Fractale mellowed a bit in this episode, less depth in this episode BUT there’s still the depth that makes this series challenging to write about. Oh well, I didn’t expect things like revealing Clain’s underwear and resolving the little ‘feud’ between Phryne and Nessa to be here. Though, I kind of expected the Nessa screwing up the Granitz’ airship.
Read the rest of this entry

Damn! Say it a hundred times please. Some University requirements is pressuring me enough that I wasn’t able to write about Fractale’s EP4-6. I’d like to say it’s sheer awesomeness and immersing concepts makes it challenging to write about an episode within 4 hours. Blimey, it takes me 4-8 hours to write about it, not to mention I have difficulties getting an episode using the internet I have in the province, anyway I’m in the City right now and I got the EP6 within just an hour! Plus the change in setting gives me some dashes of inspiration to write and finally cover my backlog for Fractale.

Phryne, upon receiving the greeting from the Nessa-like girl got surprised and continued chanting about the ‘prayers’, the data updating had been resumed. This made Sunda decide to change the plan to kidnap Phryne instead. Nessa was distracted by the surprises. When the update was stopped, the people under Fractale’s influence was shocked with what happened to their companions who got killed. They panicked and ran away.

The older priestesses started to escort Phryne to escape the chaos but she got distracted by Clain and Nessa waving at them. But the folks from the Granitz resistance started their assault to ‘kidnap’ Phryne. Enri told Clain that they’re retreating. Sunda was successful at grabbing Phryne. Clain was pushed by Enri to grab a ladder from the airship. Enri fired on the remaining priestess to escape. The priestesses tried to order their goons to go after but some of the ordinary humans under their influence was in chaos that priestesses had to settle them.

The airship switched to manual piloting so the temple won’t be able to trace them. Enri in the meantime was weeping because of Butcher’s death. Clain was still shocked with what he saw enough for him to try rescuing Phryne but she slapped Clain when she saw Nessa, asking him why he awakened Nessa. Nessa told Phryne not to hit Clain. Nessa used her “Nessa loves love” line.

Sunda suddenly kicked Clain from the behind and told them he needs to talk with Phryne. Nessa said she hates Phryne. In their, little talk. Sunda found out Phryne’s the Grand Priestess’ daugher and she hopes that the Fractale System to break down too. Becuase of that, Sunda offered her to join the Granitz resistance but he gave her time in considering any decision.

In the land, they burried Butcher everyone was weeping but Nessa sang the priestess’ song. An elderly woman had a weeping child wear visors and (s)he saw Nessa singing. The child sang but the melancholic men told them to take the visors off. The child wept again while Nessa sang. The priestesses met about what happened. The grand priestess decided to forgive the Lost Millenium but they put the Granitz’ names in the wanted list. So the Granitz family prepared to evacuate in order to spare Granitz village from the temple.

Clain and Nessa took the opportunity to escape while Clain was thinking of what to do with Phryne. Nessa wanted Clain not to think about Phryne. Soon after they saw a floating ship. It belonged to the temple, it dropped first some drones and they invaded the village but they only had to “spill the blood of the Granitz family only and not of those outside the bloodline.” However the village was able to destroy the drones and ordered his men to subdue the resistance.

Clain and Nessa, on the other hand, continued going away until Clain saw Phryne escaping from her “prison cell.” Nessa asked Clain not to go to Phryne but he still went to Phryne. Clain had a small chat with Phryne. There, Phryne told Clain that she never thought of someone being able to open-up the data. She suddenly took a three wheeler to escape from the temple men trying to retrieve her but Clain decided to go with her. When Clain said he wanted to know more about her, Phryne seemed to be shocked and asked him if he likes her. She also told him she hates love. The temple men who were chasing them cornered and tried to capture them but Phryne drove off a cliff to land on the Granitz family’s airship.

The airship’s rockets destroyed the temple’s floating ship and it’s canons took care of the temple’s men, leaving only the commander behind.

The next day, Phryne and Clain went to the airship’s bridge and Sunda noted about them going with them even with what Clain said. Clain looked for Nessa but she’s not visible…

————–

Entries for EP5 and 6 coming tomorrow as much as possible!

