Ka-mi-CHUUU!

[loner]

God is a middle schooler.

How can you not love an anime that has a God that is a middle school girl? :XD:

Anyways, this is one of the wackier titles of this season. The concept is rather outlandish, but nowadays, I find that the more crazy the idea, the more I like the show. It appears that people just accept Yurie-chan (er...-sama) as a God as a simple fact, like how Dokuro-chan was immediately accepted as an angel. However, there's no craziness here. In fact, this seems to be a homage to Ghibli and Miyazaki. The character design looks a lot Ghibli-like, the animation is of very high standard for a TV series, and the setting and music all just screams Ghibli. It also contains a lot of those weird looking spirits/gods that you see in Pom Poko and Spirited Away (they are not the same spirits/gods though, as I don't remember a shark spirit in Spirited Away). So far, no reason has been given for Yurie-chan sudden rise to the divine. She is cute though. :D

Typhoon Yurie was hilarious. I wouldn't mind being swept into the eye of a tornadoe if it looks like that. :D

I have no idea where this is going to go. It could turn into a typical mahou shoujo, with the girl having divine power instead of magical. However, I have a feeling that it will become a slice-of-life series instead.

[beansprouts]

Typhoon Yurie was the single most hilarious thing in episode one, I almost fell over the chair laughing when I saw her face as the eye of the typhoon. I love the way the anime feel so much like a Studio Glibli movie, it screams Spirited Away all over, especially when Yurie fell from the sky with Ken-chan after she saved him from the typhoon.

The anime is obviously high budget stuff, there were so much details in the anime and the character designs were adorable. I can't wait for episode 2 to come out. I don't think it will turn into a typical mahou shoujo anime, Yurie don't even know what powers she has... I think it will turn out to be something much much better than typical mahou shoujo fare.

Ah, I think I just found a new favourite anime. :D

[soundchazer]

It was indeed a funny, albeit someone weird episode. The character design was not as Ghibli-like as I thought, but the mannerisms in the animation were. The music is almost apeing Hisashi Jo, which is a nice form of flattery.

Another interesting anime from an already bountiful 2005.

[TypicalIdiotFan]

Unfortunately the first episode available wasn't translated, and while I understood most of it for the first few minutes, I knew that I was going to miss something if I didn't have a translation handy. I got as far as the kids talking on the roof before I realized I missed something somewhere of import.

Anyway, I'll wait for a translation, but it looks like a good idea. A lot more interesting an idea to watch then what was conceived in Bruce Almighty.

[beansprouts]

The first episode for kamichu! is already translated. The version I have requires the loading of the subtitles into the video, since they came in separate files.

I like the music alot, it goes very well with the anime, hehe, I am already dying to watch the second episode. It seems a little strange to me that everybody accepted Yurie as a Kami :sly2: , but heck, who cares...

[TypicalIdiotFan]

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooookay.

I haven't been this thoroughly confused since Alien 9 (which I consider to be a fun time, btw).

So... she's a God, or something. Only, the powers materialize themselves in weird ways that relate to what's going on at the time... okay. Along the way we got crushes, and calligraphy, and earth spirits rolling cans, and ... well I don't get it.

More importantly, I don't get how quickly everybody knew the Typhoon was her fault and where it was headed. I mean, sure, it makes sense. But I had to think about it for a while before I got it.

I don't feel like doing a whole breakdown on this one. Let me just say that without any backstory whatsoever this show has me completely lost. It's animation is absolutely gorgeous. The music is good. The characters seem interesting. And it feels retro, like the stage is 1970 or something.

So watch it at your own risk. It's a damned cute story so far. So cute that I want to huggie it. But it's not really anything right now. Needs more.

[loner]

I dunno TIF, when you see the eye of typhoon and find out what its name is, it's not that hard to figure out for her friends. What I am a bit confused about is how everyone else in the town know she became a God, and how they just accept it. But hey, it's weird that a middle school girl became a god the first place, and from what I see, the next episode will have even more weirdness.

