Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that one of the backing tracks I initially used in this video has since been claimed. It's very minor (less than 6 minutes total), but I've had to use TH-cam's "erase song" feature to clear it up. Luckily, it works really well, and having first tested it on a separate re-upload to make sure, I can say that this hasn't affected any of the edits/voiceover audio. That said, some slight quality shifts do occur during these brief snippets, albeit nothing to the extent that should detract too much from the overall experience. Even so, my apologies to anyone for whom this is not the case, and hopefully I can manage to avoid this in the future. With that in mind, I have provided additional timestamps denoting the segments in question as well as the initial re-upload of the original audio in the description should you prefer to experience those points as initially intended, though I would no less implore you to engage with this video of course.
not only this is an in-depth video essay, those are some high effort video editing.... there isn't a lot of people that would say BRS is their 'literally me'... but if the BRS franchise had 200 fans, I am one of them... You deserve the macaron.
I still can't believe it comes to PGR to try and give BRS the chance it deserves to have. The design of og BRS is on point compared to the og show. Thanks for the video.
It was quite the shock to see the collab announced, and now to find that they stuck with the OG too? Yeah, I concur, and hopefully PGR's efforts prove to be successful. Of course, you're welcome. Thanks for watching!
this is exactly what all fan of BRS need : a "little" reminder of why we love this anime and you did it so well. Huge THANKS for this masterpiece, it was the shortest 3h of my life.
Lol, just a "little" reminder yeah. Well, happy to be of service then, to fans like yourself and newcomers alike. It really means a lot to see this academic/passion project being "worth" so much more than that for as many people as it has. And of course - as brief as it may have felt - a huge thanks to you in turn for watching, all the more for enjoying it enough for the time to fly by like that!
First I want to say "thank you," a phrase I muttered throughout much of watching. As a long time Black Rock Shooter fan and someone who has dedicated their entire life to the appreciation and study of this franchise, most specifically the 2012 TV anime, thank you doesn't feel like enough, but it's what I have to say. After watching the first two minutes I recognized that this video would be something special and sent it to the Black Rock Shooter discord server I've been moderating since 2019 in hopes that it was as good as I hoped it was, and finally after having the chance to sit down and consume your work in it's entirety I can say with certainty that I was right. I have spent countless hours analyzing this show on top of the 500+ times I've watch the show itself, and to see someone else come to the many conclusions and then some that I have myself was the most blissful I have felt in a long time. I remember writing an essay in college about the importance of color, specifically of red, throughout BRS TV, and to see it mentioned by another for the very first time had me shaking with joy. Every stitch of this video is laced with such care and adoration for the show and it comes through in a way that resonates with the viewer (or maybe I'm just biased). I wanted to note some elements that I especially loved. Including parts from both the sub and dub, the later of which alters some of the show's original context in minimal but significant ways, was brilliant. Taking the best parts from each put together a watch experience of Black Rock Shooter unable to been seen by just viewing one of the subs or the or the dub on its own. Mentioning the narrative use of CG for the other world scenes was very important in my opinion, as most just view the scenes for their technical marvel and ignore the relevance the art form has within the story itself. I've already mentioned my love for the mention of red's mention, but I also wanted to leave appreciation for the recognition of the other colors shown in scenes as well. I made a long list of notes I had throughout watching, pausing and rewinding to assure I understood, and most were just excited ramblings about how much I enjoyed all 3+ hours of this watch. But I also want to note some things that I can add further context or conversation to, just a few things though. The first is the mention of people liking the idea that Saya adopts Yuu after the events of the anime. This actually has some basis to it, as in the booklet included with the limited edition box set for the anime there are visuals on the front and back cover of the gang (Mato, Yomi, Saya, Yuu, Kagari, and Kohata) all celebrating what appears to be Yuu's birthday at Saya's apartment. Second I wanted to note how the dub and sub handle Mato first connecting to the other world in episode 5, where she is talking with Strength in the dub it is actually Black Rock Shooter who is addressing her in the sub. I'm not sure why this change was made but I personally think it takes away some of the significance and depth of the scene. Rather than the scene being another allusion to the Strength/Yuu swap, it's the first conversation Mato has with Black Rock Shooter and acts as set up (or foreshadowing lol) to the conversation the two have in episode 8. Lastly, on a much smaller note and more so just for the "neatness" of it, the same scene in episode 5 directly parallels the OVA, in which Mato now wants to save Yomi in the anime where as she didn't think of what she was doing as "saving" her in the OVA. I think it's a neat callback and provides a great example of the differences in between how the OVA and TV anime handle similar topics and the evolution of the OVA into the TV anime. As a final note of this already very long comment, the work you have put in here has not gone unappreciated. This love letter to a mostly forgotten 2010s anime is loved in itself, and I'm so glad to have found it. Even myself, who loves this show to death and has seen it so many times I've lost count, gained value from it. Not just in the sense of comradery, but from a new perspective of the ending of episode 8, a scene that I have found much issue with over time. While I love the show with its flaws, I could never get past the flaws of episode 8's ending and how I felt it didn't tie up the story in a satisfying way, albeit a happy one. But after watching your video I find a bit more peace in it, understanding that it's not a perfect ending as a show but a great way to end the story. So I say "thank you" for that as well. Rambling about Black Rock Shooter for hours on end is something I already do frequently enough, and something you yourself have now done as well, so I'll leave it with a final "thank you." I've been wanting to make BRS videos myself for a long, long time, and this has helped reinvigorate that drive to create and share how important this show is to me, just as it is to you. If you ever want to chat BRS and get super convoluted and in depth about it, I'm down to hear more from you, be it in video or text form! (And sorry ab (And don't worry about getting "official" terms mixed up. Fan made terms for locations in BRS have been used and passed around throughout the franchise's history, and it's only been in that last two years that the more "official" terms have been recognized by the fandom and thus added to the fandom wiki. And sorry that this comment is so long!)
It's only fair that I respond where I can. First and foremost though, I assure you that your feedback is well above and beyond anything I expected to receive, so there's no need to apologize for the length, it's exceptionally thorough and equally expressive. If anything, my response here is lacking lol. I'm incredibly grateful that you've shared this with others, as I wholly anticipated this video to be flung into the void without much fanfare, unseen and unsung. It is, as you said, a mostly forgotten 2010s anime after all. However, that hasn't really happened. And of course, more than that, I'm grateful my thoughts were worth that consideration. Interesting, I didn't know about the art on the limited edition. I've seen some of it (namely the cast "spying" on Yomi featured on the soundtrack), but I never knew where it originated from. Yuu's birthday on the other hand I had never come across whatsoever, but now that I look at it I see what you mean. I never had much of an issue with Saya adopting Yuu story-wise - it's certainly better than the alternative - so seeing that that interpretation isn't baseless speculation does put my mind at ease. As for episode 5, I see what I did. When I was working on the script for this I played the sub(s) and the dub simultaneously to compare them in real time, but since I had the sub muted to do so I must have neglected to notice (or otherwise forgot) that the voice changes to BRS' in that scene, because going back it is quite apparent once you know what to look for. My bad. Foreshadowing indeed lol. All in all, I felt it a disservice to the series to offer anything less than this, so I'm glad that the efforts therein were worth being acknowledged, and more importantly, able to provide this experience for you. Hearing that it's inspired you to create as well is incredibly high praise as it is, and should you choose to do so, I'd be interested in seeing what comes of it. Moreover, I'm happy to see that I could contribute even to your perception of the series, as you mine through this correspondence. And with that, I suppose, the only thing more I can say is thank you: for all your feedback and your appreciation, it really does mean the most!
It really is an eye-opening experience every time something finally clicks with this series, isn't it? Still, I can understand that, the fight scenes were initially what really got me into the 2012 series specifically, even in lieu of actually understanding anything else at the time. That's been a seemingly common sentiment as well, even among those who left the show at just that, so I suppose you needn't take my word for it. Regardless, I'm glad you were willing to come back to this show even so many years later; all the same that this video could help you better grasp its narrative and whatever value it holds for you. More than that though, thank you so much indulging me here, and all the more for sharing your own experience in this manner.
I can't believe this doesn't have more likes, I hyperfixated on this anime so much and didn't understand it, I was a child and I didn't get all of the manipulation. Years have passed and BRS has been on my mind, I wanted to revisit it and then I saw this video. I LOVE the dedication and the memes it's perfect. I wish more people would see it
Thanks, I love the enthusiasm! It's nice to see people rekindle their interest in BRS like this, and I'm glad my efforts could do justice to that. Of course, I'm happy to hear I managed to make a few quality memes too lol. But again, thank you for watching, I know this is a lot to get through. Here's hoping that others stumble on this video then, and all the same, that whoever does can find it worthwhile too.
I thought this anime was just a fever dream of mine alone. It brings me joy to hear that there are others who were captivated by it in the same way I was. It’s Freudian psychology: the anime.
Believe me, I can relate. I could never seem to find anyone who knew about this show in person, and I didn't participate in what little online discourse there seems to have been surrounding it at the time either. So thank you for commenting, I'm always grateful to hear from others who were also (as was well stated in your comment) captivated by it.
I honestly can't believe that the high quality meme editing went all the way through. I honestly figured it was gonna stop at like 20 minutes in but it kept going. Amazing video
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed! About the editing: for better or worse, I'm a bit of perfectionist for consistency when it comes to most things, so you can thank that little quirk of mine for the resulting "meme density" so-to-speak lol.
You put it perfectly into words. I've loved this series since I first watched the OVA, and I favor the 2012 animation on an almost RELIGIOUS bias. BRS became a foundation to my own life in many ways, There was certainly a me BEFORE watching it and me After watching it. It was so impactful for me that my favorite color became Azure blue, the color of that bright blue flame. The star my symbol because to me there's so much meaning behind it. I really wish BRS would get the attention it deserves, it's an amazing thing that can be so easily overlooked.
And I won't lie BRS has some REALLY funny meme potential as well Black Rock "Catch These Hands" Shooter: These Hands Rated E for Everyone Meanwhile Black Gold Saw sees her kickin ass and goes "Oh shit she's whoopin their ass, I'm outta here scoob, Blue Scadoo and I BETTER TOO!"
i always figured there's more going on than the cool fighting, especially with Kagari and Black Gold Saw for me. but i was always too dumb to connect the dots or get the symbolism. Thank you so much
That's good though! Even just acknowledging that there's a potential meaning worth knowing about is already a pretty significant investment, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. On that note, I'm glad Kagari was one of the characters to clue you in on that - for lack of a better phrase. I'm of the perspective that her symbolism in the first couple episodes is especially well-handled, and generally easier to approach because of that (relatively speaking of course). Speaking of, while I was unaware of DPD specifically prior to your comment, it no less seems to be a perfectly valid interpretation in its own right. Still, thank you in turn for spending some time here to indulge in this series again, and I'm happy I could help you understand it further.
When I first found this video I thought it was a very old video essay that came out around the same time as the original series. I was surprised when I saw the actual video release date, seeing that this analysis came out recently shooketh me lmao
If Strength throws dead body’s from a cliff it’s because Yuu hasn’t intend to school for several years and no school means you become a garbage collector just like your parents keep repeating you.
Black Rock Shooter was formative for me as an artist but after a while I forgot about it, until recently, where all it came back and I fell in love again - nobody else seems to remember. Plus the revival with Dawnfall was pretty disappointing. I LOVE the fact this video not only exists, but chews into it more than teenager me ever could. Here’s to you, the series, and whatever else inspires artists of the future
It's so cool to see how others have been inspired by this series, that's awesome! As an artist myself I have to admit that Black Rock Shooter has been seeping into some my recent work as well. But yeah, it is a shame that Black Rock Shooter is so often overlooked and forgotten about. To be honest, prior to all this I'd only ever personally met a handful of people who knew what BRS was for that matter (imagine my shock), but I digress. I'm glad that I could provide this experience for you, just as well that it could offer something new to sink your teeth into, if you'll forgive the pun. And of course, here's to your future artistic endeavors!
hey so Im literally crying right now after understanding so much more about this series I was ashamed of liking as a preteen. thought I shouldnt like such girly things as a boy. no longer a boy or concerned about those kind of social norms, but this anime, especially brs as a character always resonated with me despite not being able to understand her. Even ignoring the gender part, I always wanted to be her. strong, ready to get hurt and risk everything hoping to make her friends lives better... took me a while (and this video) to understand how much to this day I relate to all these girls, and only now in my mid twenties I realize how much of this story stuck with me throught these years and made me the girl I am. its kinda pathetic how much growing I put off for all this time, but its nice to finally understand more about this anime and in turn a little more about myself. and it was nice having a good cry about how deep the pain of these girls was, how much it mirrored mine and how happy I am to see them happy. so yeah, thanks for the experience
Goodness, it seems this topic is very close to you then, and I'm glad you could find catharsis in this experience going off your closing sentiment, though I no less apologize if this video caused any emotional distress. To address the rest, while it sounds as though you've moved passed it, I'll no less offer that I don't think liking BRS is anything to be ashamed of, and I've always seen it to be a broadly human narrative, independent of any gendered perspective. Even so, it is also my (albeit limited) understanding that BRS herself has resonated with and become somewhat of an icon for some people's gender and/or sexual identity. I don't know if that necessarily interests or matters to you personally, but I thought it worth mentioning. Beyond that, I'm glad this video could help you get a better grasp on this series, and through that series in turn, yourself. All the more, I hope that whatever you feel needs changing or doing in your life in light of this experience proves to be for the best. Likewise, then, I wish you the best in doing so. And hey, I wouldn't view those shortcomings in the interim as pathetic. Living up to and becoming better versions of ourselves - at least as best we can - is a process of effort, and not one I feel is strictly bound to childhood either (provided Saya is anyone to go by). Anyway, I'm rambling, so I'll close out by thanking you for sharing your experience here, it means so much to see how BRS as a series can, has, and I pray will continue to help people. So again, thank you for watching, and all that entails.
@@leviathandrake thanks for your reply, and no need to worry, no distress here, well besides realizing you don't have a whole channel of feature length video essays like this to binge. But yeah I definitely reconnected with the series, even found out it has a rather great Italian dub. I never knew black rock shooter actually became a sort of queer icon but I'll definitely be looking into that. In the meanwhile I just so happened to have found a discarded crutch that would make a great base for a big ass cannon prop, so I have a new diy project on my hands
That's good to hear, I'm happy you got some newfound admiration for the series from this! All the same, I appreciate the sentiment that this video is, shall we say, underrated. I must say though that it's exceeded my expectations. With how niche - or rather, underrated - BRS is, I wasn't anticipating even half of the reception it's garnered, so this has all been a rather pleasant surprise. Still, I do hope this video can continue to reach people for as long as possible, and so I suppose we agree nonetheless. In any case, thank you again for watching and taking the time to comment, it means a lot!
I remember watching Black Rock Shooter way back in middle school. I have figures of the characters, and I’m absolutely obsessed with their designs. I also resonate heavily with this series as someone who has struggled internally for several years. I should have found this video sooner because the analysis of this series is incredible. Thank you for talking about this underrated series.
Hey, similar story here by all accounts! Likewise, I hope you can go on to or have since surmounted those struggles, from resonating with this series in some capacity or otherwise. You're aren't alone in that experience. With regard to the rest of your comment, ultimately I'm just glad that you did come across it, the fact this video has managed to touch as many people as it has - and for that matter, continues to do so - is its' own reward. As underrated as this series is, it's good that no small amount of people have been connected by it, and so I thank you for that. All the same for deeming this a valuable discussion, in its way.
As someone who has been a fan of BRS for god knows how long, I'm so happy to see her getting the love that she deserves. I don't think you could explain any better just how much depth the show has and by that, you prove how underrated it is. I'm so glad TH-cam recommended this video to me, it was an excellent watch!
That's very high praise, and more importantly, very kind of you, I appreciate it! Plus, my thanks to the TH-cam algorithm for pulling through for you then, it seems this was a valuable find. All the more so, thank you for engaging with all this video had to offer! A lot went into putting together everything there was to say about this show - as it truly is one of if not the absolute deepest anime I've come across - and so I'm glad the result proved to be worthwhile, especially when it means appreciating a series that so desperately deserves it. Thanks again for watching!
I'd like to believe I tried my utmost to do the series justice, so that's very kind of you to say, and very high praise too, I really appreciate it! And of course, likewise, thank you for watching.
Man i’ve loved black rock shooter for so long even when i didn’t understand it until this day, thank you for this video, it has cemented my love for this show even more!
That's good to hear! This show has a seemingly notorious tendency of being difficult to understand, so I'm glad this video could provide some assistance on that front. All the same, that's awesome - that you enjoyed the series - and thank you for watching!
