrigued into watching this animu with an opening like this?

It’s a remarkably toe-tapping affair that sets the tone incredibly well, and the vocal performance by the late Billy Preston (whose name literally stood alongside The Beatles once long ago) is top notch. The only real downside to all of this is despite how the animation does quite well to keep up with the vigour of the song, you can tell it is not at all detailed. Take note around the 0:25 mark a fairly impressive shot of one of the protagonists (Rowe) grabbing a cold one and then motioning towards a toast. However when the toast occurs around 0:29 a hand pops out of nowhere from the other side and the moment where the bottles would clink together is a skipped frame without much smooth movement. This part always irks me because the opening shouldn’t have that kind of strange animation hiccup. More importantly, the hand with the other drink looks like he’s behind the bar counter. Has anybody talked to the hand’s manager? I do not think most European nations (real or fake) are this lax with alcohol consumption while on the clock. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 Episode 25 [FINAL] – A Rustaling of the Jimmies

SPOILERS

I had a feeling that I was gonna use the article title a week ago when I came up with it. I just did not expect to see it come to light in the way shown in the final episode.

The entire first half is dedicated to the last stand of Tekkadan, with the tunnel successfully made, with the remainder of the family sans Akihiro and Mika escaping by the skin of their teeth. Despite being the finale to a Gundam show, the ultimate bookending battle is bereft of any ideological waxing of various ideas like understanding one another and becoming a better humanity. It is just Akihiro and Mika laying waste to the myriad grunts of Gjallarhorn as they delay them long enough for their comrades to escape. Due to this lack of high-falootin’ conversations, it means a long winding episode of this battle is not in the cards, and pretty much ends when Rustal lets loose one final barrage of Dainsleif weapons on their base. Once you see the Barbatos and Gusion damaged from this one attack, the battle is pretty much over. Yet within all the well-done one sided killing, there is some catharsis to be had. Akihiro crushes Iok to death after recognizing who he was, and thus gives us *A* scalp to have despite the aftermath ending with Julieta killing Mika, decapitating the Barbatos and showing the head off as a trophy for all to see. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 Episode 24 – The G-Wrekketsu-ning

SPOILERS

I don’t know why I even bother really. Every time an emotional event happens in this show, I expect it to be the ONE Mika has a reaction similar to everybody else breaking down and weeping. Within minutes after the opening occurs (which was led into by Mika being informed of Orga’s fate), Mika instead has his own St. Crispin’s Day speech. Despite Mika’s lack of flair, it is filled with determination, rallying the remainder of Tekkadan to follow through and escape while he and a small contingency of MS delay Gjallarhorn’s advance. Yes you can see a bit of sadness in Mika’s eyes, but his moments in this episode show how he doesn’t really harbor much delusion that he’s totally useless without Orga. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 Episode 23 – Viva Orphans Namida

SPOILERS

Welp, despite the surrounding of their base by Gjallarhorn, Orga remains undeterred in his plan to get all of Tekkadan out of Mars. After watching this episode, and thinking about what I said this past week, I think I am in error in my perception of conviction then running away. Tekkadan for better or worse may be fighters, and will kill with impunity, but they are not conquerors. Even during Orga’s “I’m gonna be King of the Martians!” phase he is never shown to succumb to greed and ambition, nevermind the rest of Tekkadan. The title is merely a means to an end, and unfortunately for Tekkadan, that means is no longer viable in the long run. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 Episode 22 – Final Pitstop on that Road to Renewed Strength and Promise?

It’s a bit vaguer in this episode given the circumstances of the plot details. The events of the past few weeks have been a bit more impactful than had already been revealed. However, it is kinda confusing because we ended the last episode with Orga and Mika brandishing some great resolve to do whatever it takes to bring peace…

…Yet it deflates rather quickly moments after they arrive back on Mars. While McGillis and Mika go off to do their thing (the former gets a pass because the head Gjallarhorn guy on Mars owes him one), Orga is faced with more financial hurdles. Accounts are frozen, nobody wants to talk to them, and news of their involvement with McGillis is broadcasted. Orga being Orga of course, buckles under the pressure and instead of giving a St. Crispin’s Day-esque speech about taking down Arianrhod, announces a chance for any and all reluctant Tekkadan members to leave. A lot of them are outraged at this, yet at least we see Zack’s bellyaching go somewhere when he announces he’s leaving. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2 Episode 21 – Homeward Bound

Looks like the McGillis/Tekkadan faction will have to take a rain check for their final victory. After Shino’s failed attempt to take out Rustal once and for all, the faction makes a tactical retreat to regroup, lick their wounds, and hopefully end it the next time. I say ‘hopefully’ because by episode’s end, after scenes of implications of how big a practitioner of 4D Chess he is, Rustal has not only torpedoed McGillis’s chance to regain his forces, but to strip him of his position in Gjallarhorn before the preview without firing a shot. Man continues to be a shrewd operator, and to his credit gives us more of a reprieve for reasons I will cover later on. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•