An elemental workshop.

Kokoro Connect – Past, Present, & Oppai

Sep 15, 2012 @ 15:47 CDT


Peace seems transient passing, it looks that the characters of Kokoro Conenct remain afflicted now by a more generally repressing concern – yet at least there comes cuteness, oppai, and lolis to ease the mood.

To contrast the many waves of depression, this episode takes a more lighthearted start and develops with a fittingly easygoing mood from there – although of course, this doesn’t mean a darker overcast is totally absent. Straight into the episode, an Inaban outfitted in clothing of a classic panache is with her beloved Taichi – the two taking care of three children who incidentally look suspiciously similar to their three other club members, and unsurprisingly, that is as they indeed are the other three.

Our characters now must apparently face sporadic reversions to childhood – a situation vastly differing from either of the two events experienced prior, and for many a reason. Striking first of all is how this is a physical, and not merely a mental or spiritual conundrum to be concerned with – and secondly, it’s not as straightforward as one would initially come to assume.

The actual downsizing back into a child is simply something done for our amusement – an exquisite means of providing some side-entertainment and satisfaction to a fairly teary-eyed series, and not something which our characters actually need obsess over. As for what our crew does however need to be cautious with, it’s how their minds are messed with when time rolls back.

Heartseed makes no appearance this episode, although shifting over to a scene at the clubroom, our characters spot a message left for them on a blackboard – it consists of a list of names from their club, alongside a time frame, which as they come to learn, is essentially a warning of expectation. Only select individuals will be reverting to their days of ignorance – and it will always only take place during a specific period of the day, from afternoon to a while before sunset.

Much attention goes towards merely showing us how our characters quickly adapt themselves to meet and overcome the problem which they’re in – and whilst it does present us with plenty to appreciate, like Inaban’s bare upper body, it also introduces possibilities and awareness, potential for the worst to occur.

Worry is prevalent, many are distraught in that when they return to childhood, it also resurrects memories – seemingly turning a forgotten or overcome past into one which is now being relived as if it were modern day. Therefore, even if our characters managed to beat all their points of sorrow, those predicaments, among others, are merely becoming relevant once more – and unwillingly at that.

For each of our characters, this means a separate realm of strife in accordance to their current role – as well as their sentiments of past. In the case of Inaban, there’s no clear cloud of worry – although she’s certainly frightened over what may occur. On the other hand, the blonde bishoujo of the group seems to be troubled over a particular woe – something best not remembered is starting to seep into her mind. Meanwhile, one could say the same of the blonde bishounen – and as for Iori, she’s at a point where losing herself is a vexation yet again.

Setting aside Kiriyama, as there’s still little information on her matter, the blonde bishounen Aoki’s apprehension stems from having had a crush on a different female in the past. With feelings being brought back, he now questions how he came to lose his love for that girl – as well as just what “love” is to begin with. It’s a confusion of the mind – and one which does well to show that indeed, the physical aspect of becoming a child once more is not where our characters truly need be disturbed, rather, the torment remains mental.

Inaban and Iori’s fears are mainly at the chance of what could happen, rather than anything which has actually taken place – meaning at the moment, it is Kiriyama and Aoki who seem to be struck with a blast of solid misfortune.

Now as for our protagonist, he’s apparently exempt from the unfavorable – a second, perhaps unrelated Heartseed seems to be responsible either in part or in full on this ordeal, and that antagonist character confirmed our protagonist will remain stable under the reasoning that someone must keep order. If all five of our crew turned to kids, there would be chaos – as if such is not present already.

Perhaps this is now where Taichi will truly have to prove himself – as it’s not far-fetched to think that the meager worrying felt this episode was merely a forecast of far more tragedy impending. Yet on a lighter note, hopefully the sight of Inaban’s birthday suit was similarly a promise for more great things awaiting.

  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • RSS Feed
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter

16 Comments

  • Anonymous says:

    That is not a B cup

  • liamash3 says:

    They all look so cute as little kids :)
    Amazing that it hasn’t effected someone this time round, but I can see the logic in keeping a character immune this time – there’d be mass panic if humanity at large discovered the group’s age reversals. This way, someone can hide it while still being in the same mind frame (as you said that their mind revisits memories from long ago, Seven, and such would struggle more to stick to the present).

  • Not in a million years was i expecting this twist to come…but i welcomed it with open hands….this series has exceeded expectations with its realistic emotional display and improvising. Even the concept is fresh out of the oven…definitely one of the best series this autumn season…

    • Anonymous says:

      You mean this summer season, right?