I just want to express how much I am thankful to you. This was a very important analysis to me, I wasn't expecting something going this deep and sincere, and soo glad that this exists. This is a huge work indeed and from the whole heart I admire it. It was so refreshing and reassuring. Black Rock Shooter is a very important phenomenon for me, and your video IS very inspirational and thought provoking ! So friend, let's continue to search for new colours. EDIT: What was the Peter Griffin’s meme? Did I miss it? )
Thank you, I never would have expected this video to resonate with people as much as it has, so seeing comments like this is insane to me. I honestly don't know what all I could say to express that in way that does my feelings justice. I suppose, if nothing else, I can concur; let's find all the colors we can. As for the Peter Griffin bit, I ended up using that footage in places where I just couldn't think of anything else to edit. I was going to include a payoff at the end, but I felt the tone of the video was more serious by then. Also I couldn't think of a payoff worth three hours of buildup either lol.
Only two minutes and I already know you get it, I'm the same as you BRS as been with me since I first watch as a kid and to this I still think is one of the most underrated pieces of media. I'm an artist and I still think about her when I'm creating a character with a psychological conflict. Can wait to see the rest ;;;
Thanks! It's very kind of you to comment here, and, likewise, to have such faith in the credibility of its contents; so I hope the rest of the video can/will continue to demonstrate and uphold that for you. Beyond that, I can't refrain from saying once again that I share your sentiments on BRS being criminally underrated. I'd be lying if I said I'd ever before or since seen something seemingly so simultaneously disregarded and discredited as esoteric. Of course, it's no less reassuring seeing that it isn't and doesn't always have to be that way. Also - and from one artist to another - that's cool! Good luck with your future projects then, and I hope that the stories they may tell prove interesting in their own way(s)!
This video, no, this movie is gold. I am so glad that someone made such an analysis, and not just an analysis of the plot, but an analysis of everything that is in this beautiful work. Thank you for your effort, because thanks to it, I remembered again why I love Black rock shooter.
i cant believe its taken 7 months for this analysis to appear on my recommended BRS is one of my favorite shows and it means so much to me, watching a whole 3 hour video picking it apart is exactly what i have wanted i loved your analysis, BRS to me has always been a sort of coming of age story and about the importance of growing and being a better person than you were the previous day. thank you so much for making this video, even if it was for a project lol
The algorithm do be like that sometimes lol. I'm glad the video is still making the rounds though, even after having uploaded it this long ago. Still, knowing now that you've wanted to see something like this, I'm glad you could enjoy it, and all the more thankful that you stuck around to see it through. As an aside, while I may have only touched on it in passing, I wanted to say your interpretation of the series' themes is itself perfectly valid as well. Even if for a project, true, seeing what it's meant to people has made me view it as more of an excuse to finally make something I may not have been able to otherwise. I suppose that's the value I've found amidst the suffering - if you will - of taking on such a task lol.
I think this is the best reflexion and analisys of this show. And perfectly portraits what we all knew and understood, but were never able to describe or put or finger on it. Thanks for explaining the deep connection we have with it
Of course, happy to be of service! It means a lot to hear what this video - and this show for that matter - means to some people, and I'm honored to be able to provide an outlet for articulating those thoughts and feelings that we share. In so doing then, thank you for watching.
I remember first seeing Huke's BRS artwork on anime image aggregate sites over a decade ago. What struck me most was that, despite being scantily clad, BRS aesthetically looked more cool than sexy. That led me to watching the TV show as it was simulcasted. The TV anime certainly left a mark on my psyche and I've been a BRS fan ever since, even if I cannot experience everything it has to offer.
Ah yes, BRS' aesthetic was a wonder of its time for that. It's something I appreciate about her character design to this day as well. Also, man, you got on board the TV anime early! Props to you on that front, and I'm glad it's left its mark, positively at least, I hope. And of course, thank you for sharing your history with BRS, it's always nice to hear how others came across this series and how it's impacted them.
im not finished yet, but wow this video is incredibly enlightening. i got a surface level understanding of the story and it's accompanying message that i could expect from a 3am binge without pausing. it's only through this video that i realize how much creative genius is hidden in the background, somewhat obscure unless you seek it out willingly. thank you for making this show better than it already was
Well then, I'm pleased that that's been your impression so far. Likewise, surface level or no, grasping the narrative and themes of Black Rock Shooter at all is more than I can say for some. Even so, I appreciate being able to shed some light on how much went into this series, be that narratively or otherwise, for those such as yourself. Moreover, if I may say so, your remark regarding the obscurity of some points and the willingness to find them resonates with me. It's a core belief in some respects I suppose, perhaps not evident to the same extent in other media as it is here - personally speaking - but it's no less discussions like this that lead and add to such valuable stories, to say nothing of respecting those that created them of course. In any case, thank you for watching, and all the more for your appreciation the series itself.
I watched this anime when it was on air and since then BRS became my favorite character (as my social media prove it) but I guess I was too young to understand all that this anime really means, thanks to this video I could understand it even better, thank you.
That's totally understandable! I didn't really understand much myself when I first watched BRS, so I'm glad to be of service with furthering others' understanding and appreciation of it. If anything, thank you for commenting, it means a lot.
When I saw BRS in that with Alpha in that PGR trailer my initial reaction was “man, who the hell is this?”. As I was looking around to see what i could find I stumbled across this video. Just have to say really enjoyed the way you edited the video with some funny clips sprinkled in at just the right moments. And as for the analysis, it was great, I can tell that this series means alot to you. So I offer to you the highest praise i can offer, a like, comment and subscribe and the notification bell on.
Yeah that was the general vibe I got from the responses to the PGR x BRS announcement trailer lol. Happy to help clear some of that up. More importantly though, I'm glad you enjoyed, for the editing and for the overall message, especially the timing therein. It's good to see that that balance (attempted or otherwise) worked out well in the end, and I hope that goes for others too. All the same that my personal feelings towards the series be apparent. But above all else, thank you for your time, as well as your like, comment, and subscribe. Any one of those things is far more than I initially anticipated, so they are all truly high praise.
Holy shit dude. From the symbolic analysis of the writing to the actual editing of this movie long video this was a blast to sit through. I grew up with this show and the character BRS, as it was one of the first anime I ever watched so it always has a place in my heart despite the fact that I am aware its not a perfect show. Id love to see more analysis videos from you in the future!
Glad you liked it! This was a blast to make, so I'm glad that carried over to your experience. Likewise, while it's true that BRS isn't perfect (despite what the unparallelled high regard I may personally hold for it may otherwise suggest), I'm glad it's stuck with you regardless. If I may suggest as much, that - in its way - is almost more important. In any case, thanks for the input regarding any future analysis'. While I can't say anything with certainty - the reasons for which ultimately being neither here nor there I suppose, certainly in this context - there are other series out there that I'd like to cover some day, and seeing this comment - among others - has had me thinking about it a bit more as of late. That's no guarantee of course, but I'd be lying if I said I never wanted to make a video like this again. Quite the contrary, really.
This was a delight to listen to. Thank you for this reminder of why I've been so drawn to this show all these years! I dont have much else to say I was very happy to see this in my feed, great job on this
Glad to hear it! I'm happy to be of service, likewise that this video found its way to you. In any case, thank you for watching, and all the more for commenting (no matter how verbose), it really means the most!
I could go on and on why this analysis rocks but I'll just say thank you for making this. I'm not a fan of long essays but if there's one I would ever lend my ears to it's this one. I've already watched this show a handful of times and the whole franchise sits very close to my heart but coming by other people who've watched it is not a common occurrence, even less where I live, so I end up being the one having to recommend it to friends whenever there's a chance. It is a huge shame this got slept on back then and an even bigger shame that it never got released on streaming services, especially after the EN dub was made. Would've helped tons in bringing this show to more people.
I just remembered about this show and i am so glad you covered this in so much detail! My 2012 self absolutely did not understand this but i am so glad i still love the series 12 years later, or heck i dare say i love them even more now.
Well, welcome back to BRS! And thanks, I appreciate it. All the same, I'm glad that this series has stuck with you through the years. Likewise, it's nice to know that this coverage could reinvigorate if not inflame your enjoyment of it. Oh, and I assure you, my 2012 self 100% did not understand any of this either lol. Still, thank you for watching!
i love everything about this video. i was gonna watch just some minutes of it to get a glimpse but it kept me all the way through like a movie, the editing and narration was absolutely flawless and the in depth analysis of the characters and world got me reflecting about real life even, it kills me how underrated this video is. As a BRS enjoyer for me this is art, I hope the best for you.
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that. Quite a bit of effort went into this, so I'm glad you stuck around for it, and more importantly, that it was worth your time. All the same, I hope that whatever ruminations this video (or this series rather) spurred on proved beneficial, if not at least interesting. And hey, underrated though this video may or may not otherwise be, it's turned out to be one of my most successful videos, and if I'm speaking personally, my most valuable. Reassurances aside, I appreciate the support, and I hope all goes well for you as well. Likewise, and once again, thank you for watching.
This is on par with any Evangelion thesis analysis video I have watch, this is amazing!! it must have taken an unimaginable amount of time to create this video especially those memes edit I love it HAHA, you mentioned a lot of tiny details that even I never noticed at all!! Props to you champ! Here's a red macaron for you
Wasn't expecting Evangelion lol, thanks so much! And yeah, I won't deny this took quite some time to get through, even the script itself took a hot minute to make, but with how it turned out in the end, I'm not complaining. Better yet, I'm glad it paid off in showcasing whatever details you and others may have missed, as well as whatever depths they revealed. In fairness, I never even noticed some of the things I discussed here until I decided to make this. I suppose that's just how deep this all goes. In any case, thank you for watching, or perhaps more aptly put, take a red macaron for you as well!
I wasn't expecting this video in my feed but I'm glad it showed up. It's always an amazing feeling to see someone who can put your thoughts into words for you. I gotta say I really appreciate this video. Almost pulled out my lungs with it.
This is now going into my memory vault as one of my favourite YT videos/analysis ever. An absolute joy to watch and your meme integration is so on point, I've gotten more meme content from this video than I have in the span of loving this series/character for over a decade. And words cannot express the idiot smile I had with your outro using the Bodah Revy song because first discovering that song via Idleglance's channel was a hype feeling. That early BRS material can still be appreciated and transformed today since for me, the OVA and 2012 series was the peak. It would be so cool to see that MV as a separate upload maybe so that it's easier to rewatch, the sound syncing it so on point and sexy asf. I first watched this show when I was like, 12 or smth and liked it purely for the action but not really understanding why else I liked it bc I was young and smooth brain with the themes. But the series became instantly special and an emotional relic for me over the years once my mother recontextualised the reason I liked this show. Since at the time, I was going through my family getting a divorce, and I was processing it passively, so my mum suggested that maybe I adored the character BRS so much because she was literally a being made to take on emotional pain, which was probably something I really wanted to have as support at the time. Flash forward past that epiphany and I'm constantly and religiously rewatching my DVD of this show over the years up until now, and I love that as I get older with every rewatch, I notice more and more details I didn't catch onto before. It's now come to the point where I've filled up a lot of my confusion with the plot sequence with my more elevated understanding of how the whole Otherworld system works or the motivations of characters, alongside some of my own headcanons to add to things. For example, I love how in comparison to the OVA that shows a happy ending to saving Yomi with the power of hugs, the 2012 version hit New Game+ and instead went towards a bad ending of the same plot in that scene of BRS stabbing Dead Master instead. I also rationalised Mato's fuzzy memories of Yuu as her trying to recall the StrengthYuu she currently knows as the one in her memories but of course, she has no memories of StrengthYuu, only RealYuu. So of course, her memory will fail to show Yuu's face because she's trying to remember the wrong person. Then there's also the way StrengthYuu gets ignored by everyone around her, I headcanon it as the world basically correcting the taboo nature of an Otherself being in the real world when they're not supposed to be, by basically setting up a correctional law where people will have a harder time perceiving and remembering an Otherself's presence so that the consequences of a supernatural being existing there is mitigated. It would then make sense why Saya can still fully perceive her, because she knows what she really is, and Mato can still continue to perceive her because her past memories of RealYuu means she must maintain awareness of her regardless because I assume Mato is the only one in the school to have known Yuu in childhood. I just assume that Yuu's early life was fine because we only see memories of a kindergarten/elementary period, but I guess after that they went to different schools/separated where Yuu's life took a turn for the worse. I also headcanoned the possibility that Insane BRS awakened to be so powerful and on another scale from other Otherselves because her fusion with Mato moments prior means that whatever Mato feels, BRS directly feels it too, there's no barrier or filter of 'awakening in reaction to trauma' but that as a being that's supposed to feel no emotion, BRS herself going through trauma as her FIRST exposure to emotion drove her to madness, which could be the explicit reason why she's specifically labelled as 'Insane' but the other Othersleves don't have that Insane label attached to them when all they did was awaken, not go insane. But beyond all my deep combs, rationalising and headcanoning to enrich the story for me, holy crap, watching your analysis felt like awakening my third eye. it felt like the symbols and character psychology analysis in this video were things I was short of grasping after my own developed perception of the story, but actually hearing you say it aloud in such clarity is like a slap in the face of 'Omg, that's true!" type realisation lmao. Like I understood the baseline psychological statement this story was telling through its characters and I was generally able to keep track of how their personalities and mentalities change throughout the show, but all the extra and in-depth details you added was like having a galaxy brain expansion experience. For one thing, I had no idea that the reverse traits of the arcana the Otherselves are based on directly mirrored the flaws of their counterpart. And you pointing out the parallel between the two 'first meetings' of BRS and Strength where it now follows Mato's wishes where BRS talks instead of fights, AAAAAAA I'm on my knees because that's such a finger-licking good parallel and lowkey the closest to a character arc BRS herself goes through, considering I'm internally obsessed with headcanoning characterisation details onto her so shes more than just a brilliantly executed plot device. I'm just so glad this video exists to make me feel like I'm not crazy for thinking so deeply about this story's themes. But I'm always gonna wonder---- ---if boys have their own Otherworlds, separate from the girls 🤔
First of all, thank you! This is remarkably high praise, and it's nice to see others so interested in what this franchise has to offer (the OVA/2012 era especially) even after all these years. In that sense, I'm also thankful we could both share in the experience of not feeling crazy anymore lol. As far as the MV is concerned, I'm glad you favored the track selection. I've actually been somewhat debating posting it separately - as you said - so there's a possibility that I'll take you up on that at some point down the line, seeing as there's some tangible demand for it now. Sorry to hear about the divorce, I imagine it was a difficult thing to go through. Hopefully things turned out alright in the end, but you have my sympathies regardless. It's good that you could find an outlet to process it through BRS though, and - more importantly - I'm glad that you could share a moment with your mother in doing so. As for the rest of your comment, it is utterly fascinating how much there is to discover with this show, and I can relate to finding something new with every viewing. Even in the months after finishing this video there have been some new discoveries on my end, and comments like this make me wish I had kept more of my thoughts in the video lol. On that note, with respect to your own discoveries and headcanons, while I've never personally agreed with the theory that Mato and Yuu previously knew each other, I do stand by the concept of the in-universe cause for Yuu's disappearance being some form of correctional law. It tracks with what we otherwise know about Otherselves and it also lines up with what you said about Mato - be it through a shared history or BRS herself - and Saya's continued awareness of her, which happens to coincides with the rate at which Yuu disappears as well; since - as far as I understand it - the closer someone is to her, the longer they remember her (i.e. Yuu's teammates forget about her before Arata, who forgets before Yomi, and so on and so on). More notably, I actually find your interpretation of Insane Black Rock Shooter to be especially interesting because in addition to what you've mentioned here, BRS being exposed to emotions such as trauma in a manner similar to that of Strength's own emotional awakening - albeit with opposite outcomes - creates another juxtaposition in Mato and Yuu's dichotomy in later episodes. Rolling with that would add to other aspects of the show as well, and at the time of writing this there's not much that comes to mind going against it, so it really does just add another layer to the show. I'll have to stew over that one some more, but it really is quite the fascinating take. Finally, yeah, the possibility of there being another Otherworld out there for boys is interesting to speculate about, and while I suppose we'll sadly never know for sure, there are some interesting theories on it in terms of the show's narrative/production. Especially the latter, for better or worse. Still, I'll once again express my gratitude to you for engaging with this video and the work therein. It means the world to see you've gotten so much out of it, before and after this experience, and I can't thank you enough for commenting with such zeal about it. I'm honestly not sure what else to say other than that this has been a wonderful read.
