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Fun Stuff => ENJOY => Topic started by: ReD_RuM on 11 Jan 2011, 21:27

Title: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 11 Jan 2011, 21:27
HELP HELP!!! I'VE WATCHED ALL THE ANIMES I KNOW!!!!! :-o

No but really i've eaten animes daily maybe too fast but hell i like it. But now i just finished Samurai Champloo and i dont know what to watch now so help me pretty please???  :-D

I am 21 years old so stuff about little kids and what not, no thanks. I prefer more mature stuff.

Lately i have watched High School Of The Dead i liked it cuz i like girls and zambies!

I also in the same time watched Samurai Girls something was okay... but not great.

When i started to watch anime is when i looked at Code Geass pretty Epic, then Cowboy Bepop, Elfen Lied, Ergo Prox (pretty epic too), Hellsing, Death Note. I love them all Oh forgot to mention Bleach too.
But Stuff like Naruto i hate.

I hope that can help people to give me some recommendations
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 12 Jan 2011, 11:31
Gasaraki

Bubblegum Crisis 2040

The entire Ghost In The Shell Movies/Series

Strawberry Panic

Akira

Noir

Gunslinger Girl

R.O.D



That's just off the top of my head.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IrrationalPie on 12 Jan 2011, 12:24
Seirei no Moribito

One of the best artistic and cinematic animes.

It plays like a Japanese tale and is, in fact, based on a series of novels.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ALoveSupreme on 12 Jan 2011, 14:03
I know nothing about Anime but I know the Trigun series is pretty well respected.  I also just started watching Miyazaki's stuff which is pretty cool, too, and very beautiful.  Maybe not in the "mature" vein but enjoyable for anyone of any age.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 12 Jan 2011, 14:28
I really like K-On
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cie on 12 Jan 2011, 15:34
Ew, K-ON! was pretty lacking in terms of plot for me. Also, agreed very much with Noir and Akira - Akira was a pretty amazing film. And I adore Miyazaki.


I'd always recommend Baccano! - mobsters, mysticism, and general free spirited life at the heart of it, with a late 1920s/1930s jazz influence. It's just completely confusing as hell.
Another anime - Durarara! was made by the same company, set in modern Japan, but it's slower paced, but more creepy and with fleshier, darker characters. Those are two anime I recommend to everyone.

-----

For your tastes?

I also might recommend Blood+, which is a nice supernatural anime with lots of twists.

CANNAN is an action-filled assasin based anime, interestingly set in Shanghai. Quite nice.

If you also enjoy some mech-based things, try Neon Genesis Evangelion. Incredible characters, incredibly messed up. I'd also recommend RahXephon, which is very Evangelion if the writer hadn't been severely depressed or lacking at funds at some points - less artistic, probably, but still great.

Also, if you're going to watch Mech-based things, you might as well watch Eureka 7 and Full Metal Panic!. My favourite sci-fi anime as a whole is still Ergo Proxy, so I can't help you there.

Darker Than Black is apparently quite good, although I haven't watched it myself to say whether it's cheesy or not.


Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Josefbugman on 12 Jan 2011, 16:24
If you need to watch something awesome yet ridiculous, watch Gurren Lagann (it may be know by its full title Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cartilage Head on 12 Jan 2011, 21:35
My favorite anime movies and shows have to be Paprika, Trigun, Miyazaki's stuff (especially Howl's Moving Castle), Mushi-Shi, and a couple of others I can't think of right now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: knives on 13 Jan 2011, 01:47
Welcome to the NHK, Monster, and(if you like comedy)Azumanga Daioh are basically the best I've seen.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Spluff on 13 Jan 2011, 02:02
Alien Vampire X is always good
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 14 Jan 2011, 01:29
Wow thanks everybody for all the help. Now i was told to watch Black Cat it's alright i guess.
I already watched RahXephon, Neon Genesis Evangelion and blood+

I started watching Monster but i don't know why i stopped. It is the story with the doctor right?

Tender and Cie you piqued my interest with Darker Than Black this looks to be something i will watch soon.
After that i'll watch Baccano.

Thank you very much people, this helped me alot and it was pretty dam fast!

Now if you'll excuse me it is anime time... Until i get bored again!  :wink:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 14 Jan 2011, 08:03
Def. watch the Ghost in the Shell series and movies. Everytime I watch the series I come really close to getting one of the resin replica guns of the rifle Motoko uses. then I convince myself that would be stupid and a watse of money.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 14 Jan 2011, 14:23
Def. watch the Ghost in the Shell series and movies. Everytime I watch the series I come really close to getting one of the resin replica guns of the rifle Motoko uses. then I convince myself that would be stupid and a watse of money.

haha!

Yea i watched both seasons i need to watch the movies.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 14 Jan 2011, 14:35
the series is definitely superior to the movies, in my opinion (particularly to the second movie, which i thought was pretty shit actually)

totally still worth watch though; there are certain things that they obviously couldn't get away with in the show that really make the first movie stand out
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 14 Jan 2011, 15:37
You mean GITS Innocence, or Solid State Society?

I guess it doesn't really matter, they both kinda suck in comparison to the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 14 Jan 2011, 15:39
you know, i'm not even sure.

i think it was Innocence, but I'm kind of drawing a blank on both titles right now
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 14 Jan 2011, 15:54
Innocence had the army of killer sex robots. Solid State Society had rotting old dudes and kidnapped children.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 14 Jan 2011, 15:57
I must have wiped the whole thing from my memory after watching it because neither of those sound very familiar
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 14 Jan 2011, 15:59
eh, you're not missing much.

Also, Redrum, I liked the two Afro Samurai movies.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 15 Jan 2011, 16:51
eh, you're not missing much.

Also, Redrum, I liked the two Afro Samurai movies.

xD already watched that too. This is where i learned about RZA. Pretty cool thing with Samuel L Jackson.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 21 Jan 2011, 08:16
Has anyone been watching Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt? It's like sailor moon crossed with conker's bad fur day.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 21 Jan 2011, 08:20
I've been hearing some good things about it, like it's balls to the walls weird, but I'm just starting to watch it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 21 Jan 2011, 17:25
Also I like how the opening song isn't stupid long. Gets you right into the show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Torlek on 21 Jan 2011, 23:34
I'm surprised nobody has suggested Fullmetal Alchemist yet. There's the first series and Brotherhood which kinda tells the same story but Brotherhood sticks closer to the manga. A little off the beaten path is Samurai 7. It's a steampunk retelling of the classic seven ronin/Magnificent Seven story with a bit of a spaghetti western feel.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 22 Jan 2011, 13:02
Burn Up W, Excess and Scramble

Ikki Tousen
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: CoyoteKnight on 22 Jan 2011, 14:20
Samurai Champloo

Cowboy Bebop

Howl's Flying Castle

Metropolis

Princess Mononoke

Totoro
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Avec on 22 Jan 2011, 15:54
I know very little of anime, but I can recommend Samurai Champloo to just about any viewer.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Alex C on 22 Jan 2011, 16:12
Samurai Champloo was the first title the OP listed as having finished.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 22 Jan 2011, 18:17

Howl's Flying Castle


That's Howls Moving Castle
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DK1105 on 24 Jan 2011, 18:18
Anime-planet.com

All you really need to find anything anime related.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 24 Jan 2011, 21:22
As a rule of thumb, most things by Production I.G, Kyoto and Gainax will be pretty fun to watch.

Madhouse and Sunrise also have some neat titles but some are (personally) hit-and-miss.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: cyro on 25 Jan 2011, 04:47
Full Metal Alchemist was the only Anime series I ever really got into. People say the new Brotherhood series/reboot is good too, but I've not seen it.

I liked the first series of Bleach but it went downhill into typical "me have bigger sword I win" "ha, me have secret power, boom I win" crap.

Evangeleon was fun in a "what the hell am I watching" kind of way.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 28 Jan 2011, 03:01
Oh, and nearly every single Dragonball saga.

Although if you haven't seen Dragonball Z I honestly don't think you can be salvaged
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 28 Jan 2011, 07:43
I hadn't seen any DBZ in years, and I saw it on the Saturday morning cartoons the other day. I really enjoyed watching it again.

What about FLCL people?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 30 Jan 2011, 13:34
Full Metal Alchemist was the only Anime series I ever really got into. People say the new Brotherhood series/reboot is good too, but I've not seen it.

I liked the first series of Bleach but it went downhill into typical "me have bigger sword I win" "ha, me have secret power, boom I win" crap.

Evangeleon was fun in a "what the hell am I watching" kind of way.

i watched the FMA serie i am not sure if i'll get into brotherhood since its the same story again. They are a couple of side story i dont know about them is it good?

Also for the bleach i have to agree, too much talk so we barely see the actual fight ( exemple: all the shit happening with Aizen nothing is really going on to much blablabla.) And also all the god dam fillers are killing me!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Ikrik on 30 Jan 2011, 13:44
I really, really could not get into Brotherhood at all.  I loved the original series and the idea that they were going to redo it and stick to the manga's storyline made me really excited.

But they treated it like you had already seen the original and didn't introduce any of the characters properly and rushed through about as much as they could.  Plus they threw in SO much of that super-deformed stuff where they should and could have had some really emotional scenes.  It was very lazy of them to do and after about 20 episodes I gave up. 

As far as retelling a story goes, I think that the reboot of Evangelion is quite fantastical.  The first episode, 1.0 You Are (NOT) Alone was unbelievably good, it's everything Eva with a lot of whining cut out of it.  Episode 2.0 You Can (NOT) Advance was....inconsistent.  There were a lot of parts where my friends and I were scratching our heads and going "what the heck? Are we watching Eva or a harem anime?"  But then it shows off the fact that it is Eva....and it's wonderful.  So you should definitely check them out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: She Wins The Race on 06 Feb 2011, 01:37
I watched Kaiba recently which was... different. It's a very short, 80s-esque animoo with a very interesting story about memories.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiba (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiba)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 07 Feb 2011, 10:29
Not technically an anime, but I always enjoy Samurai Jack.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: cyro on 07 Feb 2011, 14:14
Enjoyment of Samurai Jack is automatically assumed unless stated otherwise.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 07 Feb 2011, 14:36
Another soul saved from the evil clutches of Aku.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Ikrik on 07 Feb 2011, 15:17
I have bonded with at least three different strangers by them overhearing my friend and I talk about Samurai Jack.  Man, that show is unbelievably good. 
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 07 Feb 2011, 19:16
I keep hearing word of a movie. Might be difficult to make since the guy who voiced Aku kicked the bucket.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: tbones on 10 Feb 2011, 10:25
Cromartie high school is really good. It's one of the very little series were the english dub is better than the japanese dub. :psyduck:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 12 Feb 2011, 20:44

What about FLCL people?

(http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/daschakal/tumblr_ld1j1sOrSX1qbsdpao1_500_FLCL.gif)




Quote
edit: Oh, everyone should be watching Fractale. Beautiful show.


That image is from FLCL?

What kind of anme is kind, like question about reality or our existence kind of show lol? (If you get me)

i'll have a look at samurai Jack since it has been mentioned a lot on the last posts.

Thanks again people it really helps me, about done with baccano now was a fun show not the best though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 13 Feb 2011, 07:49
FLCL is more a coming of age story than anything else. Theres also robots, a space girl that hits a child frequently with a guitar, and other such things.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 13 Feb 2011, 08:34
There's a series being worked on by Yoshitaka Amano that will release on 2012 that looks hella rad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLu5VSdYAg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLu5VSdYAg)

It looks so cool I am excited for it right now
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 15 Feb 2011, 13:31
OP- Watch Avatar, the Last Airbender series as well. May be a show geared toward a slightly younger audience then the anime's you mentioned, but as far as an animated series goes, I love it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Ikrik on 15 Feb 2011, 15:28
And as far as an animated kids show goes...a large chunk of it's audience were college students.  It's amazing, it truly is.  And don't let the awful live-action movie turn you off from watching it because you would missing out on something that's better than almost anything else cartoon that's out there.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 15 Feb 2011, 17:00
I can't wait till the mini series comes out. Really I just want anything Avatar related, even the comic books Darkhorse is going to release
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 15 Feb 2011, 17:04
i wish my roomates didn't cancel their netflix accounts because i had just started watching Avatar, and was actually enjoying it. I got to see 2, maybe 3 episodes.

someday i'll be a grown up who can afford my own netflix account to watch cartoons on but today is not that day
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 15 Feb 2011, 17:13
I have them on DVD, so I watch them pretty often. My fiance likes to laugh at me for singing along with the various little songs characters have throughout the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 15 Feb 2011, 17:47
Leaves on the Vine has replaced Seymour as the saddest fucking cartoon moment ever for me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 15 Feb 2011, 17:50
When is Korra coming out anyway?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 15 Feb 2011, 17:55
Rumor is the tail end of 2011
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SonofZ3 on 15 Feb 2011, 18:00
Leaves on the Vine has replaced Seymour as the saddest fucking cartoon moment ever for me.

Check it out-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phVpDWJjUR0
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dimmukane on 15 Feb 2011, 18:07
Jumping on the Avatar love train.  Just started watching last week and am halfway through Book 2.  It really is a great show; my uncle told he me he really dug it like 4 years ago when his daughters were watching it and I thought it looked lame.  My friend made me watch Sozin's Comet one day and I instantly regretted ever having those thoughts.  When I get the chance I'm definitely picking up the DVDs.

It also kind of underlined how little I actually enjoy anime as a whole.   Out of everything I've watched, I've only enjoyed this, some of the Miyazaki movies and Dead Leaves.  I haven't seen a lot of Japanese stuff, but I've seen a few episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist, a LOT of Rurouni Kenshin, and a smattering of others and not really dug it at all.  Maybe it's having them being written with English as the native language, or maybe it's that they're on either end of the 'batshit insanely unrealistic vs. pretty believable with some added fantastical elements added' spectrum. 
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 17 Feb 2011, 16:11
Since nobody mentioned it, currently airing is Puella Magi Madoka Magica. It combines the standard magical girl formula with an interesting story and Shinbo's artgasms. As far as I know the most discussed anime right now. There is lots of delicious architecture with glass everywhere and the monsters look nightmarish. I recommend watching the first three episodes at least, since that's where the big discussions began. Some screenshots from episode 1:

(http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/71/madoka1.jpg)

(http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8837/madoka2.jpg)

(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/3703/madoka3.jpg)

(http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7175/madoka4.jpg)

(http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6847/madoka5.jpg)

(http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4108/madoka6.jpg)

(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/732/madoka7.jpg)

(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4203/madoka8.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 17 Feb 2011, 16:47
Got any place to watch it?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 17 Feb 2011, 18:06
Stream (http://www.watchanimeon.com/anime/mahou-shoujo-madoka-magica/), torrent/DDL (http://www.ggkthx.org/tag/madoka-magica/).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: FIXDIX on 18 Feb 2011, 03:08
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei and Bakemonogatari are my most favourite things ever but for the most part SHAFT is a bit hit or miss. I'll definitely check out Puella Magi Madoka Magica, looks interesting.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 05 Mar 2011, 11:44
interesting i'll have a look myself.

For avatar i liked it too suprisingly i really didnt want it to end. I heard also the movie is a real disapointment.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 06 Mar 2011, 06:48
Well I guess I should start watching this.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 06 Mar 2011, 07:52
Kyubey wants you! (http://i54.tinypic.com/15qtfgx.jpg) (ep9 spoiler)


Here's (http://www.2shared.com/file/KLMFqd2Z/QB_online.html) some more amazing Kyubey fanart I've collected.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: FIXDIX on 06 Mar 2011, 14:11
Just downloaded the first two eps last night. Will commence to watch and get back with thoughts.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 06 Mar 2011, 15:07
From what I just watched you might want to go ahead and get the third also.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 06 Mar 2011, 19:21


Also, since you mentioned zombies: It just started airing, but if you're in for a great zombie/parody comedy, Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? (http://myanimelist.net/anime/8841/Kore_wa_Zombie_Desu_ka) has been hilarious so far.

I could go on and on, but that should be enough for now ^^

Yea ive watched the first 8 episodes and i like it, will defo continue with that show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 07 Mar 2011, 12:02
(http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhoolq7Zf81qbxuqqo1_400.jpg)



Another anime of this season that is very recommendable: Level E. The prince of Dogura and three of his underlings come to earth. He does stuff, they have to find a way to live with it. It's a comedy and all in short arcs. To get a taste, the first arc is three episodes. The conclusion of that was one of the greatest laughfests I've experienced in a long time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 07 Mar 2011, 12:51
i really didnt understand the first episode of the show where you have that Kyubey, i am not sure this is my type of thing.

But i did also have a look a Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and i liked it too. Oh i forgot FLCL, weird but fun.

You guys helped me survived my lack of of anime but i think i'm going to relapse soon lol!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 07 Mar 2011, 16:18
...Keanu Reeves is playing Spike Spiegel in the live action Cowboy Bebop movie...

I dont know how to feel about that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 07 Mar 2011, 17:07
interesting i'll have a look myself.

For avatar i liked it too suprisingly i really didnt want it to end. I heard also the movie is a real disapointment.
understatement of the month
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 16 Mar 2011, 21:28
Happens a lot, they lost the spirit they had in the anime, they just made a hollywood movie...

I pretty much saw everything you guys suggested to me. Last animes i saw were, Xam'd and Durarara i liked them both.

But now i dont know what to watch, i am still following Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka, but 1 episode a week is killing me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 17 Mar 2011, 00:32
I've heard that Black Lagoon and Gantz are both riots.

Like, batshit insane riots. R18+ riots.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: FIXDIX on 17 Mar 2011, 21:29
I've only read the Gantz manga, but yeah, pretty much.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 17 Mar 2011, 21:33
I fucking loved them both!

I like in Black Lagoon the Hot chick doing badassery

And well Gantz only watched the anime didnt read the mange, i feel they are left overs to see in the manga to understand it more, but he'll i liked it too.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Alex C on 18 Mar 2011, 19:25
A friend once lent me what he described as essentially the first couple arcs of the Gantz manga, and I wouldn't recommend them. That goes double if you're like me and aren't really a fan of the stereotypical angst/fanservice/gore trifecta that those of us born prior to 1985 tend to associate with any anime/manga other than Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball or Speed Racer.* What little I read of it kinda went like this: Angst, gore, tits, angst, gore, dude fucks Lara Croft look-a-like for no reason, angst, gore, angst, fin. It had a nicely claustrophobic/surreal tone to it and the characters acted suitably desperate, but overall I just felt like the interesting bits (Namely, wtf IS Gantz, anyway?) weren't going to be explored by the author any time soon and in the meantime everything else was a slog.


*Admittedly, this is quite often an unfair generalization but even so it isn't going to be series like Gantz that changes the perception.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 21 Mar 2011, 18:32
haha wow, i liked that point of view lol!

My friend told me the manga was way better and that we learn more for it, i guess he didnt read the same thing as you lmao.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: FIXDIX on 27 Mar 2011, 20:09
Puella Magi Madoka Magica episode 10.

I suddenly don't hate most of the characters now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 27 Mar 2011, 21:13
If by 'characters' you mean Madoka then I agree.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 11 Apr 2011, 22:10
Anime series I watch(ed)/read (or have read):

Soul Eater (both)
One Piece (both)
Highschool of the Dead (both)
Super Robot Wars: The Inspector (much better than Divine Wars, but still was....lacking in areas)
Fairy Tail (manga only)
666 Satan (decent, but not the best; will take it over Naruto any day of the week, though)
Gundam Sousei (If you liked Legend of Koizumi, you'll like this one)


Starting watching the X-Men anime. All I can say is that Cyclops is....a lot like himself in the comics. Angsty and useless. Thankfully, Beast and Logan are entertaining, especially Hank.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 11 Apr 2011, 22:15
whoa what there is a xmen anime
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 11 Apr 2011, 22:21
whoa what there is a xmen anime
Yes. It's airing this season. The team is as follows:

Wolverine
Cyclops
Storm
Beast
Armor (a newer character in the comics. Getting the top billing due to being Japanese)
Emma Frost (possibly joining or at least having a big role)

The villains seem to be the U-Men and the Hellfire Club.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 11 Apr 2011, 22:40
I will have to watch that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 12 Apr 2011, 23:06
whoa what there is a xmen anime

Also from the same guys who put forward an Iron Man and a Wolverine anime.

Both of which turned out to be completely surprising as the Iron Man anime was a load of shit while the Wolverine anime wasn't actually so bad, as converse to their sales pitches
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 13 Apr 2011, 12:00
I thought Iron Man started out okay and Wolverine was shit from the beginning? X-Men is better than both so far, but it's only been two episodes. Also iirc there will be a Blade anime after that. Not a comic adaption but similar in tone and setting is Tiger and Bunny, which is better than all of the aforementioned.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 13 Apr 2011, 17:16
T&B was kinda meh for the first episode, but in the second episode they focus on Tiger and actually do something with him. I also like that none of the main characters is under 20, doesn't happen too often. It's still not perfect, but much better.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 13 Apr 2011, 23:14
For those who forgot the sales pitch:

Original Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4Q7xgxDJh4) for Iron Man anime

What actually happened:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOmdkqYO9w (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzOmdkqYO9w)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1Mq-C1Wlc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1Mq-C1Wlc)

There's quite a lot of computer generated segments that are painfully obvious, as opposed to the craftsmanship in the trailer.



EDIT: I'm a bit slow on the uptake, but

I have bonded with at least three different strangers by them overhearing my friend and I talk about Samurai Jack.  Man, that show is unbelievably good.  

Also, if you're into Star Wars, a while back the same guys who did Samurai Jack also did a (in my opinion) most awesome Clone Wars series that far surpasses anything done by the current CGI series so far. It's ridiculously well choreographed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_wpCT6NtcY), but most importantly essentially it's Star Wars cranked up to 11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSrH1b-nQ28).

seriously that episode I linked makes you wonder why Mace Windu ever needed a lightsaber

Do recommend.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 14 Apr 2011, 15:28
Also, if you're into Star Wars, a while back the same guys who did Samurai Jack also did a (in my opinion) most awesome Clone Wars series that far surpasses anything done by the current CGI series so far. It's ridiculously well choreographed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_wpCT6NtcY), but most importantly essentially it's Star Wars cranked up to 11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSrH1b-nQ28).

seriously that episode I linked makes you wonder why Mace Windu ever needed a lightsaber

Do recommend.
The CGI series is not that bad either. I personally recommend the episode "Rookies" very much to anyone who wants to check the series out. It may be a Jedi-lite episode, but it is something that the Star Wars universe seriously has lacked, focus on the grunt soldiers doing what they can to fight a war. It's also impressive on the technical side simply because the episode is one guy voicing multiple Clone Troopers and still manages to give each Trooper a personality.


As to your statement, satsu...it's the Samuel L. Jackson effect. That's probably why Mace never spoke in that short. One word from his mouth would have been like taking a proton torpedo to the face for the droids.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 16 Apr 2011, 08:25
Yeah I mean there was a point in that episode where Windu just narrows his eyes at the big giant several-hundred-feet-tall stomping machine and you just know he'll be solely responsible for it crashing and burning into carbonized smithereens by the end of the episode.

Both the drawn and rendered series are great because they do have a degree of focus on the clones as well as the Jedi, and shows how important the Wars are to the saga. Although I mainly referenced the drawn series here because 1. someone mentioned Samurai Jack an age back in this thread and 2. it's kinda-sorta hand-drawn animated stuff which is kinda-sorta relevant to the topic :p
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 16 Apr 2011, 15:09
The X-men anime may be good, but do not under any circumstances read the X-men Manga, even though it does have some funny reinterpretations of the X-men.

The Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars will always hold a place in my heart as the most awesome cartoon ever. Wonderful story telling with little to no speaking, with constant action. It's a shame they threw him under the bus with Sym-bionic Titan.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 18 Apr 2011, 05:45
The complete lack of any mention of the more recent run of the Hellsing "Ultimate" OVA series in this thread saddens me. Is it because the series is in production hell right now and nothing new is coming out just as the series is about to get into truly awesome territory (I want to see Dracula vs. Nazi hordes, damnit).

For those that haven't seen it, the newer Hellsing series is basically the manga converted over to video form. For those that haven't read the manga, imagine a series where Dracula is a slave to the descendants of the people that defeated him in the Bram Stoker novel, running around murdering younger vampires and generally bored out of his gourd because he wants to be allowed to die and nothing he's run across is powerful enough to kill him (and his compulsions won't allow him to sit back and let something kill him, either).

The series basically gets more and more ludicrous as it goes along, something finally happens to give Dracula a taste of what he thinks he wants and the series ends with a *50 years later* time gap (Dracula showing up again to pay a visit to his former master, utterly exhausted but apparently looking like he'd prefer to exist rather than face the oblivion he got a taste of, and re-enlisting or whatever).

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 18 Apr 2011, 20:10
The complete lack of any mention of the more recent run of the Hellsing "Ultimate" OVA series in this thread saddens me. Is it because the series is in production hell right now and nothing new is coming out just as the series is about to get into truly awesome territory (I want to see Dracula vs. Nazi hordes, damnit).
Yeah, I think Geneon is going through some rough times now. I mean, even Funimation (who has the license to the OVA) hasn't done much either.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Torlek on 18 Apr 2011, 20:29
For those that haven't seen it, the newer Hellsing series is basically the manga converted over to video form.
For realz? I must find this. The original Hellsing OVA was shit compared to the manga.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 18 Apr 2011, 20:36
For those that haven't seen it, the newer Hellsing series is basically the manga converted over to video form.
For realz? I must find this. The original Hellsing OVA was shit compared to the manga.
That was because the anime series overtook the manga and had to make up an original ending. They also stripped out all of the humor for no reason whatsoever.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cartilage Head on 18 Apr 2011, 20:46
PERSONA 4 ANIME,

Also if anybody asks me to truly define anime I will always link them to this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFtw7qW7Vcw).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 19 Apr 2011, 02:11
For those that haven't seen it, the newer Hellsing series is basically the manga converted over to video form.
For realz? I must find this. The original Hellsing OVA was shit compared to the manga.

I must add, though, that Yasushi Ishii gave the anime series a killer soundtrack that the Ultimate OVAs haven't held a candle to so far.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 19 Apr 2011, 03:41
I honestly don't miss the original series soundtrack at all and enjoy the new series on pretty much every level a lot more than the old one.

I mean, it's basically everything enjoyable about the original series cranked up to 11.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: KharBevNor on 19 Apr 2011, 11:03
I still have a degree of nostalgia for the original Hellsing anime series. It's what got me into Hellsing after all; I first saw it before there was an official English translation. From what I remember, the anime recieved an english translation before the manga as well.

Recently I've been reading Franken Fran. It's pretty great.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: KharBevNor on 19 Apr 2011, 17:00
The anime series is a lot more subdued and atmospheric than the OVA. Partly this was because of the apparently limited animation budget and partly because of the score, but also it was because of a quite interesting shift in the perspective. Seras is the central character of the original anime, rather than Alucard, and the process of her becoming a vampire is the main plot thread. It all goes to shit in the second half though, because whoever continued the story had not grokked the style of Hellsing at all, and fucked everything up (from character design onwards). Although following the manga point by point is good the beginning of the manga is a bit rushed in terms of exposition. Style and atmosphere are basically the whole point of Hellsing though; it's all about the sheer 'rule of cool' factor, and it's unique feel and recurrent, almost fetishistic visual themes (eyes concealed behind reflective glasses, white gloves, etc.).

Thing is, with Hellsing, unlike any other anime/manga franchise, I am a complete fanboy. I own every single Hellsing related thing that exists: OSTs on CD, all issues of the manga, all DVDs. I've even read Dawn, for fucks sake. As I said, I got into Hellsing way way back in 2002, downloading fanlations of the original anime off of Kazaa. I've cosplayed as Father Anderson, made AMVs, written fan-fiction, the works (all of this back when I was 14-15). It can't really do any wrong in my mind; but I will admit, I notice its flaws and quirks whenever I intriduce people to it. I wil say, with the plot, you shouldn't really judge until you get into at least Manga/OVA 5/6. Kouta Hirano wasn't expecting the series to be popular or successful and it evolved a lot. Once Das Millenium get on the scene it picks up a lot.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 19 Apr 2011, 19:33
Yeah, that's kind of what I was getting at. The Ultimate OVA series doesn't truly begin to shine until you get past the point where the plotline between it and the original series break off and go in completely different directions.

Seras still plays a pretty big role in the new series, what with how insanely powerful she gets once she finally breaks down and feeds and all (I couldn't wait for the DVDs, had to youtube some subs of the OVAs currently available in Japan). Plus the Werewolf and the whole plot twist with Walter, etc.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 20 Apr 2011, 02:19
Yeah, once the Hellsing Organisation is being attacked and gets tasked to solely fight against Millenium (with the Geese), the story, pacing and plot (as well as Seras) zooms off like a motherfucker.

In the anime, though, there's just some big demonic thing who's out to get Alucard, and they have a big demonic showdown in the streets of London. Okay.

Also it is of some note that Kouta Hirano had (as a few established mangakas are) previously been a porn artist, and so the fetishistic visual design is pretty signature of him. It is much more prevalent in the Ultimates than in the series, for better or for worse.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 20 Apr 2011, 09:28
Also it is of some note that Kouta Hirano had (as a few established mangakas are) previously been a porn artist, and so the fetishistic visual design is pretty signature of him. It is much more prevalent in the Ultimates than in the series, for better or for worse.
And, a good portion of the cast of Hellsing came from those hentai doujinshi that Hirano drew early on. The only ones I can think of that did not (off the top of my head) were: the people from Iscariot (excluding Anderson, who did come from one of those doujinshi), the Convention of Twelve, and a few Millenium members (Zorin, Tubalacain, Shrodinger, and the Captain).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 22 Apr 2011, 15:06
so it seems like FLCL finally has a legit american version that's not way overpriced. yay!

just ordered the bluray on amazon yesterday  :-D
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 25 Apr 2011, 05:57
Man I keep going back to watch Trigun on HD Remastered DVD and I honestly haven't found an anime both shamelessly comedic and ridiculously profound in one sitting in the way Trigun is.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: MusicScribbles on 26 Apr 2011, 21:57
I'm going to batter back at you sir and refer you to the post above your own. FLCL is all this, and it does it in six episodes.

Although I quite like Trigun, I kind've take issue with it's crazily inconsistent tone. More opinion maybe at a later date!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 27 Apr 2011, 05:53
Man I keep going back to watch Trigun on HD Remastered DVD and I honestly haven't found an anime both shamelessly comedic and ridiculously profound in one sitting in the way Trigun is.

Now and Then, Here and There had a few scattered bits of hilarity in the crushing depression throughout it.

See also: The Rebuild of Evangelion DVDs that are going on. I just watched the second one and they're already up to Unit 01 sprouting wings and fucking everything up around the world.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blyss on 28 Apr 2011, 09:02
Lots and lots of good stuff here.  Samurai Jack is just simply amazing.  There is no getting around that.  I remember when it came out, and watching how they created it, and listening to what they had in mind, and then watching with awe as they far surpassed anything they had described.

Avatar: the Last Airbender - again, so good.  I was hooked from the very first episode, and it just got better in terms of story and character development as it continued.

I do like the Evangelion Movies 1.11 and 2.22 - But to be honest, I'm not sure what it is that I like.  It's kind of crazy, how I enjoy these without really understanding why.

I'm currently watching Ergo Proxy, and I'm having pretty good fun with that.

Hellsing...  I have to say that I'll probably go against all the arguments here, and say - I like ALL of the Hellsing stuff I've seen.  I have the original episodes from waaaay back - I love the New OVA, and I've read the Manga, and I honestly just can't get enough.

I have wanted to watch Trigun for a while now, and I have the time and the means to acquire this...  So thank you for reminding me of that. 

Akira was the first exposure I ever got to Anime - that led me to Golgo 13, and then Vampire Hunter D...  From then on, I've tried to find more and more...  I seem to remember something called M.D. Geist.

HLCL sounds intriguing too.

Gah, head's spinning now.
 
:psyduck:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 01 May 2011, 04:18
Unless someone has mentioned it before, Makoto Shinkai's works are usually works of anime purity.

Voices of a Distant Star made me cry when I was a kid. First anime to do that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 02 May 2011, 03:25
Legend of Galactic Heroes for the sheer fucking scale of the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 03 May 2011, 18:41
Posting to recommend the new series Cat Shit One, which I believe will make Watership Down look like Sesame Street.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 03 May 2011, 18:43
That doesn't really count as a anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: MusicScribbles on 03 May 2011, 19:36
The voice acting is also hilariously terrible. Wait, no, the writing is also hilariously terrible.
This makes it so much better though because it looks so good (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wncS6tO59M).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 04 May 2011, 02:51
That doesn't really count as a anime.

Please, it is animation based on a manga, there is literally no way you can say it isn't anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: KharBevNor on 04 May 2011, 04:10
How exactly you define anime in cases like that can be an interesting question. The word anime is used in Japanese to describe all animation, I believe, and I have always taken it personally to refer simply to all animation produced in Japan. There is no doubt that anime has also come to refer mainly to a specific style or group of styles however.

Incidentally, and slightly related, some dude at a convention once told me that the proper proununciation of anime is 'an-ee-me' rather than 'an-ee-may'. Anyone know if this is correct. I have advanced pedantic wanker syndrome and like to pronounce foreign loan words correctly, sometimes even putting on a slight accent to really get a lovely schadenfreude or smorgasbord or whatnot. Of course I guess I could just pronounce anime as in the French 'dessin anime', which I believe is where the Japanese take the term from anyway.

Anyway, that Franken Fran manga I was talking about earlier. It's really fantastic. I would describe it, improbably, as a light guro comedy, somewhere between the more comedic parts of the work of Shintaro Kago and Masamune Shirow. There's lots of body horror and some nudity but it generally avoids the really explicit sexual violence stuff you often find in the guro genre. Still totally NSFW and probably NS for normal people as well. Basic description: Our main character, Fran Madaraki is a polite, charming, slightly ditzy revenant, apparently stitched together from corpses by a mysterious scientist who is heavily implied to have been a major force behind Unit 731, as well as possibly being immortal. She is a supernaturally gifted surgeon: She will never allow a patient to die if she can help it, and she will always do what the customer wants. She also believes powerfully and naievely in true love. From these three things emerge some pretty nasty horror and pitch black comedy. Generally, Fran unknowingly acts as an agent of karmic justice. For example, in the first volume, a rich businessman leaves 90% of his estate to his playboy grandchild. The father, who has been skipped over in the inheritance, has his own son murdered, then asks Fran to bring him back to live, thinking she will create an emotionless, pliant zombie. Stirred by the powerful love of a father who will do anything to bring his dead son back to life, Fran puts the businessman under anesthetic, carves out half his brain, installs his sons brain in his skull and attaches his dead sons face (the son remembers exactly who had him killed) to the back of his own head, with a modification made to his neck so that it can swivel around 270 degrees, allowing the two faces to take alternating control of the body. Hilarity ensues!


You can read it all here (http://www.mangafox.com/manga/franken_fran/)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Odin on 04 May 2011, 04:31
You're thinking about it too hard. Here, let me help you:

(http://i.imgur.com/1du5Y.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blyss on 04 May 2011, 06:47
Oh yeah - Megas XLR is pretty fucking awesome.  And I love Cat Shit One - anime or not.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 04 May 2011, 14:03
wasn't anime originally a french word anyway?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: MusicScribbles on 04 May 2011, 14:17
This is actually just a claim. Like most pop culture words, they appear from no single discernible source. The term appeared in the 70's as a Japanese cultural abbreviation for the word anime, sure. But claiming that it comes from the French word dessin animé is merely a claim. There is little proven truth in this, which is more of a logical leap than a conclusion.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: MusicScribbles on 04 May 2011, 20:17
Ohp, I totally meant "The term appeared in the 70's as a Japanese cultural abbreviation for the word ANIMATION." Sorry.

tender did a better, more informed breakdown anyway.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 04 May 2011, 22:40
You can read it all here (http://www.mangafox.com/manga/franken_fran/)
This is rad
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 05 May 2011, 18:59
So, my local library decided to show some anime series (all from Funimation's stock). Last night was Trigun. God I forgot how zany that show was in its earlier episodes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 06 May 2011, 05:16
I think it's partially because it also stylistically followed the pattern of Trigun Maximum's very seinen-like transition, especially when Vash really gets into confronting the Gung-Ho Guns. To be honest, besides the Nebraska Family -> BDN, both the anime and manga tended to be a series of comedic sideshows that a lot of viewers today would think of as just a whole lot of filler.

But once Vash is really railroaded into confronting his pacifism, as well as exploring who the hell Knives actually was, there's much, much less comedy to be found.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 12 Jun 2011, 21:41
Hey guys been quite a while, i was wondering if any of you heard of something new and cool?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 13 Jun 2011, 06:43
I'm finding myself ridiculously drawn into Cromartie High School despite that it's on an entirely unique level of batshit insane I've seen in anime so far

Also, I watched Batman: Gotham Knight a while back and was moderately pleased with the animation work by the big studios.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tiogyr on 14 Jun 2011, 06:00
Hey guys been quite a while, i was wondering if any of you heard of something new and cool?

There is supposedly some new Gundam series in the works, but I don't know the specifics yet.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SirDudley on 14 Jun 2011, 08:21
Hey guys been quite a while, i was wondering if any of you heard of something new and cool?

There is supposedly some new Gundam series in the works, but I don't know the specifics yet.
It's called Gundam AGE which sounds so toyetic it's insane. It involves 3 generations of a family using...cards or figures of Gundams, IIRC....to battle an alien invasion. Seeing as how 00 handled aliens so smoothly (read: piledrived it into our faces at breakneck speeds in the movie)....I'm way too hesitant on AGE being a successful series. Although, Level 5 (the people behind the Professor Layton series) are invovled, so that does make me a little interested.

There's supposedly a second announcement related to Gundam on the 25th of this month. Not much else on what that's about, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tiogyr on 14 Jun 2011, 09:23
Hey guys been quite a while, i was wondering if any of you heard of something new and cool?

There is supposedly some new Gundam series in the works, but I don't know the specifics yet.
It's called Gundam AGE which sounds so toyetic it's insane. It involves 3 generations of a family using...cards or figures of Gundams, IIRC....to battle an alien invasion. Seeing as how 00 handled aliens so smoothly (read: piledrived it into our faces at breakneck speeds in the movie)....I'm way too hesitant on AGE being a successful series. Although, Level 5 (the people behind the Professor Layton series) are invovled, so that does make me a little interested.

There's supposedly a second announcement related to Gundam on the 25th of this month. Not much else on what that's about, though.

So a mixture of Gundam and YuGiOh or Cardcaptor Sakura or whatever card animes?

Guess I'll just stick with the Rebuild of Evangelion for my giant mecha fix.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blyss on 23 Jun 2011, 08:06
I just got Dance in the Vampire Bund last night, though I have yet to watch it.  I'll post more later on what I think of it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Jun 2011, 08:21
Guess I'll just stick with the Rebuild of Evangelion for my giant mecha fix.

My copy of 2.22 arrived last Monday (only just released in the UK).  There appears to be no hint of when part 3 will arrive though, let alone part 4 - years, it seems.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tiogyr on 23 Jun 2011, 10:28
Guess I'll just stick with the Rebuild of Evangelion for my giant mecha fix.

My copy of 2.22 arrived last Monday (only just released in the UK).  There appears to be no hint of when part 3 will arrive though, let alone part 4 - years, it seems.

I'm kind of excited for part 3 & 4, as it looks like we'll actually get completely new material at the pace 2.22 went.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 23 Jun 2011, 10:58
So has anyone seen/heard anything about this new anime that is coming to Adult Swim?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 25 Jun 2011, 22:51
Great excuse to rewatch that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IDMG on 04 Jul 2011, 03:07
At a friend's request, I've tried watching some episodes of that Panty & Stocking show. Now, maybe I'm too early in to judge, but it honestly seems pretty detestable to me. Any opinions to the contrary?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: CompSarge on 05 Jul 2011, 01:41
Let's see...I'm currently watching:

Fairy Tail
Saki
Tiger & Bunny (fairly funny)

I also liked Soul Eater (obviously >.>), Bakuman, K-On, Dragon Drive, Ouran High School Host Club, and the original Dragonball. I need to expand my anime tastes, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tiogyr on 05 Jul 2011, 11:43
I finally got around to watching FLCL (was $11 on iTunes for the entire thing, vs. $30+ on DVD anywhere else).

I think I need to see more anime series to get all of the jokes, because I only actually laughed at maybe one or two things any given episode and the entire thing is billed as a parody of all other anime that was out at the time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 05 Jul 2011, 11:54
At a friend's request, I've tried watching some episodes of that Panty & Stocking show. Now, maybe I'm too early in to judge, but it honestly seems pretty detestable to me. Any opinions to the contrary?

If you don't like it now, nothing later on is going to change your mind about it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IMMANotListening on 13 Jul 2011, 20:46
Can anyone give me an explanation of what the hell Elfen Lied is about? I get the idea and themes of social alienation, prejudice, abuse and the value of humanity and all that jazz...but I just don't think it's a particularly good anime. Maybe I'm missing something because all I see is how the animators love the incredibly over-the-top graphic violence, hearing very mediocre voice acting and an ending that isn't even satisfactory. I mean, Evangelion gave us a unsatisfactory ending with both the show AND the movie but at least the latter was overwhelming pretty and artistic...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IDMG on 14 Jul 2011, 00:16
I think Elfen Lied is more about pathos than anything else. If you buy into the tragedy of the main characters, than it drags your heartstrings along for the ride.

If you don't find the characters appealing, you won't like the show ever.

Also, here's to hoping that Rebuild of Evangelion has a good ending (it already has art miles ahead of the original series).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 14 Jul 2011, 00:22
Mawaru Penguindrum

Is anyone besides gg/nutbladder subbing it?  I'd rather not have to sit through troll subs.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tiogyr on 14 Jul 2011, 03:24
Also, here's to hoping that Rebuild of Evangelion has a good ending (it already has art miles ahead of the original series).

This will never happen (though I do hope at some point we have that hilarious "Germany is the worst country in the world!" rant from one of the manga series that Asuka ran through).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IMMANotListening on 14 Jul 2011, 04:34
I think Elfen Lied is more about pathos than anything else. If you buy into the tragedy of the main characters, than it drags your heartstrings along for the ride.

If you don't find the characters appealing, you won't like the show ever.

Also, here's to hoping that Rebuild of Evangelion has a good ending (it already has art miles ahead of the original series).

I'm hoping for a nice ending but I'm afraid that if we do get it, it'll just look like bad fanfiction. But who knows, we might. The manga for NGE has already diverged at the point of EoE with Shinji rescuing Asuka from the MP Evangelion units so...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 18 Jul 2011, 22:39



So has anyone seen/heard anything about this new anime that is coming to Adult Swim?

(http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u60/daschakal/tumblr_liywnudHO61qh16qpo1_500.gif)

The show is called Durarara!! (http://myanimelist.net/anime/6746/Durarara!!) and I've watched it multiple times already. Great story, with some very memorable characters.



.

Wait what there new stuff for durarara? I liked this one.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 29 Jul 2011, 17:57
Man I have to say Mawaru Penguindrum is really great.  Favorite show of the season for sure.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: philharmonic on 07 Sep 2011, 23:44
how did i miss this thread? anyway i watch anime here -> http://www.watchanimeon.com/ (http://www.watchanimeon.com/) but haven't much lately because I've been putting more time into World of Warcraft. At last check Nichijou was still going and also Sket Dance. I am however sad to see that Ore No Imouto has ended.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IMMANotListening on 09 Sep 2011, 07:23
I started watching the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya...and it is surprisingly addicting. Particularly the OP, ED and Kyon's sarcastic narrations.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 09 Sep 2011, 08:10
Prepare yourself for the Endless Eight.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IMMANotListening on 10 Sep 2011, 06:55
Started Endless Eight and I'm about half-way there. I know I can just skip to the last episode of this arc but just like Kyon, I keep finding myself doing nothing to change it and keep going through with the other Endless Eight episodes (at least there's some consolation that I don't have to watch the loop over 10,000+ times).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 11 Sep 2011, 01:11
Going through the Endless Eight part has the same entertainment value as watching someone paint a patch of drywall several times with slightly different shades of paint

Sure, it's interesting that they did it, but there's only so many ways you can appreciate the value of paint on drywall


as an aside, the Haruhi-chan series is pretty gold comedy.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 11 Sep 2011, 11:03
I think it had a lot more of an impact watching it while it was still airing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Coffee_Kaioken on 26 Sep 2011, 10:27
At a friend's request, I've tried watching some episodes of that Panty & Stocking show. Now, maybe I'm too early in to judge, but it honestly seems pretty detestable to me. Any opinions to the contrary?

I tried the first episode. Seeing the poop/toilet humor just turned me off from it.

At last check Nichijou was still going and also Sket Dance. I am however sad to see that Ore No Imouto has ended.

Dude, I love Sket Dance.

Also, we just tried Hayate Butler/"Hayate no Gotoku!" and I actually like it thus far.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: look out! Ninjas! on 26 Sep 2011, 17:12
I think it had a lot more of an impact watching it while it was still airing.
well it definitely freed up a half hour per week for about a month
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 27 Sep 2011, 13:56
At a friend's request, I've tried watching some episodes of that Panty & Stocking show. Now, maybe I'm too early in to judge, but it honestly seems pretty detestable to me. Any opinions to the contrary?
if you can't stand immature humor don't bother with it. That said I enjoyed it a lot
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 05 Oct 2011, 01:09
Also hey I watched Ghost in The Shell for the first time yesterday. The amount of influence it had on the matrix is a little nuts
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 05 Oct 2011, 13:51
Going through the Endless Eight part has the same entertainment value as watching someone paint a patch of drywall several times with slightly different shades of paint

Sure, it's interesting that they did it, but there's only so many ways you can appreciate the value of paint on drywall


as an aside, the Haruhi-chan series is pretty gold comedy.

lol it's that bad?

Also anyone know where bleach is going to go since ichigo completely lost his powers as a Soul Reaper?


PS: If you could take 2min of your time to vote for a developpement project in India that my friend is working on. If they get enough votes they will have the fundings they require.
If you want to help by simply voting for the project please go to this website : http://www.sparktherise.com/projectdetail.php?pid=4238

Thank you.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 05 Oct 2011, 17:05
Also hey I watched Ghost in The Shell for the first time yesterday. The amount of influence it had on the matrix is a little nuts

have you seen the series, Stand Alone Complex?

if you haven't, do it asap. You are in for a treat because it's one of the best things that's ever been serialized. so much better than the movie.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 05 Oct 2011, 19:53
I saw it in the store but the movie was $20 cheaper. Next time I head down in that direction I guess.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 10 Oct 2011, 05:53
That entire episode was pretty heartbreaking.  Between
(click to show/hide)
it was pretty emotional.

Should I read the Mirai Nikki manga before watching it?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 13 Oct 2011, 12:08
I just watched the first episode of Mawaru and i'm pretty lost i must say lol.

Anyhow, anyone know about the revamped Evangelion. I'm lost in the versions 1.11 and others. I think i saw 1.11, i guess the second is 2.22 but is there a third or something in between?

I also see on the net, version 1.0 and 2.0. I don't know which one is the revamped one or are they the same?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Oct 2011, 12:40
Evangelion 1.11 and 2.22 are the DVD and Bluray releases of 1.0 and 2.0 - they are just slightly different from the original cinematic releases - e.g. 1.11 has 3 minutes extra animation, mostly early on in the film.  There are also 1.01 and 2.02 cinematic versions which confuse things further.  1.0 (or 1.01, I don't know) was released on DVD before 1.11 arrived, but 2.0[2] was not released on home media.

3.0 and 4.0 have been continuously pushed back from an earlier date of 2008 for both of them, and there has been speculation that the series might be abandoned; a discussion after the theatrical release of 2.02 suggested that 3.0 and 4.0 will be combined into a single film, and the latest announcement (in Aug 2011) gave a tentative release date for 3.0 in autumn of 2012 though without confirming the single film remark.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Oct 2011, 19:02
Evangelion is one of those classic anime that I've never gotten around to watching.  Should I just watch the original series or?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 00:48
I jumped head-first into things (Death --> EoE --> NGE --> Rebuild)

I did that, too; I was first drawn into it (not being a thing I'd naturally be aware of) by videos of Komm süsser Tod which piqued my interest.  But watching the series through first probably makes more sense, rather than starting with alternative endings.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 14 Oct 2011, 15:04
Evangelion 1.11 and 2.22 are the DVD and Bluray releases of 1.0 and 2.0 - they are just slightly different from the original cinematic releases - e.g. 1.11 has 3 minutes extra animation, mostly early on in the film.  There are also 1.01 and 2.02 cinematic versions which confuse things further.  1.0 (or 1.01, I don't know) was released on DVD before 1.11 arrived, but 2.0[2] was not released on home media.

3.0 and 4.0 have been continuously pushed back from an earlier date of 2008 for both of them, and there has been speculation that the series might be abandoned; a discussion after the theatrical release of 2.02 suggested that 3.0 and 4.0 will be combined into a single film, and the latest announcement (in Aug 2011) gave a tentative release date for 3.0 in autumn of 2012 though without confirming the single film remark.

Thank you, i feel less confused now. So 2.02 is still not yet release and 1.01 and 2.02 are Bluray releases aswell?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Oct 2011, 16:01
My understanding is:

1.0 Film
1.01 DVD, with minor adjustments, packaged with some frames of film (no longer available)
1.11 Bluray and DVD, retransferred, and extra animation.
2.0 Film
2.02 Japanese TV transmission, actually 2.0
2.22 Bluray and DVD, with adjustments

There is further complication from the fact that the rights to issue the DVD/Bluray are sold to different companies in different countries.  This leads to a range of different release dates, different extras, and even the DVD packages having one disk in some territories and two disks in other territories - also completely different package appearances - e.g. my UK DVD of 2.22 has a scene from the film as the cover; but I also have (don't ask!) an Italian copy which was issued over six months earlier and has a solid orange cover.

One can just feel the likelihood of 3.33 and 4.44 coming along in due course!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 15 Oct 2011, 22:13
My understanding is:

1.0 Film
1.01 DVD, with minor adjustments, packaged with some frames of film (no longer available)
1.11 Bluray and DVD, retransferred, and extra animation.
2.0 Film
2.02 Japanese TV transmission, actually 2.0
2.22 Bluray and DVD, with adjustments

There is further complication from the fact that the rights to issue the DVD/Bluray are sold to different companies in different countries.  This leads to a range of different release dates, different extras, and even the DVD packages having one disk in some territories and two disks in other territories - also completely different package appearances - e.g. my UK DVD of 2.22 has a scene from the film as the cover; but I also have (don't ask!) an Italian copy which was issued over six months earlier and has a solid orange cover.

One can just feel the likelihood of 3.33 and 4.44 coming along in due course!

 :-D

Thanks for the info, if you are correct (which i don't doubt) then everything is cristal clear for me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 18 Oct 2011, 05:34
i have no idea how I missed seeing this thread earlier. I guess I'll throw my personal list out if anyone's interested:

Action/adventure:
FATE/Stay Night
Full Metal Alchemist (Original, Brotherhood, Conqueror of Shamballa)
Densetsu no Yuusha Densetsu (The Legend of Legendary Heroes)
To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
Busou Renkin
Black Lagoon
Black Cat
Karas
Soul Eater
High School of the Dead (already mentioned)
Shakugan no Shana
.hack (sign, roots)
Ragnarok the Animation
Rozen Maiden
The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye
Gunslinger Girl
Grenadier
Law of Ueki
Death Note (How in the world did I forget this one?)
Gakkō no Kaidan
GetBackers!
Yu Yu Hakusho
Dragon Drive

Music:
Nodame Cantabile (for the classically inclined) (Paris Hen, Finale)
K-On (!, !!)
Macross Frontier (Also a mecha series)

Scifi/Mecha:
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (Already mentioned)
Ghost in the Shell (Innocence, S.A.C, S.A.C 2nd gig, Solid State Society)
Code Geass
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Already mentioned)

Horror/Suspense:
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (kai, rei)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Already mentioned)
Umineko No Naku Koro Ni
Shiki
Tsukihime
Hellsing (Already mentioned)
Jigoku Shojo (Hell Girl)
Kampfer
Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin

Slice of Life (Where plot goes to die, or be resurrected)
CLANNAD (<--- 3 years and it's still my favorite) (After Story)
Lucky Star
Haruhi Suzumiya (Melancholy of, Disappearance of)
Spice and Wolf (II)
Kino's Journey
Bamboo Blade
Kamisama Kazoku
Cross Game
Chobits
Da Capo
Shuffle!
Ouran Host Club
Toradora!

Clamp:
XXXHolic
Tsubasa Chronicles
Card Captor Sakura

Movies:
Ponyo
Howl's Moving Castle (Already mentioned)
Cencoroll
Princess Mononoke
The girl who leapt through time
Paprika (Part of the inspiration to Inception)
Spirited away

I'm not going to mention shonen jump series because I have a love/hate relationship with them :P
Alright, I'm out of titles off the top of my head. Most of these can be found at animefreak.tv
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 18 Oct 2011, 16:16
i have no idea how I missed seeing this thread earlier. I guess I'll throw my personal list out if anyone's interested:

Action/adventure:
FATE/Stay Night
Full Metal Alchemist (Original, Brotherhood, Conqueror of Shamballa)
Densetsu no Yuusha Densetsu (The Legend of Legendary Heroes)
To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
Busou Renkin
Black Lagoon
Black Cat
Karas
Soul Eater
High School of the Dead (already mentioned)
Shakugan no Shana
.hack (sign, roots)
Ragnarok the Animation
Rozen Maiden
The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye
Gunslinger Girl
Grenadier
Law of Ueki
Death Note (How in the world did I forget this one?)
Gakkō no Kaidan
GetBackers!
Yu Yu Hakusho
Dragon Drive

Music:
Nodame Cantabile (for the classically inclined) (Paris Hen, Finale)
K-On (!, !!)
Macross Frontier (Also a mecha series)

Scifi/Mecha:
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (Already mentioned)
Ghost in the Shell (Innocence, S.A.C, S.A.C 2nd gig, Solid State Society)
Code Geass
Neon Genesis Evangelion (Already mentioned)

Horror/Suspense:
Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni (kai, rei)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Already mentioned)
Umineko No Naku Koro Ni
Shiki
Tsukihime
Hellsing (Already mentioned)
Jigoku Shojo (Hell Girl)
Kampfer
Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin

Slice of Life (Where plot goes to die, or be resurrected)
CLANNAD (<--- 3 years and it's still my favorite) (After Story)
Lucky Star
Haruhi Suzumiya (Melancholy of, Disappearance of)
Spice and Wolf (II)
Kino's Journey
Bamboo Blade
Kamisama Kazoku
Cross Game
Chobits
Da Capo
Shuffle!
Ouran Host Club
Toradora!

Clamp:
XXXHolic
Tsubasa Chronicles
Card Captor Sakura

Movies:
Ponyo
Howl's Moving Castle (Already mentioned)
Cencoroll
Princess Mononoke
The girl who leapt through time
Paprika (Part of the inspiration to Inception)
Spirited away

I'm not going to mention shonen jump series because I have a love/hate relationship with them :P
Alright, I'm out of titles off the top of my head. Most of these can be found at animefreak.tv


Wow! Man, thank you for the gigantic list! I will go through them all, my new mission ;p
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 18 Oct 2011, 16:27
If you're starting from scratch, you're looking at ~ 679 hours of nonstop anime. ~29 straight days.
....
Oh god, I have spent at least 29 straight days watching anime...

Any preferred genres? I can watch almost anything, so if you have a favorite type of anime, I should be able to narrow the list down for you :P
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 19 Oct 2011, 03:03
I've had so much free time lately I actually finished watching all of Eva (NGE + EoE + Rebuild) and now I'm excited for the rest of Rebuild.  I don't think I've ever been this attached to characters I don't really like.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: JD on 19 Oct 2011, 14:25
If you're gonna watch Paprika give Tokyo Godfathers as well. Same guy, wildly different topics, still fantastic
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 20 Oct 2011, 13:11
If you're starting from scratch, you're looking at ~ 679 hours of nonstop anime. ~29 straight days.
....
Oh god, I have spent at least 29 straight days watching anime...

