|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on May 25, 2010 18:31:04 GMT -5
Right, you all know how this goes. Post and chat about Anime! Stuff you've seen recently, what you're currently watching, your favorites, something upcoming, whatever. Figured we could jam all the basic stuff into one topic.
I'll start things off with my top 6 favorite Anime(in no particular order):
0. Outlaw Star 1. s-CRY-ed 2. Rune Soldier 3. Record Of Lodoss War 4. Angel Links 5. Big O 6. Android Kikaider
And just for the heck of it, here's my top Anime Movies(also no order):
0. Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan 1. Perfect Blue 2. Munto 2: Beyond The Walls Of Time 3. Brave Story 4. Interstella 5555 5. Trigun: Badlands Rumble 6. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
As for the stuff I've watched lately, I've been doing somewhat of a marathon of multiple series since friends have suggested things to me. First it started with K-On! Which I watched for two episodes before checking out another request: Rune Soldier
This show easily made it into my favorites with its great characters(most of them), action, comedy, and art style. I plan to buy the complete DVD set once I get enough cash. Afterward, I went about hunting down the Munto series as another request.
The first OVA was a bit slow, but pretty entertaining overall. Enough to make me curious about the second, anyway. Munto 2 ended up making it into my favorites as well with its high paced action and sheer levels of awesome on its side.
But afterwards, in the TV series, things get ugly. While episodes 5-7 are just fine, and even have some great moments, the last quarter of episode 8 and all of episode 9 just suck. Thankfully, they more or less function as sequal hooks, so who knows.
So now what? I dunno. I'll probably get back to K-On once I'm done being lazy. The show doesn't seem so bad, but I dunno. I can't stand the half the cast of the show so far. Eh, I'll atleast give it a few more episodes before I call a final judgment.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Jun 24, 2010 19:40:58 GMT -5
Okay, so, I just gave up on K-On. Out of the first six episodes, only episode five was really all that decent, but even that wasn't enough to save the show for me. So, to counter-balance this, I've decided to start watching Turn-A Gundam. Been hearing good things, so hopes are high.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Jul 12, 2010 17:18:50 GMT -5
Just finished Turn-A Gundam. The ending is very bittersweet, and while it goes by a little fast, is still very well pulled off. Overall, this is probably my favorite Gundam series.
Speaking of which, what sealed the deal for me is how Karma decided to take Sochie and rib her face in a pile of sulphur. I also managed to call out many secrets before they were revealed, which is funny.
No idea what I'll be watching next. More than likely Record Of Lodoss War. But I'll save that for later this week. For now, break time. See you all on the frontlines!
|
|
BD
Squire
Stay Classy, Ymaggion
Posts: 26
|
Post by BD on Jul 18, 2010 1:10:00 GMT -5
Just finished Turn-A Gundam. The ending is very bittersweet, and while it goes by a little fast, is still very well pulled off. Overall, this is probably my favorite Gundam series. Finally, someone else watches it. I love Turn-A, even if Loran is a whiny bitch. It's got arguably the most powerful Gundam ever created in any universe; it's got one of the best-characterized archrivals in all of Gundam, but it has the one thing I feel every Gundam series should have, like you mentioned: the bittersweet ending. I'm sorry; but, unless it's G Gundam, which is the exception to the rule for reasons i'll explain later, I feel like every Gundam series should end with a bittersweet ending for one simple reason; war is bittersweet. Every war has casualties, and happy endings are considered low collateral and a victory, if you can call that happy. As far as I can see, pretty much every Gundam series focuses on a war, which as stated before, always has at best a bittersweet ending. That's why I love Turn-A, it follows the formula for what Gundam should be even better than some of the more popular Gundam series. Anyways, I love mecha series period. That should be obvious if you know me, but I seriously enjoy it more than any other type of anime. That said, I thought i'd go through some of my favorite series in response to DS mentioning one of my favorites via the standard top 10 list. 10. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross -I always like to throw curveballs in the ten spot, but I feel Macross should be deserving of much more praise than it gets, mainly because in a way, it allowed mecha anime to gain a grounding in the U.S. Dubbed and edited into Robotech, the series' likable characters and basic conflict allowed viewers to connect to the series, which gradually grew more complex and engrossing as the series went, even if the original story wasn't necessarily intact. Some people may enjoy the other generations of Robotech as important and claim the whole show was a launch pad for mecha, but the first series arc is by far the most attractive and understandable, giving the 10th spot of Macross and its bastardized Robotech form. 9. King of the Braves GaoGaiGar -This is a bit of an interesting one; because, I feel the need to explain something about target audiences. The Japanese would target this show at younger children