@@leviathandrake this is such a vibe 😔💙 Glad to know that there are other people out there that love BRS enough to hyperanalyze this gem of a show too lol. I seriously hope that if BRS comes back, it goes back to some fantasy stories instead of the typical sci-fi. Hell even an Innocent Soul adaptation by SHAFT (since huke worked as the lead character designer in RWBY Queendom which prompted a BRS cameo so cmon, work those connections 👀) would be amazing since the style seems up their alley. Hoping and coping 🤞 Also another food for though that I wanna add into an edit, not sure if its intentional, but the possibility that Insane BRS awakened with the power and intent to 'destroy the Otherworld' like Saya says, maybe being born from Mato's distaste towards the way the Otherworld works. Since Yuu told her about it and Mato had a little outburst about how she found it wrong RIGHT before she fused with BRS, so perhaps BRS inherited that fresh mentality and acted on it as destroying the Otherworld. And it could work as a neat parallel since once Mato actually accepts pain as a necessary part of her identity, thus accepting the nature of the Otherworld, that wish ends up creating a more peaceful Otherworld/landscape. So Mato and BRS when fused, went from destruction to creation as a part of her emotional growth and that just sounds neat to me, intentional or not.
Hey before i say anything else i want to simply say thank you. I knew i had loved this anime when i saw it but i did not know why. You didn't just help me find out why i did but you helped me also help better contextualize myself. Eveen though there's so much i wish to say i don't believe it's needed. I know what i need to do next and so i will. Just as the end of titular song of Black Rock Shooter i will keep moving on. Thank you.
Thank you in turn for the sentiment, I appreciate it. All the same seeing that the discussions of this video could be of some assistance to you, be that as a means of understanding the show or, more importantly, as a vector for personal growth. Likewise, I respect your decision to say as much as you feel the need to, and I've faith, then, that whatever impact this video has had on your personal life has and/or will go on to be a positive one. Keep moving on, and again, thank you in turn.
Yeah this anime changed my life forever it has literally inspired me to want to become an artist of my own and even make my own show that I based after black rock shooter and my experience with it it’s truly one of a kind black rock shooter seriously needs to get the attention it deserves like this so much more.
Wow, that's quite the impact! As an aspiring artist myself with grander concepts for stories of my own (no worries, my inspirations lie elsewhere lol), I wish you the best of luck on those endeavors! Beyond that, couldn't agree more, BRS has gone criminally unrecognized for its accomplishments for far too long, and so I'm glad then that you could stop by. Thank you for watching!
Watching the outro and can't help but think it should get posted separately as an AMV. Might net this video some more interest too? I'm glad this showed up in my feed though, this was a good revisit and breakdown of the series for me.
Glad to be of service! Moreover, thanks for sticking around, I appreciate it! At this point I can assure you that the outro will be posted separately, but I want to wait until around the time the PGR x BRS collab drops globally to do so. Ideally the increased search interest generated by that timing will help as well, but who knows really. Heck if I know anything about the algorithm.
@@ComplexAce It is, yeah. At time of writing it's the channel's 3rd most recent video, posted under the title "Black Rock Shooter [AMV - Outro Montage]"
Thank you. Thank for this beautiful analysis. I grew up with the BRS franchise and I've always loved this anime. You're video truly gave me many more ways to interpret it and appreciate it. So once again, thank you.
Thank you in turn for sharing. It means a lot to see the value this show holds for other people, even just to know that someone else enjoyed it. Just as well, I'm thankful that this venture could offer you some potential new insights on the show. Barring the overall appreciation of the series, I suppose that's what I'm here for. All this to say that I appreciate you leaving your thoughts here, and of course, thank you for watching.
Just saw this on my recommendations and immediately opened the video since I wanted to know a bit about BRS because of the PGR collab. I didn't even notice it was three hours long for like 10 mins until I looked at it haha! But, I watched it till the end anyway. The way you structured and explained everything was great! Thank you! Videos like this really are helpful for newcomers such as myself because I get more interested in stories/shows when I understand what's happening and the motive behind them. Also, these details that one might miss while watching it for the first time. Now, I can enjoy and appreciate the show more while watching it. Definitely got me interested in watching it and experiencing the story myself!
It's really nice to hear that my rambling can somehow keep people engaged for this long, so thanks for sticking around! Likewise, I tried to keep everything streamlined despite how tangled the "web of symbolism" tends to get with this show, I kind of felt bad about how often I had to keep saying "X will be relevant later" or "keep X in mind," so this comment helped put my mind at ease in that regard. I appreciate it. In any case, I'm happy to have peaked your interest in this series, and I hope you enjoy your own experience watching it too! Thank you again!
I can’t find any full content as far as episodes goes for BRS, but from what I’ve seen already it’s a masterpiece and for a 12 year old anime the CGI is out of this world
Happy to hear that that's been your takeaway from the series! As far as watching the full series is concerned (at least officially)...yeah. It used to be on TH-cam actually, but that's all since been taken down. In any case, I'm pretty sure Crunchyroll has it - albeit locked behind a premium paywall - and there is of course the obvious option of buying it, but otherwise it's not really available online - to my knowledge - without sailing the high seas as it were. Still, regardless of if or with what means you watch the series yourself, I'm glad this could pique your interest, and you have my thanks for indulging in this video.
:O I watched the Black Rock Shooter OVA so long ago... and later on, BRS the show. *I didn't know there was more!!* I always knew the show was chock FULL of symbolism, kid-me caught a little bit of it, but... I could never find ANY of it again! The OVA, the anime, it was like I dreamed up the show or something...! So... thank you. Thank you so much for making this video essay, it was the reminder I really needed!
Assuming I've understood correctly, it really is shocking to find out how much has actually been made for Black Rock Shooter considering how niche its more well known entries seemingly are; even if several of those other entries have sadly been lost to time (of which there's a Lost Media video by Blondie: BRS Historian on the topic, provided you'd like to learn more or haven't seen it already). For me at least, the OVA, TV series, and Game was really all I ever heard about back then. Likewise, I don't know to what extent your experience applies in this regard, but it is a shame that a lot of the older uploads of the OVA/Anime have since been removed or have otherwise been made accessible elsewhere instead. In any case, I'm glad you were able to latch and catch on to some of what this series had to offer, however much. Having since heard similar stories of those who saw this show when they were younger, that level of investment alone is more than I could ever ask for as is. But moreover, I'm thankful that making this video could be of some value to you. All the same, thank you for watching, and better yet, for sharing your experience here! I appreciate it!
Great video, I didn't mind at all it was longer than the actual series. I enjoyed you going in depth to the characters actions and motivations. I remember watching the show years ago and i gotta say maybe because i was young but most of this stuff went right over my head. Along with not remembering most of it. Thanks for letting me revisit it with more nuance.
Glad you liked it! For all that got cut out in the end, I did try to cover as much as possible, and I know that that's ultimately a lot to get through in terms of video length, so I appreciate that doing so wasn't seen as too much of a slog on your end then. And hey, happens to the best of us. A lot of people - myself included - missed out on a lot of the depth this series had to offer back in the day. To be fair, Black Rock Shooter didn't make it easy on us either. In spite of that, I'm happy that this video could offer you this experience of rediscovery as it were. Once more then, thank you for revisiting this series at all, and all the more so for enjoying your time doing so.
I'm glad that I get to see Fan of BRS here and legit just sat down and watch the whole 3 hours! It's been maybe 10 years since I last watch this (unless you count the amvs I like to rewatch 😅)
Glad you enjoyed it! Likewise, my thanks to the algorithm then. This show has gone underappreciated for too long, and while I'm not sure why TH-cam has gifted it with some form of inhuman longevity that I've not seen on my channel before, I'm not complaining. In any case, I'm pleased that you liked the memes as well, and all the more, that you enjoyed this video. Thank you!
i first watched BRS as it aired as an impressionable 13 year old girl, it had such an impact on me(if you couldn't tell by my username lmao) and it makes me so so happy to see people give it the credit and examination it deserves. i'm still hoping for that second season, but as it is, the series left off on a beautiful and meaningful note. thank you for giving me a reason to contemplate for 3+ hours straight :' ]
It will never not be exciting to come across someone who's discovered this show in their lifetime, and it's interesting to hear you picked it up as it was airing as well, so thank you for sharing the impact it's had on you (I'll admit the username may have given me a hint lol). On that note, as far as a second season is concerned, that's a good mentality to have, and I'm inclined to agree. So here's hoping then, that - one way or another - BRS continues to be as beautiful and meaningful as ever. Likewise, the feeling's mutual, in finding solace in those who believe this show to be deserving of credit and examination, that is. In that respect, happy to be of service, and moreover, thank you so much for watching and sticking through with it to the end! It means a lot to hear that this could hold someone's attention like that for so long, and I'm all the more glad you found doing so worthwhile!
I've watched this series, this show in particular time and time again. Over and over, going through everything with a fine comb analyzing every detail myself and goodness even you have managed to pick up on things and draw comparisons to things I managed to miss. Outstanding work, it genuinely makes me happy to see someone finely understands the importance and impact this show can have given the chance beyond its sci-fi counterparts. You sir, have gained my sub.
Likewise. It warms my heart not only to realize I'm not the only one willing to dissect and decipher this show, but to see the interpretations therein largely agreed upon. That is, we've both (or rather, all) come across someone who, as you said, "finally understands the importance and impact this show can have...," so I appreciate the sentiment, and I thank you for the experience it's given me all the same. It's good to hear there was some new ideas here for you to chew on as well, although I wouldn't worry about having "missed" those details, I still remember doing a double take while working on the script when I got to the birds at ~ 1:25:39 lol. Regardless, I thank you for watching and subscribing, and more importantly, I appreciate your prior and current dedication to this show.
Black Rock Shooter was my first anime, so I'm really glad that you've made this and put so much effort into it. Thanks. I really enjoyed the analysis. I think the lesson Mato learned is one that I've been trying to learn myself for a long time.
Wow, that's awesome! Black Rock Shooter is definitely an interesting choice for getting into the medium, so I'm glad this video was an enjoyable exploration for you. It seems you're not alone in that, but nonetheless, I hope connecting with Mato and her lessons can help you in moving forward, and I wish you luck in whatever efforts that entails.
@@leviathandrake Thank you! I know it's kind of weird to say since we're basically just strangers on the internet, but everything you've done with the video and your comment honestly mean a lot to me.
All I am thinking about while watching this is this: "Some violence is indeed needed for some people. One slap for yourself, then one more for the other person."
OMG someone remembers this series enough to make essay longer then the anime itself, iland I'm here for every second of it So, about 11:10, ot is a big leap of logic here, but the flower can also represent how Strength is the one who is in the real world and naturally white flowers (and I've always associated that with Yu but I don't remember if it's actually so in the show) become orange
Likewise, it's good to come across someone who remembers this series enough to come across this video too! Thanks for watching, and I'm happy you stuck around then, that's awesome! I wouldn't say it's too big a leap to be honest. Provided I understand correctly, that's a completely valid interpretation, and one I share really. I suppose I should elaborate - for which I apologize for not doing so earlier - in saying that my confusion on the deeper meaning of the flower personally lies in asking why the snowdrop lily specifically was chosen. I have my theories, just not any I can say with confidence. Of course, don't get me wrong, I may be looking too deep into it by asking that, I just wouldn't put it past Black Rock Shooter to get that specific. But I digress, the point is that I agree with the interpretation you've put forward here, and ultimately what I've stated here shouldn't be taken as anything less than that.
Well then, perfect timing lol. Glad to be of use, and I hope you enjoy revisiting Black Rock Shooter just as much as - if not perhaps more than - the last time you saw it!
I was so happy to see PGR collab with BRS and do it justice. I stumbled across the anime when I was maybe like 14-15 and honestly just loved it because of the animations but after rewatching it and actually understanding what the show meant as an adult it, and this video has really made me appreciate the series so much more. Thank you so much for doing it justice with this video too.
I have to agree with you, the PGR collab with BRS was shockingly well done and ultimately went far beyond my expectations in just about every respect. On the topic of your experience with the source material, I'm glad you enjoyed it on your initial viewing! Many people (especially at a young age, myself included) initially latch on to the animation - something I've (if anything) perhaps undersold - and even on its own, that consensus is a wonderful takeaway; as is any perceived value for that matter. That said, it's no less great to hear that you came back to the series, and I appreciate that you could form your own newfound appreciation and understanding of what it has to offer. I'm glad then, that this video was able to aid in or even just affirm your appreciation for the series, and it means a lot to be told it was worth your while. So thank you for engaging with this. The video and, of course, the show itself.
Happy to be of service, I love the enthusiasm! And of course, thank you so much for instilling such high priase, it means a lot hearing this can be considered a good video, let alone someone's favorite. To be fair, a lot of details in BRS are easy to miss, and even then a lot of thought and research went into this, so I'm glad there was something new for you to find even when stacked up to such an impressive watch count (supposing I'm using the appropriate phrasing, that is). In any case, BRS always seems to have something new to discover, and I hope that can continue to be the case for the both of us. Again, thank you for watching, and even moreso for wanting to talk more about it, here or otherwise.
When I had this video pop into my feed I clicked instantly. I originally found BRS through the nightcore scene and the various artworks of BRS herself and always wondered if it was from something. When I finally found the name of the character, and by extension the show itself, I looked everywhere I knew at the time for a place to watch it. Eventually settling on watching it in broken bits and pieces on TH-cam. This was the show that sparked my interest in anime and even now, after so many years of simply feeling like it faded into obscurity, seeing something as amazing as this fills me with so much joy. Thank you so much for making this video. It feels nice to know that there are other fans out there! Also, anyone know the name of the song in the background at the beginning of the Episode 8 section? I've heard it somewhere before and its bugging the hell out of me! (not the meme ones, I know those.)
Hey, pretty similar story here! Nightcore was my introduction to BRS too, whereupon I tracked the series down to some shoddy upload on Dailymotion, if memory serves. In any case, thank you for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed, the video and the series itself. Moreover, I share your sentiment, that fans of the series can come together like this. I never really came across anyone who knew about Black Rock Shooter before uploading this, and continuing to hear from people about their experiences and even just to know that this series did make an impact, however small, fills me with such joy. If anything, thank you for sharing that here, it means the most, and hopefully not just to me, but to anyone else who's felt the same as you or I have about this series. As far as your question regarding the bgm, I believe the track you're looking for is "Sweet Dreams," which is Track 016 of the Chainsaw Man ost. Feel free to let me know if I'm wrong on that, I'm pretty sure I still have most of the songs I used for this lying around in my files somewhere.
im currently doing my homework. i don't know sht about BRS so im trying my best to learn what i can till the PGR Collab drops. this was an amazing video. you had my attention for 3 hours
Hey, that's fair! I'm sure a lot of the people that make up PGR's playerbase don't know about BRS, so I appreciate hearing from those such as yourself who have gone out of their way to learn more about her (whether that be through this video or otherwise). Whatever the case, thank you. I know it's a bit of a big ask to get through all of this, and so it means so much to see people consider this a valuable use of one's time, let alone one worth binging in one sitting. Though, hopefully one that didn't take away from the homework too much lol.
Thank you for all your dedication for this video... For analyse this anime like no other. Since 2012 I been watching BRS on TV about 5 times over the years... And every time I did it, I used to found something new... and understand a little bit more. I would dare to say that I understood some things only when I went through a similar situation in my life. But you... You really studied anime, you found almost all the meanings! you did the best semiotic and psychological analysis, and best of all... with memes! xD (I'm in touch with your sense of humor). Your video made my days. I'm happy to know about people enjoying this anime amidst so many negative reviews, and people talking trash about it. I always thought this series was a masterpiece. It's not perfect, but I love it in spite of the years.... i would like to contribute with the video adding some spanish subs if u don't mind... nothing in exchange, just for the love to BRS. And once again... THANK YOU
Thank you for the kind words, it was my pleasure to talk about BRS, and it means a lot to be able to read through comments like this in response. More importanly, thank you for sharing your experience. I can definitely relate to finding new things with every viewing, and to be honest I even had a few epiphanies *while* working on this video (not to mention since then). If nothing else, the analytical longevity of this show is insane given the runtime, which I suppose is the joy of semiotics really. The same goes for being able to share in these characters' experiences as I'm a bit of a sucker for stories with more universal "human nature" themes, so I'm very glad to see that being reinforced by commenters such as yourself. All the same, I'm glad you could get a laugh - or what have you - out of it as well, it's good to be able to poke fun and laugh at the things we enjoy too after all, if that makes sense. Still, it is a shame that the series is so often dismissed, if not bashed, particularly since I wasn't entirely aware of what all was being said until researching for this video. Even so, it's a good thing that didn't deter this video from being made, as it's been wonderful knowing it made your day (among others), just as you (among others) have made mine in responding to it so positively. Likewise, agreed. Every piece of media has its faults of course, but BRS no less remains my #1 anime, and very few series (that I've seen anyway) have managed to come even close to it. As far as your offer to add Spanish subtitles is concerned - whether it still stands or not - I don't mind at all, although I'm not well-acquainted with the process of how to go about getting them from you so that I can add them here. You're more than welcome to send/link the appropriate files or information in a reply here (if possible), to my twitter/instagram (provided in the description), or if you prefer Discord I'm sure that can also be arranged. If not, that's fine, and I understand given I've only just now managed to get back with you on this matter, for which I do apologize. Whatever the case though, thank you again for watching, and all the more for sharing your thoughts here.