Any preferred genres? I can watch almost anything, so if you have a favorite type of anime, I should be able to narrow the list down for you :P

I don't think i have a prefered genre, only if it's good. Maybe the least  i like is ''slice of life''. Also, i prefer more mature animes. Not talking about hentai.

I already watch a nice bunch from your list. Now though, i am a bit busy with the midterms but i will surely come back to this awsome big list you provided.

If you're gonna watch Paprika give Tokyo Godfathers as well. Same guy, wildly different topics, still fantastic

I probably will. I have heard of both of them, and critics are good. Recently i watched Howl's Moving Castle and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, i really wasn't expecting that kind of story or theme for Howl's. I just recently started watching anime movies. So Miyazaki was a first for me.

I've had so much free time lately I actually finished watching all of Eva (NGE + EoE + Rebuild) and now I'm excited for the rest of Rebuild.  I don't think I've ever been this attached to characters I don't really like.

I know how it is lol. I've already watched twice all the bleach episodes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IMMANotListening on 22 Oct 2011, 06:12
Why would you subject yourself to watching all of the Bleach episodes twice? Seriously, why? I like the manga and series itself but not so much that I will actually watch all of them TWICE.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 22 Oct 2011, 12:24
Why would you subject yourself to watching all of the Bleach episodes twice? Seriously, why? I like the manga and series itself but not so much that I will actually watch all of them TWICE.


Well when i didn't have anything else to watch, i had the idea of re-watching bleach series. I guess i like it enough to re-watch it. This is a point where i watched every possible thing people suggested me so i re-watch things that i have not seen in a long time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 22 Oct 2011, 18:20
Well ,if you don't mind subs, I'd go with these:
Clannad (Emotional Rollercoaster)
Sacred Seven (Anime Megaman)
XXXHolic (Spirits and Equilibrium)
FATE/Stay Night (Magician's Battle Royale)
Densetsu no Yuusha Densetsu (Magician war)
To Aru Kagaku no Railgun (Scientific Superpowers)
Busou Renkin (Arms Alchemy vs Homunculi)
Black Cat (Bounty Hunters, Assassins, BioWeapons, and more)
Karas (Flying magical samurai and spirits)
Soul Eater (Soul eaters and Demon Gods)
Shakugan no Shana (Flame Hazes and human-eating mosters)
.hack (sign, roots) (Video Game in anime form)
The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye (Wild West/Post-apocalyptic/Fighter girl with a sentient tank)
Gunslinger Girl (Cyborg hit-girl assassins)
Grenadier (Wild West type)
GetBackers! (Bounty Hunters with Superpowers)

If you have to watch a dub, I'd suggest:
Hellsing (Vampires)
Black Lagoon (Pirates and Smugglers)
Death Note (Supernatural Suspense)
Yu Yu Hakusho (Human Psychics against demons)
Shaman King (It's ok, still kinda hate Shonen Jump regardless)
Ghost In the Shell (Spy/terrorist cyborgs)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IMMANotListening on 24 Oct 2011, 00:43
Why would you subject yourself to watching all of the Bleach episodes twice? Seriously, why? I like the manga and series itself but not so much that I will actually watch all of them TWICE.


Well when i didn't have anything else to watch, i had the idea of re-watching bleach series. I guess i like it enough to re-watch it. This is a point where i watched every possible thing people suggested me so i re-watch things that i have not seen in a long time.

Okay then. I wasn't trying to rag you out or anything but I remembered that Bleach has an incredible and ridiculous amount of filler. :\

Also, Ghost in the Shell. Thinking of watching it. Worth my time and where should I start?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 24 Oct 2011, 06:50
It's pretty good if you stick with it, and it has a tolerable dub as well. The problem is that the first few episodes pace out like one-shots, so people give up on the series before they all tie back to the plot.
If you're starting from the beginning, you want Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone complex. I accidentally watched Stand Alone Complex - 2nd Gig when I started, and was completely confused by all the laughing man references that came from the first season.

And I think I only made it to episode 70 of Bleach XD. I just couldn't take how ADD the series was getting.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 24 Oct 2011, 09:06
Why would you subject yourself to watching all of the Bleach episodes twice? Seriously, why? I like the manga and series itself but not so much that I will actually watch all of them TWICE.


Well when i didn't have anything else to watch, i had the idea of re-watching bleach series. I guess i like it enough to re-watch it. This is a point where i watched every possible thing people suggested me so i re-watch things that i have not seen in a long time.

Okay then. I wasn't trying to rag you out or anything but I remembered that Bleach has an incredible and ridiculous amount of filler. :\

Also, Ghost in the Shell. Thinking of watching it. Worth my time and where should I start?

Oh don't worry, for the fillers well i skipped them. I am not interested at all. So yea when you think of it now, it makes a lot of episodes disapear like the bount episode which was way to long.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 24 Oct 2011, 17:33
Well, it was supposed to be long. They needed to stall for time and let the manga get ahead, since an episode of a shonen series can burn through chapters of manga XD
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 25 Oct 2011, 05:00
It's pretty good if you stick with it, and it has a tolerable dub as well. The problem is that the first few episodes pace out like one-shots, so people give up on the series before they all tie back to the plot.

I've... never gotten that vibe. I think the majority of Stand Alone episodes have been so well-written I find myself enjoying nearly every single episode regardless of whether or not it ties into the Laughing Man mystery.

Well, besides that ridiculous chat-room episode that went for entire 24 minutes. Serious blatant infodump/recap. 
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 25 Oct 2011, 09:44
i love that chat room episode

that's what i like about the show. one episode it's all action *bang bang ninjas computers big guns* and then it's an entire 24 minutes of philosophical discussions, sometimes between humans, sometimes between machines, which i personally find even more interesting.

i really can't overstate how much i love SAC
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 29 Oct 2011, 06:52
What baffles me about the series (which I also love to bits; I saw a box set of SAC and 2nd GiG at my Gametraders last week and I seriously contemplated emptying my entire wallet that minute) is that a lot of the Stand Alone episodes seem to be throwbacks to other sorts of genres (like the Jungle Cruise episode, crime thriller, protagonist personal motive etc. which so happens to be one of my favorite episodes of the first SAC), but Ghost in the Shell in itself is pretty much king of the cyberpunk genre yet there's such a huge variety of themes and motifs, like you so mentioned.

It has that distinct TV show feel where every episode feels like it's being written by someone different every week.
Also, any episode significantly involving Tachikoma in the plot is automatically adorable

While I do sort of like that chat room episode, it didn't seem so much a heavy theoretical discussion on the themes of the Laughing Man plot as it was just a damn recap of every Complex episode that happened beforehand. Probably the most exciting part about it was the very ending where everything goes to shit, but besides that it was one of the few episodes I thought the series could have done without.
It didn't really progress the main plot, and if I were to guess its context it seemed like one of those episodes that the studio decides to write up after a hiatus from airing on television, and thought the viewers needed some time to wrap their heads around what exactly the fuck went on since Episode 1.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 29 Oct 2011, 17:57
Also, the episodes kinda had a one-shot feel when taken into isolation. At the time of airing, there would have been a week's pause between them, so a recap episode would have helped viewers see how everything was slowly tying together, before the main plot started up.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 31 Oct 2011, 15:05
it also allowed us to hear some thoughts on the whole ordeal from people besides highly trained military cyborgs, which i enjoyed.

the discussion about his "coolness" for example was pretty amusing, but a little weird. i feel like that might not have made the translation perfectly. all the characters were saying "cool" like it was a scientific personality trait and it was kinda funny and a little jarring.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IDMG on 04 Nov 2011, 23:04
So, 5 episodes in, and I think that the Persona 4 anime is being surprisingly well handled, though Chie's characterization is something I'm not too big on right now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 07 Nov 2011, 21:47
(http://i.imgur.com/UP4MZ.jpg)
http://www.evangelion.co.jp/q.html

So this is definitely happening?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 13 Nov 2011, 03:18
So... Does somebody like Hunter× Hunter around here? I friggin love it both the manga and the series/OVAS.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 01 Dec 2011, 07:01
http://www.reddit.com/tb/mt29h
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dliessmgg on 22 Dec 2011, 15:42
(http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwit7zMvQP1qeq3bmo1_500.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: kajiura fan on 22 Jan 2012, 16:38
The last anime I watched (and completed) was a series of movies called Kara no Kyokai: Garden of Sinners.

When I was looking for music by composer Kajiura Yuki, I found the series.

Here is a clip of a fight scene from the first chapter/movie Overlooking View. (The fight begins at 1:20)
Overlooking View: Rooftop fight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXRWxfKBVTU)

It's the first clip I saw and I was immediately intrigued. I hunted down the movies and watched them all. Very strange story but I enjoyed it, though I wish I had seen it in HD. The fight scenes are incredible and fun to watch.

There are instances of the suicides, murders, rape... and cannibalism so if those are not your thing, skip the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GroovyKinda on 08 Feb 2012, 22:32
A used CD/DVD store in Seattle was on the last lap of a going out of business liquidation, so I scored the complete "Argentosoma" series. That's what's on the dvd player in the kitchen these days.
And Evangelion 1.1, on the big tv.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: IDMG on 16 Mar 2012, 01:43
Anyone ever see Dead Leaves? That was pretty good.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReD_RuM on 03 Sep 2012, 14:19
I just watched it. Pretty messed up lol.

I think it was more intense than FLCL.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Sep 2012, 15:41
Having seen mediocre reviews of Dead Leaves, it's not made it onto my list.



I'd forgotten about this thread.  When I contributed to it last year, the only anime I'd seen was NGE (all options), and Golden Boy.  Since then I've been investigating the field to get to know it more, and so far I've watched:

NGE + EoE (and Rebuild)  (I've also got the Sadamoto manga)
Golden Boy
FLCL  (also the manga, which I particularly like)
Cowboy Bebop (+ movie)
Fullmetal Alchemist (original + movie)
Fullmetal Alchemist, Brotherhood
Martian Successor Nadesico (+ movie)
Kare Kano aka His and Her Circumstances
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Azumanga Daioh (series and manga)
Gurren Lagann (+ movies)
RahXephon (series, movie and manga)

Still waiting their turns are:

Ghost in the Shell (movies only)
Redline (movie)
Mindgame (movie)
Daily Lives of High School Boys
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

When I'm through this lot, I'm planning to write a bit more about what I made of them, to follow the earlier article I wrote (http://pocketjury.net/2012/05/anime-and-me-and-a-bit-on-manga/).

I've also got a copy of Golgo 13 that came free with an order - but it's dubbed and subtitled in German, which isn't a lot of use to me, so I probably won't bother...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 03 Sep 2012, 17:29
You know, you mentioned in the article that the generation gap was something that had significant influence over your anime experience. Would you say that such a gap may lock out what series you may find interesting or not? I only asked because I noticed I only recognize 6 of your watched list, and of those only three are what I would consider "recent" series. In addition, most fall within a certain genre and taste.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Sep 2012, 01:05
In other words, how did I choose those particular series?

I started with the most interestingly recommended items in a thread (http://forums.pocketjury.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=800) that started on the Pocket Jury forum in response to my article.  I looked at reviews, and followed up links about other series in those reviews.  I considered the scale of the series (I have a tendency to be obsessively completist, and so might get somewhat overwhelmed if I started on the Gundam lot, for instance, or Bleach).  I tried to identify those which offered a bit more depth than "mere" childish entertainment, trying, perhaps, to find parallels to those literary works for children that have proved to be of wider interest (like the children's books of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, for instance).  I have no interest in hentai, just as I have no wish to read Fanny Hill, Lady Chatterley's Lover, or 50 Shades of Gray.  I tried to find representative examples of action, weird, humour, and cute.  None the less, I also know that it is a small enough sample to be inevitably unrepresentative.

For practical reasons they are all series that can reasonably easily be bought on DVD (even if that meant going to an Australian store, for instance, which is the only way to buy Mindgame) - I couldn't be tied down to streaming them off the Internet or watching TV.  Most of my watching is actually on my iPhone while travelling or in my lunch break at the office.

Your comment that only a few are recent possibly reflects a difference in the perception of time that comes from age. I think.  Actually, they cover less than twenty years, not all that unevenly, and including very recent ones (PMMM, Redline, FMA Brotherhood, and Azumanga Daioh date from 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008 respectively), but I am aware that there are some "classics" that are not represented.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 04 Sep 2012, 06:26
I just youtubed Barefoot Gen and I think I'm going to throw up
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 05 Sep 2012, 16:46
@Pwhodges: Yeah, for me the word "recent" pretty much means "Anything within the last three years, the period of time in which I became actively interested in anime and would be able to watch series as they were released". I forget sometimes that this isn't really descriptive outside of when I use it to discuss with my coworkers, who are over a decade older than me and thus remember different series as being more prevalent. And yeah, my perception of time is certainly different. Two decades to me is my entire life XD

I suppose it's the fact that I forget not everyone is my age that leads to my surprise when people start out with the Gundam, Gurren Lagann, Evangelion era series (What I think of as "old") as opposed to the "newer" ones (Clannad, Angel Beats, Lucky Star, Haruhi, etc...)

@Satsugaikaze: First rule of looking at a series you're not familiar with; try to find its TVTropes or Wikipedia page and look at its genre tags. You'll save so much on brain bleach XD. If you don't know what a genre tag is, under no circumstances should you go to imageboards to find out. Again, conservation of brain bleach. I remember when I found out that "Guro" meant "Excessive Gore fetish for people who want nonstop Goregasms"
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Sep 2012, 23:44
Gundam, Gurren Lagann, Evangelion era series (What I think of as "old")

Gundam: 1979; Evangelion: 1995; Gurren Lagann: 2007.  Hardly the same era!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 06 Sep 2012, 05:05
I know. I'm odd like that, where I think of two decades as a long time, yet my perspective is skewed into "Things I care about" (three years) and "things I don't really care about at the moment" (Everything before that)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Abyssalin on 07 Sep 2012, 15:35
I'm not a huge anime fan, but there a few i've watched and enjoyed

One such right now is Persona 4: The Animation, Which i've started watching due to it's status as one of the hardest RPG's i've ever played on expert mode (Even on an NG+ i get stomped on, and this is with max level Personae no less), So i decided to give that a try and loved it, i reccomend this. However you may not adapt to it as it keeps its feel as a mix of a game and an Anime, and seems to assume at some points you've played the game.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Abyssalin on 08 Sep 2012, 05:18
Well Tender, I have yet to play P4G because it's not out in my area yet, but that game alone is simply the reason I will be buying a PSVita,

And i just watched the Shadow Kanji episode, I will never look at that boss the same again (especially in about 10 minutes when i fight him on expert)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 28 Sep 2012, 09:47
I wonder about Paul's reaction to Madoka since I doubt he has had much exposure to the magical girl genre.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Sep 2012, 12:31
None, in fact.  But reading round, it was clear that Madoka is different, so I tried it. 

For one thing, here is an anime with an all-girl cast, but with no fan-service - nope, none at all.  Even less than Azumanga Daioh, which has a little, but inoffensive and appropriately linked to the action in any case.

Then the art - it is fantastic, most notably the fantastical realms of the witches themselves; but the whole thing is beautifully done.  I presume that the more cutesy aspects of the art follow the norm for magical girl stories - but they are well done in any case.

Then there's the story.  Not so much "magic fixes everything in the end" here.  In fact it's pretty dark, especially when
(click to show/hide)
And then the ending - Madoka makes a wish which seems to get round the limitations, but
(click to show/hide)

Of course, nothing can be immune from criticism, and here I would point at the slightly flat personalities of the characters - especially Madoka herself, who shows less development than one might like to see.  Essentially everything happens around her, until the point is reached that she can step forward and make her big decision which changes everything.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 30 Sep 2012, 06:50
Although it seems like Madoka's involvement (Let's call that a mixture of Haruka and Miharu, from The Idolmaster and Nobari no Ou respectively) is rather flat and ancillary, despite her main character status, I still think it's mostly because of her role in the story. If they had more time, maybe they could have fleshed out her character more by expanding the other groundhog-day loops, but that would have require almost a season's worth of episode 10 content.
Also: I still find it amusing how Incubator's not evil. He just shoots the dog  (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ShootTheDog)on a universal scale.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Sep 2012, 14:31
Sure; once what's going on between Homura and Madoka is spelt out, her character becomes more understandable, as does Kyuubey's persistence - so on rewatching the series, I'm less inclined to repeat the criticism of it.

Kyuubey not evil?  Well, evil is a matter of definition within a specific moral framework.  To humans, what it* is doing is evil; but from the perspective of the Incubators, who are not part of our moral framework, it is not - from our perspective, the most charitable term is amoral.

* Kyuubey being sexless.

It only occurred to me the other day that two fairly recent but quite different anime series have had attempting to deflect the fate of the universe as an underlying theme (Madoka Magica and Gurren Lagann).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 30 Sep 2012, 17:24
Well, less of deflecting fate and more like finding some anthropomorphic representation of a "foregone" conclusion and beating the ever-loving crap out of it. Then breaking reality.
Another series also came to mind: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai. Before you have a good grasp on who the big bad is, the underlying theme of the recursion scenarios is to defy fate by changing what people think is inevitable.
Speaking of flat characters though: Gurren Lagann seemed to have serious issues with characters who just came into the series with a pre-assigned personality or gimmick. The only characters I can think of who went through character development were the surviving members of the original Gurren Brigade and Rossiu. I guess Nia technically went through a serious change, but that was mostly forced.
Edit: And Viral. Viral got to change quite a bit, once he realized he was getting his ass kicked by a woman and a kid.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Oct 2012, 02:10
That's a bit hard on Nia, who came back through her own will from her forced state of being to marry Simon, even while going through her final dissolution.

And in MM, I wasn't referring to Madoka's actions in defying fate, but to the Incubators' concern with entropy which is parallel to the anti-spirals' desire to limit evolution.  I was also amused this time round by the parallel between Madoka's transformation and the "Giant Naked Rei" in the sky in End of Evangelion - even with the pattern forming in the sky as it happens!  We get to see the transformed universe in this case, though, whereas in EoE it is only frustratingly hinted at.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 10 Oct 2012, 22:32
Oh hey I totally forgot about this thread. Whoops.

So yeah I finished watching through P4: The Animation and I love most of it. I do have a collection of little gripes that don't majorly impact on my enjoyment overall, but:

- I found the fight scenes to be great eye candy (well to that end the whole series is great eye candy), but honestly Persona attacks seemd quite arbritrary at times. Normally in a regular animu you'd have all the characters telegraphing their shit for the audience to understand, but most of the time in P4:A the audience is basically expected to recognise that one colored explosion is different from another colored explosion, and weaknesses and strengths (a key element of Persona gameplay) is just there with no explanation about it. A minor gripe since the series is aimed at the fans and they'd mostly understand what was going on anyway, but it doesn't really help accessibility to the series. (See: Pyro Jack absorbing most of the enemy Agi spells in all those episodes)
- I thought the 'true ending' episode was honestly - I was going to say garbage, but it might be too strong a word. I thought putting all that plot development into half an hour was insanity, and imo it came out feeling rushed. What with all the cutting back and forth there wasn't really any sense of transition or at least, no sense that they *physically went from location A to B*.

Yeah I'm fine now, you guys can go back to your regular scheduling  :mrgreen:

/end rant
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 27 Oct 2012, 16:57
Paul, if you end up watching Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (both seasons), just keep in mind that they don't quite follow any continuity of the movies. They are their own world, so to speak.

I think that Kyubei is intentionally deceptive, if nothing else. Whether you view it as evil or "shooting the dog" is subjective to your own viewpoints, I guess...but when he says
(click to show/hide)
I think it hints at his true intentions, and him being aware that if he reveals the truth, he won't have any consenting volunteers.

And finally, for those who have seen Evangelion (or who haven't, I guess), what are your thought considering the plot similarity in RahXephon?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Oct 2012, 05:38
Paul, if you end up watching Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (both seasons), just keep in mind that they don't quite follow any continuity of the movies. They are their own world, so to speak.

Based on what I have read about the series, I have decided to pass them by and spend the time on something else.

Quote
I think that Kyubei is intentionally deceptive, if nothing else. Whether you view it as evil or "shooting the dog" is subjective to your own viewpoints, I guess...but when he says
(click to show/hide)
I think it hints at his true intentions, and him being aware that if he reveals the truth, he won't have any consenting volunteers.

Oh, I agree that Kyuubey is deceptive - it's only the moral background to that which I am trying to clarify.

Quote
And finally, for those who have seen Evangelion (or who haven't, I guess), what are your thought considering the plot similarity in RahXephon?

I don't know about RahXephon - should I?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 28 Oct 2012, 09:22
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahxephon): "RahXephon is a Japanese anime (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime) series about 17-year-old Ayato Kamina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayato_Kamina), his ability to control a mecha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecha) known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world." So from that, you know it sounds pretty similar to Evangelion.

But... "The central elements of RahXephon's plot are music, time, archetypal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetype) mystery, intrigue and romance." Okay, we're branching out a bit from the trippy Kabbalah-esque elements of NGE...

And then we learn that
(click to show/hide)
and now it's starting to throw your brain for a loop.

That's as good as I can describe it without giving away SERIOUS plot spoilers, and not having seen it for about ten years.

All I can say is, I enjoyed it, even more than NGE.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Oct 2012, 13:24
OK - it's on my list; after Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 28 Oct 2012, 14:24
BWAaaaaaahhahaha....Another excellent choice. Okay, seriously, just one more to add to your list:

High School Boy and Literary Girl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Lives_of_High_School_Boys) (AKA Daily Lives of High School Boys/男子高校生の日常/Danshi Kōkōsei no Nichijō)

I know, the title sounds inane, but it parodies itself, along with everything else in a typical high school slice-of-life series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Oct 2012, 07:53
what are your thought considering the plot similarity in RahXephon?

I just stumbled upon this comparison (http://evaxephon.com/ComparisonGallery/index.html).

(It'll be a little while before I get to RahXephon myself, but I've got a copy now.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 31 Oct 2012, 21:54
An entire website...wow, someone has way to much time on their hands. XD At least I'm not the only one who sees the writing on the wall.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Nov 2012, 16:10
The third film of Rebuild of Evangelion comes out (in Japan) in 10 days.  There have been a number of trailers around for a while, but here is a new one today:


At least one new EVA, another new pilot, and lots more...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 01 Nov 2012, 21:02
Wonder how long it will take fansubs to come out and how much drama it'll generate in the scene.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Nov 2012, 02:21
Another new girl:
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/NewGirl.jpg)
This brings Shinji's potential harem up to four (five if you include Misato)

Three hands at the keyboard - Shinji and Kaworu are friends, I presume:
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/3hands.jpg)
And those black keys are far too long!

A new EVA, fighting with a gun:
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/NewEva.jpg)
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/NewEvaFight.jpg)

The children are all angry:
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/ShinjiAngry.jpg)
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/MariAngry.jpg)
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/AsukaAngry.jpg)
(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/NewAngry.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 02 Nov 2012, 06:29
Wait, Asuka has an eyepatch? Heh.

This brings Shinji's potential harem up to four (five if you include Misato)

Shinji is a girl in Misato's harem. I think that's one's pretty obvious.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Nov 2012, 07:17
Wait, Asuka has an eyepatch? Heh.

We saw that in the trailer at the end of the previous film, I think - certainly in the first separate trailer.  She got badly beaten up, but at least she survived. 

But she's going to get badly beaten up again:

(http://cassland.org/images/EVA-Q/AsukaSuffering.jpg)

Being Asuka sucks, I guess.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 02 Nov 2012, 07:33
Being Asuka is suffering?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Nov 2012, 03:49
what are your thought considering the plot similarity in RahXephon?

A little-observed relationship (not plot): One of the main classical music themes used in RahXephon is by Borodin (Gliding Dance of the Maidens, from the Polovetsian Dances in the opera Prince Igor); and Anno wanted the OP of Evangelion to be music from that same set of dances by Borodin, but was overruled on the grounds that it would be a step too far having classical music in the opening.

And for those who feel that RahXephon was copied from Evangelion, I offer:

Rebuild-Q trailer:
(http://cassland.org/images/Eva-Q/Game.jpg)

RahXephon, episode 7:
(http://cassland.org/images/Eva-Q/GameRX.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 04 Nov 2012, 10:52
It's the same damn shogi piece, too...

Classical music fit in RhX because it was a prime theme of the plot...I suppose some nice religious hymns or Hebrew chants would fit into NGE.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: riccostar on 11 Nov 2012, 17:08
Kyuubey not evil?

Evil or not, Kyuubey tops my list of most hated anime characters of all time.  That damn
(click to show/hide)
cat thing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 11 Nov 2012, 17:28
Agreed. Creepy as hell...and I have fourteen cats, I should know.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 11 Nov 2012, 18:24
Don't forget his auto-cannibalistic tendencies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l63H-wl_8jg) XD
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: riccostar on 11 Nov 2012, 20:04
*shudder*
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 12 Nov 2012, 10:56
Oh man that noise he makes when he swallows.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 04 Dec 2012, 10:50
Why aren't you watching Girls Und Panzer? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N-gsBEzCT0U)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Dec 2012, 12:21
'Cos I don't speak Japanese?

Have the first six minutes of Evangelion Q (3.0), excellently fan-dubbed into English (this section was broadcast on TV as a taster, and is not a significant spoiler for the rest of the film - the fan-dub omits the first minute which is just setting up atmosphere really).


You can get the whole clip with subs instead here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmeh5e72ZwI).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: riccostar on 04 Dec 2012, 14:41
Has anyone been watching Psycho-Pass?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Dec 2012, 15:11
I just came across this, which I thought was rather clever:

(http://cassland.org/images/Kyuubey-char.png)

I used an image because it doesn't work nearly as well in white on black:

 /人◕ ‿‿ ◕人\

(Ooh, Firefox makes the eyes different sizes!)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 04 Dec 2012, 17:45
That's one of my Go-to ASCII faces when I want to be fancy. Others include ლ(ಠ益ಠლ) and  (⌐■_■)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Dec 2012, 23:47
I'm currently watching Nichijou.  It's OK; but after watching a run of excellent anime, I am somewhat disappointed.  It seems to be trying to be a combination of Azumanga Daioh with FLCL wackiness - but has none of the sense of continuity and development that both of those have.  I like the music.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 06 Dec 2012, 07:47
Nichijou kinda felt like someone wanted to try a variety of small skits, but didn't want to find a way to work them into an overarching plot. It kinda felt like what Lucky Star feels like in comparison to other Slice of Life series, only with even less continuity. Also: After taking a break from studying by making an AMV, I now have Y.Chang/Cristina Vee's cover of Hyadain no Kakakata Kataomoi stuck in my head XD
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 08 Dec 2012, 10:32
Just went back and finished the last four episodes of Kids on the Slope (Sakamichi no Apollon) that I forgot to watch and fuck that music is so good.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 08 Jan 2013, 14:07
Just finished watching Mirai Nikki. That series is dark. Like, really dark. Oddly enough, it still didn't feel like a dark series though. Though I guess it might have been because I somehow guessed the major plot twist really early on. Maybe I just watch many series that utilize a certain trope, and have come to recognize what's coming.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 09 Jan 2013, 15:07
I'm watching Nichibros and it's great.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 10 Jan 2013, 03:22
(http://i.imgur.com/DDCDT.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Jan 2013, 05:55
I've watched a bit, and may carry on with it some time; but it hasn't gripped me enough to prevent me watching something else instead for a while.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 10 Jan 2013, 06:00
(http://i.imgur.com/DDCDT.gif)
 

WUT. Hokay, I HAVE to watch that now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 10 Jan 2013, 10:43
-snip-
 

WUT. Hokay, I HAVE to watch that now.

It's depressing...

Just watched the first episode of Tomako Market.
So much moe-chi.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 10 Jan 2013, 21:28
But boy, can he strut that stuff.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 11 Jan 2013, 20:14
Just finished Sword Art Online over 2 days. God damn, that was what I had hoped .hack\\Roots would have been. ^.^
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 16 Jan 2013, 09:01
Anyone here know Serial Experiments Lain?  I've just ordered a copy, and would be interested in people's views.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Jan 2013, 15:34
I like it a lot.  I did have to watch it twice to understand what was going on though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Jan 2013, 14:51
Thanks for that.  I've seen it get more widely varying reviews than most series, but the accounts of it interested me which is why I'm going for it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 18 Jan 2013, 14:59
I guarantee you'll at least be interested in the subject matter of the show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 22 Jan 2013, 21:01
Has anyone else seen Elfen Lied? Thoughts?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 23 Jan 2013, 08:39
It pretends to be mature, but really it's just goreporn spiced with random fetishes (like a grown woman with the mind of a 2-year-old and a penchant for grabbing breasts and pissing herself.)  I also associate it with dark and edgy teenagers who wear trench coats and fedoras.

Edit:  Also, I wish other people would post in this thread so that I wasn't every other post.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 23 Jan 2013, 09:10
When we previewed it in an Anime club, the person who recommended it prefaced it with "If you are completely fine with the first 5 minutes of the first episode, we shouldn't have any problems". We had problems.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 23 Jan 2013, 09:19
I think everyone should watch Redline. Psychodelic race car battles that start off with their vehicles being launched from orbit onto a planet of incompetent Robot Fascists? Yes please.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Jan 2013, 10:06
I certainly enjoyed it, but almost equally certainly won't watch it again.  All fun, but no substance - not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 23 Jan 2013, 10:08
Absolutely all fun and no substance at all, agreed.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: riccostar on 23 Jan 2013, 18:10
Has anyone else seen Elfen Lied? Thoughts?

I loved Elfen Lied  :-D

Super gory and violent as hell but a really great anime!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 23 Jan 2013, 21:19
Has anyone else seen Elfen Lied? Thoughts?

I loved Elfen Lied  :-D

Super gory and violent as hell but a really great anime!

Thank you...I guess, judging by the earlier posts about it, that it's an acquired taste. *shrug*
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Jan 2013, 23:23
What Anno did first: I watched the whole of Gunbuster yesterday.  In spite of some rough edges (mainly unsatisfactory character design, which is also the main issue with the roughly contemporary Akira), it's a mighty impressive début both visually and in storytelling.  There are interesting features in the music, too, even though it's not the best aspect of the show.

It was in any case interesting to see a mecha show from that time, which I haven't before (I've not watched any Gundam, for instance).  It gave me a better appreciation of the parody in Gekigangar 3 (the show within the show in Martian Successor Nadesico) in particular.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 23 Jan 2013, 23:41
Oh man, Nadesico? Wow...I remember that from WAAAAAY back.

...Sorry, I'm not sure I'm old enough to be in this thread. :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Jan 2013, 23:51
It's nothing to do with age, in my case at least - I've only been watching anime for about eighteen months.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 23 Jan 2013, 23:54
Oho, then you have some serious catching up to do, my friend.

Hmm....have you seen Record of Lodoss War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Record_of_Lodoss_War_episodes)? or Iria:Zeiram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iria:_Zeiram_the_Animation)?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Jan 2013, 00:02
Heh - never even seen the names before!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 24 Jan 2013, 06:52
Oh man, I loved Gunbuster.  Did you watch the Science Lesson omake that go along with it?  Are you planning on watching Diebuster?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Jan 2013, 07:19
They're both waiting for the next window of opportunity. 

I've found that my copy of the last episode of Gunbuster is wrong - I have the version that is 4:3 and B/W to the end, and I gather the correct one is B/W widescreen (to give a "newsreel film" look), reverting to 4:3 colour at the end (this is downloading right now).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 24 Jan 2013, 07:51
My last episode of Gunbuster is in 4:3 but has color at the end, so I'm pretty confused.

Edit:  Well the video has letterboxes for the B/W parts but the video itself is definitely in 4:3.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Jan 2013, 08:09
That's correct - my description was a bit off.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 24 Jan 2013, 18:17
Re-watching both Vampire Hunter D movies (the original [1985], and Bloodlust [2000]).

Fukken' sweeeet.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 28 Jan 2013, 17:03
Twelve Kingdoms is one that I have enjoyed that I haven't seen mentioned yet.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emmyisnotcool on 01 Feb 2013, 18:54
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but I've been watching "His and Her Circumstances." It's by the director of the NGE series, but I assumed it would be kind of like that only less fucked up. So far it's interesting and I can see the little touches that are similar to EVA.

Before that, I had started watching about the first dozen or so episodes of "You're Under Arrest" mostly because I had heard that it's portrayal of a trans woman was better than in a lot of other media. I'm not really sure about that though. I stopped watching because the treatment of Aoi was kind of really deplorable. I heard that she gets treated better and is more accepted as the show goes on, but I couldn't stand the other characters when they treated her so badly.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 01 Feb 2013, 19:00
Has anyone here watched "Now and Then, Here and There" (今、そこにいる僕 Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku)?

Excellent in storyline, but not for the faint of heart, or the humorless.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 02 Feb 2013, 01:50
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but I've been watching "His and Her Circumstances." It's by the director of the NGE series, but I assumed it would be kind of like that only less fucked up. So far it's interesting and I can see the little touches that are similar to EVA.

It peters out at the end, because it was stopped short over disagreements with the manga's writer; but up to then it's utterly delightful, and one of my favourites (as you'll note in some of my avatar images of Arima).  Actually, I think it's best as it is, because it does start to get a bit repetitious (even if realistically so), and frankly I find that the manga goes on far too long for its material.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 02 Feb 2013, 06:52
Has anyone here watched "Now and Then, Here and There" (今、そこにいる僕 Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku)?

Excellent in storyline, but not for the faint of heart, or the humorless.
\

It's been in my backlog for over a year.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 03 Feb 2013, 08:03
Has anyone here watched "Now and Then, Here and There" (今、そこにいる僕 Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku)?

Excellent in storyline, but not for the faint of heart, or the humorless.

Been wanting to for awhile after a friend recommended it.  I need to get the anime flowing again!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 04 Feb 2013, 16:43
Recently it was shown to me how similar Perfect Blue and Black Swan are (http://magnoliapearl.tumblr.com/post/42273121433/fromonesurvivortoanother-magicalesbutts)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 04 Feb 2013, 22:43
Recently it was shown to me how similar Perfect Blue and Black Swan are (http://magnoliapearl.tumblr.com/post/42273121433/fromonesurvivortoanother-magicalesbutts)

Oh God....I can never look at that movie the same way again. Either one. Augh...... :psyduck: :psyduck: :psyduck: :psyduck: :psyduck:

DAMMIT ʇǝb the ʞɔnɟ out ɟo my pɐǝɥ!!! NURRRRRRRR X_X
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Feb 2013, 01:56
My last episode of Gunbuster is in 4:3 but has color at the end, so I'm pretty confused.
Edit:  Well the video has letterboxes for the B/W parts but the video itself is definitely in 4:3.

Just to out-nerd myself, I've sorted out four distinct versions of this last episode.

(1) The first DVD remasters included as an extra the development version of the last episode, in full 4:3 before it was letterboxed.  This also stays B/W to the end, and is missing the globe image behind the last part of the credits.  (It is clear that this was available for some later remastering, because the margins of the letterboxing vary slightly in the different versions.)

(2) The broadcast, VHS and first DVDs that were made from the VHS are in native 4:3, but with the image letterboxed.  The image switches to colour when they eject from Gunbuster, but stays letterboxed until the globe fades up behind the final credits in full 4:3.  (Western versions of this have hard subtitles, even on the DVD; I've got one from Hong Kong with soft subtitles, but it's only marginally clear that they are in English!)

(3) The first DVD remastering presented the episode the same, but cut down to native 16:9.  The end credits were not modified, so when the globe fades up the top and bottom are cut off.

(4) The BluRay remastering (I'm looking at the Gunbuster vs Diebuster movie version) is also presented in native 16:9, with the earlier episodes having black bars at the sides.  Again, it stays in 16:9 to the end, but this time the globe that fades up behind the credits has been reduced in size to fit within the restricted frame height; this matches the similar image at the end of Diebuster, which of course was always in 16:9.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 06 Feb 2013, 14:24
Hmm...  The BD remasters I have (that have the new audio) also have the Earth cut at the credits.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Feb 2013, 14:40
I think the films are a re-remaster; but in spite of the amount of cutting necessary the last episode of Gunbuster is included absolutely complete.  If you have a BD of the series (which seems to be really silly money to get hold of, which is why I haven't), I suppose that must have been taken from the DVD remaster (the one where they changed the music in the first episode).

(later) Oh, and the film remastering is the only one I've seen where the subtitles for the "WELCOME BACK" message have the "K" reversed to match the reversed letter in the Japanese (a minimal indication of changes that have happened during the time skip).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Feb 2013, 03:36
I just finished Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary) yesterday. I enjoyed it. The art and design is gorgeous; but although the overall arch of the story works out quite well, I was uncomfortable with the ineffectiveness of most of the characters at crucial points - basically, in almost every episode one or other character just chickens out of killing another that is completely at their mercy, and it feels as if the writers had to do that to keep the story on the road but couldn't really think of a justification within the script. Yukki getting decisive was a bit sudden as well, but I didn't so much mind that. Oh, and the jokey bit with Murmur at the end of each episode got a bit tedious once it left off describing the recruitment of some of the diary-holders.

Starting on Serial Experiments Lain now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 12 Feb 2013, 04:40
It was interesting watching everything up til the final 4 in the survival game, in that I found pretty much every character had enough of a backstory and enough character traits to justify being main protagonists themselves, with the exception of Yukki (I couldn't decide if he reminded me more of Shinji from Evangelion or Hope from FF13). It did sort of get needlessly complicated near the end, when Yukki took his inevitable level in badass after BSOD'ing. Which is fine, because I like needlessly complicated.

As for the hesitancy in actually killing their opponents, it seemed to me that with the exception of 7th's seizures of First's and Second's phones without killing them, most people acted in a justified way. Remember, with the exception of second, third, sixth, ninth, and maybe eleventh. Tenth seemed out of place in that regard, but then again he didn't get much screentime. Aside from those, everyone else was a civilian and less likely to outright murder people at the first opportunity, even if they were aiming to become god and fix it anyway.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 12 Feb 2013, 13:14
Seems like this week is the week I try and get back into my backlog. Planning to try getting into To Aru Majutsu no Index again, maybe Infinite Stratos, and Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!

On the subject of Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!, I'd say it's a mark of good writing if the absurdity of the cringe-worthy lines are delivered in a setting in such a way that they actually do make me want to cringe, even though they wouldn't seem out of place in almost any other situation.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Feb 2013, 14:54
most people acted in a justified way.

The most blatant fumbled opportunity, I felt, was when Yukki had the eighth and the eleventh trapped in the car at the end of his gun, not so long after he'd finally got determined to win, and Aru Akise was in the far distance approaching on a motorbike.  So they stood there saying: "oh dear he's coming to stop us doing this" while he was actually still far too far away to do anything.  It just seemed wrong dramatically.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 12 Feb 2013, 15:17
Oh yeah, add that to the list. Especially right after he had no issue of gunning down eighth's followers earlier.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Feb 2013, 06:06
To be fair, it'd be pretty hard to shoot something that looks like this:

(click to show/hide)

Edit:  Guess I'll spoiler this since it may, well, be a spoiler.  (Despite the fact that we've spoiled a lot more in this thread already.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 13 Feb 2013, 07:11
That's why I just refer to people by their number :P And considering first was planning to just fix everything later and had already shot a lot of eighth's followers minutes beforehand, it seemed like he could have easily done it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 15 Feb 2013, 14:36
I just finished Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary) yesterday. I enjoyed it. The art and design is gorgeous; but although the overall arch of the story works out quite well, I was uncomfortable with the ineffectiveness of most of the characters at crucial points - basically, in almost every episode one or other character just chickens out of killing another that is completely at their mercy, and it feels as if the writers had to do that to keep the story on the road but couldn't really think of a justification within the script. Yukki getting decisive was a bit sudden as well, but I didn't so much mind that. Oh, and the jokey bit with Murmur at the end of each episode got a bit tedious once it left off describing the recruitment of some of the diary-holders.

Starting on Serial Experiments Lain now.

Lain is strange, but definitely interesting and worth the watch.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 15 Feb 2013, 15:55
Yes - I'll be watching Lain again for sure.  I'm also going to try the others from the same source: Haibane Renmei and Texhnolyze (which I gather is tough to watch). 

Meanwhile, for a break, I'm watching Girls und Panzer - using the sensible subtitles, not the half-German ones which, if not actually offensive, are definitely in poor taste, and in any case don't reflect anything that is part of the original.  Anyway, the show is pure brainless fluff, but rather delightfully done I have to admit.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blyss on 15 Feb 2013, 18:28
So, uhm, High School of the Dead...

I just...

Wow.

And did the series end at the end of the 12th episode?  Because I can't tell if that's game over or to be continued.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 15 Feb 2013, 18:52
I have only watched the first episode of High School of the Dead...I need my fix, I need more O__O

I do not wish to be disappointed. :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 15 Feb 2013, 19:59
It's entirely possible that the story does continue in a way that allows for another season, but there's no budget for it. Then again, considering the cast and the opportunity for Merch, it's unlikely. Either they just don't want to make another season or it's in development hell. Either way, it's entirely possible that the cryptic plot hook in the first episode will never be explained.

Still love the super-sonic jiggle physics. Those who have seen it, you know what I'm talking about. Those who haven't, are you really surprised?

Edit: Yeah, the manga's kinda... stopped. From what I can see, it stopped almost two years ago, and there doesn't seem to have been a conclusive ending.

Also, just watched Fairy Tail 169. It's rather amusing to leave off on a cliffhanger battle, only to loudly announce a completely different matchup as the title of the next episode.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Feb 2013, 07:45
According to google, the HotD manga is supposed to continue in spring of this year.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-02-09/highschool-of-the-dead-manga-return-slated-for-spring
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 16 Feb 2013, 07:53
I tried to watch High School of the Dead, but the constant panty shots and jiggling boob physics completely turned me off of it. It and examples like it are one of the reasons of why I don't get more into anime than I have and instead rely almost entirely on suggestions from people I know with similar tastes. Of course this is completely ignoring that exploitation and old horror films are things I enjoy. There is also a reason why I don't participate in the community for either though.

 I really need to sit down and start on the various Gundam series. I wanna get it on with some Sci-Fi colonialism and xenophobia war stories.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Feb 2013, 10:52
The fanservice in HotD is pretty ridiculous.

If you're going to watch the original Gundam series I'd recommend watching the three compilation movies.  Cuts out of lot of the pointless filler and improves some of the really bad animations.  The only really bad Gundam show I've watched was Double Zeta.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 16 Feb 2013, 11:10
I watched Wing when I was in my teens, but I figure I should rewatch it at some point as well. Also, thanks for the tip on the movies for the original series. Are there any specific Gundam series that anyone would recommend I just avoid altogether?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Feb 2013, 11:26
Like I said, Double Zeta is pretty awful.  Zeta Gundam is great though.  If you ever want to watch a good 100+ episode space opera there's always Legend of the Galactic Heroes.

Edit:  There's also a remake of Space Battleship Yamato that is airing right now that is apparently really good, but I haven't gotten around to watching any of it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 16 Feb 2013, 12:00
The Space Battleship Yamato remake is definitely on my list of things to watch.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 16 Feb 2013, 12:42
I just misread that as "Space Battleship Tomato" and it amused me greatly.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Feb 2013, 12:57
(http://i.imgur.com/TMHcmBG.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 17 Feb 2013, 03:50
Yes - I'll be watching Lain again for sure.  I'm also going to try the others from the same source: Haibane Renmei and Texhnolyze (which I gather is tough to watch). 

Meanwhile, for a break, I'm watching Girls und Panzer - using the sensible subtitles, not the half-German ones which, if not actually offensive, are definitely in poor taste, and in any case don't reflect anything that is part of the original.  Anyway, the show is pure brainless fluff, but rather delightfully done I have to admit.

I haven't seen Texhnolyze yet, but Haibanei Renmei is definitely one of my favorite anime.  I watched it not knowing what to expect, it starts off slowly but after a couple episodes I just kept watching until I finished it.  Highly recommended!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 17 Feb 2013, 06:35
It and examples like it are one of the reasons of why I don't get more into anime than I have and instead rely almost entirely on suggestions from people I know with similar tastes.

My general approach is honestly to go by aesthetics or the frequency in which I run into the series. It generally works. Generally (Kinda glaring at Yosuga no Sora and Kanokon though)
Granted, it probably only works as well because I end up on a lot of nightcore videos, and thus certain characters make frequent appearances, but whatever.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 17 Feb 2013, 09:27
Kanokon

This may be the worst show I've ever seen.  There are a lot of shit harem anime out there but this one may take the cake in my opinion.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 17 Feb 2013, 18:11
I know XD Apparently, it's WORSE in the manga...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 18 Feb 2013, 05:52
So, they're making a new Ghost in the Shell.

Cast:
(http://i.imgur.com/YjTF64N.jpg)

PV:


Edit:  Does the youtube embed not work?
(fixed for you; the v parameter has to come first - Paul)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 18 Feb 2013, 06:22
Edit:  Does the youtube embed not work?

You left a "[" square bracket at the end of the link, it won't auto-parse it. Remove the bracket, the link works fine without it.  :P


I first though the picture was shopped, because all the characters look a little off...and then I watched the video.

HOLY SHITBALLS this is a prequel to the S.A.C series!! This...I cannot describe in words.

Ghost in the Shell is my undisputed favorite anime of all time. As such, I can't wait to see this...but by the looks of the text after the preview, it's going straight to DVD? I can't read kanji, someone needs to translate this for me :mrgreen: :mrgreen:  :mrgreen: ARRGHDFSLRGNVKJVSBNFOBNSFNBKDFNTRB @__@
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Feb 2013, 06:28
Here's a thread about it (http://forum.evageeks.org/thread/13848/Ghost-in-the-Shell-Arise/), with some people's considerable reservations about it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 18 Feb 2013, 06:38
...but by the looks of the text after the preview, it's going straight to DVD?

Quote
The staff of the Ghost in the Shell Arise anime announced the details of its project on Tuesday. The project will consist of four 50-minute parts.

The first part, "Ghost Pain," will run in Japanese theaters for two weeks starting on Saturday, June 22. There will be advance Blu-ray Disc copies with a bundled scenario book available at participating theaters for 8,000 yen (about US$85). There will also be paid streaming of the project, at least in Japan. The general retail release of the first part's Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be on July 26.

I'm already tired of the bitching about the new VA's, but maybe that's because I've only ever watched GitS dubbed.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 18 Feb 2013, 13:55
Is Yoko Kanno still in charge of the soundtrack? That's half the experience right there...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Feb 2013, 15:15
The third Rebuild of Evangelion film: Evangelion:3.33 is coming out for home viewing much, much sooner than expected.  DVD and BD release is 24th April (in Japan).  I don't know the DVD settings (Japan itself is R2), but I gather the BD will be all regions (ABC).  Early orders will also get a new soundtrack CD.  I still expect another year before the English dub arrives, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 18 Feb 2013, 19:55
Is Yoko Kanno still in charge of the soundtrack? That's half the experience right there...

Sadly I do not believe so.    :cry:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 18 Feb 2013, 21:11
Is Yoko Kanno still in charge of the soundtrack? That's half the experience right there...

Sadly I do not believe so.    :cry:

Hokay, I'm out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 19 Feb 2013, 06:35
You'll totally still watch it for completionist's sake.

This guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_(musician)) is doing the music.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Bluesummers on 19 Feb 2013, 20:01
You'll totally still watch it for completionist's sake.

You're damn right I will. I can't help it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Feb 2013, 02:57
I'll chime in for Angel Beats, Outlaw Star, Le Chevalier D'Eon, Tenchi Universe and the Tenchi OVAs and if you don't mind some serious business with your anime and if you can find it an incredible piece called "Flag"
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 21 Feb 2013, 16:22
Le Chevalier D'Eon and Flag are actually on my watch list right now!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 21 Feb 2013, 18:47
D'Eon is... odd. It's entertaining, but still rather odd. I guess the thing is that it was loosely based off of an actual person.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 26 Feb 2013, 09:01
So, I finished Haibane Renmei, and enjoyed it very much.  Very gentle, and takes its time to come to a point, but ends up very satisfactorily, I'd say.

Now I've moved on to Texhnolyze, which is drawing me in - but golly, it's hard work! Dark, dark images; no one even speaks for the first twelve minutes of the first episode; and everything that happens is very obtuse.  I have no idea yet what it's really about, either.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 27 Feb 2013, 05:53
How is Texhnolyze compared to Lain in watchability?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 27 Feb 2013, 06:21
Well, I don't know what constitutes watchability in your view.  But I find it harder work.  In Lain, you can tell what's going on most of the time, even if you can't quite understand it; but in Texhnolyze, it feels as if everything is kept as obscure as possible.  People often speak only half a sentence, and break off one word before saying what will enable you to understand; the main(ish) character's name has only been spoken twice in the eleven episodes I've watched; you get shots of just someone's eye, so it's hard even to identify them; you see whole telephone conversations without hearing a single word of either side.  The whole to show you a world so dysfunctional that you wonder why the gangs would even be fighting over it (there is a reason, but it's mentioned so rarely that you have to concentrate to catch it).  But it's well done, and I want to know how it plays out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Black Sword on 27 Feb 2013, 09:57
Texhnolyze is soul-crushingly depressing, easily as painful as Now and Then, Here and There. It's not a show I could watch more than once, unless I was doing anime video reviews.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 01 Mar 2013, 02:25
So, I finished Haibane Renmei, and enjoyed it very much.  Very gentle, and takes its time to come to a point, but ends up very satisfactorily, I'd say.

Now I've moved on to Texhnolyze, which is drawing me in - but golly, it's hard work! Dark, dark images; no one even speaks for the first twelve minutes of the first episode; and everything that happens is very obtuse.  I have no idea yet what it's really about, either.

Glad you enjoyed it!  Definitely one that didn't stand out to me (Well aside from just about everyone, including fans of completely opposite genres, giving it huge props) until I started watching it.

Texhnolyze is soul-crushingly depressing, easily as painful as Now and Then, Here and There. It's not a show I could watch more than once, unless I was doing anime video reviews.

Soul-crushingly?  Yikes.  I haven't seen that many that I consider to be that hard (I was depressed for weeks after watching End of Evangelion).  If its well done though I might have to watch that one, though not when I'm feeling really depressed!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Mar 2013, 02:43
Texhnolyze seems to be asking the question: how far can we retain our humanity as we repair and improve our bodies more and more using technology?  Given the somewhat optimistic note that Serial Experiments Lain's discussion of the mind migrating into the universal network appeared to end on, I find it interesting that the same author's conclusion in this instance is so deeply pessimistic.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 01 Mar 2013, 03:06
Texhnolyze seems to be asking the question: how far can we retain our humanity as we repair and improve our bodies more and more using technology?  Given the somewhat optimistic note that Serial Experiments Lain's discussion of the mind migrating into the universal network appeared to end on, I find it interesting that the same author's conclusion in this instance is so deeply pessimistic.

Not a bad idea to explore the other side of the coin as I'm certain there are just as many, if not more, dark possible outcomes of our ever increasing use of technology in all facets of our life.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Mar 2013, 03:45
Le Chevalier D'Eon and Flag are actually on my watch list right now!

Flag is really hard to find certain parts of, I had trouble even finding a download, the second volume in particular is a bear. I believe I payed $12 + S&H for volumes 1, 3 and 4, along with the fancy box for the series, but I payed $20 for volume 2... after looking for a copy for months!

D'Eon is... odd. It's entertaining, but still rather odd. I guess the thing is that it was loosely based off of an actual person.

Wow! I didn't know there was some actual historical relevance to it! I thought it was all fluff arranged in a vaguely historical setting around the fall of L'ancien Regiem. Off to do research! I'll agree it's slightly... different for an anime, it almost came off as a hybrid with Western animation in many respects. Still quite good! I have a thing for the opening theme as well.


On a spoilerish note for D'Eon
(click to show/hide)

On to another anime, this one has earned my ire. Gankutsuou, which masquerades as an adaption of Le Comte de Monte Cristo, masterpiece of Alexander Dumas, and my favorite book got me ripping mad about how loosely it's adaption was handled, at least when I got over being ill from it's garish visual design.

For my current watch lists, I'm a Spice and Wolf fanboy so I'm really enjoying Maoyu through Crunchyroll, and I'm excited to finally get the conclusion of Girls Und Panzer. I'm looking at Heaven's Note Pad and Infinite Stratos as anime to watch... but they aren't dubbed yet, and I tend to "watch" anime while I'm painting or doing something else, so a dub is just convenient. It's rare I'll watch an anime with a dub in the Japanese, usually if a purist forces me to, or a dub is /really/ that atrocious... like Love Hina, which I'm pretty sure was supposed to be offensive to English speakers, and Sailor Moon... *shudder* too... much.... 90s....

Also just finished a rewatch of the Tenchi OVAs (like literally a couple minutes ago) the shift in VAs, and series tone from season 2 to season 3 is /really/ jarring when you watch it straight through. Like shifting from first to fifth without a clutch. Still good, just really different.

Texhnolyze seems to be asking the question: how far can we retain our humanity as we repair and improve our bodies more and more using technology?  Given the somewhat optimistic note that Serial Experiments Lain's discussion of the mind migrating into the universal network appeared to end on, I find it interesting that the same author's conclusion in this instance is so deeply pessimistic.

Not a bad idea to explore the other side of the coin as I'm certain there are just as many, if not more, dark possible outcomes of our ever increasing use of technology in all facets of our life.

Well then the question really should become, what is humanity exactly? and does one really have to be human to be.,, well human? That's a pretty common theme in futuristic anime, lots of synthoids walking around, of course it's a pretty common theme in sci-fi of all hardness levels, with Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? being the most blatant example.

<mod edit>Fixed YouTube link - the tag doesn't handle https<mod>

Edit: Thanks Mod! I'll keep that in mind.

And to add to my own post, I just finished Infinite Stratos in a single binge marathon, great mecha fights with harem comedy? It's my anime version of junk food <3
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 22 Mar 2013, 01:47
Aw fuck I can't believe I forgot to mention Eden of the East (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com.au/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10474). Did I mention Eden of the East?

To summarise it's credentials, the genre's generally listed as involving dark mystery/psychological intrigue alongside light-hearted romance. It's written/directed by Kenji Kamiyama (the main brain behind Stand Alone Complex), scored by Kenji Kawai (the GitS films). In a nutshell it's a classic Production I.G title - smart, well-written, thoughtful and with a level of animation quality people would take for granted from I.G. There's also a level of humanity and character that is honestly quite surprising coming from a Kamiyama script.

And its OP and ED contain fucking awesome gems like this:



If there was one tiny (and honestly quite petty) gripe I had about this series, is that it's very much an introspection on Japanese society and the changing of their demographics and their working population. It doesn't quite address more broad themes of humanity like Ghost in the Shell does, but there's nothing wrong with that. What is significant, though, is that because it's so focused on Japanese culture and society that it might take a certain understanding of context (the prevalence at the time of NEETs and the social stigma against them) as well as an understanding of Japanese sensibilities, in order to fully appreciate the things Kamiyama writes in this series.

Otherwise, it's a fucking good, self-contained series with both whimsy and thoughtfulness.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 08 Apr 2013, 14:06
What are we all watching this season?
Started on Attack On Titan which is absolutely amazing one episode in and has a boss level OP.


Also watching Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (stupid name which is even stupider in english) for a bit of light entertainment, quite funny with Monogatari-esq back and forth conversations.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Apr 2013, 14:19
I don't know about the new season - I'm still catching up with the classics. 

