The BEST episodes directed by Taichi Ishidate
#1 - Eternal Engagement
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! - Season 1 - Episode 12
Yuta begins to worry when it becomes apparent that Rikka may not come back. Sanae ditches her Dekomori persona to follow Rikka, while Kumin "inherits" Wicked Lord Shingan's powers. Yuta can't bear being without Rikka and sets off to find her.
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#2 - Loved Ones Will Always Watch Over You
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 10
Violet travels to a countryside mansion to write letters for a war widow, but her young daughter Ann resents her presence.
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#3 - Bitter Orange
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 4
Mirai and Akihito must defeat the Hollow Shadow while dodging around Sakura. The youmu can not only possess people, but also create labyrinths based off their memories. If Mirai hopes to have a future, she will have to face her past!
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#4 - A New Family
Clannad - Season 2 - Episode 14
Nagisa and Tomoya are now a married couple living together. Nagisa tries to find work and starts working in a family restaurant with Nishina. Akio and Tomoya visit Nagisa at work and scare out a couple of customers who were hitting on Nagisa. Nagisa tells Tomoya that the old building of the school they went to is going to be torn down. Knowing that the drama club was in the old building, Tomoya freaks out and admits that he is uncomfortable with all the changes happening in their town. Tomoya and Nagisa visit Akio and Sanae, who tells them Nagisa is most likely pregnant. Akio gets angry at Tomoya at first, but he congratulates him afterwards.
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#5 - Staying Behind!
K-ON! - Season 2 - Episode 5
Azusa and Ui, along with their classmate Jun, spend time together while the third years are on their trip to Kyoto. Noticing that Ui would be lonely without her sister around, Jun and Azusa decide to sleepover at her house, in exchange for Azusa helping out with her underclassmen in the jazz club. After spending the night, they wake up to a rainy day. They go to an arcade where Ui hits a home run in a batting game, before Azusa is reminded that she needs to feed Ton. While in the music room, the three decide to have a jam session together. The other girls return the next day and give Azusa a keychain, one of a set that spells out 'light music club'.
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#6 - Gray World
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 12
Now that Akihito and Mirai have been reunited, they must work together to defeat Beyond the Boundary’s core. But what will happen to Mirai and Akihito once it has been defeated...? Will either of them survive?
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#7 - After School!
K-ON! - Season 2 - Episode 23
Although they are not supposed to be at school until graduation the next day, Yui and the others decide to hang around the club room, though they have trouble figuring out how to pass the time. They clear out their desks and visit the student council room before getting Azusa to buy them some lunch. Wanting to leave something behind after they graduate, the girls decide to record an album of their songs.
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#8 - Training Camp!
K-ON! - Season 1 - Episode 4
After listening to the live performance of the previous year's Light Music Club, Mio is inspired to get the gang together to practice over the summer break for the upcoming Budokan school festival. They travel to Tsumugi's oceanside villa, where music and summer fun mix.
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#9 - Auto Memoir Doll and "I Love You"
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 13
The signing ceremony concludes, officially bringing an end to the war. While writing letters for an air show, Violet composes a letter to the Major.
#10 - Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 9
Heartbroken, Violet withdraws from her job and questions whether she even has the right to be an Auto Memory Doll. Then, she receives a letter.
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#11 - Black World
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 11
Akihito is beside himself when he learns that Mirai has vanished. It doesn’t help that something in town seems off, either. Akihito keeps hearing a strange sound coming from the sky that no one else can hear. Could something be up there?
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#12 - In Search of False Love
Clannad - Season 2 - Episode 2
Mei has become worried about her older brother since he still does not have a plan after high school, and comes to stay at Nagisa's for the time being. Based on a fleeting comment by Youhei, Tomoya gets the idea to ask a girl to pose as his girlfriend so Mei will stop worrying about him. Youhei goes around with Tomoya and Nagisa asking Ryou, Tomoyo, Kotomi, and Yukine, but no one can help him. Sanae overhears Youhei's trouble and decides to be his fake girlfriend if it will help push him in the right direction in life. Youhei, however, still believes her to be Nagisa's older sister. When Mei meets her brother's "girlfriend", Sanae is posing as a student from Tomoya's high school.
