Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou – 12 (End)

[sage]_Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys_-_12_[720p][10bit][EBB074ED].mkv_snapshot_06.07_[2012.03.27_12.53.15]

[sage]_Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys_-_12_[720p][10bit][EBB074ED].mkv_snapshot_18.52_[2012.03.27_13.06.48]

[sage]_Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys_-_12_[720p][10bit][EBB074ED].mkv_snapshot_20.12_[2012.03.27_13.08.09]

Happily, Danshi Koukousei ended with a terrific episode that reminded me of all the reasons why I adored the series so much.

If you had a base as a fan of this series, I’m pretty sure this finale covered it. Just about all the major characters got a spotlight – even poor Tadakuni at long last – and even most of the pairings had their moment in the sun. There was (fake) emotion, random comedy, satire and slapstick. It’s funny how the formula for this series could change in small and subtle ways and throw off an entire episode (as seemed to happen for much of the middle third) but these last couple of eps were definite winners.

For starters, Sunrise did a reversal by giving us the Funky Girls (with their OP) before the credits, then running the ED as the OP. Poor Habara is still paying the price for her archdemon days, and her chances with Kurasawa seem doomed for it – and boy, is she ever lousy at reading guys. I have to admit I laughed repeatedly and loudly when Yoshitake was telling Motoharu all that BS about Twitter being a rare pasta and KY being an environmental standard (about spewed my lunch with that one) before finally setting on one correct answer as to what a MMORPG was. This show has mastered the art of the “wait for it” punch line payoff, and Motaharu delivered a beauty here.

Tadakuni makes his first meaningful appearance in about a month in the next sketch, as the three “main characters” are reunited again for a crane game sketch, which carries over to a solo number with Hidenori and the shop attendant. Not the strongest material of the ep but a nice finish with the attendant’s pity help embarrassing the hell out of Hidenori. Then, an always-welcome visit from Yassan, this time in the school setting with her two friends Takahiro and Takahiro-tomodachi. Those two provide their usual running commentary track on anime girl behavior, but the kicker is when they reveal that the entire school knows she chased Hidenori all over town. We also get an always-welcome visit from Ringo-chan, indulging her gluttony while dragging the seitokai all over town and being oblivious to guys hitting on her. If the Prez wants to take his shot, looks like he’s going to have competition.

Mitsuo and the hot dog on a stick was another one of those “so stupid it’s funny” numbers this series is so good at, and Tadakuni again proves himself useful as a stage prop here, though the best bit was the use of “Six Million Dollar Man” sound effects. Apparently the three-second rule doesn’t apply to idiots. But this is all preamble to what’s easily the highlight of the episode for me, Tadakuni’s dream. Danshi Koukousei is superb at trolling the audience and at false sincerity, and they’re both indulged fantastically here. It’s graduation day, Tadakuni is in full main character mode and the stirring music is playing. There are declarations of eternal friendship among the main trio, tears from the seitokai and inspirational words from the Prez, Yoshitake digs up a time capsule from his “Rubber Shooter” past, and Hidenori finally connects with Literary Girl. Best of all though, Tadakuni-Imouto finally shows him her dere side, and then he has an encounter with a beautiful girl who’s strange yet oddly familiar – yes, it’s Convex Mirror Girl, emerged from behind the glass to confess her love. I almost didn’t want Tadakuni to wake up – as an ardent Tadakuni-Nago #1 shipper, I’ve been waiting for that moment for 12 episodes.

I love the way this series never does anything conventionally, and the wrap is a blast – it’s the OP used as ED over a clip montage, followed by a commercial for the upcoming Funky Girls movie, featuring “The Archdemon vs. the Silver Demon” – a trip to London and a legendary battle between Habara and Nago #2. K-On and Dragon Quest spoofed in the same sketch? Genius! Finally there’s one last troll end card, as we’re promised a second season – only this time a live-action with “good looking young actors”. I don’t know about that one, but please go buy the Blu-rays and maybe we’ll get another round of anime in a couple of years…

ED2:

Epilogue:

[sage]_Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys_-_12_[720p][10bit][EBB074ED].mkv_snapshot_22.33_[2012.03.27_13.11.08]

[sage]_Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys_-_12_[720p][10bit][EBB074ED].mkv_snapshot_22.36_[2012.03.27_13.11.11]

[sage]_Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys_-_12_[720p][10bit][EBB074ED].mkv_snapshot_23.00_[2012.03.27_13.11.35]

Archdemon vs. Silver Demon

14 comments

scineram

March 27, 2012 at 10:20 pm

Not just the crane game, did you notice who he was going for?

Lovely episode overall. I am really rooting for Habara. The K-On movie parody was pure gold.

Ani_BEE

March 28, 2012 at 3:52 am

I was laughing at the Ginga Madoka figure. But yes crane game with box prizes is cheating you store owner.