It means a lot to hear this had an emotional impact on you - the video, show, or otherwise - I appreciate it. Truly. To be honest I teared up a few times while working on this myself for my own reasons, so I feel you on some level there. Thank you for watching, and all the more for commenting, it's what makes this all worth it!
I am (not so) internally screaming because I watched the show just yesterday thanks to a cover of it that made me want to know more and even if I got the rough message of it, I struggled to piece everything together, and I am very thankful for this fucking neat video, like, more than I can word it. I can make links with other animes I've watched, most especially Kiznaiver (and very directly so), and it makes my brain tingle sooo much. Thank you for your great analysis and editing effort and just, really your passion about this, because damn do I now share it. Have a good day !
Awesome! It's always good to hear from newcomers to Black Rock Shooter, and wow, you must have found this fast then! It's not entirely uncommon to find people who got lost or became frustrated by the show's more symbolic or metaphorical aspects, understandably so for that matter, so the fact you were able to - on some level - grasp the series' themes on an initial vieweing is commendable in its own right. Likewise, struggling to put it all together after the fact is entirely understandable, and with how much there is to unpack, I'm sure anyone who's stuck with this series for long enough will tell you the same thing. On that note, I'm glad I could spare you from all the interpretation and research it took to get to this point lol. In a more general sense, it warms my heart to read through this, and to share in the passion you've mentioned here, which you've made palpable, might I add. Moreover, and more importantly, thank you for watching, and of course, you have a good day as well!
@@leviathandrake Yeah ww, I immediately went to search 'BRS analysis' and I think your video was the first or second thing to come up ! Reddit wasn't helpful, expectedly- Also like, the show's pretty evocative to me, for the simple fact that I like this kind of themes (as I'm sure you've guessed from me mentioning Kiznaiver out of anything else) and I also *absolutely love* colour symbolism. That's why for exemple I was immediately on guards when Saya came up, but I couldn't process why. I couldn't process a lot of stuff, actually, because the show goes quite fast, the mood swings fast as well... And I watched it in one go, too, oopsie- Something I wanted to mention as well, is that it didn't surprise me that much that Matou snapped at Yomi in the lockers. Like if you think about it, Yomi at that point represents what Matou is scared of being (aka caged/not able to see the world's colours/form bonds). I don't know if that makes sense- Also of course I'm passionate !!! I really, really love this, probably for more reasons than I'd like to admit, but I'm also real happy to see that, y'know, someone else loves this show enough to want to share what they understood of it !!! And I'm also grateful for that !!! The opening song lives on on its own, but the rest of the franchise isn't really spoken about, from what I've seen at least, so yeah, it's a real cool surprise !!! This is also low-key nostalgic for me, because I saw AMVs of this back when AMVs were raging and all, so like, the brain tingles are real nice haha Thank you again for your efforts in this video, and have a good day/night !
Thank you so much for making this awesome video. I have been a BRS fan since 2019 and i have rewatch it so many times. But i never really understood it. This video has made me love BRS even more. Thank you so much for this amazing video. I enjoyed it so much. And also epic Mv ending.
Of course! Glad you enjoyed it. Better yet, I'm glad this video could have an impact on your perception of the series. It's been so refreshing to see what a difference it makes to finally be able to grasp the harder-to-parse aspects of this show, Lord knows it did for me, and I'm grateful to be able to see that experience shared. It's always good to see fans of the series who got into this somewhat more recently as well. Nonetheless, thank you for watching, and moreover, for sharing your thoughts on the matter. It's what makes this sort of thing worth it in the end. Glad you enjoyed the outro as well, it was a really fun segment to make!
Bless you so much for making a video analysis on Black☆Rock Shooter, the... ip I guess is the right term, means so much to me and it’s so nice to see someone care so much for it too :)
Thank you! It means a lot to hear that there are others out there who can appreciate Black Rock Shooter (in whatever form that may be), more so to see how much that means to you in turn. And yeah, I feel ip is an accurate term, probably moreso than "franchise" actually, now that I think about it.
I've always loved this series, and because of PGR i have come to relive the experience i've had with this franchise through another medium i also love and this, right here is a very good refresher and I've watched the whole 3 hours so thank you to hear someone else's perspective of BRS
That's great to hear! I'm glad that you enjoyed this series from the start, and welcome back! As for the PGR collab, I have to agree that they did an excellent job portraying BRS, and in its own meaningful way too. But yeah, thank you so much for stopling by and sticking around to see the whole video! I'm happy to be able to share my thoughts on topics like this, and I greatly appreciate you telling me about your own experience with the series across its many mediums. So thanks! It means a lot to know you enjoyed it.
That's perfectly understandable. Indeed, Black Rock Shooter has always been pretty niche, so - of course - it's always nice to see new people who have been introduced to the source material, and I'm glad the PGR collab could perhaps interest you in it as well! Likewise, and in any case, thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed!
i think in the scene where mato finds yomi with the heart carving, it reads more like shes upset and worried with yomis situation then angry at her, at least in the sub, and how i interpreted it, i think like that it fits more to her charactehr
That's fair. It's reasonable to say that Mato had an at least partial understanding that Kagari was restricting Yomi in some way given their first interaction. My hesitation has personally come from how much she figured out prior to speaking with Saya or to what extent. That said, your interpretation is no less a perfectly acceptable one, and for that matter, I actually think that it - in conjunction with the somewhat similar interpretation provided here in a reply by asagohan - sits very well with me. That is to say - if I may spare you the trouble - that Yomi and her situation (no doubt its consequences too) were, in that moment, almost a representation of what Mato was afraid of; not having the freedom she wanted and being left behind by the people she wanted to get close to. If I've understood you correctly then, I think that fits with your take on Mato being upset about the circumstances surrounding Yomi rather than Yomi herself and adds some additional weight to some of her later lines in that conversation, per this interpretation(s) at the very least. Regardless, thank you for adding your take on the scene here, I appreciate the food for thought, and I hope the same has been provided.
damn... just looking at the sheer lenght of this video makes my BRS video feel insignificant, even if my video was much more broad in the subject matter
Oh, I wouldn't say that. I've actually since watched your video on BRS, and given the points you were trying to make (some of which - like the thematic relevance of the anime's ending theme - weren't even covered in this 3 hour monstrosity), I do find it valuable in its own way. At the very least, I think your conclusions regarding BRS' core essence as being a manifestation of Huke's creative drive - or as an extension of that - an embodiment of overcoming feelings of being lost and all that entails, are worthwhile interpretations that you managed to express very poetically in your video. Relatably so too; I can assure you I had my fair share of trouble working on this video as well for much the same reasons you mentioned in your own. More than that, it's been brought to my attention that you're likely correct in your analysis given what control Huke himself had over the OVA. In any case, I suppose my point is that I don't believe your video is insignificant, least of all for its length. Rather, it's succint, and I'll be sharing it with the BRS discord server I'm in in hopes that others can see that as well. Side note: As far as this video is concerned, I hope it could at least help explain why Arata's Other Self had to die lol
Awesome, just a few more days to go before the collab drops! All the same, I'm happy I could add to your experience of this series, and my thanks to you for deeming this video a worthwhile part of it at that.
@@leviathandrake I'm maxing out BRS with SSS+ and the signature weapon so I'm very excited about this, I watched the anime and OVA to be genuinely excited I'd seen her picture and heard a little bit about her but never sat down and watched things related to Black Rock Shooter.
@@guardiansoulblade2673 That's great to hear! I'll be doing the same as well, if there was any doubt lol. Glad to have you on board the BRS hype train! Likewise, that's understandable. Having personally started down the BRS pipeline because I saw pictures of her on a bunch of Nightcore music videos back in the day, I can totally understand not getting into, finding, or knowing much about the source material until more recently.
Of course! Happy to be of service! It's perfectly understandable to miss a lot of stuff like this as a kid, be that Saya's cup collection or otherwise. That seems to be a common sentiment too, given a lot of people - myself included - first saw BRS as a kid, only to have similar struggles understanding it. I'm grateful then, that you decided to revisit this series. Thank you!
Watched the series back in 2012/2013 as my first anime ever. I really got hooked into the story, characters and emotions they portrayed. I think it's really underappreciated and honestly deeply disappointed that most of the future BRS media deviates so much from the original concept of OVA/Anime. I think the best we got after it was the brs: innocent soul manga which had a completely different setting (and pretty much everything besides designs of the characters... this is just a thing for BRS media i guess...) while tackling a lot on similar stuff to the OVA and Anime. I am really happy that more people like this series. I'm really glad that this video got recommended to me.
Wow! Well, this series is definitely a high point to start off with, insofar as good animes go. I'm glad you could latch on to Black Rock Shooter then, not just on account of it being enjoyable/memorable on its own, but on account of it being your first venture into the medium as a whole. Likewise, I concur; Black Rock Shooter is very much an underappreciated and misunderstood work, and I hope efforts such as this can help change that. As far as how BRS media has since been approached, for better or worse - as I doubt the OVA/Anime would have turned out the way they did otherwise - Huke has been pretty loose with Black Rock Shooter's identity since her inception, which is a story in and of itself of course. Personally my stance on the matter is rather complicated, but I will no less admit that I also prefer the more fantastical interpretations of Black Rock Shooter. Speaking of, Punishing: Gray Raven's recent collaboration with Black Rock Shooter actually yielded a surprisingly well done fantasy story of its own. One that may well be worth talking about actually. In any case, the feeling's mutual. It's always nice to hear from other fans of the series, and I'm glad this video could find its way to you. So thank you, both for stopping by and for taking the time to comment on your experience with the show!
You know? I have been thinking...Black Rock Shooter and Gennady Tartakovsky. Man loves animation so much he aims to put as little dialogue as possible, just in case they aim the franchise thinks of doing something with a more western take. Also the man is so damn good at directing storytelling with just animation and no sound...if there is any need of metaphors needed to be represented in a surrealistic settling, I think he can pull it off.
While I'd consider myself largely unfamiliar with the wider catalog of Tartakovsky's work, if Primal is anything to go by, I can see it. Especially since Black Rock Shooter's existing Otherworld scenes (mostly) operate under a similar mindset. That is - if memory serves - the DVD's Behind the Scenes segment suggests the director of BRS' 3D sections signed on primarily out of an interest to innovate/explore more creative applications of 3D animation. Point is, I can see where you'd get the idea that tackling the Otherworld - if nothing else - in a hypothetical Western variation of Black Rock Shooter (whether that be a purely original work or something adjacent to what we have already) would be in Tartakovsky's wheelhouse. Likewise, while the TV anime makes heavy use of dialogue and wordplay during its "Real World" segments, I recall the OVA being much more reliant on visual storytelling (if only by comparison). So there is a precendent to suggest that it is at least possible to apply that creative process to Black Rock Shooter as a whole as well.
The insane lenght of this video is proof of your dedication to our mighty black and white, blue eyed discutibly legal? waifu, hence I wholeheartedly agree from this moment onwards until the end of time with all your statements in this video. (I have just watched 2minutes of the video at this point, but don't worry I will watch it all in the spam of several days :P). I had always been a fan of these OVAS and I think are "kinda" underrated (even at risk of sounding cliche).
I gotta say I'm really interested in what you have to say about this character and the anime, but all of the audio memes you've injected into the video really takes me out of it. On top of that, it's often difficult to hear your voice over them because of the audio mixing. I can tell that you have passion for the character, else you wouldn't have made a 3-hour long analysis video, but playing memes throughout the entire thing really takes away from that intended appreciation. That said, it is nice to see his character get more recognition and love. She's honestly one of my biggest inspirations for my own creative work, and I'm not sure what my work would look like today if I hadn't watched the OVA or listened to the original song.
Hey, I appreciate the feedback nonetheless! There have been a couple to express some disinterest in the memes I've used here, understandably so given the elaboration you've provided here, and far be it from me to criticize matters of taste regardless of that. More importantly, I will admit that my experience with audio mixing is sorely lacking (arguably nonexistent since I had previously only ever worked with Windows Movie Maker of all things), so I actually really appreciate you bringing some of its faults to my attention. I'll have to look more into what can be done to remedy such issues if and when any subsequent videos of this variety are in the works, lest I grow accustomed to them. In any case, I'm pleased we can both appreciate the source material at least, and I thank you for indulging me, even if only for a moment. More than that, I appreciate you being cordial in this matter.
I watched from the beginning to the end, and I’m fascinated by your hard work,so much passion in it. I’m very happy that there’s still a dedicated community around BRS. This is the anime of my childhood and it makes me feel a certain type of way 🥹 thank u very much for your work 🤝
Well I'm ecstatic that it was worth your time then! Knowing that is ultimately what makes all the work worth it in the end, so thank you so much for watching! Furthermore, indeed, this anime does have a certain vibe to it, and tears absolutely were shed. Finally, thank you again for taking the time to sit through all this, it's all very much appreciated.
This anime has special place in my heart so I am happy to see ppl talking about it. But I must say the constant memes kinda started to get annoying. I thought they would stop after 10 minutes and show up at very end again but they kept popping up all the time. Every time especially the Audio memes took me away from listening othervise really good video essey and once I got invested again enjoying my time the memes happened again and tok me out of it again and again. Hard to focus. Its clear you like makeing essey style videos but maybe tone down the memes. Especially when they are so frequent and loud, it becomes hard to keep listening. Often your voice is hard to hear from loud unnecacary meme. If you really want to keep the memes maybe just few, not like this with 5 memes with in every 2-3 minutes. This really has potential, but just chill with the memes.
Fair enough! On the whole, yours is the most common sentiment as far as shortcomings of this video is concerned, and I appreciate that being reiterated if only to further verify its legitimacy, as is the case with any criticism, positive or not. I suppose I will, if I may, reiterate in turn that I've not previously worked with an editing program that carries the same capabilities as the one used in the making of this video, and so my general knowledge of audio mixing in particular is lacking on the whole. That is, it was not my intention at least for the audio memes to overwhelm my own voice, and that much most certainly is a problem one way or the other. One I do aim to rectify in any future instances of this format. I'll of course note the apparent disruption their inclusion has caused as well, at least with respect to the proportion of their inclusion. So, while I don't foresee memes on the whole being toned down in the future per se (factoring otherwise silent memes into the equation that is), I can concede there being less overpowering audio overlap or general interjection in the future. Should such a video come to pass then, and should you be around to see it, I hope such a compromise can offer a more enjoyable experience in the future. If not, then allow me to thank you for stopping by and offering your thoughts on this video regardless!
Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that one of the backing tracks I initially used in this video has since been claimed. It's very minor (less than 6 minutes total), but I've had to use TH-cam's "erase song" feature to clear it up. Luckily, it works really well, and having first tested it on a separate re-upload to make sure, I can say that this hasn't affected any of the edits/voiceover audio. That said, some slight quality shifts do occur during these brief snippets, albeit nothing to the extent that should detract too much from the overall experience. Even so, my apologies to anyone for whom this is not the case, and hopefully I can manage to avoid this in the future.
With that in mind, I have provided additional timestamps denoting the segments in question as well as the initial re-upload of the original audio in the description should you prefer to experience those points as initially intended, though I would no less implore you to engage with this video of course.
not only this is an in-depth video essay, those are some high effort video editing....
there isn't a lot of people that would say BRS is their 'literally me'...
but if the BRS franchise had 200 fans, I am one of them...
You deserve the macaron.
I would say that. That show helped me a lot in my real life problems. Anyway, welcome fan No.200. I'm fan No.199.
I still can't believe it comes to PGR to try and give BRS the chance it deserves to have. The design of og BRS is on point compared to the og show. Thanks for the video.
It was quite the shock to see the collab announced, and now to find that they stuck with the OG too? Yeah, I concur, and hopefully PGR's efforts prove to be successful.
Of course, you're welcome. Thanks for watching!
I’m really sad that they never made another season of this show. 😭
this is exactly what all fan of BRS need : a "little" reminder of why we love this anime and you did it so well. Huge THANKS for this masterpiece, it was the shortest 3h of my life.
