And with that, in-your-face cunnilingus now becomes an acceptable act to depict in mainstream anime... Awesome! (Readers: I'm fairly certain this episode features the very first such depiction in a non-h title, but please correct me if I'm wrong). This VERY erotic scene, more so than many hentai titles manage to achieve, is fascinating on so many levels:
> Although Ekaterina's brief offering of her vagina to Hana earlier in the episode was only a coy seductive tease, in this scene she completely gives herself to Hana, who eats her up with the utmost enthusiasm. This act of cunnilingus serves as a plot element to cement their new relationship as "Qwaser" (a being with supernatural control over a chemical element) and "Maria" (a Qwaser's partner who provides energy via breast-milk). Click on the animated GIF to the right for the most daring display in this entire scene: a 12-frame sequence in which we see underneath Ekaterina's spread legs, just below her exposed butt (the bottom of both cheeks plainly visible), as Hana slowly licks up and down. I never thought I'd see THAT in a mainstream anime... and that's not a complaint. ^_^> Hana's transformation in this scene from an arrogant bitch to a completely submissive servant is perhaps the quickest and most drastic personality shift I've ever seen in any character in any story. When she was first introduced, I never would have guessed the outwardly tough Hana would have ended up like she did... a testament to Ekaterina's powerful seductive skills.
> The fact that Ekaterina doesn't wear panties underneath her gothic laced skirt and yet isn't afraid to make that fact known is quite a provocative character design trait, wouldn't you say?
> The animation and drawing quality in this scene are especially superb. Hana's dazed, wide-eyed reaction just after Ekaterina lifts her skirt is full of euphoric bliss, and the extreme close-up of Ekaterina's narrowing eyes as she looks down at Hana who is slowly and uncontrollably drawn to her vagina is an expression of "you're all mine now". What a fascinating character relationship...> Ever since I discovered that the popular seiyuu Asakawa Yuu voiced the succulent Nailkaizer in Angel Blade (I'll never be able to look at Azumanga Daioh's Sakaki the same way ever again), it's always a treat hearing professional mainstream seiyuu in erotic scenes. Although this is the first time I've heard Hikasa Yoko (Hana), I've enjoyed Hirano Aya's (Ekaterina) roles in many other shows, including Misa in Death Note and Lumiere in Kiddy Grade. Ekaterina's sudden gasp and ensuing soft breathing as Hana makes contact with her vagina wonderfully complements Hana's emphatic and overjoyed moaning as she eats her out. The calm, soothing background music fits the mood very nicely.
> As if that wasn't enough, this scene features an exquisite nipple erection sequence... the second non-h title to do so. It's also one of the most unique in that, unlike all other such scenes, Hana's nipple erection is prompted solely by mental stimulation... Although Ekaterina did tweak Hana's nipples earlier, there was no tactile or magic-induced influence immediately preceding their erection. Ekaterina's sudden lifting of her skirt, revealing her bare vagina no doubt prompts Hana's recollection of an earlier scene in which Ekaterina suckled on her nipples. This is such a huge mental shock to Hana that her nipples, which are now the new conduits for replenishing Ekaterina's powers, start to pulsate, harden, and lengthen beneath her clothing. Thankfully, the viewer is offered a transparent view to see the erection in all its glory. Be sure to check out Hana's entry on the Animated Nipple Erection Compendium.
It's a shame the scene cuts away before the conclusion of their encounter. None of the really naughty bits are shown onscreen, but that only adds to the stimulate the viewer's imagination. Based upon Hana's deliriously euphoric reaction upon seeing Ekaterina's exposed vagina, it must be quite delectable indeed.
If anime titles continue to push the sexual boundaries like The Qwaser of Stigmata, the line between ecchi and hentai will become so blurred that the two genres will merge together as one. This will be a very good thing since animated erotic storytelling has been sorely inhibited by traditional h-anime formatting. Three OVA episodes is simply not enough time to properly develop characters, motivations, and plots. With erotic content now expanding into 13+ episode series, though, deeper character development and more detailed plots support the erotic scenes, making them even more powerful.