Anyway, I just finished Nadia (what a curate's egg that is!); but I took time out to watch Girls und Panzer, which is lightweight fluff but really good fun too (just select the sensible subtitles rather than the fake Germanic ones which are (a) unjustified by the original, and (b) mildly offensive, to my mind).  Next up: Mobile Suit Gundam 0080, which will be my first of that franchise. Oh, and Little Witch Academia.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 08 Apr 2013, 17:34
Not watching anything new, but working through my backlog. Recently watched list includes:
Chuunibyou
Anohana (Technically a rewatch. I was kinda bored)
Eden of the East
Bakemonogatari

Working through To Aru Index, and planning on moving on to either Niseimonogatari or a few others that have caught my eye. Of course, that's if I don't keep getting distracted by other things (If anyone's appreciative of Visual Novels like me, check out Katawa Shoujo. It's very well written AND has the commendable option to turn the porn off, something that more games of its genre would do well to emulate.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 08 Apr 2013, 18:55
Assault on Titan looks really good! Gonna go look that up now, otherwise I have a ton of backlog stuff to work through... finally getting to Real Bout High School, currently going through My Bride is a Mermaid and My Ordinary Life which are both wonderful in the unique brands of madness sense.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Apr 2013, 02:06
Not watching anything new, but working through my backlog. Recently watched list includes:
Chuunibyou

Oh yes, Chu-2, I forgot that one - it's also queued up for watching; as is [C]: Control - The Money of Soul and Possibility.

My Ordinary Life [...] wonderful in the unique brands of madness sense.

Aka Nichijou unless I'm confused; see my comments on that earlier (I prefer Azumanga Daioh).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: mtmerrick on 09 Apr 2013, 03:06
Have I mentioned I get kinda dyslexic-ish when I get tired? Cuz I read this thread title as "autism anyone?" and was like WTF is going on here?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 09 Apr 2013, 08:18
Attack on Titan had a great first episode.  So did Suisei no Garugantia, which is Urobuchi's newest anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Apr 2013, 09:24

My Ordinary Life [...] wonderful in the unique brands of madness sense.

Aka Nichijou unless I'm confused; see my comments on that earlier (I prefer Azumanga Daioh).

Yeah that's the one, I was way too tired to remember the Japanese title last night.

I decided to give Oreimo when it popped up on CrunchyRoll last night... and it really didn't have much going for it or really going on besides creepy incest undertones. The OP "Irony" by Claris is probably the high point of the series... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCqjZ3MJqXo otherwise forgettable and creepy. Don't waste your time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 11 Apr 2013, 14:27
I finished the Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica manga and I'm moving on to the anime
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 11 Apr 2013, 14:53
I'm surprised you didn't watch the anime first.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Apr 2013, 14:54
I really like the anime - but I haven't read the manga to compare.  At least when seen with no prior knowledge, as I did, it does appear to benefit from being seen again.  I've seen a number of people criticise the Madoka character first time through, but decide on another viewing that they were too harsh.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 11 Apr 2013, 15:05
Even if I hated all of the characters (which I didn't) I think that the design choices would have carried me through it.  The witches are amazing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 11 Apr 2013, 18:49
Well, a lot of the Madoka criticism is that she's the titular character and she really doesn't do anything at all upon first glance. Sayaka acted more like a main character, and to be honest, I hated Sayaka.
(click to show/hide)
It kinda reminds me of the first impression I had of Kyon from the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, where he was the only "normal" character in the series. Of course, I liked Kyon more because he was a deadpan snarker.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Apr 2013, 23:11
I wanted to watch it, but it just couldn't keep my attention (Madoka)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 12 Apr 2013, 01:37
Niseimonogatari

If you're not a fan of porn in anime, you might be disappointed by the direction of Nisei compared to Bake.  :mrgreen:

The level of taboo in the series ramps up to eleven, self-awareness or no.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 12 Apr 2013, 07:40
Eh, I sat through Yosuga no Sora with little to no issues. I'm sure I could handle a little squick as long as it's not specifically there for squickyness' sake.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 12 Apr 2013, 12:45
Well, a lot of the Madoka criticism is that she's the titular character and she really doesn't do anything at all upon first glance.

In my mind Homura will always be the main character.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Apr 2013, 12:53
Like Sam is the main character of The Lord of the Rings.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 12 Apr 2013, 18:59
Niseimonogatari

If you're not a fan of porn in anime, you might be disappointed by the direction of Nisei compared to Bake.  :mrgreen:

The level of taboo in the series ramps up to eleven, self-awareness or no.

It left a bad taste in my mouth that made me really want to brush my teeth.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 13 Apr 2013, 05:43
So does Nisemonogatari just become extreme fanservice?  I thought Bakemonogatari looked interesting but reading AniDB's summary of Nise is a bit of a letdown.  Does the prequel Nekomonogatari go the same route as Nise?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Apr 2013, 06:12
Oh god that avatar-post synergy is great.

As far as I remember, there are two or three major scenes that top (in taboo) Bakemonogatari's fanservice in Nisemonogatari, and all of the fanservice in Nekomonogatari is focused on Hanekawa.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 14 Apr 2013, 09:59
These two episode of Suisei no Gargantia have been fucking amazing.

(http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/529/785/828.gif)

I just know Urobuchi is going to take it in a dark direction, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 14 Apr 2013, 11:47
Good recommendation Cire! Really enjoying this.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 17 Apr 2013, 20:32
So does Nisemonogatari just become extreme fanservice?  I thought Bakemonogatari looked interesting but reading AniDB's summary of Nise is a bit of a letdown.  Does the prequel Nekomonogatari go the same route as Nise?

Pretty much. I haven't seen Neko (should get around to it i guess) but Nise just carries on with the pedo vibes less because there was exposition to be gained from it (like in the first show) and more just because "Oh, he likes fondling schoolgirls and that's funny." It also brings up incestual undertones - again, just because.
The only fanservice I didn't roll my eyes at was with scenes with Kanbaru Suruga in it, because she's basically a lesbian who openly flaunted her appeal to get a rise out of the main characters and it wasn't any less ridiculous than the things she did in the first series. The last couple of episodes of the series do better than the early ones because they sort of deal with issues that offhandedly parallel family problems and feelings of belonging and actually treat it with a modicum of seriousness.

But then HAHA HE KISSED HIS SISTER IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE IT'S HIS SISTER HAHA.

It left a bad taste in my mouth that made me really want to brush my teeth.

I see what you did there, you tyrant.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 18 Apr 2013, 10:30
Never read the light novels guys.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Apr 2013, 11:00
I tried it with Sword Art Online and Infinite Stratos.... Yeah totally regretting that decision on all counts.

Just finished Otome Youkai Zakuro. Not a bad anime, but it's labeled as seinen, don't be fooled, it's shojo in disguise, useless bishis being saved by pretty girls with fox ears every where. However I enjoyed the cast enough to stick it out past the lamer moments, Zakuro herself besides being OP as all hell, is one of the best balanced tsundere characters I've ever seen, so while a cliche riddled anime it was over all a beautifully executed cliche riddled anime, by both voice actors and the art team. It's a nice 13 episode length that doesn't over stay it's welcome and doesn't pull any stupid crap like an onsen or beach episode which I SWEAR I thought was mandated by Japanese law. I award this a 7/10 and it is available for free on crunchy roll.

OH! And it receives a super special award for avoiding my two anime pet peeves of not wrapping up the plot at the end (you know by having an actual freaking ENDING) and for actually wrapping up it's romance sub plot. That there's actual character development is just sweet icing on the cake.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 18 Apr 2013, 12:49
@satsugaikaze - Yeah the pedo stuff really creeps me out, especially if its portrayed as being humorous.

@Cire27 - The light novels even worse?

@GarandMarine - I'll have to check that one out.  Might be a nice break from all the shonen anime where the females are all sub-par in ability compared to the male characters.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: satsugaikaze on 19 Apr 2013, 05:57
Never read the light novels guys.

Yeah it honestly felt a bit tragic for me when I realised that Niseimonogatari was probably closer to the "script" per se in terms of level of fanservice etc. I want to see how they do with Nekomonogatari though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Apr 2013, 14:14
CDJapan have shipped my copy of Evangelion 3.33 (officially out on Wednesday), so I could get it as early as Friday; though next week is more likely :angelface:



Keeping myself amused meanwhile, I found this hilarious fan-fic manga which takes place in the world of Evangelion 3 (it bears no relationship to anything in the film, but has several spoilers for it none the less):  here (http://danbooru.donmai.us/pools/6773) (hover over the Japanese text for the translations).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Apr 2013, 15:23
I'll second Gargantia, I think it's going to end up being the stand out of the season for me with it's unique world, solid animation and extremely enjoyable characters.
Attack on Titan is kinda annoying me with a VERY slow set up. It's a 26 episode series though I believe so I'm hoping it's going to pay out the long set up time in spades later. The OP Crimson Bow and Arrows is freaking AWESOME too.

stuff from this season I'm enjoying:

Mushinbugyo is decent enough to keep my attention, but it's pretty standard issue giant insect fighting samurai stuff so far.

Sparrow's Hotel appears to be a collection of 3 minute shorts with a lower quality animation style, interesting characters and decent humor if you have a taste for the absurd. It's about what you'd expect if you stuck a busty ninja girl into a job as a hotel front desk worker.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU - Rom Com that goes heavy on the snark? Yes please. Even if you do want to strangle the male and female leads for being pretentious idiots now and then.

Red Data Girl sounds like fun! but I haven't gotten around to an episode yet

On another note, I've also been watching Oriemo on and off, it's got some squicky edges but it's interesting how it has a duel level set up to explore the various tropes related to Otaku and dating sim games... while at the same time using them in the anime's over arching plot with the main character. Not for everyone... me included.

Oh and it's OP for season 1 at least is done by Claris, which can only be a positive thing.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 24 Apr 2013, 04:57
I was initially interested in the Rebuild of Evangelion until I saw some of the changes in the second one.  And then after seeing the very end of 2.0 I became interested again as it seemed that this might not be as much a retelling as I thought.  After seeing the expanded trailers for 3 and 4 I've become quite excited as some of the scenes reminded me of some Evangelion themed dreams I've had. 

I heard that the last part is supposed to hit theaters by the end of this year but I'm not sure what the chances of that happening are.  :-\
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Apr 2013, 05:16
Before the release of Q / 3.0 that published projection was that Final / 4.0 would be before the end of this year.  That projection has been removed, and can now be presumed to be wrong.  On the other hand, the startlingly fast release of the BD/DVD of Q suggests a desire to keep things moving more than previously, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Final arrive in the earlier part of 2014.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 24 Apr 2013, 09:14
Oh man oh man.  I'm so excited for these fansubs to get released so I can finally watch Q.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 24 Apr 2013, 09:20
I've watched it by running the subbed camrip in synch on the other screen just for the subtitles (and to see the subtle changes in the new version) - I won't merge them till some better ones are out, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 25 Apr 2013, 18:03
Speaking of Evangelion, Hideaki Anno commissioned a short film from Studio Ghibli.

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2013/04/24/studio-ghibli-giant-god-warrior-short-nausicaa-neon-genesis-evangelion/

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 25 Apr 2013, 19:30
I remember watching a preview of that or something very similar a while back.  It's basically a prequel to Nausicaa, right?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 25 Apr 2013, 21:04
Yeah, set approximately 1,000 years before hand.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Shogouki on 25 Apr 2013, 22:58
Sweet!  Must watch!  :-o
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 25 Apr 2013, 23:33
It precedes Q on the Eva 3.33 BD/DVD, just as it did in the cinema release.  I've not seen subs for it yet (no one published a camrip of it to work on), and I have no idea whether the upcoming new subs for Q from UTW will include it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 26 Apr 2013, 10:32
For some completely random reason, I went ahead and rewatched the Ghost Stories dub. I'd forgotten how amusing it was.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 26 Apr 2013, 12:11
As far as I know, we're only waiting on the encoding work to be done for UTW's release.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 26 Apr 2013, 13:04
They're suckers for quality, it seems - they've had the 1080 video encode running for nearly two days, it seems.  The 720 will take another day after that.  The subs themselves had finished QC this morning (Europe time).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 26 Apr 2013, 13:25
You can never tell with fansub groups until their stuff actually comes out.  I'm sure there will be a ton more encodes released with their subs eventually.

Quote
Encode: Just 4-5 hours left on the 1080p raw now. 720p raw after that.

Pretty damn excited.  I wish I knew how to set up automatic downloads for this kind of thing.

Edit:  And it's out!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 28 Apr 2013, 11:59
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-04-28/girls-and-panzer-anime-gets-2014-film-new-ova-fan-disk

Girls und Panzer getting a film and an OVA with the Anzio battle in 2014.


Yesssssssssssssssssss give me more cute girls driving WW2 armor!

Do you think the collegiate league of tank warfare drives Cold War era tanks? Is there a free for all every year based on the Fulda Gap? Actually that's a fairly brilliant idea, each college submits a unit and is assigned red or blue. Operation REFORGER is a four day combat exercise that tests participating teams combat and operational skills in the field. Team work at the "group", school and individual crew level is vital to victory in the Fulda Gap.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/U.S._Army_during_REFORGER_%2782.JPEG)

I'd also like to see a U.S. Marines based force in the future, amphibious landings baby!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 07 Jun 2013, 16:26
If anyone here hasn't watched The Tatami Galaxy and is it all interested in absurdism in anime then I suggest that you check it out.  I'm terrible at synopsis so I'll just quote some site.

Quote
We watch an unnamed protagonist live his university years over and over again with different 'what if?' beginnings to each - trying to find which choices will allow him to achieve a perfect college life.

(http://i.imgur.com/QvUCP8v.jpg)

It also has pretty good music.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Loki on 08 Jun 2013, 03:12
Speaking of absurdism: I apologize if this was already mentioned here, but I really enjoy Yakitate Japan (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Manga/YakitateJapan?from=Main.YakitateJapan) (TvTropes link). It's an anime about... bread. Making bread in that universe is SeriousBusiness and there are tournaments with lots of audience, fandom and everything.

It is downright hilarious (and also somewhat educational. Did you know that allergy to dairy is usually triggered by alpha S1-casein? Neither did I before watching it.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Jun 2013, 00:46
For absurd I just went through some of Kemeko DX... it's free on crunchy roll and I... fuck it I don't quite know what happened there.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 09 Jun 2013, 05:52
Isn't it just some generic harem show?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Jun 2013, 10:23
Nope. Not at all. There's only two girls tops and... yeah. It's more in the same vein as FLCL then anything else.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 09 Jun 2013, 10:33
Ah, well maybe I'll watch it.  Everything I've read about it just says that the characters are awful.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Jun 2013, 12:11
That is valid criticism.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Jun 2013, 05:32
I've been neglecting this thread.  So what have I watched in the last few weeks?  (These notes are taken from another site where I made my comments in a timely manner - I hope they've remained coherent in the adaptation.)



Chu-2, or to give it's full English name: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/chu2-1.png)

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/chu2-2.jpg)

(As of this paragraph) I've watched 8/12 episodes of Chu-2, and am enjoying it to an improbable extent.  Around ep3 I started seeing Yuuta as Kyon (without the snark) to Rikka's Haruhi, and loving him for it.  Rikka is, as intended I suppose, really irritating; but the beginnings of a romantic attachment between her and Yuuta is being very well handled, the slowness and uncertainty adding realism to what could just be something conventional.

(A later post:) So I finished Chu-2.  The main show, that is; I haven't watched the introductory Lite episodes or the Depth of Field bonus episodes yet - I may come back to then another time.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/JustPinkies.jpg)

As I said before, I've been enjoying this a lot, and I continued to enjoy it up to the end.  But I did find myself getting a bit confused in the last episode.  The story seemed to be taking the line that youthful delusions should be left behind in order to move forward, and so that Rikka, in particular, could accept the death of her father and also open up to a relationship with Yuuta.  But then Yuuta is persuaded that Rikka should be allowed to keep her delusions, and maybe to grow out of them naturally, rather than having them forced out of her.  This seemed a curious reversal, and at first seemed more like a blatant hook to enable a second series to go over much of the same ground (we shall see, of course). 

But after some thought I decided that there might also be a translation issue - which is why I gave the full title above.  "Delusions", to my mind are things you believe which are false; restoring delusions which you have been persuaded of the falseness of just seems wrong.  But then I thought, what if the intended meaning is "fantasy"?  In that case, I could much more easily see an enhanced sense of fantasy as something which can well be accepted as part of a normal childhood - but this hadn't occurred to me immediately, as not only the title, but the subs throughout, used the stronger word "delusions".  I'm not sure if the ending pushes it down from A- to B+, but I'll call it A- for now and see if that sticks.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/YuutaRikka.jpg)



Next up was [C]: Control - The Money of Soul and Possibility

(After the first episode I wrote:)  The first episode nearly lost me at the beginning, because some character designs seemed unpleasant, and the action really arbitrary; but about halfway through it settled down into telling a real story which will at least get me back for another episode.  Some of the animation seems very lazy, though.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/YogaMasakaki.jpg)

(Later:)  I came to the end of [C]: Control - The Money of Soul and Possibility.  What a crazy name that is!  I can't even work out what it's really meant to signify; but no matter.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/C-6.jpg)

I watched the greater part subbed, but then the last few episodes dubbed (and now I'm going back over the earlier ones that way) now I have the disks.  I comment on this for a couple of reasons.  It confirms to me that I simply find it a lot easier to follow things when I don't have to divide my visual attention - when I was younger, this might not have been such a problem, but for me it's a real issue.  I don't have any strong views on sub or dub in the abstract - it's just a matter of practicality for me, and the sound of the voices is not something that usually distracts me from the work as a whole.  Indeed, I generally listen to opera in the original language.  This also happens to be the first time I've found myself actually comparing the Japanese and English voice acting; and to my ears the English was as good, and in the crucial case of Kimimaro actually better as his character seemed to come more alive, though I guess that might be a change towards the end of the series in any case.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/C-5.jpg)

While I'm on mere technicalities, I can also say that my misgivings over the animation itself got left by the wayside.  Not because it became perfect, but because any problems were insufficient to trouble me again, nor to distract from the scenes that were really good to watch.  Of the major character designs, I found Kimimaro's somewhat less satisfactory than the others; strangely this seemed related to the fact that his eyes are more markedly "Asian" looking (in terms of Western conventions of depicting them) than is usual in anime - I hope this doesn't come over as offensive, because it's not meant to be.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/C-6a.jpg)

Something else I discovered was that this show divides Internet critics more widely anything else I've checked out.  This appears to relate to the way that critics are viewing it, and perhaps how they view anime in general.  Some people can watch a show with open minds, and try to absorb what the writers are trying to put across, perhaps as a fable, a metaphor for life even.  Others try to root what they are watching in their experience, or in their naturally incomplete knowledge of the world, and find it hard to understand if they don't match up.  Everyone knows that mechas or fabulous monsters are imaginary, and so can deal with them; but suddenly here's a show full of economic terms and ideas which to most people feel familiar but not precisely understood.  Some people can go with the flow and just "get it"; but others try to understand, but when they find that the show's economics are not the same as the real thing, they feel let down, and brand it a failure.

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/C-2a.jpg)

How about, I stop this waffling and actually say something about [C], you may say.  Fair enough.  Well, I enjoyed it a lot.  You don't need to understand more than simply the criticism of the reliance on debt as the basis for any economic system, and of the preference in institutions for short-term planning over long-term, to get the main idea of the show.  Kimimaro's ponderings on these matters, and his discussions with Mikuni, and later Sato, are hardly Earth-shattering, but get the points over perfectly well.  The fights (calling them deals doesn't obscure what they are) are well done, and the assets nicely varied.  There are some oddities in how the assets are handled: if the asset represents the entre's future, how is it possible to have more than one (Mikuni has Q and Aurore), or for the ownership of one to be transferred (George is passed from the dying Sato to Kimimaro)?  Doesn't quite make sense - but doesn't really matter much either.  There are also loose ends - such as the transfer of George not being made any further use of.  The show is also essentially devoid of romance; the interest in kissing that Msyu (Kimimaro's asset) develops could have been made the hook for just a little romantic fan-service, but in the end, when Kimimaro does kiss her, we don't even see it, because both their bodies are at the top of the screen with the heads off the top!

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/C-4.jpg)

So, was the end satisfying (another common criticism!)?  Well actually, yes.  It works just fine for me, at any rate.  There are sufficient hooks left to enable another series to be made, but I think to do so would be a mistake; it could only really rehash the same ideas, which would become less compelling for that very reason.

So, a good show, and one I'll want to watch again sometime.  A straight A from me, though you might want to make it an A- if the occasional flaws in the animation annoy you.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Jun 2013, 05:42
Incidentally, Funimation have announced their (hardly surprising) acquisition of rights for Evangelion 3.33.  What seems to some more than a little careless, though, is that their announcement includes a brief summary of the plot including a HUGE spoiler.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 15 Jun 2013, 00:14
Check this link out anime brethren for it is made of awesome: http://goldenani.blogspot.co.nz

In other news I just finished Black Lagoon and I think it might be my favorite thing ever. Deep questions, existentialism, John Woo esque gun plain, and the lead female is a pistol wielding psychotic badass in short shorts. It doesn't get much more freaking awesome then that!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 15 Jun 2013, 09:41
Did you watch the second season and the OVA?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: K1dmor on 15 Jun 2013, 16:12
Did you watch the second season and the OVA?
GM's Reaction.

 (http://i.imgur.com/yJFNWSe.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 15 Jun 2013, 21:04
I sometimes forget there was a second season. I ended up powering through both in an anime club, so it's one big season for me. Also, I think this is the first time I've seen Chuunibyou go by the name Chu2. I've spent too much time in a group that simply shortens the original names XD (Higurashi (Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni), Anohana (Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai), Chuunibyou (Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!), Oreimo (Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Jun 2013, 07:12
Yeah I think of Black Lagoon as one season and forget that The Second Barrage is technically separate, not that it matters after it's aired.

Asterus in your defense for Oreimo at least, it's listed on Crunchy Roll and a lot of other places as Oreimo, including Japanese advertising in Akiba. I've only seen "Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai" on "My Anime List" in the west, and some ads and posters in Japan.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Jun 2013, 07:33
Chuunibyou is shortened from its original name just with a little bit of wordplay thrown in.  Chuuni > Chu2.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dream on 16 Jun 2013, 17:44
I generally haven't watched much, if any, anime since i was 16 (lack of interest and time) but recent discovery of the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Hideaki Anno, and a few classics (mostly thanks to a few friends of mine who are into anime and films) has rekindled my interest.

So, aside from a few relatively recent anime (SAO and SnK) i've also been watching a couple old-school Gainax animes. Recently finished "Gunbuster" and while i was admittedly a bit dissapointed at first, it eventually grew up to surpass all possible expectations... And some impossible ones too. Seriously one of the best animes i've seen.

I also started watching "Nadia: The secret of Blue Water" and althought there are a few things i don't like about the series so far (namely, the animation quality, althought that might just be due to the contrast of starting this TV series right after the Gunbuster OVAs) the direction, originality, characters and writing of the series is pretty much perfect. Didn't think that Gainax could properly make a light-spirited adventure anime but i'm glad to have been proven wrong.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 16 Jun 2013, 23:22
Just be prepared for the way that Nadia goes pear-shaped during the "island arc".

As for Gainax and light-hearted, wait till you get to FLCL - though it's a very different kind of light-heartedness, admittedly.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 17 Jun 2013, 05:42
Just be prepared for the way that Nadia goes pear-shaped during the "island arc".

Why, whatever do you mean?

(http://cassland.org/images/QC/ibt3ewsWWfktnd.jpg)

<mod>reduced image size and rehosted image to speed up loading<mod>
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 17 Jun 2013, 05:46
Alternatively:

(http://i.imgur.com/O9AdxzF.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dream on 20 Jun 2013, 18:25
Haha, man. I heard that the Island arc was really bad, but even so that was a surprise. In any case, i made the decision to skip the vast majority of the island arc so i won't have to suffer throught it, or at least not in my first watch.

On topic: I watched "School Days".

Yeah. In a way this really is as bad as they say. Unlike most people, i didn't really hate Makoto because... Well, what can you expect from such a useless manchild? It's no surprise that he is unconcerned with anything that isn't pleasing him. Curiously the only time where he passed the point from useless retard to asshole whose death i was indifferent to was in the last two episodes where he inexplicably stops giving a shit (specially regarding Kotonoha and Sekai) and completely loses it. More than anything, though, the show made me sad. It made me sad because of all the thing most female characters suffered (Sekai and Kotonoha specially even if they played a great hand in their own undoing, but actually most of the female suffer some degree of horrible fate), but overall it made me sad because it was such a dull show... It isn't so much that School Days is terrible (i kinda liked the base/premise of the initial dynamic between Makoto and Sekai and their growing romance, in fact) but rather that there is absolutely nothing good about it. The animation and art are unremarkable and uninspired, the writing is just... ugh, and the story really seemed to have no freaking idea where it was going, first trying to be ironic about itself and then getting lost in some ham-fisted drama that got increasingly ridiculous culminating in the now infamous ending.

Oh well, at least the fan-service shots were fun even if a bit displeasing/uncomfortable in a mysoginistic way.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 21 Jun 2013, 07:46
Well, there's one half of the mainstream trolling in regards to anime down. Now you have to watch Boku no Pico  :angel:
From what I've heard, School Days was pretty much a generic eroge setup, except everyone goes Ax Crazy when the plot started slowing down? I considered watching it/trying out the game, but I do have other things that are almost certainly far more rewarding to get to.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 21 Jun 2013, 08:16
Generic eroge adaptation where they chose a Bad Route to shock watchers for publicity.  Also this,

(http://i.imgur.com/22Z1Ywz.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 21 Jun 2013, 08:25
Geez, and my old standard for low points used to be just "Takes the boring/predictable canon route and loses most of the interesting story" (Or "Tsukihime'd it" for short) Taking the bad end? That's just cruel and unusual.

Although, that said, I can't stop thinking about how hilarious it would be if Katawa Shoujo got an adaptation and it ended on the Kenji End around episode 3.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 22 Jun 2013, 08:54
To be fair, I think School Days has a lot of deaths and/or fucked up things happening in a lot of the other endings too.\

Speaking of Tsukihime, I've only read the manga (which I enjoyed).  Is the anime/game any good?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Jun 2013, 13:13
If you like dating sim based games, Photo Kano is airing on Crunchy Roll right now and it's a pretty solid example of the genre, there's a little face palmtastic material in there but it's pretty good for a slice of anime I normally despise. The first half of the season is the "main arc" following generic protagonist X-C347 and the lead heroine, and then the rest of the routes get an episode apiece. The stand alone eps feel a little under powered after the lead heroine's arc, but they still manage to cram in the highlights of a cute little relationship.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 22 Jun 2013, 13:44
Photokano falls into the same trap that Little Busters did of not being very good.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 22 Jun 2013, 15:50
The Dangan Ronpa anime is coming out soon and I'm pretty excited.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 23 Jun 2013, 00:33
Valvrave is killing me man.

(click to show/hide)

In other news, the Black Lagoon OVA Roberta's Blood Trail is fucking awesome.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 23 Jun 2013, 10:18
The Dangan Ronpa anime is coming out soon and I'm pretty excited.

This is gonna be great.

GarandMarine have you watched Jormungand?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 23 Jun 2013, 11:04
I haven't Cire, what is it?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Valdís on 23 Jun 2013, 15:34
(click to show/hide)

How very Biblical.. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+22%3A28-29&version=NIV)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 23 Jun 2013, 18:47
Speaking of Tsukihime, I've only read the manga (which I enjoyed).  Is the anime/game any good?

Anime is not. Which is sad, considering good versions of Fate/Stay exist. The game is... alright if you get the clean version. It is literally the full with the porn cut out, and next to none of it is missed. There is maybe one scene that was important, and it centered on whether or not you wanted an auto-dead end by molesting Arc earlier?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 25 Jun 2013, 06:45
To be fair the Fate/stay night anime is pretty bad.  Fate/zero on the other hand...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 25 Jun 2013, 06:54
I've just watched the first three episodes of Revolutionary Girl Utena, and I'm fascinated.  It's so different from anything else I've watched (and having for some reason seen the film first didn't prepare me for what the series is like, either).

(http://cassland.org/images/EG/Utena.jpg)

As I had noticed with the film, there is a clearly dated visual style, which reminds me of Martian Successor Nadesico from around the same date.  What I hadn't expected is how little actual animation there is; the bulk of the show is more like cardboard cutouts being moved around (like the cardboard theatre I played with as a child).  The settings are highly stylised, even before considering the framing of scenes with roses, and the like.  And then there's the pacing.  My, but it's slow!  But that doesn't matter - perhaps stately would be a better word.  In any case, it has the knack of proceeding at just the right pace, producing the balanced effect of a formal dance - a baroque galliard, perhaps.  The story, of course, has hardly started at this point, and the main characters are still being introduced.  I don't yet have a handle on whether Utena's sexuality is a crucial element of the story or just a bit of colouring in the background.  Anyway, it's got me really curious to see how this style of story-telling will hold up over a whole 39 episodes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Black Sword on 25 Jun 2013, 07:51
I'm looking forward to Dangan Ronpa and to Kimi no Iru Machi. Probably a few more I'll be watching.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 25 Jun 2013, 07:55
I won't knock it if you're enjoying it but I honestly hated Utena. The psychological themes were kinda interesting but the stock images alone just kinda drove me up the wall. I made it seven episodes in and decided to call it a day.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 25 Jun 2013, 09:35
I remember Utena being worth it just for the music.

Oh totally missed this.

I haven't Cire, what is it?

I'll just quote wikipedia here:
Quote
The series follows Koko Hekmatyar, a young arms dealer who sells weapons under HCLI, an international shipping corporation that secretly deals in the arms trade. As one of the company's unofficial weapon dealers, she secretly sells weapons in many countries while avoiding the local authorities and law enforcement agencies as most of her work is actually illegal under international law. Traveling with her is her team of bodyguards who are mostly composed of ex-military veterans. Her latest addition to her crew is Jonah, a seemingly emotionless child soldier who is skilled in combat yet ironically hates arms dealers. What follows is Koko and her crew's escapades around the world.

The first season is good and the second is even better.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 30 Jun 2013, 00:30
So a bunch of anime is over for this season already, so it lets me stagger a season wrap up. Or half season wrap up rather.

Season 1 of Valvrave: It went places I didn't expect and went there fairly well. Really wish they'd just went ahead with a full 24 episode arc instead of dividing it up over two seasons. I really hated E12's flash forward, and Saki's a bad liar. That is all.

Muromi-San on the Shore: Probably my favorite "surprise of the season". While it's wackiness was so dense as to require theoretical wackiness physics to fully begin to comprehend the episodes were short enough that it didn't wear out it's welcome.

Sparrow's Hotel: Another wacky anime, I was honestly disappointed in the short run time and short season. The characters were a lot of fun and the set up was well executed. They crammed a surprising amount of material into the 3 minute episodes.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: Also not /quite/ done. The main arc is over but there's a true blue "bonus episode" that will pop up on CR in a couple days. However I really enjoyed this one. The main duo of Hachiman and Yukino are both actually really enjoyable to watch as they interact with their more social peers, getting peeks at Yukino's inner motivations and method, and of course getting a chance to dig into Hachiman's psychology heavy inner monologue is pretty interesting and the show is not without potential /actual/ insight. Good marks across the board.

Photo Kano: I'm considering this one done. There's another episode coming out but it seems like it's a "bonus" episode as Ep 12 had a little recap/conclusion thing at the end... and it's a remaining arc that is just down right squicky. The main heroine's six episode arc was pretty damn good imho, and the one episode mini arcs for the remaining heroines were also decent with one or two that just felt a bit weak. Could have stood to have been a bit longer, maybe enough to give each arc two episodes at least. Another surprise as I'm usually not a big fan of H game based anime.

-----------------------------------------------------

Stuff I just started:
Jormungand, child soldiers are squicky even to a moral leper with minimal appreciation for the value of human life or childhood innocence like me, but it's pretty damn good. Good recommendation, thanks Cire! (side note Sophia Valmet? Hot. Dammnit. Where are the bad ass commando women in this "real world" thing I keep hearing about?)

Want to know what else is good?

Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Holy. Fucking. Monkey Balls. I lack words. Go torrent it now. You can feel justified in stealing it because the IP rights holders only release the massive content on a "complete" DVD edition that runs for over $3000. They also don't do releases outside of Japan. Because they'd have to stop selling their content for roughly 300,000 yen. This is truly a Space Opera in every sense of the term (right down to the gorgeous classical music... all suspiciously in the public domain, but well played and timed any way) and even does a lot of things I hate in light scifi "righter" then most such series. For example fighters have maneuvering thrusters instead of freaking FLAPS, and while they move a little better then an actual space craft, they aren't hooking and jabbing like an F-22 who's pilot just did a triple shot of espresso before being turned loose on a squadron of MiGs. The MASSIVE (fleets are composed of thousands of "ships of the line" sized vessels.) space battles are also conducted with three dimensional maneuvering in mind... to a limited extent, but it's still bettter then most. Lots of character drama, politics, and tactical thinking/skill that would make Lelouche green with envy.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 30 Jun 2013, 08:51
(http://i.imgur.com/lPS5ztK.jpg)

I fucking love LotGH but holy shit is it the slowest anime in existence.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 11 Jul 2013, 14:41
New stuff for the new season:

Stella Women’s Academy, High School Division Class C3 - aka Girls und Airsoft
Nothing groundbreaking, somewhere between K-on and GuP. Nice smooth jazz in the battle at the end of the first episode and a few smatterings of hilarity

Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! - aka Watamote
Awkward girl doing awkward things! Girl attempts to use high school to learn how to be cute and popular. Based on the amazing manga. Definitely most exciting series so far (after 1 ep)

Danganronpa
Based on the videogame, big cast of strange characters, trapped in a school, with a bear thingy, have to kill each other to get out. Looks pretty nice so far.

Servant x Service
Something a bit different, anime about civil servants working in a town's ward office. Different enough setting, first episode didn't blow me away though, interesting to see where they go with the characters.

Monogatari second series
Continuation of Bakemonogatari. Arty fanservice ho!

might do more detailed write ups after second episodes
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Jul 2013, 00:14
You haven't tried Free! yet?  It's not for me, but I've seen appreciative comments.

I have yet to watch the first series of -monogatari - but I've got it waiting.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 12 Jul 2013, 14:15
Those five are basically what I'm watching.  I also watched Kiniro Mosaic, and while that episode was adorable I doubt the rest of it will be anything but generic Cute Girls Doing Cute Things.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 13 Jul 2013, 04:46
I have yet to watch the first series of -monogatari - but I've got it waiting.

Despite the slightly unnerving frequency of people complaining about "excessive" fanservice, I found it to be really interesting, though a little odd. It's mostly just style though. This is not another High School of the Dead XD. Of course, haven't gotten to Nisei/Neko Monogatari yet, so I may have to eat my words.

Also, the order's kinda getting confusing. Bakemonogatari -> Niseimonogatari (Basically a season 2) -> Nekomonogatari (4 eps based on part of Nekomonogatari) -> Monogatari Series Second Season (5 of the current 6 novels of Nekomonogatari)

I doubt the rest of it will be anything but generic Cute Girls Doing Cute Things.


For some of us, that's enough  :angel:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Jul 2013, 10:29
Oh you will eat your words, you will.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Jul 2013, 11:57
No thou shalt eat thine words. Girls und Airsoft totally holds up!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Jul 2013, 13:17
But that's not the one I was worried about!

(http://i.imgur.com/9XLagUE.gif)

Can I just say that episode 2 of the new Monogatari series was fucking great with or without the fanservice.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Jul 2013, 14:26
We like the blonde with a fondness for "belt fed weapons"

We like her a lot.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 13 Jul 2013, 17:34

Basic overview of teh series
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 14 Jul 2013, 15:51
I have yet to watch the first series of -monogatari - but I've got it waiting.

If you do plan on watching all of the Monogatari series then I'd suggest watching them in the order they aired rather than the chronological order.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 15 Jul 2013, 01:46
I didn't even know there was a difference in this case; Bake-, Nise-, Neko- is the order I'm aware of.

Of course, I don't know yet if I'll go through the lot - it seems hard to judge from the hugely varying reactions to the fan-service element.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 15 Jul 2013, 06:02
Neko- and the unreleased Kizu- are both prequels.  The first series was the least fanservice-y as far as I remember so it'll be good for testing the waters.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 15 Jul 2013, 12:15
I didn't even know there was a difference in this case; Bake-, Nise-, Neko- is the order I'm aware of.

Of course, I don't know yet if I'll go through the lot - it seems hard to judge from the hugely varying reactions to the fan-service element.

The word play, though some lost in translation, is very good and the backdrops and background music are both top quality so i'd say watching Bake is definitely worth it.
I've only just started watching Nise after putting it off for the same reason and whilst some of it  is quite jarring in its abrupt execution it always seems like an additional tool that the anime plays with.
This might be worth a read too (http://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/18p3lt/nisemonogatari_and_the_nature_of_fanservice/)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 15 Jul 2013, 13:37
That's a fascinating read (comments included), and clearly shows why the different attitudes to the fanservice in Nise- have arisen.  But I have to finish Utena before I get on to this.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 16 Jul 2013, 08:36
I may have to eat my words.
*Munch, munch*
So I just started watching Nise-, and Hachikuji just showed up again... Guess I'm full of it in two senses now ^.^
Still interesting to watch though. I've always liked that odd, disconnected way everyone talks.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 26 Jul 2013, 07:27
I don't know if anyone here is watching C3-bu but holy shit.  Holy shit.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 26 Jul 2013, 11:48
(click to show/hide)

My face(s)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 26 Jul 2013, 21:25
I haven't seen the latest episode of C3 as I am on the road and far from anything resembling decent WiFi but I assume something suitably dramatic happened?

Mean while the things you find at truck stops in Kansas...
http://imgur.com/vcTl3VX

Vexille for the record is a pretty cool anime movie. I greatly enjoyed it and would compare it to Appleseed. Well worth $4.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 27 Jul 2013, 04:17
Cubed x Cursed x Curious? Is there something new for that? Or is this a different C3?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 27 Jul 2013, 05:28
I assume he means Stella Women's Academy: High School Division Class C3 aka Girls Und Airsoft
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Aug 2013, 19:22

This season is just so AWESOME! So many good shows to watch! C3, Chronicles of the Going Home Club, Servant X Service and Dog & Scissors are all fantastic with ease.

The latter certainly has it's odd moments though. I can't tell if it's screwing with Kazuhito or US more.

(click to show/hide)

Otherwise they've built quite the little mad cap world of insanity for us to enjoy.

For C3.

I know a beach scene is mandatory and all... but airsoft in bikinis? I was in a competition milsim airsoft team back in HS. Even in utilities those 6mm STING.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 07 Aug 2013, 10:59
I read somewhere that Japanese airsoft guns use gas that's at a lower pressure because of velocity laws so maybe it doesn't hurt all that much.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Aug 2013, 17:14
Woooooooo! All hail the heroes! Funimation to the RESCUE! Funimation announced during their industry panel and the Sunrise panel at Otakon this weekend that they have acquired the rights to the following anime!

    Tales of the Abyss
    Witch Hunter Robin
    Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion
    Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
    Code Geass Lelouch Akito the Exiled
    Angel Links
    Banner of the Stars
    Banner of the Stars II
    Passage of the Stars "Birth"
    Crest of the Stars
    Outlaw Star
    Escaflowne movie
    The Visions of Escaflowne
    My-Hime
    My-ZHime
    My-ZHime O~S.ifr~
    My ZHime Zwei
    Cowboy Bepop

FUNimation expects to release Cowboy Bebop in 2014. This will be the first time that the series will be available digitally and on Blu-ray in the U.S. No word on the rest of the stuff, buuuuuuut Wolf Children will be out in November.

Fanboy comment: Holy shit gimme Outlaw Star~ <3
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Aug 2013, 10:53
Maybe the price on some of those older show's boxsets will go down now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Aug 2013, 16:26
That's probably what will happen. Rather Funimation will release NEW box sets with their branding, maybe if we're lucky some special features/remastering. Maybe even on their S.A.V.E label if we're lucky. Probably not though. Classics like these are an /easy/ sell.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Aug 2013, 14:42
So. Watching the finale of Oreimo 2 finally. Ever know something is going to happen, or a plot is going somewhere and it's going to basically spit on something you previously enjoyed, even if that was the original intent of the Author/Creative team all a long? Yeah. That's how I feel about the ending.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 21 Aug 2013, 16:52
How did the ending insult the rest of the series?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 22 Aug 2013, 04:37

Warning a spoiler heavy but brief rant follows for Oreimo.
(click to show/hide)

Apparently the publisher for the light novel wouldn't let the last LN be published (and it is the final book in the series) without some serious changes, and those changes reflect in the anime. So that's interesting at least.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 01 Sep 2013, 09:47

Top level crossovers
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 01 Sep 2013, 10:19
I will never get tired of SnK crossovers.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 01 Sep 2013, 14:29
I recently read and watched through a manga and anime known as Kashimashi. It's a gender bender.

Okay. Don't go. Hold on.

It induced a number of "Kuwaiiiiiii desuuuuuuu" moments of blushing in me.

So cute. The boy becomes a girl and he had already appeared feminine to his peers. He struggles with his new life and with a love triangle/quadrilateral.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 02 Sep 2013, 19:39
I've been watching the following:

Aria the Scarlet Ammo: Actually a new fav of mine! I'm really enjoying this gunslinger anime. It's an 8 out of 10 and just missing the 9. I really wish this had been given a full 24 episodes instead of 12. It felt like there was a lot more they could do, both with the characters and the story. What's there is good, but a bit disappointing.

Omamori Himari: Literally "Protective Charm Himari" (Himari being the female lead) this supernatural harem fighter actually was pretty good for what it was, lots of tropes and standard issue stuff, leans heavy on the fan service, but still pretty good. On Crunchy Roll too.

Current Season Comments:

Dog & Scissors is still probably my favorite of the season in a season with A LOT of good anime in it. I'm just loving the character interplay and want to see where the hell they're going with this. Besides a chapel. It's very clear Natsuno is NOT kidding when she goes after Kazu. Chronicles of the Going Home is tied up for second with Servant X Service, both doing comedy in their own unique ways and making it awesome. Servant X Service also hasn't run out of steam/ideas like Working did so far. Genshiken Nidaime is following up right behind, I really only watch it for Hato-chan but the show's a lot of fun, I'm going to have to track down the first two seasons to get the show's take on the male half of the otaku community.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 02 Sep 2013, 19:47
Awesome, I didn't know they made an anime sequel to Genshiken
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Sep 2013, 15:14
I've been neglecting this thread, so here's a bit of a catch-up before my fading brain forgets everything about what I've watched since last time.  Can't be bothered to find pictures to illustrate my comments on so many shows.

When I last reported, I was watching Revolutionary Girl Utena.  Now that I've finished it, I'm really not sure what to make of it.  I enjoyed the first arc of the story, but the second (the Black Rose arc) seemed to me to be just a trumped-up reason to have all the same duels again, while not significantly adding to our understanding of the story as a whole; quite a big waste of time, I felt by the end of it.  However, after that it got better and better, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching to the end - but I still didn't really understand what the point of the whole thing was.  Maybe it will be clearer on a rewatch; I'll see, but not for a while.  As predicted, the film went down a lot more easily after having watched the series.

Girls und Panzer was just silly fun - but good fun, and well done.  Nothing more to say, really.  The OVAs were just stupid, though - just fanservice, and a complete absence of what made the series enjoyable for me.

Then I watched some films:

I'm embarrassed to say that I must have watched The Wings of Honneamise late at night and half-asleep or something, because I already can't remember a thing about it!  I seem to recall feeling it was OK, but a bit dated.  I guess I should go back and watch it properly...

Grave of the Fireflies on the other hand is etched into my brain. As near perfection as maybe - and that's not just the subject matter speaking, it really was one of the best-made things I've watched.

But what to say about Angel's Egg?  Even the creator claims not to know what it's about, so what chance has anyone else?  But it is beautiful, and hypnotic, and fascinating - and watching it feels like time well spent, even if the why? remains unanswered.  Highly recommended.

The two Ideon movies: I enjoyed these, though I wouldn't say they were great.  The ending was an interesting idea, though, which was what I wanted to see because it had been brought up in a discussion elsewhere of End of Evangelion and possible endings for the Rebuild remake.  I suppose the idea that people on opposite sides are really fighting for the same thing is not so uncommon - Nadesico springs to mind as another example.

Patlabor OVA and films 1 & 2.  To me the best bit of the OVA is the OP in which Noa is bouncing around frenetically in a way that she never quite manages in the series  itself.  The stories and their telling were pleasant enough, but didn't quite get off the ground for me.  The films were another matter - much more meat there.  I liked the first one best; the plot of the second seemed a bit convoluted, and there was more concentration on atmosphere rather than anything much happening (though that's not necessarily a bad thing).  Still, all-in-all a decent watch.

Back to series:

Final Approach.  A silly premise leads to a silly conclusion.  Parts were amusing, I suppose, but I'm not sure why I bothered to watch it all.

Flowers of Evil and Free! - watched one episode of each and saw no reason to try another.  Two flops in my book.

After finding the clip from Angel Beats! for the Pointless Thread, which intrigued me, I decided to try the whole series.  Not bad at all, I'd say, though some rather confused story-telling, and a confused ending (providing alternate endings is a dead give-away that neither is good enough - but for me the alternative was far worse than the original).  The whole idea of purgatory as a place to come to terms with your past so that you can move on to your future (perhaps as a metaphor for adolescence) is similar to the plot of Haibane Renmai - but not nearly so well done this time.  I'd call it good, but not as good as it might have been.

Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi: pure undiluted fun! well, somewhat diluted by the "serious" episodes, I suppose, but they were necessary and no hardship in themselves.  I don't really get the comparisons I've seen with FLCL, though - apart from a degree of liveliness, and a slight similarity of style, they're really not that alike, I'd say.  Some of the animation in the first episode was stunningly good in the way it captured the expressions of a bored or frustrated teenage boy.

Watching now:

Kino's Journey.  Slow (mostly), atmospheric, thoughtful, intriguing, beautiful and dark.  The simple, pastel, slightly gloomy, visual style reminds me of Lain and Texhnolyze, and is the kind of thing that always draws me in (like Angel's Egg as well).  Kino's very sparse but thoughtful remarks about what she observes remind me (a little surprisingly, I suppose) of Kyon's gentle snark in Haruhi Suzumiya.  A rather adult show, and near the top of all the series I've watched.

Waiting to be watched soon:

Princess Mononoke
Gits2 - Innocence
Bakemonogatari
Otaku no Video
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 08 Sep 2013, 07:11
I've never even heard of Angel's Egg but I guess I should watch it.  I can't wait to see your reaction to the Monogatari series though.

Regarding Aku no Hana, the manga was much more interesting than the anime.  They tried to do something new and make it unsettling by using rotoscoping but the production was not there at all and it just felt cheap.  The ED (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgjr3-yd2oI) was great though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Sep 2013, 08:35
Angel's Egg (as often called Tenshi no Tamago) was directed by Mamoru Oshii and drawn by Yoshitaka Amano, which is as good a pedigree as you can get.  There are only two characters (and occasionally a crowd of ciphers), and perhaps a dozen lines of dialogue in all, many of which are the girl asking the man "who are you?", and getting no reply.  Some people try to explain the film as a response to Oshii recently having lost his Christian faith - but there's no clear reason to think this.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 08 Sep 2013, 14:37
If you like mind trip anime you need to watch Paprika post haste.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 08 Sep 2013, 15:49
I loved paprika. It's a must.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 10 Sep 2013, 09:04
Which reminds me that I need to actually get around to watching Millennium Actress.  So many anime, so little time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 11 Sep 2013, 08:34
I know its french but, is wakfu any good?  The art style looks amazing, though a bit too cutesy
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 11 Sep 2013, 10:36
The first season was pretty good, I haven't had a chance to watch the second. They've also made another show set in the same universe (I think) named Dofus
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 11 Sep 2013, 15:19
Is it actually an anime? I've played the game version of Wakfu for a bit (Kinda like a more aesthetically pleasing Runescape), and heard about the preceding game Dofus, but this is the first I've heard of a corresponding anime. Does it stand up on its own, or is it just one of those "X The Animation" adaptations?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 11 Sep 2013, 17:09
From what I've seen it has it's own story
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Sep 2013, 18:40
Sigh... the season's ending!

So for the two series I'm watching that have ended or are close enough to it that I'm okay with putting out a final word and their score, thus enabling me to savor a final episode (for the better ones).

Servant X Service: My gold medalist of the season with lots of good laughs and a fair amount of cute moments to balance things out. The team didn't run out of ideas part way through like Working and I'd say it's VERY likely that the three main plots will actually get tied up in the final episode. How the hell often does that happen? 9/10

Dog x Scissors: Speaking of wrap ups, while I greatly enjoyed it over all DxS just failed to bring it home, there was a lot of potential with some fantastic characters, but it didn't GO any where with them. The murder arc was excellent, but there was so much faffing about as opposed to getting to the plot, for a show that features a best selling author as the main character DxS certainly is lacking in the plot and story department. A grudging 7/10 because I really liked it personally, but even I can't ignore it's incredible flaws. My disappointment of the season.

Gin no Saji (Silver Spoon): The surprise of the season and the only anime I really jumped in on mid season, Silver Spoon taught me a lot of things. Lots of stuff I didn't know about farming in Japan and just in general and that there is apparently such a thing as Japanese country music. It also had the talent for making me /really/ hungry. With a wonderful cast lead by a main character who really is just a normal guy for once who has intentionally put himself well out of the norms of his city life, watching Hachi learn and grow from his experiences makes for a great anime. We should all be blessed with the chance to have such experiences to truly learn about ourselves. 9/10

Watamote: Ugh. I've made grumpy sounds about this one before. It's refreshing that an anime featuring a social reject/loner protagonist has actually put an ugly individual (inside and out) in the lime light, but they did such a good job making Tomoko ugly that I kinda just want to smack her. I also didn't find there was much of an arc or story to be invested in, and the comedy just wasn't doing it for me. Still well done, but not my cup of tea. 5/10

Chronicles of the Going Home Club: No. I won't believe it's over and you can't make me! I had way too much fun with this anime. Taking up the Azumanga Daioh anime's format and running with it, a tight cast of five girls keeps us a little more anchored as they go about their various adventures together. I enjoyed a lot of this anime and will probably watch it again in the future. I'd also add it to my buy list without hesitation. 8/10.




Time for a brief musical blitzkrieg

Courtesy of the talented Amanda Lee, ever wondered what Guren no Yumiya would sound like in English? Check it.

and since I'm watching Guilty Crown and it's music is incredible have two of the OPs Euterpe and The Everlasting Guilty Crown



Ending tonight's minor offensive, "Pon Pon Pon" is a well known scourge at cons and on forums, but again thanks to Amanda we can now get a listen in English. The lyrics are cheery... even for Jpop.

On a random note, it was announced that Momoiro Clover z is doing the theme music for the new Sailor Moon. It can not be overstated how awesome that is.

For those not in the know, Momoiro Clover Z is a sentai idol group.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Momoiro_Clover_Z_LIVE_1.png)

Yes, with transformation belts and everything, they also did Bodacious Space Pirate*'s OP with one of the guys from Megadeth.


*Bodacious Space Pirates being the prestigious winner of my "Name That Least Matches Show Content" award and a very kick ass anime if you like bad ass female protagonists, sci fi comedies and of course, space piracy.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 21 Sep 2013, 09:07
I really wish Guilty Crown could have been as good as its music.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Sep 2013, 10:15
I'm enjoying it so far, but then I came in with no expectations.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 26 Sep 2013, 04:07
CR Guest pass: PPBMCLTPUVE

First come first served!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 26 Sep 2013, 04:29
I took time out for a rewatch of Haruhi Suzumiya, including the film.  It's as good as I thought last time.  I find the conclusion of the film satisfying, and am not one of those who feel that the series has suffered by there not being another season.

But now I am moving on to Bakemonogatari.  The first episode left me very confused - how much of the flashed up text should I be trying to read?  Should I pause and go back to it?  But in the second episode (which is as far as I've got), things started to fall into place.  None the less, it requires the brain to be at its most agile - it's not something to be watched when over-tired.  The graphics and the music are both giving me pleasure in their own right. 

I'm a bit bemused about comments regarding fan service (I know these relate more to Nisemonogatari, which I haven't reached yet); so far, anything that could be labelled that is directly part of the story being told, or the illustration of the thoughts of the characters, and so is not what I would call fan service anyway.  What makes fan service, in my understanding, is that it is aimed at the viewer without being a necessary or relevant part of the story-telling.  If the story is being told using images that make people in some cultures uncomfortable, that is not the same thing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 26 Sep 2013, 04:46
To my knowledge Bakemonogatari was almost fan serviceless. It has some complex relationships, a lot of levels of metaphor and interaction, but not much fan service. The lead pair are awesome and I honestly feel the anime suffers a bit when it drifts from them.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 26 Sep 2013, 07:31
To be fair, a lot of other series do much more for little to no reason (*coughHotDcough*), and the series is at least self-aware enough to occasionally lampshade it (In the first episode of Nise-, the main character even references his interaction with Hachikuji as "Sexual-harassment"). There are some scenes that are rather excessive (Not really a spoiler, but [Toothbrushes]), but for the most part, there's something to look for in the action (Why a certain kiss happens, that thing with Senjougahara showing how little she really cares about modesty, Suruga in general...), so it works for me. Except maybe that one bathtub conversation in Nise-, that was kinda weird.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 26 Sep 2013, 10:13
The first episode left me very confused - how much of the flashed up text should I be trying to read?  Should I pause and go back to it?  But in the second episode (which is as far as I've got), things started to fall into place.

I think this is the general approach you should take to the show.  A lot of the text flashing on the screen are thoughts of Araragi and information taken directly from the novels.  There's also a lot of flashback stuff that might leave you confused but all will be revealed eventually.  We're still getting teased by shots of Kizumonogatari that hasn't been aired yet.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 28 Sep 2013, 20:19
Courtesy of the talented Amanda Lee, ever wondered what Guren no Yumiya would sound like in English? Check it.
Here's another one for a more "mellow" feel
Doesn't have the impact of "This is the moment for war", but aside from that, I like it ^.^
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Allie_Allie on 29 Sep 2013, 00:15
I'm going to be 100% honest and say I didn't go back to check thoroughly if this had been said yet, but I would really recommend Shingeki no Kyojin.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 29 Sep 2013, 00:37
I like the mostly acapella edition but I think I prefer Amanda's translation over all. I actually really enjoy that about the fandom at large for anime growing so much. Even for fan projects because we can see a wider variation on the interpretation required for a truly honest Japanese to English translation

I'm presently recruiting animators and art types for a fan project of my own, I have an outline of a great animation to run along with Team Amalee's English version of Guren no Yuimya, depicting the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

(click to show/hide)

Finally here's the lullaby edition of Guren no Yumiya, also from Amalee

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 30 Sep 2013, 06:53
translation
It's really a small thing, but I REALLY hate the use of "translation" in this context. Too many people take it as a literal word-by-word translation and get really annoying about it, instead of recognizing that it's an "adaptation" of the song to English. Just look at comments here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ribVjpHe4BE

Basically, this is a translation dub:

And this is an adaptation:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 30 Sep 2013, 12:48
Soooooooo, I am looking for something worth reading/watching. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

Dubbed/subbed? Do not care. Both would be fine.

My favorites include Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Dragon Ball (Z).

FMA and Naruto top that list though.

I miss FMA ;n;

I'm really just starting out, so be gentle.

Also, on the topic of dubs (spoiler for links):

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Sep 2013, 13:27
Go straight off and watch Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (aka TTGL or just Gurren Lagann).  26-ep series, or two movies.  Best, watch the series first, and then at least the second movie which adds yet another layer of awesomeness to the final battles.

Also watch FLCL (aka Fooly-Cooly or Furi-Kuri) - only 6 eps, but one of the craziest series ever, and the animation style feeds straight into TTGL.