due to its relatively simple conflict and easy-to-follow characters by anime standards, yet the simplicity of this series is what makes it appealing to this anime viewer who is well above the target audience. The heroes of the GGG fight as courageous heroes and even give long speeches about righteousness and the good fight, and it's this quality that really give the series meaning. It doesn't have the best conflict, and there are some unimportant characters; but, it's not about how crazy you can make a show; it's about fighting the good fight and proving that courage triumphs over all. This message would follow the target audience set by the Japanese, yet I feel touched by it, merely because you don't see altruism like this in modern society, and it's almost refreshing to go back to a sheltered environment which teaches the basics of morals in society. 8. The Big O -Massively underrated series that showed that American film noir and it's influences can cross cultures, creating an elegant tapestry of western and eastern not unlike Cowboy Bebop, which creates just an excellent animated atmosphere. Set in a post-apocalyptic city, the series shows a darker more realistic view of the world and focuses on actions having consequences. The robot's aren't capable of doing misty flips or anything ridiculous, but that's because this atmosphere is based on realism, and the effects of incredible power in a more accurate representation of modern society. The robots are shown as tools and engines of destruction, and thus are treated as such, showing the consequences of such robots being built, chaos and apocalyptic implications. The one thing I will criticize though is the characters who can come off as flat and unengaging at times, but the atmosphere of cool is just so awesome that it's hard not to become immersed in the mysteries of Paradigm city. 7. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann -This series walks a tightrope between the wacky stylings of GaoGaiGar and the serious attitude of Big O. While the robots and some of the characters are shown as comical or overplayed, the series grows progressively darker as the villains' true motivations are revealed and characters are forced to accept the events of the story. Truthfully, Gurren Lagann is one of the few series that CAN actually do this, merely because it doesn't try to balance the two attitudes at once and allows one to gradually shift into another instead. As a result, while not always the most comforting series, Gurren Lagann pleases this reviewer with its ability to make the best of any situation and ability to retain its original grounding even after the series progresses. That's this viewer's opinion, after all, who the hell do you think I am? 6. Turn-A Gundam -See earlier paragraph, really, I feel like of so-called "serious" Gundam series this one can't be beat, except for arguably Mobile Suit Gundam, which I felt was the perfect jump start to a franchise, just not a model of what the franchise wanted to be. 5. Code Geass -Another Sunrise show, this one is focused a little less on the robots and pours a great deal of effort into the characterization of the cast. There are few, if any, characters that can be deemed completely worthless to the plot, which is in and of itself, convuluted yet not completely beyond the scope of the show. However, because of previous success by a similar series in Death Note, I feel like the mechas were almost tacked on at the end as a way of distinguishing the series from Death Note, as each one focuses on creating a perfect world through questionable means. It feels like with minor revisions, even modern weaponry could have been used in place of the mechs. That said, while somewhat tacked on, the mecha parts are done extremely well, with excellent design and an actually believable premise for their existence. Even if they're not necessarily the stars of the show, the mechanical soldiers who fight Zero's war are still enough to file this show as a mecha series, and a top 5 one at that. 4. Full Metal Panic! (and sequel/omake series) - I enjoy this series more for its characters than anything else. The mecha parts are well done, and the battles are intense and have purpose. The series is similar to Geass in that the focus is more on the characters than the mecha; however, because the plot directly integrates the mecha and their existence into the overarching plotline, it succeeds in making the robots feel just as important as their pilots. Later series expand on this in varying ways, with Fumoffu focused more on fun character development, while The Second Raid focused more on plot progression and character depth as the series began to darken from its already graying demeanor. This series is similar to Code Geass and should appease most if not all mecha fans, and some non-mecha fans who just enjoy superb characters. 3. G Gundam - Okay, so I promised i'd explain why I love this show so much earlier, and here it is. The reason G Gundam is so successful is that it breaks away from the formula of massive wars and angst and focuses on progression past wars. Rather than fight with casualties and direct confrontation, all the nations have agreed to a civil contest rather than causing endless bloodshed and heartbreak, yet the series avoids the pacifist undertones of series such as Turn-A or Wing. The show is about how one man's quest for improvement and change for the better can impact a whole world, and the series is focused more on progress and the willingness to create a brighter future for everyone. 