tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post8298437541745914746..comments2023-11-05T02:01:53.847-06:00Comments on Antagony & Ecstasy: PARANOIA AGENT, EPISODE 8: "HAPPY FAMILY PLANNING"Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-57540318206697414072016-08-24T09:15:30.949-05:002016-08-24T09:15:30.949-05:00I think the little girl didn't die and she sho...I think the little girl didn't die and she showed up out of nowhere because Ben Franklin and gay homie died from the pills. I mean honestly nowhere else in the anime has a character been able to surprise find characters that were able to run away successfully so to think that that little girl showed up in the random building that these two dudes have been staying in for hours kind of doesn't make sense. I feel like she was imagined in the death of Ben Franklin (since he felt so bad about her) and Ben Franklin was the protagonist of the whole episodeMonickerMoniterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16852223635709853271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-44641824588616820762016-07-08T03:15:54.706-05:002016-07-08T03:15:54.706-05:00This was my favorite single episode of the show, t...This was my favorite single episode of the show, the one which most resonated with me, though all 3 "ETC" episodes were really good. <br /><br />I like the disparate tones of the subject matter and imagery versus the soundtrack and dialogue. <br /><br />On a whole I think it's the single most disturbing episode, the reveal and finale giving me genuine chills every time I watch it. That first time I was blown away, but even when I see it coming, it's just executed so well you can't help but catch a frog in your throat. <br /><br />It fits really well into the world of PA, and the themes of finding an easy escape to your problems, even tying in main-plot characters and their current activities Maniwa (Horse) and Kozuka (Fox)<br /><br />I honestly hadn't made the connection between the condoms and Kamome, but I wish I had made it myself, it's perfect. Also her name meaning roughly 'Sea Gull" a nuisance and unwanted bird by all accounts. <br /><br />This is an episode which will find its way burned or burrowed into your mind, that eerie 'London Bridge is Falling Down' rhyme, a chilling song in its own right, extra unnerving here. I've asked myself a million questions about it, but I don't need the answers. It is a kooky, creepy, painting which is best digested on multiple occasions. I can't wait to read the rest of these posts!<br /><br />For the record, when prompted or even not asked, I readily will tell you this is my favorite anime series of all time. Kon's passing therefore is a genuine damn tragedy in my mind. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08634065314681991606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-79209197521120629652016-02-21T01:48:35.299-06:002016-02-21T01:48:35.299-06:00I think the episodes connection to PA was to revea...I think the episodes connection to PA was to reveal that "Lil Slugger" can see those in the afterlife, because the three are dead in the episode, since they dont have shadows and Ben Franklin had one last pill at the end after already taking it earlier in the episode. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12839905862037828852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-13339805720972241172016-01-08T21:05:19.703-06:002016-01-08T21:05:19.703-06:00On point everyone this episode was great.
On point everyone this episode was great.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02935020643198913237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-66063045270948627852015-11-23T21:48:33.081-06:002015-11-23T21:48:33.081-06:00it couldnt be the dead kozuka slugger bc he cast a...it couldnt be the dead kozuka slugger bc he cast a shadowDolphinStarbeamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07086710070029491132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-22496488224653422082015-11-09T02:41:40.201-06:002015-11-09T02:41:40.201-06:00In all honesty this is my favourite episode of the...In all honesty this is my favourite episode of the series I agree wholeheartedly about them croaking from the monoxide poisoning. I worked it out the first time I saw Fuyubachi have his freakout at the end, noticed the shadows screamed "son of a bitch" and then immediately rewatched the whole episode purely looking for shadows.<br /><br />I liked how subtle they were with each persons reason to die having each character be perfectly normal so that you wouldn't expect it if you met them on the street. Also I am the oath who laughed out loud all through this ep I know I shouldn't of but just watching these three was so charmingAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798612324603053116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-13636346286264581602014-09-19T21:58:18.362-05:002014-09-19T21:58:18.362-05:00I agree that the title and last scene with the con...I agree that the title and last scene with the condoms are hints as to why kamome might want to kill herself: she's an unwanted child. Also has anybody else noticed that she bears a striking resemblance to chihiro in spirited away (who also had rather cold parents)? <br />I actually thought the flat animation quality was a fantastic decision, kamome crying was hilarious. Great episode.