Actually, between them in development is another awesome 6-parter: Diebuster (aka Gunbuster 2 or Reach for the Top 2) - but don't watch that until you've seen the original Gunbuster (aka Reach for the Top), because although the stories are pretty much independent, the ending will fall flat unless you get the reference to the first series, which will tear you up.

Some people like the huge Gundam series; I only know the short 6-ep series: Gundam 0080 - War in the Pocket, which I love.  I am told by people I trust that this encapsulates the very best of the whole franchise.

TTGL and Diebuster have a lot of action, but FLCL and War in the Pocket are more domestic in scale, though still with robots.

Moving away from obviously shounen stuff, try Puella Magi Madoka Magica (12 eps).  Although at first glance a conventional magical girl series, it seriously subverts the genre, and pulls you in more and more.  It also has some wonderfully fantastic imagery in the representation of the witches and the fights.

For a different kind of craziness, with a quiet, slightly snarky character (Kyon) as your guide, try The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (two series of 13 eps), and then the film The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.  You can skip the second series if you want to avoid a series of highly controversial episodes which might put you off...  I think they work - but you need the patience of a saint.
(click to show/hide)
The film makes a very satisfactory conclusion (though the source novels continue, the anime doesn't, and will not), and is one of the best anime films out there - but it makes no sense unless you've seen at least the first series.  Oh, and there are three orders for the episodes of the first series: "broadcast", "DVD", and "chronological".  I watch in chronological order (combining both series), but there are good arguments for the other orders.

After all the fun and action and craziness, something really sweet and relaxing: Haibane Renmai (aka Charcoal Feather Federation) (12 eps).  Quiet and sweet: you have to work out your own meaning for it.  Perhaps it represents souls in the afterlife who need to accept the manner of their death before moving on to whatever comes next.

Finally, do you like something depressing as a change of mood?  The most depressing anime there is: Texhnolyze (22 eps).  Very little dialogue (the first words aren't spoken until eleven minutes in, and we've already had a rape by then); violence, cruelty, despair, and in the end, nothing at all.  Very powerful, but not for everyone.

Maybe that was too much all at once - but you can pick and choose (and there's plenty more where that came from).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 30 Sep 2013, 13:31
I'm sorry Paul, but 08th MS team is the best Gundam, with Gundam Wing a close second and Mobile Fighter G Gundam getting a mention for it's craziness
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Sep 2013, 16:19
I miss FMA ;n;

There are two complete FMA series, of course.  Whichever you've watched, you could try watching the other!  Arguments rage* over which is better - they're both good though.  I prefer the first for several reasons, but the second (Brotherhood) has the advantage of following the plot and characterisation of the completed manga.  But then, the writer gave the animators of the first series advice on completing the story their way (without helping them do it), and expressed satisfaction with the result.

*I'm actually in the middle of one on another forum this evening!

I'm sorry Paul, but 08th MS team is the best Gundam, with Gundam Wing a close second and Mobile Fighter G Gundam getting a mention for it's craziness

I couldn't possibly comment!  Actually, I'm planning to watch the film trilogy version of the original series soon (again, following advice on where to proceed).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Sep 2013, 17:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qonD0LWykJY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qonD0LWykJY)

Top level crossovers

I just took this in, and looked back at the Nichijou OP to compare; this one is actually a better animation!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 30 Sep 2013, 17:19
I'm sorry Paul, but 08th MS team is the best Gundam, with Gundam Wing a close second and Mobile Fighter G Gundam getting a mention for it's craziness

I concur with this assessment of the Gundam universe.

Hot Blooded Gundam is pretty awesome, even if it is a completely different experience from ANY other Gundam series out there.

Do you guys track what series you've seen and haven't somehow?

I use this website: http://myanimelist.net/animelist/FenrisMarine

Though keeping track does occasionally depress me.

I've spent 73.3 days of my life watching anime give or take.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 30 Sep 2013, 17:37
I searched for a manga thread but didn't see anything so I'll use this thread to say I've been (re)reading a lot of Junji Ito work and a lot of horror manga lately.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Jace on 30 Sep 2013, 18:01
Started watching SNK. Shits fucked up yo. Is there gonna be a big reveal about the titans because I think I figured it out and I'm on ep 9 or 10.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 30 Sep 2013, 19:36
Wow. Thanks for the suggestions!

Re: FMA

When I say FMA, I usually refer to the original manga, which I had read in its entirety before watching either FMA or FMA:B, which was much MUCH more like the manga. So, it should be obvious which I like more.  :-P

I adore seeing my static images in my memories come to life and grow voices, although it rarely meets expectations.

In terms of depressing content, I am completely open to it. I especially like existential stuff.

Now that I think about it, does anyone recommend Ghost in the Shell? I don''t even know how to start that one. I barely know a thing about it. Artificial intelligence questioning reality? That kind of stuff is right up my proverbial alley.

Right now, I am looking at Hellsing, Gundam, and Ghost in the Shell.

When I say "looking at," I mean potentially considering maybe sort-of watching. I'd love to hear some feedback on what to watch first, where to start, or general tips on watching them as well as others.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 30 Sep 2013, 20:32
Well which Gundam?

For Hellsing the "Anime" is largely considered shit by most fans, and is officially non-canon, but I like it and I cosplay for Hellsing Ultimate. Ultimate is the "True to the manga", officially sanctified version and it is 10 lbs of awesome in a 2 lb box. There is excessive, over the top violence, a convoluted plot, a fantastic dub for about half the series. It's a personal favorite, if the whole "I cosplay for this anime" didn't tip you off.

Ghost in the Shell: Cyberpunk goodness, plenty of action to keep the lizard brain happy, but some pretty deep thoughts and questions emerge in many of the plots and stories. If you're going to watch GITS in any capacity, imho you should start with Stand Alone Complex and go from there.

Now for Gundam. So there's a ton of series for this. The three I recommend are listed above. 8th MS Team is what happens when Gundam goes hard core. This anime is not messing around and lacks the whinging teenagers of the other series. You will have feels. You will think complex thoughts. It is awesome. Gundam Wing is in my opinion the "balanced" Gundam experience, even if it leans heavy on the whinging teenagers you have all the complex plot, political intrigue of more serious gundam series with some hot blooded elements and more dynamic fight sequences then proper tactical engagements. G Gundam finally is how Gundam does Hot Blooded and it's fantastic.


Another one YOU might like Sage is Flag.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 30 Sep 2013, 20:36
What ever you do, do not watch Ghost in the Shell 2. Watch the first movie and the series, but stay away from that second movie.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Oct 2013, 00:15
Now that I think about it, does anyone recommend Ghost in the Shell? I don''t even know how to start that one. I barely know a thing about it. Artificial intelligence questioning reality? That kind of stuff is right up my proverbial alley.

I've only watched the first GitS film so far, but found it intriguing.  Another highly regarded series in that vein is Serial Experiments Lain (an earlier show from the same studio as Texhnolyze and Haibane Renmai) - I recommend it highly.  It comes from the late 1990s when the term "Internet" was not so well established, and uses the term "The Wired" for it.  I've seen it suggested that those shows form a trilogy, examining the futures of the Body (Texhnolyze), the Mind (Lain), and the Spirit (Haibane Renmai).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Oct 2013, 00:23
What ever you do, do not watch Ghost in the Shell 2. Watch the first movie and the series, but stay away from that second movie.

This is somewhat ambiguous (though possibly true both ways).  The second film: GitS - Innocence, is dissed by many people, though not all (I've not seen it).  However, the name Ghost in the Shell 2 is also given to the remastering of the original film which has a considerable amount of footage replaced by CGI (as used in Innocence); this jars, and watching the original is greatly to be preferred.

Some people also dislike the first series because of the level of fan service (again, I've not seen it).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 01 Oct 2013, 04:58
Stand Alone Complex has fan service? *shrug* I never really noticed. Must of what's there just seemed to expand on the Major's character in one way or another, or I shrugged it off as "Don't think too much about it" like the skin tight combat body suit that shows up now and then. Major Kusanagi remains a strong kick ass woman who's pretty comfortable in the shell she's wearing.

Maybe it's just my mental definition of "Fan Service", because it seems as a term to be applied very broadly these days. I think of fan service as nudity/sexual material that is gratuitous to one extent or another. If it can actually be tied in to the plot or development of the characters, or tells us something more about the character, then it's probably not fan service. If said sexyness takes place at an onsen or on the beach or if the show can't go 5 minutes without clothing damage/panty shots (looking at you Ikkitousen) then you're probably getting some fan service with your anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Oct 2013, 05:04
As I say, I haven't seen it; and I only use the term "fan service" if the nudity or suggestiveness is not part of the plot.  But this is a quote from a randomly chosen review, and I've seen the same often enough:

Quote
One final thing: Ghost in the Shell, we need to talk about fan service. A little now and again is ok, but having the Major walk around in the most revealing clothes possible for no other reason than to have her walk around in the most revealing clothes possible is just distracting. I know you don't have any explicit nudity, but it's still gratuitous and unnecessary. Despite how hot the Major may be.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 01 Oct 2013, 06:02
*shrug* it's Cyberpunk, future clothes be futuristic.

Also speaking of Cyberpunk everyone needs to watch the glory that is Psycho Pass if you haven't yet... I'd be screwed in such a world. I would either be eliminated, in prison or one of the "hunting dogs" (the mentally deviant Enforcers) if I was lucky.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 01 Oct 2013, 08:24
I use this website: http://myanimelist.net/animelist/FenrisMarine

It's great that I've seen ~40 shows more than you but you have over 1500 more episodes total watched.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 02 Oct 2013, 17:31
Okay. Tell me what you think and where to start on the anime:

http://myanimelist.net/animelist/SageJiraiya (http://myanimelist.net/animelist/SageJiraiya)

And feel free to share what you think about what I should read:

http://myanimelist.net/mangalist/SageJiraiya (http://myanimelist.net/mangalist/SageJiraiya)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 02 Oct 2013, 17:43
How in the world do we apparently have 0% shared anime?... Oh, I just got it (My list is too large XD)
http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Asterus
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 02 Oct 2013, 18:04
I use this website: http://myanimelist.net/animelist/FenrisMarine

It's great that I've seen ~40 shows more than you but you have over 1500 more episodes total watched.

Heh I tend towards longer anime. I find they have better story arcs for the most part.

Sage... and all of in fact. Seriously. Flag.

http://myanimelist.net/anime/1299/Flag

Right now.

Do it.

Other good ones you might like Sage
Outlaw Star
The Tenchi series (there's several, you want the OVAs and Universe)
Angel Beats (classic, prepare for feels)
Trinity Blood
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 03 Oct 2013, 05:22
I should update this some.

http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Cire
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Oct 2013, 09:00
Hideki Anno hates you:

Quote

If you like Eva, Hideaki Anno hates you. That’s just how it is. If you can’t wrap your mind around this basic truth you are missing out on a lot of hysterical black irony.

http://chirart.tumblr.com/post/37808402478/evangelion-and-why-hideaki-anno-hates-you
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 05 Oct 2013, 12:21

(http://i.imgur.com/jHJkTtn.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 05 Oct 2013, 12:27
I...uh. I was about to post that the black/purple-haired guy in the still looks like PW.

Then I realised "You're an idiot and you should post this so that everyone knows that you are." So I did.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 05 Oct 2013, 12:36
Hideki Anno hates you:

Quote

If you like Eva, Hideaki Anno hates you. That’s just how it is. If you can’t wrap your mind around this basic truth you are missing out on a lot of hysterical black irony.

http://chirart.tumblr.com/post/37808402478/evangelion-and-why-hideaki-anno-hates-you

What's funny is that some people call Evangelion the Watchmen of anime, both were incredible takes on their subjects and effectively changed their genres, but not for the better. Watchmen somewhat spawned the grim dark comics that came after it while Evangelion got eaten up by the same people that the creator hated and now you have Rei and Asuka body pillows
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ackblom12 on 05 Oct 2013, 12:40
The fact that people liked the character of Rorschach and didn't see him as an indictment of the very concept of vigilantism I know made Moore incredibly upset, especially since DC perpetuated it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 05 Oct 2013, 12:49
I didn't realize my reply was the last post of that page so I'm just going to repost it here.

Hideki Anno hates you:

Quote

If you like Eva, Hideaki Anno hates you. That’s just how it is. If you can’t wrap your mind around this basic truth you are missing out on a lot of hysterical black irony.

http://chirart.tumblr.com/post/37808402478/evangelion-and-why-hideaki-anno-hates-you


(http://i.imgur.com/jHJkTtn.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Oct 2013, 13:44
Why'd you post the vid a second time Cire?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Oct 2013, 14:31
Hideki Anno hates you:

http://chirart.tumblr.com/post/37808402478/evangelion-and-why-hideaki-anno-hates-you

The first part of that article was getting old (and seen to be inaccurate) ten years ago, and the rest is just misconceived.  I won't pick it apart here; there are plenty of places you can find a second opinion.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Oct 2013, 14:55
But what if I want your second opinion hodges? ;)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 05 Oct 2013, 21:27
Has anyone watched Kill La Kill? I've seen some clips and I'm interested in it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Oct 2013, 21:31
I need to get around to the first episode sometime tomorrow >.>;
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Oct 2013, 00:07
But what if I want your second opinion hodges? ;)

I'll come back to it then; but right now I'm rather too busy to do it properly.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 06 Oct 2013, 06:53
Why'd you post the vid a second time Cire?

I didn't realize my reply was the last post of that page so I'm just going to repost it here.

Has anyone watched Kill La Kill? I've seen some clips and I'm interested in it.

The first episode was ridiculously fun.  You can definitely tell it's a Trigger anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Oct 2013, 07:20
Reading is hard past all the concussions. I'm gonna watch Kill La Kill today after I got out and forage for bacon. I will report back to the collective.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Oct 2013, 09:34
A number of people whose view I respect are insanely excited by the first episode of Kill la Kill.  Incidentally, since there have been mixed reports, they have in fact stated clearly that it will be a 2-cours show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Oct 2013, 11:19
I am vastly enjoying Kill la Kill. It's nuts, but in a manner I find much more enjoyable then Gurren Lagan. Ryuko herself is a fun character, I love an even split between a straight man and an over the top nut like the rest of the world around her. The only thing I take issue with so far is Ryuko's sailor fuku... I wish it was just a /little/ less extreme in combat form.

Nagi no Asukara is cute, but the kind of cute that I will probably end up dropping by the middle of it's run, I like the world, I like the characters, I hate the way they're setting up the romance drama.

On a side note, if you like slice of life then Golden Time is probably going to be a must watch for you.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Oct 2013, 12:13
I am vastly enjoying Kill la Kill. It's nuts, but in a manner I find much more enjoyable then Gurren Lagan.

For those who don't know, it's worth noting that the Trigger team is largely those who made Gurren Lagann.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 06 Oct 2013, 12:42
The only thing I take issue with so far is Ryuko's sailor fuku... I wish it was just a /little/ less extreme in combat form.

I had a problem with this too, but I assume that the it's going to start covering more as she wins fights based on that thread she absorbed and promotional material.

Quote
On a side note, if you like slice of life then Golden Time is probably going to be a must watch for you.

I have high hopes for this show since I've read parts of the LN and manga but that first episode didn't impress me at all.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Oct 2013, 12:48
I am vastly enjoying Kill la Kill. It's nuts, but in a manner I find much more enjoyable then Gurren Lagan.

For those who don't know, it's worth noting that the Trigger team is largely those who made Gurren Lagann.

Yes. My mistake I should have clarified that as why I brought Gurren Lagann up in the first place.

The only thing I take issue with so far is Ryuko's sailor fuku... I wish it was just a /little/ less extreme in combat form.

I had a problem with this too, but I assume that the it's going to start covering more as she wins fights based on that thread she absorbed and promotional material.

I must have missed that, cool if true. Also has any one else noted that scissors have become the weapon of choice over the last few years?


Quote
On a side note, if you like slice of life then Golden Time is probably going to be a must watch for you.

I have high hopes for this show since I've read parts of the LN and manga but that first episode didn't impress me at all.

Really? I quite liked it, it could have done a bit more, but I was having fun!

Edit:

Just watched Strike the Blood, it screams Demon King Daimao, but it looks like fun all the same.

Also watched the first episode of Gingitsune: Messenger Fox of the Gods. It brought back fond memories of spending time at Inari shrines around the Japanese country side. It looks like it's gonna be a cute little slice of life with some fun cultural learning options here and there.

Edit again:

Walkure Romanze aka Valkyire Romance: This anime is so weird. It's cute girls, harem style rom com, but the girls are all knights and they're jousting as part of High School? Or something?

I have NO idea what's going on any more. There's plenty of fanservice, terribly designed armor (boob plates galore!) an initial villain with some very frilly underwear (someone was having a "I need to feel extra sexy today" moment), an extremely aggressive, possibly perveted horse that shares at least part of a name with the female lead, a brooding hero who hung up his lance and became a simple groomsman/squire (the anime persists in using a German sounding term I didn't quite catch) and again, jousting in a world where most of the women ride horses in miniskirts with their armor on over their school uniforms.

Edit: Walkure Romanze is an H game based anime, suddenly all becomes clear. Sorta.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Allie_Allie on 07 Oct 2013, 04:29
Does anyone watch Shingeki no kyojin around here?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 07 Oct 2013, 04:48
Most of us have at one point or another I think. I dropped it however.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 07 Oct 2013, 06:09
I'm about to get to it, but from what I've heard it's not the sort of series that usually hooks me too much. Still going to give it a chance :P
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Oct 2013, 06:20
Some people like it; but my internal summary of what I've read about it has confirmed my lack of interest, so I've not even looked at it.  By contrast, I'm tempted to work out how to follow Kill la Kill as it broadcasts (which I've never done).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 07 Oct 2013, 06:44
www.crunchyroll.com, every week start next week for the unpayed types, and starting right now for payed types.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 07 Oct 2013, 07:00
I have some guest passes for Crunchyroll if you're interested.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Oct 2013, 08:58
I have some guest passes for Crunchyroll if you're interested.

Interested:  how does that work / what does it give me?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 07 Oct 2013, 09:18
As I have said numerous times I havnt watched much anime (or at least compared to everyone here) but this is what I got.

Also watch FLCL (aka Fooly-Cooly or Furi-Kuri) - only 6 eps, but one of the craziest series ever, and the animation style feeds straight into TTGL.
I once did a complete breakdown of FLCL.  Each episode is about being a teenager and going through the changes of a kid to adult.  Whether is going through competitive sports, girls, relationships, what it is to be an adult, etc.  I'm not going to do episode by episode here but it was amazing.


As for the Gundams, anything in UC is pretty good.  I have only seen Mobile suit gundam, 08 MS team, Stardust memory, War in Pocket, and Char's Counterattack.  I will have to agree 08 MS team is by far one of the best because its pretty much a military show where as the original Mobile Suit Gundam is more about a coming of age tale for a kid in a war but pretty much explains the war.  I also really enjoyed Star Dust Memory and War in Pocket.  Char's Counterattack was good and a way to sum up the Mobile Suit Gundam story line (what happens after happily ever after kind of thing) but was far too focused on the "new type" space jedi pilots.  I really like how all of the ones I've listed shows both sides of the conflict.  Both have great people and evil people.  War is never black and white with evil and good being one sided.

Gundam Wing is...interesting but also can get confusing with all the military coups.  My brother loved it.

G Gundam (the world fighter one) was interesting on how they showed each great nation in a world fighting tournament.

Other anime I have seen that I can recommend:
Cowboy Beebop: Space western and one of the best shows ever IMHO. Former cop, former gangster, con artist, tech expert, and a corgi all team up as bounty hunters. The jazzy music is amazing!  Never watch the movie though.  Kind of like it that way based on how it ended. 
(click to show/hide)

Outlaw Star: Another Space western, this one has magic and spacecraft with arms that uses weapons.  Space combat was a bit wierd for my taste but the bounty hunting and treasure hunting was pretty good.  Nice story, interesting characters.  The main character's space phobia seem to clear out fairly quickly though.

I havnt seen much of FMA but I put it on my netflix list and will give it a try when I get the time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Oct 2013, 09:30
Gundams, [...]  I really like how all of the ones I've listed shows both sides of the conflict.  Both have great people and evil people.  War is never black and white with evil and good being one sided.

This is the entire point of 0080 - War in the Pocket, which is why I think it's so good.

Cowboy Bebop: [...] Never watch[ed] the movie though.  Kind of like it that way based on how it ended.

There's no conflict, because the movie is not a continuation from the end; it's like an extended episode within the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 07 Oct 2013, 11:22
I am so sad.

I went for a Soul Eater marathon and now it's over! I loved it! This is the same feeling I got after reading FMA and watching both FMA and FMA:B.

It was so satisfying to finish the series, but MAN, I miss those characters <3
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 07 Oct 2013, 17:21
Read the manga then :P It goes past the ending the anime went for though it does have a more darker and grittier approach (For example:
(click to show/hide)
)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 07 Oct 2013, 19:11
I was hoping that would happen in the manga. But in the anime he didn't die. Black star beat him but let him live.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 08 Oct 2013, 06:47

Interested:  how does that work / what does it give me?

It gives you access to the premium features of Crunchyroll so that you can watch simulcasts day of instead of a week later.  They only last for 48 hours though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Oct 2013, 06:58
I can't see that being worth it for me; thanks, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 08 Oct 2013, 07:36
Oh hey, Yozakura Quartet is getting an anime
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 08 Oct 2013, 08:32
Has and is having one!

I can't see that being worth it for me; thanks, though.

Yea, I thought so after I checked it out.  For some reason I thought it lasted longer than two days.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 08 Oct 2013, 11:48
Another one I'll recommend is Reign: The Conqueror.  It is the story of Alexander the Great done with Aeon Flux style animation. Prepare to see androgynous men in G strings. Their take on ancient military using fantastical technology is interesting. Saw it back in high school.  Me and my brother found it interesting though we often joked that Alexander kind of looked like Michael Jackson in his later years. Too bad its not on netflix.  :-\
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 08 Oct 2013, 12:30
For those interested, here's Kotaku's Fall Anime Guide (http://kotaku.com/your-complete-fall-2013-anime-guide-1442365336)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 08 Oct 2013, 12:39
A few years ago I used to read a manga called Bartender; would recommend. I think I may pick it back up.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 08 Oct 2013, 16:56
For those interested, here's Kotaku's Fall Anime Guide (http://kotaku.com/your-complete-fall-2013-anime-guide-1442365336)

Dammnit. Now I have to watch ALL the anime.

Edit:

So I have long admitted that my anime equivalent of junk food is the anime Infinite Stratos

I Couldn't Become A Hero So Reluctantly I Decided To Get a Job is currently on the watch list... we are... entertained? Mostly? It looks like it's gonna be a cute little romcom, it's leaning heavy on the fan service button already, but that's just standard issue I guess.

There is one weird thing.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Oct 2013, 01:53
Oh look, I did a list (http://myanimelist.net/animelist/pwhodges).

Oo-er - that's an awful lot to have covered in only two years; I think I need to have a moratorium on widening my experience of this stuff and recover the time for my other hobbies.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Oct 2013, 04:45
You're not even up to /months/ yet! That isn't that much/little :P

One thing I do is I tend to watch anime while I paint or assemble models. So I can effectively double my hobby time!

For those interested, here's Kotaku's Fall Anime Guide (http://kotaku.com/your-complete-fall-2013-anime-guide-1442365336)

Dammnit. Now I have to watch ALL the anime.

Edit:

So I have long admitted that my anime equivalent of junk food is the anime Infinite Stratos

I just realized I never finished that. Let's try that again shall we?

So I have long admitted that my anime equivalent of junk food is the anime Infinite Stratos. There's everything I need to shift my brain into cruising speed, flip on cruise control and put my higher brain functions through a shut down cycle. Cute girls a... well for what it is it's a decent story, well designed, unique (relatively) mechs with a pleasant combat style, characters that are for the most part quite likeable (Except Cecilia, girls with Hime curls are never a good sign) and they even manage to poke fun at their own genre/themselves here and there. (There's been a couple references in S1, and now a reference in E1S2 that Laura's XO in her German commando unit is a giant otaku, and gives her all her advice on how to "woo" Ichka. That's quite droll is what that is). Then there's a very solid OP and EP that are fun to listen to to make you forget about anything that popped up that you hate too much. This leads me to the briefly mentioned new episode of season 2. I am not impressed. There's some snippets of drama and plot but honestly the episode focused more on a fanservice trip to the water park then giving us a nice adrenaline kick and teasing us with some plot, and working the fan service eps into that like it's predecessor. It just seemed kinda random over all, like the due date jumped up on the IS team so they had to rush a couple odds and ends out the door and call that an episode. I am not impressed. I will however give the team the benefit of the doubt going forward, so hopefully it's just a weak first episode.... I really like this anime, I'm sure as hell not going to read the light novels, the cool stuff they did tease looks pretty awesome. So... yep
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 09 Oct 2013, 05:01
Oh hey, Yozakura Quartet is getting an anime

You mean ANOTHER anime :P I'm a little sad it's not a continuation though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Oct 2013, 05:46
You're not even up to /months/ yet! That isn't that much/little :P

One thing I do is I tend to watch anime while I paint or assemble models. So I can effectively double my hobby time!

My hobbies are audio-based, so incompatible - indeed, I can't imagine you keeping up with the -monogatari series subs while painting, either!  I often manage to watch an episode on my iPhone while walking the dogs though.

I don't know what the "Days" figure is, though.  Totalling up the lengths of the episodes and films I've watched (not counting those I've repeated) it's about 20 days - not the 1.45 that the web site displays.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Oct 2013, 09:57
Depends on the series, I can listen for key words and tones in Japanese fairly well now so that helps, but most of my hobby anime watching is with dubs.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Allie_Allie on 09 Oct 2013, 16:28
Most of us have at one point or another I think. I dropped it however.

How come?

I'm about to get to it, but from what I've heard it's not the sort of series that usually hooks me too much. Still going to give it a chance :P

What type of series hooks you? I'm completely hooked on it, I love the symbolism and general storyline.

Some people like it; but my internal summary of what I've read about it has confirmed my lack of interest, so I've not even looked at it.  By contrast, I'm tempted to work out how to follow Kill la Kill as it broadcasts (which I've never done).



I've concluded you guys have sucky taste in anime. :-P
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Oct 2013, 16:32
I can quote you plenty of poor criticism of Attack on Titan if you want some justification.  Also it's only half made, so I can't watch it through to the end as I prefer to.

In any case, I'm probably the most untypical anime fan you'll ever come across.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 09 Oct 2013, 16:55
I dunno it just didn't gel with me, namely it has terrible pacing, and moves like DBZ without the excuse that it was having to wait for fresh volumes of the manga and had to do a lot of filler for filler's sake. I wanted to like it, but over all I just couldn't keep my motivation up to keep watching.


My Mental Multiple-Choice Power Is Completely Ruining My School Romantic Comedy seems kinda amusing so far, though I will make the petty gripe that it's usually not multiple choice options he's forced in to.

Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova aka Arpeggio of the Blue Steel is pretty kick ass if you like watching warships and submarines duking it out. I do so this is freaking fantastic.


Unrelated:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SageJiraiya on 10 Oct 2013, 00:57
So, I've done some research about Paprika.

Originally published as a Japanese novel in '93 I think, it was made into a manga by some random guy in like '03, then the movie came out in japanese, and then the english dub came out around '06. At some point after that some other guy made a film-to-manga-adaptation.

Apparently the original novel explored some pretty disturbing rape themes, which were understandably edited for the film.

Neither of the mangas are available in english either for purchase or by fan-translation, but the original book is available in english.

So, I adored the film and the sound track, but it does not look like I will have any luck reading a manga version.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 10 Oct 2013, 10:25
I'm about to get to it, but from what I've heard it's not the sort of series that usually hooks me too much. Still going to give it a chance :P

What type of series hooks you? I'm completely hooked on it, I love the symbolism and general storyline.
There are quite a few things that usually hook me, but the big ones are usually feels through drama/Crowning Moments of Awesome (Along the lines of Clannad, Railgun, Toradora!), mind screws/weird stuff (Stein's Gate, Higurashi, XXXHolic), or things that just look good/interesting (SAO, Chuunibyou, Bakemonogatari). Music usually doesn't hurt either (Idolm@ster, Nodame Cantabile, maybe K-On)
Problem is, most of what I've heard praises some things I don't find interesting, like "epic" monster battles and a heavy focus on one character being "The Chosen One". Things like that are pretty much the only reason I've never really gotten into mechas and such. Still, a lack of plot armor and an interesting functionality in combat looks promising.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Oct 2013, 12:32
I don't find interesting, like "epic" monster battles and a heavy focus on one character being "The Chosen One".

In lots of series, though, the battles, while epic, are far from the whole point.  And your "chosen one" comment could cut out loads of stuff that simply has a main protagonist - which is pretty usual thing in a story!  I mean, on those grounds you could be cutting out Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, possibly even Fullmetal Alchemist, and even Gunbuster and Diebuster!

Still, here are some things that you didn't list that might meet your criteria, that I've enjoyed recently: 
[C]: Control - The Money of Soul and Possibility
Mirai Nikki (aka Future Diary)
Kino's Journey (might seem a bit slow to you, I guess)
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (Only two mecha fights in 6 eps - I'm told it encapsulates the best of Gundam)
Mindgame (A weird, weird film, and hard to find)

To be fair, I should include, on account of its popularity:
Death Note
though I hated it and dropped it less than halfway through.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 10 Oct 2013, 14:05
An anime I haven't seen anyone talk about but I really enjoyed was Last Exile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Exile).

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/44/LastExile_DVD_vol1_cover.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Oct 2013, 14:49
Seen the name, but don't know it.  I've seen love expressed for the original series, and great dislike for the sequel (FAM, The Silver Wing).  Do you have any comment on that?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 10 Oct 2013, 14:57
I haven't finished the original and I've never seen the sequel, but I enjoyed what I saw way back when it was on Tech TV. Sadly it seems it has been taken off Netflix
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Oct 2013, 16:33
Last Exile was wonderful, know nothing about the sequel.

I'm not even part way into S2E2 for Infinite Stratos and I can only say...

(http://www.troll.me/images/victory-baby/thats-what-im-talking-about.jpg)

Much better. Hell yes. Seito Kaichou isn't going to be messing with my shipping order any time soon, but she's fun.

Also if you guys haven't seen it, another recommendation for Toradora!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 10 Oct 2013, 18:25
If you're into romcoms and can handle tsundere then definitely go for Toradora.  It's one of my favorites.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Oct 2013, 18:31
In it's defense it's a well DONE tsundere!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 10 Oct 2013, 18:56
It's might be the best one even!

but maybe Asuka wins that one
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Oct 2013, 21:30
Hell no. Palm Top Tiger for the glorious victory!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: TheCollyWolly on 10 Oct 2013, 22:17
So I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta the other weekend. That was cool, even though I don't watch much. Approximately 50% of the people there were cosplaying SNK, so I decided I'd watch a few episodes. It's so.... over-dramatic. Every single scene is punctuated by a gasp because there's just so much fucking drama. I dunno. Just my two cents.

brotherhood is the best!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 11 Oct 2013, 15:32
(http://i.imgur.com/M4kmMbC.gif)

Any recommendations this season? I've watched the first two episodes of Kill La Kill which is brilliant so far and Outbreak Company which is set up to possibly get interesting or it might get dropped if it goes nowhere
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Oct 2013, 17:50
Infinite Stratos 2 is shaping up nicely if you liked season 1. Strike The Blood is good so far...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 11 Oct 2013, 20:52
I don't find interesting, like "epic" monster battles and a heavy focus on one character being "The Chosen One".

In lots of series, though, the battles, while epic, are far from the whole point.  And your "chosen one" comment could cut out loads of stuff that simply has a main protagonist - which is pretty usual thing in a story!  I mean, on those grounds you could be cutting out Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, possibly even Fullmetal Alchemist, and even Gunbuster and Diebuster!
Well, I don't mind the focus on one character, but when that character seems to literally do everything, that's when it goes into "Chosen One" territory for me. In Evangelion, Shinji wasn't the only EVA pilot, TTGL did seem like it for a bit, but then the rest of the Dai Gurren brigade showed up to kick ass, FMA loved its Big Damn Heroes Moments, Kirito, while infamous, was not stated to have personally killed each boss or anything ridiculous like that, etc. My problem is when one character seems to be made to be a story breaker, like this huge deal that the MC of AoT can turn into one of the monsters, and that's his thing. Or that annoying start to Fairy Tail where Natsu basically defeats every single Big Bad, and the rest of the cast just kinda stands around.
And while epic battles usually aren't the point, I get suspicious when that's all I ever really hear people talk about. As if that's all that mattered to them :P
Also: Seen all your rec's besides C, Mindgame and Gundam. C's queued, Mindgame's added to the list.

In other news, I might actually be going crazy:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Oct 2013, 08:07
Wait, how can you not have a problem with Kirito but have one with Eren?  Eren might have a super power but he doesn't always win no matter what and his character flaws don't consist of other people being dumb around him.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 13 Oct 2013, 09:06
@Asterus: I get it and I tend to agree. Something like that can break the plot.  One of the reasons why I like some of the UC gundams (08 MS team especially) and cowboy beebop, everyone plays a part and deals out some ass kickery.  Sure there may be an ace or "red baron" the protagonist and his team may encounter but they all do their part.  I guess its why I like war movies and shows.  Its not just some special guy who has the power of deus ex machina, its a unit working together.  Sure you may have some exception soldier in the team but they do not define the series. Only seen a random episode of FMA here and there and they do play the "Big Damn Heroes" part but they also get their asses kicked from time to time.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dream on 13 Oct 2013, 10:04
I watched the first three episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam (or 0079 Gundam, no idea how it's supposed to be called)

Well, not sure where to start. It was as intense as it was impressive, and it was very intense. It's very rare for me to have such a positive impression of a series right from the first episode but Gundam really is amazing.

The first thing that jumped to attention were the visuals. Now, i knew things like the character designs and cinematography were going to be dated, but it still surprised me a bit how... Different, it was from my usual experiences with anime. It wasn't bad though, on the contrary. The old-school anime art and style were both pretty interesting in seeing how things were done back then, and managed to have quite a vitality to them. Overall, if i had to describe it in one word, i would use "static". Animations are generally "stiff", the camera doesn't move much, etc. But it "makes up" for it with achieved composition and captivating action and pacing. And like i said, the old-school designs were pretty cool and an interesting change from what i was used to, all those pencil lines...

The writing... Three episodes in i don't have much to say. Not because i think the writing was underwhelming (on the contrary) but simply because i can't find the words. Tomino sure as hell is a great writer though. Amuro Ray is a rather interesting character, and i was quite surprised at how three-dimensional he -and most of the cast now that i think about it- was.

So yeah, much more things to say but can't seem to be able to verbalize them properly. It's probably not a story i would have watched without recomendation (too much death and with a "hard" feel to it, plus i'm just not into mechanical things) but i can certainly see why it's such a remembered series. It's quite awesome really. Silly music (Specially OP and ED) and sound-effects aside.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Oct 2013, 10:29
Heh!  I'm just doing the same, except that I'm watching the movie trilogy version - both to save me time, and because some people seem to think that on the whole the tighter version of the story works better even if a few bits are missing.

I've previously watched (and loved) Gundam 0080 - War in the Pocket, and although the bigger story isn't as tautly constructed as the 6 part OVA, I'm finding a lot of the same kind of ideas to enjoy.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dream on 13 Oct 2013, 10:34
I've been actually considering switching over to the film version as well, mainly because the third film seems to be vastly superior to the final third of the series and the ending has a different feel. Apparently Tv series has some stuff better at the start but not so much later on.

It was mostly the fact that, as you mentioned, a few bits were missing that made me decide for the series in the first place, but it might have been wrong move.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Oct 2013, 10:49
Holy feth. The miracle at the end of Devil Survivor 2: The Animation Episode 10, actually made me tear up a little. This anime is looking forward to a /very/ nice rating from me.

Edit: Yup, easy 9, the only thing preventing a 10 is rewatchability. If I come back to it a few times, it could easily see it's score improve.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 13 Oct 2013, 18:30
Wait, how can you not have a problem with Kirito but have one with Eren?  Eren might have a super power but he doesn't always win no matter what and his character flaws don't consist of other people being dumb around him.
I think you missed the "almost killed by a player 10 levels below him", "Ran like a bitch from a new boss", "Get his entire party killed", "Got curb-stomped by a boss 20+ levels higher than him", and "Technically died on the final boss" moments :P
And there were plenty of characters that didn't go pseudo-ax crazy. Egil, Asuna, Klein, Lizbeth, and Argo usually played some role in the games (Though those last two were only really mentioned in the manga, and I'm still annoyed Argo didn't show up much in the series), and there were plenty of other characters implied to be doing as much (if not more) than Kirito, if they can still make progress while he has time to join a guild of mid-levels, get married, and go on vacation while they get to level 74.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 14 Oct 2013, 07:38
None of those are really character flaws?  He didn't get his party killed, they stupidly walked into an obvious trap because of their cockiness.  He died so hard on the last boss that he magically was able to stab him anyway.  I really liked SAO the first time I watched it but Kirito has almost no depth.  He is every loner MMO player's power fantasy.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 14 Oct 2013, 12:56
So I started watching the anime Blue Drop last night. The following is a no shit transcript of my reaction to the first episode. I'm not gonna spoiler it except for one small detail, I mean it's all generic and it's all an E1 reveal but you deserve that special moment of "wat" for yourselves should you choose to watch this.

Quote
WHOA
What the FUCK just happened!?
This anime just shifted from sad slice of life into full metal weirdness
So to sum up. Girl A saw Girl B as she was bring driven to her new school
they meet in the dorms
shake hands
Girl B gets a vision of the MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY (tm) in her past. Then her eyes go blue and then tries to choke her out.
(Girl A's tragedy to be precise)
(click to show/hide)
I have NO FUCKING clue what's going on.

Seriously I'm like 11 episodes in and I have NO idea what's going on. This anime is half sad slice of life at a girl's school and half
(click to show/hide)
and ALL OF IT is slathered in Yuri implications that are well past the point of subtext. It's really well done relationship wise which is quite shocking. Even if the
(click to show/hide)
are literally
(click to show/hide)
which is a terrible trope no matter the
(click to show/hide)
in question....

So.. yeah it's weird by 7/10 so far.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 14 Oct 2013, 13:14
(click to show/hide)
is nothing new, havn't you played
(click to show/hide)
 

OT: how awesome is it that the auto correct when typing on the internet tries to capitalize Jedi.  :-D
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 14 Oct 2013, 13:23
None of those are really character flaws?  He didn't get his party killed, they stupidly walked into an obvious trap because of their cockiness.  He died so hard on the last boss that he magically was able to stab him anyway.  I really liked SAO the first time I watched it but Kirito has almost no depth.  He is every loner MMO player's power fantasy.
I don't know, being uncommunicative in multiplayer is a damn big giant character flaw, regardless of whether you're a solo player or not. I always go for a solo playstyle, and even then, I ping mob aggros, alert others on my status, and tell someone that their plan is a really fucking stupid idea and why if they don't know by experience.
My response was more towards the "Always win no matter what" part of your post :P And I'm going with the "immersive suspension of disbelief" approach to the end of the SAO arc, because honestly there's really no other way to manage a narrative battle without going with a Mary Sue curbstomp if the main mechanic of a strong player is "Powerleveld to hell". Ever been on a busy RO server and run across an MVP monster? You'll either die horribly, or watch 30-40 T3 trans players show up and nuke the hell out of it without breaking a sweat.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 14 Oct 2013, 13:54
(click to show/hide)
is nothing new, havn't you played
(click to show/hide)
 


No I know, I'm well aware, which is why I called it a trope :P

On another "new anime note"
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: this anime is weird as hell, In Short Alien tech takes the form of WW2 era naval ships, chase humans out of the sea (as in all shipping capacity, etc) then manifest pretty female avatars for themselves for... reasons. The Blue Steel is also known as the IS-401 (Imperial Submarine 401, a VERY VERY large WW2 era Japanese submarine) that is serving a human crew for... reasons as well. Apparently the avatar of one of the heavy cruisers trying to kill them becomes enamored with the human captain of the IS-401. Which is taking Tsundere to whole new levels if instead of slapping you the romance du jour can launch cruise missiles when you tick her off. Makes you wonder what she'd consider a grope though. Careful with that throttle!

Attempts at humor aside I'd recommend this one out of the current season. It's surprisingly light on fan service. Unless you're like me and warships duking it out counts as fan service.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 16 Oct 2013, 18:36
Ok, now that I'm actually watching AoT, I'm glad to note that Eren is not the OP story-breaker most people describe him as. At least, not yet. Possible Beserker who's one Ax-Crazy rampage away from being a Blood Knight, I can handle.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Oct 2013, 09:16
(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q71/1379437_601959786534575_1740897850_n.jpg)

Attack on Delicious!

IS2's EP is growing on me, still no Super Stream, but it's good.

Recap of stuff that stood out to me this week.

I Couldn't Become a Hero So Reluctantly I Decided to Get a Job - This Harem Romcom continues to shape up nicely, Raul and Fino have some hilarious interactions. The fan service leans heavier then I had even expected (and I expected A LOT) with this latest episode even earning a mature content warning from Crunchy Roll because it was just shy of some actual pornography.

Strike the Blood - They really turned it up to 11 this episode, and seem to have a serious case of cliff hanger disorder.

Kill La Kill - It just keeps getting more and more OTT, excellent <3
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 21 Oct 2013, 10:56
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/5e2a1101b223f0ae91080f9b06da49ed/tumblr_muu1enhkRS1r8c4p2o1_500.gif)

(http://31.media.tumblr.com/987191aea503730ad939bf4e25ef0e55/tumblr_muu1enhkRS1r8c4p2o2_500.gif)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/459552958952e739066964568ab032f9/tumblr_muu1enhkRS1r8c4p2o3_500.gif)

<mod>corrected markup</mod>
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 21 Oct 2013, 11:34
Kill la Kill?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 21 Oct 2013, 11:37
again I do not watch anime much at all...but those 3 gifs look hilarious! :laugh:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 21 Oct 2013, 14:13
The character she's spinning has a habit of jumping (launching) at the other character, mostly to hilarious effect.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Oct 2013, 20:34
I just watched a battleship falling in love with a man.

...yep. Too much anime.

Time to download Game of Thrones or something before I lose my mind.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 22 Oct 2013, 05:27
Just watch seasons 2-5 of Parks and Rec, or youtube ron swanson.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Oct 2013, 20:33
Kill La Kill definitely delivered this ep! It isn't quite my favorite of this season, it's style of slapstick has never been tops for me over my preferred genres... but it's damn good.

Meanwhile speaking of DELIVERING.

Golden Time delivered in SPADES today. Some very nice character interplay, some plot progression/personal development for our male and female leads AND a big juicy reveal about amnesiac male lead's... relatively untroubled, normal past. We can taste blood in the water! errr... plot. This is gonna get juicy!

So far my top anime this season:
1. Strike the Blood
2. Golden Time
3. Arpeggio of Blue Steel/Kill La Kill
4. Gingitsune (Silve Fox)
5. Log Horizon/Non Non Byori


Infinite Stratos 2 is not on this list... cause it's a sequel to a personal favorite, so it'd skew the results on fairly. All told... I thought last season was good, and while some of my friends are unimpressed I am /very/ pleased with this season so far.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Dream on 25 Oct 2013, 08:21
Well, i watched up to episode 24 of Nadia

I think the phrase that could best summarize my experience with those episodes is "Woah, what?". From Gargoyle

(click to show/hide)

It was all the classical lolAnno epic/majestic writing that leaves with your mouth hanging open. It was so much awesome and great form and incredible suprises/plot twist my mind could barely process it. I know i've said this many times when it comes to Anno's work but just when you think it can't top itself... Anno delivers. Just what you'd expect from the master.

It's been a while since i saw some of the episodes following 16, but it was really nice and interesting to see episodes primarily centered on a self-contained message/topic that still manages to seamlessly connect with the greater narrative of the series. Episode 17 and it's focus on adulthood is probably the most noticeable example of what i'm saying.

But of course, it's not all peaches and roses with Nadia. I have reached that part of the series.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 26 Oct 2013, 15:24
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/67a25459a6e221318ae845a123c75ea3/tumblr_mvapoxlRDo1r394uno1_250.gif)(http://25.media.tumblr.com/0eaa93efe4960b263e99ebda2b4d5d5b/tumblr_mvapoxlRDo1r394uno2_250.gif)
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/b1075bf7a7e08595113e5f33ea2c68d1/tumblr_mvapoxlRDo1r394uno4_250.gif)(http://25.media.tumblr.com/e76dbef0e9a27cfe557f532647053479/tumblr_mvapoxlRDo1r394uno3_250.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 27 Oct 2013, 06:02
Kill la Kill might take anime of the season for me just for the gifs it's generated.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 31 Oct 2013, 07:12
(http://i.imgur.com/8hQRV4t.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/9pIik7E.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 31 Oct 2013, 17:32

In IS2 news. This episode took a heel turn deep into fan service territory. Charl's french poodle get up may have actually made me hate that breed of dog just a little less. Not done yet. I am... disturbed as to what Laura's "service" is going to be. I am hoping it involves spit shining Ichka's boots.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 31 Oct 2013, 17:39
holy fan-service gainaxing effect batman!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 31 Oct 2013, 17:56
Oh sweet goddess Freyja's favorite sword I did NOT expect that! Well I mean I expected seito kaicho getting in on the act, but Chifuya!? Dafuq?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 02 Nov 2013, 15:00
started watching Tokyo Ravens just because of this gif here.

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/b0f35a614cde5f0934efd7180f59bc11/tumblr_mvnjjrBqvW1slai41o1_400.gif)

and holy shit I love everything about this anime so far!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emperor Norton on 04 Nov 2013, 12:14
So I went to Anime Weekend Atlanta the other weekend. That was cool, even though I don't watch much. Approximately 50% of the people there were cosplaying SNK, so I decided I'd watch a few episodes. It's so.... over-dramatic. Every single scene is punctuated by a gasp because there's just so much fucking drama. I dunno. Just my two cents.

brotherhood is the best!

Ha, we might have seen each other and never known. Me and my wife run the AWA merchant booth selling all the AWA branded stuff.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 04 Nov 2013, 13:03
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/df377a0e4aea5a215148b6b0d7974df8/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o1_1280.jpg)
(http://31.media.tumblr.com/e79d5d6edc586186539dda03eb53ad77/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o2_1280.jpg)

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/950d8a9587dfd6f8678da3c2177718a2/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o3_1280.jpg)
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/a2fefa01ecb34fc222e8b54ee81ea97f/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o4_1280.jpg)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/d9119c95a11b84ea993cb8ee2d08ac3a/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o5_1280.jpg)
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/f7bc9e8c7220aec491c8ab40ff116003/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o6_1280.jpg)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/c68942151fa34d8701b79c2d635362b9/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o7_1280.jpg)
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/a1bb29a2b6bf232e46ef8c2eb1b0373b/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o8_1280.jpg)

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/d1ddc7c109e8c718dbde9dbb12a11299/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o9_1280.jpg)
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/a3680b34faa5122f7e654f544f07427b/tumblr_mqkna7wniC1sc7s90o10_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Nov 2013, 13:18
My score:

Classics - 2/16

Kare Kano
Golden Boy


But I also have Gundam Zeta and Princess Mononoke currently waiting in the queue.

Award Winners - 6/16

Abenobashi
Cowboy Bebop
GitS
TTGL
Nausicaa
Diebuster


Girl who jumped through time is waiting.

Popular - 7/24

Azumanga Daioh
Haruhi Suzumiya
Evangelion
Gunbuster
FLCL
Haibane Renmai
Lain


Stylish - 1/16

Mononoke (currently watching)

Hidden gems - 0/16

(I actually have not heard of a single one of those)

I might add The Castle of Cagliostro and Howl's Moving Castle to the queue
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 04 Nov 2013, 14:11
looking through these...I...recognize a few of them.  I REALLY wanted to watch slayer but only saw the first few episodes on telemundo (the spanish channel) but it was very cute/interesting.

Lupin the 3 is a great show (thanks Adult Swim!)

Rurouni Kenshin was cool, and a sequel series if I remember correctly from samuri X (didnt watch samurai X) but saw kenshin on Toonami, was entertaining.

Trigun is cool (honestly mash up anything sci-fi with a spaghetti western and I'll watch it)

Outlaw Star (see above)

Cowboy BeeBop (best anime I ever watched, ever in the history of everness.  Also see above)

8th MS team (Ive touched on it before, well worth it!)

Samurai Champloo (was interesting and was pretty much like Cowboy Beebop but in Shogun Japan)

FLCL (strange is too light a word for this anime which I saw as an allegory for adolescence)

Big O (batman with a mech, good but got really weird closer to the end with a total mind fuck episode that made me loose interest)

edit: Okay saw this and had to share.  Can you name all the references?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Nov 2013, 14:25
I goddamn loved Birdy the Mighty <3

I'll do my score later tonight after I get home and get a beer in me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emperor Norton on 04 Nov 2013, 14:37
Has anyone ever watched Infinite Ryvius? I've always felt it was one of the most underrated shows as far as English audience went. It won awards in Japan... then no one outside of the country ever seems to have even heard of it.

Hell, the company that brought it over doesn't even have a picture of the dvd box set on their own personal store.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 04 Nov 2013, 17:41
Does DBZA count as anime? 'Cause its awesome and they just rolled out the Dead Zone parody
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Nov 2013, 18:03
Classics: 13 (Seriously. Slayers, 8th MS Team, Golden Boy, Outlaw Star, Trigun, Kenshin, Princess Mononoke, ANYTHING Macross, if you haven't watched those... whelp there's your new list of stuff to watch!

Award Winners: 8 (I didn't know The Girl Who Jumped Through Time had won awards. It's freaking GREAT though)

Popular: 12

Stylish: 4 (I wish it was three, Gankutsuou was one of the worst things I've ever watched)

Hidden Gems: 1
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Nov 2013, 18:36
Enjoy with my compliments because....WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS!

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Nov 2013, 16:35
Dear Non Non Byori,

Why did you have to do that to Hotaru-chan you perverted monsters? 5th grades are not supposed to have feminine curves. Specifically a bust that would look normal on a model! I mean I suppose for non slice of life anime she'd be "the flat one" but fething hell this is supposed to be vaguely connected to reality.

Signed,
Am I on a list now?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 05 Nov 2013, 16:43
never been to japan, couldn't say...I am assuming Hitomi J Cup is a mutant of some kind and far from the norm?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Nov 2013, 17:15
Hitomi Tanaka's colossal cleavage is far from the norm for our entire SPECIES. Either way, 5th graders STILL shouldn't have a developed chest.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 07 Nov 2013, 17:28
(http://i.imgur.com/8hQRV4t.gif)
(http://i.imgur.com/9pIik7E.gif)

been meaning to comment on this but keep forgetting, I freaking love the sheer power of the parody within Kill la Kill.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 16 Nov 2013, 20:58
Friggin' adorable
(http://31.media.tumblr.com/25faf00e39a0fde72cc4ce9a639d3867/tumblr_mwb7dxTizJ1seuvrlo1_500.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Nov 2013, 21:27
Totes dorbs. Burrito.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Nov 2013, 19:20
 Ars Nova has taught me something today. Just because it's a sentient AI that has a dakimakura doesn't make said dakimakura less creepy.*

"We are weapons, or we used to be"

*As in she, the AI, possesses a dakimakura, not that her image has been made into one, which I'm sure it has.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 07 Dec 2013, 10:56
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/4fc56470b25d95bb9f21e2b601b5bc99/tumblr_mxd3omSL2h1rky5jbo1_1280.jpg)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/47fe00de3efb926f87ffd681c8264417/tumblr_mxd3omSL2h1rky5jbo2_1280.jpg)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/75012c19f0d10aa3d128eac4f304877a/tumblr_mxd3omSL2h1rky5jbo3_1280.jpg)

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/d882c98f7014e95ad4404205399724c8/tumblr_mxd3omSL2h1rky5jbo4_1280.jpg)

(http://31.media.tumblr.com/9f12d4f8bddc37e19e3c50cb8216202c/tumblr_mxd3omSL2h1rky5jbo5_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 07 Dec 2013, 10:57
I'm really excited for A Bride's Story, Franken Fran, Pluto, and NANA TO KAORU
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 07 Dec 2013, 18:51
Finally! Spice and Wolf 3 XD
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 07 Dec 2013, 20:51
Ooooh! Some fun stuff coming up!

Otome Yokai Zakuro was cute so I'll probably dig through the second season

Gundamn Crossbones looks like possibly one of the best things ever by adding giant robots to space pirates

Vinland Saga sounds fucking bad ass

Nana to Kaoru - Mix of sex and comedy with any luck

Shingetsutan Tsukihime - Looks like it has a lot of potential!


Eeeee! More Spice and Wolf... which if it brings us to the conclusion has my favorite ending of any anime/manga ever~
(click to show/hide)

I'll be passing on the new Strike Witches and FMP though.


Over all an exciting spring after what's looking to be an excellent winter.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 08 Dec 2013, 04:34
I just hope the new Tsukihime turns out better than the old one did. I'm still puzzled by that, since Fate/Stay was great, but it seemed like Tsukihime was rushed or something. It also didn't help that they did that thing most visual novel adaptations do where they blindly follow the default path, which is usually the most boring one.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 08 Dec 2013, 06:50
I've never seen this forum troll itself like that  Ohhh maaaan.  Next thing you know I'll see a chart with Onani Master Kurosawa on it.

(http://i.imgur.com/UaOw2Ar.png)

To clarify:  This is a pretty common troll chart that goes around almost every season.  It probably originated on 4chan's /a/ board.

Never trust an anime chart with these on it:  Yamada and the 7 Witches, Yotsuba&!, Franken Fran, Pluto, Vinland Saga, or Hoshi no Samidare.  These are all highly regarded manga on /a/ that will probably never be animated.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 08 Dec 2013, 10:07
Season 3 spice and wolf is probably a pipe dream too.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Dec 2013, 03:38
One I picked out from a recent awards list - Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family).  Simply gorgeous in every way; unpretentious, relaxed, somewhat slow, but draws you in inexorably.  If you haven't watched it, do so now.

The family (except the one who's currently a frog and can't change back):(http://cassland.org/images/EG/UchoutenKazoku1.jpg)

Sometimes it's hard to keep your shape!:(http://cassland.org/images/EG/UchoutenKazoku2.jpg)

Sensei's back pain prevents him from flying and makes him grumpy:(http://cassland.org/images/EG/UchoutenKazoku3.jpg)

Yasaburou looks out for his younger brother:(http://cassland.org/images/EG/UchoutenKazoku4.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Dec 2013, 09:18
Are they serious? (http://www.funimation.com/blog/?p=3142)

Quote
It has been announced today, that due to the overwhelming theatrical demand for Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, the release date for the Blu-ray and DVD, Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo, has been delayed to a TBD date in 2014.

It was due on 18th Feb from Funimation in the US, and 31st March from Manga in the UK.  So, in the light of this, will the UK release also be delayed, or might we actually get it before the US, I wonder!!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 18 Dec 2013, 09:45
Well that's just great news for someone who doesn't live in any of those states.  Great.  News.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 23 Dec 2013, 05:37
So a thought I had during the commute today about Attack on Titan, some individuals have drawn lines to lay the anime out as an attack on rampant consumerism and capitalism. I think that's a stretch. I think it might be an assault on Government and Government Power though. The State in most modern nations is a bland, massive entity that destroys and consumes all it comes into contact with no thought to those it affects, merely it's own power and continued existance. As the power of the government grows, our freedoms shrink in the name of "security", much like the humans in AoT are forced to retreat further into their walls.

