The BEST episodes directed by Kenji Nakamura
#1 - Bakeneko - Part 3
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales - Season 1 - Episode 11
In his youth, the head of family had kidnapped a sacrificial maiden, keeping her locked away in a basement prison to be raped and abused at his leisure. Her only companionship was a young cat which she secretly raised with the food she was given, hoping it would one day escape where she could not. One day the head of family's elder son was caught raping her, after which the head beat her to the point of death as punishment. The cat attacked him to protect her, then escaped as she died; its regret from being unable to protect her combined with her sorrow, eventually turning it into a demon. Having finally realized the shape, truth, and reasoning of the demon, the medicine peddler unsheathes his sword, which in reality releases his true spirit-nature from the human shell it is bound within, allowing him to exorcise the bakeneko's grief and release it from its vengeance. In the end, only the two blameless retainers, Kayo and a young samurai, are left to be saved. The story ends with the medicine peddler, once again sealed in his human form, exhausted and bending over the emaciated body of an old cat, at peace in death. As he leaves, he sees a brief vision of the girl and her kitten finally emerging into the outside world.
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#2 - Composition
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 7
Mikuni's past is detailed, in which he quit his passion for music to become an executive secretary for his father. When his terminally ill sister Takako's condition started to worsen, his father places more importance on his corporation and his public image rather than sending his daughter overseas to receive a medical procedure which may save her life. After denial of treatment to Takako puts her into a permanent coma, Mikuni focuses on business and is soon approached by the Midas Bank and begins dealing in the Financial District. Back in the present, Msyu reflects on her relationship with Kimimaro, who becomes curious about the nature of futures which take the form of Assets. When Kimimaro notices an Entre harassing his Asset, he initially holds in his irritation, but after talking with Msyu, he decides to go back and punch the offending Entre. Msyu takes an increased interst in human behavior and asks a flustered Kimimaro what kisses are and attempts to place one on him. As Kimimaro goes home one night, he starts to notice a few buildings disappearing.
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#3 - Confidence
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 8
As some of the Financial Districts banks start becoming bankrupt, the country starts rapidly shifting into poverty around the Entres, with people becoming lethargic or disappearing altogether. After stopping Ebara from committing suicide, Yoga tries to convince Masakaki to let him pay a fee in order to return Ebara's future, but is told that it is beyond his power. As Yoga later learns Ebara had died in a car accident, he decides to burn a large amount of his Midas Money. As Mikuni and the Starling Guild plan to put a plan called "C" into action, the Southeast Asian Financial District goes bankrupt and starts disappearing, along with Singapore.
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#4 - Conversion
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 4
Kimimaro finds himself up against one of his teachers, Mr. Ebara, and defeats him, making him bankrupt. The next day, Ebara brings Kimimaro over for a talk, revealing that he entered Deals to support his family and his punishment for bankruptcy made it so his children never existed in the first place. He also mentions the Starling Guild which Mikuni is a part of, supposedly trying to prevent the Financial District's effects on the real world. Mikuni brings Kimimaro to observe one of his duels against another high level Entre, purposely holding back his strength to win by a 1% margin so that he doesn't effect the real world. After witnessing the duel, Kimimaro becomes determined not to lose so he doesn't have to make anyone else suffer.
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#5 - Cultivation
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 5
Mikuni explains the purpose of Starling Guild, to win by small margins in order to avoid affecting reality, to Kimimaro, though his attempt to put it into practice fails due to Msyu rushing in. Hearing from the taxi driver that even those with small losses may have their 'future' affected, Kimimaro grows concerned about whether his loss has affected any of his friends or family, though it appears to only affect his test results. Meanwhile, Kimimaro grows concerned about the Basho Pharmaceutical company, which could affect thousands of people if it faced bankruptcy via deals. Kimimaro later learns the company was bought by another company owned by Mikuni, in order to reduce its effects on reality. Mikuni later explains to Kimimaro that he is trying to maintain a balance between reality and the Financial District, since ridding one of the other would cause chaos. Kimimaro decides to join the Guild and start controlling his Deals.