Lol, just a "little" reminder yeah. Well, happy to be of service then, to fans like yourself and newcomers alike. It really means a lot to see this academic/passion project being "worth" so much more than that for as many people as it has. And of course - as brief as it may have felt - a huge thanks to you in turn for watching, all the more for enjoying it enough for the time to fly by like that!
First I want to say "thank you," a phrase I muttered throughout much of watching. As a long time Black Rock Shooter fan and someone who has dedicated their entire life to the appreciation and study of this franchise, most specifically the 2012 TV anime, thank you doesn't feel like enough, but it's what I have to say. After watching the first two minutes I recognized that this video would be something special and sent it to the Black Rock Shooter discord server I've been moderating since 2019 in hopes that it was as good as I hoped it was, and finally after having the chance to sit down and consume your work in it's entirety I can say with certainty that I was right.
I have spent countless hours analyzing this show on top of the 500+ times I've watch the show itself, and to see someone else come to the many conclusions and then some that I have myself was the most blissful I have felt in a long time. I remember writing an essay in college about the importance of color, specifically of red, throughout BRS TV, and to see it mentioned by another for the very first time had me shaking with joy. Every stitch of this video is laced with such care and adoration for the show and it comes through in a way that resonates with the viewer (or maybe I'm just biased).
I wanted to note some elements that I especially loved.
Including parts from both the sub and dub, the later of which alters some of the show's original context in minimal but significant ways, was brilliant. Taking the best parts from each put together a watch experience of Black Rock Shooter unable to been seen by just viewing one of the subs or the or the dub on its own. Mentioning the narrative use of CG for the other world scenes was very important in my opinion, as most just view the scenes for their technical marvel and ignore the relevance the art form has within the story itself. I've already mentioned my love for the mention of red's mention, but I also wanted to leave appreciation for the recognition of the other colors shown in scenes as well.
I made a long list of notes I had throughout watching, pausing and rewinding to assure I understood, and most were just excited ramblings about how much I enjoyed all 3+ hours of this watch. But I also want to note some things that I can add further context or conversation to, just a few things though. The first is the mention of people liking the idea that Saya adopts Yuu after the events of the anime. This actually has some basis to it, as in the booklet included with the limited edition box set for the anime there are visuals on the front and back cover of the gang (Mato, Yomi, Saya, Yuu, Kagari, and Kohata) all celebrating what appears to be Yuu's birthday at Saya's apartment. Second I wanted to note how the dub and sub handle Mato first connecting to the other world in episode 5, where she is talking with Strength in the dub it is actually Black Rock Shooter who is addressing her in the sub. I'm not sure why this change was made but I personally think it takes away some of the significance and depth of the scene. Rather than the scene being another allusion to the Strength/Yuu swap, it's the first conversation Mato has with Black Rock Shooter and acts as set up (or foreshadowing lol) to the conversation the two have in episode 8. Lastly, on a much smaller note and more so just for the "neatness" of it, the same scene in episode 5 directly parallels the OVA, in which Mato now wants to save Yomi in the anime where as she didn't think of what she was doing as "saving" her in the OVA. I think it's a neat callback and provides a great example of the differences in between how the OVA and TV anime handle similar topics and the evolution of the OVA into the TV anime.
As a final note of this already very long comment, the work you have put in here has not gone unappreciated. This love letter to a mostly forgotten 2010s anime is loved in itself, and I'm so glad to have found it. Even myself, who loves this show to death and has seen it so many times I've lost count, gained value from it. Not just in the sense of comradery, but from a new perspective of the ending of episode 8, a scene that I have found much issue with over time. While I love the show with its flaws, I could never get past the flaws of episode 8's ending and how I felt it didn't tie up the story in a satisfying way, albeit a happy one. But after watching your video I find a bit more peace in it, understanding that it's not a perfect ending as a show but a great way to end the story. So I say "thank you" for that as well.
Rambling about Black Rock Shooter for hours on end is something I already do frequently enough, and something you yourself have now done as well, so I'll leave it with a final "thank you." I've been wanting to make BRS videos myself for a long, long time, and this has helped reinvigorate that drive to create and share how important this show is to me, just as it is to you. If you ever want to chat BRS and get super convoluted and in depth about it, I'm down to hear more from you, be it in video or text form! (And sorry ab
(And don't worry about getting "official" terms mixed up. Fan made terms for locations in BRS have been used and passed around throughout the franchise's history, and it's only been in that last two years that the more "official" terms have been recognized by the fandom and thus added to the fandom wiki. And sorry that this comment is so long!)
It's only fair that I respond where I can. First and foremost though, I assure you that your feedback is well above and beyond anything I expected to receive, so there's no need to apologize for the length, it's exceptionally thorough and equally expressive. If anything, my response here is lacking lol.
I'm incredibly grateful that you've shared this with others, as I wholly anticipated this video to be flung into the void without much fanfare, unseen and unsung. It is, as you said, a mostly forgotten 2010s anime after all. However, that hasn't really happened. And of course, more than that, I'm grateful my thoughts were worth that consideration.
Interesting, I didn't know about the art on the limited edition. I've seen some of it (namely the cast "spying" on Yomi featured on the soundtrack), but I never knew where it originated from. Yuu's birthday on the other hand I had never come across whatsoever, but now that I look at it I see what you mean. I never had much of an issue with Saya adopting Yuu story-wise - it's certainly better than the alternative - so seeing that that interpretation isn't baseless speculation does put my mind at ease.
As for episode 5, I see what I did. When I was working on the script for this I played the sub(s) and the dub simultaneously to compare them in real time, but since I had the sub muted to do so I must have neglected to notice (or otherwise forgot) that the voice changes to BRS' in that scene, because going back it is quite apparent once you know what to look for. My bad. Foreshadowing indeed lol.
All in all, I felt it a disservice to the series to offer anything less than this, so I'm glad that the efforts therein were worth being acknowledged, and more importantly, able to provide this experience for you. Hearing that it's inspired you to create as well is incredibly high praise as it is, and should you choose to do so, I'd be interested in seeing what comes of it. Moreover, I'm happy to see that I could contribute even to your perception of the series, as you mine through this correspondence. And with that, I suppose, the only thing more I can say is thank you: for all your feedback and your appreciation, it really does mean the most!
its kinda nuts to finally understand the meaning of the show as an adult rather that just watching the fight scenes confusedly as a child :'D
It really is an eye-opening experience every time something finally clicks with this series, isn't it? Still, I can understand that, the fight scenes were initially what really got me into the 2012 series specifically, even in lieu of actually understanding anything else at the time. That's been a seemingly common sentiment as well, even among those who left the show at just that, so I suppose you needn't take my word for it. Regardless, I'm glad you were willing to come back to this show even so many years later; all the same that this video could help you better grasp its narrative and whatever value it holds for you. More than that though, thank you so much indulging me here, and all the more for sharing your own experience in this manner.
I can't believe this doesn't have more likes, I hyperfixated on this anime so much and didn't understand it, I was a child and I didn't get all of the manipulation. Years have passed and BRS has been on my mind, I wanted to revisit it and then I saw this video. I LOVE the dedication and the memes it's perfect. I wish more people would see it
Thanks, I love the enthusiasm! It's nice to see people rekindle their interest in BRS like this, and I'm glad my efforts could do justice to that. Of course, I'm happy to hear I managed to make a few quality memes too lol.
But again, thank you for watching, I know this is a lot to get through. Here's hoping that others stumble on this video then, and all the same, that whoever does can find it worthwhile too.
I thought this anime was just a fever dream of mine alone. It brings me joy to hear that there are others who were captivated by it in the same way I was.
It’s Freudian psychology: the anime.
Believe me, I can relate. I could never seem to find anyone who knew about this show in person, and I didn't participate in what little online discourse there seems to have been surrounding it at the time either. So thank you for commenting, I'm always grateful to hear from others who were also (as was well stated in your comment) captivated by it.
I honestly can't believe that the high quality meme editing went all the way through. I honestly figured it was gonna stop at like 20 minutes in but it kept going.
Amazing video
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!
About the editing: for better or worse, I'm a bit of perfectionist for consistency when it comes to most things, so you can thank that little quirk of mine for the resulting "meme density" so-to-speak lol.
You put it perfectly into words.
I've loved this series since I first watched the OVA, and I favor the 2012 animation on an almost RELIGIOUS bias. BRS became a foundation to my own life in many ways, There was certainly a me BEFORE watching it and me After watching it. It was so impactful for me that my favorite color became Azure blue, the color of that bright blue flame. The star my symbol because to me there's so much meaning behind it.
I really wish BRS would get the attention it deserves, it's an amazing thing that can be so easily overlooked.
And I won't lie
BRS has some REALLY funny meme potential as well
Black Rock "Catch These Hands" Shooter: These Hands Rated E for Everyone
Meanwhile Black Gold Saw sees her kickin ass and goes "Oh shit she's whoopin their ass, I'm outta here scoob, Blue Scadoo and I BETTER TOO!"
i always figured there's more going on than the cool fighting, especially with Kagari and Black Gold Saw for me. but i was always too dumb to connect the dots or get the symbolism. Thank you so much
That's good though! Even just acknowledging that there's a potential meaning worth knowing about is already a pretty significant investment, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. On that note, I'm glad Kagari was one of the characters to clue you in on that - for lack of a better phrase. I'm of the perspective that her symbolism in the first couple episodes is especially well-handled, and generally easier to approach because of that (relatively speaking of course). Speaking of, while I was unaware of DPD specifically prior to your comment, it no less seems to be a perfectly valid interpretation in its own right. Still, thank you in turn for spending some time here to indulge in this series again, and I'm happy I could help you understand it further.
When I first found this video I thought it was a very old video essay that came out around the same time as the original series. I was surprised when I saw the actual video release date, seeing that this analysis came out recently shooketh me lmao
If Strength throws dead body’s from a cliff it’s because Yuu hasn’t intend to school for several years and no school means you become a garbage collector just like your parents keep repeating you.
Black Rock Shooter was formative for me as an artist but after a while I forgot about it, until recently, where all it came back and I fell in love again - nobody else seems to remember. Plus the revival with Dawnfall was pretty disappointing. I LOVE the fact this video not only exists, but chews into it more than teenager me ever could. Here’s to you, the series, and whatever else inspires artists of the future
It's so cool to see how others have been inspired by this series, that's awesome! As an artist myself I have to admit that Black Rock Shooter has been seeping into some my recent work as well.
But yeah, it is a shame that Black Rock Shooter is so often overlooked and forgotten about. To be honest, prior to all this I'd only ever personally met a handful of people who knew what BRS was for that matter (imagine my shock), but I digress. I'm glad that I could provide this experience for you, just as well that it could offer something new to sink your teeth into, if you'll forgive the pun. And of course, here's to your future artistic endeavors!
hey so Im literally crying right now after understanding so much more about this series I was ashamed of liking as a preteen. thought I shouldnt like such girly things as a boy. no longer a boy or concerned about those kind of social norms, but this anime, especially brs as a character always resonated with me despite not being able to understand her. Even ignoring the gender part, I always wanted to be her. strong, ready to get hurt and risk everything hoping to make her friends lives better... took me a while (and this video) to understand how much to this day I relate to all these girls, and only now in my mid twenties I realize how much of this story stuck with me throught these years and made me the girl I am. its kinda pathetic how much growing I put off for all this time, but its nice to finally understand more about this anime and in turn a little more about myself. and it was nice having a good cry about how deep the pain of these girls was, how much it mirrored mine and how happy I am to see them happy. so yeah, thanks for the experience
Goodness, it seems this topic is very close to you then, and I'm glad you could find catharsis in this experience going off your closing sentiment, though I no less apologize if this video caused any emotional distress.
To address the rest, while it sounds as though you've moved passed it, I'll no less offer that I don't think liking BRS is anything to be ashamed of, and I've always seen it to be a broadly human narrative, independent of any gendered perspective. Even so, it is also my (albeit limited) understanding that BRS herself has resonated with and become somewhat of an icon for some people's gender and/or sexual identity. I don't know if that necessarily interests or matters to you personally, but I thought it worth mentioning.
Beyond that, I'm glad this video could help you get a better grasp on this series, and through that series in turn, yourself. All the more, I hope that whatever you feel needs changing or doing in your life in light of this experience proves to be for the best. Likewise, then, I wish you the best in doing so. And hey, I wouldn't view those shortcomings in the interim as pathetic. Living up to and becoming better versions of ourselves - at least as best we can - is a process of effort, and not one I feel is strictly bound to childhood either (provided Saya is anyone to go by). Anyway, I'm rambling, so I'll close out by thanking you for sharing your experience here, it means so much to see how BRS as a series can, has, and I pray will continue to help people. So again, thank you for watching, and all that entails.
@@leviathandrake thanks for your reply, and no need to worry, no distress here, well besides realizing you don't have a whole channel of feature length video essays like this to binge. But yeah I definitely reconnected with the series, even found out it has a rather great Italian dub. I never knew black rock shooter actually became a sort of queer icon but I'll definitely be looking into that. In the meanwhile I just so happened to have found a discarded crutch that would make a great base for a big ass cannon prop, so I have a new diy project on my hands
I already loved the BRS anime but this video made me appreciate it even more, I’m honestly shocked this video only has 8k veiws????
That's good to hear, I'm happy you got some newfound admiration for the series from this! All the same, I appreciate the sentiment that this video is, shall we say, underrated. I must say though that it's exceeded my expectations. With how niche - or rather, underrated - BRS is, I wasn't anticipating even half of the reception it's garnered, so this has all been a rather pleasant surprise. Still, I do hope this video can continue to reach people for as long as possible, and so I suppose we agree nonetheless.
In any case, thank you again for watching and taking the time to comment, it means a lot!
I remember watching Black Rock Shooter way back in middle school. I have figures of the characters, and I’m absolutely obsessed with their designs. I also resonate heavily with this series as someone who has struggled internally for several years. I should have found this video sooner because the analysis of this series is incredible. Thank you for talking about this underrated series.
Hey, similar story here by all accounts! Likewise, I hope you can go on to or have since surmounted those struggles, from resonating with this series in some capacity or otherwise. You're aren't alone in that experience.
With regard to the rest of your comment, ultimately I'm just glad that you did come across it, the fact this video has managed to touch as many people as it has - and for that matter, continues to do so - is its' own reward. As underrated as this series is, it's good that no small amount of people have been connected by it, and so I thank you for that. All the same for deeming this a valuable discussion, in its way.
As someone who has been a fan of BRS for god knows how long, I'm so happy to see her getting the love that she deserves. I don't think you could explain any better just how much depth the show has and by that, you prove how underrated it is. I'm so glad TH-cam recommended this video to me, it was an excellent watch!
That's very high praise, and more importantly, very kind of you, I appreciate it! Plus, my thanks to the TH-cam algorithm for pulling through for you then, it seems this was a valuable find. All the more so, thank you for engaging with all this video had to offer! A lot went into putting together everything there was to say about this show - as it truly is one of if not the absolute deepest anime I've come across - and so I'm glad the result proved to be worthwhile, especially when it means appreciating a series that so desperately deserves it. Thanks again for watching!
You did a great job as describing BRS, the best three hours and 08 minutes in my life. Thank you.
I'd like to believe I tried my utmost to do the series justice, so that's very kind of you to say, and very high praise too, I really appreciate it! And of course, likewise, thank you for watching.
Man i’ve loved black rock shooter for so long even when i didn’t understand it until this day, thank you for this video, it has cemented my love for this show even more!
That's good to hear! This show has a seemingly notorious tendency of being difficult to understand, so I'm glad this video could provide some assistance on that front. All the same, that's awesome - that you enjoyed the series - and thank you for watching!
I just want to express how much I am thankful to you. This was a very important analysis to me, I wasn't expecting something going this deep and sincere, and soo glad that this exists. This is a huge work indeed and from the whole heart I admire it. It was so refreshing and reassuring. Black Rock Shooter is a very important phenomenon for me, and your video IS very inspirational and thought provoking ! So friend, let's continue to search for new colours.
EDIT: What was the Peter Griffin’s meme? Did I miss it? )
Thank you, I never would have expected this video to resonate with people as much as it has, so seeing comments like this is insane to me. I honestly don't know what all I could say to express that in way that does my feelings justice. I suppose, if nothing else, I can concur; let's find all the colors we can.
As for the Peter Griffin bit, I ended up using that footage in places where I just couldn't think of anything else to edit. I was going to include a payoff at the end, but I felt the tone of the video was more serious by then.
Also I couldn't think of a payoff worth three hours of buildup either lol.
