Author Topic: Watching any anime? (Read 268669 times)

superaielman · « **Reply #425 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:04:44 AM »

Utena- Started this, blame Shale. Just finished the first episode. Impression? The art style's very interesting, and the show's well put together. I will be rating the episodes on a 1-10 The Writers need to get Laid scale (1 being Zenny, 10 being Nomura and Zenny's love child), and a 1-10 The Writers need to do less Drugs scale (1 being merely drugged out, 10 being XS plot writers)

Episode 1: WNTGS: 7- Gender bending, blatant lesbian fanservice, the stuff with the 'bride', etc. Pretty fun start. TWNTDLDS: 8. They started off weird enough, using the insanely pretty art style in a matter that can is over the top even by anime standards.

Episode 2: WNTGS: 7- As oversexed as the first episode. Utena is literally having to fend the ladies off with a stick. TWNTDLDS: 7.5- Less crack induced, though this says nothing. It's just clearly setting up the fun for later. Utena I'm liking as a main so far, the green haired villain is so pathetically bad and over the top that he makes Seifer look credible. The scene with the student council taking about bringing revolution to the world while flowers are everywhere in a giant floating castle is pretty funny/entertaining.

1/17/2008>[21:33:57] * Shale reads your comments on Utena.
[<11/17/2008>[21:34:29] <Shale> Don't worry about the show hyping Saionji. He's so incredibly not the villain.
[<11/17/2008>[21:35:32] > His failure is so massive and complete that his existence is only there so Utena looks better by comparsion.
[<11/17/2008>[21:36:11] <Shale> Not just her!
[<11/17/2008>[21:36:23] > He rolls up to a Seifer/T-ELOS rap battle, and merely stands there. He fails so much that they quit rapping in disgust and commit mutual suicide merely to escape his presence.
[<11/17/2008>[21:36:24] <Shale> He will do the same for other characters later on. This is intentional.
[<11/17/2008>[21:37:07] > however his failure is so complete that they accidently give themselves immortality and spend eternity calling plays for the Eagles.
[<11/17/2008>[21:37:44] > And that's before he speaks. Hence he's been hilarious so far.

NotMiki · « **Reply #426 on:** November 18, 2008, 01:10:49 AM »

I will be particularly interested to see what you think of episode 7.

superaielman · « **Reply #427 on:** November 18, 2008, 02:41:00 AM »

Oh yeah, this reminds me a bit of Asellus's quest. Probably the rose/omnisexual/subservient princess theme.

DjinnAndTonic · « **Reply #428 on:** November 18, 2008, 03:53:09 AM »

Funny, I would have said Asellus' quest reminds me of Utena... but I'm not actually sure which one was created first.

Again, not really 'Anime', but I started reading the fan-translations of the Suzumiya Haruhi light novels. The writing's pretty good for a fan-made production, though a bit stilted at times. Less often than you'd expect, though.

As for the actual content of the Light novels - so far it hasn't had anything that wasn't in the Anime's main plot. I really enjoyed the Anime's main plot, but one of the selling points of the Anime was that it inter-spliced non-chronological storylines in-between the episodes, allowing the characters more time to develop before reaching the climax.

The Light Novels haven't done this so far, but it's a fun read nonetheless. Still one of the more interesting anime set-ups that I've seen, and does a decent job of poking fun at anime tropes, even if it falls into them itself at times.

I haven't done any research myself yet, but one of my students keeps talking about her favorite manga 'Bloody Monday' - does anyone know if this is any good?

-Djinn

hinode · « **Reply #429 on:** November 18, 2008, 04:12:05 AM »

Utena's original run was April 2 to December 24 in 1997. Saga Frontier was released on July 11, 1997.

So the answer is... neither came first. <_< Well, the Utena manga started in 96, but IIRC that was more conventional plotwise.