I'd say there's plenty of time to tell a story and make sense of all this weirdness. I didn't get Fantastic Children in the first episode either, but everything couldn't be more clear on the last episode. Of course, I'm not saying that this can be as good as Fantastic Children, but I have faith in the producers.

[Elric]

I came. I saw. I thought it was pretty enterntaining.
At first I thought it was a bit meh mainly because I really thought that wow........ what a lame god. In all seriousness. Dosent even know her own powers in the first place? tsk... tsk....

Later on I thought things got a bit better and more amusing towards the end those little spirits and creatures plus having a capability of making a typhoon is cool in my book (in anime... and games) There is a lot of questions in my mind towards this like you others have mentioned, but I guess all it takes is some patience.

The music was gentle so not much comment on it. As for animation, it's crisp and clean and that struck me the most personaliy is the face reactions Yurie did. I find it really tough to recall other anime with such flexable face reactions in my opinion.

I have no idea gonna continue it late ron. I guess let nature call.

[Neo-Hunter]

hmm this sounds intresting almost like fruit baskets.

[soundchazer]

This is a really weird anime, but it makes you feel good at the end of each episode.

Episode #2 is even wierder than the first one. A god who is a rock and roller? WTF?

[loner]

This is as surreal as it gets. :D The 'God world' was great, and you gotta love the rock junkie/god. A lot of innovation is put into the Gods/spirits, and I can't help laughing at the shark dude. This episode actually gives you a better idea of what's going on and answers a few questions. I was wondering how people could just accept Yurie's divination as a simple fact so easily, but this episode showed that in that town, people are used to the fact that there are any spirits and gods cohabiting with them, and are rather fond of that fact.

I haven't seen such great animation since AIR for a TV series. And as if this show isn't already Ghibli-like, the characters even cry like Ghibli characters.

If Yurie wants better grades in her tests, all she has to do is take a page from rock junkie's book and possess her teachers. And why should gods have to worry about tests in the first place? She can just bring another typhoon to wreck havoc if the teachers don't give her good grades. :devil

Though I guess that's against her cute and innocent nature.

The sub's preview is not funny. This is my favorite show of the new season, and I am worried now.

[Saya-biki]

well I downloaded it
it was the "Subs are a seperate file" version
and because I sure as hell have no idea how to access it (I've tried google), I'm downloading a version that said "hard-subbed" whatever the hell that means ^^(hopefully it means that subs are there, hell it is one file this time)

I can say nothing about the ep except, really nice art. I enjoyed the art, but I couldn't really watch it with out feeling somewhat confused. Eitherway, nice art! :D

EDIT: wow, that sub SUCKED! BIG yellow text highlighted in purple, also it's on the top and sometimes right in the center. Is this what a "Hard-sub" is...jesus...
I liked the show but I didn't get to see that much because of the damn text...

[soundchazer]

The separate file sub has the advantage that can be manipulated to any font size and color. You just need the right player and tools.

[fugupinkeye]

just finished ep1, definitely wierd. I found I had to stop my mind from asking logical questions for the moment, and give the show time to explain itself as it goes. Something about this reminds me a lot of Whisper of the Heart. And the music is definitely trying (though to quite a nice result) to be like that of Hisashi Jo.

[loner]

Ep. 3 (finally figured out this mkv thing...)

That cat is cute. But not as cute as Yurie-sama. Why do everything in this town want to go out and 'experience the world?' First it's the rocker god, now a cat.

The animation seems to be dropping a bit, which is expected. It still looks pretty, though the character designs seems a bit off at times. I didn't realize the rock junkie in Ep. 2 was actually Mitsue. She should keep that look :)

Now we know where Yurie's naivety came from...

Yep, it just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

[aeroshadow]

I'm a Kamichu fanboy.