Government is not an unstoppable force, though it can feel like it to those of us beneath it's trod, but humans, single individual humans are ever the titan killers.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: blacksinow on 27 Dec 2013, 12:54
Why am I not seeing Dirty Pair, Dirty Pair Flash, or Megazone 23 mentioned in that pic-list of anime to watch? Or Bubblegum Crisis, Kassan Robot Hunter and 8 Man After for that matter? As for Macross, it and I have an understanding. I won't watch anymore Robotech (which is pretty much similar to Macross) and I won't get pissed off about them not finishing it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 28 Dec 2013, 08:32
Make your own recommendation image.  With blackjack.  And hookers.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: blacksinow on 28 Dec 2013, 08:35
Blackjack and Hookers?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 04 Jan 2014, 04:24
I know (as much as you can know someone you aoccasionally chat with online) a guy who wrote his own game engine with blackjack and hookers.

Seriously, the file extensions it used were things like .blackjack and .hooker.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 04 Jan 2014, 06:49
It's a Futurama quote

Also, Princess Jellyfish is on Netflix
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 08 Jan 2014, 19:15

Been watching Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi (A Bridge to the Starry Skies) and it's pretty good, but lighter on deep character interaction then I wanted, but good all the same, better then it's genre mate Shuffle, also the first girl didn't win! Wtf eh?

It does have those weird multilayer female haircuts they stick in for a lot of protagonists... bangs, side pony tails, auxiliary bangs EVERYWHERE.How the hell does that work!?

I'm also working on Familiar of Zero, which is surprisingly good, I didn't really think it'd be my cup of tea, but I raced throught the first season!

As far as the new season goes... I watched Nobunaga the Fool and... uh... guys I think the company that made it may have my 8th grade scratch pad and are using it for ideas, because Oda Nobunaga teaming up with Joan of Arc to conquer Not Earth with giant robots and space ships is just the kind of gak I'd have been writing around that age.

(Joan of Arc and Oda Nobunaga have always been some of my favorite historical personages)

So I watched a couple different ones today. Hamatora is pretty cool, but I think I'm in love with Nobunagun (shit yes, second Oda Nobunaga related anime in the season? My inner fan boy is dancing... and burning a few villages down) I mean hell the female lead is a fellow weapon geek for one!

Even better then that (so far) is Witch Craft Works, which I am enjoy a whole hell of a bunch, the messing with gender roles is just the icing on a fun, action packed incendiary cake.

Tonari No Seki-kun and The Pilot's Love Song seem pretty good so far too!

....shit.

I just realized how much HASN'T debuted yet.

I apparently need to quit my job and just watch anime this season...

Note to self, still gotta watch Space Dandy... and catch up on Tokyo Ravens... fuck.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 13 Feb 2014, 04:01
Well 6 weeks in and this season has started to suck hard, there are a few gems there, but they hide under a ton of shit.

Space Dandy - Tries so hard and fails in every way, it's just not funny at all, Dandy himself is a creep, the story lines all just suck so bad... a massive disappointment.

The Pilot's Love Song - Of all the new anime this season, this had one of my favourite opening episodes, every episode since then has just been a further spiral down. This is my biggest disappointment of the season so far, as it has a great universe and interesting premise, but you know, lets still base it in high school and have weird fan service with girls tickling each other, I'm sure that's what all women do at the beach...

Nisekoi - Started off ok, now it's just a generic harem full of generic misunderstandings. Not an enjoyable watch any more.

Pupa - Really should have known better than to pick this up. It's the best unintentional comedy of the season, because it's so incoherent and crap that you can't help but laugh.

Some good stuff though!

Seitokai Yakuindomo 2 - Hilariously perverted comedy. Just as good as the first season.

Silver Spoon 2 - Again, this is just as good as the first season, a great slice of life comedy with (shock horror) characters that seem like real human beings. One of my favourites of the season.

Pupipo - A great little short, and another of my favourites. Wakaba is pretty interesting, and Po is a great little mascot, I love the premise too.

Noragami - It borders on meh for me, but I guess that's just because i feel so critical of the season right now, it has some interesting characters, the premise is quite good, as is the pacing. I look forward to seeing how it can progress. Or at least I did until episode 6, and then I saw Bishamon's character design, it was pretty damn stupid and not at all in keeping with the rest of the show. Now I just await more exploitive fan service.

Oh, and some stuff you should only watch if you're a masochist

Recently, My Sister is Unusual - Where do I begin? Weird piss fetishising. Some rape apologist ghost. And incest. Please stay away.

SoniAni: super Sonico the Animation - Incredibly boring dross with very bad ecchi thrown in.

All in all, if Kill la Kill wasn't airing this season still, I'd probably cry my eyes out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Yayniall on 13 Feb 2014, 11:13
You're missing anime of the season: Tonari no Seki-kun
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 13 Feb 2014, 13:44
Ah I missed that off my list, I'm watching that too. It's definitely an entertaining watch, though I'm an episode or 2 behind right now...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Feb 2014, 17:16
Any list that doesn't include Hozuki is incomplete.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 15 Feb 2014, 01:37
Apparently yesterday one thread on /a/ about episode 18 of Kill la Kill reached 5000 messages (that would be 100 pages here) in one evening - and there were others.  I can't even have nightmares about moderating that level of traffic!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 15 Feb 2014, 01:48
Apparently yesterday one thread on /a/ about episode 18 of Kill la Kill reached 5000 messages (that would be 100 pages here) in one evening - and there were others.  I can't even have nightmares about moderating that level of traffic!

It was such a great episode though. My body is still recovering.

Also, a day late, but I've just seen the best Valentines day poem of all time...

Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
Omae wa mo shindeiru
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 15 Feb 2014, 06:23
I don't even know if threads on /a/ can get that long.  There is a limit where you have to make a new one before it auto-deletes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 15 Feb 2014, 07:06
Apparently yesterday one thread on /a/ about episode 18 of Kill la Kill reached 5000 messages (that would be 100 pages here) in one evening - and there were others.  I can't even have nightmares about moderating that level of traffic!

4chan really isn't moderated so much as people who get really out of line are made examples of.

But holy fuck yes that last episode of Kill la Kill DESERVED the traffic. I freaking went super saiyan about half way through. I'm still blond this morning.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Feb 2014, 15:40
I could easily try to find excuses to avoid writing about NieA under 7, but instead I'll just grit my teeth and do it.

So what is it?  Well, it's the most puzzling anime I've yet seen.  It has a large element of slice-of-life (Miyuko's day-to-day existence and concerns), a little romance (the taciturn Genzo, who never does anything more exciting than coming over with a bag of rice), with added comedy (NieA's perpetual demand for food, and making UFOs that need to be plugged in to fly), ineffectual aliens (they're sort-of integrated into Earth society, and do nothing alienish aside from having antennae, apart from NieA who is perpetually building her UFOs), a mystery that could be deep but is never explained (the alien mothership, which talks only to NieA, says "sayonara" - we suppose, because NieA says it back - and then disappears by turning into fireflies that remind Miyuko of her father).

All this adds up to something and nothing.  Nothing, because there is no discernible plot or moral to be found (a few hints at a concern with discrimination are not built up into anything meaningful); something, because the characters themselves have appeal, and keep you coming back to follow them even though they don't really develop.  The realism of some of them - Miyuko the most - is satisfying; but the lack of development, or lack of explanation when something does happen (disappearance of the mothership), is unsatisfying to the same degree.

And why is the next episode preview actually an Indian talking about India?

In many ways the series seems unplanned, an experiment looking into how to write... something.  Some of the gentleness feeds into Haibane Renmei; and I even briefly thought that there might be a message about acceptance of one's lot in NieA under 7 which could have been an earlier version of that in Haibane Renmei.

I did actually enjoy watching it - there are so many details that are wonderful: anything to do with Miyuko; the range of NieA's expressions; the omnipresence of the mothership; the tension when NieA herself disappears for a whole episode.  But would I recommend it to anyone else?  Well, that's a really hard one - I'll just say, read what I've written and make your own choice.

----
PS - the music.  The background music is unobtrusive and appropriate, a lot of it simply acoustic guitar.  The OP is an acquired taste, which I was only beginning to acquire when the series ended.  The ED is sweet and jaunty, and quite hummable.

PPS - I should explain, for those who don't know, that NieA under 7 was made by ABe and the team that had just made Serial Experiments Lain, as a sort of relaxation.  It is far less known than the trio of Lain, Texhnolyze and Haibane Renmei, and kind of hard to discover anything about.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Mar 2014, 06:52
(http://i.imgur.com/Ed8CsN1.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Mar 2014, 09:40
Yeah. Say what you will about Gendo, he never sexually violated Shinji. Or brain washed him. Or tortured him. Sure the kid ended up traumatized and mentally/spiritually shattered, but Ragyo's daughters make him look like the very picture of (whiny) sound mental health.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Mar 2014, 10:23
Say what you will about Gendo, he never [...] Shinji. Or brain washed him.

In the film version, Gendou and Fuyu in 1.11 discuss brainwashing Shinji to get him to pilot, and in 3.33 Fuyu tells Shinji his memories of Yui's disappearance have been wiped.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Mar 2014, 12:02
I stand corrected. I haven't seen rebuild yet.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Mar 2014, 13:12
Because of the startling changes, I would now recommend waiting until the last film is available (maybe two years?) so that you can watch them through as a set.  Many people have found that watching 3.33 multiple times has helped in understanding it, but maybe 4.44 will provide explanations more naturally.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 10 Mar 2014, 17:40
Because of the startling changes, I would now recommend waiting until the last film is available (maybe two years?) so that you can watch them through as a set.  Many people have found that watching 3.33 multiple times has helped in understanding it, but maybe 4.44 will provide explanations more naturally.

I really enjoyed 3.33, but I think before anyone watches it, they should understand that they skipped a lot of content following the immediate aftermath of 2.22
(click to show/hide)
I'm sure 4.44 will have answers for us though, Anno loves giving us answers...

:angelface:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 12 Mar 2014, 19:48
(http://th06.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2014/070/1/c/thurrender_to_thethe_truths__by_michaelmayne-d79txaq.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 12 Mar 2014, 21:07
Bugs does like his cross dressing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Mar 2014, 21:51
(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/l/t31/1973433_219721554893035_1029467821_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Mar 2014, 05:49
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 14 Mar 2014, 06:02
Not enough to do that to an innocent laptop! Hel's heels Hodges put a trigger warning on that!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 14 Mar 2014, 16:52
GET HYPED MOTHERFUCKERS
(http://25.media.tumblr.com/236ffe4fe3cf3877927d58074a62804a/tumblr_n2epxti2VI1s77eooo1_1280.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 14 Mar 2014, 23:01
Awwwwwwwwwwwww yiss
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 15 Mar 2014, 17:09
So I now run the anime club at the college. Aside from anything incredibly inappropriate, I've basically got no say in what we watch.

We watched one episode of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and two episodes of BlazBlue.

I marginally understood BlazBlue because I've played the game. Aside from that... I just... I don't... what?

Also, anime still all looks the same to me as far as animation style.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 15 Mar 2014, 17:43
Some of the styles are very nuanced in their differences, some are waaaay different. (Mononoke and the mazes of Madoka Magica are different than, say, Fullmetal Alchemist.) Depends on the artist.

I actually quite liked Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. The story is interesting and also I think it has one of the best bromances in the history of anime (Alex Armstrong and Sig Curtis). But you're not going to understand the story from just one episode, just like with any series.

I just finished Future Diary and I have to say I didn't like how abrupt the last episode was. I actually had to look up what was supposed to happen because they didn't cover enough of the ending. Other than that, it was a very fucked up story and I really liked it. Now I need to find a new one to watch. Preferably something silly, because that one was pretty depressing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 16 Mar 2014, 05:11
Now I need to find a new one to watch.

Coming soon: Paul's completely random list of anime, with one-line notes of what he thought of them.  Some of them may surprise you.

Preferably something silly, because that one was pretty depressing.

Girls und Panzer
NieA under 7
Cutie Honey (the excessive fan-service is structural, as in Kill la Kill)
The Eccentric Family (Uchouten Kazoku)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Mar 2014, 07:05
A Brief List of Comedies/Light/Non Super Srs anime
Hodge's list is good, Girls und Panzer is one of my favorite anime period.
-Toradora is a great little RomCom that leans heavy on the comedy but does it's rom very well. It also avoids my great anime pet peeve.
-Non Non Biyori is a super cute slice of life that one of my friends describes as aloe vera for the soul.
-Tenchi Muyo is one of my favorite series ever and is legendary as a SciFi RomCom Harem that of course does the fan service thing, but not excessively in my mind the OVAs or Universe (the T.V. version) are both great. Tenchi in Tokyo doesn't exist and if it did exist you shouldn't watch it.
Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita (Yuushibu, translation: I couldn't become a hero so reluctantly I got a job) is a solid comedy entry that leans heavy on the fanservice button, but is actually pretty good over all.
Bodacious Space Pirates - Still the most poorly named anime ever, fantastic from start to finish and the theme from Morimo Clover X is worth listening to every time. Plot focuses on a high school who finds out she's inheriting command of a pirate ship after her father's death. Lulz ensue. Despite the name there's almost no fan service despite the fair amount of school girls floating around in skirts in zero g.
Nana 7 of 7: ...This one's kinda hard to describe. You'd have to watch it, but comedy slice of life, it's a bit... out there.


Airing now:
Seitokai Yakuindomo - It's sex comedy, but with surprisingly low amounts of fan service, and no actual sex. Just some very... candid... conversations.
Hoozuki no Reitetsu (Cool-headed Hoozuk) - Great King Enma of the Japanese underworld wouldn't get through the day without his chief of staff Hoozuki, this anime's hilarious. Watch it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 16 Mar 2014, 08:14
Toradora! was on hulu and I've been meaning to watch it, so that's what I went with. I quite like it. It's not ridiculous and quite fun.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Mar 2014, 08:56
Win :3


CR Guest passes:
4RVVFF5Y9H9
6WBF68NQFX6
D4AK3XJFKUF
J47AYGCZZ4M
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 17 Mar 2014, 04:25

Senketsu Anna:
(http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/34adbf131ab7165b347bbaa0ee1b51e91395026670_full.jpg)
Junketsu Elsa
(http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire2/269be13ca9a30dedbae64599a3844e091395026749_full.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 17 Mar 2014, 16:38
I could fill this entire thread with Kill la Kill fanart. I've seen a lot of anime, and I can't believe just how much I'm enjoying this show.

Any of you guys seen Mawaru Penguindrum? I feel I need to rewatch that very soon.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 17 Mar 2014, 16:45
Kill la Kill ... I can't believe just how much I'm enjoying this show.

Your avi tells us that.  But yes, it is good!



I'm currently watching Honey and Clover, and finding it hard.  It's really very good; but like nothing else I ever seen, it is drawing out sad (not bad) memories of that period of my life - it hits home in so many ways, and that hurts, even now.  I guess this is a particularly personal reaction...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 18 Mar 2014, 17:19
In the last couple months I finally watched Attack On Titan and Madoka Magica and they both filled me with amazing and horrible feelings.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 18 Mar 2014, 18:41
YUP. Madoka was a very interesting take on magical girls and Attack is brutally awesome. Seriously can't wait for season 2.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 19 Mar 2014, 03:50
Do not watch the third Madoka film, Rebellion, unless you like seeing the logic and completeness of the series (or first two films) ending being unconvincingly ripped to shreds with a view to making a follow-on series.  The original Madoka series really is best taken as it stands as a convincing whole.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 19 Mar 2014, 07:07
Do not watch the third Madoka film, Rebellion, unless you like seeing the logic and completeness of the series (or first two films) ending being unconvincingly ripped to shreds with a view to making a follow-on series.  The original Madoka series really is best taken as it stands as a convincing whole.

Do, however, read the Madoka Magica: A Different Story manga. It's about what would have happened if
(click to show/hide)
and I found it a very satisfying read.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Mar 2014, 20:52
This is me, watching the latest episode of Kill La Kill.


I am going to be slightly disappointed when this anime ends, and I cannot wait to buy the DVD box set.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 22 Mar 2014, 13:06
I'm going to be more than slightly disappointed. At least we have a new season of JoJo in April.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 22 Mar 2014, 17:22
There will be an addition OVA episode of KlK - the hint I've seen suggests humorous.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Neko_Ali on 22 Mar 2014, 19:11
I dunno, from that video I was getting more a vibe of Hades from Disney's Hercules going on a rage fest than Super Saiyan...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 23 Mar 2014, 16:55
From tinycrown (http://tinycrown.tumblr.com/post/79040378192/why-kill-la-kill-is-bad-for-women-and-everyone-in) on tumblr
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 23 Mar 2014, 17:58
I try to keep in mind that EVERYTHING Trigger does is done in the heart of satire by way of OTT.

Speaking of that one cute couple though: http://imgur.com/a/8fXUr
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 23 Mar 2014, 20:21
I really liked Toradora! and I wish the ending hasn't been so abrupt. I feel like it could have used one more episode to even things out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 23 Mar 2014, 20:24
Yeah they over extended just a hair too much sadly.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 24 Mar 2014, 02:52
A lot of people who aren't overly familiar with anime write off Toradora because of Taiga's appearance and personality at the start of the show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Mar 2014, 04:23
I was honestly surprised by Toradora, I thought it was a comedy initially... then BAM! Right in the gut with the *actual primary genre*
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 24 Mar 2014, 04:53
I think I've mentioned that it's one of my favorites earlier in this thread.  I rewatch it/watch people streaming it leading up to Christmas every year.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Mar 2014, 05:03
The DVD box set for Toradora is dropping July 1st of this year if you didn't know already
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 24 Mar 2014, 05:27
Wait, they dubbed Toradora?  This is so weird to me.

Okay, so I just watched the trailer and it wasn't that bad!  Ami's voice is wrong to me though and it's really weird not hearing Rie's tsundere voice coming out of Taiga.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Mar 2014, 05:53
I'm not sure I'll bother with the dub. The sub is too ingrained in my tiny simian brain.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 24 Mar 2014, 06:27
From tinycrown (http://tinycrown.tumblr.com/post/79040378192/why-kill-la-kill-is-bad-for-women-and-everyone-in) on tumblr
(click to show/hide)

But doesn't this whole piece hinge on the idea that
(click to show/hide)

I don't think that Kill la Kill is particularly good for women at all, neither do I think that TTGL was good for men. I watch it because I enjoy it, whether it is fanservice or not is irrelevant to me in that I stopped viewing it that way at about episode 4, but yes it is there, it doesn't take away from the show, or give anything to it. I find it hypocritical that someone can be so disgusted by the show and say "I watch it for the fight scenes", that just reeks of a shallowness that she clearly doesn't have as exampled in that blog post, though she makes a habit of confusing her opinion with fact...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Mar 2014, 06:55
Going back into the oversexualization inherent in KLK, especially the transformations, and forgive me if I'm the guy pointing out the joke/point here, but the entire idea is skewering and turning up to 11, the common tropes inherent to a magical girl anime. What Madoka did by deconstruction and nightmare fuel KLK is is doing via Trigger's trademark hot blooded OTT and comedy. There's a lot going on in KLK over all, lots of themes being poked at and explored, but the over powered student council, the "fighting" high school, every trope they're getting in to is being exploded for a reason. It's not great for women or for men, but does everything have to be?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 24 Mar 2014, 07:17
Going back into the oversexualization inherent in KLK, especially the transformations, and forgive me if I'm the guy pointing out the joke/point here, but the entire idea is skewering and turning up to 11, the common tropes inherent to a magical girl anime. What Madoka did by deconstruction and nightmare fuel KLK is is doing via Trigger's trademark hot blooded OTT and comedy. There's a lot going on in KLK over all, lots of themes being poked at and explored, but the over powered student council, the "fighting" high school, every trope they're getting in to is being exploded for a reason. It's not great for women or for men, but does everything have to be?

Where's the "like" button here. This is pretty much how I feel about the whole show, everything is OTT, but as you get to ep 17, you realise that there is a reason for everything that has happened so far, I've seen much better criticisms of the show than that tumblr post, none of them hindered my enjoyment of the show in any way.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 27 Mar 2014, 11:53
Michael and I are probably going to watch Kill La Kill after we finish A Certain Scientific Railgun or Chuunibyo. A friend of ours loves it, but sometimes his tastes are questionable to me, so we'll see.

Also I like Taiga all throughout Toradora. She doesn't know how to act around certain people and seriously, she feels rather realistic most of the time. All of the characters do, I think that's why I liked it so much - it wasn't ridiculous like most romantic school comedies.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 27 Mar 2014, 12:03
I run the animé club at college and the students are trying to convince me to let them watch Kill La Kill. Pretty glad I read this thread first.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 27 Mar 2014, 12:57
Do they discuss things they watch or just watch? Might make for meaningful discussion...?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 27 Mar 2014, 13:45
I run the animé club at college and the students are trying to convince me to let them watch Kill La Kill. Pretty glad I read this thread first.

As bad as some of the themes are, the animation and story are pretty great. You can still like something while knowing there is something wrong with it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 27 Mar 2014, 13:48
We just watch. We're not (deliberately) letting 16 year olds watch something full of rape themes and borderline nudity.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 27 Mar 2014, 18:10
So today in anime:

Kill La Kill's finale got delayed because Trigger are massive cock teases.

Strange+ which I think is a short anime based on a manga took the time to lampoon Sailor Moon with... uh... it's free on CrunchyRoll just go see it for yourself. It's a couple minutes tops so just giggle if you're familiar with SM or a fan.

Meanwhile you might remember my guilty pleasure that I rant and rave about a lot Golden Time. It completed today, and while there was a litte more drama and general weirdness between hiter and yon but it paid off today. Holy fuck it paid off in SPADES

This is me, watching today's Golden Time:
(http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_super/7/73660/1355670-reaction_guys_2.jpg)

8/10


Engaged to the Unidentified also finished up today. A cute little paranormal romcom that could have used more paranormal and more "rom"... the com was pretty decent over all, but it all kinda fell flat by focusing on the com and some of the side characters and sacrificing actual relationship development between Hakuya and Kobeni, the leads. It does not fall prey to my most hated anime trope of no relationship resolution, because the entire anime felt like a long awkward first date, and to get resolution you actually have to start something.


7/10

The Current Purchase List (*= there's a American Release available through Amazon or a similar agent)
Good Luck Girl* (shockingly good dub)
Girls Und Panzer*
Kaze no Stigma*
Claymore*
Toradora! (American Release July 2014)
Kill La Kill
Blast of Tempest (Release exists, but costs a fortune... come on Aniplex!)
Psycho Pass* (Waiting on a Complete series box set)

My purchase list is generally stuff I think is so damn good I want physical copies of it in case the internet dies, I also actively want to give money to the team that made it. It does include the occasional anime like Infinite Stratos that isn't particularly ground breaking but I love any way. Junk. Food. <3

Speaking of, Gareth, while I wouldn't recommend Kill La Kill for 16 year olds (I will protest rape being described as a "theme" in Kill La Kill, it's not, rape/sexual assault is implied in a few scenes within Kill La Kill, and it's all about power dynamic, as actual rape is. It's disturbing and disquieting, and it's absolutely supposed to be.) Good Luck Girl and Girls Und Panzer are both solid anime with a comedy focus and tanks respectively that are solid for "all ages". Ditto Kaze No Stigma. If you're cool with "some" nudity implied or otherwise, Ghost in the Shell as a series, particularly the movie is a solid pick up for the kiddies, especially if you can pick out the right professor from the philosophy department to give a guest lecture about some of the themes presented, then it's both awesome, classic cyberpunk AND an educational experience! Woo!

Even if the nature of the soul and transhumanism is a little too deep for your first discussion I would heartily encourage getting the group talking and analyzing whatever they're watching. Learning to analyze cinema is a rather refreshing and enjoyable mental exercise in my opinion, and once you force yourself to actually think about something, you can find all sorts of themes and information you wouldn't have seen otherwise, this is particularly true for animation. Each frame, cell and line inside a piece of animation is there on purpose. Why? What does this or that serve? Why was X drawn like that? Albeit it's a little more difficult with another culture's film/animation because they have a host of unique themes and references that you really won't pick up on or get outside of that culture without study. For example my Kaiju Eiga thread, the roots of Pacific Rim and the Daikaiju (Giant Monster) Eiga (movie) were briefly discussed, and the central emotion behind Godzilla, and all that followed him, was the feeling of helplessness against the unrelenting force of the nuclear weapons released on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War.

Some other possible recommendations for your club:
Samurai 7 (Action, a classic anime)
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (film)
Akira (Cyberpunk, Classic)
The Princess and the Pilot (film)
Strait Jacket (Action, violence warning)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Mar 2014, 05:30
Kill la Kill.  So the adventure has ended, and with the end of the life fibres our heroes can become normal and fully human youngsters at last:

(http://cassland.org/images/QC/RyuukoNormal4.png)

(http://cassland.org/images/QC/RyuukoNormal2.png)

(http://cassland.org/images/QC/RyuukoNormal6.png)

Definitely one of the greats, though I don't think it trumps TTGL ultimately.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 28 Mar 2014, 06:09
Bastard! Spoilers much? I kid, I kid, I already saw those else where. For me personally KLK resonated more for me then TTGL. I don't think I ever really made it all the way through Gurren Laggen, I saw what it was doing and appreciated it for that, but it just wasn't engaging me right to keep my interest... which I know is a blasphemy to some people.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Mar 2014, 06:15
I reckon that most people most interested in KlK have been glued to the screen at the moment of release!  And showing that the heroes defeat the enemy and survive at the end is not the greatest spoiler of all time, I'd say ;)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 28 Mar 2014, 06:49
Did you not see the second half of TTGL? That's sad if true, it's the best part.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 28 Mar 2014, 06:52
Kill la Kill

I need to talk about cars for a minute, and I'm sorry if I bore anyone with it, but if anyone has ever watched Top Gear they'll know that Clarkson seems to love cars that just aren't perfect, because they have a certain something, he calls it the soul of the machine which I guess is quite an apt way of describing it, but the flaws of the car don't hinder the enjoyment of liking it. It's why people will praise an Alfa Romeo for having passion and flair and being as fun as hell, it is not perfect, but by fucking god will you love it.

And it made me think about this show, it's not perfect, it doesn't have the complexity of some of the other shows in the creators back catalogue, it doesn't have the budget either so the animation isn't always on par with some other action shows (even if the style was great). However, Kill la Kill never strived for perfection, it never tried to be anything other than what it was. As a result, any of it's flaws end up actually endearing the show to me more, and the more criticisms I read of the show, the more I love it.

(click to show/hide)

The ending was just the last brick in the skyscraper of my mind that cements this show as my all time favourite. People can tell me that it's flawed and I'll agree, people can tell me that there are shows that maybe do these themes better and I might also have to agree. However, no one will ever take away from me just how much enjoyment I got from this show, no one will take away how much of myself I ended up investing into watching it, and no one will know how profoundly I find myself changed by it.

5/5
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 28 Mar 2014, 22:09
A brief review of Kill La Kill poking at it's deeper themes.

If you want the basic, characters, story, animation, music/sound breakdown then stop right here. 10/10. Which is also my over all review of the anime. If that's all your looking for then you can stop right here, because we're about to go deeper. Spoilers! They're about to happen! So if you've been living under a rock and have yet to finish Kill La Kill... well what the fuck are you doing here?

(click to show/hide)

Other stuff that's ended.

Strike the Blood 7/10
It was a little bit generic and some of the arcs really didn't do well for me over all but I had a damn good time and really love a lot of the characters! It's activated my anime pet peeve of a lack of relationship resolution though it did at least give us a hint of a "romantic" ending.

Gin no Saji (Silver Spoon), Second Season 9/10
Fantastic is as fantastic does, a sweet little slice of life with some very real drama and some very well done character arcs. The pet peeve of no romantic arc resolution remains though. Goddess DAMN it Hachi kiss Mikage already. You want to and it's pretty clear she wouldn't mind hell, Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma already have you marked as marriage material. Get with the program.

Sakura Trick - 6/10
It's a cute little romance slice of life with a heaping scoop of fan service ala mode to go with it. It's really disappointing in the end because I was hoping for a heavily character driven lesbian romance and well... I didn't get it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Apr 2014, 02:36
Spoof movie posters using Madoka Magica characters (http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/04/05-1/ero-artist-casts-madoka-magica-stars-in-more-amazing-parody-movie-posters).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 06 Apr 2014, 07:40
Those are hilarious!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Apr 2014, 15:29
Here are some more from the same artist not linked on that site:

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 06 Apr 2014, 15:44
Kiss and Robocop are my favorites.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Apr 2014, 07:21
Poor Ryuuko...

(http://i.imgur.com/QLpHftc.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 07 Apr 2014, 08:02
Poor Ryuuko...

(http://i.imgur.com/QLpHftc.jpg)

Don't do this to me...

(http://i.imgur.com/Gmdb6eE.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Apr 2014, 10:26
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Apr 2014, 15:57
(http://i.imgur.com/L3ddskn.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Apr 2014, 08:42
I rather liked Lucky Star >.>;
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Apr 2014, 21:00
Goddess be this season is filled with awesome :3

Black Bullet - Action, comedy, mystery, some great fighting from the word go... could we ditch the loli though? Odin's beard.

Love Live Season 2 - I'll be in my room with the door locked singing along with Muse. Don't you goddess DAMN judge me.

Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san is cute AND hilarious! So far my unexpected "Hell yes" this season. If only it wasn't a shorty anime. T_T

Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior is also coming off as rather funny with some potential cute moments.

Blade and Soul has a lot of action which I'm enjoying even if the female lead ripped her fighting style off from God of War wholesale... but it's really not giving me a decent "hook" yet. It's cool, and I'll probably keep watching, but it's gonna need to step it up.

The File of Young Kindaichi Returns - Looks good, decent hook and drama in the first ep, but I'm kinda disappointed in Kindaichi himself. He's got some decent moves so far
(click to show/hide)
but I wanna see some proper deductive reasoning and case busting the old school way too!

Nanana's Buried Treasure - Wow! I'm quite sure exactly what they're selling but holy FUCK I am in and want more of it.

The World Is Still Beautiful - Hmmm, it's goofy, but I'll keep watching it. No real opinion on it so far though.

No Game No Life - Also kinda a "waaaaaat" moment but the first ep was good, feels like it moved kinda fast though

Dai-Shogun - I feel like this one's gonna be popular in certain sectors, the animation's OTT but in a VERY different manner from say, Trigger's stuff. Comedy, action and ALL the fan service.

If Her Flag Breaks - I came into this expecting NOT to like this, but damn me I really do! Holy crap it's cute.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 12 Apr 2014, 06:42
That list lacks JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders. Are you not worthy of Dio Brando and Jotaro Kujo's awesome? By far the best anime this season, and no question.

(http://i.imgur.com/7fAR7nR.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Apr 2014, 06:55
I only rarely follow any new anime as broadcast (well, KlK is the only one I ever have), so that list means little to me at present. 

Right now, I'm waiting for a copy of Mushi-shi to arrive, which is the next new thing I'll watch - I gather it has aspects in common with Kino's Journey (one of my very favourite series of all - relaxed, but deeply thoughtful), but less intellectual.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 12 Apr 2014, 07:09
I only rarely follow any new anime as broadcast (well, KlK is the only one I ever have), so that list means little to me at present. 

Right now, I'm waiting for a copy of Mushi-shi to arrive, which is the next new thing I'll watch - I gather it has aspects in common with Kino's Journey (one of my very favourite series of all - relaxed, but deeply thoughtful), but less intellectual.
Mushishi also has a lot of horror themes, and can be pretty nihilistic at times. Having said that, it is still brilliant.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 13 Apr 2014, 05:50
I really like Mushishi but I've never been able to watch more than two episodes in a row without falling asleep.  It's not boring but the pace and color palette relax me into falling asleep in my chair.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 16 Apr 2014, 01:43
I started Brother, Dear Brother at the weekend, 5 episodes in so far (watching 1 a day) and I have to say it's bloody brilliant so far. I love that old shoujo style, and this is classic shoujo to the core, lots of melodrama, intrigue, scheming etc. And the characters are all so fab... Kouru no Kimi is love.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Apr 2014, 04:30
I started Usagi Drop last night... I ended up watching about half the season in a sitting, and my goddess the FEELS. Simply magnificent, the reaction of the family in the first episode to Rin was just heart rending...

I just realized that, "single adult male raises child alone" is a pretty common theme in anime. I wonder why that is...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 16 Apr 2014, 05:42
I can only think of one other anime that deals with that trope and it has a totally different tone compared to Usagi Drop.  And most people will tell you not to read the manga because of a certain time skip.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Apr 2014, 06:02
Yeah I was just discussing the time skip with my buddy who introduced me to the series. It actually makes me want to read the manga more.... >.>;

I can think of the trope appearing in multiple anime, and it's the central theme of at least four or five.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 16 Apr 2014, 14:33
Single or widow/divorced?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Apr 2014, 14:34
In this case it's a relative taking the girl in after her parent's death.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 17 Apr 2014, 09:45
I've seen that one in a few. Lucky Star, Ouran Host Club, The Third: Girl with the Blue Eye, and Clannad After Story (Sorta) come to mind. Although most of the time, the dad's kinda played for laughs.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 17 Apr 2014, 10:17
Usually it's a mix of slice of life and comedy with some lethal d'aww factor.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 18 Apr 2014, 11:42
It's also a thing in Fruits Basket, for two characters (Kyo and to an extent Tohru).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Apr 2014, 12:28
There's aspects of it in Neon Genesis Evangelion, in which all the children have lost their mothers.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Apr 2014, 13:55
Oh yeah it appears as a side thing in tons of anime, they (animators) tend to like pairing up cute little girls with gruff badasses the size of bears. El Cazadore de la Bruja stands out in my mind in particular for that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 18 Apr 2014, 16:50
There's aspects of it in Neon Genesis Evangelion, in which all the children have lost their mothers.
Which would have nothing at all to do with NGE being one of the most influential anime series ever.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Apr 2014, 17:21
Not for this particular trope or theme really.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Apr 2014, 12:03
I don't think Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is gonna be my cup of tea.

In other news, I love the OP for Kindachi the Younger.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 19 Apr 2014, 19:15
*sigh* And there's another song I have to add to my long list of "Things I want to write adaptations for" XD So much for my illusion of free time after exams...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Apr 2014, 06:56
OK, so it's the manga - but I think most people still associate it with the anime...

Almost a year after the last pages of Sadamoto's Neon Genesis Evangelion manga were published, the final tankobon volume (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-28/evangelion-manga-final-volume-to-add-28-new-pages) has been announced, for 20th Nov 2014.  It will have 28 extra pages, though it's unknown if or how they fit into the story, and there will be a limited edition with an extra booklet, CD, and bookends for the set.  It's not yet known if there will be a simultaneous release in English as there was for the previous volume.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 28 Apr 2014, 09:44
OK, so it's the manga - but I think most people still associate it with the anime...

Almost a year after the last pages of Sadamoto's Neon Genesis Evangelion manga were published, the final tankobon volume (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-28/evangelion-manga-final-volume-to-add-28-new-pages) has been announced, for 20th Nov 2014.  It will have 28 extra pages, though it's unknown if or how they fit into the story, and there will be a limited edition with an extra booklet, CD, and bookends for the set.  It's not yet known if there will be a simultaneous release in English as there was for the previous volume.

Have you read the last chapters of the manga? I liked it, so I'll definitely be buying this to complete the collection.

Also, I tweeted Viz Media a while ago about when we'll see the english release, and they said that it shouldn't be too long after the Japanese release. I'd expect it around this time next year.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Apr 2014, 12:10
Sure I've read it ;)  I like the ending, myself, though there are those who think
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 03 May 2014, 05:38
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 03 May 2014, 06:12
Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san is quite possibly one of my favorite anime of the season, and one of the top "short" anime I've watched recently. Dogs and cats! Living together! The world's gone crazy! X3

Coffin Princess Chaika also upped the stakes with another lethal loli hanging around. So it's clear what direction that's going now. Thankfully the perversion is kept a a minimum as this anime has murderin' to get done and lolita fashion to design. Seriously both "girls" (one of them's a shape shifting... just watch it) are wearing the kind of clothes that would cost several paychecks for the fashion conscious young woman on the go. With that in mind I fully expect Chaika to be a fairly popular cosplay specifically for that.

Also Love Live remains one of the best things ever, especially with their new animation method which is a significant upgrade. I am convinced I enjoy this anime a little too muc
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 03 May 2014, 06:34
Currently into the second season of A Certain Scientific Railgun. Holy shit, the first season dealt with some messed up stuff, but the second season has some seriously fucked up characters. I was not expecting that. But it's so good.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cire27 on 03 May 2014, 15:08
Have you watched the Index series?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 03 May 2014, 17:52
Not yet. But I will eventually!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 03 May 2014, 18:49
So, I've determined that The Irregular at Magic High School is pretty good, excellent action, some fun characters, but the male and female lead's constant game of incest chicken is kinda... disconcerting, especially when it's clear the little sister ISN'T playing incest chicken, and if she is she's playing to win...

 :psyduck:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 03 May 2014, 21:43
I've always been a little put off about Index, really. On the one hand, Railgun is one of my favorite series, despite the slight problem with continuity between it an Index, and I just love that world. On the other hand, Index did seem a little heavy-handed with Touma's tendencies for "misfortune", mostly in the fan-service-y moments. Explaining why there are so many female characters, okay. Crossing over with the Science side and technically being OP from being a "zero", awesome. Having an alarming tendency to make girl's magical clothing explode, two bathrooms, and that one cheerleading outfit thing from the Daihasei? ... eh...

Honestly, I liked the much brighter mood of Railgun. They did tone it down a bit for the anime adaptation though (Kiyama actually gets close to shooting herself and doesn't do a heel-face turn later, and a lot of the cool stuff from the Poltergeist and Chemicaloid incidents are questionable/non canon)

On a side note: Anyone watching Mekaku City Actors? I'm considering breaking my "Will not watch currently airing series" rule just because the Kagerou Project has taken my life over so completely in the past 2 weeks.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 May 2014, 07:10
I am watching it! I like it, but it gets a little surreal at times even for me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 04 May 2014, 20:02
Monogatari surreal, or that one bit at the end of the the original evangelion surreal? XD
Sounds like it's reflecting the original MVs then, which is good if you're somewhat familiar with parts of the story already. Could work either way then.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 May 2014, 20:26
Uh neither of those really, but closer to Monogatari.

It's reminding me of something but I'm not sure what...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 05 May 2014, 02:07
If I were to tell you that most of the Internet is referring to it as Mekaku Shitty Actors, that might tell you just how good an adaption of the source material it is.

Anyway, after 4-5 weeks in, here's my assessment of what's currently airing.

Akuma No Riddle - Reeks of wasted potential. First episode was a great setup into what could have been an intensely dark anime about assassins in a school, what we actually get is a monster of the week formula, where things happen with absolutely no explanation and no setup. And Haru is one of the most annoying characters I've seen in a long time.

Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san - A cute short, the characters are fun and the comedy tends to hit mostly the right notes, but it's not up there with the likes of Miss Monochrome.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders - The JoJo franchise has always been close to my heart, and this is the best adaption I could ever have hoped for, as well as one of the best manga adaptions I've ever seen. It's fabulously masculine and cheesy, the character poses are fabulous and ridiculous, it has fabulous characters, and it's altogether Fabulous. Did I say that it's Fabulous? Cause it is.

Kantoku Fuyuki Todoki - Best comedy this season, a short about the master Anno? What true anime fan could say no to that? We get an insight into his giant geekhood as well as his married life, and it's absolutely hilarious.

Mahou Shoujo Taisen - Another short, it has a gorgeous colour palette and I love the character designs, so far the story hasn't amounted to much, and I can't help but feeling bad that this is the best Gainax can do right now. However, for something to switch your brain off and enjoy, it's pretty good.

No Game No Life - First 3 episodes were great, 4th was a massive step down from that. As long as the show doesn't take itself seriously it works and it works really well, as soon as it tries to go for the serious stuff, it falls flat and feels contrived.

Ping Pong The Animation - Excepting JoJo, this is the best show this season by a long shot. A sports anime that doesn't follow the classic shounen cliches (thankfully), a protagonist that is easy to identify with, an art style that is right out the left field and total eye candy, a fast pace that doesn't make you feel lost, and a cast of characters that feel real. I cannot recommend this enough.

Sidonia no Kishi - from the best, to the worst show that I'm watching. To call this wasted potential is just not a strong enough phrase, the first episode was great, and then everything afterwards just pisses and shits all over that. We go from this amazingly detailed dystopian science fiction world, to high school antics and a harem with OP MC because the plot calls for it. Also, the CGI is so horribly ugly, I've seen MMDs that look a fuckton better.

Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii - A properly self aware shoujo, it's not trying to change the face of anime with what it does, but it's a hell of a lot of fun, and even when the story itself isn't all that interesting, Princess Nike carries it through by being an absolutely brilliant character.

Also, a quick note on the Raildex universe, it depends what you like in anime, Railgun was always supposed to be more of a SoL with it's story (except for that arc in the second season), whereas Index was always supposed to be a generic shounen. If you liked Railgun, you won't necessarily like Index, I didn't, Touma is completely insufferable, his speeches are total bullshit, the whole I AM STRONG BECAUSE I AM WEAK HURR DURR thing is boring and is just a gaping plot hole inside it's own universe, and Accelerator is a boring as fuck villain in Index, and I abhor what they do with him in the second season of Index too.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 05 May 2014, 18:05
That is one of the more telling summaries for Index on TvTropes: Everyone who shows up to be an antagonist and has a name has to be horribly overpowered, just to make sure Touma is the only person who could possibly defeat them without technically handwaving anything.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 12 May 2014, 00:46
I've decided I just don't get anime.

We're watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in Anime club with the students and we just got to the episode of it where
(click to show/hide)
this only minutes after goofball comedy with the dog jumping on the kid. You can't expect me to take that shit seriously when you have that awkward a tonal shift. This is like taking time out from fucking Arthur the Aardvark to make an AIDS joke.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 12 May 2014, 01:35
I've decided I just don't get anime.

We're watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood in Anime club with the students and we just got to the episode of it where
(click to show/hide)
this only minutes after goofball comedy with the dog jumping on the kid. You can't expect me to take that shit seriously when you have that awkward a tonal shift. This is like taking time out from fucking Arthur the Aardvark to make an AIDS joke.

The original manga does it so much better. As does the original FMA anime.
My problem with FMA: B is that they try to make the disturbing parts extra bad by these weird tone shifts, trying to lull you into a false sense of security before hitting you with something pretty awful so you're dumbfounded by it, occasionally it works, more often than not it doesn't. The original manga just deals with these things in a very cold way, things happen, and they're terrible, and the emphasis is on the act itself, not in trying to build everything up as a-ok before trying to crush your spirit.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 12 May 2014, 04:47
*shudder* That whole arc was still really not okay.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Neko_Ali on 12 May 2014, 07:13
FMA is a weird egg.. I really wouldn't judge all anime by it. It's an awesome show, don't get me wrong... But those sudden shifts in tone. It can go from psychotic killers carving up people, to goofy courtship, to talking about sacrificing entire towns of people to power a blood ritual to Alphonse and Edward super deformed and arguing over milk in the space of a half hour episode... It gets strange, like it can't quite make up it's mind what tone or audience it is after. I know they need some break from the rather unrelenting darkness of the main storyline, but still...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 May 2014, 07:24
Even though Brotherhood follows the manga more closely, the original is still in my view the better anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 13 May 2014, 16:35
I've only seen Brotherhood and I quite liked it. The FA:B arc that Gareth talked about is imo the most fucked up one, but really, that whole show is dark. It may jump around from being comedic to being utterly depressing/horrifying, but if it didn't, it would be really hard to watch. Same with A Certain Scientific Railgun. Now that I've finished it, without the comedy scenes/episodes, that series would be ungodly depressing, but unlike FA:B I think it balanced the comedy with the drama/horror much better.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 14 May 2014, 01:18
Some things are ungodly depressing though. If that's the story you want to tell, tell it. I just feel like the screwball comedy in this is completely undermining the dark tone of the rest of it. It's absolutely wrenching tonal shifts. It's similar to the kind of issues I have with music - if you make an album that's too eclectic you end up diluting the band's personality.

It just makes me feel like it's a poorly made show, honestly.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 14 May 2014, 01:50
I think one thing to take into consideration is where these things get published, FMA as a manga was originally serialised in a shounen magazine, so it's aimed at mid-teens, mainly boys, and to get published on one of those there are certain things you have to adhere to, as a result FMA could never be that dark.

Anyone who wants to see exactly what this means should read Vinland Saga, where the first 4-5 volumes were published in a shounen magazine, and then got dropped and picked straight up by a seinen, the shift in tone (by which I mean violence and gore) is immediately apparent.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 14 May 2014, 02:17
But you can alleviate the darkness without going balls out LOL DOG GOOFBALL COMEDY LOL. It just seems insulting to the audience.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 14 May 2014, 03:37
Definitely, and the manga manages it so much better than FMA:B. The original FMA anime starts off like that, but as it gets progressively darker, the comedy just stops entirely.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 14 May 2014, 03:43
It's also put into harsher light because I am watching it alongside Baccano, which is managing a much stronger balance between the darkness and the lightheartedness.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 14 May 2014, 04:01
Baccano is on my significant backlog, I'm sure I'll get around to it very soon though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 15 May 2014, 06:14
The 2009 version of FMA was more complex to me, since it dealt with the morality of using alchemy and the great spoiler plot point of the "truth", but Brotherhood was a LOT more cleanly wrapped up. You got to see more of Amestris, more of the continent in general, and no friggin Rose/Winry loose ends at the end of the series. I think the only thing that was shown but not really addressed in Brotherhood was a brief shot of the fake Elric brothers.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 19 May 2014, 18:53
I am highly disappointed that there isn't more than one season of Blue Exorcist. I really like this show...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 25 May 2014, 18:36
(http://31.media.tumblr.com/8153a55b00d1ed75b1b0bb005d6a0e4e/tumblr_n63lif6uoB1qc4739o1_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 26 May 2014, 00:01
Time for me to write about Mushi-Shi.  I watched it in my usual manner of taking a couple of episodes, or several, at a time, as it fitted into life (and long-haul flights).  And well - yes, I enjoyed it a lot. 

I love the look of it - the pastel colours, the backgrounds, the designs, are all pretty perfect.  I could criticise the slightly stylised face proportions (most obvious on Ginko himself), and the way that facial details disappear at less distance than might be expected, but I found neither of these things troublesome.  Even the slight tendency to same-face for the young boys especially is no problem when they are so appealing in any case - why change a winning formula? 

I love the music, except for the OP.  The different closing theme and instrumentation for every episode builds up to a marvellous compendium of music - I seriously need to get whatever soundtrack albums are available.  But that OP - please! - it grated on me every time I heard it.

The pacing is very gentle, possibly soporific at times (but that might be partly a result of the circumstances under which I watched some parts.  But equally, it is really nice to watch something relaxed, avoiding the need to be frenetic to attract attention.

And what of the substance?  Well, I should say that my mind simply does not do the kind of analysis that the article linked by robersora presents - partly a degree of laziness, and partly simply not having a philosophical bent of mind.  The stories are fanciful, of course, and so can be seen as myths.  Such stories are best value when there are real-world lessons to be learnt from them - and the article points at some which I hadn't perceived without help.  I don't know to what extent the stories tie into existing Japanese folk-lore, but I had the feeling while watching that my lack of a Japanese cultural background might be causing me to miss some aspects of what was going on.  (This might also tie in with Xard's advice to watch them over a period.)  None the less, the stories are enjoyable in themselves, and they were sufficiently distinct that I didn't get bored by keeping going. 

The lesson that seemed to come round most often, in different forms, was of the virtue of acceptance.  Take the hand that fate has dealt you, and roll with it, or learn from it, or make the best use of it, or rejoice in it, or whatever.  I suspect this is culturally more suitable to the Japanese viewpoint than to some Western viewpoints which might suggest that it is up to you to change your world as you see fit.

As for a second series, I wonder if it was necessary.  I'm sure it will be as good as the first, but I wonder if there might be a danger of running out of ideas that fit within the framework.  However, I'm sufficiently intrigued that I'll probably give it a go in due course.

The comparison that comes up is Kino's Journey.  There are indeed many similarities.  Kino is an observer of societies, usually trying to stand aside from them, but sometimes getting caught up in their activities.  I get the feeling that the characteristics of the various societies depicted cover a wider range than the behaviour of the mushi, though the smaller number of episodes helps with that.  Kino's OP is as good as Mushi-Shi's is bad, in my mind.  The pastel colours in Kino are duller, more brown in particular.  But on the whole I would expect the same people to enjoy both series.  If I was forced to choose between them - the desert-island (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs) anime, so to speak - then I would take Kino; but I would understand someone who disagreed.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 27 May 2014, 07:11
I started watching Moon Phase with my neighbors on Netflix, it's surprisingly endearing. Art style and animation's lovely and they're getting a surprising amount of mileage out of a stereotypical tsundere loli character. They've managed to get me onboard with shipping the main couple which takes some work usually.

I despise the OP though. With all my soul I hate it. "Nekomimi Mode" is a series of random noises with no lyrics beyond the words "Nekomimi Mode" splashed over some "cute" images.  Fuck off and come back with a real song Moon Phase.

It's been about a year and some change, so I think I'm going to rewatch Blast of Tempest soon, everything about that anime is just wonderful, the actions, plot twists, constant references to "The Tempest" and "Hamlet" (the former being my favorite Shakespearean play, and the latter one I enjoy) built around rich characters with wonderful depth to them and a romance that you actually end up rooting for, that's delayed by both character's, again very real, personal hang ups and isn't resolved by a finger snap.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 27 May 2014, 17:28
Uhm, pretty new at anime (watched most of Miyazaki's films + Cowboy Bebop and, uhm.. Pokemon?!), so anyone got anything to recommend?

Preferably something that's well dubbed, not "too japanese" and have interesting characters and story. Fantasy/mythology and SciFi elements are very welcome!

(Definitively not anything like Bleach, Naruto or DBZ. I'm not watching that.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 27 May 2014, 19:36
Look up the movie Summer Wars if you want an interesting movie about family and hacking/AI stuff. The animation is well done and the dub is pretty good. (Although I do prefer subs.) If you're interested in a series about getting stuck inside of an MMORPG, then I'd highly recommend Sword Art Online. I don't think either of those would qualify as "too Japanese".

In other news, we're watching Kill la Kill right now and all I can say is, yes, there were definitely two cats fucking in episode 2. Michael saw that and said, "Yup, that's what kind of anime this is going to be..."
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 28 May 2014, 03:33
It's Trigger. That's EXACTLY what kind of anime it's going to be.

Outlaw Star, Tenchi Muyo and Black Lagoon are always solid starting points with lots of action, mostly a sci fi focus there. I'd also suggest .hack// over SAO. The latter has some... issues, especially during the second arc.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 May 2014, 05:24
Preferably something that's well dubbed, not "too japanese" and have interesting characters and story. Fantasy/mythology and SciFi elements are very welcome!

Well, anime is always going to be a bit Japanese, by its nature, and the motivations of characters are not infrequently misunderstood in the West when people don't take Japanese social norms into account (see Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion).  And some series are built on Japanese folk-lore, and so can seem somewhat odd if you have no appreciation of that (Mushi-Shi and The Eccentric Family are examples).

Anyway, suggestions...

A leading candidate for the best anime of all: Cowboy Bebop
The very best of girls high-school humour:  Azumanga Daioh - gentle and simply lovable.
College romance and coming-of-age, done with a minimum of syrupiness: Honey and Clover
Coming-of-age, perhaps, but some of the whackiest hijinx there are: FLCL
Adventure on a grand scale, very well written: Fullmetal Alchemist
   (I prefer the original to FMA Brotherhood, which is longer but follows the story of the manga to the end)
Adventure and sci-fi whackiness: Gurren Lagann
Save Evangelion till you know you're ready for it; watch: RahXephon instead.
   (this may get me shouted at...)
Something lighthearted, but with a serious core: Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
For a thoughtful view of the world and society: Kino's Journey

I'd also suggest Gunbuster and Diebuster, but incredibly, they've never been dubbed.  If I start mentioning more, though, the list would grow to a whole page, so I'll stop here, even though I have yet to mention some of the very best...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 29 May 2014, 02:25
I'd agree to most of phwodges list, except RahXephon, that horrendous pile of shit needs to burn in a fire. If you want a serious sci-fi, Planetes and Ghost in the Shell (both the original movie and the Stand Alone Complex series) are brilliant. Errr... I don't tend to watch dubs so I'm not sure which ones are particularly good, Berserk for a gory fantasy is a great story (and you should totally pick up the manga) and I know that the dub is looked on in mostly positive eyes. If you like some lewd humour, then Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is bloody hilarious. I'll come back with more when my brain is engaged, but if you really want to get into anime, then I'd say that you need to accept subtitles as the best way to view it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2014, 05:10
Some clarifications:

RahXephon is perhaps more divisive than any other show.  To be clear, though - it is in no way related to Evangelion in spite of some superficial similarities, but it's its own thing.

Do plan to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion in due course, and be prepared for a roller-coaster ride of emotions.  The ending is famously confused.  I would suggest watching in the following order:
Eps 1-20
Eps 21-24 original broadcast versions
Eps 25-26 broadcast ending

Then, when you've put your head back on,
Eps 21'-24' director's cut versions
End of Evangelion (film version of 25'-26')

If you use the dub, be aware that several characters have different voice actors in the alternate endings, which some people find disconcerting.  You can skip the film Death (in any of its versions) - it's a clip show whose only relevance is that it introduced some scenes that went into the director's cut episodes.  The Platinum DVDs contain both versions of eps 21-24.  The film EoE was licensed separately, and is out of print.  It's not hard to get hold of, but the English-dubbed version has an extraordinarily bad video transfer (for my own use I have extracted the dub and remuxed it with the recent Italian release which has a good copy of the remastered Japanese video).

The two Fullmetal Alchemist shows are both good, and again the fandom is equally split between them.  The first was made when the manga it's based on was only half written, which is why it diverges; when the manga was finished, the same studio made the new show (Brotherhood) following that story - I prefer the original not because of the story, but because of the pacing and a few differences in style.

Finally, I can't let this go without adding three of my absolute favourites to the list:
Serial Experiments Lain - Examines the evolution of the relationship between the human mind and the Internet.
Texhnolyze - possibly the most depressing show of all time, but compelling; not a word is spoken for the first half of the first episode.
Angel's Egg - No dub, but then barely a dozen sentences are spoken in the whole film, most of which are "Who are you?"
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 29 May 2014, 10:13
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2014, 10:47
Reaction to the dub has been somewhat muted, with people saying that Senketsu should be older sounding, and that Satsuki isn't sufficiently authoritative.  Oh, and Mako mispronounces her own surname!  For my part, I'll wait until the voices are fully processed and mixed into the soundtrack before judging.  However, the initial release in multiple small volumes will add up to silly prices in the first instance, so that may not be for a while.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2014, 10:58
Oh, I guess I should link to this here in case you don't go into Make.  My first-ever attempt at fan fiction (http://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php?topic=29915.0) (it follows Evangelion Q).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LocoJoe on 30 May 2014, 17:57
I've been wanting to watch more anime, but I'm not quite sure what to get into. I've been out of the loop for the last few years, so I'm not sure what's really good, and what to avoid. I have seen the first season of Attack on Titan and enjoyed it.

Personal favorites include Samurai Champloo, Berserk, Last Exile, Claymore and Gurren Lagann, to name a few.

I'd also suggest Gunbuster and Diebuster, but incredibly, they've never been dubbed.  If I start mentioning more, though, the list would grow to a whole page, so I'll stop here, even though I have yet to mention some of the very best...

I LOVED Gunbuster andDiebuster. A nice amount of feels were had towards the end. I'd like to know what else you might suggest.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 May 2014, 22:40
Glad to see Last Exile in your list; it's often passed over, it seems to me.  Now and then, here and there is another I came across at the same time, and enjoyed a lot.