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#6 - Collapse
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 9
As Singapore disappears parts of Hong Kong and Shanghai are affected. Mikuni uses his ability ("Darkness") to preserve Japan the way it is before it is affected by the financial collapse of Southeast Asian Financial District. In exchange for 20 years of Mikuni's future Masakaki allows the printing of a large quantity of Midas Money which is deposited into his account. Mikuni and his colleagues use the Midas Money to invest in failing institutions all over Japan. Artificially propping up failing banks and enterprises spares the Japanese economy but with that comes unintended consequences. Though the present is saved, the future of Japan is uncertain. People begin disappearing, poverty increases, birthrates decline, and morale is seen dropping all around.
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#7 - Control
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 11
Kimimaro and Mikuni begin their duel, going all out on each other. Mikuni puts Kimimaro in a tought spot, but his powers start to weaken thanks to the decreasing value of the Yen, with people soon starting to see Midas Money for what it truly is. As Kimimaro continues to fight with Mikuni, Msyu pleas with Q, who is based off of Takako and starts taking her form. The battle is concluded when Midas Money disappears from the world along with Mikuni's powers, allowing Kimimaro to deal the winning punch and C to pass through Japan without influence. Declared the winner, Kimimaro orders the reversing of the presses, with the futures returning to their original place. With the Assets disappearing as a result, Msyu gives Kimimaro a kiss before she disappears. Kimimaro returns to reality to find that US dollar has become Japan's official currency, and everyone's futures have been returned to them.
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#8 - Collision
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 10
The North American Financial District starts increasing the value of its assets when their Entrés begin flooding the world economy with dollars. Mikuni decides to use the black card and the Midas Money press once more to prevent the Japanese economy from financial collapse. Jennifer, Kimimaro and Takedasaki put a plan of their own in motion to stop Mikuni before the transaction is complete in an attempt to save the future, but the plan backfires when Mikuni defeats Jennifer in a deal. In her final action she passes Georges to Kimimaro. Kimimaro confronts Mikuni about using the Midas Money press but he hears none of it and opts to print once more in exchange for rest of his future. With the help of Masakaki, Kimimaro realises he is in possession of a black card of his own, giving him the means to revert the press. This quickly escalates in a struggle for control over the press with Mikuni and Kimimaro engaging in a deal.
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#9 - Conspiracy
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 3
Jennifer Sato is an Entre from an organisation trying to discover the purpose of the Financial Districts. Meanwhile, Kimimaro goes to visit his aunt to ask about his parents, who mysteriously disappeared one day. Whilst looking for his dad's belongings, he finds a journal pertaining to the Midas Bank and decides to go to the Financial District for answers. Mikuni takes him to meet a strange photographer who tells him that his father was a stronge Entre who went 'bankrupt' in a deal and ended up hanging himself. Although Kimimaro is initially annoyed that all his father thought about was money, Mikuni hints that it may have been for the sake of providing for his family, suggesting he should think of something or someone to use his money for. Kimimaro soon enters his second deal, where he encounters a familiar face.
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#10 - Complication
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 1
A man with no money uses a certain credit card which grants him access to the surreal Financial District, where he engages in a battle against a man named Sōichirō Mikuni, fighting with mysterious creatures, and is defeated and ends up committing suicide the next day. Meanwhile, a boy named Kimimaro Yoga is working two part time jobs to raise money for his future. One evening as he is trying to study for a pop quiz, he is approached by a mysterious man named Masakaki, who announces that Kimimaro has been chosen to become an entrepreneur at a mysterious bank. The next day, Kimimaro is surprised to find 500,000 yen deposited into his account. Whilst wondering what he should do about it, Kimimaro considers using a small amount so he can attend a kegger with his friend, Hanabi Ikuta. However, as he withdraws the money, he is once again approached by Masakaki, who places him in a taxi bound for the Financial District.
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#11 - Crowds
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 10
Hajime encounters Katze on GALAX, who leaves her with a cryptic poem before instructing the Neo Hundred to go after the prime minister, offering a rare Crowds to whoever can take him down. As the Crowds attack Tachikawa, the Gatchaman arrive and make the Crowds visible to normal humans, before working to capture them so that their users won't slip into comas. Joe, having lost confidence in himself, prepares to leave with the evacuees, but receives a message from Sugane, encouraging him to fight again. As the man who assigned as the Neo Hundred's leader, Koichi Umeda, objects to attacks occuring in the city his wife and daughter lives in, he falls into despair when Katze turns on him and posts his personal information on the internet.
