Vampire Knight, ep. 01-05

[oyceter]

I usually don't like watching anime made from manga, just because a) I like manga art better, b) the voices always startle me because they aren't exactly like the ones in my head, and c) the pacing feels off (it takes about two episodes for one volume, which I can read in half an hour).

I am going to completely eschew plot summary and link you here instead, as the first five volumes cover the first volume and a half of the manga. Mostly, all you need to know is that Yuuki is our innocent heroine, Zero is the broody grumpy vampire hater, and Kaname is the overly protective vampire who saved kid!Yuuki.

The switches between SD comedy and Gothic vampire crack worked a lot better for me in the anime, largely because in the anime, each mood takes more time, as opposed the manga, which often flip-flops between mood every other page or so. Also, the sound effects help. But mostly! We get many shots of vampires with glowing red eyes!

And! And! People! There is organ music for the big emotional moments, or the little emotional moments, or really, any moment that involves over-the-top Gothic settings! And! The ending song is set to an extremely creepy scene in which Yuuki is a doll dressed in black, Loligoth style, and she cries tears of blood while her stuffed rabbit's eyes glow red! It is AWESOME!

I cannot wait until SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER!

Please no spoilers for the manga in comments unless it is under <span style="color:#333;background:#333">spoiler text</span>.

Comments

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

I have been very much enjoying the Vampire Knight anime; for one thing, it's a lot easier for me to tell the supporting vampires apart when they're in color. Also I think it benefits from the pacing being more drawn out; small!Yuki and small!Zero's first meeting affected me a lot more in the anime. On the other hand, Yuki is more passive than in the manga, which is kind of annoying.

[oyceter]

it's a lot easier for me to tell the supporting vampires apart when they're in color

Yes! Yes! I can actually sort of distinguish them now... Though for a while I was totally confused because I forgot Aidou and Hanabusa were the same person -_-;;.

I.. sigh. Oh Yuuki. I am hoping she gets to kick more ass later, though I am rather doubtful.

[xwingace]

That ending song is creepy and unsettling, even more so with the knowledge of the big spoiler. I love it to bits. I like the opening song, too.

Although I agree with the commenter above me that Yuuki's passiveness is actually quite annoying. At least in the manga you get more of her justifications for it.

Also there seems to be something wrong with Zero's animator's ability to draw any facial expression other than 'blank stare'. This sometimes leads (to me) to a dissonance between what I think Zero's emotions would be and what he's showing, even in his fairly limited way. (A good example would be the first time Yuuki finds out about Zero's nature. He should have *some* sort of emotion on his face at that point, surely?)

Other than that, yeah, I love it, too. It's one of the must-watch this season for me.

XWA

[oyceter]

Re: Zero: Heee! Poor guy. I just looove all the shots of him bloody though, bwahaha.

[sarasusa.livejournal.com]

...your icon isn't kidding, is it, about the flying walruses. Because I have independent corroboration for at least two of the other instances, and flowers of doom are just par for the course. And don't forget the surfing elephants and the Cowstian Dior bells.

Loligoth Yuuki FTW. I hope the anime comes out here soon!

[oyceter]

Two others? Really? Which ones?

The one I know is from Wolf's Rain, but omg! I should have known there would be more!

[sarasusa.livejournal.com]

No, no, not instances of flying walruses! What I mean is, I have evidence of anime appearances of fowl of doom and heads in jars!

Actually, come to think of it, Utena can definitely furnish DoomRoses(TM), so we've got flowers taken care of too--thus, with your Wolf's Rain citation, all points in your userpic are adequately backed up. ^^
(And so it is proven to me that I'd better watch Wolf's Rain at some point.)

[oyceter]

The awesome thing is, everything from that icon is something I've seen in anime! The very best thing is that fowl of DOOM and heads in jars show up many times! Some day I will tally it up...

[cryptoxin.livejournal.com]

The organ music is great! The ending song animation is creepy! Zero is brooding! And the school uniforms are gorgeous!

*hopes that episode 5 has been fansubbed by the time I get home tonight*

[oyceter]

Ooo ep. five is fansubbed! I dl'ed it. I am waiting for ep. 6 which I waaaaant!

I love the ending song and animation so much.

[cryptoxin.livejournal.com]

Oh cool -- I'd been checking Tokyo Toshokan with no luck, but I found the subs on mininova. Then my computer crashed and needed a time out, so I'll have to wait until tonight for my shoujogothcrack fix :(

[oyceter]

Eeee! Ep. 6 now up on Anime Suki! http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/1187.html

[cryptoxin.livejournal.com]

I watched it last night - vampire birthday party!!!

Oh, Yuuki! Oh, Zero!