Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi: Difference between revisions

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Well, none of that really matters, after Arumi's grandfather is hospitalized in an accident that destroys the last of [[The Four Gods|four "guardian" figurines]] that bound the shopping district. Before their eyes, the neighborhood changes. Sasshi and Arumi find themselves trapped in a warped version of Abenobashi as if it were an RPG, with everyone they know recast as NPCs.
Well, none of that really matters, after Arumi's grandfather is hospitalized in an accident that destroys the last of [[The Four Gods|four "guardian" figurines]] that bound the shopping district. Before their eyes, the neighborhood changes. Sasshi and Arumi find themselves trapped in a warped version of Abenobashi as if it were an RPG, with everyone they know recast as NPCs.


But once they fight their way through the game's plot in grand slapstick style, thinking they will then return home, they find themselves transported to an outer space version of Abenobashi... then a Hong Kong martial arts movie version... then a [[Everything's Better With Dinosaurs|dinosaur-filled]], prehistoric one. And many more. Will Sasshi and Arumi ever get back to the ''real'' Abenobashi? ''Why'' are they "jumping" in the first place? ''Who'' is that blue haired sorcerer who appears to be going through a mid-life crisis?
But once they fight their way through the game's plot in grand slapstick style, thinking they will then return home, they find themselves transported to an outer space version of Abenobashi... then a Hong Kong martial arts movie version... then a [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs|dinosaur-filled]], prehistoric one. And many more. Will Sasshi and Arumi ever get back to the ''real'' Abenobashi? ''Why'' are they "jumping" in the first place? ''Who'' is that blue haired sorcerer who appears to be going through a mid-life crisis?


A [[Deconstructive Parody]] of a dozen or more genres of film and anime, ''[[Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai (Anime)|Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai]]'' (''Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi'' in North America) generously trowels thick layers of off-the-wall comedy on top of a surprisingly serious storyline, one you're likely to forget about until it pops back up at the last minute to smack you in the face. Made by [[Studio Gainax|Gainax]], the show makes both subtle and in-your-face [[Shout-Out|references]] to [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|various]] [[Sister Princess (Light Novel)|other]] [[Back to The Future (Film)|series.]]
A [[Deconstructive Parody]] of a dozen or more genres of film and anime, ''[[Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai]]'' (''Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi'' in North America) generously trowels thick layers of off-the-wall comedy on top of a surprisingly serious storyline, one you're likely to forget about until it pops back up at the last minute to smack you in the face. Made by [[Studio Gainax|Gainax]], the show makes both subtle and in-your-face [[Shout-Out|references]] to [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|various]] [[Sister Princess|other]] [[Back to the Future (film)|series.]]


There is also a two-volume [[Manga]] version, which is ''even weirder.'' The [[Broad Strokes|basic plot is pretty much the same,]] although different worlds are visited, the ones that ''are'' in the show are different, and there's a character not shown in the anime (with the exception of a "blink and you'll miss her" scene in the twelfth episode.)
There is also a two-volume [[Manga]] version, which is ''even weirder.'' The [[Broad Strokes|basic plot is pretty much the same,]] although different worlds are visited, the ones that ''are'' in the show are different, and there's a character not shown in the anime (with the exception of a "blink and you'll miss her" scene in the twelfth episode.)
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{{tropelist}}
* [[Accent Adaptation]]: The official dub translates Osakan dialect as Texan and Kouhei's Tokyo dialect as Brooklyn.
* [[Accent Adaptation]]: The official dub translates Osakan dialect as Texan and Kouhei's Tokyo dialect as Brooklyn.
* [[Actor Allusion]]: Takeshi Aono, who voiced Grandpa Masa, also did [[Michael Palin (Creator)|Michael Palin]]'s roles in the Japanese dub of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. Something to keep in mind in Episode 12, when Grandpa goes "lumberjack"!
* [[Actor Allusion]]: Takeshi Aono, who voiced Grandpa Masa, also did [[Michael Palin]]'s roles in the Japanese dub of ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. Something to keep in mind in Episode 12, when Grandpa goes "lumberjack"!
** [[Yui Horie]] plays Emiryun in the dating-sim episode, and that character takes on traits of other Horie roles such as [[Kanon (Visual Novel)|Ayu Tsukimiya]] and [[To Heart|Multi.]]