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#13 - Nameless
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 7
A playwright with writer's block and a tragic past summons Violet to the country of Genetrix to help him finish a script. They both learn about grief.
#14 - Hot!
K-ON! - Season 2 - Episode 11
During an unbearably hot day, the girls have trouble beating off the heat and also notice Ton shedding in its current aquarium tank. After dragging Sawako away from the air-conditioned staff room (partly to give Tsumugi a ride back to her house to get a bigger tank for Ton), the girls wonder why the club room does not have an air conditioner. After inquiring with Nodoka about it, it turns out that Ritsu never sent in a request for an air conditioner due to her never attending any student council club meetings. After pleading to the student council, the club room gets one installed. However, Yui slumps over, having forgotten that she weak to air conditioning.
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#15 - I Don't Want Anybody Else to Die
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 11
Against Hodgins' wishes, Violet takes a job from a soldier at a military base in Ctrigall, a former enemy nation now engulfed in civil war.
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#16 - Silver Bamboo
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 9
According to Izumi, Akihito’s youmu transformation could be permanent! She tells Mirai that she must kill Akihito during the Calm or else he will become a powerful youmu gifted with immortality. Mirai is torn by the decision she must make.
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#17 - Episode 26
Nichijou: My Ordinary Life - Season 1 - Episode 26
Let's have a birthday party for Nano! Professor, what do you mean, "a little one?" Got it! I'll take this ugly one away, too! Cake, cake, cake!
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#18 - New Club Member!
K-ON! - Season 1 - Episode 9
Azusa officially joins the club, although is shocked to find everyone drinking tea and eating cake instead of practicing. She yells at them when Sawako tells her off for actually practicing, but Yui manages to calm her down. Despite her objections, Azusa finds herself weak against Tsumugi's tea and cakes. Yui herself is rather shocked at how much better Azusa is at guitar than she is. Sawako brings a pair of cat ears for Azusa to wear, leading Yui to give her the name 'Azu-nyan'. Noticing she is a bit upset, Mio encourages the band to practice more, but the group quickly reverts to its lazy state. Azusa becomes really upset since she cannot understand why the band members she admired at the live performance behaves like they do. Mio explains to her that she stayed with the band because it is fun to play with the others, and Azusa decides to stay as well.
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#19 - Calming Gold
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 8
The Calm is coming. This is a dangerous time for youmu since it is when their powers grow weak. But what does that mean for the ultra-rare half-youmu, Akihito? And Miroku seems to be up to something. What does he have up his sleeve?
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#20 - The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya IV
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Season 1 - Episode 10
Haruhi is visibly bored and is not her usual energetic self. Ryōko Asakura, the class president, is concerned and asks Kyon to help her. Kyon later finds a mysterious letter in his locker, which directs to come to a classroom, where Ryōko confronts him. Ryōko attempts to kill Kyon, but is stopped by Yuki. Later, Kyon meets Mikuru's older self that had traveled from the future, who reveals a clue essential to his future: Snow White.
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#21 - White World
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 10
In a dream, Mirai informs Akihito of what happened during their battle and why it had to be this way. Then time jumps backwards to six months earlier. At long last, Mirai’s motives and Izumi’s plan are made clear!
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#22 - No Music Room!
K-ON! - Season 2 - Episode 17
The club room is closed for repairs, leaving the girls nowhere for practice. While trying to find a suitable location for their practicing, the girls try to come up with lyrics for the song Tsumugi wrote. Failing to find anywhere in the school to practice, they rent out a studio, but end up wasting time discussing lyrics and run out of time before they can practice, though the club room reopens the next day. The following night, Ui helps Yui write some lyrics, but ends up catching a cold, leaving Yui, who has always relied on her, to look after her instead. Realizing how important she is to her, Yui writes some lyrics dedicated to Ui, which are approved by the other club members.