    • Seven says:

      I’d say it’s one of the best in general, beyond the season – there’s no other highschool slice of life like this. And this series threshes out emotion like no other.

  • blaziken says:

    This is probably the episode I enjoy the most, even more than the ‘I masturbate to you’ one.
    One more solid proof that KC is never short on good ideas.

    • Seven says:

      It’s difficult to pick favorites – every episode is a hit, although I have to agree, for more reasons than one.

  • Anonymous says:

    this series is 10000x better than that other shit show called “sword art online”

  • liamash3 says:

    Kid Inaba is so cute! :)
    Shame it seem’s we won’t see a kid Taichi…
    Wonder if the original Heartseed will discover the Second? That’d be interesting. I’d just hope the KC cast wouldn’t be the soldiers :)

  • Hawkward says:

    Taichi’s gonna have his work cut out for him >_>
    I can’t help but wonder why the new Heartseed chose him of all people to not change into their younger form despite being the main protagonist (yet considering the ED, it makes me wonder if will happen, and if it would have a more significant impact than the other’s past taking into mind how he developed his nature of personality).

    We already have a general idea of the past lives of Himeko and Yui, so I hope to see a little more focus on Aoki. It’s a shame that his love life is being messed up. I can’t help but question though – Each of these “incidents” that happen, they each tie a life lesson of some sort.

    With the body swaps, it seemed about accepting yourself, for the desires to me was about believing in your friends, whereas this new age phenomenon seems to want to bring up accepting the past in a way.

    It’s hard to see where things are headed, but that in a way is a great thing for Kokoro Connect, expecting the unexpected, and never failing to be surprised, and impressed by the outcome. Definitely one of the best anime this season, and the best highschool slice-of-life anime for a good while.

  • skylion says:

    It isn’t just the age regressed we learn about. Iori seems to have been reminded rather sharply of how alone she was growing up. This wasn’t the case when she was made a child again, but rather at her natural age. It isn’t hard to see her chasing Aoki and seeing him as a little brother, nor fawning over the aged-down Inaba (but then, if you have a pulse you would fawn over minIbana). Then we add “oh, my mom is home” ::click:: without even seeing the face of her mother. Ill at ease doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt over that.

    My only concern for this episode is Aoki’s development. I hope they don’t take the cliched approach. Yui could finally come to accept that he loves her, only to have the bottom drop out of his heart. For a show that deals in surprise turns, that would be something I could do without.

    • Seven says:

      Similarly, I recognize the issues feel very multi-tiered – the series has established emotion as something highly complex, and it’s not just one or two risks in the air for any character with the latest turn of events they face, but a whole maze of various worries.

      The particularly killing aspect of it is how it’s memories of past, resurrected to present – Iori normally would be over her loneliness, yet what is she to do now? It seems as if she’s going to have to forcibly overcome her past assuming she wants to move forward – otherwise, back to square one.

      I also agree with the bit on Aoki – an unfortunate route would be too anticipated if that were how it played out, rather, something could occur last second instead and the situation falls apart there and then instead. At which point, unless Kokoro Connect is set to end in tragedy, some kind of solution will work its way in place.

Leave a Reply

Post a comment anonymously. Login, or register to post using your own name, avatar, and identity.

Your comment will appear shortly.

Article Comments Feed Random Post

In Other News...

  • High School DxD Exposes All Early On
    Upcoming ecchi series of 2012, High School DxD is showing everything its got before its even out – now offering us stills from its soon to come first episode, featuring the female lead entirely nude, and hardly censored. ... read more
  • Guilty Crown Surprisingly Gaining Confidence
    Guilty Crown was gaining traction within its last episode and now it seems the series is actually picking up – acquiring a significant boost in confidence as the protagonist just realizes he’s the main character. ... read more
  • “My Romantic Comedy” Gets Warmed Up
    Descriptively titled, yet predictably incorrect, amusing adolescent love story “My youth romantic comedy is wrong as I expected” has launched its official site for the upcoming animation – bringing a fine visual with it. ... read more
  • “Oreimo” S2 Episode 6 Preview Images
    Preview imagery for upcoming sixth episode of Ore no Imouto’s second run points the episode in a totally unforetold direction – the imouto starts whining and complaining when things don’t go her way. ... read more

About | Random | Donate | Etiquette | Contact

An Elemental Workshop.