Someone finally did my favorite anime justice 🙏
Only two minutes and I already know you get it, I'm the same as you BRS as been with me since I first watch as a kid and to this I still think is one of the most underrated pieces of media. I'm an artist and I still think about her when I'm creating a character with a psychological conflict. Can wait to see the rest ;;;
Thanks! It's very kind of you to comment here, and, likewise, to have such faith in the credibility of its contents; so I hope the rest of the video can/will continue to demonstrate and uphold that for you. Beyond that, I can't refrain from saying once again that I share your sentiments on BRS being criminally underrated. I'd be lying if I said I'd ever before or since seen something seemingly so simultaneously disregarded and discredited as esoteric. Of course, it's no less reassuring seeing that it isn't and doesn't always have to be that way.
Also - and from one artist to another - that's cool! Good luck with your future projects then, and I hope that the stories they may tell prove interesting in their own way(s)!
This video, no, this movie is gold. I am so glad that someone made such an analysis, and not just an analysis of the plot, but an analysis of everything that is in this beautiful work. Thank you for your effort, because thanks to it, I remembered again why I love Black rock shooter.
i cant believe its taken 7 months for this analysis to appear on my recommended
BRS is one of my favorite shows and it means so much to me, watching a whole 3 hour video picking it apart is exactly what i have wanted
i loved your analysis, BRS to me has always been a sort of coming of age story and about the importance of growing and being a better person than you were the previous day. thank you so much for making this video, even if it was for a project lol
The algorithm do be like that sometimes lol. I'm glad the video is still making the rounds though, even after having uploaded it this long ago.
Still, knowing now that you've wanted to see something like this, I'm glad you could enjoy it, and all the more thankful that you stuck around to see it through. As an aside, while I may have only touched on it in passing, I wanted to say your interpretation of the series' themes is itself perfectly valid as well.
Even if for a project, true, seeing what it's meant to people has made me view it as more of an excuse to finally make something I may not have been able to otherwise. I suppose that's the value I've found amidst the suffering - if you will - of taking on such a task lol.
I think this is the best reflexion and analisys of this show. And perfectly portraits what we all knew and understood, but were never able to describe or put or finger on it.
Thanks for explaining the deep connection we have with it
Of course, happy to be of service! It means a lot to hear what this video - and this show for that matter - means to some people, and I'm honored to be able to provide an outlet for articulating those thoughts and feelings that we share. In so doing then, thank you for watching.
I remember first seeing Huke's BRS artwork on anime image aggregate sites over a decade ago. What struck me most was that, despite being scantily clad, BRS aesthetically looked more cool than sexy. That led me to watching the TV show as it was simulcasted. The TV anime certainly left a mark on my psyche and I've been a BRS fan ever since, even if I cannot experience everything it has to offer.
Ah yes, BRS' aesthetic was a wonder of its time for that. It's something I appreciate about her character design to this day as well. Also, man, you got on board the TV anime early! Props to you on that front, and I'm glad it's left its mark, positively at least, I hope. And of course, thank you for sharing your history with BRS, it's always nice to hear how others came across this series and how it's impacted them.
im not finished yet, but wow this video is incredibly enlightening. i got a surface level understanding of the story and it's accompanying message that i could expect from a 3am binge without pausing. it's only through this video that i realize how much creative genius is hidden in the background, somewhat obscure unless you seek it out willingly. thank you for making this show better than it already was
Well then, I'm pleased that that's been your impression so far. Likewise, surface level or no, grasping the narrative and themes of Black Rock Shooter at all is more than I can say for some. Even so, I appreciate being able to shed some light on how much went into this series, be that narratively or otherwise, for those such as yourself. Moreover, if I may say so, your remark regarding the obscurity of some points and the willingness to find them resonates with me. It's a core belief in some respects I suppose, perhaps not evident to the same extent in other media as it is here - personally speaking - but it's no less discussions like this that lead and add to such valuable stories, to say nothing of respecting those that created them of course. In any case, thank you for watching, and all the more for your appreciation the series itself.
I watched this anime when it was on air and since then BRS became my favorite character (as my social media prove it) but I guess I was too young to understand all that this anime really means, thanks to this video I could understand it even better, thank you.
That's totally understandable! I didn't really understand much myself when I first watched BRS, so I'm glad to be of service with furthering others' understanding and appreciation of it. If anything, thank you for commenting, it means a lot.
When I saw BRS in that with Alpha in that PGR trailer my initial reaction was “man, who the hell is this?”. As I was looking around to see what i could find I stumbled across this video. Just have to say really enjoyed the way you edited the video with some funny clips sprinkled in at just the right moments. And as for the analysis, it was great, I can tell that this series means alot to you. So I offer to you the highest praise i can offer, a like, comment and subscribe and the notification bell on.
Yeah that was the general vibe I got from the responses to the PGR x BRS announcement trailer lol. Happy to help clear some of that up.
More importantly though, I'm glad you enjoyed, for the editing and for the overall message, especially the timing therein. It's good to see that that balance (attempted or otherwise) worked out well in the end, and I hope that goes for others too. All the same that my personal feelings towards the series be apparent.
But above all else, thank you for your time, as well as your like, comment, and subscribe. Any one of those things is far more than I initially anticipated, so they are all truly high praise.
Holy shit dude. From the symbolic analysis of the writing to the actual editing of this movie long video this was a blast to sit through. I grew up with this show and the character BRS, as it was one of the first anime I ever watched so it always has a place in my heart despite the fact that I am aware its not a perfect show. Id love to see more analysis videos from you in the future!
Glad you liked it! This was a blast to make, so I'm glad that carried over to your experience. Likewise, while it's true that BRS isn't perfect (despite what the unparallelled high regard I may personally hold for it may otherwise suggest), I'm glad it's stuck with you regardless. If I may suggest as much, that - in its way - is almost more important.
In any case, thanks for the input regarding any future analysis'. While I can't say anything with certainty - the reasons for which ultimately being neither here nor there I suppose, certainly in this context - there are other series out there that I'd like to cover some day, and seeing this comment - among others - has had me thinking about it a bit more as of late. That's no guarantee of course, but I'd be lying if I said I never wanted to make a video like this again. Quite the contrary, really.
This was a delight to listen to. Thank you for this reminder of why I've been so drawn to this show all these years! I dont have much else to say I was very happy to see this in my feed, great job on this
Glad to hear it! I'm happy to be of service, likewise that this video found its way to you. In any case, thank you for watching, and all the more for commenting (no matter how verbose), it really means the most!
I could go on and on why this analysis rocks but I'll just say thank you for making this. I'm not a fan of long essays but if there's one I would ever lend my ears to it's this one.
I've already watched this show a handful of times and the whole franchise sits very close to my heart but coming by other people who've watched it is not a common occurrence, even less where I live, so I end up being the one having to recommend it to friends whenever there's a chance.
It is a huge shame this got slept on back then and an even bigger shame that it never got released on streaming services, especially after the EN dub was made. Would've helped tons in bringing this show to more people.
thanks for causing me to spit out my drink at 44:42 with Shadow there
I just remembered about this show and i am so glad you covered this in so much detail! My 2012 self absolutely did not understand this but i am so glad i still love the series 12 years later, or heck i dare say i love them even more now.
Well, welcome back to BRS! And thanks, I appreciate it. All the same, I'm glad that this series has stuck with you through the years. Likewise, it's nice to know that this coverage could reinvigorate if not inflame your enjoyment of it. Oh, and I assure you, my 2012 self 100% did not understand any of this either lol. Still, thank you for watching!
ok, finished episode one, i definitelly need to rewatch this before seeing the rest
i love everything about this video.
i was gonna watch just some minutes of it to get a glimpse but it kept me all the way through like a movie, the editing and narration was absolutely flawless and the in depth analysis of the characters and world got me reflecting about real life even, it kills me how underrated this video is. As a BRS enjoyer for me this is art, I hope the best for you.
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that. Quite a bit of effort went into this, so I'm glad you stuck around for it, and more importantly, that it was worth your time. All the same, I hope that whatever ruminations this video (or this series rather) spurred on proved beneficial, if not at least interesting.
And hey, underrated though this video may or may not otherwise be, it's turned out to be one of my most successful videos, and if I'm speaking personally, my most valuable. Reassurances aside, I appreciate the support, and I hope all goes well for you as well. Likewise, and once again, thank you for watching.
This is on par with any Evangelion thesis analysis video I have watch, this is amazing!! it must have taken an unimaginable amount of time to create this video especially those memes edit I love it HAHA, you mentioned a lot of tiny details that even I never noticed at all!! Props to you champ! Here's a red macaron for you
Wasn't expecting Evangelion lol, thanks so much! And yeah, I won't deny this took quite some time to get through, even the script itself took a hot minute to make, but with how it turned out in the end, I'm not complaining. Better yet, I'm glad it paid off in showcasing whatever details you and others may have missed, as well as whatever depths they revealed. In fairness, I never even noticed some of the things I discussed here until I decided to make this. I suppose that's just how deep this all goes. In any case, thank you for watching, or perhaps more aptly put, take a red macaron for you as well!
I wasn't expecting this video in my feed but I'm glad it showed up.
It's always an amazing feeling to see someone who can put your thoughts into words for you. I gotta say I really appreciate this video. Almost pulled out my lungs with it.
I not notice teacher got cup collection for students 😂 that cute
This is now going into my memory vault as one of my favourite YT videos/analysis ever. An absolute joy to watch and your meme integration is so on point, I've gotten more meme content from this video than I have in the span of loving this series/character for over a decade. And words cannot express the idiot smile I had with your outro using the Bodah Revy song because first discovering that song via Idleglance's channel was a hype feeling. That early BRS material can still be appreciated and transformed today since for me, the OVA and 2012 series was the peak. It would be so cool to see that MV as a separate upload maybe so that it's easier to rewatch, the sound syncing it so on point and sexy asf.
I first watched this show when I was like, 12 or smth and liked it purely for the action but not really understanding why else I liked it bc I was young and smooth brain with the themes. But the series became instantly special and an emotional relic for me over the years once my mother recontextualised the reason I liked this show. Since at the time, I was going through my family getting a divorce, and I was processing it passively, so my mum suggested that maybe I adored the character BRS so much because she was literally a being made to take on emotional pain, which was probably something I really wanted to have as support at the time.
Flash forward past that epiphany and I'm constantly and religiously rewatching my DVD of this show over the years up until now, and I love that as I get older with every rewatch, I notice more and more details I didn't catch onto before. It's now come to the point where I've filled up a lot of my confusion with the plot sequence with my more elevated understanding of how the whole Otherworld system works or the motivations of characters, alongside some of my own headcanons to add to things. For example, I love how in comparison to the OVA that shows a happy ending to saving Yomi with the power of hugs, the 2012 version hit New Game+ and instead went towards a bad ending of the same plot in that scene of BRS stabbing Dead Master instead. I also rationalised Mato's fuzzy memories of Yuu as her trying to recall the StrengthYuu she currently knows as the one in her memories but of course, she has no memories of StrengthYuu, only RealYuu. So of course, her memory will fail to show Yuu's face because she's trying to remember the wrong person. Then there's also the way StrengthYuu gets ignored by everyone around her, I headcanon it as the world basically correcting the taboo nature of an Otherself being in the real world when they're not supposed to be, by basically setting up a correctional law where people will have a harder time perceiving and remembering an Otherself's presence so that the consequences of a supernatural being existing there is mitigated. It would then make sense why Saya can still fully perceive her, because she knows what she really is, and Mato can still continue to perceive her because her past memories of RealYuu means she must maintain awareness of her regardless because I assume Mato is the only one in the school to have known Yuu in childhood. I just assume that Yuu's early life was fine because we only see memories of a kindergarten/elementary period, but I guess after that they went to different schools/separated where Yuu's life took a turn for the worse. I also headcanoned the possibility that Insane BRS awakened to be so powerful and on another scale from other Otherselves because her fusion with Mato moments prior means that whatever Mato feels, BRS directly feels it too, there's no barrier or filter of 'awakening in reaction to trauma' but that as a being that's supposed to feel no emotion, BRS herself going through trauma as her FIRST exposure to emotion drove her to madness, which could be the explicit reason why she's specifically labelled as 'Insane' but the other Othersleves don't have that Insane label attached to them when all they did was awaken, not go insane.
But beyond all my deep combs, rationalising and headcanoning to enrich the story for me, holy crap, watching your analysis felt like awakening my third eye. it felt like the symbols and character psychology analysis in this video were things I was short of grasping after my own developed perception of the story, but actually hearing you say it aloud in such clarity is like a slap in the face of 'Omg, that's true!" type realisation lmao. Like I understood the baseline psychological statement this story was telling through its characters and I was generally able to keep track of how their personalities and mentalities change throughout the show, but all the extra and in-depth details you added was like having a galaxy brain expansion experience. For one thing, I had no idea that the reverse traits of the arcana the Otherselves are based on directly mirrored the flaws of their counterpart. And you pointing out the parallel between the two 'first meetings' of BRS and Strength where it now follows Mato's wishes where BRS talks instead of fights, AAAAAAA I'm on my knees because that's such a finger-licking good parallel and lowkey the closest to a character arc BRS herself goes through, considering I'm internally obsessed with headcanoning characterisation details onto her so shes more than just a brilliantly executed plot device. I'm just so glad this video exists to make me feel like I'm not crazy for thinking so deeply about this story's themes.
But I'm always gonna wonder----
---if boys have their own Otherworlds, separate from the girls
🤔
First of all, thank you! This is remarkably high praise, and it's nice to see others so interested in what this franchise has to offer (the OVA/2012 era especially) even after all these years. In that sense, I'm also thankful we could both share in the experience of not feeling crazy anymore lol.
As far as the MV is concerned, I'm glad you favored the track selection. I've actually been somewhat debating posting it separately - as you said - so there's a possibility that I'll take you up on that at some point down the line, seeing as there's some tangible demand for it now.
Sorry to hear about the divorce, I imagine it was a difficult thing to go through. Hopefully things turned out alright in the end, but you have my sympathies regardless. It's good that you could find an outlet to process it through BRS though, and - more importantly - I'm glad that you could share a moment with your mother in doing so.
As for the rest of your comment, it is utterly fascinating how much there is to discover with this show, and I can relate to finding something new with every viewing. Even in the months after finishing this video there have been some new discoveries on my end, and comments like this make me wish I had kept more of my thoughts in the video lol.
On that note, with respect to your own discoveries and headcanons, while I've never personally agreed with the theory that Mato and Yuu previously knew each other, I do stand by the concept of the in-universe cause for Yuu's disappearance being some form of correctional law. It tracks with what we otherwise know about Otherselves and it also lines up with what you said about Mato - be it through a shared history or BRS herself - and Saya's continued awareness of her, which happens to coincides with the rate at which Yuu disappears as well; since - as far as I understand it - the closer someone is to her, the longer they remember her (i.e. Yuu's teammates forget about her before Arata, who forgets before Yomi, and so on and so on). More notably, I actually find your interpretation of Insane Black Rock Shooter to be especially interesting because in addition to what you've mentioned here, BRS being exposed to emotions such as trauma in a manner similar to that of Strength's own emotional awakening - albeit with opposite outcomes - creates another juxtaposition in Mato and Yuu's dichotomy in later episodes. Rolling with that would add to other aspects of the show as well, and at the time of writing this there's not much that comes to mind going against it, so it really does just add another layer to the show. I'll have to stew over that one some more, but it really is quite the fascinating take.
Finally, yeah, the possibility of there being another Otherworld out there for boys is interesting to speculate about, and while I suppose we'll sadly never know for sure, there are some interesting theories on it in terms of the show's narrative/production. Especially the latter, for better or worse.
Still, I'll once again express my gratitude to you for engaging with this video and the work therein. It means the world to see you've gotten so much out of it, before and after this experience, and I can't thank you enough for commenting with such zeal about it. I'm honestly not sure what else to say other than that this has been a wonderful read.
@@leviathandrake this is such a vibe 😔💙 Glad to know that there are other people out there that love BRS enough to hyperanalyze this gem of a show too lol. I seriously hope that if BRS comes back, it goes back to some fantasy stories instead of the typical sci-fi. Hell even an Innocent Soul adaptation by SHAFT (since huke worked as the lead character designer in RWBY Queendom which prompted a BRS cameo so cmon, work those connections 👀) would be amazing since the style seems up their alley. Hoping and coping 🤞
Also another food for though that I wanna add into an edit, not sure if its intentional, but the possibility that Insane BRS awakened with the power and intent to 'destroy the Otherworld' like Saya says, maybe being born from Mato's distaste towards the way the Otherworld works. Since Yuu told her about it and Mato had a little outburst about how she found it wrong RIGHT before she fused with BRS, so perhaps BRS inherited that fresh mentality and acted on it as destroying the Otherworld. And it could work as a neat parallel since once Mato actually accepts pain as a necessary part of her identity, thus accepting the nature of the Otherworld, that wish ends up creating a more peaceful Otherworld/landscape. So Mato and BRS when fused, went from destruction to creation as a part of her emotional growth and that just sounds neat to me, intentional or not.