** [[Yui Horie]] plays Emiryun in the dating-sim episode, and that character takes on traits of other Horie roles such as [[Kanon|Ayu Tsukimiya]] and [[To Heart|Multi.]]
* [[Alternate Universe]]: A new one in almost every episode.
* [[Alternate Universe]]: A new one in almost every episode.
* [[Art Shift]]: Between a more realistic style for the mundane world and a more flat, colorful style for the alternate dimensions.
* [[Art Shift]]: Between a more realistic style for the mundane world and a more flat, colorful style for the alternate dimensions.
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** At the halfway point, the series turns around and deconstructs ''itself''. Or to be more accurate, the second half is a [[Genre Deconstruction]] of the [[Trapped in Another World]] premise that it was following in the first half.
** At the halfway point, the series turns around and deconstructs ''itself''. Or to be more accurate, the second half is a [[Genre Deconstruction]] of the [[Trapped in Another World]] premise that it was following in the first half.
* [[Deus Ex Machina]]: {{spoiler|Sasshi's finally ready to go back to the real world and face reality, when in the last few minutes he has a change of heart and suddenly gets enough power to rewrite reality.}}
* [[Deus Ex Machina]]: {{spoiler|Sasshi's finally ready to go back to the real world and face reality, when in the last few minutes he has a change of heart and suddenly gets enough power to rewrite reality.}}
* [[Expy]]: Young Grandpa Masa in not entirely unlike [[The Mask (Animation)|two]] [[Ace Ventura|cartoon characters]] modeled after a [[Jim Carrey|certain actor who played their live action counterparts]].
* [[Expy]]: Young Grandpa Masa in not entirely unlike [[The Mask (animation)|two]] [[Ace Ventura|cartoon characters]] modeled after a [[Jim Carrey|certain actor who played their live action counterparts]].
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Of a sort. During the portal sequence in the Hollywood episode, the manga-only character "Ne-ne-ne Okane" briefly appears.
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Of a sort. During the portal sequence in the Hollywood episode, the manga-only character "Ne-ne-ne Okane" briefly appears.
* [[Face Fault]]
* [[Face Fault]]
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* [[Gainax Ending]]: Of course. Could someone ''please'' explain the ending to me?
* [[Gainax Ending]]: Of course. Could someone ''please'' explain the ending to me?
** Easy. Sasshi turned out to be {{spoiler|one of the greatest Onmyou Mystics ever, because he's the heir of Eutus -- I mean, Abe no Seimei.}} In order to keep Arumi from moving away, he {{spoiler|remade the world, as he had been throughout the series,}} except this time, it {{spoiler|''stayed'' remade, with the help of Sasshi's future self that has grown into his powers.}} As a bonus, {{spoiler|Mune-Mune and Masa}} lived, and The Grilled Pelican stays open.
** Easy. Sasshi turned out to be {{spoiler|one of the greatest Onmyou Mystics ever, because he's the heir of Eutus -- I mean, Abe no Seimei.}} In order to keep Arumi from moving away, he {{spoiler|remade the world, as he had been throughout the series,}} except this time, it {{spoiler|''stayed'' remade, with the help of Sasshi's future self that has grown into his powers.}} As a bonus, {{spoiler|Mune-Mune and Masa}} lived, and The Grilled Pelican stays open.
* [[Genre Savvy]]: A large part of each episode is Sasshi and Arumi trying to figure out "what kind" of world they're in and what the rules are. This starts from the very first episode, where Sasshi immediately takes to the ''[[Dragon Quest (Video Game)|Dragon Quest]]''-esque RPG world that they inhabit, and remarks that spending 600 of their initial 800 gold pieces in an initial shopping spree is ideal, since the strategy guide recommends saving 200 GP for inns and the like. Another example occurs in a sci-fi world: when Sasshi discovers that their sci-fi world has all of the elements of a [[Super Robot]] show, it just becomes a matter of locating the [[Humongous Mecha]] that is awaiting the two destined pilots.