有依https://www.blogger.com/profile/05270556973423784781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-36466985998222123402014-08-31T07:20:15.508-05:002014-08-31T07:20:15.508-05:00Sam F: Actually, you can see her shadow for a spli...Sam F: Actually, you can see her shadow for a split second near the start, at 3:38/39, right after she calls out "Wait for me!". Of course, given that that's the only time you can see it AFAIK, it's possible it was an animation goof and that you're right, but I doubt it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14297521572556587282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-58002864427502323972013-04-17T04:55:27.404-05:002013-04-17T04:55:27.404-05:00What if the little girl was already dead, that'...What if the little girl was already dead, that's why she wanted them to kill themselves. It also explains how she was able to appear randomly in the abandoned building, it also explains why she "doesn't want to be alone". Also the reason why she says she doesn't want to be left behind could mean that when she died her parents moved away or possibly her ans her parents died and her parents spirits moved on but she was left behind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-41264631501000960532012-06-03T17:09:34.170-05:002012-06-03T17:09:34.170-05:00They did have shadows. The last shadow I saw was o...They did have shadows. The last shadow I saw was on Zebra while he was popping sleeping pills in the abandoned building. You can see the shadow of his arms. After they got out of there the shadows were gone. This has to be the best episode in the series. Hands down.Dezzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15140600510006873182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-91222465997866602792012-01-21T18:52:09.705-06:002012-01-21T18:52:09.705-06:00To everyone,
after watching the episode, i can sa...To everyone,<br /><br />after watching the episode, i can say for sure that all the characters are dead before the episode for one simple detail : the shadows. <br />You will see that none of the characters have any shadow contrarily to the living people, and this is clearly visible. Amazing episode.Adrien Leunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03738142047832413412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-37536793498056035782010-09-26T02:26:07.583-05:002010-09-26T02:26:07.583-05:00The picture scene is one of the best twist endings...The picture scene is one of the best twist endings i have seen in quite a while, genius work no dousbt!Allari Ruizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03069983881481124150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-17908033361831697652010-09-20T18:27:28.518-05:002010-09-20T18:27:28.518-05:00Good point. I guess that's just when their bod...Good point. I guess that's just when their bodies were discovered then. Either way the fact it cuts straight from them seeing the crane to them being laid out on the pavement is quite telling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-61747708378993185892010-09-20T14:51:45.733-05:002010-09-20T14:51:45.733-05:00@sparrowsabre7: I think if they had been killed by...@sparrowsabre7: I think if they had been killed by the crane, their dead manifestations should have looked a lot more beat up. Remember how the guy looked who got hit by the train? He could barely walk, and was all bloody. They didn't even get their clothes dirty! It seems more likely they were killed in a way that didn't show physical signs, like poisoning.Daniel Silberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08685707813625269747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-1964609558304253352010-09-17T06:13:24.150-05:002010-09-17T06:13:24.150-05:00Theres no drop in animation quality...there IS a c...Theres no drop in animation quality...there IS a change in animation style...just as you can see in later episodes.brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796306949045047712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-73276153881813253732010-09-17T06:12:21.219-05:002010-09-17T06:12:21.219-05:00heres the ending:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I...heres the ending:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5LKs6LlsPQ<br /><br />lets see who can see the '?'brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796306949045047712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-79163054549228677242010-09-17T05:59:41.944-05:002010-09-17T05:59:41.944-05:00Hi
nice analysis.I just thought id add that it see...Hi<br />nice analysis.I just thought id add that it seems then end credits scene, where the characters lie asleep or dead around the maromi...they form a question mark!<br /><br />Brianbrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796306949045047712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-84366528315913317532010-09-13T06:48:32.125-05:002010-09-13T06:48:32.125-05:00No I don't think it's the pills, I think i...No I don't think it's the pills, I think it's the digger thing demolishing the building with them still in it. Note how they're laid out after on the ground, not unlike the way corpes are after they've been pulled from a wreck or something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-49887295120821599552010-09-13T06:00:29.226-05:002010-09-13T06:00:29.226-05:00"Fuck me. We figure it out before the charact..."Fuck me. We figure it out before the characters do" - Oh Tim, WRONG! Because I didn't! For a long time, anwyay.