"SpinGin! You're alive!? Wait...this isn't an anime, SpinGin! What are ya doing?! Where is that Terror in Resonance review?!" Well...I'm changing up the style of reviews here. Instead of an episodic review, I'm going to do an overall retrospective. These won't be as long as a full episode reaction, but I'll be able to properly vent on the series in question. It should also come out clearer and more controlled. You'll see in the Terror in Resonance review.
And yes, I am alive. I've been held up by some additional school stuff, but I should be back into the swing of things soon.
Now then, onto the actual meat of this post!
I'm rather new to this band, shocking, I know but that won't stop me from gushing. To get personal for a minute, this virtual band has become one of my biggest inspirations for animation. These creations, these characters, have all taken on lives of their own. They're not just cartoons, but they're a shining example of how valuable animation can be. Regardless of what I think about the music, (which I highly recommend you listen to, right now, this instant) I'm happy to see that these have been so well received. It's a sign that animation doesn't have to be relegated to an age ghetto like it typically is.
The gangs's all here: From left to right, Murdoc Nichals, Noodle, 2D, Cyborg Noodle, Russel Hobbs.
The stage that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have created is an undoubtedly amazing feat. What started out as a living potshot against MTV blew up into a well respected franchise over the course of fifteen years. It's like these two are magicians, with the Gorillaz as one of the most elaborate magic tricks the world has ever seen. Everything checks out! The vivid personalities that make up the band are treated with the utmost respect. With hit songs to fill up the charts like Clint Eastwood and designs by Tank Girl's finest, who could blame them? There's a healthy balance between the illusion and the reality, making for a very charming virtual band.
With their debut album releasing 14 years ago (you guys feel old yet?), these guys have remained icons in the eyes of the public. They're the number one virtual band for a re - well... actually a lot of reasons.
How about this one?
I was listening to this particular song at the moment, so why not?
...
Now this is ancient news at this point, but this is too fantastic to ignore: They're Back. After essentially a four year hiatus following 2D's experimental record The Fall in 2011, the Gorillaz are returning with another studio album. Set to smash the charts next year, 2016, the gang is ready for the next step. From their eponymous first album and Phase 1, their return to the spotlight of Phase 2's Demon Days, and the journey of Phase 3's Plastic Beach...
Phase 4 is now in Session.
The gang's all here. Again.
Not to rush the new year that we're already a third into (seriously?!), but 2016 is shaping up rather nicely.
It's been a while, but it's time for some more Evangelion!
3
Opens with Shinji inside of the Eva, going over the controls. He’s in a testing chamber...initiating a target practice of sorts. Ritsuko hinting that Shinji doesn’t want to pilot, but he just does what he’s told…
“Position target / in the center / pull the switch…” Shinji’s blank expression as he states the madness mantra. The light in his eyes is dead.
Wow. Misato is quite sleepy from her work, and tells Shinji to take out the trash. She gave Shinji a cell phone, but he doesn’t seem to be using it. He needs to find his way, and quickly. Poor kid.
Back at Shinji’s school, Toji and a few other students are in school. The rest of the room is deserted due to the incident from last episode. Unfortunately, Shinji’s reckless piloting ended up crushing Toji’s sister. Ouch. What's worse, rumors are being spread about the arrival of transfer student Shinji, and seeds of aggression seems to be sown.
Information of the Second Impact: 16 years ago, something slammed into Antarctica and instantly melted the ice cap. The world was thrown into chaos, several countries scrambling to pull themselves together with the wave of Angels.
Shinji just went out of the frying pan and into the fire! He just answered some question and suddenly the whole class is on him. Kids are proud of him, and no one is paying attention to the lesson. But Toji isn’t happy. So unhappy that he sucker punched him. TWICE! Rei is standing over him and decided to report the incident.
Shinji's the center of attention now.
Once more, there’s a state of emergency. An Angel has come.
After the break, Title Card: A Transfer. Time to barracade the city again! THe major buildings are shifted underground, and the seven districts are safe now. It looks like the training ground from before!