Oh dear, I cannot describe how I felt upon I finished watching this episode. Is that awe, inspiration or am I just stunned by this episode? Somehow, I was able to predict a bit in this show – that is the Shrine Priestess being one of the antagonists. More details about the setting of the series and it’s elements are revealed in this episode. I didn’t expect the rebel group springing into action, though. And yes, we’ve seen the roles of the priestess and of the ‘prayers’ as well. Another interesting bit here is the mentioning of “Fractale Terminals” which is an additional clue on how the Fractale system works.

Being set in a utopia slowly turning into a dystopia, having a rebel group/faction in Fractale is not surprising for me. This are the two main themes and reasons why I don’t recommend this to everyone despite my hopes of it having a good plot and enjoyable watch. The said two themes might not appeal to everyone and so is it’s combination with the futuristic setting. This would be, in my humble opinion, appealing to those interested with socio-political discussions and themes and I’ll save the rest of my impressions in the upcoming recording of the Roundtable Otakus podcast episode six.

While Clain and Nessa were on the net trap set-up by Enri and her crooks, Nessa looked at the contents of the ‘treaure chest’ that lured them into the trap. It contains snacks and a teddy bear inside. Clain wondered why Nessa’s not bothered with both of them inside a net. When he remembered about Nessa being a doppel, he worried about being killed.

Enri’s hot-air balloon-like vehicle dropped them and told them to join Enri and her goons in walking. While walking towards the trail’s path, Nessa and Clain saw Granitz Village from afar. It charmed and made them rush to the village. This caused Enri to chase them too. Clain rushed to see the ‘old’ village as he wants to see ‘vintage’ items such as physical screens. Nessa loved the flowers blooming and Enri tried to apprehend both of them but Nessa and Clain were too distracted by the things surrounding them. Instead of being scared by someone in a sniper position, Clain was awed by the use of the optical sight.

Some older people from the village along with a child came rushing to Enri welcoming her back. Some of the elderly noted about Clain the one being the guy Sunda’s looking for. Enri saw Nessa being lonely so she made the little girl wear some soft of optics to notice Nessa. Obviously, the people in Granitz Village has to wear these devices in order to see doppels like Nessa herself. The little girl asked Nessa to shake hands and she was able to touch Nessa. Nessa loved the energetic cheerful child. When an elderly woman asked Enri if there’s a doppel, she turned-on her optics and saw Nessa. The other women did the same and they loved Nessa’s outfit.

An elderly man told the villagers to get away from Nessa and Clain, saying “their shame will contaminate you.” Enri brought Nessa and Clain to her brother to talk about things. However only Clain was invited as Sunda wasn’t able to touch Nessa which made the latter feel a bit bad as only people who loves Nessa can touch her. Nessa decided to go with Enri instead. Nessa wanted to see more of Enri’s ‘treasures’ and ran. Enri chased Nessa and her bodyguards had to chase too. Clain entered Sunda’s quarters and they talked about the rebel group and the Fractale system.

The post-Fractale millenium were considered as dark days by the Lost Millenium. People relied on the Fractale system and lost their pride and spirit. The Lost Millenium was formed to ‘liberate’ the world from the system and Granitz Village was one of the large branches of the said organisation. This made Clain conclude that he was captured by terrorists. Lost Millenium was after Phryne because she left the convent with a doppel, Nessa, with her. Phryne is priestess and the key to the Fractale system as her doppel contains data about the Fractale system.

The coffee Sunda and Clain drank was grown entirely in their village without the use of doppels. They produce everything that they consume and they teach students with the use of books so they could learn by themselves not by just relying on data. And everyone in the village had their Fractale Terminals removed. According to Sunda, Fractale system robbed man of his natural way of life. Sunda continued to speak of his idealism while Clain still has no clue on what’s going on. Sunda also mentioned the Fractale system starting to collapse. He said “balloons crashing everywhere is a proof.”

Nessa complained of Enri walking too fast and advised her not to be in a hurry. Enri replied with instructing Nessa not to follow her around. Nessa was astonished by another large ship used by the Lost Millenium. Enri told her to go back to Clain but as she’s thinking about the doppel, Nessa appeared in the screen and greeted Enri. In the toilet, there’s a computer screen showing and notifying her of information on urinalysis, calorie breakdown and weight. This screen was not spared. Nessa appeared on it and greeted Enri by saying Enri is high on sugar. Nessa told Enri not to forget wiping her butt. Enri was flustered and she flushed the screen into the toilet.

Clain was walking along the village and he saw a nearby hospital filled with patients. Because the patients didn’t have the links to the Fractale system, they didn’t have access to “high-quality treatment.” Clain said it’s a reason why they shouldn’t remove the terminals but the same elderly man earlier confronted him and told him about the villagers doing those things to fight under Lost Millenium and to obtain freedom in it’s truest sense. The elderly man said Clain does not know anything of true freedom. This made Clain think about it for almost most of the time.

Nessa ran to Clain and asked him if he wants to know the colour of Enri’s panties. Clain told Nessa and Enri that he doesn’t care and doesn’t know.

Sunda and the villagers had a gathering and he asked the villagers to put their visors on. They saw Nessa and loved how the doppel look. They threw a toast and a party for Granitz’ visitors. Clain didn’t like the people in the village. He sees them as stubborn people and he can’t trust them but some of the villagers offered him some soup made from beans and Sumeri grass. Clain liked the flavour of the soup. It’s sweet but a bit salty, Clain found the flavour amazing and delicious. He was only able to eat food from a tube before and the soup offered was in a bowl. Nessa is a doppel and she can’t eat so she only watched Clain eat the soup.

Enri’s goons brought Clain and Nessa in a building that houses a single room. They’re asked to sleep there and not do the “dirty things.” When they entered the room, Nessa asked Clain to describe the flavour but she can’t comprehend “sweet and salty at the same time” so she asked Clain to describe it by dancing. The next day, the Lost Millennium soldiers were loading their ship. The Star Festival suddenly got scheduled all of a sudden so they need to act. The Star Festival is when the temple priestesses pray to the stars. Sunda gave him armour to wear. They had to leave Nessa in the village but since she’s just data, she was able to “join” them in the flight towards the location.

The ship looks like a Zeppelin with more guns and a couple of rockets. Clain liked the use of “old-fashioned” technology on it. Sunda asked Clain to explain the Star Festival. It’s on the night of a new moon and it’s where many stars gather. These stars are actually “balloons” and the shrine priestesses and maidens pray to them. If someone won’t attend it, he/she won’t receive “protection of the stars.” For example, his/her doppel would stop working if he/she won’t attend the Festival that’s why even the non-religious attend it no matter what. Due to ceremonies already starting they had to descend earlier and hide to observe the ceremonies.

Sunda gave Clain a visor of his own so he’ll no longer be under the influence of the Fractale system. The stars formed a triangle and shined brighter. The people looked up while they’re chanting some lines recited by the priestesses. The Star Festival is actually a mass update of nanomachinery and brainwashing of the people under the Fractale system. The Fractale system has to brainwash the people in order to purge thoughts like the unnecessary thoughts like “should things stay this way?” and the like. Families are used with the Fractale system that they don’t live in the same house anymore. The updates make the people forget those questions.

Sunda started the attack and blasted the guards, some of the priestesses with their assault rifles. And when they shot one priestess who told a girl in hood to run away, the hood was shot and removed, revealing another Nessa. It distracted the Nessa with the Lost Millennium and it made the remaining priestesses to counter attack and shoot one of the Lost Millennium members. The priestesses were able to cause more collateral damage by killing the innocent people. More innocent people were killed and the rebels were able to kill another priestess. Clain was shocked with the things he saw and got horrified.

They later heard another priestess chanting the same lines recited earlier and it the firing stopped. It was Phryne and upon reaching the second temple/stage, the priestesses and the second Nessa bowed. The ‘Nessa’ greeted Phryne with “Welcome back, my sister.”