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#12 - Originality
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 6
Despite knowing the risk it puts her life in, Utsutsu uses her power to heal the wounded, with Jou lending her his life force as well. Meanwhile, Sugane is at a loss for words when Hajime reveals her identity to Rui, which is captured on camera and broadcast across the city. The next day, as Hajime and Utsusu try to evade the press, she receives an invitation to meet with Rui in exchange for a successful escape with the help from some chosen GALAXers. They soon arrive at a hotel where they meet Rui, later joined by Sugane, who was also invited. Rui states that Gatchamen are unneccessary in the world he is trying to create with GALAX, though Hajime straight out rejects his suggestion to quit being Gatchamen.
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#13 - Kitsch
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 4
Although GALAX's utility is gaining widespread recognition among the people, Rui is beset by his desire to accelerate the world through more direct means. Meanwhile, the G team members find themselves divided over how to deal with the new threat. Even as they struggle to find common ground, the mysterious phantom instigates a vicious crime in front of Rui, forcing him to see people getting hurt.
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#14 - Abjection
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 7
Rui decides to face against Katze using the might of Crowds, but becomes overwhelmed when Katze uses his Gatchaman power. As Jou arrives on the scene to fight Katze, Sugane hears from Rui about the power he had received from him. With Jou becoming easily defeated by Katze, Hajime and Utsutsu arrive on the scene with help from Paiman's Gatchaman form, with Hajime questioning Katze before he retreats whilst Utsutsu heals the injured.
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#15 - Collaboration
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 5
A difficult decision by Rui gives rise to dissenters among his followers. Hajime, Sugane, Jou, and Utsutsu happen to be present when a major accident occurs with numerous casualties. As people rush to resolve the crisis using the power of GALAX, Hajime has her fateful encounter with a mysterious being involved in the rescue operation, as well as the beautiful individual directing its efforts.
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#16 - Bakeneko - Part 1
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales - Season 1 - Episode 9
In the Edo period, the young daughter of a samurai family is planning to marry, but not for love. Her father, while being a good man, is financially incompetent and too madly in love with her mother to refuse her anything, drowning the family in debt. To save themselves from disgrace and the poor-house, her parents and the head of family decide to sell her marriage to clear these debts. While waiting for the agreed upon time to leave for her new husband's home, a strange, nameless medicine peddler arrives and enters the house, its entrance left unguarded in the rush to prepare for the wedding. Heading immediately to the servant's quarters he meets Kayo, a young servant girl, who explains the situation after he shows her some "marriage aid" charms. Her bravery and good sense continue to aid him throughout the storyline.
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#17 - Bakeneko - Part 2
Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales - Season 1 - Episode 10
The moment the bride crosses the threshold of the house to leave, she is struck dead. The medicine peddler, being a stranger and looking rather suspicious, is seized as the culprit and bound. After an older retainer is killed while attempting to fetch a doctor, the medicine peddler breaks his bounds, reveals himself to also be a demon-hunter, and claims the true villain is a bakeneko. The medicine peddler sets up a barrier to keep the demon at bay and begins questioning the family and their retainers to learn the shape (katachi), truth (makoto) and reasoning (kotowari) of the demon so that it can be exorcised. At first the family prevaricates, but as the demon grows stronger, breaking through the barriers of the medicine peddler and killing their members, they begin to talk, alluding to the family's dark past. As the demon breaks through his final barrier, the medicine peddler attempts to unsheathe his sword and destroy it, but fails and is shown a vision by the demon itself.
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#18 - Conflict
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 6
Jennifer is scheduled to have a Deal against Kimimaro, who is currently making strides with his new strategies. He is approached by his next opponent, a celebrity named Kō Sennoza, who offers him a way to pass on his deal. Later, Kimimaro is approached by Jennifer, who mentions Mikuni is using a lot of his own future to help minimise the effects of other's deals. Kimimaro talks with Kō the next day, who says everytime the Guild acts, more Midas Money appears in the world, also mentioning some of the effects his own loss to Mikuni had on other people's futures. After a bleak conversation with Mikuni, Kimimaro goes through with his Deal with Kō, whose powerful Asset causes serious damage to Msyu as she defends Kimimaro. As Kimimaro resolves to protect the things close to him, he musters up the strength to defeat Kō, the result of which puts him out of business, but he keeps his positive attitude, saying that he has the potential to fight his way out of the Financial District.
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#19 - Collage
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 12
Chaos ensues with more citizens using Crowds and fighting against each other as OD calls Katze out to the Gatchaman's hideout for a showdown. As Katze makes his way to meet OD, Hajime talks with him and promises him she will not kill him, inviting him on a "date" after everything is settled. Katze and OD fight, and although OD is heavily damaged by Katze, he manages to retrieve Rui's NOTE and deliver it to him. Rui then sends every GALAX user a Crowds app to take part in a "Tachikawa Crowds Game", setting up various types of games to encourage users to help out the community and defeat the Neo Hundred Crowds. After the situation is dealt with, Hajime gives her mother a call and reassures her that no matter what happens she will always be herself, and then goes to meet with Katze for their "date" showdown. A year later, the use of Crowds has become widespread, and Hajime, now in her third year of high school, makes her way to school while talking with Katze, whose voice comes out from Hajime herself.
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#20 - Gamification
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 11
The Gatchaman look back on how Hajime has influenced their lives since joining them. Meanwhile, Rui manages to get reunite with X once more, allowing the Gatchaman and the citizens to receive assistance from the GALAX network. Hajime gets the Prime Minister Sugiyama to broadcast on the Gatchannel, where he shows more of his honest side and requests everyone sign up to GALAX, before he helps with the evacuation efforts. However, Katze suddenly appears in the guise of Sugiyama, luring the citizens to utilize Crowds.
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#21 - Forgery
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 9
Hajime takes Rui to her apartment, where she cheers him up and Utsutsu heals his wounds. Meanwhile, Katze gives the Crowds program to all the people Rui declined to give it to because they were too dangerous, and have them attack several government buildings along with Umeda. Before going into action, Hajime sets up a 'Gatchannel' live stream, where Rui publicly apologies over the usage of Crowds, urging those that have it to not use it, and Hajime explains that the Gatchaman will confront Katze even if she is still unsure they can win. Inspired by Hajime, Sugane goes to the Gatchaman Cage and tells JJ they do not need his prophesies anymore, and will protect the world on their own.
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#22 - Avant-garde
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 1
Hajime Ichinose is a rather eccentric schoolgirl who is obsessed with notebooks. One day, she is approached by a mysterious man named JJ who pulls out a journal called a NOTE from her body, declaring her to be the new member of the elusive Gatchaman team. She later follows the words appearing in her NOTE to the mall, where a Gatchaman named Sugane Tachibana manages to defeat an alien that had disguised herself as a human. Later that day, Sugane brings Hajime to the Gatchaman's hideout where she meets the other members, Jou Hibiki, O.D., Utsu-tsu, and their leader, Paiman. Sugane explains that their duty is to protect Earth from a hostile alien race known as the MESS. Hajime and Sugane are soon called upon by JJ to fight a MESS at the bus station, during which Hajime transforms for the first time, whilst a mysterious figure watches.
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#23 - Futurism
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 3
Ninomiya Rui is a genius who built GALAX, the social networking service powerhouse, and General X, an AI. Rui seeks to update the world by intervening in a broad range of issues. He empowers the people to resolve them by using General X's ability to gather intelligence and match human resources. One day, however, he is faced with a challenge beyond the scope of anyone's abilities, and is forced to consider using a forbidden power...
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#24 - Genuine
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 8
Katze copies Rui's form in order to take control of his X program, locking him out of the GALAX network. Meanwhile, Hajime suggests the Gatchamen reveal themselves to the public by holding an event at a kindergarten, where they warn everyone about Katze. As Katze uses Rui's form to set up a new Neo Hundred for the Crowds, Rui learns from one of the kindergartners how some of the Crowds users had become hospitalized.
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#25 - Asymmetry
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 1 - Episode 2
Hajime annoys Sugane after she ends up interfering and allowing the MESS to escape. The next day, Hajime moves into a new apartment block where the other Gatchaman live. Later that day, Hajime teaches Sugane about a popular social app called GALAX, which allows users in the vicinity to help each other, and decides to take him to an offline meet-up. Later, as Hajime and Sugane are sent in to fight another MESS, Hajime chooses not to fight it but instead communicate with it, managing to befriend it. Meanwhile, as the mysterious figure causes another accident, someone named Rui revels in the success of the GALAX app whilst weilding their own NOTE.
