life line by line

Madarame becomes the second Chairman ever in Genshiken while Saki hazes the temporary newcomers. Slow episode but it had it’s moments.

Finding out the Genshiken’s Chairman status as an college student was pretty funny. I love how Yuuji Ueda plays the creepy-in-the-stalker way voice of the Chairman, and I can’t think of anyone else who would do any better. Well maybe Kouji Ishii since he did Kimura-sensei in Azumanga Daioh, but he’s already in Genshiken as the snotty Haraguchi so that’s a no go. I hope the Chairman will still do some future cameros in the later episodes… he’s too good not to use!

Kanako in maid cosplay! HOT STUFF! I found it funny that they got Kanako, I assume, dressed up as Mahoro from Mahoromatic since her seiyuu Ayako Kawasumi did the voice for Mahoro too Only if Saki would join too…. (dying for the episode that they foreshadow in the OP)

The two new members, I forgot their names, were…. unique to say the least. One guy seemed to join since the Genshiken club had girls in it while the other guy has always been into anime & manga, but never had courage to do it (voiced by Akira Ishida). The one voiced by Akira Ishida (oh god, why did he use his high pitch voice!!! He should NEVER be allowed to do so! Just stick to the roles where you’ll use your normal or “deep” voice dang it!), was without a doubt the comedy character considering all the stuff he did…. though it seems like he might not come back in later episodes based on the ending, which is odd since in the manga he stays in Genshiken. The more “normal” guy, well…. tried to sort of hit on Saki and Kanako, so I’ll leave it at that. He was pretty funny though when he games against Kousaka. The poor fool!

Saki using Kousaka as a means to slowly destroy Genshiken was pure genius. Just get the new members to game against Kousaka, and BAM! No one will be able to join if they have to defeat Kousaka first. Great scene where Kousaka might “go easy” on the newcomer but Saki brings up their little Puyo Puyo incident…. killing any chance of the newcomer winning.

By far, though, the BEST part of this episode had to be AN DRUNK KANAKO! Apparently she’s a happy drunk, clinging onto Saki like no tomorrow, which was very very cute. Kanako is also one hell of a drinker, as it looked like she out drank everyone in Genshiken! There definitely need to be more Kanako in the anime world, I can tell you that! Ayako also does a good job as an drunk Kanako, with the slurring of words and Kanako’s overly affections toward Saki. I hope they go out drinking again sometime soon!

Overall, the episode was good but somehow I felt it wasn’t up to par with some of the previous ones. Maybe because the animation dropped a bit or I just didn’t care for this small “arc,” I doubt I’ll remember this episode much except for the Kanako’s parts Luckily, the next episode will be better (at least for me) as Sasahara and Kanako join the world of mobile suits model building! Can’t wait to see the episode subbed!

Genshiken always has me laughing, and episode six is no exception. Bascially the time has been broken to tell two stories: Saki slow steps into the world of otaku to spend more time with Kousaka and meeting Sasahara’s younger sister Keiko.

Saki’s story was pretty entertaining, especially when she tries to learn to play Puyo Puyo Fever. All I have to say is Kousaka is one hell of a player, as he sure can hell combo them well! Also Saki asking the Genshiken crew for advice was classic as she breaks the ice by hinting at Kanako’s breast size (”J League!?!?” “W-World Cup…”). One has to feel bad for Saki as her attempts to spend more time with Kousaka together was all for nought, in some sense. Even when she gets some more quality time with Kousaka, there’s always some anime-related thing in her way.

Keiko, Sasahara’s younger sister, story line was just as hilarious as Saki’s. Seeing the normal Sasahara actually get annoyed when Keiko called was funny… plus Genshiken’s reactions were just pure gold (”First a childhood character, now a younger sister!”). Seeing how Kanji (Sasahara’s first name) and Keiko act, you can tell they’re siblings though just looking at them they’re complete opposites. The straight laced otaku Kanji to his kogal younger sister Keiko… makes for some good brother-sister situations (I think all older brothers with younger sisters know Sasahara’s pain ), like her asking to borrow money yet again or Kanji being sort of embarrassed while the rest of Genshiken watches them. Good stuff.

Kousaka definitely makes the episode as he has links to both stories. Saki trying to impress him only to be totally defeated in video games under 30 seconds flat. Or Kousaka taking the best “action” when everyone meets Keiko (one has got to love Keiko’s reaction to the wallscroll in her attempt to try to warm up to Kousaka). Thank you Kousaka for being the blacksheep of Genshiken! Without you, half the laughs would be gone!

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this viewing of Genshiken and it was great to see a) Sasahara’s cute sister Keiko b) Saki’s attempts at otaku-ness. There was really no “weak” point for me for this episode as everything was as good as it gets. Whether from Saki’s sexual harassment of Kanako to Saki’s unique description of an “friend” to Keiko to Sasahara’s empty wallet, Genshiken never failed to entertain me for one minute. Now only if they would show more Kujibiki Unbalance….

To be it simply, Saki saves Genshiken. Great scenes between Saki and Kitagawa with their various bitching at one another. Plus the Chairman threatening Saki was the icing on the cake, even after she saves their club. If one did not like Saki before, this episode should turn you into one Her reactions are classic!

Also worth noting is the two or so minutes we get to see of Kujibiki Unbalance. Great stuff period.

Ayako Kawasumi joins the cast of Genshiken as Kanako Ohno the recently transfered student wanting to join Genshiken and COSPLAY! We got Kanako with a weird hobby. Kanako cosplaying as Jam from Guilty Gear. The usual Saki’s death threats. Best of all though? Saki in NEKO-MIMI MODE! Another great episode of a series about otakus and anime

next episode looks good too, with Sanae Kobayashi guess voicing one of the characters trying to take down the Genshiken club. We get to see just how adjusted Saki is to the Genshiken club. Definite cat-fight abound! (plus we actually get to hear the Chairman of Genshiken talk who is voiced by the very comedical Yuuji Ueda)