Nendo no Tatakai 2

This was pretty awful... but I would still watch it because it is SO short and honestly just a clip that makes you question life. Don't expect the level of quality from the 1st Battle of Clay "anime" as it is quite janky and really just not as good. HOWEVER, it is still worth watching and made me laugh once. Characters are there. The art style is... somehow there. The plot was somewhat there?
So overall, that's 1 point for claymation and 1 point for a laugh. I would also suggest watching it with sound because it... well... enlightens? the experience? I really don't know anymore...

Esta review también está en español.

Battle of Clay 2 is the second short film made by Nagao Takena, that picturesque dude who likes to make clay as violent as possible.

The only sentence in the synopsis sums pretty well what happens: two dummies (actually, half of them, since they don't have legs) play rock paper scissors (or Jan ken po, if you prefer), and the looser have to wear a pot in his head, and get hammered (literally) by the winner. The animation is quite poor (similar to Speed Racer, but with clay xD), the characters are grotesque, no landscapes at all (really, we only see ... black), and the sound is very bad.

That being said, most of you are probably wondering why I give this a 5 and no less. Well there are two reasons: first, it last less than 2 minutes so, no matter how bad you might think it is, it ends quickly. Second, the end was ingenious. If something so short have a nice ending, then it isn't a waste of time.

This is one of Takena's weakest works (only better than the first Battle of Clay, in my opinion), it's obvious that he was just beginning with this claymation thing.
I recommend this only to fans of his work... and to people who have two minutes to kill without remorse.

Also, unlike his future works, this is not particularly violent (I mean no dismemberment or blood pools).
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Battle of Clay 2 es el segundo cortometraje de Nagao Takena, ese pintoresco señor al que le gusta hacer que la plastilina sea violenta.

La única oración que hay en la sinopsis resume bastante bien este corte: son dos monigotes (en realidad, solo la mitad, dado que no tienen piernas) que juegan al piedra papel o tijera (o jan-ken-po), en el que el perdedor debe ponerse una cacerola en la cabeza y recibir un leve martillazo por parte del ganador. La animación es bastante precaria (similar a la de meteoro, pero con plastilina xD), los personajes grotescos, el paisaje inexistente, y el sonido es muy, muy malo.

Dicho todo esto, probablemente se pregunten por qué lo califique con un 5 y no menos. Bueno, hay dos razones: la primera, dura menos de dos minutos, por lo que sin importar lo malo que puedan pensar que sea, pasa rápido. Segundo, el final es ingenioso. Si en algo de tan poca duración el final vale la pena, entonces no es una pérdida de tiempo.
Este es uno de los trabajos más flojos de Takena (de hecho, a mis ojos, solo supera al primer Battle of Clay), se nota que recién estaba empezando. Lo recomiendo para los fans de su trabajo, o para los que tengan un par de minutos que no teman perder. También, a diferencia de sus futuros trabajos, este no es particularmente violento (léase: no hay desmembramiento o fuentes de sangre).

Rate a 2 (dreadful)
No vocals nor words
art piece

Story
Basic. A popular know game is being played but slightly different.

Art
nice color. Animation is okay. I say okay and not good becuase there is not alot of movement. When the majority of moment is applied towards the end it is confusing and dumb. let's us just say moment requires feet. Transitions were good.

... Sound-pointless unless you like grunts.

Character
there is no character data. They could be human or zombies or something else. It is unclear. Actions take are also unclear. Did they choose to play? were they forced? Is the scene that of the afterlife? So many questions.

Enjoyment
This artist i am not a fan of but among all of his works i would say this one would fall at the bottom. Here is why in a more painted mental visual concept. Ever gone to a boxing match? or played in one? or even see one? If yes, you are familiar with the basics the cue girls , the one two trade off in punches and and foot work aside from other things. What if i were to told you by watching this you only got one just one of these elements? i bet you would be demanding a refund.