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#26 - Coincidence
[C] The Money of Soul and Possibility Control - Season 1 - Episode 2
Kimimaro is brought to the Financial District in which he must participate in Deals, battles in which money is wagered, using an Asset named Msyu. Kimimaro and Msyu are instantly thrown into a Deal against a powerful Asset named 'Gig'. With Kimimaro not able to understand the situation, Msyu takes a lot of damage defending him. However, Msyu manages to teach Kimimaro how to use her ability, which manages to defeat the opponent, though he passes out soon afterwards. Kimimaro returns to the real world, where Masakaki informs him the next Deal will take place in a week's time, and soon finds he has even more money in his account. Later on, Kimimaro starts noticing that some money bills appear black for him, which Msyu explains is money from the Financial District. Kimimaro then ends up encountering Mikuni, who explains about the black bills, known as Midas Money, and hints that he knows of Kimimaro's father.
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#27 - Cluster
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 8
Due to what happened to Gelsadra, the red speech bubbles suddenly produced mysterious life forms, which start appearing all over Japan and start interacting with everyone. The G members move out to deal with the mysterious beings, but things take a rather unexpected turn...
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#28 - Insight
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 12
Having accepted the masses' wishes, the Gatchamans head to battle with a strong resolve to put everything they have on the line in order to grant them.
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#29 - 2:6:2
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 4
Believing in her brand of justice, Tsubasa races to save a fading life with a strong wind at her back. Her rescue of Rui with Gelsadra is broadcast live nationwide, inspiring admiration for the new heroes among the people of Japan. As she strikes a blow to end the conflict, a new chapter begins...
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#30 - Contact Point
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 1
Misudachi Tsubasa is an ordinary high school student in Nagaoka City. But everything changes when an alien spaceship lands crashes down right next to her house and the Tachikawa Gatchamen crew come to investigate...
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#31 - Launch
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 3
Tsubasa arrives in Tokyo with Gelsadra, where they are promptly enlisted to appear as guests in the popular Millione Show. There, they make a favorable impression, and they're soon familiarization themselves with their new teammates in the Gatchaman HQ, Tachikawa CAGE. However, Suzuki Rizumu, the VAPE leader, is about to make his move...
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#32 - Trade-off
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 11
A massive throng of Kuu-samas assemble from all across the country and swarm the town, and the Gatchamans go all-out to take them out.
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#33 - Outbound
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 7
Japan undergoes rapid change as Gelsadra continues his reforms based on his slogan, "Our Hearts as One, Create Our World, Together." With his popularity on a meteoric rise, his constituents are full of smiles. Tsubasa firmly believes that their shared dream will soon come true, but some cannot help but feel a sense of disquiet over the rapidity of change...
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#34 - Halo Effect
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 5
The prime minister elections have finally begun. While Sugayama's predicted to win by a landslide, Gelsadra uses his powers to discern what the people want. What he promises his supporters is enough to create a rift even among the Gatchamen.
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#35 - Seeds
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 10
Rizumu's ideal world slowly starts coming to fruition. The small opportunity presents itself, and is magnified, causing chaos to spread quickly. However, Gelsadra, who is in the middle of all of this, believes he is just doing what the people want and smiles, despite some terrible things that have occurred. Meanwhile, Tsubasa who had seperated herself from the Gatchaman and Gelsadra goes back home to Nagaoka to face Yuru-jii and herself...
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#36 - Opt-out
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 9
The general public has come to accept the Kuu-samas into society, and they seem to be helping with Gelsadra's wishes to help everyone become one. However, in order to make everyone become one, the Kuu-samas take the next step. The Gatchaman try to warn the public about the Kuu-samas and their actions, but they find out now that this has been set into motion, it's not easily stopped. The Gatchaman now consider Gelsadra and the Kuu-samas dangerous, which ends up making them unfavorable to the general public that loves both Gelsadra and the Kuu-samas...
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#37 - Penetration
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 2
Tsubasa has been abruptly thrust into the Gatchaman role, but her positive mindset moves her to embrace her new life and vow to act as a hero. Meanwhile, Rui continues his investigation of the mysterious organization VAPE, but he is suddenly accosted by the red CROWDS...
#38 - Engagement
Gatchaman Crowds - Season 2 - Episode 6
With the support of a majority of voters in the smartphone election, Gelsadra becomes the prime minister. He quickly absorbs knowledge and gains an understanding of politics in Japan.
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#39 - The Misfortunes of Others Are the Taste of Honey
Kemonozume - Season 1 - Episode 10
As Kyūtarō Ōba put his master plan in motion, he finally reveals his true colors.
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