Full Opacity - AoT 4x25

I remember watching the first episode of Shigurui some years back, like 5+ I think, and was super freaked out haha.

Serodin

Came back to give some relevant recommendations. Anime Hamasaki has directed. - Texhnolyze - Shigurui - Blade of the Immortal (2019) And he's one of the two directors on Steins;Gate, which is already on your list.

It was really difficult last week to watch you want all of the things that happened in this episode. But that's just classic Isayama for you. Show the action first and explain later. He's been doing this since the series started. Love the focus on Jean, Hange and Mikasa in this. Jean focus is pretty much always great and Mikasa wanting to stop Eren has been built up since at least 4x06, but the seeds of her not really agreeing with Eren were already present before. And Hange, being the voice for Isayama, you love to see it. It's also nice how she's a mediator during the conversation, you can see her wanting to live up to those that came before. And lastly we got one of my favorite parallels in the story. It's Gabi begging for forgiveness and help to the 104th. Not only is it amazing to see how far she's come, but it's a clear parallel to Uri begging for Kenny's forgiveness. That small miracle, as Uri called it, pretty much happening again. Who amongst these characters would've thought that Gabi would bow down begging, when the person she cares for most has just been beaten to a pulp. Just perfection.

RaijinCloud

A bottle episode. One of the most limited episodes of the season animation wise. Still needed to keep the viewer immersed despite of that, so Hiroshi Hamasaki was brought in to provide the storyboard. His style is quite frugal and his career spans over four decades, so probably not the first bottle episode production he's involved in. Man knew what he was brought in for and delivered.

I think funimation has the “forever a scout” line and generally has more accurate translations compared to hulu. Not sure where filmbuff is watching

KD

I believe this episode was the most criticized so far in terms of direction by a lot of people when it came out, really glad you like it! This show is so good that the "calm before the storm" episodes are about people admiting to kill hundreds of thousands and a man beating the shit out of another, lmfao

Caio Serafim

I agree it does take away from the subtle nuances that these characters have developed over the 4 seasons - it's one word, but these words dramatically change the context of how they're thinking, the proper translations add to the immersion of the show as it makes sense to the characters themselves.

paeka

Oh, and staying on topic of Mikasa, translation contradicts what she does later in episode. Saying "I have to xyzabc" shows determination. Mikasa has none. It's clear from her snapping at Annie when asked if she's prepared to go all the way. Instead of answering anything, even something like "Dunno about killing but I still have to stop Eren" she snaps back with "Oh, so you just wanna get rid of me, huh!?" Clearly shifting the point. Because Mikasa just wants to stop Eren, wishes for him to stop, would like if he'd stop, but she's nowhere near "no matter what it takes" mindset. Which would've been easy to add to "I have to" phrase in audience's imagination. Not with Mikasa just having wishful thinking.

石原 悟

Nah, it's more subtle nuances. For example Jean said "I'm still a scout" and not "I'm forever a scout". Jean said that after Hange admitted that Scouts don't exist anymore as an organization and she herself isn't their superior officer anymore. Meaning she can't order anything. And then she mused over basic philosophy Scouts used to have. We see it affecting Jean. So he makes the choice to stay a scout. Just like he made the choice to become one. Saying he's forever a scout is too much, I feel. He was never a diehard scout anyway, so why start now when he said "I'm still a scout"? Or Mikasa saying "I have to stop Eren..." in translation when she said "I want to stop Eren...". I honestly don't think she feels a duty to stop him, she just wants to stop him, as she said. So why make it more grand? Those types of things all over the place in this episode.

石原 悟

are the translations favoring or making a specific character look worse? Like what's a particular point that the translation couldn't get across,

skitalks

wonderful, thank you!

AutomoTomto

They did the storyboard for this episode, the director was the same as Sole Salvation and Sunset.

RaijinCloud

cannot wait for the discussion on this one, glad to hear you enjoyed it! curious to hear your thoughts on the direction and cinematography in this one, i believe one of steins;gate's directors either storyboarded and/or directed this episode (correct me if i'm wrong) so you get a little taste of that to a certain degree (in ofc more of a rushed circumstance)!

AutomoTomto

That would be awesome, i hope Im sees this 👀

xyz

I'm conflicted... I don't have problems with translation, but almost every single line is altered. Some very small things are wrong. I dunno... Should I really go line by line and give much more literal translation, or leave it be? It's not a bad translation. Important things are all there. It's just too altered for my taste mostly without good reasons. Though a line by Elena is quite good in altered state so I won't touch that one if I do some translation shenanigans. Man, what to do lol

石原 悟

🙏

xyz

I love Jean's parallels with the first season here. In the first season he was determined to go into the interior and live a luxurious and easy life and have nothing to do with Titans or combat. But then he ends up going against all of his motivations and ends up joining the scouts because he didnt want the pile of ashes to be disappointed in him. In the start of this episode, again he's determined to escape from all responsibility and dreams of living a luxurious life in the interior with his dream wife (Mikasa lol) but decides against it because he doesn't want Marco to be disappointed in him. Looking forward to the discussion video

Kat

Something else I liked was how minimal the OST was and the cutting to the boiling pot. Just little things like that really set the tone. I do feel like some of the quick editing was a tiny bit jarring closer to the climax but that’s if I’m really looking for things to criticize. I think this was a well done ep but if others don’t like the adaptation then I won’t fault them either. Personal preference

Sarah S

Yeah, i liked it a lot too. Especially the focus on the Hange's cloak when they're talking about the Scouts

berketozlu

I could've bet my pinky toe that you will use this frame as your thumbnail as soon as I watched the episode

Zero 陰陽

Finally... this episode! One of my favorite chapters in the manga. Personally I liked all the directorial choices this episode, but I know not everyone did. Looking forward to discussion as always!

Sarah S