If you're happy with subs, then some recent things become available to consider.  Kill la Kill is unmissable (from the staff who made TTGL) for OTT excitement.  If you also enjoy slow character studies, and a leaning towards Japanese mythology, then Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family) is a recent favourite of mine, and Kyousougiga is also interesting (both are strongly based on actual scenes in Kyoto).  I like [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (the name is a bit fluid), which turns economics into an alternate-world adventure; though people seem to have stopped talking about it. 

A surreal film that I regard very highly is Mind Game (God is one of the characters).  And for the ultimate in exciting animation of the highest quality, Redline - leave your brain in bed, though, as it has an inane plot and no message of any kind.

Oh, and how did I forget to mention the -monogatari series (Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari, and Monogatari series 2).  A study of the mind of a sexually confused teenager; very wordy indeed, because you get the characters' thoughts as well as their speech, so you need to be happy to read subtitles and flash cards very fast indeed, and be prepared to pause or scroll back to keep up (some people find the incest arc in Nisemonogatari a bit hard to take).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 30 May 2014, 23:06
If you want hard core economics action Spice and Wolf and Maoyu (Maoyū Maō Yūsha) are NOT to be missed. Actually both series are not to be missed in general. The former taught me more basic economic theory then my actual economics courses in college AND managed to be extemely entertaining and endearing. It's good enough I have the DVDs. It's also a gold medal winner of my "Not Activating The Thing I Hate Most About Anime"* award! Maoyu gets special notice for covering not just economics but other subjects like crop rotation, and kinda slides in to poke things like "tolerance" and "war profiteering" (not to mention practically being a homage to Smedley Butler's "War is a Racket" speech, and all those who concur with the General.) all while poking fun at the traditional Hero vs. Demon Lord story line... by inverting it hard core. Plenty of smaller jokes scattered about to keep you going if economics lectures aren't your thing but the parody is nice and rich, holding everything together. Sadly this one does activate my #1 pet peeve, but I like it enough that I'll give it a pass.

(click to show/hide)



*AKA not resolving a romance sub plot in a given anime or story. Fuck you bastards who started doing this. Some of us are watching for the romance like our mothers watched shitty soap operas! Don't you deny this to me!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 31 May 2014, 17:59
And for the ultimate in exciting animation of the highest quality, Redline - leave your brain in bed, though, as it has an inane plot and no message of any kind.

It's done by the same animators as Aeon Flux and is very well animated. As for plot, to quote Whose Line...?: the rules are made up and the points don't matter. Redline is just pure, unadulterated fun. Also the vehicles designs are awesome. If you like TTGL, you will like Redline.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LocoJoe on 02 Jun 2014, 22:10
I watched Redline on Sunday and just now finished Kill la Kill, and I enjoyed both of them immensely. Definitely over the top, and not as much fan service as I was led to believe. That's a good thing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 03 Jun 2014, 04:59
Image heavy anime recommendations.

(click to show/hide)

I do want to note recommendations for the movies Vexille, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Voices of a Distant Star, three really different anime movies that are all really awesome.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 03 Jun 2014, 08:07
I'll  be watching FMA as soon as I have time to spare then :)

Also, just watched From Up On Poppy Hill  the other day, cute movie!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 03 Jun 2014, 09:09
I will never not recommend Revolutionary Girl Utena. It has a slow start but christ does it come good, easily top 5 anime material. More people should watch Shin Sekai Yori and Mawaru Penguindrum too.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 03 Jun 2014, 09:11
Speaking of Magical Girls, I am really irritated that I can't find Cardcaptor to stream. I just want to rewatch it. T-T Actually, I'd prefer to own it, since that and Escaflowne were what got me into anime in the first place. (So did Pokemon, I guess, but not really.)

Also Madoka Magica, even if Magical Girls really isn't your thing, is worth watching simply because of the animation styles. How the characters are drawn is very different than the norm and how they do the witch scenes is awesome.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 03 Jun 2014, 09:29
Madoka Magica is worth a watch for the sheer subversion of the genre. I love stuff like that, taking common themes and tropes and messing with them.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Jun 2014, 09:35
I am really irritated that I can't find Cardcaptor to stream. I just want to rewatch it.

I guess the version you have seen is the US version which was edited down (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardcaptor_Sakura#TV_series) from 70 eps to 39 eps; the licence for that has expired.  However, a new BD/DVD release of the full series with an old mono English dub that was done elsewhere is coming out in August (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-30/nis-america-licenses-cardcaptor-sakura-tv-anime).  It is not inconceivable that this might trigger some streaming.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Jun 2014, 10:38
Here's an interesting 2-hour presentation on the development of anime (playlist of 16 parts):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLNHSrJoqFM&list=PLuPNSyztkHPqV-M4ePSmN_2BLhONu0WLg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLNHSrJoqFM&list=PLuPNSyztkHPqV-M4ePSmN_2BLhONu0WLg)

Enjoy!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Jun 2014, 15:01
[tweet]470285730154295297[/tweet]

To me that reads like the reason for the delay in the first place was that Khara vetoed the dub, and Funimation are still working on making it acceptable to them.  Other theories I've seen, like getting the extras to match the Japanese release just don't justify such a long delay.

The idea of a Japanese studio being so concerned about a foreign dub is a new development in itself.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 03 Jun 2014, 20:06
I watched Redline on Sunday and just now finished Kill la Kill, and I enjoyed both of them immensely. Definitely over the top, and not as much fan service as I was led to believe. That's a good thing.

Having just finished Kill la Kill, um, I'm gonna disagree about the fan service comment about that one. That had a LOT of fan service. Boobies and butts everywhere!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 03 Jun 2014, 20:42
Is fan service in service of skewering tropes and genre expectations still fan service?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 03 Jun 2014, 21:07
I guess it probably still is, but YMMV for a lot of people. My personal opinion is that if the series owns up to it (Like TTGL admitting they're running the plot on crazy awesome or Excel Saga and The World God Only Knows fessing up for the things they lampshade), they can be excused for a lot. Not everything, but a lot.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 04 Jun 2014, 13:29
FMA:B continues to piss me off.

BlazBlue continues to be nonsensical, slow-moving but entertaining.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Jun 2014, 14:14
FMA:B continues to piss me off.

Why in particular?  Do you already know the original FMA?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: dr. nervioso on 04 Jun 2014, 15:02
So I have given up trying to keep up with current anime, most of the stuff I find I'm not that into. So here's a list of the anime I like and I am hoping you guys can help me find a new series to obsess over:

FMA:B
FLCL
Clannad
Fruits Basket
Trinity Blood (I think that's the name)


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Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 04 Jun 2014, 15:03
I don't, and it's the same issue I had earlier in the thread - the absolutely wrenching tonal shifts sometimes within the same scene. It goes from goofball comedy to super dark without missing a beat, and I believe this is a common trait in anime, but it's really appallingly done in this anime. The comedy is funny, the dark stuff is convincing, the lack of buffer between the two sucks. I just watched an episode where the main characters have a quite violent fight with the main villain and the whole army comes down on him to try to fight him, everyone realises he's the survivor of a genocide which is depicted very effectively, and then LOL THE MAJOR WAS HIDING THE WHOLE TIME DURING THE FIGHT CAUSE HE'S A WUSS WHAT A GOOF HA HA HA HA I wish I was dead.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 04 Jun 2014, 15:36
dr. nervioso - Check out Toradora!, Princess Jellyfish, and Love, Chunibyo, and Other Dilusions.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Jun 2014, 18:04
So I have given up trying to keep up with current anime, most of the stuff I find I'm not that into. So here's a list of the anime I like and I am hoping you guys can help me find a new series to obsess over:

FMA:B
FLCL
Clannad
Fruits Basket
Trinity Blood (I think that's the name)


Sent from my SM-T110 using Tapatalk

Hellsing and Hellsing Ultimate, Outlaw Star, Tenchi Muyo, Trigun, Usagi Drop, Angel Beats and Cowboy Bebop would probably be solid ones for you to check out. I will second Toradore.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 04 Jun 2014, 19:23
I don't, and it's the same issue I had earlier in the thread - the absolutely wrenching tonal shifts sometimes within the same scene. It goes from goofball comedy to super dark without missing a beat, and I believe this is a common trait in anime, but it's really appallingly done in this anime. The comedy is funny, the dark stuff is convincing, the lack of buffer between the two sucks. I just watched an episode where the main characters have a quite violent fight with the main villain and the whole army comes down on him to try to fight him, everyone realises he's the survivor of a genocide which is depicted very effectively, and then LOL THE MAJOR WAS HIDING THE WHOLE TIME DURING THE FIGHT CAUSE HE'S A WUSS WHAT A GOOF HA HA HA HA I wish I was dead.

That kind of bugged me when I started watching FMA earlier today--it's pretty serious most of the time, then suddenly Edward goes all Ash Ketchum, freaking out..
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Jun 2014, 22:24
I don't find the tonal shifts in FMA an issue; I guess the level of humour is intended to help the younger viewer cope with the darkness* - but I just don't mind the switches.  Also, the Major has a more drawn-out plot arc which makes his motivations slower to become apparent.

However, I prefer the original over Brotherhood, precisely because the pacing is better.  When they made Brotherhood, they rushed the first part, probably because they had already animated that part of the story before; I didn't like that they also increased the distinction from the previous version by exaggerating the use of weird "manga-faces" to indicate emotion, whereas they'd reduced that (relative to the manga itself) in the original.  The end of Brotherhood is then dragged out to make it a five-cour show instead of a four-cour show, and that really slows it down to the point of becoming tedious.

As for the endings:  the ending of Brotherhood resolves everything, which is nice (and is how the manga ends); but in a way I prefer the ending of the original (written when the manga was only halfway through) which resolves the brothers' quest with a new tragedy.  The following film (which some people hate) in turn resolves that tragedy, but still with a bitter-sweet ending.  The lesson I see there is that even when you fix your past problems, the future is a new place to be faced.

If you want darkness with no relief of any kind, then you should be watching Texhnolyze.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Jun 2014, 22:34
FMA:B
FLCL

Those are the only two in your list I know, but the natural suggestion following them is surely Gurren Lagann (aka TTGL).  If you want to obsess over it, you can follow it by watching the films, which dial the ending up to 11 - or more like 15.

You can never go wrong with Gunbuster and Diebuster (which I always tell people to take as a pair).  Diebuster is from the same team as FLCL and Gurren Lagann, whereas Gunbuster is a basic classic, and naturally comes first.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Cottarsby on 06 Jun 2014, 19:13
I just watched Deadman Wonderland in a day.

I don't watch a whole lot of anime. That was some gruesome shit.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 12 Jun 2014, 19:11
So I'm watching the Valkyria Chronicles anime. Fuck me running with a chainsaw. The intro and first ep have made me haaaaaaaaaaaaaaate it. It was, to borrow and slightly paraphrase from Yahtzee's review of the game "Christopher Robin and friends going out to defend the 100 acre woods from mean old farmer Hitler." Five episodes have not improved it from that initial pile of naive fetted compost, but it is slightly more tolerable. Not much more tolerable, but slightly. I already want to kick the Tsundere into a wood chipper, with the lecherous captain from 1st squad right behind her. The male lead is interesting in that he's the only one in this anime who talks like he's actually seen or studied combat in any way, especially when he talks about the vitality of preserving one's own life. He's no Patton, but he could be worse. That's my real issue. There's actually good characters in here. The disgruntled militia veterans, Mr. Rocket Lance who's missing part of his beard and his sassy female companion are stand outs for me as individuals I enjoy, even if they're playing to type a bit more then needed. I also rather enjoy the scaredy cat rich girl Suzie. I'd like to see her whipped into something resembling a proper soldier.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Asterus on 12 Jun 2014, 22:06
Valkyria Chronicles was just forgettable for me. There were some interesting moments, but once you get to "survivors of an ancient race of super-soldiers" and "Baseless casual racism spawned from a biased account of history", I kinda checked out and just watched the rest in a daze. It did seem like all the more interesting characters were destined to be put on a bus and used for fodder by the end.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: dr. nervioso on 13 Jun 2014, 08:04
Trying fairy Tail again, I got bored wuickly last time, but I like premise and the art, so here is to hoping it gets better

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Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 15 Jun 2014, 08:09

Reaction to the dub has been somewhat muted, with people saying that Senketsu should be older sounding, and that Satsuki isn't sufficiently authoritative.  Oh, and Mako mispronounces her own surname!  For my part, I'll wait until the voices are fully processed and mixed into the soundtrack before judging.  However, the initial release in multiple small volumes will add up to silly prices in the first instance, so that may not be for a while.

Ooops. I never did comment on this. As of this preview the dub's gonna be a flop for me I think. On a scale of Love Hina to Hellsing Ultimate in terms of dub voice acting I think we're looking at middle ground work barring something incredible happening in post.

In other news, holy fuck.

Holy fuck.



*squees internally* judge me all you want fuckers I have no shame in admitting I really like Sailor Moon. (Speaking of terrible dubs...)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 16 Jun 2014, 04:03
So I guess they're starting from the beginning again? The animation looks so good, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Jun 2014, 04:25
As far as they got with the last few series a full re boot is really the best solution.

(click to show/hide)

I haven't looked over it in details but Glass Lip and Rail Wars looks like fun. I am of course in for Sailor Moon Crystal.

In the OVA section more Girls und Panzer! For anime watchers who haven't seen it, Psycho Pass is being rebroadcast and I'd heartily encourage you to watch it.

(http://1-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/a/image/1381/78/1381783491392.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 17 Jun 2014, 19:47
So, watched about 40 or so episodes of FMA now, and I really like it. The plot is pretty complex and a little hard to follow, but that makes it more interesting. I started watching with English dubs, and while the dubs where ok, the mixing was not, and I often struggled to catch what people where saying when there was low, plot heavy dialogue. I then switched to Japanese with subs, which makes it a lot easier to follow.

If I were to make any complaints, it's the heavily shifting tone (tho this might be a complaint to much of anime in general). The death of central character being followed by some sort of Japanese speed-pop in the end credits really kill the mood, and all those "anime (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5lbqwPpPm1qzmfk8o1_500.png) facial (http://images5.fanpop.com/image/answers/2293000/2293366_1325205370103.85res_482_399.jpg) expressions (http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100125005815/fma/images/3/30/Fullmetal_Alchemist_-_30_-_Large_16.jpg)" seem really out of place when the show is really serious in tone just a minute earlier or later. Also, alchemy=/=science. The fact that they're constantly trying to hammer in alchemy as "science" really pushes my suspension of disbelief. It would all have been much easier if they'd treated it like magic (with definable internal laws).

But still, the show is really good, and I'm really looking forward to see more. After I finish FMA, I plan on watching Death Note, since it has very high average scores and sounds pretty interesting. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 18 Jun 2014, 00:51
If I were to make any complaints, it's the heavily shifting tone (tho this might be a complaint to much of anime in general). The death of central character being followed by some sort of Japanese speed-pop in the end credits really kill the mood, and all those "anime (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5lbqwPpPm1qzmfk8o1_500.png) facial (http://images5.fanpop.com/image/answers/2293000/2293366_1325205370103.85res_482_399.jpg) expressions (http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100125005815/fma/images/3/30/Fullmetal_Alchemist_-_30_-_Large_16.jpg)" seem really out of place when the show is really serious in tone just a minute earlier or later.

You sure you aren't watching Brotherhood? This is my main issue with Brotherhood and most people I know say it's done better in FMA.

Quote
Also, alchemy=/=science. The fact that they're constantly trying to hammer in alchemy as "science" really pushes my suspension of disbelief. It would all have been much easier if they'd treated it like magic (with definable internal laws).

Uh. Why? It's not hard science fiction.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 18 Jun 2014, 03:40
After I finish FMA, I plan on watching Death Note, since it has very high average scores and sounds pretty interesting. Any thoughts?

Yes, don't watch it. Unless you really like pretentious teenagers endlessly monologuing about how morally superior they are. Often people say that it makes you question whether killing is right or not, it doesn't, it just makes you follow a villain that is essentially a run of the mill sociopath. And the less said about the second half of the series the better, it's absolutely awful. Save yourself the pain and if you want something serious, watch Ergo Proxy, Serial Experiments Lain or Paranoia Agent.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Jun 2014, 03:48
I think Death Note is awful.  It's one of very few series that I couldn't stomach finishing, largely because of the messed up morals which meant I could have no sympathy for what was going on.  Watch Mirai Nikki (Future Diary) instead - some questionable morals there as well, perhaps, but overall a much better and more entertaining show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 04:31
Death Note certainly wasn't my favorite anime. I wouldn't mind having my hands on one of those books though. I don't really care what L would do with the book. The more interesting question is what I would do with it. Or you. That's one worthy thing that came out of my old group watching the show.

Would you use the book? Would you even walk away with it from where you'd found it once you knew what it was? Would you keep it? Or risk it finding it's way into some other person's hands?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 18 Jun 2014, 04:51
I'm going to second Paul. Death Note is terrible and Future Diary is executed much better.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 18 Jun 2014, 09:26
You sure you aren't watching Brotherhood? This is my main issue with Brotherhood and most people I know say it's done better in FMA.

I'm watching the original. It's not horrible or show-ruining, but it is a little annoying at times.

Uh. Why? It's not hard science fiction.

I'm a pretty logic-bound person, and suspending my disbelief can be hard at times. I'm okay with soft scifi and fantasy as long as the internal logic is sound, but the fact that they constantly try to sell their camouflaged magic as science bugs me.

Yes, don't watch it. Unless you really like pretentious teenagers endlessly monologuing about how morally superior they are. Often people say that it makes you question whether killing is right or not, it doesn't, it just makes you follow a villain that is essentially a run of the mill sociopath. And the less said about the second half of the series the better, it's absolutely awful. Save yourself the pain and if you want something serious, watch Ergo Proxy, Serial Experiments Lain or Paranoia Agent.
I think Death Note is awful.  It's one of very few series that I couldn't stomach finishing, largely because of the messed up morals which meant I could have no sympathy for what was going on.  Watch Mirai Nikki (Future Diary) instead - some questionable morals there as well, perhaps, but overall a much better and more entertaining show.
Death Note certainly wasn't my favorite anime. I wouldn't mind having my hands on one of those books though. I don't really care what L would do with the book. The more interesting question is what I would do with it. Or you. That's one worthy thing that came out of my old group watching the show.

Would you use the book? Would you even walk away with it from where you'd found it once you knew what it was? Would you keep it? Or risk it finding it's way into some other person's hands?
I'm going to second Paul. Death Note is terrible and Future Diary is executed much better.

Well, that was disencouraging. With an average rating of 8,9/10 (slightly below the likes of FMA and Cowboy Bebop) on one of those anime rating sites, I sort of expected it to be better liked x]

Regardless, I think I'll start watching it since I've already downloaded, and then see for myself :)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 09:38
It could just be I'm a pretentious ass. So watch it, and judge for yourself.

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Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 09:48
In other news I have a big pile of stuff like Hayuka, Golgo 13, Jin Roh, and someone and her seven assistant s or something... And of course cleaning up the end of the spring season

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 18 Jun 2014, 10:02
I'm watching the original. It's not horrible or show-ruining, but it is a little annoying at times.

For the love of Christ never watch Brotherhood then, it might kill you. It's definitely killing me.

Quote
I'm a pretty logic-bound person, and suspending my disbelief can be hard at times. I'm okay with soft scifi and fantasy as long as the internal logic is sound, but the fact that they constantly try to sell their camouflaged magic as science bugs me.

Why can't it just be both? Why can't magic BE a science? It has logic, it has laws that must be followed. Equilibrium, give and take.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 10:38
Magic as science shows up in a lot of anime come to think of it. For example one of my personal favorites Straight Jacket. Now some anime are harder and softer with their portrayal of magic with the range going thusly for a rough conceptualization:

                     High Magic/Ritual magic*------------------------------------Magic Is Tech**

*Magic is 100% arcane and mysterious, see D&D/High Fantasy. Alternately it's completely unexplained because willing suspension of disbelief means you don't need to know the details any way.
**Magic is either literally tech based/influenced or a science that is understood. It is an energy that is directed and understood that behaves via certain rules much like any other physical force, energy or what have you.

A lot of anime ends up somewhere in the middle or leaned slightly to the right, especially in Spells and Gunslingers style stuff where tech and magic exist side by side.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Jun 2014, 10:39
With an average rating of 8,9/10 (slightly below the likes of FMA and Cowboy Bebop) on one of those anime rating sites, I sort of expected it to be better liked x]

Yes, the ratings it gets are a perpetual mystery to me.  Maybe it tells you more than you want to know about the typical western otaku...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 10:57
Well Death Note would probably appeal to Otaku in the traditional sense >.>;

Also I'd personally appreciate not using the term "otaku" as a general term for anime fan... it's a pejorative and not one I'm keen on reclaiming or applying to anyone outside of the individuals who fit that label.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 18 Jun 2014, 11:16
That was why I used it at that point.   :evil:

Also recent studies suggest that the term is no longer mainly pejorative in Japan.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 18 Jun 2014, 13:13
Please do enlighten a noob, what does otaku mean?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 13:33
It's meant to indicate an obsessive or obsessed individual. A nerd to be sure... but more what we'd call a neckbeard, so the worst kind of nerd. It also usually implies that one is or is leaning towards being a hikikomori (literally "pulling inward, being confined") which is a form of severe social withdrawal.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 18 Jun 2014, 14:18
With an average rating of 8,9/10 (slightly below the likes of FMA and Cowboy Bebop) on one of those anime rating sites, I sort of expected it to be better liked x]

Yes, the ratings it gets are a perpetual mystery to me.  Maybe it tells you more than you want to know about the typical western otaku...

Or the age of the people who liked it.

Garand: I think you might mean Okami-san and her 7 Assistants. I urge you not to watch it, it is infuriating in it's total waste of potential.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jun 2014, 17:35
I do mean Okami-San and Her Seven Assistants. That bad eh?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Taekwondoin on 19 Jun 2014, 01:19
I do mean Okami-San and Her Seven Assistants. That bad eh?

By the time they threw in a swimsuit competition for no apparent reason, I was about ready to gouge my eyes out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LocoJoe on 19 Jun 2014, 16:50
So, a friend of mine was gracious enough for me to use his Crunchyroll account, and I now have access to all sorts of different anime to watch! I had no idea where to begin, and he suggested I start with Hunter X Hunter. Only 4 episodes or so into it, and I kinda dig it.

It's meant to indicate an obsessive or obsessed individual. A nerd to be sure... but more what we'd call a neckbeard, so the worst kind of nerd. It also usually implies that one is or is leaning towards being a hikikomori (literally "pulling inward, being confined") which is a form of severe social withdrawal.

To piggyback on this, a great anime that touches on the subject is Welcome to the NHK!. If you're into slice of life anime, I'd definitely reccommend checking it out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Jun 2014, 19:18
Genshikan! Is another good one about Otaku.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Jun 2014, 00:55
Welcome to the NHK!. If you're into slice of life anime, I'd definitely reccommend checking it out.

I prefer the novel over the anime myself.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 20 Jun 2014, 04:34
Please do enlighten a noob, what does otaku mean?

Princess Jellyfish does a great job of explaining otaku.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Jun 2014, 16:08
The SM Trailer with official English subs


Coming to CR and a fuckload of other streaming services soon sports fans!


Then io9 put this list together about other Magical Series that deserve a reboot.

http://io9.com/7-magical-girl-series-that-deserve-modern-sailor-moon-1593241273?utm_campaign=socialflow_io9_facebook&utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

Fuck yes to all of these as it happens, but in particular Magic Knigh Rayearth, Card Captor Sakura and Devil Hunter Yoko, the latter of which I really want to see. Sakura too come to think of it, I've never seen the non-butchered version.

Of course I'd be remiss not to mention Revolutionary Girl Utena, which stands out as an anime classic that I cannot stand. At all. Maybe an update would make it watchb
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 23 Jun 2014, 04:05
So, just finished FMA.. sort of mixed feelings about how it ended, but anyways.. Next!  :mrgreen:

I started watching Ghost in the Shell, and I really like how realistic it depicts stuff like computer tech, police work and politics (at least considering what I expect from a cyberpunk anime). Motoko needs to put some fucking pants on tho! Also, is there something wrong with my files, or is the sound mixing horrible? I've tried with both jap and eng, and still most of the dialogue is drowned out by this ridiculously loud porn music most of the time. And other times it's completely silent. If not for the subs, it would be unwatchable.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 23 Jun 2014, 04:44
I think that's your files Edboy.

(http://static2.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/5191492+_9bc469fe7bdaa1825541906d32e0df1c.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Jun 2014, 05:23
So, just finished FMA.. sort of mixed feelings about how it ended, but anyways..

Did you watch the follow-up film The Conqueror of Shamballa?  Some people really hate it - the main setting is a huge wrench away from the series; but it actually gives a more complete and satisfying resolution to the quest of the brothers, though still with a bitter-sweet tinge.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 24 Jun 2014, 09:56
A full article discussing hikikomori for the curious

http://www.tofugu.com/2014/06/18/all-about-hikkikomori-japans-missing-million/
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 29 Jun 2014, 21:03
http://en.musicplayon.com/play?v=177011

Momoiro Clover Z is doing the new opening and end themes for Sailor Moon Crystal before, what I didn't know though is that the girls (one of my favorite idol groups) have their chops in for the show, and have already recorded a cover of and performed (in cosplay no less) the original theme Moonlight Densetsu. It's pretty fucking awesome.

Saturday comes fast! Get hyped!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Jun 2014, 07:07
Pupa

Twelve four-minute episodes - three-minute if you remove the OP and ED.  A total of 36 minutes, plus OP and ED.  I watched it as a single run edited together, and I suggest you do the same, because that way you get a more concentrated experience.

This show has got by far the worst reviews (http://myanimelist.net/anime/19315/Pupa/reviews) of any show I've watched, and I have to admit that this was largely why I decided to watch it.  Could a show really be that bad?  What would make it so?  Can it actually be "the worst anime of all time"?

In the event, I found something which I believe doesn't deserve the bad rap.  It is a study of the effects of family abuse, how it is passed on to other generations, and how it is hard for psychologists to deal with.  I guess not many people see it the way I do! Too many people are just seeing the incestuous cannibalism for itself, instead of trying to work out what it's actually about.  As a horror show, it is concentrated, almost too much so to get the full effect (watching it all together as I did helps with that anyway).   As an allegory, it works for me; no answers are found, but the difficulty in finding answers in some such situations seems to me to be rather the point.

Utsutsu shows his love for his sister at a young age:
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/pupa12.jpg)

Utsutsu tells his sister's monster form that her loves her:
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/pupa-1.jpg)

After which Yume starts to eat him:
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/pupa-2.jpg)

Utsutsu declares that he will always love Yume, even though she is now a monster:
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/pupa3.jpg)
The veins signify that he is also a monster (which is why he can regenerate after being eaten);
the blood is from being eaten;
the other marks and bruises are from being beaten by their father.


Yume relieves her hunger for flesh by eating Utsutsu:
(http://cassland.org/images/QC/pupa6.jpg)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 30 Jun 2014, 10:59
I read that manga and saw some of the episodes when they were coming out. It did leave me feeling a bit icky but I found it interesting.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 01 Jul 2014, 06:50
If you're up for a weird comedy anime that us 4chan /k/ approved then you might want to find Upotte! Which is set in a high school... for guns?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Jul 2014, 11:45
I've started watching Mushi-Shi because of Paul's (?) comments on it and I quite like it. It's a very different method of telling a story, which is refreshing, and the mushi themselves remind me a lot of shinto spirits, which I find interesting. I also like the artwork because the landscapes and mushi are so simplistic and beautiful. The OT is also really good, to the point where I think I'm going to look up the artist and listen to more of their work.

It's a relaxing story. Quite nice for just chilling out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Jul 2014, 14:05
Also, Sailor Moon Crystal is now on Hulu and I just watched the first episode and it was awesome. Same story as the original series, but done so much better holy cow. And now to wait two weeks for the next episode...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Jul 2014, 15:31
I have been carefully avoiding getting drawn in to the Sailor Moon franchise...  I just need to draw a line somewhere.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Jul 2014, 23:48
Draw the line AFTER Sailor Moon, it's a classic!

Holy crap. So speaking of the new Sailor Moon. Love the art, and HOLY FUCK are the lyrics to the new theme Girl Powertastic.

In that spirit though, have some CR guest passes so you can all get up on the new season.
G7WEEVS86RF
D7C4VLKTVEF
J47AYGCZZ4M
8FL4YK4SU5S

Quote
(click to show/hide)
[/spoiler]

First impressions:
The art is absolutely stunning. I love it, it's like the old show in high def as well as being more on point with the manga. A lot of the first original episode is intact in a positive way.
Usagi is still Usagi, ditzy and kinda annoying, but useful in a pinch.
I liked the changes in how Usagi and everyone's favorite mysterious masked gentleman interact.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Jul 2014, 01:31
I know it's a classic - but 200 episodes, 3 films, 5 TV specials, and now the whole lot being remade!  It's more than I can afford to get drawn into (same thing with the Gundam franchise).  I've not yet even found time to watch Monster, which is only a third of the length, but still longer than anything else I've watched.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 06 Jul 2014, 05:55
Then maybe just watch the new one. Same story, but the main character is less annoying and the art is so much better.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Jul 2014, 09:36
Sailor Moon Crystal would be a good place to explore the franchise Hodges.


Meanwhile in weird anime products land:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/t1.0-9/10411918_345016112312023_5351735494477019207_n.jpg)

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Jul 2014, 09:50
Sailor Moon Crystal would be a good place to explore the franchise Hodges.

One episode (so far) isn't a lot of exploring!  Maybe I'll follow it for a bit, at least to get the idea.  I think Crystal is planned to be 2 cours, which is OK by me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Jul 2014, 12:52
It appears that the delay in the US/UK release of Evangelion 3.33 really is driven entirely by Khara:

[tweet]484347870871814144[/tweet]

[tweet]484351729153359872[/tweet]

[tweet]484348426554191872[/tweet]
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 10 Jul 2014, 22:19
Except for Sailor Moon Crystal I haven't watched almost any anime in two weeks except for Wolf's Rain and X 1999 both of which are SRS bsnz. I like the former better than the latter but considering I'm covered in Wolf tattoos that's hardly shocking...

Both are getting a recommendation from me assuming they don't go completely tits up in the next few eps
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 10 Jul 2014, 22:53
Not just that.  The creator of Wolf's Rain is none other than Keiko Nobumoto, of Cowboy Bebop writing fame, teamed up with fellow Bebop alum Yoko Kanno doing the music.  That's a recipe for awesome just there.  And it shows in every aspect of the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Jul 2014, 22:59
Wolf's Rain is not flawless, though; it has a couple of sub-standard episodes, and there is some criticism of a lack of character development, and a rather unconvincing ending.  However, although I understand these criticisms, I enjoyed the show as a whole myself, and would recommend it.

(I think I wrote about it here when I watched it first; I hope this summary is consistent with what I said then!) It seems I didn't; wrong forum.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Jul 2014, 07:34
Does Yoko Kanno REALLY require introduction? She's a legend.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Jul 2014, 08:47
There's a first time for anyone to learn about her, so no need to avoid introductions.



I found what I wrote elsewhere about Wolf's Rain; here it is:

Quote from: pwhodges, on another forum
The recap episodes can be ignored; I found them OK, to the extent that I often go back for revision during a show anyway, and I gather that when the series was first broadcast in the US they simply omitted them and included the final OVA episodes to make up the number (which is what they were written for, anyway). Curiously, the UK broadcast kept them in and stopped at episode 26.

The Indians episodes were a bit of a dislocation, but way less than, say, the island arc in Nadia. What jarred for me was not the Indians, actually, so much as the talking horse - we'd had no hint of wolves being able to communicate with other species until that point, though it was also Kiba's experience in his false Paradise with Mew (in the same episode). The ability is used again with the cat in Jaguara's city, and again feels like a bit of convenience rather than something natural to the world.

As for character development, I think there's enough for Tsume, Hige and Toboe; they all go through significant changes and reappraisals of their pasts (and Blue too, but that's more obvious). Kiba, though, not really - and that's because he comes into the story fully formed; he already has this drive to find Paradise, and it is his drive that keeps everyone else going to the end - but we never discover any reason for his drive beyond the fact that it is so.

The weakness of the story is that in the end it is missing any strong reason to be told at all. Although it's a pleasure to watch in many ways, at the end nothing has changed. There are many anime which conclude with a rebuilding of the world - Evangelion, RahXephon, Madoka, Lain, Mirai Nikki, [C], the list goes on, something to do with the Japanese psyche I presume - but there's always a reason that we can see for this to happen, and to be a worthwhile step; but in Wolf's Rain, it just happens. Maybe the Nobles represent a form of evil that needs to be expunged, but really this is not spelt out - in the end it's just a story of some wolves wanting to reach Paradise, and being the ones who do that (well, most die first, but Kiba gets there in effect) and rebuild the world as a result (well Cheza does that really, the wolves are just along for the ride when it comes down to it). For me, the highlight, in feels at any rate, was the death of Toboe...

So, I did really enjoy watching it, as an adventure story; but overall it signified nothing, and so may not be high on my list of future rewatches.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Jul 2014, 00:29
I challenge the laws of nature and reason by summoning the power of Time! Summer Season New Anime Blitzkrieg Write Up!  Exist!

GM Casts Wall of Text!
Critical Hit!
9999 DMG!

Continuing:
The Irregular at Magic High School:
Still interesting though they seem to be doubling down on their long running game on incest chicken. I just wish they'd hurry up and get past this high school sports tournament that's taken up so much time. It's highlighting some really cool in universe magic, but I was enjoying the more serious plot.

The Case Files of Young Kindaichi Returns:
Smooth sailing with a fun cast and meaty murder mysteries... I just want more episodes faster.

New Shows:

Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Crystal

I've already gushed enough about this to get labeled the king of the fan girls.

Glasslip:
Looking to be a cute little rom/com slice of life. Slightly disjointed for part of the first episode... but that's okay. The female lead's cute, and who I presume to be the male lead is.. interesting at best. The supernatural component is interesting so far, I'm not sure how they're going to use that though.

Samurai Jam - Bakumatsu Rock:
Rocking. I like it and if you enjoy Japanese music you too will enjoy it. Ladies and gents/third parties who like gents, lots of eye candy for you here. Some hilarious parody elements too if you know what you're looking for.

Not a valid youtube URL
Rail Wars!:
Apparently Japan National Rail needs an anime. Even if it didn't, it's gotten one. With a title promising us action even if the first episode doesn't deliver too much in the way of beat downs. A panty shot and plenty of oppai though, so this anime clearly intends to deliver fanservice... on a rail... jokes aside. Episode 2 opens with some of that action with some hilarious action of the NRSAT (National Rail Special Assault Team) departing to go handle a bomb threat.

Momokyun Sword:
Oh look! It's the legend of Momotaro with tits! Fanservice packed for even the most discerning of 2D breast enthusiasts and costumes to challenge the most skilled of cosplayers Momo herself is pretty freaking bad ass with sword skills to burn even from the start, so I'm hoping for sdome fantastic over the top action scenes... Momo's currently got what looks like a series of three magical girl transformations with the help of her animal friends all of which are apparently gonna give her a tail and a new physics defying outfit. I'm currently thinking I'll be dropping this midway through the season, but I'll give it a run especially because I like the original myth.

Argevollen:
Woo! Mech combat. Gimme. No fan service to be seen here, it looks like this anime's taking a far more realistic bent to it's warfare. Including it's mecha, which for the most part look more like the attempted realism of Battletech then the more fanciful general anime style of say the Gundam franchise or Neon Genesis Evangelion. Pretty good so far

Akame ga Kill!:
Well that started off on the right note. Doesn't even get to the main title before slicing and dicing a critter the size of a two story building. THEN it gets more awesome. Apprantently this is what happens when you let an anime studio loose on the Assassin's Creed games for a little too long, because the whole creedo right at the start about taking out the corrupt smacks of Assassin's from that franchise's mission. Easily one of the strongest looking anime this season. I'm in.

Invaders of the Rokyjyouma!?:
Looks like another case of boy meets ghost... meets witch/magical girl, meets earth shrine priestess... or something? Meets princess magical girl of some type that's armed up with a high tech magic weapon Nanoha style... all of whom need either his 6 tatame mat apartment or him for some reason. The absolutely metal young land lady forces all powers into the Corona Convention to preserve her property and basically leaves them all to sort it out. I was highly amused and will definently keep watching. Fanservice Warning: Gale Force 7

Locodol:
Nananko and Yukari are drafted as Idols for their small town. Cute girls doing cute things. Easy enough to consider dropping at some point, but worth giving it a few episodes I think... especially with Nanako's surprisingly charming enthusiasm.

Blue Spring Ride:
Interesting interactions between characters so far... seems both the leads have changed and not for the better in some cases. Futaba in particular has ended up with "friends" at the start of the series that don't seem the best... iffy for me, because I like slice of life but there's only so much shoujo style romance anime I can take but I'll give it a few more episodes.

HaNaYaMaTa:
Hel's heels I think this season is actually trying to kill me with cute. Fantastic visual style that reminds me of No Game No Life, very appealing to the eye and a fantastic color palette. Good laughs, kinda interesting plot. Excited to see where this goes.

After two episodes out, this is already a front runner for one of my top rated anime this summer.

Bladedance of the Elementalers:
Darn. I was kinda disappointed by the male lead. I thought this anime was gonna focus on the ladies kicking ass which is always a nice change of pace, but it's looking like another fantasy battle/duel harem set up. With tastes of Familiar of Zero and... Demon King Daimao maybe?

Magimoji Rurumo:
I'm gonna give it another ep or two, but at this point I'm just not enthused. Rurumo's cute and the central mechanic of the tickets is interesting... but everything they've built around it is kinda objectionable at best.

Sabagebu! - Survival Game Club!:
Oh look! It's C3 2: The Revenge! Sorta. Looks like we're looking at a far stronger comedy focus then C3's adorable slice of life. They also aren't taking quite the time to distinguish between airsoft toys and actual firearms like C3 did. More fanservice too.

"The Mental Weakness of Young People These Days is Troubling"

Aldnoah Zero:
WHERE IS JOHN CARTER!? Seriously you have a Princess of Mars who seems to hate wearing things that don't bear her midriff and you DON'T name the terran hero John Carter? Bring it on Barsoom!

Any way in short, Mars was colonized. The new Martian Colonists said "Fuck Terra" and rebeled taking all sorts of fun tech back. A pretty serious war came out, which brings us to our current point, where a Princess of Mars is coming to Earth as a goodwill ambassador. More anime mech action here. Looks pretty good so far except for the whole militarized high schools thing which always makes me face palm.

So far this is THE Mecha anime of the summer and frankly the mecha anime I've been waiting for for YEARS. I'm very excited and kinda want to get through the set up so we can get to the MEAT! I'm incredibly disappointed this is only a 12 ep season.

Persona4 The Golden Animation:
The Persona series is absolutely legendary and I'm excited to have an access point to a series I've been meaning to explore for awhile. Warning. Shit is trippy bro.

Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
Now this is more my kind of RomCom anime.Girl likes boy. Boy happens to be a Shoujo manga artist and mistakes girl for a fan when she asks him out and gives her an autograph. Hijinks follow.

Shin Strange +
Season 2 of Strange +. It's 30 seconds. You have the time to kill.

Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA:
The Fate series is another justifiably famous and large anime series I've never touched. So far this spin off seems like a cute "srs bsnz" magical girl series. We'll see what happens. I'm pretty sure this series is already complete and even has a second season so I'm not sure why CR is treating it as a simulcast as opposed to just releasing it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 16 Jul 2014, 16:53
Woo hoo, Hulu has Dangan Ronpa
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 17 Jul 2014, 13:38
I've started watching Knights of Sidonia, and three episodes in I'm not too interested in it. The animation makes me think of Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Jul 2014, 20:57
The new OP matches up pretty damn well for Moonlight Densetsu...

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Jul 2014, 21:27
So I'm loving Aldnoah Zero, great mech designs, a bad ass MC with an enjoyable and very realistic supporting cast all wrapped up in a delicious OST. This last episode was freaking awesome tool. I hope they keep this current concept of a squad of "regular" troops taking out a squad of super mechs. Also this whole crazy character development thing.

Rail Wars continues to impress as well, providing all sorts of decent action and character development all while not managing to over do it on the fan service.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 25 Jul 2014, 00:19
I've started watching Knights of Sidonia, and three episodes in I'm not too interested in it. The animation makes me think of Iron Man: Armored Adventures
I actually quite like it.  The animation could certainly use more polish, and there are a number of other shortcomings (gah, that bear just bugged me, she just does not fit the mileau), but I will certainly be anticipating the second series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 26 Jul 2014, 04:49
I have it queued up and mean to watch it. Mostly because of the title being so close to that song my Muse (Knights of Cydonia). Also because I am actually curious about how good a Netflix anime would be. Some of their series, like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, are fantastic. Others, like Hemlock Grove, are complete shit.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 30 Jul 2014, 23:22

Ah fuck. Well if you have family who watches CNN and knows you enjoy anime, A. encourage them to switch to a better news source like the BBC and B. potentially prepare for an awkward conversation.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Aug 2014, 20:47
If you haven't watched Black Lagoon you need to fix yourself.


Also a reminder that Magical Girl Revy is a thing that happened


(http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140526095423/magical-girl-mahou-shoujo/images/1/1d/Radical_Revy-chan_pose.png)

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Aug 2014, 06:09
So my weird anime of the day is "Those Who Hunt Elves" and...you just need to look it up. In short three humans have been transported to a fantasy world along with a Type 74 MBT and have to find the 5 pieces of a spell that will send them home... these 5 pieces are basically tattooed onto 5 random (probably female) elves.

Now weird anime of the day out of the way, some music to start your hump day off right!



Invaders of the Rokujouma have repaired the damage they've done to my ship in good order, and upped the anty! Go protagonist go! Get the cute ghost girl! Full steam ahead!

Meanwhile I finally caught up to the current season on Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya, I haven't had this much fun with a magical girl series in a while. It's great top to bottom, and season 1 has received a well deserved 9/10 from me. Sadly 2nd seasons tend to fall down for me for some reason with a few exceptions, so we'll see how Illya and company do... hopefully going to be completely caught up by the end of the day.

I wrote that early on another forum, filled with hopes and having fun with some kick as magical girl action, with hopes that it would continue on course. Sadly not. Season 2 has let me down. I'm just not feeling the Kuro Illya plot. And the over sexualized 10 year olds thing is squicking me out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Aug 2014, 14:16

Not enough Kill La Kill recently ;)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 11 Aug 2014, 23:55
Not sure anyone knows this one - been considering it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_und_Panzer



And for your fun and edification (and yes, this is a wee Fanmade Short)

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Aug 2014, 00:17
Girls und Panzer.  Air-headed fun - and really good at it.  Also some superb animation of tanks moving (I'm thinking of one scene shown through the driver's viewing slot).  A ridiculous premiss, but that's hardly new in anime!  Just watch it and enjoy (don't waste time with the OVAs, they have little relationship to the series - just fan-service really).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 12 Aug 2014, 00:23
Squee! I fucking love Girls und Panzer, mostly because it apparently represents some ideal world that I have only ever dreamed of before. The story is cute and quite enjoyable outside of the tank battles, and the tank battles are VERY damn enjoyable on their own merit, very well done as long as you suspend just enough disbelief to forget this high school sport would be mind numbingly dangerous.

No ANZACers in the anime so far Kugai, but you lot are more known for your grunts then your tankers ;)

Concur with Hodges on all the OVAs with ONE exception. Girls und Panzer Kore ga Hontou no Anzio-sen Desu! is an OVA episode/movie that's basically a "lost" episode from the show once they reach the competition arc. The show the results of the match (a battle with an Italian themed army) but not the match itself, this OVA is the full match and  surrounding fluff, very much worth a watch, if just for the rather interesting Italian armor tactics.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Aug 2014, 18:51
Re: This week's rail wars... shit. Takayama is in up to his neck.

It's been a singular pleasure serving with you all. To your ships, bosun, sound general quarters! All hands to battle stations.


Gak is about to get real people :D
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 19 Aug 2014, 00:51
For GM:

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 19 Aug 2014, 01:18
Misato must have consumed all of it.  She *is* a bit of a lush, after all.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Aug 2014, 07:41
(http://www.quickmeme.com/img/9e/9e464024e58870a53f78d1e31e4a13a2ee47121fee215dc5c807708174d46fdd.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 21 Aug 2014, 10:19
I'm not big into anime but this showed up in my feed and I thought it would be interesting if I popped it in here.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 15 Sep 2014, 18:20
I started watching Attack on Titan yesterday, and I've already watched 14 episodes.. It does have a few problems, like being dramatic to a point of ridiculousness at times, as well as having actions scenes that don't seem to understand the flow of time, but I'm still really drawn into it, and could probably binge the entire season if I had the chance!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 18 Sep 2014, 01:03
Hi folks, internet research is failing me today for some reason so I need some assistance from you please.

The anime club we run for the students consists of them bringing in their own DVDs for us to watch but of course, a lot of anime is massively inappropriate for college consumption. Could anyone please shed some light on whether Hetalia and Fairy Tail would be college appropriate?

In that classic double standard style, violent content isn't necessarily a problem, but sexual content would be more of an issue.

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Sep 2014, 13:56
Both of those should be fine. fairy tail has some fan service.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 18 Sep 2014, 14:31
I have a fast forward button.

The other one they asked about was High School DxD or some shit. A quick Google of that told me no fucking way.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 18 Sep 2014, 15:19
Just watched the first eps of the GitS prequel.  I had high hopes, given that I absolutely adore Ghost in the Shell, and with Maaya Sakamoto as the voice actress, it'd be hard to go wrong.  But I found that the animation was like something out of 1995, and the plot had a "few" inconsistencies with established canon.  Still going to watch the rest, though.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Sep 2014, 15:54
High School DxD? Hah. Hell the fuck no. It's just shy of porn. "ecchi" is the technical term.

Speaking of Ghost in the Shell, the original GitS movies would be good, I'd offer them up with the knowledge there's some risky bits in there (violence, some sexual situations) and get waivers, then require participants to participate in a brief guest lecture from a Philosophy professor on the nature of the soul/transhumanism followed by a round table discussion.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 18 Sep 2014, 15:56
Meh, I'd say give the students a ton of Ghibli as well as some of the better shojō series out there.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Sep 2014, 17:15
They're Uni level students. FORCE THE BRAIN MEATS FOR LEARNINGS!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 18 Sep 2014, 17:36
In Britain, college = high school, not university.

Gareth, you'd definitely be fine with Hetalia. It's goofy.

I'm currently watching two series right now: Sword Art Online II and Legend of the Galactic Heroes (just started season 2). SOA is definitely becoming one of my favorites and LotGH is just a really interesting story. It's complicated and has more characters than A Song of Ice and Fire, but the story is good and I really like how there are very few actual "bad" characters. For a futuristic space drama, it's actually very realistic and thought out. It's kind of a mixture of ASoIaF and Battlestar Galactica. It's older, so the animation isn't my favorite, but I really like the story and the characters/character development.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 18 Sep 2014, 18:46
Meh. Good enough. If they start learning philosophy now they'll be better off.

I love Legend of the Galactic Heroes, I still need to slog through all 110+ episodes...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 18 Sep 2014, 19:44
Yeah, there's a lot of it. And we're breaking it up with happier anime... Except now I don't know what with, as we've finished Chunibyo. (Gareth, if you want something more teen friendly, that's a good one. It's ridiculous, but safe.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 19 Sep 2014, 02:53
I don't actually have a budget to purchase anything with, it's entirely down to what the students want to watch and bring in, which is great, but means I have to filter whatever they bring in.

Violence is usually fine as long as it's not insane, but if someone is passing by and sees fan service shit going on that's when the shit would hit the fan. And the thing is, these students try to mess with me sometimes when it comes to that (there is a character in one of the games we play who is wearing a scanty outfit which is shall we say, very lovingly animated, so I banned anyone from using her. There is one student who has not shut up about this for over a year, and then wonders why I've not picked him to lead any sessions for me), so I have to check everything before we put it on.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 19 Sep 2014, 06:23
What game?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 21 Sep 2014, 20:55
Summer season recap:
So I started watching a gak ton of anime this season, and these are the stand out winners in no particular order along with some surprises.
Aldnoah Zero - Tops for the season, but I'm not supremely enthused for the rest of it.
Hanayamata - Proof that cute girls with decent characterization can make me watch an anime about literally anything, this one's a favorite.
Gakkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girl's Nozaki-kun) Top comedy of the season and a prestigious winner of a 9/10 score from me. I like Shoujo romance so I was going into this expecting exactly that, what I got was a glorious comedy with some truly charming wit and humor about itself around a great cast. Even if it didn't give me the full pay off I wanted romantically... I mean it teased it. But still.
Rokujouma no Shinryakusha (Invaders of the Rokujouma) - Another surprise this season that manages to make the supernautral harem feel much fresher then Bladedance, another piece of evidence that you can stick to form and still make it shine with substance.
Nobunaga Concerto - Holy crap, finally a Sengoku era piece with time travel that does it vaguely right.The animation style remains really rough for me, but I enjoyed it a lot otherwise.
Blade Dance of the Elementalers - Literally a recycling of one of the oldest harem variants known to man complete with all tropes you'd expect of it, Bladedance still managed to be surprisingly not suck. It wasn't a stunner, a little too cliche for that, but it was a lot ofun.
Sageabu - C3: Comedy edition, and in my personal opinion the superior of the two Girls und Airsoft anime.
Akame ga Kill - More. Give. Me. More. Gods DAMNIT.
Sailor Moon Crystal - I'll spare you all more fanboy squeeling.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Sep 2014, 05:45
What game?

BlazBlue.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 22 Sep 2014, 13:44
I have been rereading loads of Junji Ito's work and I forgot how ill it actually makes me feel sometimes. Also reading new stuff I missed before.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: HauntingPoem on 22 Sep 2014, 21:18
Ironically, considering the title of today's comic, I just started watching Ergo Proxy. Pleasantly surprised so far.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 22 Sep 2014, 22:33
I have been giving "Grave of the Fireflies" another watch.  A little too depressing, so I guess I'll need something a little more cheerful.  Not sure whether to go through the rest of my Ghibli collection, or watch some really happy shōjo show on Crunchyroll.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 25 Sep 2014, 06:16

The full OP for Hanayamata complete with a live action music video and cosplay!


For comparison and an excuse to listen to the song again/compare coreography.

There's another one for Invaders of the Rokujouma...


and the normal OP


This kinda makes my day. More live action anime music videos!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 25 Sep 2014, 07:45
Someone at work recognised the Evangelion desktop images on my computer, and said he has the whole series and films - maybe for the first time I have someone to talk about it with in real life!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 25 Sep 2014, 07:51
Has the 3rd installation of the Evangelion remakes come out yet?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 25 Sep 2014, 09:23
I've had the Japanese BD for eighteen months.  The French, Italian Spanish and German dubs came out around last Christmas (some with appalling picture quality, though).  The English dub was screened briefly at that time and scheduled for release last February; but the Japanese blocked it, and have been taking an active part in having the dub revised (we know Spencer rerecorded some stuff in August), and are possibly also going to provide the English subtitles.  There has been no new release date, but recently there was a hint that there would be news about it "soon".
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 25 Sep 2014, 15:14
The trouble with living down here where I am is that there's frak all in the way of Anime available in my local area.  It wasn't always the case, a franchise called The Gamesman used to carry Anime, but EA brought out the franchise and stopped them carrying them.  I've yet to find a new location locally, and I simply can't afford the cost of buying them from overseas.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 25 Sep 2014, 15:36
That's weird, considering you're much closer to Japan than America or England... I mostly stream mine, but I do borrow a lot of DVDs from friends, so I can see how that would really suck not having access to buying it.

There has been no new release date, but recently there was a hint that there would be news about it "soon".

T-T
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 25 Sep 2014, 16:57
Has the 3rd installation of the Evangelion remakes come out yet?
Define "come out".  Officially in English, I don't think so.  Do I have an HD fansub sitting on my computer right now?  Yes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 25 Sep 2014, 17:44
The trouble with living down here where I am is that there's frak all in the way of Anime available in my local area.  It wasn't always the case, a franchise called The Gamesman used to carry Anime, but EA brought out the franchise and stopped them carrying them.  I've yet to find a new location locally, and I simply can't afford the cost of buying them from overseas.

You might want to look into crunchyroll and other on the up and up streaming services Kugai. That might be able to do more for you then purchasing physical copies right now.

That's weird, considering you're much closer to Japan than America or England... I mostly stream mine, but I do borrow a lot of DVDs from friends, so I can see how that would really suck not having access to buying it.

Not too weird when you think about it. Just because a nation is close doesn't mean there's a market enough for an importer to be doing the leg work of bringing product in, or companies interested enough to do their own distribution. America is a MASSIVE market for anime which is why Funimation and other companies do what they do here.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 25 Sep 2014, 19:24
Good point.

Has the 3rd installation of the Evangelion remakes come out yet?
Define "come out".  Officially in English, I don't think so.  Do I have an HD fansub sitting on my computer right now?  Yes.

As in be available on BluRay. Because we were borrowing them from a friend, although I don't think I'd mind adding them to our slowly growing collection.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 25 Sep 2014, 20:00
Well, I was watching in 1080p.  Without giving too much away, awesome beginning and ending, but the middle was a touch slow, given how much had changed/was going on.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 25 Sep 2014, 23:13
I am actually beginning to look into that GM.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 25 Sep 2014, 23:25
I am actually beginning to look into that GM.
In addition to what GM said, there's always using a VPN with a US exit to be able to access the US version of Netflix.  Even if you only get a 6Mbps plan, that'd give you between 720p and 1080p streaming from their library as well, and they have older titles that CR usually doesn't have.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 26 Sep 2014, 00:47
I barely consider the location of  the places I buy anime. I have a number of DVDs that could only be got from Australia, for instance. But the place that is slowest and most expensive shipping to me in the UK is consistently the US.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 26 Sep 2014, 01:41
A mix of both is quite nice. CR has it's free option, though I admittedly pay because I don't like waiting a week for episodes and like supporting the industry.

As an American I'm quite spoiled (that's getting quoted out of context) for anime purchase options. The second hand market is massive, and there's even local places like Rainy Day Anime that carry rare or older pieces, that's of course in addition to conventions.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 13 Oct 2014, 01:28
Watched an episode of Cowboy Bebop in the anime club with the students on Friday. Discovered it's pretty much the best thing ever.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 13 Oct 2014, 02:19
It's an amazing series, the writing, the characters, the soundtrack, etc.  Wolf's Rain was also by the main writer for Bebop, and has the same composer.  And both the creator of Bebop and Yoko Kanno did Kids from the Slope.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Oct 2014, 02:54
Mawaru Penguindrum.  If you don't know it, watch it.  Shouma Takakura is the most tragic figure in all anime, not even excepting Shinji.
(click to show/hide)
Directed and written by the same guy as Utena.

Wolf's Rain doesn't compare with Cowboy Bebop.  It's good, but it's also very badly flawed.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 13 Oct 2014, 03:59
It's an amazing series, the writing, the characters, the soundtrack, etc.  Wolf's Rain was also by the main writer for Bebop, and has the same composer.  And both the creator of Bebop and Yoko Kanno did Kids from the Slope.

The soundtrack is amazing, the animation is fantastic (stylish but doesn't turn me off in the way a lot of anime does), the storyline is compelling, it's not 400 years long so I don't feel like I'm wasting my time getting into it, and it manages to have both dark and funny moments without the wrenching tonal shifts that make me hate Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood more every time I watch it.

It's just fucking awesome, and heavily reminiscent of Transmetropolitan.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 13 Oct 2014, 11:11
I have yet to meet someone who dislikes Cowboy Bebop
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 13 Oct 2014, 13:44
It's the anime gateway drug.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 16 Oct 2014, 20:06
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=124115


Not sure if want...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 17 Oct 2014, 11:44
No.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 17 Oct 2014, 12:25
I loved the GitS anime, and I think it's one of those that could translate to a great movie(s), but likely wont..