12 comments:
Hmm, I have to say, I'm puzzled. I read Qwaser as a manga (never actually watched the anime), and I remember this scene very differently. For instance, while in here Hana is almost blissful at Katja's (Ekaterina for short) invitation, in the manga she is not only extremely submissive, but her arousal exposes itself through abundant blushing and shy behaviour (and for a reason, since Katja is a oh-so-cruel Ojou-sama and Hana is, pretty much, terrified of her as much as she is infatuated). Indeed, the relationship between these two in the manga is pretty much that of a sadist and a masochist complementing each other (Katja torments, Hana endures).
Anon: Although I'm the opposite of you (watching the anime... haven't read the manga yet), Katja and Hana most definitely have a master/servant relationship. This scene is rather unique in that it's the only one I've seen yet in which one could say that Katja is the submissive one, letting Hana so fervently eat her out.
From what I've seen online, it appears that Qwaser is being received well by fans, and I just read there's going to be a followup movie. I sure hope the show gets an official licensed release outside of Japan in all its uncensored glory. If so, we can expect even more erotic-imbued anime in the future!
Hmm....while the blurred line between Ecchi and Hentai means that we can prevent some really good hentai from being filled with annoying plotholes, I have to call 'shenanigans'. At the moment, it really seems like so much T&A for the sake of it. I don't mind it too much, with Sturgeon's Law in full effect (see; KissXSis), a lot of anime fans I know aren't exactly happy.
To me, this all just seems like pandering to the lowest common denomenator as opposed to anything else. Sure, the 80s were just as explicit, but it didn't feel like I was pandered to: someone just said, "Let's make her naked, because it goes well with the guy's head exploding in graphic detail."
There is a lot of potential as to how this could work out, and it paves the road for a return to the style of the old 80s OVAs--Rin: Daughters of Mnenoseme was a great step in that direction--but I can't say I'm very interested in this. Give me a super robot show (licensing J-Decker would be nice...) over fan-bait.
This concept isn't new to me, although I'm surprised by how far they've taken it now. I'm so very sure the erect-nipple segment sits right on the ecchi-hentai border. Have you watched Code Geass? In episode 12 of the first season, Nina Einstein masturbates to a magazine that had an article on Princess Euphemia. It's extremely muted compared to Qwaser, though. You don't hear the sounds (just suspicious bumping noises), and Nina is in a silhouette, but her gasping and heaving motion as well as the magazine opened to Euphemia's article pretty much gives way too many hints.
P.S. I hate Nina. She's initially a frail, xenophobic nerd who enters panic attacks at the sight of locals, or snaps and enters screaming fits, and though she manages to grow a spine in the second season (at the end no less), she invents a bomb that makes the nuke look like a holiday fireworks display. And amongst the tragic body count, she's one of the survivors.
@Kcarker: You sir, have my respect. Apologies to the mistress of this board for this off-topic comment, but I'm delighted that we both share the same viewpoint on Nina, one of the worst character from Code Geass (I would say the worst, but that title is shared by Suzaku and Rolo IMHO).
Back on topic, while it's true that Qwaser dares a lot, I would not call it a hentai. Indeed, recurring breastfeeding and other ecchi scenes could lead that way, but in my opinion they don't go as far as bordering hentai, at least when compared to true hentai ova's. Then again, If they follow the manga and make the many erotic scenes even more graphic, it's going to be a feast =D .
@JeKL: There has definitely been a huge influx of ecchi-themed anime that is sorely lacking in substance, showcasing T&A just for more viewers. Like you, I still want more non-ecchi anime, and I have no doubt such shows will continue to be made. I can't imagine those genres being completely abandoned as the developing evolution of the "merged ecchi and hentai genre" continues to take more erotic risks. I eagerly await the day that a well-produced 13+ episode anime series includes well-conceived erotic content that actually supports the story instead of detracting from it.