Oh my god. Episode 4 was probably my favorite so far. It was so incredibly bizarre, even more so than the last few episodes. We get to see some of Yurie's powers, which are pretty cool IMO, and we also get to see a pink Martian accuse soldiers of being perverts.

I personally thought this show wasn't THAT weird. Until now.

[Linuts]

Episode 4 = E.T phones home.

Every time I see the martian hugging God, I think something bad will happen to God. Is there something wrong with me?

:D

God this show is too weird... And the fact that everyone don't seem too phased with a little kid being God just makes things weirder

[loner]

'The martian and the underage god is at large'. That line cracked me up totally.

You know, the first 3 episodes, however weird they are, still seem somewhat consistent with its theme. I mean the random spirits and gods, the people who apparently are so used to seeing people elevating to divine status that they don't flinch when they see a middle school girl become god, all these things are, well...I dunno how to put it, but this show still seems to have a certain boundary. Yurie was a local god, and all the weirdness was confined to her town. It's kinda like Utena, where all the wacky duelling is apparently restricted to the school, and the school is kinda like an isolated world of its own.

I was wrong, this show has no boundary. Not when Martians come to earth and the prime minister of Japan asks for a middle school girl god to help him. I don't mind, it makes things twice more fun. :D

This whole episode is a political satire, exposing the pure evil and slyness that are politicians and mocking their ass off. Right up my alley, since I share similar beliefs. Somehow, I never pictured Yurie-sama walking around government buildings with tanks and soldiers carrying machine guns. I thought they save that for FMP.

Finally, Linuts, if what you're thinking has the Martian's tentacles involved, then yes, you have a big problem. As big a problem as Phate is having.

[loner]

Ep. 5

Back to normal, or however normal this show can get. Yurie-sama is sick! While nothing big happened, like underground sea monsters going to war against each other or something, it actually did a lot more than previous episodes to develop the characters and move forward the plot. Yurie's insecurities were exposed, and she and Ken-chan's relationship got a good push forward. Another side-romance is also kinda introduced between Yurie and Matsuri's siblings.

Seems like Mitsue's used to being possessed now. Rock n' Roll baby!

[Ghostmaster]

how far they in the show? Is it like school humor or what?

[loner]

/me points to his first post in this thread, then his last post

Should give you a good understanding of what this show is about. And yes, it is 5 episodes in.

I dislike typecasting this show into any specific genre. After all, has there ever been a show about a middle school girl turned into god?

[Ghostmaster]

ok ok sorry, i didnt want to read the whole thing.

[aeroshadow]

ASDGJSAKSJFKSDJSZOMGZOMGZOMG!!!!!!!!!!

NEW EPISODES! *begins hyperventilating*

Will comment later.

EDIT: I'm still in the process of acquiring the next few episodes, but I've just heard from Matthew's Anime Blog that only twelve of the sixteen episodes actually aired on TV. The last episode that aired was actually the fifteenth episode. Well, that certainly makes everything annoyingly complicated. Here's to hoping that all sixteen somehow end up subbed.

-_-

EDIT AGAIN:
Of the 16 total episodes only 12 were originally broadcasted. Episodes 8, 11, 13, and 16 were not included in the original Japanese TV broadcasts, but were first released on the Japan DVD release. Also, some additional material was added to the broadcast episodes for the DVD release, increasing the length from 23 to 28 minutes per episode.Perhaps the reason subbing has taken so long is because subbers want to wait to acquire all the DVD episodes before translating?

[aeroshadow]

Wow. This show is utterly brilliant.

5. +
6. +
7. +
8. +

As of now, I can see this show easily placing in the top ten of 2005. I'm glad it's finally getting around to being subbed... Wasn't this a summer show?

EDIT: BTW, I discovered the episode eight I watched was actually the episode eight that never aired on japanese television! That's great news; it appears as if subbers will be able to cover all sixteen! Not to mention episode eight is hilarious stuff: it has catfights... literally. With Rising Dragon Punches.