Also, about whitewashing.. The story is firmly set in Japan and the locales are very important because of the political plot, so white actors would be pretty odd when considering that. That said, not a single member of the main cast, except maybe Aramaki and Saito look even slightly Japanese to begin with, so..

In general, I think anime/manga adaptions is kind of an odd place to talk about whitewashing, since the whole genre is basically "whitewashed" to begin with..
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Fig on 17 Oct 2014, 12:27
I'm not that worried about Scarlett playing Motoko, since I liked her as Black Widow.  What I'm more concerned about is the adaptation of an anime series into a live action movie.  Historically, that has not worked out very well.  *coughcoughDragonballZcoughcough*  *CoughcoughAvatarthelastairbendercoughcough* (Though this one is technically not an anime)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 17 Oct 2014, 12:31
The Matrix was in it's essential bits a GITS homage and it was live action. If the Wachowski siblings had the helm I'd be more enthusiastic...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 17 Oct 2014, 19:12
It has the director from Snow White and the Huntsman. In which everything except maybe the evil queen completely sucked. MEH. And while I don't mind Johannson as an actress, I don't really see her in that role.

And I agree, if it were being done by people like the Wachowskis, I would be interested.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 17 Oct 2014, 19:44
I think the Russo brothers (The Winter Soldier) could be an interesting choice.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 18 Oct 2014, 14:13
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 20 Oct 2014, 00:16
Fun fact:The main song from the Ghost In the Shell movie is a wedding song. Consider the rest of the movie. Now think that through.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 02 Nov 2014, 08:00
So Caspian Sea Monster and I have been watching Fairy Tail this week. I'm going a bit ship crazy (Gray x Juvia, Nastu x Lisanna, Erza x Jellal). However my favorite ship has no chance because the series seems hell bent on het only. Still, I find Levy Macgarden and Lucy Heartfilia to be a great match not to mention they have the brunt of the "Les Yay" moments in the series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 02 Nov 2014, 11:15
All Macross, all the time. I know nearly as much about biotechnology as I do about Federation warp drive. Only "nearly" because each new Macross series just makes up new stuff.

I like anime, but I am not really a fan. So I'm aware of most of the big names. I know a lot of fans, so I'm generally familiar with plots and characters. But, aside from Cowboy Bebop, I haven't seen much.

Out of boredom and curiosity, I decided to collect Rebuild of Evangelion. I wish I hadn't.

It's like the Matrix. The first is great, the second is not actually bad, but raises a Huge number of questions. The third is a huge let down that taints everything that came before.

Now I'm not saying Rebuild is that, exactly. The first two are awesome. I know enough about the original to know that the first, and first half of the second are basically a retelling. I know all about NGE 25 and 26, so the action on Shinji's walkman in Rebuild caught my eye.

Like the Matrix, 1.0 and 2.0 were fabulous. I'm an action guy, and I was riveted by a pretty cerebral story. I have to wonder, how different was NGE that people have such disdain for Shinji? The kid's in way over his head.

But like I said, I was pretty familiar with what was going down. So when Shinji's walkman flips form program 26 to 27 I perked up.

I'm sure, somewhere in this thread, this has been covered. But this is my brain dump.

The sixth Angel has to be one of the most epic amine mwcha battles of all time. Absolutely the most epic amine battle of any type, in which none of the combatants moves. It's during this scene that Misato became my favorite anime character, ever.

Asuka comes across as fairly unsympathetic. Knowing why she's the way she is let me ignore that, but I can't imagine how she must seem to someone who has no idea what is going on.

I think Shinji probably seems less pathetic to me because this version seems pretty damned proactive before each of his funks. It's easy to see how his father is playing with his head. Or maybe it's just that Gendo  reminds me of my dad. (No, my father is not an evil bastard. Just distant, harsh, and difficult to understand.)

Still Shinji has an aura of pathetic about him, so when he goes super seijin on the tenth angel, I had to stop the movie and reattach my jaw.

Then 3.0 happened. I like to think of it as You Can(not) have young boys in love. The whole thing seems a bit creepy. Kaworu's affection for Shinji might be real, but it is so over the top, and he obviously has an agenda. At the same time, I don't think it was poorly done. Misato and Rei are probably the only people who ever care about Shinji in any sense other than "we need you to save the world." But neither is equipped to show it. Kaworu seems to be all about Shinji. Overall, it worked as a setup for the climax. It's obvious why Shinji is devoted to him. No one else bothered to explain anything to him.

At the end, however, I'm stuck with the same feeling I had at the end of Matrix: Reloaded. A bunch of questions, and the uneasy feeling that there aren't any answers is store. Like what is the deal with Mari, and where did MMisato get those snazzy duds? How in  hell was all of this perfectly in line with Gendo's plan? (And one-eyed Asuka is an awesome thing. At least now she's got a reason to be so prickly. If you were 28 years old in a permanently 14 year old body, you'd be pissed, too. Unless you were Mari, but I wonder if she isn't more like 44.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Nov 2014, 00:58
You're meant to feel like that.  You've been taken out of your role as viewer of awesome and placed squarely in Shinji's shoes, with the confusion and dislocation that comes with simply losing fourteen years and then having more shit piled on top.

We have no idea how this will be resolved, of course, and we just have to wait for the next movie (another year or two).  Meantime, some people have written fanfics that pick up from the end of Q.  The best known is called Reticence, and mine (not quite complete, but approaching the end) is called Afterwards - both can be found at http://www.fanfiction.net (http://www.fanfiction.net) (Reticence has battles; mine is more psychological).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: ReindeerFlotilla on 03 Nov 2014, 12:55
I do feel like it's part of the plan. I just, also, know that the plan--very much like Questionable Content--was not a completed script. I think I would have enjoyed the whole thing more, if I had access to all 4 films when I started.

I definitely understood (an nd agreed with) the storytelling device that made most of 3'0 the story of Shinji's first true love. I knew I was supposed to feel most of what I felt. I guess, if you really boils it down, I was hoping for more insight into the new elements. "Episode 27/28" is still drawing heavily on NGE. The setting has changed, but the major elements haven't. I'm afearred that the minor elements are going to add up to eye candy. I don't mind a mind screwing ending--it wouldn't be Evangelionwithout one. I just want it to be a good one.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 03 Nov 2014, 13:01
Just rewatched 08th MS Team for the first time in years and it's still my favorite Gundam series, or at least my favorite that they brought state side
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 03 Nov 2014, 17:25
08th MS Team is nothing but win, whenever Gundam goes gritty it always turns out well.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Jan 2015, 14:36
Been trying to finish up the Fall season and working through Yosuga no Sora since blitzing through Amagi Brilliant Park in under a day, absolutely charming little anime, with some hilarious bits. (Cute mascot characters talking about their ex-wives, drinking and proclaiming their love for T&A is absolutely hilarious for some reason.)

Yosuga No Sora is... Okay. Kinda weird. Lots of naughty stuff, but very repetitive, not as well designed as other dating sim adaptions that go through the various routes in section. Utena levels of animation reuse, especially in the first episode of each route. Only covers the four main routes, and the maid Makoto in extra episodes that are after the end credits in each episode.

Next on deck? Maken Ki. Which I have been warned about, but it's got what sounds like a decent dub and I want to paint today.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 04 Jan 2015, 19:54
Got a 30 day trial from Crunchyroll so I'm watching Yowapeda and a few others. Also started the Devil is a Part-Timer and it's oddly fun.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 04 Jan 2015, 20:23

Hagure Yuusha no Estetica is the other anime I've been watching. A refreshingly proactive main and some kinda alright character design pushes this generic ecchi piece to a slightly higher grade... but it's still what it is.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 05 Jan 2015, 04:20
So, will I be yelled at if I refer to Avatar as an anime?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Jan 2015, 04:58
Yes...ish?

I dunno. That debate's a bloody and violent one and I'd rather not have it here. Personally I don't consider Avater or Legend of Korra anime, and I like both of those cartoons.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 05 Jan 2015, 05:53
I watched through The Last Airbender and 2/3 of Legend of Korra during the christmas, after seeing all the hype around the series' end.

Personally, I think that if something like Pokémon goes as anime, then Avatar probably should too. I mean, if I didn't know it was western, I would have guessed it was one of those mainstream japanese animes aimed at an international audience.



Anyways, I really liked The Last Airbender. Legend of Korra isn't bad either, but I feel it's a step down. It bothers me that the characters act less mature and drama/conflict/romance is handed more heavy-handed, even though the main cast is older (read: should be more mature). I also liked the adventurous old setting way more than the semi-modern one.

Korra is a pretty great character tho, as long as she's kept away from romance arcs.  :roll:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 05 Jan 2015, 06:16
I watch a decent amount of anime, but dislike most of the communities. I continually try to piss off some of my friends by using incorrect terms for anime's. I do have like 120 or so series watcheetched. I would link my mal account, but I'm writing this on my phone and won't have a comp for a few days. I do know that I'm currently finishing up sao, watching log horizon as they come out and the last really good anime I remember finishing was terror in Tokyo.

some comments on the anime some people just posted.

estetica was okay. I liked the premis, it just  didnt seem to go anywhere really... so exactly like most of those types of anime iI guess...

the devil is a part timer was one of my favorite comedies after baka and test and that one anime with all dick joKes that im blanking on atm. Im on vacation and need something to watch in between things, im thinking the new psychopass?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Jan 2015, 12:42
I picked up Tsukimonogatari last weekend, and enjoyed it as much as I had expected to (that's to say, a great deal); reminded myself of Hanamonogatari while I was at it.

the last really good anime I remember finishing was terror in Tokyo.

Do you mean Terror in Resonance?  I liked it, but it was patchy and could have been so much better if the plot had a more sensible starting point.

Quote
im thinking the new psychopass?

I'm seeing a lot of negative comments about this; just saying (I haven't watched it).

So, will I be yelled at if I refer to Avatar as an anime?

Do you wish to use the word anime as the Japanese do, or as Western otaku do?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 05 Jan 2015, 13:47
Well, I'm not from Japan.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 05 Jan 2015, 14:05
Korra is a pretty great character tho, as long as she's kept away from romance arcs.  :roll:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lFGlmhjpg
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 05 Jan 2015, 16:34
Do you mean Terror in Resonance?  I liked it, but it was patchy and could have been so much better if the plot had a more sensible starting point.

Yer Kidding!  I actually thought the mystery in the beginning was doing the series a favor, since the plot itself wasn't as interesting as it could have been. 

When they introduced Five, the story took a turn downhill.

Still, the production quality and OST was so fantastic, that it balanced it out for a while.  There were times where the background music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aec-m2ykclw) was so intriguing that I lost track of what was happening.  Plus it had one of the most iconic scenes of the year. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EESmhoYXkbo)


Is anyone watching Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso or Parasyte? 
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 05 Jan 2015, 16:45
Yeah, that's the one I meant and I agree with David, I hated 5 So much, not because she was the antagonist, but mostly because her character made no sense.

and i did start ppsycho pass 2. I am kinda having a hard time remembering things from the last season, but I do know this season does not have my favorite two characters so its already not as good.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Jan 2015, 19:00
I'm overly excited for Kantai Collection... that might be added to my cute girls doing war stuff
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Jan 2015, 19:29
As much as I love Avatar, it is not anime. It originated in the US and did not come from Japan, so it can't be anime, since I think anime specifically refers to Japanese animation. Which is a good thing, because I get the feeling that if Japan had done it, it wouldn't be as...innocent...as it is. I don't really think innocent is the right word, but I feel like it would have been HELLA depressing or really weird somehow. Because that's anime for you!

---

Also, Anohana is possibly the SADDEST THING EVER. Holy shit. It made my husband cry and I have never seen him cry from watching something. We're having a hard time picking a new series to watch because he doesn't want to watch something "with that many feels" so soon after watching that one.

So we're continuing our adventure through Legend of the Galactic Heroes. (Julian just got sent off to Phezzan.) I want something silly to watch that is available on Hulu, as Netflix has the shittiest selection of anime outside of what I've already seen. Something upbeat or just plain ridiculous along the lines of Chuunibyo, FLCL, Gurren Lagann, or Kill la Kill. Don't care if it's violent, so long as it's silly and not depressing as fuck.  Any recommendations?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 05 Jan 2015, 19:35
Please, there's plenty of "innocent" anime out there.  Many shōjo films and series count.  And yes, I'm using the term "anime" to describe Japanese animation only, and not that of other countries, even if they're in the same style.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Neko_Ali on 05 Jan 2015, 19:41
As has been pointed out before, anime isn't a genre or a style. It's the Japanese term for animation, basically. Everything from bad, crudely done children's shows to romantic dramas, historical pieces to science fiction and fantasy has been done as anime. It can't be called a style anymore than you could call everything made in an American movie studio the same genre.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 05 Jan 2015, 20:03
As much as I love Avatar, it is not anime. It originated in the US and did not come from Japan, so it can't be anime, since I think anime specifically refers to Japanese animation. Which is a good thing, because I get the feeling that if Japan had done it, it wouldn't be as...innocent...as it is. I don't really think innocent is the right word, but I feel like it would have been HELLA depressing or really weird somehow. Because that's anime for you!

---

Also, Anohana is possibly the SADDEST THING EVER. Holy shit. It made my husband cry and I have never seen him cry from watching something. We're having a hard time picking a new series to watch because he doesn't want to watch something "with that many feels" so soon after watching that one.

So we're continuing our adventure through Legend of the Galactic Heroes. (Julian just got sent off to Phezzan.) I want something silly to watch that is available on Hulu, as Netflix has the shittiest selection of anime outside of what I've already seen. Something upbeat or just plain ridiculous along the lines of Chuunibyo, FLCL, Gurren Lagann, or Kill la Kill. Don't care if it's violent, so long as it's silly and not depressing as fuck.  Any recommendations?

I suggest Non Non Byori. It's free on Crunchy Roll for sure. Trigger Warning: Max Diabeetus.


I would make the argument that outside of Japan, anime is commonly used as slang to identify Japanese animation as a group. Scholars who study Japanese pop culture roll with this slang usage even. Yes it's casting a wide net, but if I mention a new show to you as an anime, you will have a better idea about what I'm talking about then if I just mention a new cartoon without using the slang to identify that particular origin. Yes it is slang and not the correct in country/in language use of the word, but that does not mean it's incorrect.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 06 Jan 2015, 14:01
Quote
So we're continuing our adventure through Legend of the Galactic Heroes. (Julian just got sent off to Phezzan.) I want something silly to watch that is available on Hulu, as Netflix has the shittiest selection of anime outside of what I've already seen. Something upbeat or just plain ridiculous along the lines of Chuunibyo, FLCL, Gurren Lagann, or Kill la Kill. Don't care if it's violent, so long as it's silly and not depressing as fuck.  Any recommendations?

Silly and not depressing.  Gintama or Daily Lives of High School Boys.  Both are highly entertaining, however, Gintama is a long running show so you'll likely never really finish it.  It is consistently entertaining, mocks anime tropes, and has silly scenes like this (https://www.tumblr.com/video/wrennymod/101369766624/400/).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Jan 2015, 15:53
I hear Princess Princess is funny. You can find out more yourself. Muwahahah.

There's always Haruhi.

My Choices Are Interfering With My High School Romantic Comedy was amusing to some extent. Needed a bit more funny.

Good Luck Girl is a solid comedy that I adore, and it has a good dub which is always nice.

The recently mentioned Amagi Brilliant Park has some dramatic moments, but it's mostly just hijinks.

Those Who Hunt Elves is hilarious

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10898274_637494543063802_2010341198872598699_n.jpg?oh=d4b384c5586721b274ede3f0b1870f9a&oe=553D19C4&__gda__=1429727512_f82af67c93e867f54281b22fe0411ec4)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 06 Jan 2015, 17:58
Word floating around there's going to be a live action GiTS


Scarlette Johanssen (sp?) has been linked to it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Jan 2015, 18:33
Yeah the rumor's been confirmed.

My fanboy rage has been awakened lol.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 06 Jan 2015, 20:16
The Major is NOT a woman you wanna piss off


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tj7HTGjAKk
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Jan 2015, 21:35
Uh huh. I just wish they'd picked an actress who wasn't so... flat. ScarJo's pretty, but I haven't ever seen her in a role with the sheer emotional complexity to portray Major Kusanagi... yes, she's a hardcore, capable badass, but the character is quite introspective and deep, which is what makes GiTS so interesting in the first place. The Major is a vehicle to carry us to some deep philosophical themes, making the major more shallow will only serve to make those themes more shallow, which has the potential to result in an action movie with a Ghost In the Shell coat of paint, but none of what makes it the long running epic it is now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 06 Jan 2015, 21:39
You're kidding yourself if you think the movie is going to be anything but action and the occasional explanatory scene.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 06 Jan 2015, 21:53
GitS shell is going to fail because of the writing and editing, not because of the casting :(
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 06 Jan 2015, 22:27
It can fail for all three! and beyond!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 07 Jan 2015, 00:19
I will say i tried Ghost in the Shell so very hard, but the story was so confusing from the start that I could never get myself into it. It's still on my to watch list so hopefully I can get the attention span someday.

Did finish A Certain Magical Index 2... was.... below average. Too many noticable plotholes, ridiculous coincidences and dues ex machina type moments. The Misaka clones are still awesome though.


Oh, thought, my current favorite anime is still listed as Requiem for the Phantom, everyone has called me dumb.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 07 Jan 2015, 00:45
I am currently staying up in a bid to earn myself a Kantai Collection server spot >.>;
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 07 Jan 2015, 13:47
I will say i tried Ghost in the Shell so very hard, but the story was so confusing from the start that I could never get myself into it.

Understandable.  It does explain things as it goings further on.

I mean, it could be worse.  It could be the plot to Neon Genesis Evangelion, where the writers themselves don't exactly know what's going on.  Oh God, I hate that series.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 07 Jan 2015, 14:10
I also just have a lot of trouble watching many of the popular, long-running series such as Naruto. I can't get into them and the MC always seems to be my least favorite character (blah blah, doing what's right no matter what, blah blah, girls like me but I can never tell). What I mean is they all seem be overly cliche'd, but I guess that's what makes money. I ranted about stuff that didn't really have to do with GihS... hmm...

I definitely want to try Ghost in the Shell again because so many people seem to love it; I think I just need to get over that initial hump.

In the meantime, having finished A Certain Magical Index 2, I'm onto A Certain Scientific Railgun 2. I may put that on hold to finish the other series that I have on hold though (I have like, 15 "currently watching" shows on MAL account, I'm going to forget the stories for each of them soon...)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 07 Jan 2015, 15:09
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Jan 2015, 01:04
Do you mean Terror in Resonance? [...] could have been so much better if the plot had a more sensible starting point.

Yer Kidding! [...] the plot itself wasn't as interesting as it could have been.

Um, I think we are agreeing, actually.  I just didn't go into specifics.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Jan 2015, 01:11
We're having a hard time picking a new series to watch because he doesn't want to watch something "with that many feels" so soon after watching that one.  [...]  Something upbeat or just plain ridiculous along the lines of Chuunibyo, FLCL, Gurren Lagann, or Kill la Kill. Don't care if it's violent, so long as it's silly and not depressing as fuck.  Any recommendations?

Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family).  Not dubbed, but an easy watch.

I like the whole -monogatari series - but that is more divisive (exploration of teenage sexuality, very verbally based which makes keeping up with the subtitles really hard - I can't see it ever being dubbed).  Starts with Bakemonogatari, and becomes really controversial for some with Nisimonogatari.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 08 Jan 2015, 15:48
Korra is a pretty great character tho, as long as she's kept away from romance arcs.  :roll:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lFGlmhjpg

Ok, I just finished the last season today. I'll admit the ending was pretty sweet! Maybe there was a reason the romantic arcs were awkward and heavy-handed..   :lol:

...

On a related note, is it officially 100 % confirmed that there will not be another Avatar series?

..'cause, y'know, I would probaly watch that!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 09 Jan 2015, 12:46
and becomes really controversial for some with Nisimonogatari.

I'm guessing you're referencing the toothbrush scene?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 10 Jan 2015, 05:36
That's the culmination, but it's not as though that comes out of the blue.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 10 Jan 2015, 06:04
Evangelion is better with Cuban Pete (http://moonjellybeans.tumblr.com/post/74432127331/ohcorny-ohcorny-so-last-night-i-was-saying)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: GarandMarine on 11 Jan 2015, 21:45
Junketsu no Maria is another good anime to watch this season.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 16 Jan 2015, 23:48
My picks for the winter season :

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 17 Jan 2015, 13:32
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/a467002c5deb7e6c33530dd728c9ac88/tumblr_n3ua4uO16z1s5sgjao1_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 17 Jan 2015, 17:29
She needs to look more angry!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 31 Jan 2015, 14:47
I just blew a large portion of my paycheck and bought the entirety of Cardcaptor Sakura. Worth it, I have been wanting to rewatch this for years.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 31 Jan 2015, 14:54
I'm rewatching Attack On Titan with my partner and it's so fun watching it with someone who's totally unprepared.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 31 Jan 2015, 15:03
I recently watched Vision of EscaFlowne (series, not the film), and it went straight into my top five.  Very highly recommended.  Parallels with Evangelion in the way that one protagonist in effect gets to choose the fate of the world.

Now watching Beast Player Erin (Kemono no Souja Erin).  In some respects it's basically a children's anime, but it deals with pretty serious ideas about man and animals.  It's beautiful to watch, all pastels and watercolours.  It starts really slow (it's based on the same books that an on-going manga series is based on, but the anime take seven episodes to reach a point that is part of the first chapter of the manga!), but that's because of gently meticulous world-building.  After the trauma of episodes 6 and 7 (if you keep a dry eye, you're just plain hard-hearted) the pace picks up - but it's never fast moving even so.  Still, the story, the characters, the telling, are all really engaging, and it's going to be only the second four-cour series that I'll have watched complete, the first being FMA (OK third, 'cos I watched both versions of FMA).  If you've got the time, and a degree of patience, don't hesitate.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 31 Jan 2015, 15:20
I have no idea what's going on with this coming season. Haven't been paying any attention and my to watch list is already really long.... any shows that I HAVE to add to my list this season?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 31 Jan 2015, 18:03
Paul, Escaflowne was one of the first anime I ever watched and it's still one of my favorites. The mecha designs are by far the best IMO.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 01 Feb 2015, 00:53
I have no idea what's going on with this coming season. Haven't been paying any attention and my to watch list is already really long.... any shows that I HAVE to add to my list this season?

Death Parade is fun. 

Parasyte and Your Lie in April are both good this season, but are 2nd cour shows from last season.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 01 Feb 2015, 03:11
and it's going to be only the second four-cour series that I'll have watched complete

A sidetrack here, but what does four-cour mean?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Feb 2015, 08:23
One cour is a thirteen (or so) week season.  Most series are a multiple of 12 or 13 episodes. Erin is 50 episodes, so four cours.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 01 Feb 2015, 09:36
Ah, ok!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 01 Feb 2015, 11:57
I never heard it put that way, but that makes sense seeing as every show pretty much follows that pattern (or is 6 episodes for 50 minutes each or something).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Feb 2015, 11:36
If anyone here likes jazz (or just music in general really), good details in animation, and friendship stories, I highly recommend Kids on the Slope. It's 12 episodes long and is a really good story. I enjoyed it immensely.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: DavidGrohl on 05 Feb 2015, 11:57
I never heard it put that way, but that makes sense seeing as every show pretty much follows that pattern (or is 6 episodes for 50 minutes each or something).

I'm not trying to be pedantic or anything, but more specifically, a cour refers to a single season of shows.  By season, I mean of the four seasons. 

There is a spring, summer, fall, and winter season for animes.  Thus it's possible that a four cour show could be a year long show with 12 episodes total. 

It is typically 12-13 episodes per cour, though there are many exceptions.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: hedgie on 05 Feb 2015, 17:16
If anyone here likes jazz (or just music in general really), good details in animation, and friendship stories, I highly recommend Kids on the Slope. It's 12 episodes long and is a really good story. I enjoyed it immensely.

Seconded.  And hardly surprising with Yoko Kanno behind the music, and Shinichiro Watanabe (also of Bebop fame) were responsible.  The two are quite a good teem to have on a show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Feb 2015, 12:53
I recently finished Beast Player Erin. I could say much more, but really all that needs to be said is that it's marvellous. Yes, it can be slow, and repetitive. But like a Bruckner symphony the cumulative effect is that it builds and builds, inexorably. Just watch it, and your patience will be rewarded.  Oh, and it's beautiful.  And the repetitions are structural, not padding; often the different context throws a new light on them.  Did I say: watch it?



I've said a lot of rude things about Death Note at various times, but people continue to like it.  So I thought I'd give it another chance by watching the films.  I've stopped barely half-way in to the first one, as the more compressed story-telling of the film format just emphasises all the things I didn't like before.  The character of Light is obnoxious from the start, and the story built around him shows no signs of using him to teach us something about the bad side of humanity to justify the series's existence.



In my lunch break today I rewatched Pupa - the whole of it, as it's only 36 minutes (37 with a single OP and ED).  I liked it as much now as when I first saw it, and no less for having read the manga (which has more detail and explanation to the story, but doesn't really add anything essential).  People criticised it for being so brief, but I think the compression only focusses the mind more; I can't imagine it done with even as few as six full-size episodes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 11 Feb 2015, 13:32
I can honestly say ive never liked many anime films. They either take too much stuff out so it misses the point or they feel rushed or generic. Having finished over 100 series may have made me jaded though, everything is kind of just blending into each other. Or at least the anime that were made for younger generations in mind, I dont think ive liked anything that didnt have a mature rating lately.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 11 Feb 2015, 15:40
I don't like Death Note either, Paul. Light is freaking annoying.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 12 Feb 2015, 01:21
We've been watching Future Diary in the club with the students. It's pretty good so here's a direct transcription of an episode for you:
(click to show/hide)

The ineffective hero is one of my least favourite tropes in anime, but this guy? As much use as a fart in a wind tunnel.

Aside from that, I love the concept and story so far for the most part, not a huge fan of the animation (I rarely am in this genre) but it does a good job balancing the irreverence from the darkness.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 12 Feb 2015, 01:25
I really liked that show (had to look it up, that's one of the few shows I actually only know from the Japanese name). It's weird and psychotic. Lot's of death. The MC is stereo-typically useless.

But, it's dark, suspenseful, creepy as fuck (in the sense you just GOT TO KNOW WHY THE FUCK) and sometimes funny. I believe I gave it a 9 outta 10.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 12 Feb 2015, 04:17
I originally watched Future Diary/Mirai Nikki at the same time as Death Note.  Given that Death Note seems to have retained more popularity, I sometimes wonder why I have the opposite view.

In fact, I dropped Death Note without finishing it, and did the same recently on an attempt to rewatch it, whereas I've watched Mirai Nikki more than once.  Both have a plot which is ultimately pretty silly; both are as full of plot holes as a pin-cushion.  The difference for me is in how this is handled.  Death Note tries to take itself seriously, but actually gives you no reason to enjoy the company of the obnoxious idiot which is Light; nor is there anything that causes the viewer to think about the morality of what's going on - it's stuffy, humourless without being serious.  Mirai Nikki, on the other hand, throws the protagonist, Yukki, into a life and death situation which he would not have chosen, and for a while shows his conflict over it; but admittedly this only goes so far - the real difference is that Mirai Nikki just has more heart, more imagination, more variety, more humour, and more characters that have at least something likeable about them.  I have no embarrassment about clearly preferring Mirai Nikki to Death Note.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 18 Feb 2015, 08:58
I liked Future Diary. It's completely messed up and Yuuki is crazy, but it's a sympathetic type? I don't really know how to say it. She's a complete psychopath, but you find out why and it's completely out of her control. (Saying why is a major spoiler, so I won't.) But Light is some normal kid who becomes crazy because he gets addicted to the power of killing whoever he chooses. Yuuki kills people because she's already messed up and thrown into a situation where she doesn't really have a choice. So yeah.

In other news, I've got a cold so I stayed home from work and I'm finally starting to watch Cardcaptor Sakura. I love how the little spotlight Kero does at the end of the episode is basically a guideline for how to recreate Sakura's costumes. Like...he tells you what materials are used. Hooray for cosplay.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 25 Mar 2015, 19:44
Watched some episodes of One Piece, and the production value of the first season is beyond horrible. There's like 5 min of animated scenes per 24 minute episode.. I hope this get noticeably better in later seasons?!?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 26 Mar 2015, 18:28
Watching Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory for the first time since it was on Toonami, mainly since it has my favorite mobile suit:
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/5/51/Rx-78gp02a.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121114194544)
So far everything is still as good as I remember, except for the overly 80's music at the beginning and end.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: valkygrrl on 26 Mar 2015, 19:23
Watching Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory for the first time since it was on Toonami, mainly since it has my favorite mobile suit:
(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/5/51/Rx-78gp02a.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121114194544)
So far everything is still as good as I remember, except for the overly 80's music at the beginning and end.

I spent most of 1994 with a big crush on Gato.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 27 Mar 2015, 18:36
Though the pink explosions are kind of weird
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 28 Mar 2015, 05:40
So holy shit Future Diary got dark.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 28 Mar 2015, 13:56
So holy shit Future Diary got dark.

What, did you already get to episode 2?  :-P
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 28 Mar 2015, 14:37
Finished Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. I never realized the broader implications of what the series meant at the time they showed it, mainly a power grab by the military to get more power. Now on to Gundam Wing
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Mar 2015, 15:42
So holy shit Future Diary got dark.

Keep going!  :wink:



Anyway, in other news, I just finshed X.  An interesting series; lots of good stuff, but not entirely convincing.  On the one hand, the emphasis on character development rather than plot was refreshing and led to some really good episodes; but on the other, even though the ending worked the pacing of the plot leading up to it was poorly handled.  I find it hard to give it a single score, so I won't.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: valkygrrl on 28 Mar 2015, 21:13
Finished Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. I never realized the broader implications of what the series meant at the time they showed it, mainly a power grab by the military to get more power. Now on to Gundam Wing

Not that I understood it at the time either especially with my introduction being here you should watch this and then sitting though all of it on VHS tapes from Hong Kong--with the only subtitles being in Chinese. Still enjoyed it. Backfired on me later when the same person gave me Urotsukidōji to watch.... that ended the friendship. Spaceships robots and attractive pilot with a dark past but he's good inside and I can change him yes, tentacle rape no.

0083 was made to bridge the gap between the already released Mobile Suit Gundam and Z Gundam shows. I'd recommend going that route instead of jumping to the alternate universe Gundam Wing. Or you could do more fill-in with 0080.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 29 Mar 2015, 01:15
0080 is the best of Gundam, for my money.

Anyway, now I'm settling down to watch Monster.  Bear with me - I may be some time...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 29 Mar 2015, 05:16
Finished Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. I never realized the broader implications of what the series meant at the time they showed it, mainly a power grab by the military to get more power. Now on to Gundam Wing

Not that I understood it at the time either especially with my introduction being here you should watch this and then sitting though all of it on VHS tapes from Hong Kong--with the only subtitles being in Chinese. Still enjoyed it. Backfired on me later when the same person gave me Urotsukidōji to watch.... that ended the friendship. Spaceships robots and attractive pilot with a dark past but he's good inside and I can change him yes, tentacle rape no.

0083 was made to bridge the gap between the already released Mobile Suit Gundam and Z Gundam shows. I'd recommend going that route instead of jumping to the alternate universe Gundam Wing. Or you could do more fill-in with 0080.

Oh no, I'm watching them for nostalgia's sake. I do have Zeta Gundam too, but Gundam Wing is due back first so I'm frantically watching it.I tried watching the original Gundam condensed into the 3 movies, but unfortunately it was all in japanese so I couldn't watch it in the background.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 29 Mar 2015, 08:14
So holy shit Future Diary got dark.

What, did you already get to episode 2?  :-P

Seriously. That one is not for the faint of heart and is probably by far the most fucked up series I've watched. (Parts of Full Metal Alchemist are close behind, though.) That said, I did enjoy it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 29 Mar 2015, 11:25
Most fucked up? Hmm, the only ones that I can think of that I'd put up there with Future Diary are Elden Lied, Rin, and umm.... yupp, that's it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 30 Mar 2015, 06:56
Future Diary really does a pretty shitty job of making me sympathise with Yukki. Basically everyone else seems to have more motivation for becoming a god, and more tragic back stories. Doesn't help that he's a useless bellend the majority of the time.

As for Fullmetal, I only watched maybe 15 episodes of it, and it gets dark, but it irritated me because of its wrenching tonal shifts.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Mar 2015, 07:07
Future Diary really does a pretty shitty job of making me sympathise with Yukki. Doesn't help that he's a useless bellend the majority of the time.

Well, it's precisely the fact that he gets completely jerked around by everyone else that gets my sympathy!

Quote
As for Fullmetal, I only watched maybe 15 episodes of it, and it gets dark, but it irritated me because of its wrenching tonal shifts.

Which version of FMA?  I know that you are not alone in commenting on the tonal shifts (which are fine by me, as it happens) - but I think they're materially more marked in Brotherhood than in the original.  Either way, they do originate from the manga.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 30 Mar 2015, 07:09
Yes, I should state it was Brotherhood I was referring to.

And honestly I dislike Yukki so much I pretty much enjoy watching bad things happen to him  :psyduck:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 31 Mar 2015, 08:31
I didn't care about Yuki at all. I started to have some sympathy for Yuno towards the end, but not really much for Yuki. I think I felt the most sympathy for his friends.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 31 Mar 2015, 13:56
That's the fun thing about that show. You kinda want everyone to die.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 27 Apr 2015, 07:28
If you want the deaths to pile up remorselessly, Monster is the show for you...

I've just been to Cuba on holiday.  The two long-haul flights, plus some siestas, gave me the opportunity to finish Monster, all 74 episodes of it.  Now that is one heavy-weight show.  If at times it starts to feel slow, rest assured that it will not feel that way by the next episode.  There are so many plot lines and characters which come and go, and all gradually link up, that I can't imagine watching it weekly - it just has to be marathoned so that you can get your head round it.  And it is gripping right to the end, though the ending (resolution is not the word) is not as dramatic as I expected.  Also, I think it would have been better to have left it without the twist in the last fifteen seconds.  I don't get why only the first 15 episodes were released on DVD in the US - to get the whole show I had to buy the Australian release (which is no more trouble these days, of course).

And I will probably never be able to mention Monster without reminding people that Dieter is awesome!

Dieter:
(https://cassland.org/images/dieterness.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 27 Apr 2015, 10:34
Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventures.  Any good?  Worth looking up? My only exposure to it has been the Fabulous Custodes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9w_uoUHgiE) in the "If the Emperor had a text to speech device" and that one panel from Clinton's date.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 28 Apr 2015, 10:58
Watching Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and, despite how old it is, I really like it. And the intro music is amazing

Though Quattro Bajeena's attire is pretty questionable
(http://www.gundamcore.it/wp-content/uploads/quattro-bajeena-dynasty-warriors-gundam-3.jpg)

Got the Cowboy Bebop complete collection from the library and I got to this episode
(http://40.media.tumblr.com/c005368dbd1cd30cf587fdc5f69edc3e/tumblr_nn39zjz11V1rg2it2o1_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 01 May 2015, 05:42
So, Future Diary!

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 May 2015, 06:05
(click to show/hide)

Just you wait!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 02 May 2015, 13:24
What Paul said.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 08 May 2015, 04:05
I watched Bayonetta: Bloody Fate and I was pretty disappointed that it was an anime retelling of the first game instead of it's own thing.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 May 2015, 09:21
I've just watched the 1985 film Night on the Galactic Railroad, a somewhat child-oriented film about handling death which is cited as a major influence on the series Marawu Penguindrum.  I enjoyed the style, and the extended farewell aspect of the journey; but in the end the religious content spoiled it for me.  The film as a whole came over as proselytising, which I don't want; in any case (if you care), the religious viewpoint is unsound - at least as seen from within from the catholic and orthodox tradition which I was brought up in.  So I would not recommend it unless you're prepared to make a very clear demarcation in your mind between the style and the content.

If you want a film that explores what might happen when your protagonist gets to face God directly, watch Mindgame instead.  Heck, watch Mindgame anyway if you haven't (and Mawaru Penguindrum too).

Incidentally, you can read a rather detailed account of the links between Night on the Galactic Railroad and Mawaru Penguindrum here (http://animeintrospection.tumblr.com/post/95031165258/night-on-the-galactic-railroad-or-the-apple-the) (a strange page - don't click it to find the text, but scroll down).  Note in particular that the two boys walking past at the start and end of Penguindrum are actually discussing NotGR, mentioning one character and the author by name.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 13 May 2015, 14:09
Have you ever seen Defending Your Life?

A very interesting take on 'Life After Death'
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 May 2015, 15:48
Never heard of it - I'll look it out (not anime, though, I see).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 13 May 2015, 19:03
No, but it is an interesting film.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 20 May 2015, 02:22
So we finished Future Diary. The last episode was hugely anticlimactic, so we watched the OWA which... was just a shitload of fanservice in every sense.

(click to show/hide)

Fuck it, man. It was so, so, so good until then. Best anime I've seen outside of Bebop. Kinda feel like I wasted my time a little bit.

Oh well.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 20 May 2015, 02:42
Heh!  I wonder if it's actually something about the nature of Japanese story-telling itself, rather than individual animes, because complaints about the endings are so, so common in the West.  Clannad is another example in some people's eyes (I'm prepared to justify that ending); also RahXephon.  Loads of examples, in fact.

For the perfect bitter-sweet ending to a romance story, go to Honey and Clover.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 21 May 2015, 00:47
I'm currently watching Nagi Asu, and as I usually do, I have also been reading reviews and criticisms concurrently.  Apparently (though I have yet to see for myself) the work ends with a restoration of the status quo ante in many respects, and rather than embracing change, the characters are shown to be comfortable with that.

This seems parallel again with reset endings, and strengthens my idea that Japanese society values long-term stability above change and development, and so actively prefers endings that represent that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 25 May 2015, 08:32
(http://36.media.tumblr.com/19989b987c41fde412f36da3f5080115/tumblr_note7rZ1jZ1uvs9q0o1_1280.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 25 May 2015, 11:27
I've seen very good reviews of that, though it doesn't really appeal to me.

After Nagi Asu I started on Yuuki Yuuna - but I've dropped it after two episodes as I found it as boring as Sailor Moon - neither is a patch on Madoka Magica!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 14 Jun 2015, 15:32
Just finished the Tale of Princess Kaguya and it was alright. The art direction is amazing as any other Ghibli film, but overall the plot was pretty boring and seem to drag on for awhile.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Jul 2015, 00:10
I like to stir things up a bit sometimes (copied from elsewhere, where it did)...


Quote
Hey, there’s always School Days
Quote from: pwhodges
I'll pass, thanks.

Well, if you know me at all, you'll understand that I don't like to leave things unresolved...  A little research on School Days showed me that it divides opinion more widely than most shows. I found that reviews of it are more varied than those for almost any other series;  The Nihon Review has no less than three separate reviews of it with scores of 4, 6, and 8 (out of 10), while Them Anime Reviews gives it its minimum one star.  So obviously I had no choice but to watch it myself, which curiously I did not regret.  I now understand the variation in the reviews quite well; it's not easy to judge.  My conclusion is that it's often misunderstood, and I think it is subverting itself so hard that some people just don't get it.

There are many kinds of lies; but the worst, in the end, are those you tell yourself.  A collective madness engulfs pretty much the entire cast by the last couple of episodes, but it is their lies to themselves that lead to the ultimate tragedy for each of them.  Of those main players it is Makoto Itou, in spite of the bad press he gets, whose lies are the ones least motivated by malice, or at least a desire to manipulate; that doesn't help him, though.  Yes, he is weak and indecisive - but are we all as strong as we like to think?  Remember that the girls are all after him because he is perceived as a good guy, and we are told this repeatedly.

Anyway, people who start this looking for a SoL high-school harem anime are rather in the same position as those who start Evangelion hoping for a giant robot show; they will discover in time how wrong they were.  And by the end realism has long gone out of the window; but that's not the point - the extremity of what happens is just a way of getting across the message of the damage that can be done by lies.  Of course, I'm not pretending this is at the level of Eva; but it's a good solid show none the less - mostly.  Some details let it down: The first few episodes are somewhat undistinctive, for instance; I hated the post-credits ending, as well - floating into the sea at the end was quite enough, and like EoE didn't attempt to sugar-coat anything.  And I loved the music - nine EDs in 12 episodes!

I haven't watched the OVAs, and I'm not sure I want to.  My understanding is that they follow different paths from the VN, and so don't really tie in.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 20 Jul 2015, 01:01
As a critic, I've always approached a review from the perspective of 'who is this for, and would they like it?' Anything else can be bordering on irrelevant, but is just the sweetener to add to the crux of the review.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Jul 2015, 01:40
But it's not only "who is it for", but "why was it written for them to watch" - which doesn't always have the obvious answer.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 20 Jul 2015, 04:20
That is absolutely relevant, just not always to every review in my eyes, particularly because the answer a lot of the time is 'to sell shitloads of it' or 'because our last album failed so we're recycling old ideas.' I mean to be fair the latter reason is absolutely relevant.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 01 Aug 2015, 15:13
Okay, so I watched the first 3 episodes of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders and its...well...bizarre.

Imagine street fighter but with psychic/spirit beings controlled like pokemon in a pokemon battle by flamboyant people out to kill Dracula.  I will say the story is more interesting than the characters who are pretty bland at this point...especially the main protagonist.  The english dub is enjoyably terrible.  I really wish they had someone with character to voice him instead of a bland almost monotone dude.

(http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/664/583/f69.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 31 Aug 2015, 01:40
So I've been doing research for an article on positive trans representation in anime and manga. This has led me to one of the more interesting series I have ever seen. Ixion Saga DT. A series commissioned by Capcom to promote the Ixion Saga game. Caspian Sea Monster described it as Monty Python does a fantasy anime. The trans woman in the show Marian is actually rather well done, but with a few sore points that prevent her from being a truly great representative. Still, it was nice to see a genuinely badass and cute trans character who was not given an excuse for transitioning beyond "I wanted to". I recommend the series to anyone who is into irreverence for the usual fantasy tropes.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: philharmonic on 01 Sep 2015, 14:11
Just in case anyone cares here's what I've been watching lately:

Aoharu x Machinegun: basically Ouran Host Club meets Sabagebu (I like because trap reminds me of Amanda Bynes)

Charlotte: i donno Minority reportish (mc is kinda siscon)

Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma: Food porn that gives hints on how to (like the tasting reactions)

Himouto! Umaru-chan: lil sis transforms into adorable animal brat (*gushes* cuteness overload)

Monster Musume: H game made into an anime (yeah it's that bad but I like it)

My Love Story: sweet (my waifu watches this with me)

My Wife is the Student Council Pres: short episodes (like that there are 2 versions for each episode well worth watching to compare them both)

Wagnaria!!: Is this what goes on at Dennys?! (funny and cute sometimes)

All of these are available to watch on Crunchyroll so perhaps on another post I'll list my pics for stuff on Funimation
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Sep 2015, 15:00
My Love Story: sweet

This is curious.  It's utterly predictable fluff, well beyond the point of being boring - and yet... it's just so nice that it still draws me in every time.  It's almost embarrassing, but I refuse to feel ashamed of it!



Anyway, I have just watched the little-known series Infinite Ryvius.  What can I say?  If you are interested in Evangelion (and even if you are not) then you owe it to yourself to watch this.  Many similar themes are covered (childhood trauma, facing the past, finding a way forward), though the reactions of the protagonists to their childhood traumas are different from their Evangelion parallels, and their resolutions are correspondingly different.  The production is almost flawless, in that the pacing is maintained perfectly up to a nicely judged and satisfying ending - no budget or timing problems here, nor uncertainty about what the ending means.  Maybe this means that Evangelion still has the edge in tension, but this is clearly the closest thing to it that I have seen.  Animation is good where it counts, and never less than adequate.

People generally compare it with The Lord of the Flies, because it depicts the breakdown of a society of isolated children, but I think the Evangelion comparison is more useful.

But forget analysis - as I said above, watch it!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 01 Sep 2015, 16:47
I almost forgot to mention, I recently watched Kyoukai no Kanata. Interesting work. It's a story dealing with social outcasts set against the backdrop of a hidden world of mages and monsters in modern times. The two main characters are a guy with a fetish for glasses and a girl who can use her blood as a weapon.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 02 Sep 2015, 06:54
Anyone have any anime horror recommendations? The gorier the better. Psychological is good too.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: philharmonic on 02 Sep 2015, 07:14
My Love Story: sweet

This is curious.  It's utterly predictable fluff, well beyond the point of being boring - and yet... it's just so nice that it still draws me in every time.  It's almost embarrassing, but I refuse to feel ashamed of it!



Anyway, I have just watched the little-known series Infinite Ryvius.  What can I say?  If you are interested in Evangelion (and even if you are not) then you owe it to yourself to watch this.  Many similar themes are covered (childhood trauma, facing the past, finding a way forward), though the reactions of the protagonists to their childhood traumas are different from their Evangelion parallels, and their resolutions are correspondingly different.  The production is almost flawless, in that the pacing is maintained perfectly up to a nicely judged and satisfying ending - no budget or timing problems here, nor uncertainty about what the ending means.  Maybe this means that Evangelion still has the edge in tension, but this is clearly the closest thing to it that I have seen.  Animation is good where it counts, and never less than adequate.

People generally compare it with The Lord of the Flies, because it depicts the breakdown of a society of isolated children, but I think the Evangelion comparison is more useful.

But forget analysis - as I said above, watch it!

I'm unashamed for liking My Love story. True it is kinda fluffy but is refreshing to see a growing relationship out in the open unlike so much other anime where the couple try to keep that hidden or secret.

Anyone have any anime horror recommendations? The gorier the better. Psychological is good too.

I'd recommend Another. If you haven't seen it already I wouldn't want to spoil anything there but it was the first thing I thought of.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Sep 2015, 19:33
Anyone have any anime horror recommendations? The gorier the better. Psychological is good too.

Mononoke is a pretty interesting one. It can be gory, but the storytelling is more traditional than, say, Attack on Titan, which is pure gore. But if you like alternative forms of storytelling, they really are good ghost stories.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Sep 2015, 06:56
Anyone have any anime horror recommendations? The gorier the better. Psychological is good too.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, or in English When they Cry.  This has been recommended to me, but I haven't watched much of it yet myself.  The Nihon Review (http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/higurashi-no-naku-koro-ni/) says of it: "Featuring several moments that are chillingly unforgettable, Higurashi may be as close to a successful horror anime as we may ever see on TV."
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 06 Sep 2015, 13:39
Thanks for the recommendations. I'll put them all on my To Watch list.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 Sep 2015, 23:11
And I forgot Pupa.  It's only twelve 3min episodes (my copy is edited into one 36 min ep), and it's gore rather than horror, but it's well worth a watch (this is a controversial opinion, BTW).  The whole thing is a metaphor for child abuse and its effects.  The show covers about half of the 5-volume manga, and actually fits in a surprising amount of detail (I have the manga, too)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 07 Sep 2015, 01:06
I've read the manga and saw the show. Enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 07 Sep 2015, 01:30
For slow-burning and long-drawn-out horror, there's also Monster.  It's a big commitment though at 74 episodes.

Oh, and my avi is currently showing for me as Utsutsu from Pupa:

(https://cassland.org/images/QC/PupaAvi.png)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 07 Sep 2015, 02:09
Think I would prefer a longer one right now. Been reading a lot of short run mangas and they're enjoyable but understandably low on deep story.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 07 Sep 2015, 23:31
I'm looking for a good and happy mecha series. Something less like the more serious Gundam and leaning towards optimistic like Aldnoah Zero or Gundam X. I just finished the current seasons of Gundam Build Fighters and it's sequel. Anyone got something that would meet that criteria?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 08 Sep 2015, 00:05
I don't know the Gundam series (except 0080 War in the Pocket, which is good but not happy), so I don't really know your baseline.  The classics that I know which fit are Gunbuster, Gunbuster 2 (aka Diebuster), Gurren Lagann, and Martian Successor Nadesico (this is almost a comedy, but the film that follows is really dark).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 09 Sep 2015, 11:56
War in the Pocket is good, but not optimistic or happy. So let's say that would be the baseline. I've already seen Nadesico and Gurren Lagann I have resolved not to watch because of how stupid it is. Basically if it takes itself seriously or follows standard mecha tropes very closely I'm not interested right now. You should totally watch Aldnoah.Zero by the way.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Neko_Ali on 09 Sep 2015, 12:25
Vision of Escaflowne. It's sort of a fantasy mecha series. High school girl gets accidentally pulled into an alternate world that is mostly midevil level tech, but they have giant mecha powered by dragon hearts. It gets dark at some points, but for the most part it's a romp through fantasy tropes, dipped in mecha sauce. Along similar lines but much older (70s or 80s) is Aura Battler Dunbine.

Depending on how tightly you want to define mecha, the various Bubblegum Crisis versions are good. That's battle armor sized mech suits though, not 30 meter tall robots.

Somewhat more contemporary and less Japanese you may want to find Symbionic Titan. It was a show by Cartoon Network by the same people who made Samurai Jack. Fleeing an war on an alien world, the king sends his daughter to earth to protect her, along with one of the royal guard and a robot to help him. They have to blend in and hide from the enemy who keeps sending monsters and agents after them, so they start attending the local high school. The robot alternately pretends to be the kid's father at home, and another student at school so they all stay close. When a monster from the other dimension attacks they can transform into robots via sentai-like watches, and also combine with Octus to form a giant robot, the Symbionic Titan. They also have to deal with a military commander who hates that giant robots are tearing up the place, but also glad that they can stop the monsters. And a shadowy organization devoted to studying aliens. Sadly the show only lasted two seasons and was never finished. But it's still well worth watching.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Sep 2015, 15:43
EscaFlowne is very good, I agree (though you can skip the film).  It's not got very much of a mecha feel to my mind, though.

Gurren Lagann I have resolved not to watch because of how stupid it is.

Oh, c'mon!  Let your hair down!  It meets your requirements pretty well.

But how important is the mecha aspect?  If steam-punk airships might do it for you, try Last Exile.  If happy and optimistic on its own could work without a mecha in sight, there's Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, or a particular favourite of mine: Uchouten Kazoku (aka The Eccentric Family).  Oh look, there're happy and optimistic quotes from those last two in my sig - what a coincidence!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 09 Sep 2015, 18:48
Gurren Lagann I have resolved not to watch because of how stupid it is

(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/left4dead411/images/0/05/Nofunallowed.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120913190352)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 09 Sep 2015, 23:02
Gurren Lagann I have resolved not to watch because of how stupid it is

(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/left4dead411/images/0/05/Nofunallowed.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120913190352)
It's certainly not fun if I can't enjoy it because it keeps breaking my willing suspension of disbelief. I prefer my mecha shows to follow at least some science. I can forgive outlandish power sources, metals, and magic computers if they don't constantly break the rest of reality and keep forcing my brain to just scream "NOPE!" over and over.


P.S. I've already seen Last Exile. For some clarification I'm in the mood for big robots.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Sep 2015, 23:58
Yuusha Raideen (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07iM9PT-buE). :-P
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 15 Sep 2015, 06:05
CSM and I have settled on watching the original Japanese version of Macross. I might just re-watch the American Robotech version for season 2 and 3 because gods is Macross 7 awful. They battle space vampires with guitar powered veritechs (transforming fighter jets) and use rock music against them, somehow. I think their guns fire speakers or something. I couldn't sit through it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 15 Sep 2015, 07:29
Macross Plus is the best thing from that franchise, I think.  OVAs or film, doesn't really matter.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 15 Sep 2015, 09:05
Macross Plus is the best thing from that franchise, I think.  OVAs or film, doesn't really matter.
I love Macross Plus but I also have a soft spot for the original Macross. It's a good series showing humanity persevering in the face of a more advanced enemy not because of "the human spirit" or other ill contrived BS but because of pure dumb luck and some adequate preparation. That said humans didn't win so much as survive.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 16 Sep 2015, 12:03
For some clarification I'm in the mood for big robots.

You're always in the mood for big robots.

I've agreed to watch through Macross, whatever parts of it Emo thinks are worth watching, but apparently one of the more major sticking points in our relationship is that I don't really care for or about giant mecha shows.  She had to drag me kicking and screaming to watch Gundam Build Fighters, though I'm glad she did, it was pretty good.  Aldnoah.Zero was entertaining too.

I loved the hell out of DanMachi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is_It_Wrong_to_Try_to_Pick_Up_Girls_in_a_Dungeon%3F) and Emoroffle is probably annoyed that I won't shut up about it.  Right now I am most looking forward to Taishō Baseball Girls, but at the moment we're in the middle of watching Haiyore! Nyarko-san.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 16 Sep 2015, 12:09
Wait, who are you? :P

Hi, CSM! Are you just stopping by or are you going to stick around for a while?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 16 Sep 2015, 12:12
I haven't decided yet.  Time will tell.

Actually I mostly just logged in to change my avatar.  Because DanMachi.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 16 Sep 2015, 12:54
Well, it's nice to see you back :)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Akima on 17 Sep 2015, 06:19
I haven't decided yet.  Time will tell.
It's almost a year since you last posted. Welcome back!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 17 Sep 2015, 08:16
Thanks.  I actually periodically think about poking my head back in every time Emoroffle mentions some conversation or another here, and then I remember I'm not really a message board kind of person and a habitual lurker.  I subscribe to the "a wise person speaks when they have something to say, a fool speaks when they have to say something" school of thought, and I feel I rarely have anything constructive to add to most conversations.  Also the thread that was my primary reason for regularly posting got locked by the admin - that's not a tree I have any intention of barking up, I'm fine with it, I'm just saying.

-----------------------------------------------

So as to avoid veering off-topic for too long, here's the anime journal I started keeping of all the shows Emo and I have watched since she moved in, and my personal out-of-five ratings for them.  (Not listed in the order watched.)

(click to show/hide)

Further suggestions are welcome.  The above list is probably somewhat indicative of my taste.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 18 Sep 2015, 10:11
I picked up Jojo's Bizare Adventure: Stardust Crusade again and finished the 13 episode series.  Its pretty good.  Then I found out I watched the rather stale 90s anime whereas most people who like it saw the better animated and more fun 2014 anime of it, but I think I'd have to buy it or join crunchy roll to watch it in its crazy colors.  I'd rather not shell out the money though

I highly recommend it. Street fighter characters with battle spirits go on a globetrotting adventure to kill Dracula.

(http://i.imgur.com/sp1SoIu.gif)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: 94ssd on 21 Sep 2015, 20:00
I'm just now watching through the The Last Airbender (I suck, I know) but I am completely enamored thus far.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 28 Sep 2015, 05:58
So I started watching Argevollen. It's more along the lines of what I'm into. Still after watching the latest Gundam series and Aldnoah.Zero I'm really sad there isn't much in the way of the "real robot" genre. I kind of wish there was an Armored Core anime now.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 05 Oct 2015, 03:25
Been given a list of Animes that my students want to watch, I really don't have time to research all of them.

My student body is broadly speaking 16-19, fanservice is obviously not okay, nor anything particularly super violent. Can someone please shed some light on one or more of these?

Sword Art Online
Initial D
Corpse Party
Naruto
Violence Jack
DragonBall Super
D.Grey-man
Gurren Lagann
Attack On Titan
Bleach
Log Horizon
Girls Und Panzer
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
Yu Yu Hakusho
Needless
Blue Exorcist
Fate/stay night
Fate/Zero
Toaru Majutsu no Index
Toaru Kagaku no Railgun
Tokyo Ghoul
WitchBlade
Devil is a Part Timer
Code Geass
Deadman Wonderland
Seraph of the End
Parasyte
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 05 Oct 2015, 03:44
Gurren Lagann
Coming of age yarn; robots whose size increase in each iteration to absurd levels (like, galaxy-sized robots!).  Very silly, but good fun, and not without serious moments.

Attack On Titan
Rather popular, but to my mind visually ugly and an uninspired story.  Some fantastic animation of people swinging around on ropes, though.