——–

The episode’s end is a cliffhanger – with the second Nessa and Phryne appearing. It’s good to predict things in this series but I find it hard. So far the show retained it’s consistency of being intriguing and immersing. Not to mention it still retains it’s high-quality. And oh, there’s are tons of political-symbolism here but as I said earlier, I’ll discuss them in the upcoming Roundtable Otakus podcast EP6

500MB+ video file transfer for around seven hours? Looks painful but when you see the contents of that transfer, you would feel every effort you placed in snagging it is very well worth it. It’s art, soundtrack and voice acting imerses you to the world ruled by Fractale. Nothing can get any better than it’s presentation. Still, I cannot recommend this show to everyone as it contains plot concepts that wouldn’t appeal to some.

This episode introduces us to Nessa, the girl who materialised all of a sudden on top of Clain’s computer from last episode. She’s actually a touch doppel, a different type of doppel. This episode also gave us bits of clues on Phryne’s identity – some Shrine nuns were in a panic, searching for her. And we got a peek of the Shrine headmistress too! Her last line in the episode was “For she [Phryne] stole the key to this world.” Now, that’s something that gives more intrigue for the story!

Clain was so surprised with Nessa materialising that he wasn’t able to speak the first time the latter talked to him. Nessa was energetic and put enough entertainment with her greeting and first meeting with Clain. Nessa greeted him with a bit of shouting of “to a new morning! Good morning Clain!” When Clain asked her what she if she’s a doppel or now, Nessa asked him to touch her head. Nessa loved to be touched. Clain later asked her of her relation with Phryne. Nessa didn’t know about Phryne and Clain told her it was Phryne who left her.

Nessa almost cried, thinking Phryne hates her but she smiled and continued her cheery side again when Clain told her about being clueless on whether Phryne hates Nessa or not. Nessa doesn’t know much about herself and Nessa “hates hate and loves love.” When Nessa sang the song Clain was listening to on the first episode, Clain thought of Nessa being Phryne’s doppel.

Clain got surprised when Nessa came down to the first floor to greet his parents’ doppels a good morning. Nessa saw Jack the dog’s doppel and touched it. It made Clain’s dad conclude that Nessa is not a human.

Nessa was so energetic that; she noted almost all of the sorroundings, including the birds in their trip to the town’s centre; and fell off Clain’s bike. When they reached the centre, Nessa told him of the lonely look of the town. Only branch organisations are on the centre and a few people live, despite having the buildings remain. While Clain was trying to talk to Nessa on living with him, Nessa walked around and found a clock tower. She ran towards it and entered it to gain access of the top. Nessa loved the town centre’s view. She saw some camper vehicles. She was amazed when Clain told her of those vehicles being homes. One line I find intriguing with the conversation is “They’re [campers] handy because they don’t tie you down.” It’s some sort of a jargon in the world as some line similar to it was mentioned in a scene I’ll be narrating later.

Another line that’s intriguing is Nessa’s line, “Everyone is lost, no one has a welcoming home to return to.” While Clain was busy explaining things to Nessa, she again walked away and this time, she explored the campsite. Funny things happened after Nessa touched because of her curious mind. Well, not that funny if you see her causing some minor chaos in the camp site. In the end, the blame was given to Clain by some camp site resident. They ran away from trouble and later Clain brought Nessa to the Security. He left Nessa in the office and he saw his bike got dismantled. It was caused by the same guys who hunted for Phryne. Clain was taken to their HQ and met Sunda. He’s the brother of the girl who hunted Phryne.

Clain told them about Phryne leaving after “He woke up the next day.” Enri took this the wrong was and asked her henchmen to ‘sanitise’ Clain but he was released under the orders of Sunda himself. Enri and her henchmen continued to stalk him as he went back to his house. When Clain went back home, he searched for “touch doppel” in the search engine. The touch doppels were already developed and by it’s definition, Clain concluded about Nessa being a touch doppel. He reads about a touch doppel’s processor determining the pressure and effect of the touches. It’s also marketed in the black market as a sex toy. One should transfer the target doppel’s data into his body in order to touch them. As he’s digesting the “transfer data” sentence, the doppel of Clain’s dad asked him to come down the first floor in order to talk with him.