* [[Genre Savvy]]: A large part of each episode is Sasshi and Arumi trying to figure out "what kind" of world they're in and what the rules are. This starts from the very first episode, where Sasshi immediately takes to the ''[[Dragon Quest]]''-esque RPG world that they inhabit, and remarks that spending 600 of their initial 800 gold pieces in an initial shopping spree is ideal, since the strategy guide recommends saving 200 GP for inns and the like. Another example occurs in a sci-fi world: when Sasshi discovers that their sci-fi world has all of the elements of a [[Super Robot]] show, it just becomes a matter of locating the [[Humongous Mecha]] that is awaiting the two destined pilots.
** That said, Sasshi understanding how each world "works" is probably a side effect of {{spoiler|each world being retrieved from his subconscious.}}
** That said, Sasshi understanding how each world "works" is probably a side effect of {{spoiler|each world being retrieved from his subconscious.}}
* [[Glamorous Wartime Singer]]: Hillariously subverted in the War episode when Ms. Aki shows up for a USO show. After getting a good look at her face, all the troops fall to the ground in a near-death state. After pulling a [[Marilyn Maneuver]] but before she can finish her introduction, she's quickly ''grabbed by [[Gas Mask Mooks]], shoved into a body bag, and [[Stuffed Into the Fridge|stuffed into a nuclear waste containment barrel]], which is then filled with cement, bolted shut, lowered into a larger air-tight container, sealed in cement, tested for radiation levels, boxed up into a cargo crate, put onto the helicopter she arrived in on, and immediately flown out.''
* [[Glamorous Wartime Singer]]: Hillariously subverted in the War episode when Ms. Aki shows up for a USO show. After getting a good look at her face, all the troops fall to the ground in a near-death state. After pulling a [[Marilyn Maneuver]] but before she can finish her introduction, she's quickly ''grabbed by [[Gas Mask Mooks]], shoved into a body bag, and [[Stuffed Into the Fridge|stuffed into a nuclear waste containment barrel]], which is then filled with cement, bolted shut, lowered into a larger air-tight container, sealed in cement, tested for radiation levels, boxed up into a cargo crate, put onto the helicopter she arrived in on, and immediately flown out.''
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* [[Shout-Out]]: Many, though it'd be more appropriate to say they're parodying more than simply just referencing them.
* [[Shout-Out]]: Many, though it'd be more appropriate to say they're parodying more than simply just referencing them.
** The most obvious being to ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' -- music from the series is used for a mecha combat scene, and Sasshi's sister is a [[Rei Ayanami Expy]]. Throughout the Battlefield episode, Sasshi's facial features resembles Shinji.
** The most obvious being to ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' -- music from the series is used for a mecha combat scene, and Sasshi's sister is a [[Rei Ayanami Expy]]. Throughout the Battlefield episode, Sasshi's facial features resembles Shinji.
** ''[[Sister Princess (Light Novel)|Sister Princess]]''
** ''[[Sister Princess]]''
** Episode 2 is a shout out to [[Eastern RPG|JRPG's]] in general, but ''[[Dragon Quest (Video Game)|Dragon Quest]]'' in particular. Slimes, dead characters being represented by coffins, and needing to go back to town and pay to have them revived are just the tip of the iceberg.
** Episode 2 is a shout out to [[Eastern RPG|JRPG's]] in general, but ''[[Dragon Quest]]'' in particular. Slimes, dead characters being represented by coffins, and needing to go back to town and pay to have them revived are just the tip of the iceberg.
** Episode 3 follows Science Fiction in general, including shoutouts to ''[[Two Thousand One|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'', ''[[Star Wars]]'' and numerous [[Giant Mecha]] series.
** Episode 3 follows Science Fiction in general, including shoutouts to ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]'', ''[[Star Wars]]'' and numerous [[Giant Mecha]] series.
** Episode 4 includes a [[Ranma One Half|Panda who puts Sasshi through a training montage]], [[Fist of the North Star|Sasshi getting extremely muscular with constellation-shaped scars on his chest]], [[Dragonball Z|Sasshi going Super Saiyan]], arcade fighting games, and [[Bruce Lee]] in general.
** Episode 4 includes a [[Ranma One Half|Panda who puts Sasshi through a training montage]], [[Fist of the North Star|Sasshi getting extremely muscular with constellation-shaped scars on his chest]], [[Dragonball Z|Sasshi going Super Saiyan]], arcade fighting games, and [[Bruce Lee]] in general.