Toji and the other kid are part of the evacuees.
It’s been 3 weeks since the last attack, and Shinji must pilot once more. But what’s this on his face? Guilt?
Back in the shelter, Kensuke (other kid) and Toji plan to sneak out and watch the fight. That won’t bite them later on, will it? They’re dumb enough to try to film the Angel fight with Shinji.
Shinji’s madness mantra doesn’t work, as he hits the wrong mark. THe Angel has him on the ropes, literally! See those red tentacles?!
The music is picking up, right as the Evangelion’s power cable is cut! Less than 5 minutes operation until the power is gone.
Ritsuko gives a solution: Shinji puts the two in the cockpit, and has to escape. But...he won’t move. Silence. Then...oh no. Shinji: is it really time to say “I mustn’t Run AWAY?!” The sickening piano kicks in as he pulls out a massive knife and charges in to kill the Angel. The same dead eyes from before have given way to madness. And the power is dead…
Lovely silhouette of The Eva ripping into the Angel. Sunset. Toji seems to be quite concerned, having not seen Shinji for three days. It ends on the note of finishing a phone call...but the rain patters on. Quite the ending…
4
On a rainy morning, Misato fills us in: it’s been 5 days, and Shinji hasn’t gone to school. He’s...run away. The Eva is repaired, and he’s not there! Too bad for Toji and Kensuke, who show up to presumably say hi. Misato isn’t pleased.
We cut to Shinji with a pretty depressing montage. He’s on the train listening to a walkman (do you feel old yet), and it starts out packed. But as the seconds pass by, more and more people exit. They fade away, and the lively commotion dies down. Until...Shinji’s alone in the rain, on the train. He doesn’t move, head down. He goes until the end of the line, when that helpful message tells us to take our belongings and leave. He must head back...so he heads to a movie theater without many people. He’s living the life of a vagabond here, once again being sad to watch. Afterwhich, there’s a pretty trippy sequence in a park under red lights, Shinji’s having a slight breakdown.
Shinji sits at the mountaintop, observing the city. Deep in thought, it seems…
Flashback with Shinji and Misato. The latter is miffed at Shinji’s lack of care over the subject of piloting the Eva, but the matter still remains the same. He has his obligation to pilot it, as there are no other pilots...sort of. More on that later. Ritsuko is focused on the job, while Misato is unsure of if Shinji should continue to pilot.
...ok. Kensuke is playing around at sunset in a field, acting like an idiot. And Shinji happens to pass by…
After the break: title card revealed: Hedgehog’s Dilemma.
Kensuke and Shinji talk by campfire light. The former is a bit jealous of Shinji, working with the lovely Misato and piloting a giant robot. At first glance, I’m sure it looks like the life, but Shinji tries to convince him otherwise. One things for sure though, they both have something in common: neither of them have mothers.
In the morning, NERV agents show up and take Shinji into official custody. Toji isn’t too pleased to hear it, but whatever.
By the way guys, keep this in mind: SHINJI’S BEEN RUNNING AROUND FOR TWO DAYS. Well. He’s back, and Misato has some words to say. If Shinji will go pilot with that non caring attitude, then he might as well not. He has resigned, leaving the official piloting to Rei.
So...Toji apologizes for hitting him twice, and he begs Shinji to hit him twice. “No Holding Back.” That delivery given was hilarious on Toji’s end, but I digress. Toji’s apology and Kensuke’s follow up give Shinji a feeling of hope, but NERV snatches him away. Oh he tries to fight it, berating himself and calling himself a coward...but he is taken.
“Hedgehog’s Dilemma: The closer we become the more we hurt.” Misato uses this to describe Shinji’s predicament. Speaking of which, he could have left on that train...but Shinji came back! Welcome home indeed.
There's an actual track for Hedgehog's Dilemma on the Official Soundtrack. It's that serious.
So. They actually went into the actual condition of Hedgehog’s Dilemma. It’s an interesting angle for a show to take, and I really hope this show goes further in depth with it. I’m probably more intrigued with Shinji that I have rights to be, but I hope he pulls through.
