This is a turn up for the books; in a drive to freshen up the show the creators have got permission to bring in a new character(s) looks like their ploy has worked too.
Packaging
New gal, Ropponmatsu in her cute version gets the forefront of the cover again with a montage of images behind her. All the disc stats like volume numbering, extras, runtimes and what not are all clearly listed in various places along with the discs hazard warning and screenshots. The insert this time has a picture of Excel and grown up Ropponmatsu on one side and a production sketch of Nabeshin on the other that also lists the discs extras and chapter stops.
Menus
Not themed around any one episode the menus are still very different from previous volumes, options are spaced out across the main menu with numerous bits of animation and sound bites from the new Excel American voice actress, episode selection is easy but navigating to the other sub menus is made awkward by the option being placed on a diagonal axis.
Soundtrack
English and Japanese Stereo 2.0: are your choices for this series, in a turn of events for the series, Jessica Calvello the American Voice Actress for Excel had to retire her role at the end of recording the third volume due to various circumstances. Her replacement, Larissa Wolcott does an equally great job in her stead and to be honest doesn’t sound as hard on the ears as her predecessor as Excel still motors along.
Extras
- ADV Vid Notes tm
- Opening Credits Timing Sequence
- Opening Credits First Cut
- Puni Puni Poemi OVA Preview
- Puni Puni Poemi Interview With Yumiko Kobayashi
- Production Sketches
- ADV Previews
The Extras are still running strong for this series, what I do find strange though is the inclusion of Puni Puni Poemi related extras, while the two shows are closely linked featuring many of the same Japanese VA’s and production team, I think they should have been held over of ADV’s release of Puni Puni Poemi (yes they have the license, it’s coming to the UK at some point – yay!)
Episode Contents (This part may contain
Spoliers)
In an effort to freshen up the series which after the third volume had gotten a little bit stagnant, Koshi Rikdo has given his permission to bring in a new character, commissioned by Kabapu of City Security, the new recruit is ready, an attractive purple haired mature and formal looking robot going by the name Ropponmatsu, Iwata is immediately smitten with her and puts the moves on right away, while all her vital stats are “undetermined” this doesn’t deter him, marriage is mentioned somewhere…
Meanwhile lord Ilpalazzo has instigated Across’s conquering the city plan #4226 Hyatt and reluctantly Excel have been charged with delivering a mysterious box to somewhere in the city. Naturally things go wrong when Hyatt dies and Excel with her single-track mind forgets the mission to go and look for Hyatt, leaving the box now covered in Hyatt’s blood behind in a dark ally.
For what is probably the first time in the series the City Security team and the Plans of Across actually cross as whilst out on patrol Iwata, Ropponmatsu and the rest find the said blood covered package, tragic explosive ending ahoy…
Across’s plan didn’t exactly go according to plan but lord Ilpalazzo liked the idea and has only modified it for their next attempt, now Excel and Hyatt have to play guard to a giant robot that has been charged with delivering the box, Excel figures that they look a little too conspicuous so disguises the giant robot as a giant panda now it draws attention from everybody, big cuddly cute killer robot panda…
Another character in a manner of speaking is also introduced here as Ropponmatsu Ver: 2 the cute’n’chirpy version is introduced, tearing Iwata in two directions, his unwavering love for the grown up version has turned to absolute hatred of the abomination cute replacement version that’s taken the originals job at City Security.
This episode plays out very much like the first but the drastically different Ropponmatsu winds it up nicely adding that Excel hyper-ness to the city security team, how Misaki can keep that straight face I’ll never know?
With two new versions of the same character introduced the creators only have one choice left for the next episode’s script and that’s put them both in the same story. Delivered by Nabeshin to their apartment Excel and Hyatt end up taking delivery of both Ropponmatsu’s, opening the crates both Ropponmatsu’s imprint on Excel and Hyatt and will now do anything for them. While Hyatt has been imprinted upon by the grown up Ropponmaysu creating a formal kind of friendship, Excel has ended up with the hyperactive cute one, as you may expect, combining these two characters is the recipe for the ensuing disaster.
In the Final episode events return to the now rather formulaic “theme” for their next Across world domination plan our intrepid Across agents are sent to America, as soon as they are there Excel manages to get a lynch mob after them when she rambles off all the ghetto-speak she knows, insulting everyone and their mammas. Things really go off on a bit of a tangent When Excel and Hyatt end up mixed up with Sandora, (Pedro’s son) and a counterfeit animation cell smuggling mafia ring / trip / plot.
While funny in all the jokes it levies at the American animation industry and the American “Japanimation” slant still left this episode a little under whelmed compared to the new fresh dynamics brought to the other episodes by the two Ropponmatsu’s and the chaos they cause, Iwata’s emotional conflicts about the two Ropponmatsu’s alone are enough to keep me entertained.
The two new characters help lift the series away from being a formulaic one as they give us a three-episode break from the various themed episodes. The actual progression of a plot (remember that? – there actually was a plot to start with) also adds. While piles-of-silliness is all well and good, too much of a good thing is a bad thing, and these episodes were timed in the series just perfectly to prevent that from happening. Don’t get me wrong these new episodes are still very silly, just a fresher kind of silly.
Signed
Damian
Ai Says
"
Excel Saga is back on track and even funnier than before as the two new characters bring some needed fresh blood to the show shaking up the series character group dynamics to great effect. "