His parents got the feeling Clain being different. His parents are worried because he’s going to weird places and he’s bringing girls with him. His mother told him they gave him a house because they can trust him and they want him to “be more responsible.” Clain asked them why they can’t live with him if they’re indeed worried about him. His father told him “we’d tie ourselves down and lose our freedom.” They can all live free as birds because “they understand each other.” His mum added that living in the same house would mean that they’re not trusting each other. Clain’s parents made doppels because of Clain being important to them. Clain reacted by telling his father about him doing whatever he wants. His parents, of course, didn’t like it.

He ran away towards some location. He felt he did nothing but run the whole day. He’s alone and he doesn’t like being alone. While he was settling his mind, the eight o’clock prayer bell started. Clain mentioned “you’re just collecting my data.” He doesn’t know his current wish as he’s still thinking whether he would like to see Phryne again or telling Nessa he’s sorry. Later, he heard Nessa and she jumped and hugged him. Enri and her goons was still stalking him and they cornered him when Nessa came back. They later fell to the trap set-up by Enri when Nessa saw a ‘treasure chest’ and dragged Clain to it. With the use of their hotair ballon-like vehicle, they lifted Clain and Nessa off the trap to go somewhere else…

———-

Seems it immersed me enough that I narrated a lot with this entry. The plot is still there even if it’s still vague at the moment. But one form of presentation I prefer when it comes to anime with the same setting and story. It gives out “puzzle pieces” of the story with the information it gives on every episode. Overall, this series still is my King even if last episodes would determine what’s best.

All hail the King! The King of the Winter 2010 anime season! Honestly, I’m basing that with my own preferences but one can’t deny it having potential! So far it’s destroying almost every bit of my interest to other shows. So, would I drop Star Driver, GOSICK, Yumekui Merry, Infinite Stratos and the rest? Nah, I won’t but things are just getting tighter in my University so I’ll be doing that batch EP entries for those mentioned titles soon. For Fractale? I’ll either be painfully waiting for a download of 400MB+ in my Los Baños address or be excitedly DLing this using the internet I have here in Quezon City!

It has the proper themes, setting and concept to fit my taste! There were bits of fanservice though but it’s the kind of the ones used as a tool to present an event in the episode, so it’s okay. It also has great art, animation and soundtrack. OP sand ED are great too!

Set in a distant future utopia, Fractale tells the story of a young boy, Clain, living in the world. His parents are doppels, and so do his ‘dog’ Jacky. Though ‘Doppel’ is a term not yet explained in this episode, I can pretty much tell it’s kind of a technology used by people to monitor things/others remotely as how Clain’s ‘parents’ told him about living in different places currently. The utopia is ruled a system called “Fractale system.” It’s a network of servers and computers created to create the utopia Clain’s in. The Fractale system was conceptualised and created during the 22nd century.

Clain drank a drink while talking to his parents about going to the ‘junk market.’ The so-called “junk market” is where all of the devices and gadgets from the past century are sold. Lots of shout-outs/tributes to the current gadgets are seen here. For Clain’s player, it was a shout-out to the Apple iPod, but for the producers not to get sued, they placed a card reader on it. This was something Clain used to read the contents of a memory card he got from the junk market. Instead of discovering music on it, he saw textbook/research paper data about the Fractale system. There’s a syncronised time for a ‘prayer’, a ‘prayer’ should be made in temples only I guess.

Clain later sees a girl being chased by the Security. Her name’s Phryne and she’s wearing a temple maiden’s outfit. Clain brought her home for treatment. This is where the fanservice bits I mentioned earlier entered. While Clain’s busy with his computer, Phryne saw a projector and when she turned it on, she saw a video of Clain, as a baby, with his parents. Phryne loved Clain’s smile and she wished for the smile to last. The Security men who chased Phryne from the start traced them and searched Clain’s house, some funny moments include the men concluding about Clain doing something ‘dirty’ to Phryne b/c of the latter’s clothes on the former’s bed. Phryne got a chance to hide so the men didn’t see her.

Clain brought her to a nearby temple ruins to talk with her more. Despite giving out her name, Phryne remained mysterious as she didn’t give out her Since it’s night already, Clain got asleep fast and Clain disappeared but she left a part of her clothing. Clain went back home and worked on his computer. While he was astonished by the data on the memory card, a girl suddenly materialised on his front.