Hey before i say anything else i want to simply say thank you.
I knew i had loved this anime when i saw it but i did not know why.
You didn't just help me find out why i did but you helped me also help better contextualize myself.
Eveen though there's so much i wish to say i don't believe it's needed.
I know what i need to do next and so i will.
Just as the end of titular song of Black Rock Shooter i will keep moving on.
Thank you.
Thank you in turn for the sentiment, I appreciate it. All the same seeing that the discussions of this video could be of some assistance to you, be that as a means of understanding the show or, more importantly, as a vector for personal growth. Likewise, I respect your decision to say as much as you feel the need to, and I've faith, then, that whatever impact this video has had on your personal life has and/or will go on to be a positive one. Keep moving on, and again, thank you in turn.
Yeah this anime changed my life forever it has literally inspired me to want to become an artist of my own and even make my own show that I based after black rock shooter and my experience with it it’s truly one of a kind black rock shooter seriously needs to get the attention it deserves like this so much more.
Wow, that's quite the impact! As an aspiring artist myself with grander concepts for stories of my own (no worries, my inspirations lie elsewhere lol), I wish you the best of luck on those endeavors! Beyond that, couldn't agree more, BRS has gone criminally unrecognized for its accomplishments for far too long, and so I'm glad then that you could stop by. Thank you for watching!
Watching the outro and can't help but think it should get posted separately as an AMV. Might net this video some more interest too? I'm glad this showed up in my feed though, this was a good revisit and breakdown of the series for me.
Glad to be of service! Moreover, thanks for sticking around, I appreciate it!
At this point I can assure you that the outro will be posted separately, but I want to wait until around the time the PGR x BRS collab drops globally to do so. Ideally the increased search interest generated by that timing will help as well, but who knows really. Heck if I know anything about the algorithm.
@@leviathandrakecollab dropped, is the AMV up?
@@ComplexAce It is, yeah. At time of writing it's the channel's 3rd most recent video, posted under the title "Black Rock Shooter [AMV - Outro Montage]"
Thank you. Thank for this beautiful analysis. I grew up with the BRS franchise and I've always loved this anime. You're video truly gave me many more ways to interpret it and appreciate it. So once again, thank you.
Thank you in turn for sharing. It means a lot to see the value this show holds for other people, even just to know that someone else enjoyed it. Just as well, I'm thankful that this venture could offer you some potential new insights on the show. Barring the overall appreciation of the series, I suppose that's what I'm here for. All this to say that I appreciate you leaving your thoughts here, and of course, thank you for watching.
Just saw this on my recommendations and immediately opened the video since I wanted to know a bit about BRS because of the PGR collab. I didn't even notice it was three hours long for like 10 mins until I looked at it haha! But, I watched it till the end anyway. The way you structured and explained everything was great!
Thank you! Videos like this really are helpful for newcomers such as myself because I get more interested in stories/shows when I understand what's happening and the motive behind them. Also, these details that one might miss while watching it for the first time. Now, I can enjoy and appreciate the show more while watching it.
Definitely got me interested in watching it and experiencing the story myself!
It's really nice to hear that my rambling can somehow keep people engaged for this long, so thanks for sticking around! Likewise, I tried to keep everything streamlined despite how tangled the "web of symbolism" tends to get with this show, I kind of felt bad about how often I had to keep saying "X will be relevant later" or "keep X in mind," so this comment helped put my mind at ease in that regard. I appreciate it.
In any case, I'm happy to have peaked your interest in this series, and I hope you enjoy your own experience watching it too! Thank you again!
I can’t find any full content as far as episodes goes for BRS, but from what I’ve seen already it’s a masterpiece and for a 12 year old anime the CGI is out of this world
Happy to hear that that's been your takeaway from the series! As far as watching the full series is concerned (at least officially)...yeah. It used to be on TH-cam actually, but that's all since been taken down. In any case, I'm pretty sure Crunchyroll has it - albeit locked behind a premium paywall - and there is of course the obvious option of buying it, but otherwise it's not really available online - to my knowledge - without sailing the high seas as it were. Still, regardless of if or with what means you watch the series yourself, I'm glad this could pique your interest, and you have my thanks for indulging in this video.
:O I watched the Black Rock Shooter OVA so long ago... and later on, BRS the show. *I didn't know there was more!!* I always knew the show was chock FULL of symbolism, kid-me caught a little bit of it, but... I could never find ANY of it again! The OVA, the anime, it was like I dreamed up the show or something...!
So... thank you. Thank you so much for making this video essay, it was the reminder I really needed!
Assuming I've understood correctly, it really is shocking to find out how much has actually been made for Black Rock Shooter considering how niche its more well known entries seemingly are; even if several of those other entries have sadly been lost to time (of which there's a Lost Media video by Blondie: BRS Historian on the topic, provided you'd like to learn more or haven't seen it already). For me at least, the OVA, TV series, and Game was really all I ever heard about back then. Likewise, I don't know to what extent your experience applies in this regard, but it is a shame that a lot of the older uploads of the OVA/Anime have since been removed or have otherwise been made accessible elsewhere instead.
In any case, I'm glad you were able to latch and catch on to some of what this series had to offer, however much. Having since heard similar stories of those who saw this show when they were younger, that level of investment alone is more than I could ever ask for as is. But moreover, I'm thankful that making this video could be of some value to you. All the same, thank you for watching, and better yet, for sharing your experience here! I appreciate it!
Great video, I didn't mind at all it was longer than the actual series. I enjoyed you going in depth to the characters actions and motivations.
I remember watching the show years ago and i gotta say maybe because i was young but most of this stuff went right over my head. Along with not remembering most of it.
Thanks for letting me revisit it with more nuance.
Glad you liked it! For all that got cut out in the end, I did try to cover as much as possible, and I know that that's ultimately a lot to get through in terms of video length, so I appreciate that doing so wasn't seen as too much of a slog on your end then.
And hey, happens to the best of us. A lot of people - myself included - missed out on a lot of the depth this series had to offer back in the day. To be fair, Black Rock Shooter didn't make it easy on us either. In spite of that, I'm happy that this video could offer you this experience of rediscovery as it were. Once more then, thank you for revisiting this series at all, and all the more so for enjoying your time doing so.
I'm glad that I get to see Fan of BRS here
and legit just sat down and watch the whole 3 hours! It's been maybe 10 years since I last watch this (unless you count the amvs I like to rewatch 😅)
Thanks for this awesome video. This show deserved it and I`m so glad the algorhytm lead it to me. Also much appreciation for the choice of memes.
Glad you enjoyed it! Likewise, my thanks to the algorithm then. This show has gone underappreciated for too long, and while I'm not sure why TH-cam has gifted it with some form of inhuman longevity that I've not seen on my channel before, I'm not complaining. In any case, I'm pleased that you liked the memes as well, and all the more, that you enjoyed this video. Thank you!
Man, BRS was my gateway drug to my taste in clothing. Nice to see it get a three hour video done on it.
i first watched BRS as it aired as an impressionable 13 year old girl, it had such an impact on me(if you couldn't tell by my username lmao) and it makes me so so happy to see people give it the credit and examination it deserves. i'm still hoping for that second season, but as it is, the series left off on a beautiful and meaningful note. thank you for giving me a reason to contemplate for 3+ hours straight :' ]
It will never not be exciting to come across someone who's discovered this show in their lifetime, and it's interesting to hear you picked it up as it was airing as well, so thank you for sharing the impact it's had on you (I'll admit the username may have given me a hint lol). On that note, as far as a second season is concerned, that's a good mentality to have, and I'm inclined to agree. So here's hoping then, that - one way or another - BRS continues to be as beautiful and meaningful as ever.
Likewise, the feeling's mutual, in finding solace in those who believe this show to be deserving of credit and examination, that is. In that respect, happy to be of service, and moreover, thank you so much for watching and sticking through with it to the end! It means a lot to hear that this could hold someone's attention like that for so long, and I'm all the more glad you found doing so worthwhile!
Welcome back my queen and now I'm waiting to get you on PGR Soon
I've watched this series, this show in particular time and time again. Over and over, going through everything with a fine comb analyzing every detail myself and goodness even you have managed to pick up on things and draw comparisons to things I managed to miss. Outstanding work, it genuinely makes me happy to see someone finely understands the importance and impact this show can have given the chance beyond its sci-fi counterparts.
You sir, have gained my sub.
Likewise.
It warms my heart not only to realize I'm not the only one willing to dissect and decipher this show, but to see the interpretations therein largely agreed upon. That is, we've both (or rather, all) come across someone who, as you said, "finally understands the importance and impact this show can have...," so I appreciate the sentiment, and I thank you for the experience it's given me all the same. It's good to hear there was some new ideas here for you to chew on as well, although I wouldn't worry about having "missed" those details, I still remember doing a double take while working on the script when I got to the birds at ~ 1:25:39 lol.
Regardless, I thank you for watching and subscribing, and more importantly, I appreciate your prior and current dedication to this show.
Black Rock Shooter was my first anime, so I'm really glad that you've made this and put so much effort into it. Thanks.
I really enjoyed the analysis.
I think the lesson Mato learned is one that I've been trying to learn myself for a long time.
Wow, that's awesome! Black Rock Shooter is definitely an interesting choice for getting into the medium, so I'm glad this video was an enjoyable exploration for you.
It seems you're not alone in that, but nonetheless, I hope connecting with Mato and her lessons can help you in moving forward, and I wish you luck in whatever efforts that entails.
@@leviathandrake Thank you! I know it's kind of weird to say since we're basically just strangers on the internet, but everything you've done with the video and your comment honestly mean a lot to me.
All I am thinking about while watching this is this: "Some violence is indeed needed for some people. One slap for yourself, then one more for the other person."
OMG someone remembers this series enough to make essay longer then the anime itself, iland I'm here for every second of it
So, about 11:10, ot is a big leap of logic here, but the flower can also represent how Strength is the one who is in the real world and naturally white flowers (and I've always associated that with Yu but I don't remember if it's actually so in the show) become orange
Likewise, it's good to come across someone who remembers this series enough to come across this video too! Thanks for watching, and I'm happy you stuck around then, that's awesome!
I wouldn't say it's too big a leap to be honest. Provided I understand correctly, that's a completely valid interpretation, and one I share really. I suppose I should elaborate - for which I apologize for not doing so earlier - in saying that my confusion on the deeper meaning of the flower personally lies in asking why the snowdrop lily specifically was chosen. I have my theories, just not any I can say with confidence. Of course, don't get me wrong, I may be looking too deep into it by asking that, I just wouldn't put it past Black Rock Shooter to get that specific. But I digress, the point is that I agree with the interpretation you've put forward here, and ultimately what I've stated here shouldn't be taken as anything less than that.
2:00:59 Also the purple is a reference to BRS nickname "Queen", because purple is also the color of power and royalty. :P
Found the video just after finishing the collab, You just gave me a reason to rewatch the series again after a long time
Well then, perfect timing lol. Glad to be of use, and I hope you enjoy revisiting Black Rock Shooter just as much as - if not perhaps more than - the last time you saw it!
I was so happy to see PGR collab with BRS and do it justice. I stumbled across the anime when I was maybe like 14-15 and honestly just loved it because of the animations but after rewatching it and actually understanding what the show meant as an adult it, and this video has really made me appreciate the series so much more. Thank you so much for doing it justice with this video too.
I have to agree with you, the PGR collab with BRS was shockingly well done and ultimately went far beyond my expectations in just about every respect.
On the topic of your experience with the source material, I'm glad you enjoyed it on your initial viewing! Many people (especially at a young age, myself included) initially latch on to the animation - something I've (if anything) perhaps undersold - and even on its own, that consensus is a wonderful takeaway; as is any perceived value for that matter. That said, it's no less great to hear that you came back to the series, and I appreciate that you could form your own newfound appreciation and understanding of what it has to offer. I'm glad then, that this video was able to aid in or even just affirm your appreciation for the series, and it means a lot to be told it was worth your while. So thank you for engaging with this. The video and, of course, the show itself.
GRAAAA THIS HAS BEEN MY FAVE ANIME SINCE I WAS A CHILD (IM 19 NOW) TYSM FOR THIS
Happy to be of service, I love the enthusiasm! And of course, thank you so much for instilling such high priase, it means a lot hearing this can be considered a good video, let alone someone's favorite.
To be fair, a lot of details in BRS are easy to miss, and even then a lot of thought and research went into this, so I'm glad there was something new for you to find even when stacked up to such an impressive watch count (supposing I'm using the appropriate phrasing, that is). In any case, BRS always seems to have something new to discover, and I hope that can continue to be the case for the both of us.
Again, thank you for watching, and even moreso for wanting to talk more about it, here or otherwise.
@@leviathandrake
When I had this video pop into my feed I clicked instantly. I originally found BRS through the nightcore scene and the various artworks of BRS herself and always wondered if it was from something. When I finally found the name of the character, and by extension the show itself, I looked everywhere I knew at the time for a place to watch it. Eventually settling on watching it in broken bits and pieces on TH-cam. This was the show that sparked my interest in anime and even now, after so many years of simply feeling like it faded into obscurity, seeing something as amazing as this fills me with so much joy. Thank you so much for making this video. It feels nice to know that there are other fans out there!
Also, anyone know the name of the song in the background at the beginning of the Episode 8 section? I've heard it somewhere before and its bugging the hell out of me! (not the meme ones, I know those.)
Hey, pretty similar story here! Nightcore was my introduction to BRS too, whereupon I tracked the series down to some shoddy upload on Dailymotion, if memory serves. In any case, thank you for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed, the video and the series itself. Moreover, I share your sentiment, that fans of the series can come together like this. I never really came across anyone who knew about Black Rock Shooter before uploading this, and continuing to hear from people about their experiences and even just to know that this series did make an impact, however small, fills me with such joy. If anything, thank you for sharing that here, it means the most, and hopefully not just to me, but to anyone else who's felt the same as you or I have about this series.
As far as your question regarding the bgm, I believe the track you're looking for is "Sweet Dreams," which is Track 016 of the Chainsaw Man ost. Feel free to let me know if I'm wrong on that, I'm pretty sure I still have most of the songs I used for this lying around in my files somewhere.
@leviathandrake yep! That's the one! Figures since I binged CSM recently. 😂
im currently doing my homework. i don't know sht about BRS so im trying my best to learn what i can till the PGR Collab drops. this was an amazing video. you had my attention for 3 hours
Hey, that's fair! I'm sure a lot of the people that make up PGR's playerbase don't know about BRS, so I appreciate hearing from those such as yourself who have gone out of their way to learn more about her (whether that be through this video or otherwise).
Whatever the case, thank you. I know it's a bit of a big ask to get through all of this, and so it means so much to see people consider this a valuable use of one's time, let alone one worth binging in one sitting. Though, hopefully one that didn't take away from the homework too much lol.
Thank you for all your dedication for this video... For analyse this anime like no other.
Since 2012 I been watching BRS on TV about 5 times over the years... And every time I did it, I used to found something new... and understand a little bit more. I would dare to say that I understood some things only when I went through a similar situation in my life. But you... You really studied anime, you found almost all the meanings! you did the best semiotic and psychological analysis, and best of all... with memes! xD (I'm in touch with your sense of humor).
Your video made my days. I'm happy to know about people enjoying this anime amidst so many negative reviews, and people talking trash about it. I always thought this series was a masterpiece. It's not perfect, but I love it in spite of the years....
i would like to contribute with the video adding some spanish subs if u don't mind... nothing in exchange, just for the love to BRS. And once again... THANK YOU
Thank you for the kind words, it was my pleasure to talk about BRS, and it means a lot to be able to read through comments like this in response. More importanly, thank you for sharing your experience.
I can definitely relate to finding new things with every viewing, and to be honest I even had a few epiphanies *while* working on this video (not to mention since then). If nothing else, the analytical longevity of this show is insane given the runtime, which I suppose is the joy of semiotics really. The same goes for being able to share in these characters' experiences as I'm a bit of a sucker for stories with more universal "human nature" themes, so I'm very glad to see that being reinforced by commenters such as yourself. All the same, I'm glad you could get a laugh - or what have you - out of it as well, it's good to be able to poke fun and laugh at the things we enjoy too after all, if that makes sense.
Still, it is a shame that the series is so often dismissed, if not bashed, particularly since I wasn't entirely aware of what all was being said until researching for this video. Even so, it's a good thing that didn't deter this video from being made, as it's been wonderful knowing it made your day (among others), just as you (among others) have made mine in responding to it so positively.
