Looks like Toshokan Sensou isn’t receiving much love from the fansubbing community (expect for Ocha!, but we’re not really fansubbers). Before I start, I just want everyone to know that I really like this anime. It would easily be one of the best ( if not THE best) anime of this season if not for one major flaw.
The extremely far fetched premise of the story.
Let’s start with the background. When the calender changed to the Seika era, the government of Japan introduced the Media Improvement Act (MIA). The MIA is an act that allows the government to stop any publication that it deems unsuitable for the public. Freedom of speech, sayonara.
Up to this point, logic is still within plausible territory. The same government that enacted the MIA then introduces another act, the Library Freedom Act (LFA). It allows libraries to become self governing bodies with private armies. Cool right? Librarians with guns. Logic is destroyed.
Here’s why. It’s stupid for the government to authorize libraries to have private armies to defend itself against the government. It’s like Bush allowing Osama to legally bomb the US. Even Bush is not that stupid. If this was a story about a civil war/rebellion against an iron fisted an iron fisted government that doesn’t allow freedom of speech, it would make a lot more sense and nothing important would have changed. Doujou could still be Doujou, Tezuka would still be Tezuka and Kasahara would still be Kasahara but instead of being saved by a Librarian, she could be saved by rebels instead. And logic would not be destroyed.
Under the LFA, The Library Armed Force is created. I find that stretching believability a little too much. Would you be willing to sacrifice yourself to defend a library? I wouldn’t. And I don’t think anyone in their right mind would, unless the library has hot librarians. But even then you would be fighting to save the hot librarians and not the books. And forming a private army isn’t exactly easy. You’d need experienced personnel, weapons and a lot of supplies. To get all that, money will be required and lots of it. If my local library had that much money, I would’ve been a librarian. The only other explanation I can think of is government funding. Now Bush isn’t only allowing Osama to bomb US, he’s supplying Osama with planes and AK47’s to attack the US.
The MIA dudes aren’t exactly a bright bunch either. Instead of ensuring that newspapers don’t print scathing articles about the government or going after unemployed housewife bloggers who spread lies (Malaysians should get this), they assault bookstores for carrying titles that are “damaging influences to youths”, AKA fairy tales. Yes, kids armed with fairy tales is a scary prospect indeed. They should be stopping fairy tales at the customs and publishing companies, not bookstores. Stupid MIA is stupid.
The MIA’s military hardware is exactly top of the line either. I’m not talking about their guns or protective gear, I’m talking about their vehicles. An armed branch of the government and all they have are lame bright red vans that are instantly recognizable? The must have skipped the stealth section in their military manual. I was amused when the also drove the red vans into combat. Despite being unarmored, it took a hail of bullets and it’s physical structure wasn’t changed in any way. Even the windows didn’t break. Even with bulletproof vans, the MIA lost to the Librarians helicopter. Sorry MIA, a chopper beats a van any day.
Perhaps the Japanese politicians were bored so they engineered a war for their own amusement. My bet’s with the librarians. Choppers against lame red vans. No brainer. I see no other reason why a sovereign nation would allow a war to happen, within it’s borders, and do absolutely nothing about it.
Despite the absolutely nonsensical background, the anime is actually quite good. If only they removed the war for books aspect and replaced it with a more believable cause, it would be an awesome anime. Toshokan Sensou is a very good slice of war anime with good character development, awesome animation (expected for a Production I.G. anime) and solid pacing.
Damn you Toshokan Sensou! You’re an awesome anime but could you please make more sense? The local logic field that is my brain
This post is tagged Idiotic laws, Retarded governments, Stupid backstory
This post filed in *Quick View, Toshokan Sensou
17 Comments
OK, I think this series is more based on a novel by Ray Bradbury ( Fahrenheit 451 ) but adapted a little. It also reminds me of the anime Full Metal Panic, but more towards the characters that are protrayed… Maybe I’m off a little???
Also… Good fansubbin guys, EXCEPT that the FONT IS TOO TOO SMALL to read and I have a 42″ plasma TV. Could you re-release the episodes with larger fonts????
Thanks
True, it is far fetched, but very entertaining. It has the sense of dramatic action, while being light hearted, and funny. It’s a show that someone can get into if they want a little action, drama, love (I think *looks at the end of ep 2*), and laughs (without hearing “Ban Kai” every 2 minutes). Toshokan Sensou has decent characters, a good animation style, and even though it’s a crazy, out of the word concept, it is a good plot.
You know, I was thinking the same damn thing. I like how the story progresses, but strangely, the premise just doesn’t quite work!
From the synopsis, sorry I haven’t managed to watch it yet. It really reminds me of this short story: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
Now heres a question, I see that your your first ep is at 1080P, will we be seeing the rest of the series at that res? I ask this because my near 1080P monitor will be coming in just under two days and it would be nice to have an anime which could go that high. No if you won’t be releasing more 1080P then I’ll likely cave and go with Menclave’s release.
Edo: Sorry to say that we are not releasing 1080p sizes any more. We will continue to sub in 720p and smaller avi format ( which will be released soon ).
If you’re a collector, then i would recommend you to go for Menclave’s ^_^. We are speed subbers, so our quality is not as good as theirs ^_^;
Just a little construction criticism, make the subs a little larger.
Great series and thanks for your hard work.
Yeah, totally agree. Lame excuse to equip librarians with guns, but my personal preferences are telling me to ‘close one eye’ to the ridiculousness lol.