@Kcarker: Yes, I have seen Code Geass. When Nina was first introduced as a cute, shy, quiet, and nerdy character, I really liked her. Her masturbation sequence came as a very pleasant surprise (very cute how she nonchalantly flips her skirt down off the table when Nunnally enters). Unfortunately, I quickly grew to hate her 1-dimensional crazed mentality through the rest of the series. Like many characters in Code Geass, though, I feel she was the victim of how the show had such a HUGE cast and couldn't dedicate enough time to characters that deserved SO much more (ahem... Monica Kruszewski).
@Anon: Although I agree that Qwaser doesn't QUITE belong in the "hentai" category, the themes are definitely pushing the limits: cunnilingus, on-screen breastfeeding, erect nipple sequences, and even the nudity... whereas most ecchi shows feature T&A for comedic effect, many of the erotic scenes in Qwaser occur during non-humorous moments, which I feel gives them more of a hentai feel that a typical ecchi comedy.
I love hentai and ecchi as much as the next person, but this is bizarre and disgusting. IMO, I want them to keep the lines fixed, please.
I don't want to be forced to admit that the mainstream western belief that all anime is "just japanese porn" is true.
Firstly, I think it should be stated that this scene never happens in the manga. I didn't find it very convincing. It was particularly disturbing considering katja is 13 or so. Although I take your point about crossing limits, I still find its a shame that it's becoming more and more necessary to sexualize every anime for it to sell; even in the case of Quaser. which is in its own right one of the most unashamedly extreme mangas ever.
The other day I tried to watch the anime of The World God Only Knows to be disappointed in the opening credits of the ridiculous levels of sexuality crammed in to every female character. I might have to explain that for me, one of the things that made TWGOK unique was its original take on human emotions completely void of physical attraction.
On a side note Nina's masturbation scene is one of the creepiest and disturbing things I have ever witnessed.
Vincent: Thanks for the detailed thoughts.
Although I REALLY wanted to like Qwaser, I ultimately became bored with it. Aside from the over-sexualized themes, there wasn't anything unique this show had to offer, the animation quality took a nose-dive in later episodes, and I didn't become emotionally invested in any of the characters. I was hoping this was going to be THE anime to combine in-your-face sexuality with an intelligent plot, memorable characters, and good production values, but sadly, it's not the one.
Either I've become so completely desensitized to portrayals of sexuality, or I'm watching the wrong opening to The World God Only Knows. Is this the one?
I found that Nina HERSELF developed into one of the most creepiest and disturbing characters in anime. The masturbation sequence caught me completely off guard but kind of makes sense given her crazed one-sided sexual obsession with Euphemia. I thought it was quite bold of the writers to feature that scene, but it was a far cry from "sexy". If Euphemia and Nina had developed a mutually loving relationship before that scene, though...
There's something I find strange about seiyuu performing roles in 18+ media. I haven't seen any trace of Aya Hirano performing in eroge, and yet she got to make (censored) noises in Seikon no Qwaser. I wonder if one's reputation as a seiyuu is tarnished by ero-work, which could explain why some seiyuus (like Rina Satou) get one or two ero-roles and never touch the media again.
There's lots of stuff in the vein of your blog you haven't discovered yet, so I hope you're looking to continue updating it.
I was wondering. I've seen some "uncensored" versions of episode 4 (as well as 3) but none that I've come across so far seems to have this scene.. Are they really uncut? ;_;
In all honesty I beg to differ with that title.. After seeing this it only makes me wonder how many other scenes there were that I'd not have seen when I watched the whole series up until the most recent episode in season 2.
Could you direct me to a place where I can watch the REAL uncut versions? If at all possible?
Anon: I recommend you do a search on Tokyo Toshokan for 'qwaser uncensored' to find the true uncensored and original vision of this show.
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