Group Leader
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- Dec 1, 2018
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ITT Which chapter/episode in a manga/anime spoke to you on the deepest level?
If you could choose one mostly self-contained episode/chapter from a series that on its own presented a story that you felt contained a beautiful/meaningful story, summed up the spirit of the project, presented unique art/music direction, or even just a legendary fight scene that sticks with you what would it be?
What would be the one thing you would show someone from a beloved project?
If you describe the content please put it under spoilers. These are meant to be things that deeply spoke to you in whatever way and may affect other people similarly so no need to ruin the ride before it begins.
My examples
Episode 26 of Samurai Champloo
Chapter 4 of Little Match Girl
Episode 5 of Cowboy Bebop: Ballad of Fallen Angels
Chapter 34 of The New Gate
Episode 10 of Violet Evergarden
Literally the entire movie of Grave of the Fireflies
If you could choose one mostly self-contained episode/chapter from a series that on its own presented a story that you felt contained a beautiful/meaningful story, summed up the spirit of the project, presented unique art/music direction, or even just a legendary fight scene that sticks with you what would it be?
What would be the one thing you would show someone from a beloved project?
If you describe the content please put it under spoilers. These are meant to be things that deeply spoke to you in whatever way and may affect other people similarly so no need to ruin the ride before it begins.
My examples
Episode 26 of Samurai Champloo
Is picking a finale cheating? Yeah, probably. However the always on spot fight choreography, the climax of Fuu meeting her father and Jin risking his life to save her from a government assassin in a fight he couldn't win, the simplistic ending, and the always great animation and sound direction makes it a tough one to beat. The flashbacks are Juuust enough to fill in the backstory and the actions of the characters towards one another are enough to establish a connection between them. Whether it's the 26th episode you've seen or the only one you'll still feel a pang of loss for a story ending or a story that didn't begin when they go their separate ways at the crossroads
Chapter 4 of Little Match Girl
A short but beautiful arc in a series that's mostly about people making wishes they regret is a story of a wish made from nothing but love. An elderly man doesn't want to see his wife in poor health slip away from him so he wishes to spend the night of their first date together with her forever. When the wife ends their perpetual night and he sobs she explains how she doesn't regret the time they spent afterwards and that the moments are all the more beautiful for having passed. She expresses her desire to make more memories with the time they have left rather than spend their time living in the past.
Episode 5 of Cowboy Bebop: Ballad of Fallen Angels
One of the best anime intro's of all time starts off this episode with a bang as always. Then you're introduced to a murky struggle between Spike and Jet over Spike's unknown past. The art of the series is as borderline modern day and sci-fi as always. The villain of Vicious is mysterious and compelling. The music when spike enters the chapel for the final confrontation with Vivious and as he falls from the window are excellently chosen and accompanied by enough flashbacks to quietly tell about his blood soaked past and the soft-spoken story of love and betrayal. In the end you're left with a sense of Vicious's tortured loss when spike got away from the blood filled life they used to live together while he remained behind. You'll wish there was more but there doesn't have to be.
Chapter 34 of The New Gate
Might not quite fit the criteria since you'd at least need chapter 33 too for full context (It was a struggle between this and chapter 33 since they both are equally good for different reasons) but; The death of Ziralt who had spent 500 years striving to be recognized by his old master. Living through unknown burdens and trials long beyond the normal life span of Ziralt's beast race. Finally getting a chance to prove himself that he thought would never come to show that he had reached his master with his skill and power. Then the imagery of his clan howling a dirge in unison. The MC being visited by Ziralt's lifelong friends where he realized Ziralt had lived many hard lifetimes full of struggle the MC had never known to reach that day. Ziralt's friends announcing their plans to go off and die after such a long life and rejoin their friends. Finally Schnee just hugging MC and saying it was okay to cry over the death of his friend. The art style and sincere dialogue is enough on its own to tug at your heart strings even if you don't know the characters. This chapter sets the series apart as much more sincere and serious than its tropy isekai counterparts
Episode 10 of Violet Evergarden
As with every episode of the series this one is a gut puncher. The little girl whose mother is in poor health and wants nothing more than to spend time with her. Despite Violet's usual almost robotic nature the nuances of Violet's actions show some hidden emotion and make it all the more impactful when she breaks down at the end over the 50 years worth of letters the girl's mother left for her. With the well chosen music and the goregeous art of the series as a backdrop; The line between her formerly near-emotionless self and her growing sense of empathy is perfectly illustrated in this episode and even if you skip the entire rest of series
Literally the entire movie of Grave of the Fireflies