Aren’t the Librarians backed by the local governments, and the MIA by the national? It’s not entirely irrational, that it’s actually one front to a power struggle between local rights and national control.
But yes, of course it is a little over the top.
Lionheart_8 and whoever else whines about fontsizes.
its fully softsubbed though. so changing the fontsize is a VERY easy job that anyone who’s NOT a retard can do
Sometimes, it’s better shut down your logic and just watch the anime. That way you would enjoy the series more fully. Regardless whether something make sense or not, I still like this anime (more comedy please) and the animation design is good too. Thanks for releasing the xvid version.
Ahahaha, most of the action anime goes way beyond logic, so I don’t see anything “wrong” with it.
This anime really needs more love, thanks to Ocha!Subs for subbing it :D
Neat! I’ve got some massive problems in playin mkv data, so i’m really looking forward to your XviD version.
I think there are now 3 groups (except you guys) subbing TS. The subs of Menclave and TSHNN are good though – loved the OP Karaoke of mc but the translation was a bit too complicated for my share (english is not my native tongue)
Therefore I’ll definately stick with Ocha.
Simple phrasing, fast release. 1000 x Thank you guys!! XD
Ashlynne: XviD versions of episodes 1 to 3 were out yesterday =)
Well supposedly, the reason that guns are legal in America is that it states in the constitution that the people of a country can’t be truly free unless they have the right to bear arms. It makes sense (in a slightly broken way) because if the government are the only one allowed guns (via the police and the army) then how are the civilians meant to truly be considered free?
I have to say I’m loving this show! It’s like a cross between R.O.D. and Full Metal Panic. I think if they did not blatantly make it absurd at times, it would be a sinker. Usually I go for the uber-serious stuff, but this is clinging to me fast!
On a side note, thanks Ocha for releasing this in 704×396. My comp has trouble with the higher resolutions. I want to build a new one, but can’t afford it at the moment. I’m not a hi-def junkie so it’s fine by me and the smaller file means faster DL! I don’t know what you mean about your subs sucking though. They seem fine to me… logical translations and nothing goofy with the text, that’s all I want. I’d sub if I could but sadly I have no language skills and wouldn’t know where to start anyway. On the other hand it makes me all the more appreciative of you guys. Kepp up the good work!
Please keep subbing Library Wars. I am really starting to like it.
Great subbing. I really like the rawness of your translations.
There’s nothing I hate more than a subbing group that butchers translations just to westernise the dialogue.
Please keep up the good work!
As far as the far fetched premise goes, shouldn’t we all be used to far fetched premises by now? ;P
I’m finding the series interesting so far so I’ll keep watching.
Yeah.. I totally agree on the plot of this story.. but it’s actually addicting.. not ’cause of the librarian with guns situation.. hellz to the no. lol. I actually *ahem* like the character angst in the background.. the possible character romance stuff. haha… That’s why I’m sticking around for this series.
Someone said earlier it reminded them of Full Metal Panic.. it does and Gunparade March. The close nit feel of military community family–thing.
I don’t know if anyone else prefers the SD (or) XVID (or) smaller version of 1280X720. I like the smaller version.
Well, keep up the awesome work.. can’t wait to see more.
OK, a little histoy lesson about differences of policy between government agencies.
As most of you know the use/growth/harvesting, and distribution of marijana is considered illegal in the United States save from a few fields federaly sanctioned/liscenced/insured and under strict overwatch programs.
Enter Californina. The first state to allow doctors to proscribe marijana for personal consumsion. The stated reasons of use range from pain management and appitite enhancement to mental “relaxant” and as a supliment to erection disfuction medications. The state sells liscences to growers and distributors (think of them like a hemp delis) to allow those with perscriptons access. Both the stores and fields are held to high levels of responsabilty for the products they provide. Both also pay large taxes and additional lisencing fees to the state of California.
Then one day about ten years ago the DEA pulled a suprise “raid” on a farm in California (which already possessed the proper liscinceing and approval from the state). The DEA siezed a massive quanity of ‘lil ol mary-jane that day. SDtating the reason for doing so was that it “was aginst the (federal) law”. Not having a storage facility of their own, the DEA took over the local police stations evidence lock-up to store the “spoils” untill it could be disposed of.
The local government was outraged at this trampling of the rights that they (the people of California) had debated and decided on. So what did the city do? That weekend (while the DEA was absent) the city told every person with a perscription to come down to city hall where they were GIVING THE STUFF AWAY. No charge for the product, the city just filled the ’scrips and said “enjoy”.
Both government agencies were furious with each other, and both were in thew right as far as the “laws” were concered.
Now I dont belive anyone was killed that weekend. But both the DEA and City governments are both armed. One wrong look, wrong thoght, mis-heard order, or any of a multitude of other instances could have caused fatalies…. sad to say but the premise of the show just isnt that impossible.
Unlikely? Hell Yes. But so are magic girls, transforming mecha, schools where there are ridiculasly attractive people around every corner and most of the girls are in love with the protaginist. Its the second reason we watch anime, the first being cause it just looks so damn cool.
But think about how many thought it would be impossible for a midget with a bad mustache to casue the events which killed literally millons of poor innocents while robboing them/saying “it” was “thier” fault/ and…. pay close attention, burning tons of books because someone didn’t like the authors line of thoght or heritage. Hitler took to burning books like a bee to honey.
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