** Episode 6 is a general shout out to [[Film Noir]] style Hard-boiled Detective and Mobster movies.
** Episode 6 is a general shout out to [[Film Noir]] style Hard-boiled Detective and Mobster movies.
** Episode 11 is a shout out to war movies in general, including ''[[All Quiet On the Western Front (Literature)|All Quiet On the Western Front]]'', ''[[Patton]]'', and others.
** Episode 11 is a shout out to war movies in general, including ''[[All Quiet on the Western Front]]'', ''[[Patton]]'', and others.
** Episode 12 has dozens of references to American horror, science fiction, and adventure movies, including, but certainly not limited to: ''[[Terminator]], ''[[North By Northwest]]'', ''[[The Shining]]'', ''[[Speed Racer (Film)|Speed Racer]]'', ''[[Knight Rider]]'', ''[[Twister]]'', ''[[Jaws (Film)|Jaws]]'', ''[[Indiana Jones (Franchise)|Indiana Jones]]'', ''[[Back to The Future (Film)|Back to The Future]]'', ''[[RoboCop (Film)|Robocop]]'', ''[[Die Hard (Film)|Die Hard]]'', ''[[The Exorcist (Film)|The Exorcist]]'', ''[[Barbarella]]'', ''[[Titanic]]'', ''[[A Nightmare On Elm Street (Film)|A Nightmare On Elm Street]]'', ''[[Escape From New York (Film)|Escape From New York]]'', ''[[Friday the 13th (Film)|Friday the 13 th]]'', ''[[Air Force One]]'', and ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (Film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]''.
** Episode 12 has dozens of references to American horror, science fiction, and adventure movies, including, but certainly not limited to: ''[[Terminator]], ''[[North by Northwest]]'', ''[[The Shining]]'', ''[[Speed Racer (film)|Speed Racer]]'', ''[[Knight Rider]]'', ''[[Twister]]'', ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'', ''[[Indiana Jones]]'', ''[[Back to the Future (film)|Back to The Future]]'', ''[[RoboCop]]'', ''[[Die Hard]]'', ''[[The Exorcist]]'', ''[[Barbarella]]'', ''[[Titanic]]'', ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street]]'', ''[[Escape from New York]]'', ''[[Friday the 13th (film)|Friday the 13 th]]'', ''[[Air Force One]]'', and ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey]]''.
** There's also a brief scene where Grandpa Masa says [[Monty Python|he always wanted to be a lumberjack...]] In the same episode, there's also references to [[Monty Python|war wounds.]]
** There's also a brief scene where Grandpa Masa says [[Monty Python|he always wanted to be a lumberjack...]] In the same episode, there's also references to [[Monty Python|war wounds.]]
** There's one for the American short cartoon ''The First Bad Man'' during the dinosaur episode, where Mune Mune's dinosaur is slowly chipped away and reduced in size from a dinosaur to a small lizard every time they duck behind a rock.
** There's one for the American short cartoon ''The First Bad Man'' during the dinosaur episode, where Mune Mune's dinosaur is slowly chipped away and reduced in size from a dinosaur to a small lizard every time they duck behind a rock.
*** Also in dino world: Sasshi briefly turns into an old man with white hair, white beard, and a cane after impressing Arumi with his knowledge of dinosaurs. No, it isn't Colonel Sanders.
*** Also in dino world: Sasshi briefly turns into an old man with white hair, white beard, and a cane after impressing Arumi with his knowledge of dinosaurs. No, it isn't Colonel Sanders.
** In the Fairy Tale episode, Sasshi creates a mini, teddy bear headed creature with little angel wings, entrusted to be guardian of a certain magical girl. At first he looks yellow. ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura (Manga)|Cardcaptor Sakura]]'', anybody?
** In the Fairy Tale episode, Sasshi creates a mini, teddy bear headed creature with little angel wings, entrusted to be guardian of a certain magical girl. At first he looks yellow. ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'', anybody?
** Don't forget about "the legendary sniper [[Golgo 13|Regolgo.]]"
** Don't forget about "the legendary sniper [[Golgo 13|Regolgo.]]"
** Arumi also apparently spends episode 9 and the start of episode 10 hanging out at the school from ''[[The Drifting Classroom]]''.
** Arumi also apparently spends episode 9 and the start of episode 10 hanging out at the school from ''[[The Drifting Classroom]]''.
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