Girls und Panzer
A guilty pleasure.  Fan service (though sexually innocent).  There are girls schools, on ships, whose main "sport" is fighting in tanks, and the series is the various inter-school competitions.  No one gets hurt, even in real tank battles.

I know of a number of the others, but those are the only ones I've actually watched.  FYI I add links to the two review sites I use for initial checking of anime that comes my way:
http://www.themanime.org/reviewlist.php (http://www.themanime.org/reviewlist.php) 
http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/ (http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/)

I was surprised not to see Kill la Kill in the list, given the nature of most of those shows.  An interesting show that looks sexually exploitative but is actually the opposite - good for a discussion, that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Oct 2015, 11:19
Devil is a part timer: pretty funny and I can see teenagers liking it.

Attack on titan: super violent and gross, so if you don't want to show them that, I wouldn't.

Sword art online: as much as I love this series, parts of it can be disturbing (rape is threatened/attempted in the second half of the first season). I think the first half of the first season would be OK, though.

Bleach: very LONG series, but would be OK. It's a little violent, but nothing like AoT.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Neko_Ali on 05 Oct 2015, 15:14
Naruto: Mystical teenage ninjas in training competing against each other during testing, and sent off on missions for their villages. PG-13 violence. Perfectly fine for teens.

Yu Yu Hakusho: Like Bleach and Dragon Ball, it's mostly fight with super long drawn out fights that typically take episode after episode. PG-13 levels of violence here. Mostly focused on whacky magical martial arts types.

Fate/Stay Night: Mildly violent, some mild fanservice. Around mid season there is some implication that one female main character heals the other female lead by sexual contact. But it's more suggested than shown. The series revolves around a group of people sending their minions to fight surrogate battles for some magical mcguffin in the end. The twist being that their minions are people from points in history bound to magical servitude.

Witchblade: I haven't seen, but it's going to be very fan service I'm sure. Given it's an anime about a western comic about a woman who fights crime while wearing nothing more than a barely there covering of alien symbiote that doubles as armor and weapon.

Deadman Wonderland: Super violent and disturbing. I really do not recommend for teenagers. A teen school boy witnesses a guy use supernatural powers to brutally slaughter his entire class, leaving only him untouched. he gets blamed for the crime, kangaroo court sentenced to a prison called Deadman Wonderland which is one part gladitorial arena and one part morbid amusment park where the inmates are forced to participate in life or death obstacle courses for the amusement of the park goers and home viewers. Then he gets roped into an even more dangerous secret arena battle vs super powered opponents, including the one who slaughtered his classmates in front of him.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: 94ssd on 05 Oct 2015, 21:00
Haven't watched Dragonball Super and it is currently only in Japanese, so I don't know much about it. However, in general the violence in Dragonball isn't very graphic, but there are some fanservice moments.

Attack on Titan is definitely probably way too graphic. A lot of blood and dismemberment.

Fate/Zero is about a mystical tournament where people summon the spirits of historical warriors to fight for them. No fanservice. A lot of violence obviously, and blood, but not anywhere near as graphic as Attack on Titan.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Torlek on 07 Oct 2015, 20:55
Code Geass: Nifty mecha battles as part of a wider campaign to bring down a world spanning empire all while the main character tries to hide his super power and the fact he leads the resistance. Lots of complex scheming and philosophizing about the nature of power and who should rule. Some fanservice and two or three instances of outright nudity (fleeting instances though, just a couple of seconds of exposed breasts) if you get the uncensored version, violence stays PG-13 though. Both main character arcs encapsulate the statement, "you either die the hero or live long enough to become the villain." Not on any streaming service to my knowledge.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 21 Oct 2015, 05:51
If you all enjoy dark comedies and a villain protagonist you should see the anime version of "Overlord". It's pretty good and now I'm left wanting a second season. It just finished the first season in September.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 20 Nov 2015, 01:45
Harking back to the horror theme from earlier, I finished Higurashi - When they cry, which was very satisfactory.  I also watched Elfen Lied, which is better than some reviews are prepared to admit; clearly some people are too distracted by the nudity in the OP and ED sequences, though it's entirely artistic.  The story also hangs together better in my view than some people tried to persuade me.

Wanting a change from gore, though, I moved on to Bokura ga Ita (We were there).  This is a romance, a bit like Honey and Clover (well, OK, it isn't really), but with a sad ending (I think, I'm not quite there yet).  For me it's every bit as good as Honey and Clover, but I can see that not everyone might be able to handle it.  It is sloooooow.  But it never flags or drags; it builds up almost unbearable intensity, and is a more than usually realistic depiction of the trials and tribulations of teenage romance.  The girl is a novice in relationships; this is her first.  The boy has a history, involving a previous girlfriend who died in an accident while cheating on him after they had an argument, the said girlfriend's younger sister whom he actually knew earlier, and his best friend from way way back who also likes the girl but is standing aside for his friend.  The two of them are truly in love, but neither can fully understand the feelings of the other because of their completely different experiences.  The manga and the live action films continue the story into their adult lives, and I admit I'm going to want to see what growing up does to their characters, so I've ordered a copy of the manga (the only version of the story with an official English release anyway).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 30 Nov 2015, 19:58
I don't know if any of you are watching One Punch Man, but you should, because it's hilarious and awesome.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 01 Dec 2015, 11:39
I've watched the first four, I think. It's been so long since I've actually had to wait for episodes to come out.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 01 Dec 2015, 15:12
More on Bokura ga Ita, as I've now seen the films and acquired the manga (the only official English release in the franchise).  As far as the story goes, in spite of my satisfaction with the anime, I now have to say that the first half of the story (which the anime covers) is largely setting up the second half.  The relationships become far more tortured in the second part (after a time-skip), and it's harder to read, with extensive flashbacks, some within others, and also dreams (or at one point what seems to be a dream but you find out after actually isn't).  Some people are broken by the behaviour of their parents, and sometimes their behaviour seems unjustified at first glance, but the back-story is always good enough to carry it off.

If you want a romance with more angst than Honey and Clover, but with a resolution in spite of it, this is for you.

The live action films were better than I expected, and in particular the second made a good fist of explaining a plot that becomes increasingly intricate.  However, it disappointed at the end by simplifying the final reconciliation too much and removing some important drama leading up to it.



The only comments I've seen on One Punch Man have been negative, expressing disappointment in something that more had been hoped of.  I'm glad it works for you (I no nothing more about it, so have no opinion).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 01 Dec 2015, 16:53
It's goofy, ridiculous, and makes fun of anime like Dragonball Z (which I am not a fan of). Also I'm highly amused by the art style. The main character is usually drawn with a very bland, simply drawn face (when he gets serious, the style of his face changes) and everything else is suuuuuper detailed. It's the same in the manga.

Example of his faces:

(http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire3/43da568956ab29820fb6541038066f751427106878_full.jpg)

Example of detail. This is from the manga, but this scene is pretty much exactly the same in the anime. Look at the reflections of the city in Metal Knight's armor:

(http://i.imgur.com/SK9TMTq.png)

There are just a lot of little things about this series that I find very entertaining. There's a test heroes have to take and the ranking systems are a bit amusing. Also their names are given by fans, so Saitama (the main character) eventually becomes known as The Caped Baldy because that's what he looks like. I don't want to give a lot away, but I feel like if you are one of those people that likes to make fun of anime that's all about fighting (Dragonball Z, Bleach, and also superhero tropes in general), I feel like you'd enjoy it. It does not take itself seriously at all and that's why I enjoy it so much.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 02 Dec 2015, 13:37
I've also watched the first few episodes of OPM with Emo and was highly amused, but giving the series (as it stands so far) a thorough watch has to wait until after finishing the other stuff on my to-watch list, and we haven't even finished Nyaruko yet since I've been busy with other things.

Also R.I.P. Matsuki Miyu, the seiyuu for Cthugha on Nyaruko.  She passed away in October at age 38 from pneumonia.  :(
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 04 Dec 2015, 08:32
Another aspect (http://onepunchman.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Nekokokokoko/Is_OnePunchMan_the_"Savior_of_Anime"_or_the_"Cause_of_Ruin_in_Anime"%3F) of One Punch Man
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Welu on 04 Dec 2015, 09:29
That's fukken hilarious.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Dec 2015, 19:39
That is amazing!!! Roflcopter
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 13 Dec 2015, 18:05
Any suggestions for a good anime? I'm open to pretty much any genre, my only requirement is that it has intelligently written characters. My biggest gripe with anime is that so often characters act dumb/unreasonable/bitchy just to create conflict.

So yeah, anything with witty, reasonable characters.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Dec 2015, 01:21
My list might be a page or two - can you give a hint of what you've seen and been dissatisfied with, or what kind of show you'd be looking for?

Of course, sometimes the dumb/unreasonable/bitchy behaviour is caused by underlying issues which is what the show is actually examining.  An example of this might be Bokura ga Ita; though in that case it is more apparent in the second half of the manga, which never got animated..
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 14 Dec 2015, 07:42
I don't really have any specific exaples-- it's been a while since I watched any anime, and the list of sereis I've watched also isn't very long, as well as being mostly mainstream things (FMA, GitS:SAC, Cowboy Bebop and some One Piece before I figured that wasn't going anywhere)

As for generes, I generally prefer sci fi, fanatsy etc., but I'm really up for anything as long as it's written intelligently. Forced drama and cringy behaviour is generally some of the things I dislike the most, not only in anime but movies, comics, sereis, games etc, so that is really my only major limitation.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 14 Dec 2015, 15:08
OK, I'll make up a slightly random list of anime I consider good in various ways.

Gunbuster and Diebuster (aka Gunbuster 2)
SF.  The original Gunbuster was the first appearance of bouncing breasts ("the Gainax bounce"), but is a fine show anyway.  Diebuster is not an obvious sequel (it was made fifteen years later by a different team), but ends with a remarkable tie-in.

Texhnolyze
SF.  A vision of the end of the world; dark, slow and remorseless pessimism.  In the first episode no one even speaks for fourteen minutes, but there's been a rape and dismemberment.  Not for the faint-hearted!

Now and Then, Here and There
Anti-war SF.  Child soldiers, rape, and torture.  But a compelling watch that doesn't falter.

Infinite Ryvius
SF.  A sort of space version of the Lord of the Flies, but not as full-on nasty as that.

Monster
Mystery, some horror.  Is sometimes cited as the best of all anime.  Uncharacteristic as anime goes (it is set in post-war Europe, with only one Japanese character).  Long (74 eps), slow, but continually compelling.  The child Dieter is a great secondary hero.

Kino's Journey
Social comment.  Separate stories in which Kino visits different societies, and her commentary on them.  Parallels with real society are there to be found.  Has a talking motor cycle...

Honey and Clover
College romance.  A story of unrequited love among a group of friends.  Happy, sad and bitter-sweet - and always moving.  One of the relationships might seem a little strange to western ideas.  Watch both series; the end of the first is by no means the end of the story, even if it satisfies.

Uchouten Kazoku (The Eccentric Family)
Humour, adventure, Japanese mythology.  Backdrops are taken from real-life Kyoto.  The main characters are Tanuki, who change between their animal form and human form - they are thought of as shape-shifters in Japanese mythology.  There are also other mythical humanoid beings, and supernatural happenings.  One of my favourite series of all.

Kyousougiga
Surreal.  Another series based on real-life Kyoto - this time not just with weird overtones, but seriously weird.  Worth a watch to see if you can make head or tail of it...  Just watch the series; ignore the ONA/OVA versions - they are no more than earlier versions that the series expands and completes (I even skip the first episode of the series, which is essentially a summary of what is coming).

Pupa
Horror and gore.  Twelve three-minute episodes - you can download it edited into a single 36min sequence, which I recommend.  It's an allegory of child abuse and the horrifying effects on the abused.  I think.  I love it visually (some don't), but nothing approaches it for gore other than maybe Elfen Lied or Higurashi (When They Cry).  My current (fixed) avatar is from the original manga.

Clannad
Emotional Overload.  This is a real weepy, and some consider it to be simply emotionally manipulative.  The only moe in my list, and a bit of the supernatural.  You must go on to watch the second series after the first, as that's where the quality gets wound up to its peak.  "The end will have you in tears, or your money back."  This is based on a visual novel, but taking only one of the tracks as its main story.  There are OVAs that take other tracks, but these are simply confusing.

But there are so many more I could add:  Neon Genesis Evangelion, Mawaru Penguindrum, Last Exile, Anohana, Serial Experiments Lain, Vision of EscaFlowne, Gundam 0080 - War in the Pocket...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 14 Dec 2015, 16:59
Thank you! Monster and The Eccentric Family sounded most up my alley, I'll check one of them out as soon as I finish my last exam :D
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 14 Dec 2015, 18:07
Oh Anohana... Now that is an emotional rollercoaster. I want to watch it again because it's actually really good, but...the feels. So many feels. Possibly too many feels.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 23 Dec 2015, 18:45
What's up with the random 9 year jump i Monster!? It feel really out of place. Literally the only thing that changes is the two kids growing up. Like, they didn't even change the hairstyles or clothes of characters. Everyone seems to carry on as if just a few months passed..
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 23 Jan 2016, 11:27
I recently finished the series Death Parade and it was really good. The basis of the story is that when two people die at the same time, they appear in a bar and have to play a game in order to be judged by an arbiter to determine whether their soul gets reincarnated or sent to the void. That's a very basic explanation, but I don't want to give spoilers. If you like darker dramas and don't mind a little bit of violence, the underlying story is very good.

Also, I love the opening. It's much MUCH more lighthearted than the actual show is, but it's a great song.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 23 Jan 2016, 12:56
Re: that Opening Stance


The Lawyers for The Ginyu Force want a word with them.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 30 Jan 2016, 07:46
Just started watching Koukaku no Pandora, it's based on a concept by Masamune Shirow and done by the guy behind Excel Saga. It's ridiculous, hilarious, and looks to be well on its way to being a favorite. I'm going to wait on watching the rest so CSM and I can watch it all together.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 30 Jan 2016, 17:49
Rewatching Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex cause...I don't think I've actually seen the whole thing. Like it was late night when I was still little so I never really saw every episode. I still remember the April Fool's Day episode though
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 31 Jan 2016, 16:00
I wonder if people would cry racism if Tenma in Monster or Mikasa in AoT were the only european characters in western series/comics set in Japan..  Mikasa is so much better than everyone at everything, and Tenma is basically japanese Jesus. :roll:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 04 Feb 2016, 17:17
Finished Stand Alone Complex, now it's on to the second season of Dragon Ball (No library has the first season for some reason)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: President Peaches on 04 Feb 2016, 19:01
Watched the first episode of Macross Delta. I wanted mechaporn with an idol or two and a bit of romance but got sci-fi magical girl anime. I want my hour back.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 17 Feb 2016, 01:14
Just started watching "When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace" It's like a bizarro version of Haruhi. A literature club along with the tagalong niece of one of the teachers end up getting superpowers. Then nothing happens.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 27 Mar 2016, 06:05
Quote
This is a Race Horse Girl anime where they are also idols
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Edguy on 28 Mar 2016, 02:55
Finished One Punch Man, really enjoyed it! Felt like a straight up satire about everything wrong with animes like One Piece, and I loved it!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 28 Mar 2016, 12:40
Erased has been a really good drama so far, if anyone else has been watching it. I think this or next week is the last episode and it covers all of the manga.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Mar 2016, 17:13
We've had the last ep of Erased already.  Some people found the last two eps (which covered a third of the manga) were too rushed, but I thought more that the manga dragged.  A good show all round, and in the end my favourite of the season.  The way the OP changed for ep 11 was chilling; very effective.

Mobile Suit Gundam, Iron-blooded Orphans was good too, but for me it lost focus towards the end.  It's been confirmed for another season, which I guess was only to be expected.

Of course, Koyomimonogatari was also great, though as a series of shorts, each of which followed on from an earlier story, it was always going to feel a bit like a series of OVAs - though in fact it still made serious points.  Startling ending, too.

But curiously, the show that I've been thinking about, and going back to rewatch bits of from time to time, is from a few seasons ago: Noragami.  There's something rather special about it, in its characterisation, story, pacing, design, animation...  There's really no part of it which lets it down at all - an exceptional show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 28 Mar 2016, 20:10
Noragami is amazing. We've started buying the manga because we like the story so much.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 29 Mar 2016, 15:28
Noragami is amazing.

I second this opinion.  I gave the first season 4 out of 5 and the second season, like, 4.8 out of 5.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 01 Apr 2016, 13:27
Quote
Studio Trigger revealed the first commercial and a new visual for Hiroyuki Imaishi’s (Kill la Kill, Gurren Lagann) ‘Uchū Patrol Luluco’ (Space Patrol Luluco) TV anime series of shorts. The series will premiere on April 1.
(http://36.media.tumblr.com/12defbf105573cfa4a39d3f3fd401048/tumblr_inline_o48wxbQcv71tn3wq4_500.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 15 Apr 2016, 13:21
I made a separate thread for the GitS movie (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,33333.0.html), as it's not anime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Kugai on 15 Apr 2016, 16:57
Blue Kitty, that Vids no longer available due to a Copyright Claim by TRIGGER.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 16 Apr 2016, 14:12
I've started watching Yokai Watch and it's really weird
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Emoroffle on 06 Oct 2016, 02:22
I recently started watching "The Irregular at Magic High School" and it's pretty good. It's basically anime Shadowrun but with awkward teenagers and no fantastical creatures. Be warned there's a lot of shipping between the lead and his sister. It's worth the watch if you can get past that and the lead being a total Mary Sue. imo the Mary Sue thing works in this case.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 09 Dec 2016, 14:52
Hmm; I've been neglecting this thread.  But now's not the time to make up for that.  For now I will just point at this post (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php?topic=33199.msg1370525#msg1370525) in case anyone reads this thread who won't have read that.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 02 Feb 2017, 00:48
My students are wanting to watch Seven Deadly Sins in their anime club. Is it SFW enough for that?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 03 Feb 2017, 06:32
Went to a new library and they had a copy of the first season of K-On on Blu-ray SO I GUESS I'M BACK INTO THAT NOW  :psyduck:
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: shanejayell on 04 Feb 2017, 11:36
Quote
This is a Race Horse Girl anime where they are also idols

It's actually a game, not a anime. Sadly.

Might do a re-watch of Sword Art Online. YES, I know it gets a lotta hate, but I liked it....
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 04 Feb 2017, 17:59
My students are wanting to watch Seven Deadly Sins in their anime club. Is it SFW enough for that?

I want to say yes, but 1) it's been so long since we watched it that I don't clearly remember and 2) I have a very skewed I idea of what counts as SFW.  The main protag is a letch and there's some cheesecake but I don't think anything in it was that risqué?  And it's not gorry.

I just asked Emoroffle, she says it's probably fine.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: explicit on 05 Feb 2017, 01:36
Fine for high school kids, probably not for middle school kids. If I remember, the MC does touch a female character inappropriately all the time (on purpose, not that the anime cliche of accidentally groping breasts after falling down on top of each other thing), which I think is probably the least sfw thing about the show.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 05 Feb 2017, 20:17
Might do a re-watch of Sword Art Online. YES, I know it gets a lotta hate, but I liked it....

I don't really get the hate, I love that series. Watch it and be proud.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 05 Feb 2017, 20:29
Seconded.  It has its flaws but I love the hell out of the second season.

The Alicization arc, however, which has not yet been animated, I have a very strained love-hate relationship with and very strong opinions on.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 08 Feb 2017, 06:21
Finished the first season of K-On, on to Dangan Ronpa
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: shanejayell on 08 Feb 2017, 20:29
I lied.  :-P I ended up rewatching Lucky Star. I do wish we had gotten a season 2... I know the manga, at least, continued on.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Lines on 09 Feb 2017, 06:45
Seconded.  It has its flaws but I love the hell out of the second season.

The Alicization arc, however, which has not yet been animated, I have a very strained love-hate relationship with and very strong opinions on.

I haven't gotten that far in the books yet. We need to order them since we didn't make it to the anime convention we usually go to last month.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Caspian Sea Monster on 09 Feb 2017, 07:45
Prepare yourself for one of them to be a wall-banger.  This (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRBtNwJhO6E) is approximately how I feel about Kawahara-san these days.

But then the arc in general is interesting enough and Relevant To My Interests enough that I haven't stopped reading, so.  [shrug]
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 15 Feb 2017, 05:53
Started watching the Dangan Ronpa anime and the english voices are pretty great, especially Chihiro and Sakura
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: shanejayell on 19 Feb 2017, 20:31
Rewatching Sword Art Online II. Poor Sinon. They don't have the bits with her therapist in the anime, but GEEZE he's incompatant...
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Akima on 26 Feb 2017, 18:44
So... I dug out my old boxed set of the Planetes anime for friends over the weekend. It's as good as ever, but I also noticed a certain similarity to a more recent science-fiction series:
(http://i.imgur.com/r4Cu2aO.jpg)
Part of the resemblance is down to the fact that both Planetes and The Expanse show at least some respect for the laws of physics, and it can't be pushed too far (Rocinante is a nuclear-powered warship, where Toy Box is a chemical-rocket refuse-collector), but I thought it was an interesting coincidence.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 26 May 2017, 06:48
I should really pick up this MSG: Origin series...

I remember watching the original series and "Char's Counter Attack." 
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 03 Nov 2017, 16:23
I've been neglecting this thread (I get much more anime discussion elsewhere).  But I thought I should make a brief report.

Last season was pretty thin.  Basically I watched the continuation of My Hero Academia, which continued to be superb (as does the manga which has gone twice as far - though the present arc is being drawn out to a somewhat uncomfortable extent)  Highly recommended in either form.

This season has the anticipated re-make of Kino's Journey.  It's OK so far, but that's all.  Actually, I'm quite seriously disappointed.  It misses both the charm and the maturity of the previous series - Kino simply comes across as disconnected from what she experiences, rather than standing apart from it and thinking about the ramifications.  Kino's character design is also ugly and childish to my eyes, and instead of dark and moody scenery we get colourful but somewhat sketchy backgrounds.  The original is long out of print, and is only streamed by Amazon in dub - so for people who don't know the original this may be an acceptable introduction.  But if you do, prepare to be disappointed.

By far the best new show is The Ancient Magus' Bride - stylish and intriguing.  Not perhaps a deep story, but certainly worth following (the introductory 3-part OVA was largely flashback, as you might expect, but also contained flashbacks within the flashback).  There are also dragons, of much varied design, which turn into trees when they die.  Hard to describe, but easy to enjoy.

I tried the first episode of Recovery of an MMO Junkie (not an accurate translation of the Japanese title).  By the end of the first episode we have a mature woman (the MC) playing a dashing man in an MMO, who flirts with a woman (in the MMO) played by a real-life man.  Neither realises; and we see that they also, unknowingly, shop at the same grocery store.  This could lead to an intelligent exploration of sexuality, or it could be played for cheap sexist thrills.  I have no idea where it has in fact taken it, because I was pretty bored anyway and decided to drop it without finding out.

Finally, I am watching Black Clover, to my slight surprise.  Standard shōnen stuff, with an MC who has no magic powers in a world where everyone has them, but who is determined to become the Wizard King (as is his non-identical twin brother who is by contrast unusually talented).  The MC  says (or rather, screams - he screams continuously throughout every episode, it feels like) "Not giving up is my magic", and goes a long way towards proving that.  However, he also has a demonic grimoire which they've spent five episodes hinting is a "bad thing"™ without going any further with.  It's not as good as My Hero Academia, for sure, but it's quite fun at the moment - though if it shows signs of being designed to stretch out over 500 episodes like the main-stream shōnen shows I'll drop it quick enough.

Finally, a film; watch A Silent Voice.  It's a brilliant story about a boy who bullies a deaf class-mate, and then gets bullied in turn, who years later meets her again and manages, with difficulty, to forge a friendship with her.  There's a nice manga, too (only 7 volumes) which gives a further conclusion to the story (more clearly than the film which only hints at it).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Jun 2018, 15:41
Another update...

The Ancient Magus' Bride was as good as I hoped.  I guess some more of it will appear in due course.

My Hero Academia was also fine, and a new season is under way which I'm happy with so far.

I didn't bother to finish Kino's Journey - it's not a patch on the original.

Black Clover continues, and is my guilty pleasure.  It's complete nonsense, but really quite fun...

On to new stuff.  I watched March comes in like a Lion, a story about a schoolboy who is also a professional shogi player (shogi is a game somewhat like chess).  We are shown his progression, along with family and friendship issues, and a gentle hint of romance.  There have been two seasons so far, and the story calls for more.  Recommended.

Approaching its climax is Darling in the FranXX.  I didn't start this when it appeared, because I saw poor reports of it, but later I was persuaded by a friend to catch up on it.  Well, after a slow start, it gets to be quite a lot of fun, BUT...  First let's get the perceived fan service out of the way: the FranXX (robots, if that's what they are - it's turning out they may be more like Evangelions) have proportions like exaggerated female bodies, and can only be piloted by a male/female pair, with the design of the cockpit placing them in a relationship which looks exploitative - but this is in the eye of the beholder, and it's up to you whether to find it offensive or satirical; there are hints at pilots trying gender reversal (worked) and two of the same gender (failed).  But anything suggestive in this is trivial in the context of the whole, in my view.  Anyway, the latest episode has just turned everything upside-down, and lays the whole series open to being accused of some of the worst pacing in recent memory, as well as some really dubious plot decisions, and excessively crudely inserted exposition.  I shall watch the last four episodes, just to see, but on the basis of how things are at the moment, I have to say that I can't recommend this one.

The Piano Forest (Piano no mori - the Wonderful World of Kai) is a manga that ran from about 2004 to 2016.  In 2009 there was an animated film of the first seven volumes (of 26 eventually).  This film was superb, with magnificent animation, even of serious keyboard playing.  An anime adaptation is currently running, and is nearly halfway through; it's been licensed by NetFlix, so won't be available in the West until completed, i.e. in the autumn.  The story follows a boy, Kai, the son of a prostitute in a "red light" district, who has taught himself to play a grand piano abandoned in the forest behind his house.  We start in when he is eleven, and another boy, Shūhei, transfers into his school and turns out to be a talented player, the son of a famous pianist.  The boys become friends, and their friendship causes them to discover that their music teacher was once a famous pianist whose hand was injured in a car crash.  Kai is shown to be a true prodigy, and the teacher takes him on as a pupil.  The story is about the boys' rivalry, both in a school-level competition (where the film ends), and subsequently six years later in the  Chopin Competition in Warsaw.  There is a lot of serious thought about the nature of performance, competition, and rivalry; also about judging in competitions and the ways in which the result might get distorted (all the way up to pressure from international sponsors).  The manga (also never licensed in English) is a compelling read, though some of the more extended descriptions of individual performances could be described as the graphic equivalent of purple prose!  The film, I can obviously recommend.  The anime is doing OK, but the animation simply isn't up to the level of the film; it'll do, though.  They are, inevitably, leaving out some bits of the manga (they seem to have excised Kai's girlfriend and how they met entirely), which leaves me to wonder how they're going to fill out all the episodes with sensible pacing - but I'm hopeful they'll get it worked out.  Recommended.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 11 Jun 2018, 18:54
Thanks to Amazon Prime I was able to stream the first season of Pop Team Epic and it's as random and off the walls as the manga was, sometimes converting some of the jokes from the manga straight into the anime
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 16 Nov 2018, 17:20
I've been seeing a lot of "Goblin Slayer" on imgur and the memes got me interested. I signed up for crunchy roll (with ads) and watched the first 2 episodes. I was prepared for the brutality of the first episode (see trigger warning)  thanks to the fair warnings from imgur. Not only is the brutality from the trigger warning involved but its just straight up brutal violence too. I do find it interesting that the concept of the story comes from MMOs where an inexperienced party pulls too many adds and it destroys the party. The same sort of thing happens. Its also interesting just how many goblin extermination jobs there are and yet all the experienced adventures avoid goblin jobs since they see its beneath them. The only ones going after the goblins are the rookies (that usually end up dead or worse) and goblin slayer. Since no one is taking the goblin jobs, the goblins are becoming a real problem that no one wants to deal with. He's looked down on by the other veterans as his gear looks dirty and crappy but the first episode illustrates that its all practical and perfect for goblin slaying and fighting in tight caves. Goblin Slayer doesn't care though. He just wants to kill goblins. He's essentially DOOM guy (https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/1/16944/2976258-cmzr9taucae3_np.jpg) but in a fantasy setting. Never removing his armor let alone helmet. Even his introduction moment has doom like music.  I'm only on episode 2 but from the memes on imgur I know that he also attracts a harem of women, but its a harem subversion (so far) as he's not interested or flustered by the women. He's only concerned about killing goblins and finding new ways to kill goblins. Also fair warning there is a bit of TnA to titillate viewers. Its very pandering at times, especially with Goblin Slayer's childhood friend that he stays with. Expect physics defying bounces. :roll:


(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 24 Nov 2018, 20:18
Watching more goblin slayer.  It looks like Goblin Slayer was trained by Bilbo Baggins.   :-D

The next episode is called "There and Back Again" I am willing to bet we'll see more memories regarding the Burglar of Bag End

Admittedly he looks a bit goblin or rat like, but he's a halfling thief.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Nov 2018, 02:25
Netflix has announced that from next spring it will have available for HD streaming - Neon Genesis Evangelion (series and associated films - but not the "Rebuild" films).  It is a decade or more since NGE was available legally in the English-speaking world (but note the Netflix's deal is worldwide).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 29 Nov 2018, 15:52
I can finally finish/watch Evangelion. Watched the first few episodes and then got the End of Evangelion from the library

Also, I'm finally gonna start watching Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 29 Nov 2018, 15:53
I heard netflix is doing a live action Cowboy Beebop adaptation.  :?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Nov 2018, 00:27
I was hoping for this (and more optimistically than many others):

https://twitter.com/Mendinso/status/1068306950188949506
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Nov 2018, 00:36
The existing English dub has several major problems, from translation errors (in EoE), through cast changes between episodes, to the company owning the rights no longer existing.

Many people felt it likely that Netflix would stick with subs for this; but if they are redubbing in other languages whose dubs have a good reputation (the Italian one is apparently considered one of the best anime dubs ever made) clearly they will do English too.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Torlek on 30 Nov 2018, 08:36
Oof, that could make watching it again weird. It won't feel right if Shinji's voice doesn't help in making him so hateable.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 30 Nov 2018, 12:30
IMO Shinji is only hateable by people who don't get it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 01 Dec 2018, 04:15
One thing I remember most from the english dub, this one random guy that sounded like he was from Ed, Edd, and Eddy
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 08 Dec 2018, 20:10
Do anime parodies/abridge series count for this thread? TFS just finished Hellsing Abridged. I am a little confused but it was a fun ride.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Theta9 on 15 Dec 2018, 07:22
I've been trading CDs with my new friend at work, and he's been giving me a preponderance of jazz music. A few days ago I lent him the first Cowboy Bebop OST and he loved it; after hearing the rest he ordered both OST 1 and the movie OST from Amazon.
Yesterday I gave him the first DVD of the teevee series. He's on vacation until January 2 so he's got some time to watch it.

(Data points: he's a 52-year-old man from Argentina. I'm a 49-year-old white American from California.)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 21 Jun 2019, 03:08
Neon Genesis Evangelion went up on Netflix this morning.  There are new subtitles and dub.  I quite liked the old dub, but, from my sampling, this is seriously better.  I like some of the phasing I've seen in the subs, too - but they don't sub many screen elements you might expect them to, which I haven't decided about yet.

It would seem that the rights holders for the ending song, Fly me to the Moon, got greedy, because a different song (from the series) has been substituted for it, at least in the English version - I understand that in Japan it's still there.  A shame - after all, it was there in the previous English release!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Theta9 on 22 Jun 2019, 07:01
Neon Genesis Evangelion went up on Netflix this morning.  There are new subtitles and dub.  I quite liked the old duxb, but, from my sampling, this is seriously better.  I like some of the phasing I've seen in the subs, too - but they don't sub many screen elements you might expect them to, which I haven't decided about yet.

It would seem that the rights holders for the ending song, Fly me to the Moon, got greedy, because a different song (from the series) has been substituted for it, at least in the English version - I understand that in Japan it's still there.  A shame - after all, it was there in the previous English release!
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Jun 2019, 02:34
The Japanese word "suki" is best translated as "like", not "love".  In Japan the words for love ("ai", "koi") are used at a later stage in a relationship; suki is used for one's crush, or by a mother for a child (a mother's love is not the same as romantic love). 

The translator in this case is Dan Kanemitsu, who is Khara's in-house English translator.  He has responded to talk about this on twitter, explaining that the ambiguity of "like" (which can mean "like like") is intentional, and is how it comes across in Japanese.  See his replies to this tweet:

https://twitter.com/skrublordFey/status/1142077513717440513

There is some discussion of these words here (https://www.thoughtco.com/i-love-you-in-japanese-2028066).
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Theta9 on 23 Jun 2019, 06:57
I've been trading CDs with my new friend at work, and he's been giving me a preponderance of jazz music. A few days ago I lent him the first Cowboy Bebop OST and he loved it; after hearing the rest he ordered both OST 1 and the movie OST from Amazon.
Yesterday I gave him the first DVD of the teevee series. He's on vacation until January 2 so he's got some time to watch it.

(Data points: he's a 52-year-old man from Argentina. I'm a 49-year-old white American from California.)
UPDATE: friend made it through the first 5 episodes before deciding it was too racist for him (the three old men being Mexican stereotypes, and also Punch.) Elected not to continue watching, and returned the DVD.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: RedWolf4 on 26 Jun 2019, 16:47
On the topic of the NGE Netflix script changes I saw something doing the rounds on tumblr about some of the other scenes. For Example. . . .

From the original dub
(https://66.media.tumblr.com/ef7c0dcfcd942deea0d61d63e3f5d8bc/tumblr_ptoxwh72rv1sab6cto1_540.jpg)

From the new netflix dub
(https://66.media.tumblr.com/0f00abe2abd49c7d2bc2f7fffb02d0aa/tumblr_ptoxwh72rv1sab6cto2_540.jpg)

Dunno if this is legit or some sort of weird ass false flag crap.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: dutchrvl on 27 Jun 2019, 05:03
On the topic of the NGE Netflix script changes I saw something doing the rounds on tumblr about some of the other scenes. For Example. . . .

From the original dub
(https://66.media.tumblr.com/ef7c0dcfcd942deea0d61d63e3f5d8bc/tumblr_ptoxwh72rv1sab6cto1_540.jpg)

From the new netflix dub
(https://66.media.tumblr.com/0f00abe2abd49c7d2bc2f7fffb02d0aa/tumblr_ptoxwh72rv1sab6cto2_540.jpg)

Dunno if this is legit or some sort of weird ass false flag crap.

Hmm, it would be rather bizarre is they actually used the word 'leftists'.....is this real?
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 27 Jun 2019, 09:18
They still don't like referencing the Aum attacks directly.  But yes, that's a curious choice for the subs.  Dan Kanemitsu probably doesn't have a clear idea how that reads in the West.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Theta9 on 28 Jun 2019, 06:55
It's just as I suspected all along - THE ANGELS ARE COMMUNISTS!
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 28 Jun 2019, 13:27
Here's a reasonable article (https://wiki.evageeks.org/Theory_and_Analysis:Kaworu%27s_lines_in_Episode_24#Background_for_the_translation) on the new translation of Evangelion used by Netflix (I put it that way because it's clearly not Netflix's translation, but Khara's), specifically with regard to Kaworu's lines.

In other news, the remainder of Forest of Piano is now up on Netflix.  The second half has been done without the CGI of the piano playing, which some people criticised - so instead they represent the effect of the music with lots of floating bubbles and the like.  But to be fair, the manga does that too!  Although I am sad that they missed out some elements of the story (Kai's meeting and wooing his girlfriend), it's still a good representation of the main story.  I suppose they could make the girlfriend episode as an OVA, if they can be bothered (I suspect they won't, which is a shame); they could also do a short OVA of the piano tuning episode.

While I'm here, do try to get to watch Dororo.  This new adaptation of the old (1967-8) manga has a decent ending instead of just petering out, and is nicely designed and animated (and obviously beats the old 1969 anime version by being better quality and not black-and-white!).  It was a constant pleasure this last season.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SmilingCat on 30 Jun 2019, 19:52
(just got netflix a week ago and binged a couple shows, Evangelion among them)

I'm actually really bothered by the reaction to changing Kaworu's line. Even setting aside that what he actually said in the original Japanese translates most accurately as "like", all of the original context is still there. All the blushes, the interactions, his obvious affection, Shinji's confused reciprocation... none of that is gone. It's not gay erasure if all the subtext is still there. And using like to indicate attraction isn't even a Japan specific thing. Did none of these people go to high school and obsess over "liking" someone, but like, "Like" liking them?

Too much complaining about that and not enough complaining about the use of "children". Please think of the Children!

I also binge watched "Your Lie in April" based on a reference I saw in a youtube video. Apparently it's not really a good idea for someone going through a crippling depressive episode to binge watch "Your Lie in April".
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: RedWolf4 on 01 Jul 2019, 02:24
Eh, I think it's more pushback against how dubs sometimes try to PC the intended/unintended/complete far left interpretations of dialogue.

(Only example I can think of right now is the Dub for Sailor moon changing the dialogue between two characters to make them out to be cousins as opposed to heavily implied lovers, and only succeeding in creating a brand new kissin' cousins' interpretation!)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SmilingCat on 01 Jul 2019, 14:31
That would be hilarious since the change to Kaworu's dialogue is a result of following the original Japanese more closely.

(Amusing sidebar, I can distinctly recall people complaining when the original english dub was released, because having Kaworu say "I love you" offended people who insisted it added a gay subtext that "didn't exist". I think I even recall someone arguing that the... er... hospital scene with Shinji and Asuka in End of Evangelion proved that Shinji was straight and therefore the "I love you" translation was wrong)

To be honest, I feel like it's a knee jerk reaction that's more they changed it, now it sucks!" (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/"TheyChangedItNowItSucks) And it's only a story because it's clickbait worthy.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 12 Dec 2019, 08:23
Awesome, new Goblin Slayer is coming out with a cinematic special in February.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 28 Dec 2019, 14:12
I've just finished watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix (it took me like three days) and I want more. But Legend Of Korra is on Amazon Prime and I don't *have* Amazon Prime and now I am mad.


 :x
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Theta9 on 29 Dec 2019, 10:19
I've just finished watching Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix (it took me like three days) and I want more. But Legend Of Korra is on Amazon Prime and I don't *have* Amazon Prime and now I am mad.


 :x

SO GOOOOOOOOOOD
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Gyrre on 11 Jan 2020, 01:28
Got a volume of Robotech: New Generation in a mystery box sale from Vintage Stock.
Harmony Gold, 1) who the fuck edited this? 2) why aren't subtitles available, ADV Films? Not even for the dub.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Jan 2020, 02:03
DVD releases of Robotech were a right mess.  Of course, the origination of the series was quite a mess already.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 11 Jan 2020, 04:28

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 11 Jan 2020, 09:07
Dorohedoro was on my list to try when it starts tomorrow, but after seeing that trailer, I'm not sure it's for me after all.

The first episode of Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! was more fun than it had any right to be.  I wonder if they can keep it up.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 06 May 2020, 05:32
I finished what I hope is the first season of Eizouken and it was amazing, a real love note to the animation industry

I also finally finished Last Exile, a show I first started watching back when it came on G4 of all places. I remember it mostly for the flying ships and the intro with the bagpipes, but it seems like that was such a small part of it. Overall it was just okay, an alright early 2000s anime where they were still figuring out how to use 3D.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 06 May 2020, 08:08
Hmm.I got bored with Eizouken about halfway through, and haven't finished it.

OTOH, Gleipnir is turning out to be more fun than I expected.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tova on 09 May 2020, 17:33
Still ticking items of my watch bucket list.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 10 May 2020, 06:47
My favorite Miyazaki movie. I even like it better than the book, though I read the book after
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Theta9 on 10 May 2020, 09:44
Still ticking items of my watch bucket list.

My favorite Miyazaki movie. I even like it better than the book, though I read the book after
Why Miyazaki bothered to license the novel is a mystery to me; he obviously had a very different story to tell and it didn't really need the few elements that he took from DWJ.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 26 Jul 2020, 18:21
Well shoot, looks like the mangaka behind Keep Your Hands Off Eizokun might be connected with pedophilia (https://twitter.com/bloomfilters/status/1287496890020499456)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 30 Jul 2020, 03:37
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/fe16e5ee5c3739d11c83f2b1e03a4995/tumblr_p5e0qgt8Fd1v1hotuo1_540.gifv)
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/78aad7d272ef99bcb2a71537cea76855/tumblr_p5e0qgt8Fd1v1hotuo3_540.gifv)
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/807c06ce47f54c6715822c1585d0a41b/tumblr_p5e0qgt8Fd1v1hotuo2_540.gifv)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Gyrre on 17 Aug 2020, 08:24
Same advice as TFS DBZ Abridged, don't binge watch  PTE while eating. You risk choking.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: SmilingCat on 22 Aug 2020, 17:43
My personal thoughts viewing Uzaki chan Wants to Hang Out:

Episode 1: Seems pretty ordinary really. Guess I'll stick with it for a couple episodes.
Episode 3: How can this show trigger so much internet drama? I guess I'll give it a little bit longer?
Episode 5: *Uzaki delivers her rant on the greatness of mint chocolate chip ice cream* Okay, kid, you've won me over.
Episode 7: "Just get rid of the cat." You're trash Uzaki. You're trash and everything you say and do is trash now and forever. Surrender your cats to me and go climb into a dumpster where you belong, you enemy of cats.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 22 Aug 2020, 19:39
I've been watching a lot of kids shows (since I have kids) and my wife started to put on the original Sailor Moon on Hulu. I never watched it growing up and according to her the version we're watching is a newer dub than the one she watched when she was a kid. So far its pretty good. I think my favorite character is Luna (The cat). My wife says she's a bit different in the older dub and this newer one almost seems like a new character. I think the next episode is when they finally fight Jadeite. Rei is legit pretty cool and I love her antagonistic relationship with Usagi. Also I think its rather funny that Tuxedo mask shows up in most episodes

(click to show/hide)

My 1 year old started doing the sailor moon pose when she's in her high chair during meals. Its cute. My 2 year old gets so invested in the story and gets a bit scared of the monsters and clutches my arm during those scenes.

Weird question, did the studio for Yu Yu Hakusho do Sailor Moon? Sometimes I get similar vibes. Granted I saw Yu Yu Hakusho way back when I was in High School and even then I only saw a handful of episodes so it may just be me.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 06 Nov 2020, 20:35
After seeing clips and art on imgur, I decided to try out Fire Force. I am 3 episodes in and the premise is pretty cool. The intro music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBqxVX_LXvk) is really nice. Its a post apocalyptic world, and in Tokyo people have started to spontaneous combust. When doing so they become fire zombies called "infernals." The government created a response team to put down these demonic entities and investigate in what causes this phenomenon. They are called the Fire Force and are deployed like, and alongside, the fire department. The fire department puts out the fires after the Fire Force puts down the infernal. Some people have been born with pyrokenetic powers. Some can manipulate existing fire and use them against the infernals, and some have developed X-men style abilities that are fire based and can create them. Most fire force companies consist of these individuals.

The story follows Fire Force Company 8 as they put down infernals and try to figure out the cause of spontaneous combustion. The leader of company 8 doesn't have any powers and is just a normal human. Our protagonist is Shinra, who is a recruit. He can shoot fire out of his feet which he uses to launch himself like a rocket, do fire kicks, and break dance fighting. He also has a nervous tick, kind of like the Joker, in that when he's nervous, anxious, or scared, he can't help but smile. This gets him into trouble a lot. He has a tragic past and wants to investigate the fire that killed his family. There are many other crew mates on the team including another rookie that can make a plasma sword and thinks he's King Arthur, a pyrokenetic woman that was recruited from the military, a nun, a no nonsense lieutenant that can manipulate guns, and the captain that has no powers which is uncommon in the Fire Force.

The first few episodes are great, with the second episode being a real gut puncher. The third episode is also great and deepens the mystery of the show. There is one glaring problem that shows up. A new character is introduced and the opening sequences indicates they will be joining the team. Maybe its just my problem and I just don't get it, but her character is just cringey. She dresses in a bikini under her fire suit and has this "clumsiness" where she'll trip and fall into a guy which results in him touching her boob or butt. She then berates them for sexual harassment. In her introduction scene I didn't even see her trip but in a blink of an eye, Shinra was just standing there awkwardly, and then his hand was under her bikini top and on her boob.  He doesn't even know how it got there and he's not a lecherous character. She yells at him and "trips again" and now he has his hands on her butt. I just don't understand this type of character at all. It really breaks my immersion and is just awkward, and not in a funny way. Looking up the show, this is her entire character. She has the power to give herself fire cat powers, but other than that she's just there for fan service and to accidentally get groped.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 07 Dec 2020, 19:46
I just finished Season 2 of Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon R). Its pretty good. I know a lot of fans hate the Ail and An arc but I honestly enjoyed them. We watched the first episode of season 3 (Sailor Moon S) and I am not sure if they got new artists or if it was part of the manga, but the villainesses are extremely busty. I noticed it but thought it was just what I observed until my wife said something. When watching the preview for the next episode, the next monster is a well endowed cat woman. My wife and I found this to be very funny.

So far I would sum up the 3 arcs as such:

Season 1 "Dark Kingdom" is Power Rangers without the giant robots, and more about interpersonal relationships.

Season 2 "Ail and An" arc is about an alien couple that cuck each other while feeding their house plant.

Season 3 "Black Moon" arc is Back to the Future and Terminator put in a blender.

I am not sure whats in store for season 3, but my wife is excited (she's been watching Sailor Moon Crystal). Also poor Mamoru, dude can't catch a break. Good show so far.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Gyrre on 07 Dec 2020, 23:58
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu if you're after something utterly ridiculous.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 24 Jul 2021, 10:19
I recently burned through the whole of the first Fullmetal Alchemist series.

It's actually had a profound effect on me - adjusted my viewpoint on things somewhat.

Some truly gruesome, horrible, sickening things happen in this show - it is almost relentlessly dark with plot, even if there are quite a few gags to lighten the tone. I've often said that I don't really understand people who are fans of things that are predominantly dark, who have ideas in them as disturbing as, say,
(click to show/hide)
.

But having watched it all the way through now... this show clearly has issues with religious fundamentalism, but is not critical of having a religion in itself. There is a terrorist character, but one who is depicted with complete sympathy as a human being outside of his actions. It's pretty heavily anti-fascist, down to the head of state being called the Fuhrer, and the military having committed countless atrocities. It's a show that depicts humanity happening upon knowledge of what they COULD do, but questions about whether that means that people SHOULD do it. None of the heroes are without failures or mistakes. Few of the villains are completely lacking in sympathy. I'm just, really fucking impressed.

It's also given me a taste for anime back again after Netflix took Death Note off while I was still watching it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 26 Jul 2021, 03:31
I'm glad you watched the first anime.  These days FMA Brotherhood is people's default.

There's good reason for that, in that it follows the manga to the end - in 2003 less than half the manga was written, so much of FMA 2003 is anime original, and the main plot is fundamentally different.  But it was well done, and I marginally prefer it to Brotherhood which has pacing issues - at the start it rushes through the parts already animated in the earlier version, and towards the end the plot slows down and is stretched out far too much (a problem in the manga as well, which it follows faithfully in this regard).

Both are worth watching, but perhaps not back to back.  FMA 2003 has a film sequel (The Conqueror of Shamballa) which gets very mixed reactions.  It takes place mainly in a version of Nazi Germany in the 1920s.  I think it's worth watching, even if not as good as the series - it gives more closure to the brothers' story as well.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 26 Jul 2021, 11:42
I watched much of the first half of Brotherhood with my students and found it very irritating. I now plan on giving it another shot, just to see where the plot goes. And I will eventually, I think, read the manga.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Gyrre on 09 Aug 2021, 09:18
Ascedance of a Book Worm

Noralities makes a good case for it and Dr. Stone while comparing and contrasting the two.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 14 May 2022, 12:37
I've been watching Komi can't communicate on Netflix and its pretty good. I can;t wait for the dub of season 2 so my kids can watch it (they very much enjoyed season 1 but are too young to read the sub for season 2) Season 2 is currently releasing new episodes every Wednesday. I must say the Dub is pretty good and I thought it was cool they gave Najimi They/their/them pronouns. Yamai is my least favorite character, but her introductory episode, while practically a horror movie, was entertaining. Especially the voice change she does in the Dub. It was like night and day when she switched from her cutsie voice to her serious voice.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 28 May 2022, 20:53
I just started watching Spy x Family on Crunchyroll. I really like the premise and its been really good. I even got my wife to watch the first few episodes and she's hooked!

2 rival neighboring nations (Westalis and Ostania) are involved in a cold war. One of the members of the nationalistic party in Ostania is trying to make the cold war a hot one. In response Westalis sends in their best spy, Agent Twilight. He assumes the name Loid Forger and finds out the only way to get close to the target is by meeting them at social gatherings at an affluent and very private school. So Loid will have to create a fake family to fit in and get a child into the school. Loid visits a sketchy orphanage (no papertrail) and selects the smartest kid there, a 6 year old little girl named Anya. Anya however has her own secret, she escaped from a government experiment and is secretly a telepath. After getting her to pass the entrance exam, they will have to do a family interview and will need someone to fill the role of the mother. They bump into a pretty lady named Yor. She's in her late 20s and is single which makes her suspicious to the authorities. She doesn't want to raise suspicion because she is secretly an assassin for a private organization. They strike up a deal, they will pretend to be married so that she can appear to be normal and he can get Anya into the private school to get closer to his target. No one in this pretend family knows anyone else's secret, except Anya because she can read minds.

We're 4 episodes in so far and it is very funny and entertaining. We're watching the English dub on Crunchyroll but the original Japanese with English subtitles is on Hulu. My kids like Anya but they had to skip the second episode because it was too violent.

TL;DR: Mr and Mrs Smith if they adopted 11 from Stranger Things.

(https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Z3S0se9vl/0x0/spy-x-family-1651178943317.jpg)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 29 May 2022, 01:31
it was cool they gave Najimi They/their/them pronouns.

I've noticed that in other Netflix series.  Komi is on my list, but I haven't started it.

I am up to date with Spy x Family though - it's good fun, but really very silly indeed.  I can't imagine wanting to watch it again.

The show I am most invested in this season is Dance, dance, danceur, about a boy who wants to be a ballet dancer.  It has inevitable similarities with other shows about boys who want to do something arty (Forest of Piano, Blue Period).  They have made the main character curiously ugly though, and (perhaps to stylise the ballet sequences more) there is a tendency to hugely stretch leg lengths.

Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Thrillho on 22 Jun 2022, 05:24
I've just started watching Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Blue Kitty on 22 Jun 2022, 17:40
One of us, one of us.

I'm finally watching Demon Slayer after having read through the manga twice
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Sep 2022, 10:50
I've been looking out old anime curiosities.  I'm currently halfway through each of three six-parters.

10 Tokyo Warriors (1999 OAV) is pretty poor stuff - I'm not sure I'll bother to finish it.  There is a supernatural setup not dissimilar to X ; but there is no useful description, so you're wondering what it's all about for quite a while.  I gather that the second half is another arc, with a timeskip and unexplained differences.  The arcs are taken selectively from a series of light novels.

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, known in English as Looking Up at the Half-Moon, also started as a series of light novels.  It was adapted as a 6-episode anime TV series, followed the same year by a 13-episode live-action TV series, and a few years later by a live-action film.  It's unusual in being set entirely in a hospital (except that the protagonists often slip out for various reasons).  It's a romance, with one party having a probably terminal illness, for which they will have a potentially fatal operation - this (but nothing else) is like Your Lie in April.  I think the 2006 anime version is rather sweet - quite gentle, and mostly not too absurd.  The plot uses Night on the Galactic Railroad, both as a book which is read by the characters, and as having plot elements that could relate to their story; it's more deeply embedded, actually, than the similar usage in the film Giovanni's Island.  Reviews vary strongly from loving it to hating it.

Please Save My Earth (original title is in English) is a 1993 OVA with six 30-minute episodes.  The story covers less than half of a 21-volume manga.  The story involves a group of children who discover that they have the memories of seven now-dead aliens (not necessarily of the same gender) who had been isolated on the Earth's moon when their civilisation was destroyed by an unimaginable weapon.  So the story has two parallel paths, tracing the behaviour of the trapped aliens and the realisation of what happened in their pasts by the children.  There may be some low-level time-travel shenanigans as well, as one of the aliens is seen to be aware of her reincarnation in Japan.  Although the initial build-up is slow, this series is clearly posing moral dilemmas for the viewer to ponder.  I'm pretty sure I'll go on to read the manga as well.  Music in the anime is by Yoko Kanno, which is an additional recommendation.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: pwhodges on 13 Sep 2022, 10:51
LATER: I finished Looking Up at the Half-Moon.  I can't understand those who criticise the story for being bland.  Sure, it starts gently, but the 5th episode in particular, and the ending have a decent amount of drama.  My earlier assessment of "sweet" was undervaluing it.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 11 Oct 2022, 23:07
I've been watching "Bastard!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy" on Netflix. Its based on the manga from the 80s and it shows (think of those "Heavy Metal" movies and magazines). Apparently it had its own animation adaptation back in the late 90s and Netflix decided to give it the remake treatment in 2022.

The premise:
Hundreds of years after an apocalyptic event created by an entity known as Anthrasax, that rocked the earth has kicked humanity back to the medieval era, but now with magic, monsters, etc. An evil wizard named Dark Schneider and his forces tried to take over the world, but he was defeated by Prince Lars Ul Metallicana whom sacrificed himself to seal Dark Schneider into the body of a baby boy named Lucien. Fast forward 15 years and the Kingdom of Metallicana is under attack by new dark forces. It's up to the naive young boy's caretaker Tia Yoko to unseal the dark lord to save the kingdom. She does as evil wizard Osbourne invades the castle. So Dark Schneider appears and is a total asshole. He defeats Ozzy who was working for the new dark lord. Now the new Dark Lord, an old friend of Dark Schneider's as are many of his generals, tries to find out if he will stop their plans of restarting that same apocalyptic event that destroyed the world before.

TL;DR: In a world of sword and sorcery the kingdom named after Metallica summons Sauron to fight a bunch of other dark lords and everyone/thing is named after 80s metal bands and band members. Its cheesy as hell and it knows it. Fair warning as I didn't know this going in but there is a lot of T&A, both male and female, as well as gore. Considering the source material is 80s sword and sorcery, it makes sense.

Also the music is awesome!


Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: LeeC on 18 Oct 2022, 18:27
Since Komi Can't Communicate has yet to have a season 3 announcement, I started reading the manga online (should this go in the webcomic section?) and today's chapter ending has me shook.

(https://c.tenor.com/VYhaNeFl8zMAAAAC/angry-rage.gif)

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Near Lurker on 04 Nov 2022, 09:38
Hey... I'm trying to find a legal source for Urusei Yatsura?  I can only find the films, or four-episode DVDs of the series for an arm and a leg.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Pilchard123 on 04 Nov 2022, 12:56
The 2022 version is on Hidive (https://www.hidive.com/tv/urusei-yatsura) (and apparently Disney+ in some places), though there's only four episodes that have aired at all so far. AnimEigo's license for the 1981 series expired in 2011 but  it has recently been licensed by Diskotek (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-07-30/discotek-licenses-classic-urusei-yatsura-anime-city-hunter-films-more/.188134). They are apparently going to start shipping sub-only (EDIT: subtitle, not subscriber) box sets in 2023.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Near Lurker on 04 Nov 2022, 13:44
I'm kind of only interested in the 1981 series.  Honestly, I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm slightly tempted to be bi and do crime.
Title: Re: Anime anyone?
Post by: Tova on 04 Nov 2022, 16:16
Don't do crime.