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#23 - Moonlight Purple
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 3
The Hollow Shadow is drawing near. Akihito knows that Mirai wants to risk her life in a fight against the powerful youmu. The only way to stop her is to learn more about her past and confront her, but she’s been avoiding him...
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#24 - Color of Clouds
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 7
At long last, Sakura is ready to confront Mirai. Now Mirai must decide whether she will fight to live or die for atonement. What would Yui want for Sakura... and for Mirai?
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#25 - The Tidal Breeze's Mischief
Clannad - Season 2 - Episode 20
When Tomoya brings Ushio to school he meets her teacher, who is none other than Kyou Fujibayashi and they have a conversation. After that, Tomoya goes to work and Yoshino asks him for Fuko to play with Ushio, since she likes her. Tomoya agrees to this and Fuko arrives at his house to play until the evening when she goes back home. When it is time to sleep, Tomoya uses Nagisa's song to lull Ushio to sleep. The next day, Kyou tells Tomoya about sports day at school where the parents are to participate as well. He is reluctant about it, but Ushio encourages him, which makes him change his mind. One evening, Ushio is taking a stroll to the new hospital by herself and encounters Fuko on her way. When the latter asks why she does this, Ushio says it is for no real reason. The next day, Tomoya is preparing for the meet at the Furukawa bakery with Sanae and Akio, when Ushio is suddenly struck with a fever, much to the others' shock.
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#26 - Ultramarine
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 2
Akihito helps Mirai defeat one of her very first youmu! He tries to use this as his chance to become closer, but instead Mirai seems to be pushing him away! Why won’t his bespectacled beauty join the Literary Club?
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#27 - May You Be an Exemplary Auto Memoir Doll
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 3
Violet enrolls in a Doll training course. Her classmate Luculia befriends her, though she has her own problems with her war veteran brother.
#28 - Episode 8
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 8
Violet learns that Major Gilbert is listed as missing in action, but his family members think he is dead. Unable to cope, she remembers the war.
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#29 - Chartreuse Light
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 5
Mirai isn't allowed to hunt youmu for one month as punishment for going near the Hollow Shadow. Now she must get a part-time job to pay the bills. As Mirai comes out of her shell, perhaps she will heal the hearts of those around her...
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#30 - Somewhere, Under a Starry Sky
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 6
Violet travels to the country of Astrea to work with transcribers copying damaged manuscripts. Her partner Leon has a past not unlike hers.
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#31 - You Write Letters That Bring People Together?
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 5
Princess Charlotte is to have a public correspondence with her betrothed, and Violet is entrusted with writing the letters on her highness’s behalf.
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#33 - Carmine
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 1
When Akihito sees a girl about to jump off the school roof, he surprises even himself as he races up the stairs to rescue her. Much to his surprise, the girl he saved is a Spirit World Warrior. And as a half-youmu, he’s now her prey!
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#34 - "I Love You" and Auto Memoir Dolls
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 1
Hodgins retrieves Violet from the hospital, as Major Gilbert asked him to look out for her. After they meet Gilbert's relatives, he offers her a job.
#35 - Episode 2
Nichijou: My Ordinary Life - Season 1 - Episode 2
The incantation of resurrection. A shark. A warrior never goes back on her word! My life is over!
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#36 - A Courageous Battle
Clannad - Season 2 - Episode 8
Tomoyo speaks to Yukine and the others about hearing that the police will start to get involved in the fight between the two gangs if it gets any worse. Trying to stave off a major brawl, Yukine goes with Tomoya to try to talk the other gang out of a fight, and the leader settles on a fight between him and Yukine's brother Kazuto. Youhei reluctantly goes to stand in for Kazuto, but is incapacitated along with everyone else but Tomoya after eating Sanae's bread, so Tomoya fights the leader of the opposing gang. Yukine impersonates Kazuto to end the fighting, and finally reveals to everyone that did not already know that Kazuto has been dead for some time, and his wish was to end the fighting in the town. At the cemetery, Yukine pays respect to her dead brother and the rival gang joins in. With the rivalry resolved and peace restored, Tomoya witnesses a glow rising into the sky.
