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

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

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