2. Neon Genesis Evangelion - Let's be honest, this show saved anime in the 90's. In a time when no shows were becoming hits, and viewers were becoming bored of the typical 80's genres of anime, Hideki Anno decided to take a TV series down a dark and twisted path not experienced by mainstream anime at the time. It was this new edge that attracted viewers and keeps them attracted to this day. Anno's swan song wove a tale of human struggle to appease oneself and others, and how these struggles can affect the world around us and force us into extraneous circumstances. The cast was created in such a way that each character had a specific part to play, meaning the plot was easy to pick up, but nearly impossible to master or understand. Anno still confounds viewers with remakes and press releases; however, the original still caused it all. The one criticism I have is that the re-watch value is low, as earlier episodes seem less relevant and tend to drag in relation to the hard hitting late episodes of the series. Oh, and ignore the TV ending, go watch End of Eva, it's how it was supposed to end. 1. Martian Successor Nadesico -This show is perfect. If I had to pick one show to watch for the rest of my life, Nadesico would be it. It follow more of the Gurren Lagann philosophy of seriousness in moderation, yet the series is just brilliant. In a way, the series functions as a mecha parody, yet it's original plot and compelling characters make it seem like so much more than a play on cliches that have already been used. From plot devices such as the show in a show Gekigangar 3, to the more serious questions asked by the cast towards the last 6 episodes of the show, Nadesico has moments ranging all across the emotional spectrum, resulting in a truly relatable experience, as the ability for the emotions and attitudes of the series to progress and change truly reflect human qualities, giving the show a dimension I don't believe can be mimicked in modern anime. If you get the chance, pick up the box set, it's worth every penny, and the dub is just as good as the sub. My one complaint is that the movie sequel "Prince of Darkness" veers too far from the series' formula and tries to match the increasingly darkening views of modern anime, rather than follow the same balance of humor and seriousness that made the original enjoyable. I need sleep now, as i've now officially been writing this post for almost an hour which is a sign that what i've written is probably mostly incoherent. Sorry for all the likely grammar mistakes.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Jul 18, 2010 2:53:18 GMT -5
Eh, I'm not really a fan of Mecha shows, honestly. To me, most of them just off as, to put it bluntly, stupid. Over the top theatrics, ridiculous extremes, etc. Not to say some shows can't do it correctly, it's just that most don't really take interest. Here's a list of the few I liked:
Big O Eureka Seven G-Gundam Gundam Wing Megas XLR Neon Genesis Evangelion SD Gundam Turn-A Gundam Voltron Zoids
You can also throw in Betterman if that counts through technicality(being a distant sequal to GaoGaiGar and all). But yes, shows like GaoGaiGar, Code Geass, and especially TTGL just really don't work. Say what you want about shows with over-powered humanoids, but atleast those mostly deal with taking things into your own hands and not "MY MACHINE IS BETTER THAN YOUR MACHINE HO-HA-HO!"
Aaannyway. I just finished Record Of Lodoss War, and I gotta say, I had a blast watching it. Not only is it a blatant D&D Campain turned anime, but the acting is so overplayed and underplayed at the same time, in both versions, that it comes off as stupidly charming. Definitely adding it to my favorites.
And yet I don't exactly know the exact reason, despite the show having alot of great things going for it. Good characters, an excellent orchestral score, sweet art style, and like I said, the charmingly cheesy acting. While the story is kinda-sorta basic for a fantasy setting, it ends up really working out.
Next up is either Angel Links or Gundam X, but since I finished Turn-A Gundam not too long ago, I'll probably be hunting down Angel Links first. But for now, it's break time once more. But yeah, it was nice seeing what Rune Soldier was a spin-off too. Pretty surprising since the tones are almost exact opposites of one another.
|
|
tk
Squire
Posts: 38
|
Post by tk on Jul 20, 2010 14:01:02 GMT -5
well, I suppose I'll sound in.
obviously being thrown into the fray are some 3-G, some G Gundam, and to a lesser extent gurren lagann.
mostly because I"m a sucker for hotblooded passion. it's not the acts, it's the determination and resolve, that make a manly character manly.
but also, on the other hand, welcome to the NHK, for making me question my outlook in life.
people play thousands of games hoping to be touched like that.
crest/banner of the stars, for having such a lovely cast.
ojamajo doremi, for having a much more adorable cast. and they're well-written to boot.
well, right now I"m too hungry to think of anything else.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Jul 23, 2010 0:15:16 GMT -5
So I recently tried to watched Welcome To The NHK, and...
I just had to stop halfway through. Just cannot stand how we're apaprently meant to look at both Misaki and Hitomi as sympathetic characters when they're nothing more than selfish idiots.