Seishun Otoko

March 27, 2012 at 10:31 pm

Hell yeah, Hot Nago's confession to Tadakuni was the highlight of the episode. Deep down, he's been crushing on Nago chan hard and glad to see the producers giving us a nod.
The show has its ups and downs but this was certainly a great way to end the series. Huge thumbs up for bringing Tadakuni kun back into the spotlight and Irino Miyu needs to get more comedic roles!

Myssa Rei

March 28, 2012 at 12:42 am

Dear Haruhi, I think the sheer amount of ship tease in the last segment (prior to the Funky Girls movie skit) made this finale for many (nevermind it was just a huge setup for another troll). And I'm not surprised that Nago-san from the pizzaria has a role to play in Tadakuni's subconscious as, because of his part-time job, she's the other person he's likely to be hanging around with when not with Hidenori or Yoshitake.

The_Magus_Killer

March 28, 2012 at 1:34 am

When Tadakuni started preparing for the graduation, I knew something was off. When "Nago-san" tried confessing to Tadakuni, alarm bells started blaring inside my head. "Someone's gonna be trolled by the time this skit ends" – my otaku self said. And he was right all along.

Nago-san (the one from the pizzaria) was already a senior at Sanada Central High (which means she graduated a year earlier than Tadakuni), so why was she wearing her uniform there at the viewing deck? For a cosplay confession?

She should have been in casual clothes since she should have been a college freshman by the time of the nichibros' graduation. This might confirm the theory that NAGO-san (the thinner version) is Nago-san's imouto. Guardian Enzo, I'm with you when it comes to shipping Nago-san x Tadakuni 100% XD

But for me the highlight of the episode was Yassan/Bungaku Shoujo/Literature Girl x Hidenori. After a series of hit-and-miss skits where both were humiliated, they finally got together in the end. Those lines they said to each other were perfect – a far cry from the awkward "poser lines" they said to each other in episode 1. A kiss against the background of the setting sun would have been nicer, but I'll take what I can get. Holding Hands is pretty nice too.

I also support Habara x Karasawa (osananajimi) and Ringo-chan x Student Council President (a tsundere/dojikko x a master troll).

The "High School Girls Are Funky The Movie: ArchDemon vs. Silver Devil" should be animated. Habara is too much of a female version of Tadakuni when not in ArchDemon mode. I love Yanagin's coarse, rough and screaming voice. Kobayashi Yuu really does her character justice.

I do think Sunrise will make a second season. The real joke was the live action version (with good looking young actors). XD

Anonymous

March 28, 2012 at 2:54 am

Viewing this site on iPhone is tough.
I ain't sad to see this go. Cause it was etch an uplifting episode. Just feel too good to feel sad

Ishruns

March 28, 2012 at 2:58 am

How will I continue.

No Gintama or Danshi starting from next week. All the fun in the world has been taken away, NOOOOOO.

Great show and Spting better try hard to beat it.

Ishruns

March 28, 2012 at 3:22 am

THX Enzo

Beckett

March 28, 2012 at 5:34 am

Haha good bye Literature Girl, you will be missed (for now?!)

Anonymous

March 28, 2012 at 7:07 am

Tadakuni woke up with the same uniform and manga book from episode 4.
The whole story since then are from Tadakuni dreams.
This also explan why he did not appeared much in the remaining of episodes.

admin

March 28, 2012 at 7:27 am

An interesting theory – except he appeared in his own dream with CMG, there at the end…

Anonymous

March 28, 2012 at 5:04 pm

And maybe Ringo doesn't exist.

SlushiZ

March 28, 2012 at 10:35 am

Does Ringo and Prez remind anyone else of kaicho wa maid sama? XD lol

Kinny Riddle

March 28, 2012 at 12:43 pm

I sorta guessed it was all a dream long before "Girl in Convex Mirror" appeared before Tadakuni. Their sincere feelings for each other was just too unreal and pushing the status quo too much, and most comedy relies heavily on the status quo.

Still, it's fun to see Tadakuni actually agree with certain fan shipping and have Prez x Ringo-chan as well as Hidenori x Literature Girl. XD

Speaking of LG, she's beginning to pay the price of chasing Hidenori all across town just to resolve a minor misunderstanding.

As a Hidenori x LG shipper, I'll say this once again: LG, you might as well just go out and date Hidenori outright.

Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou – 12 (End)

Guardian Enzo

14 comments

scineram

Ani_BEE

Seishun Otoko

Myssa Rei

The_Magus_Killer

Anonymous

Ishruns

Ishruns

Beckett

Anonymous

admin

Anonymous

SlushiZ

Kinny Riddle

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Lost in Anime

Guardian Enzo

Related posts

14 comments

scineram

Ani_BEE

Seishun Otoko

Myssa Rei

The_Magus_Killer

Anonymous

Ishruns

Ishruns

Beckett

Anonymous

admin

Anonymous

SlushiZ

Kinny Riddle

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply