Newly airing moe-gag anime Shinryaku! Ika Musume (“Invasion! Squid Girl”) has immediately made an impression – it has been roundly praised as providing humour and cuteness in equal measure.
The opening:
The anime itself is likely the most anticipated of the season – the manga enjoys intense popularity on 2ch and elsewhere.
Unfortunately, all the amusing Ika-based wordplay the series (or rather, Ika Musume herself) is noted for is all but untranslatable – じゃなイカ (“isn’t it?”, ja nai ka?, becomes ja naika? – ika means squid), でゲソ (“desu” becomes “degeso” – geso means squid tentacles), etc. Gag anime fans are probably by now resigned to this, however.
Omake:
A Certain Ika Musume:
No, not a moeblob. This anime is actual comedy. I watched the 1st episode. It was pretty effin’ funny. Her world-domination-folly was almost Zim-esque.
this will never, never and NEVER replace moeblob anime
I’m sure translators will find a way but puns are puns and I’m not a fan. I think I’d like this cartoon though. The part that got me was squid girl “throwing up” is the other girl’s face. I mean think about it. Most cephalopods use ink and if someone’s really laying into her (i.e. being threatened by a predator) her natural instincts are gonna kick in and she gonna ink. If they do it right, it should get many laughs. I just hope they don’t overuse it.
The rise of the deep ones has never been cuter. I approve.
Japan, a nation that can moesize absolutely anything, from squid to cockroaches.