However, I did relate and find sympathy with both Satou and Yamazaki, though. Granted, they're messed up in ways(and ain't that what the show is about?), but hey, they're decent enough people.
I might pick it up again one day, since the show seems to be on a decent enough route, but for now, no. I need a break.
So I suppose I'll try and stomach Gundam X in a little while.
|
|
tk
Squire
Posts: 38
|
Post by tk on Jul 26, 2010 9:18:13 GMT -5
when you pick it back up, you'll figure it out.
oh well, can't stop first impressions.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Jul 29, 2010 15:23:24 GMT -5
Just finished Gundam X. And despite the feeling of being rushed at a few moments, Newtypes being overpowered and the characterization being a bit on the so-so side, it's not bad. Out of the few Gundam shows I actually liked, I rank it in 4th place. So what's next? Eh, maybe I'll pick Welcome To The NHK back up, but that won't be for a while even if so.
|
|
tk
Squire
Posts: 38
|
Post by tk on Jul 29, 2010 18:38:13 GMT -5
awesome.
and no, you're not supposed to sympathize with misaki and hitomi. you're supposed to observe them.
or at least, that point of view managed to yield good results with me.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Jul 31, 2010 1:23:57 GMT -5
So... yeah. I finally finished Welcome To The NHK. And really, the show is rather hit-and-miss in my opinion. Half the time the shows has a nice bit of dark humor, characterization, and even makes some good statements about life in general and has a great soundtrack. The other half of the time is... annoyance, for one reason or another.
What helped get through though was, everytime something on the downside happened to Hitomi or Misaki, I did my best to laugh. Horrible as it may sound, the reasons given to justify their behavior are pretty weak in my opinion. So, while the show definitely has its merits, it's not exactly my cup of tea.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Aug 20, 2010 17:29:25 GMT -5
So I just finished watching Angel Links, and ya know, for a near-direct spin-off of Outlaw Star, it has nothing to do with the series, and yet everything to do with the series, all at the same time. There's alot of inconsistencies, but they're reletively minor, and there's also alot of references to Outlaw Star.
For example, the characters Valerie and Duuz are directly from Outlaw Star, and yet they may as well be totally different people. Their personalities are almost totally different, and their appearances have been changed up a little. As well, Saurians are now called Dragonites, and are their own race instead of genetics.
Other shout outs include cameos by Fred Lou, Clyde, and Iris, as well as a Tao Mage and an Android Control System. While the previous show gave us the view of the Outlaws, this one gives us the view of the Space Force. I guess Pirates are just bad dudes no matter how you look at it.
The soundtrack is pretty nice, the animation is pretty fluid if a bit goofy at times, and as for the voice acting, the voices are fitting, but the directing really goes up and down to the point where you sometimes laugh when you shouldn't. For plot, it's pretty so-so until around episode 7, inwhich things start kicking in.
So yeah, if you don't mind a few minor continuity errors, then this show is actually a pretty fun watch, and was just good enough to make it on my favorites list. It's only 13 episodes, half the length of Outlaw Star, but it's a good ride while it lasts. Now, it's break time.
|
|
|
Post by Evil McBadGuy on Aug 29, 2010 0:56:47 GMT -5
So... To Aru Majutsu No Index....
It's decent.
...What? That's about all that can be said.
Characters? Decent. Story? Decent. Music? Decent. Drama? Decent. Comedy? Pretty nice.
Overall, it's really just a time killer. I give it a 4/6.
|
|
|
Post by Morph on Sept 14, 2010 10:16:19 GMT -5
Currently following Highschool of the Dead, The Legend of the Legendary Heroes and Durarara. The pacing and interwoven storylines of Durarara are pretty nice, though it doesn't really stand out from the crowd in other aspects (unless you consider there are tons of bad-looking anime). Highschool of the Dead is pretty great, but it's like it's 50% where it's almost hentai but not quite, 50% gore. I wished they would have toned down on the former and spread the latter out more. The characters are well-...er, rounded, though. I especially like how the otaku kid is the most heroic of the lot. The Legend of the Legendary Heroes' first episode was confusing, then later pics up a bit, but overall stays average and isn't recommendable to people who don't like fantasy.
|
|
|
Post by The Rising Dragon on Sept 14, 2010 10:55:08 GMT -5
I haven't watched High School of the Dead, but I have read through the manga. All the fanservice, hilariously enough, keeps in spirit with the manga, though (its not identical) but well, that's what you get when you read a manga where the artist draws hentai doujins for a living. From what I hear, though, the anime diverges a lot from the manga, which tends to happen when the anime can't go past the manga after a certain point.
|
|