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#37 - You Won't Be a Tool, But a Person Worthy of That Name
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 4
When Iris goes to her home village on an assignment, Violet accompanies her. Iris's birthday party sparks a disagreement with her family.
#38 - Shocking Pink
Beyond the Boundary - Season 1 - Episode 6
Mirai goes after a perverted youmu with an eye for human girls. When it sprays Mitsuki with its stink juice, the Literary Club must band together to defeat the powerful--and horrendously stinky--youmu!
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#39 - Mystérique Sign
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Season 1 - Episode 7
The SOS Brigade's website has been created, but it is composed of little more than the club logo. Coincidentally, the SOS Brigade gets their first case after the website goes up — they are to find the missing Computer Research Society President. Upon going to his apartment, they find that he is not there, and nothing seems too out of the ordinary on the surface. After the Brigade leaves, the members, sans Haruhi, return to the apartment where they find that Haruhi's SOS Brigade logo and a Data Entity are behind the disappearance.
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#40 - Never Coming Back
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 2
Violet tries to adjust to her new job: she needs to learn typing, and her coworkers question whether she has the right demeanor for letter writing.
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#41 - Base of the Sun
Lucky Star - Season 1 - Episode 17
It's Konata's birthday, and her family sets up a surprise party for her when she gets home from work. All goes according to plan until Konata calls and says that her coworkers are throwing her a party and that she'll be coming home late. The girls discuss what their goals in life are. Kagami has a bad day when she gets bothered by little annoyances and ends up going to a store to buy a drink but forgets her wallet. Things get worse for Kagami when her older sister Matsuri scolds her for neglecting to buy groceries for dinner. On Lucky Channel, Akira and Shiraishi have a special guest: Meito Anizawa, the manager of the anime store that desperately wants Konata to buy something from his shop. He talks about the three factors that determine an anime's success.
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#42 - Episode 12
Violet Evergarden - Season 1 - Episode 12
The Major's older brother is ordered to defend the signing ceremony from former Gardarik forces opposed to peace.
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#43 - The Wind That Vanishes Into Dusk
Clannad - Season 1 - Episode 8
More people from school are not able to see Fuko anymore and now even those close to Fuko in the past are beginning to forget about her. First Youhei forget after he goes to see her in the hospital, followed by Kyou and Ryou. Tomoyo manages to remember with Tomoya's help however. Later, Youhei manages to remember Fuko for a moment, but is unable to remember any more. Tomoya and Nagisa buy Fuko a birthday party set to cheer her up. When they get back to the bakery, they discover that Nagisa's father has forgotten Fuko, and while Nagisa's mother has not forgotten completely, she cannot see her anymore. Tomoya and Nagisa decide to take Fuko back to school for now.
#44 - To Be Decided
Lucky Star - Season 1 - Episode 24
It's almost time for the school's culture festival. While the girls are preparing for their classes' themes for the festival, Patricia proposes that she and the girls in her class should do a cheerleading act for the opening ceremony of the festival. Patricia "persuades" Konata into performing the routine with her, who in turn gets Kagami, Tsukasa, Miyuki, Misao, and Ayano to do it as well. Akira Kogami finally makes an appearance on the actual show, although she and Shiraishi are still on bad terms. Before the opening ceremony, the girls practice the cheerleading act one last time to the song, "Motteke! Sailor Fuku!"
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#45 - Desires
Lucky Star - Season 1 - Episode 10
Tsukasa gets a new cell phone. Kagami teaches her how to text message. Tsukasa text messages Kagami to the point of sheer annoyance. Konata invites Kagami and Tsukasa over to her house and they forget to do their homework.
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#46 - A Question of Motivation
Lucky Star - Season 1 - Episode 4
Summer is almost here, and Konata is still staying up late playing online video games, reading manga, and watching anime instead of studying. Kagami and Tsukasa's birthday arrives on July 7 and Konata and Miyuki celebrate with them. After this episode, the director is changed from Yutaka Yamamoto to Yasuhiro Takemoto.
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