Likewise, agreed. Every piece of media has its faults of course, but BRS no less remains my #1 anime, and very few series (that I've seen anyway) have managed to come even close to it.
As far as your offer to add Spanish subtitles is concerned - whether it still stands or not - I don't mind at all, although I'm not well-acquainted with the process of how to go about getting them from you so that I can add them here. You're more than welcome to send/link the appropriate files or information in a reply here (if possible), to my twitter/instagram (provided in the description), or if you prefer Discord I'm sure that can also be arranged. If not, that's fine, and I understand given I've only just now managed to get back with you on this matter, for which I do apologize. Whatever the case though, thank you again for watching, and all the more for sharing your thoughts here.
What an amazing video dude,
I literally cried a bit.
Such a nostalgic show, thank you so much.
It means a lot to hear this had an emotional impact on you - the video, show, or otherwise - I appreciate it. Truly. To be honest I teared up a few times while working on this myself for my own reasons, so I feel you on some level there.
Thank you for watching, and all the more for commenting, it's what makes this all worth it!
@@leviathandrake You're the most welcome!!
I am (not so) internally screaming because I watched the show just yesterday thanks to a cover of it that made me want to know more and even if I got the rough message of it, I struggled to piece everything together, and I am very thankful for this fucking neat video, like, more than I can word it. I can make links with other animes I've watched, most especially Kiznaiver (and very directly so), and it makes my brain tingle sooo much. Thank you for your great analysis and editing effort and just, really your passion about this, because damn do I now share it. Have a good day !
Awesome! It's always good to hear from newcomers to Black Rock Shooter, and wow, you must have found this fast then!
It's not entirely uncommon to find people who got lost or became frustrated by the show's more symbolic or metaphorical aspects, understandably so for that matter, so the fact you were able to - on some level - grasp the series' themes on an initial vieweing is commendable in its own right. Likewise, struggling to put it all together after the fact is entirely understandable, and with how much there is to unpack, I'm sure anyone who's stuck with this series for long enough will tell you the same thing. On that note, I'm glad I could spare you from all the interpretation and research it took to get to this point lol.
In a more general sense, it warms my heart to read through this, and to share in the passion you've mentioned here, which you've made palpable, might I add. Moreover, and more importantly, thank you for watching, and of course, you have a good day as well!
@@leviathandrake Yeah ww, I immediately went to search 'BRS analysis' and I think your video was the first or second thing to come up ! Reddit wasn't helpful, expectedly- Also like, the show's pretty evocative to me, for the simple fact that I like this kind of themes (as I'm sure you've guessed from me mentioning Kiznaiver out of anything else) and I also *absolutely love* colour symbolism. That's why for exemple I was immediately on guards when Saya came up, but I couldn't process why. I couldn't process a lot of stuff, actually, because the show goes quite fast, the mood swings fast as well... And I watched it in one go, too, oopsie- Something I wanted to mention as well, is that it didn't surprise me that much that Matou snapped at Yomi in the lockers. Like if you think about it, Yomi at that point represents what Matou is scared of being (aka caged/not able to see the world's colours/form bonds). I don't know if that makes sense-
Also of course I'm passionate !!! I really, really love this, probably for more reasons than I'd like to admit, but I'm also real happy to see that, y'know, someone else loves this show enough to want to share what they understood of it !!! And I'm also grateful for that !!! The opening song lives on on its own, but the rest of the franchise isn't really spoken about, from what I've seen at least, so yeah, it's a real cool surprise !!! This is also low-key nostalgic for me, because I saw AMVs of this back when AMVs were raging and all, so like, the brain tingles are real nice haha
Thank you again for your efforts in this video, and have a good day/night !
Thank you so much for making this awesome video. I have been a BRS fan since 2019 and i have rewatch it so many times. But i never really understood it. This video has made me love BRS even more. Thank you so much for this amazing video. I enjoyed it so much.
And also epic Mv ending.
Of course! Glad you enjoyed it. Better yet, I'm glad this video could have an impact on your perception of the series. It's been so refreshing to see what a difference it makes to finally be able to grasp the harder-to-parse aspects of this show, Lord knows it did for me, and I'm grateful to be able to see that experience shared. It's always good to see fans of the series who got into this somewhat more recently as well. Nonetheless, thank you for watching, and moreover, for sharing your thoughts on the matter. It's what makes this sort of thing worth it in the end.
Glad you enjoyed the outro as well, it was a really fun segment to make!
Still a banger. Still putting words to the feelings I have for the show that I was unable previously unable to find. 10/10
Bless you so much for making a video analysis on Black☆Rock Shooter, the... ip I guess is the right term, means so much to me and it’s so nice to see someone care so much for it too :)
Thank you! It means a lot to hear that there are others out there who can appreciate Black Rock Shooter (in whatever form that may be), more so to see how much that means to you in turn.
And yeah, I feel ip is an accurate term, probably moreso than "franchise" actually, now that I think about it.
Thank you for a video that full of colors 💙
27:10 ok, tarot, that explains the name
AMAZING VIDEO
I've always loved this series, and because of PGR i have come to relive the experience i've had with this franchise through another medium i also love and this, right here is a very good refresher and I've watched the whole 3 hours so thank you to hear someone else's perspective of BRS
That's great to hear! I'm glad that you enjoyed this series from the start, and welcome back! As for the PGR collab, I have to agree that they did an excellent job portraying BRS, and in its own meaningful way too. But yeah, thank you so much for stopling by and sticking around to see the whole video! I'm happy to be able to share my thoughts on topics like this, and I greatly appreciate you telling me about your own
experience with the series across its many mediums. So thanks! It means a lot to know you enjoyed it.
I had NO IDEA this show existed until punishing gray raven had a collab with black rock shooter making her a playable character.
That's perfectly understandable. Indeed, Black Rock Shooter has always been pretty niche, so - of course - it's always nice to see new people who have been introduced to the source material, and I'm glad the PGR collab could perhaps interest you in it as well! Likewise, and in any case, thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed!
i think in the scene where mato finds yomi with the heart carving, it reads more like shes upset and worried with yomis situation then angry at her, at least in the sub, and how i interpreted it, i think like that it fits more to her charactehr
That's fair. It's reasonable to say that Mato had an at least partial understanding that Kagari was restricting Yomi in some way given their first interaction. My hesitation has personally come from how much she figured out prior to speaking with Saya or to what extent.
That said, your interpretation is no less a perfectly acceptable one, and for that matter, I actually think that it - in conjunction with the somewhat similar interpretation provided here in a reply by asagohan - sits very well with me. That is to say - if I may spare you the trouble - that Yomi and her situation (no doubt its consequences too) were, in that moment, almost a representation of what Mato was afraid of; not having the freedom she wanted and being left behind by the people she wanted to get close to. If I've understood you correctly then, I think that fits with your take on Mato being upset about the circumstances surrounding Yomi rather than Yomi herself and adds some additional weight to some of her later lines in that conversation, per this interpretation(s) at the very least.
Regardless, thank you for adding your take on the scene here, I appreciate the food for thought, and I hope the same has been provided.
damn... just looking at the sheer lenght of this video makes my BRS video feel insignificant, even if my video was much more broad in the subject matter
Oh, I wouldn't say that. I've actually since watched your video on BRS, and given the points you were trying to make (some of which - like the thematic relevance of the anime's ending theme - weren't even covered in this 3 hour monstrosity), I do find it valuable in its own way. At the very least, I think your conclusions regarding BRS' core essence as being a manifestation of Huke's creative drive - or as an extension of that - an embodiment of overcoming feelings of being lost and all that entails, are worthwhile interpretations that you managed to express very poetically in your video. Relatably so too; I can assure you I had my fair share of trouble working on this video as well for much the same reasons you mentioned in your own. More than that, it's been brought to my attention that you're likely correct in your analysis given what control Huke himself had over the OVA. In any case, I suppose my point is that I don't believe your video is insignificant, least of all for its length. Rather, it's succint, and I'll be sharing it with the BRS discord server I'm in in hopes that others can see that as well.
Side note: As far as this video is concerned, I hope it could at least help explain why Arata's Other Self had to die lol
I just watched the anime and OVA in preparation for the "Punishing Gray Raven" collab, this was a wonderful addition to that.
Awesome, just a few more days to go before the collab drops!
All the same, I'm happy I could add to your experience of this series, and my thanks to you for deeming this video a worthwhile part of it at that.
@@leviathandrake I'm maxing out BRS with SSS+ and the signature weapon so I'm very excited about this, I watched the anime and OVA to be genuinely excited I'd seen her picture and heard a little bit about her but never sat down and watched things related to Black Rock Shooter.
@@guardiansoulblade2673 That's great to hear! I'll be doing the same as well, if there was any doubt lol. Glad to have you on board the BRS hype train!
Likewise, that's understandable. Having personally started down the BRS pipeline because I saw pictures of her on a bunch of Nightcore music videos back in the day, I can totally understand not getting into, finding, or knowing much about the source material until more recently.
26:44 way to give away an important information merchandising companies...
finally i can eat while watching youtube
30:09 ok that would be obvious if i had watched this twice
26:30 there are so many details i didnt noticed before, but this one... im blind
oh man thank for detail, i never notice this or understand the story since i watch brs when i still just a dumb kids.
Of course! Happy to be of service!
It's perfectly understandable to miss a lot of stuff like this as a kid, be that Saya's cup collection or otherwise. That seems to be a common sentiment too, given a lot of people - myself included - first saw BRS as a kid, only to have similar struggles understanding it. I'm grateful then, that you decided to revisit this series. Thank you!
Watched the series back in 2012/2013 as my first anime ever. I really got hooked into the story, characters and emotions they portrayed. I think it's really underappreciated and honestly deeply disappointed that most of the future BRS media deviates so much from the original concept of OVA/Anime. I think the best we got after it was the brs: innocent soul manga which had a completely different setting (and pretty much everything besides designs of the characters... this is just a thing for BRS media i guess...) while tackling a lot on similar stuff to the OVA and Anime. I am really happy that more people like this series. I'm really glad that this video got recommended to me.
Wow! Well, this series is definitely a high point to start off with, insofar as good animes go. I'm glad you could latch on to Black Rock Shooter then, not just on account of it being enjoyable/memorable on its own, but on account of it being your first venture into the medium as a whole. Likewise, I concur; Black Rock Shooter is very much an underappreciated and misunderstood work, and I hope efforts such as this can help change that.
As far as how BRS media has since been approached, for better or worse - as I doubt the OVA/Anime would have turned out the way they did otherwise - Huke has been pretty loose with Black Rock Shooter's identity since her inception, which is a story in and of itself of course. Personally my stance on the matter is rather complicated, but I will no less admit that I also prefer the more fantastical interpretations of Black Rock Shooter. Speaking of, Punishing: Gray Raven's recent collaboration with Black Rock Shooter actually yielded a surprisingly well done fantasy story of its own. One that may well be worth talking about actually.
In any case, the feeling's mutual. It's always nice to hear from other fans of the series, and I'm glad this video could find its way to you. So thank you, both for stopping by and for taking the time to comment on your experience with the show!
Life is worth of experience, thank you.
This video and this show are masterpieces.
Dawn Fall just got added to the Dub list as a "Season 2" on wcostream and I am wondering if anyone else is here because of that?
You know? I have been thinking...Black Rock Shooter and Gennady Tartakovsky. Man loves animation so much he aims to put as little dialogue as possible, just in case they aim the franchise thinks of doing something with a more western take. Also the man is so damn good at directing storytelling with just animation and no sound...if there is any need of metaphors needed to be represented in a surrealistic settling, I think he can pull it off.
While I'd consider myself largely unfamiliar with the wider catalog of Tartakovsky's work, if Primal is anything to go by, I can see it. Especially since Black Rock Shooter's existing Otherworld scenes (mostly) operate under a similar mindset. That is - if memory serves - the DVD's Behind the Scenes segment suggests the director of BRS' 3D sections signed on primarily out of an interest to innovate/explore more creative applications of 3D animation. Point is, I can see where you'd get the idea that tackling the Otherworld - if nothing else - in a hypothetical Western variation of Black Rock Shooter (whether that be a purely original work or something adjacent to what we have already) would be in Tartakovsky's wheelhouse. Likewise, while the TV anime makes heavy use of dialogue and wordplay during its "Real World" segments, I recall the OVA being much more reliant on visual storytelling (if only by comparison). So there is a precendent to suggest that it is at least possible to apply that creative process to Black Rock Shooter as a whole as well.
finally, the show makes sense
Holy this first time awatch 3h video no stop
i love the elsword reference lolllll
The show was awesome at the time
The insane lenght of this video is proof of your dedication to our mighty black and white, blue eyed discutibly legal? waifu, hence I wholeheartedly agree from this moment onwards until the end of time with all your statements in this video. (I have just watched 2minutes of the video at this point, but don't worry I will watch it all in the spam of several days :P). I had always been a fan of these OVAS and I think are "kinda" underrated (even at risk of sounding cliche).
I gotta say I'm really interested in what you have to say about this character and the anime, but all of the audio memes you've injected into the video really takes me out of it. On top of that, it's often difficult to hear your voice over them because of the audio mixing.
I can tell that you have passion for the character, else you wouldn't have made a 3-hour long analysis video, but playing memes throughout the entire thing really takes away from that intended appreciation. That said, it is nice to see his character get more recognition and love. She's honestly one of my biggest inspirations for my own creative work, and I'm not sure what my work would look like today if I hadn't watched the OVA or listened to the original song.
Hey, I appreciate the feedback nonetheless!
There have been a couple to express some disinterest in the memes I've used here, understandably so given the elaboration you've provided here, and far be it from me to criticize matters of taste regardless of that.
More importantly, I will admit that my experience with audio mixing is sorely lacking (arguably nonexistent since I had previously only ever worked with Windows Movie Maker of all things), so I actually really appreciate you bringing some of its faults to my attention. I'll have to look more into what can be done to remedy such issues if and when any subsequent videos of this variety are in the works, lest I grow accustomed to them.
In any case, I'm pleased we can both appreciate the source material at least, and I thank you for indulging me, even if only for a moment. More than that, I appreciate you being cordial in this matter.
Worth 3 hours of watching.
Thanks, glad to hear it! And of course, thank you for watching those 3 hours!
Thank you for the awesome video
Glad you enjoyed! The same goes for you too: thank you for watching!
I watched from the beginning to the end, and I’m fascinated by your hard work,so much passion in it. I’m very happy that there’s still a dedicated community around BRS. This is the anime of my childhood and it makes me feel a certain type of way 🥹 thank u very much for your work 🤝
Well I'm ecstatic that it was worth your time then! Knowing that is ultimately what makes all the work worth it in the end, so thank you so much for watching! Furthermore, indeed, this anime does have a certain vibe to it, and tears absolutely were shed. Finally, thank you again for taking the time to sit through all this, it's all very much appreciated.
This anime has special place in my heart so I am happy to see ppl talking about it.
But I must say the constant memes kinda started to get annoying. I thought they would stop after 10 minutes and show up at very end again but they kept popping up
all the time. Every time especially the Audio memes took me away from listening othervise really good video essey and once I got invested again enjoying my time the memes happened again and tok me out of it again and again. Hard to focus. Its clear you like makeing essey style videos but maybe tone down the memes. Especially when they are so frequent and loud, it becomes hard to keep listening. Often your voice is hard to hear from loud unnecacary meme.
If you really want to keep the memes maybe just few, not like this with 5 memes with in every 2-3 minutes.
This really has potential, but just chill with the memes.
Fair enough! On the whole, yours is the most common sentiment as far as shortcomings of this video is concerned, and I appreciate that being reiterated if only to further verify its legitimacy, as is the case with any criticism, positive or not. I suppose I will, if I may, reiterate in turn that I've not previously worked with an editing program that carries the same capabilities as the one used in the making of this video, and so my general knowledge of audio mixing in particular is lacking on the whole. That is, it was not my intention at least for the audio memes to overwhelm my own voice, and that much most certainly is a problem one way or the other. One I do aim to rectify in any future instances of this format. I'll of course note the apparent disruption their inclusion has caused as well, at least with respect to the proportion of their inclusion. So, while I don't foresee memes on the whole being toned down in the future per se (factoring otherwise silent memes into the equation that is), I can concede there being less overpowering audio overlap or general interjection in the future. Should such a video come to pass then, and should you be around to see it, I hope such a compromise can offer a more enjoyable experience in the future. If not, then allow me to thank you for stopping by and offering your thoughts on this video regardless!
i cant belive what first came as funi music sing by some weird blue girl turn into some average 2023 life guru