<br /><br />The first time I watched this episode (a couple of years ago, mind you), I thought it was another idiotic filler like episode 5 and dismissed it entirely from memory. The second time, I watched for the purpose of this discussion and noticed the connection of 'Fox' with the fake Shounen Bat. But something kept nagging at me, the way the old man goes a bit mental towards the end, the photography scene - I just didn't get it. So I watched a third time, thinking 'Yeah, Kon never explains how they survived taking all those pills and inhaling carbon monoxide at the start'. And then as the old man flipped out once more it all clicked. In one instant, a seemingly obscure and barely amusing episode turned out to be one of the cleverest in the series. I feel quite stupid.<br /><br />I'll admit, suicide has rarely been so witty (I didn't laugh, but I smiled a lot). From the snappily-timed popping of pills to the train death. There's something Laurel & Hardy about people desperately trying to die but failing miserably because they are just THAT inept. On the other hand, Kon did a very un-Kon-like thing and created an annoying female protagonist in Kamome. Her need to name obvious things several times ('[Mountain! Mountain! Mountain! Field! Field! Field!') got old very quickly.<br /><br />Also, I suppose that explains why Shounen Bat killed Fox i.e. Fake Shounen Bat, when all his other victims survived. It's because Fake Shounen Bat wanted to die.<br /><br />Finally, I'm sure the point of death is the carbon monoxide/pills, and I did notice the drop in quality but figured it was also suitable, so not necessarily worth critiicising.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-68108829575402634752010-09-13T05:29:54.270-05:002010-09-13T05:29:54.270-05:00Hmm that's actually an excellent theory, but w...Hmm that's actually an excellent theory, but wrong I'm afraid.<br /><br />There is a way to tell when they die. It's the absence of a shadow which happens after the crane comes into the building. From that point on they're dead. Slugger isn't dead because he has a shadow. Though of course he's not quite human either.<br /><br />Horse was (you'll kick yourself when you hear =P) Maniwa. Ties in neatly with his radio dealings no? <br /><br />And yeah a change in style would've made sense for that reason but in quality it just seems odd =/ maybe to make the suuicde scenes more removed from reality. Who knows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-56810153566907879922010-09-12T21:49:51.361-05:002010-09-12T21:49:51.361-05:00I actually did notice the animation quality change...I actually did notice the animation quality changed, I assumed that, like "The Holy Warrior", it was a stylistic choice to reflect the zaniness of the plot. Not that it's a terrible good reason...<br /><br />Also, my feelings about it being the Kozuka Slugger is precisely because he <i>is</i> dead, and they've already seen dead people, and if I'm reading the ending right, they've been dead all along. But as you point out, it's a particularly difficult episode to decipher.<br /><br />I have forgotten who "Horse" was! Though I'm not surprised it was someone, given how much it was emphasised. Who was it?Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491952893581644049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14812333.post-21672398178568543552010-09-12T12:55:52.924-05:002010-09-12T12:55:52.924-05:00This is the episode I've wanted to talk about ...This is the episode I've wanted to talk about the most for so many reasons. <br /><br />I'm not sure why you think it's the Kozuka slugger, especially since the 3 of them outright state that he was killed by the Slugger and the fact that aside from Hirukawa and Ushi he didn't attack anyone and was since imprisoned until his death. <br /><br />I assume you thought it was Kozuka because it fled from the trio but, think about it this way, no one else can see the three of them. I also think that the fact they wanted to die was another reason to drive him off. He attacks cornered people yes, but while they were cornered they were also actively looking for release, the previous victims weren't wanting to be attacked and killed. If you ever read a book like Whizziwig you'll get what I mean. He attacks those who sort of think without really meaning to "I want a way out!" rather than an active wish to die.<br /><br />Ok for other things, I think that Fuyubachi's reason to die also has something to do with the "Sayo" he mentions in his sleep, a dead wife perhaps. As for Kamome, I feel the final shot is most important "happy family planning - extra thin condoms" that's surely no coincidence, I assume she's an unwanted child, perhaps left in an orphanage/ foster care most of her life hence the "don't leave me alone!" line. Of course this is all conjecture and this ep is the most obscure and least forthcoming with bonafide answers. <br /><br />ANother thing I think worth noting is the cameo "appearance" of 'Horse' if you remember which character was associated with a horse it ties in very well with the previous episode.<br /><br />I find it pretty humourous that PA's most light-hearted episode (save for perhaps Holy Warrior) revolves around 3 people wanting to commit suicide. It's a dark ironic humour totally befitting paranoia agent.<br /><br />Also why does NO ONE but me seem to notice the massive drop in animation quality this ep? All the detail falls off and especially that shot with Kamome crying is absolutely dire =/ Why this was done I have no idea as no other ep suffers from such a change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com