[aeroshadow]

A little while ago, I went ahead and "acquired" this entire series (all sixteen episodes) in English. I just thought I'd let everyone know that it's all floating around on the web (finally), whether anyone cares or not.

After watching episode 9, I'll say this: This show is magical. No other show can make me cry because of some old boat. Seriously. I especially like the music; it's so minimalist yet it suits the series so well. There's never any ultra dramatic scores to set the mood, as the storyline and animation does it all by itself.

I'll probably quadruple post when I finish watching the entire thing, unless someone decides to drop their thoughts on the series before then. I hope someone will, since this show is too good to be ignored. Then again, I'm a slice of life whore and stuff like ARIA swept me off my feet (although there were some disappointing episodes here and there), which is a show that not everyone responds well to. Still...

EDIT: For those of you who can't find it, google "animeyume", "delta anime", or "chuchuchuu".

[ant]

Thanks for the heads up, will begin acquiring. I tried searching before but could only find the manga, so I have been stuck on episode 4 since last year.

[Dark Lord]

Sounds interesting... Guess it's worth a shot... I like shows with unconventional plots such as Midori no Hibi, The Law of Ueki, and GTO... So this is like a slice of life or something?

[aeroshadow]

It's not so much of an unconventional plot; its more like an unconventional premise. This show is episodic, by the way, so people who are looking for something more coherent will be a little disappointed.

This show is bizarre in a rather subtle way, unlike GTO or Midori no Hibi. It's as if the show tries to claim that the premise is actually quite normal.

[aeroshadow]

Okay, I'm done.

...

The problem with episodic series is that it's much easier to pick out the episodes that were subpar compared to the rest. It's frustrating, but you'll almost always find that one episode that just wasn't that great. Not here. It could just be me watching this show with a disgustingly optimistic attitude, but I genuinely enjoyed every last episode. Isn't that cool?

Anyways, if I had to describe this show with one word, it would be subtlety. Nearly everything this show does, it does with subtlety.

For instance, even the sense of humor is this way. In almost every other series, humor is meant to be presented with blatancy. There's nothing wrong with this. "Here's a joke, laugh at it," is the way humor is usually presented. However, in this case, if a joke fails, the viewer isn't left with the best of feelings. In Kamichu, the jokes are, for the most part, so subtle that it's hard to tell if it was meant to be a joke or not. So, in Kamichu, if a joke fails to make you laugh, it doesn't really matter because the viewer wouldn't have thought of it as a joke in the first place. When the humor does manage to work, the viewer usually won't be certain that it was meant to be a joke in the first place. It's a very unique approach that works fairly well. I'm not saying it's the best approach, as it certainly has its disadvantages, but in Kamichu, it worked, plain and simple.

And that was just an example. The subtlety is carried over to many other aspects of the show, including the characters, their relationships, the drama, the music, and lots of other nonsense. Since everything is handled so slightly, at a first glance, Kamichu may seem overly simple, perhaps even one-dimensional. Yet, looking more closely, you can see that some characters have a decent amount of depth, and the storylines are intelligent enough. Also, thanks to the show's quiet approach, it never suffers from looking pretentious.

I'm not going to lie; this show does have its handful of flat side characters that could have used more development. However, the way this show was presented made this acceptable enough. Since the other characters were given amounts of depth in a subtle fashion, the fact that some of the less lucky side characters didn't have any was nearly invisible. They blended in neatly, and the fact that their dialogue was so natural definitely helped. I'm not saying this show would not have benefitted by giving these characters a little more depth, but I feel that pointing this out as a flaw would be a disservice to the show, as it didn't hurt my enjoyment whatsoever.

The end result is, in my humble opinion, magical. It's shows like this that make slice of life my favorite genre. It's so simple and lighthearted, yet also interesting and full of atmosphere. The character interactions are deathly realistic, the...

Oh, what the hell. I'm getting lazy. In the end, though it's not perfect, this show rocks like crazy, makes my top ten probably, blah blah blah blah.

Matsuri is hot.