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11 September 2008: Comparing Saishuu Heiki Kanojo with Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu (Part One)

Shuji and Chise
Shuji and Chise.

Stripey compares Saikano to Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu, finding Iriya to be a much better show than Saikano. Curiously, I never connected Saikano and Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu before. In hindsight, it seems obvious to associate them. The two shows are both about dweebs who discover their girlfriends are ultimate weapons fighting in wars that will decide the fate of the world. Somehow I never really noticed the similarities until I read Stripey's blog entry.

Iriya Kana hands Asaba Naoyuki a submachine gun
Iriya Kana hands Asaba Naoyuki a submachine gun.

One thing Stripey mentions is the unrealistic military aspects of Saikano. Bear in mind, however, that his complaints are about the military protocol, not about fielding a high school girl that shoots missiles out of her back. I understand what Stripey's getting at, though. Suspension of disbelief is fine when it involves aspects integral to the story, but miscellaneous insensible details can be notoriously distracting. Me, I'm perfectly fine with a high school girl who shoots missiles from her back (even though tradition dictates the missiles should launch from her chest), but it annoys me that Chise (Miss Ultimate Weapon, herself) frequently trips and falls on her face without provocation as the stereotypical clumsy anime girl. I've always despised that affectation. It's not cute at all.

Shuji fails to keep Chise from falling
Ultimate weapon my eye.

Personally, I don't remember if the military aspects of Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu are necessarily more authentic than the ones in Saikano, but I do remember Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu as being a much better show. However, it has been a while since I've watched either series, so perhaps re-watching them will reveal aspects and nuances I overlooked initially.

Naoyuki straddles Kana
There are some boobs. Okay? Just not a lot.

As an aside, I should mention that Saikano is actually an abbreviation for this Gonzo series' much longer title: Saishuu Heiki Kanojo: The Last Love Song on This Little Planet. (Most sources translate Saishuu Heiki Kanojo as She, the Ultimate Weapon.) After the first episode of Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu aired, I also started calling it by an abbreviated title: UFO Boobs. Thankfully, this bit of shorthand never caught on. It's a bit unfair to refer to Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu as UFO Boobs. That suggests the show is a trite, fan service romp, which isn't true at all. Besides, there aren't especially many boobs in Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu, anyway. I still secretly call it UFO Boobs out of habit sometimes, but I don't suggest anyone else should.


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