NotMiki · « **Reply #430 on:** November 19, 2008, 02:56:51 AM »

Legend of Lemnear: 60 or so minutes, and more nipples than you're likely to see in... in... actually, I don't think I've ever seen an anime with that many nipples. In Lemnear's first appearance in the desert she's wearing a cloak and a metal bikini. I don't think there's a female character wearing that much for the rest of the show. Plot: the champion of bronze and the champion of silver are jealous that they came in second and third, so they killzorz the champion of gold with their swards and nipples.

Choice diologue: "I know your weak point! It's that jewel in the middle of your forehead!"

Well, that's one bad anime down! Up next...Cybernetics Guardian, perhaps?

superaielman · « **Reply #431 on:** November 19, 2008, 04:44:14 AM »

Episode 3: WNTGL: 9. Incest is now thrown into the mix. Neph wants Ciato and throws a ballroom party partly to get her attention. Strago obviously is bitterly jealous that his love Neph is looking at another person, so throws some dress eater on the timid Mia, who is saved at the last second by a crossdressing Ciato, who sweeps her off her feet in front of everyone while CT fangirls in the backround. TWNTDLDS: 2. Surprisingly straightforward. Gets those two points for crossover bonus value points with the incest stuff.

Episode 4: WTNGL: 2. Not perverted at all. I'm shocked. Just a basic study episode with Strago clearly having a breakdown because Mia is so shy and beloved. Generic Male who's name I haven't even caught (We'll just call him VSM until he does something) mostly exists to look like the token pretty guy. Ciato doesn't do much this episode, it's all about Strago and his constant drama and overacting. TWNTDLDS: 5. Strago's breakdowns are a bit weird, but not much compared to the first two episodes.

WanderingMind · « **Reply #432 on:** November 20, 2008, 12:36:12 AM »

Stuff I'm watching in my college's anime club:

Soul Eater - I thought I was going to dislike Soul Eater, but I've been proved wrong.

Clannad - Is downright depressing at times.

Code Geass (Season 1) - Similar to Death Note, only with robots.

Haibane Renmei - A really good anime. Slow at first, but picks up after a couple episodes.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei - Insane, random, and extremely funny.

Outside of anime club:

Wolf's Rain - I'm loving it so far.

DjinnAndTonic · « **Reply #433 on:** November 20, 2008, 12:48:22 AM »

... so I tried out Naruto again after a long absence. Manga only, I'm not touching the anime. I read something like the latest 150 chapters in one sitting.

Kishimoto is focusing really heavily on non-Naruto characters, which is interesting.

Also, people start dying. I feel like the series is finally making progress.

Itachi made a much better villain than I gave Kishimoto credit for being able to write. First I genuinely found myself hating him, even though I don't particularly care about Sasuke... and by the end of the arc I really found myself moved by Sasuke and Itachi's situation. That's pretty impressive considering how much apathy I had for both them up to this point.

In short, Naruto is a decent manga as a whole, but I cannot understand anyone who enjoys it weekly, as it generally takes 10 chapters just to find out that the characters have been trapped in an illusion and get on with the story. To be fair, the illusion was -really- well-drawn and pretty.

Jiraiya's back story was cool, and the zOMG 'destiny' parallels between Naruto and Pain that came out of that arc are not lost on me. For all that I poke fun at it, it seems like it'll lead up to an interesting fight.

Yay, pretty fights.
-Djinn

superaielman · « **Reply #434 on:** November 20, 2008, 04:06:13 AM »

Episode 5 was solid good times. Miki's a good guy at heart but has a little self centeredness to him. And good fucking god is Nanami Strago. STOP HITTING ON THE YOUNG BOYS STRAGO, IT IS NOT RIGHT. Thanks Utena, you just shattered WNTGL and TWNTDLDS scales with Nanami's episode.

Edit: Dear lord Saoniji fails more than DL Vaynard.

NotMiki · « **Reply #435 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:01:31 AM »

Quote from: DjinnAndTonic on November 18, 2008, 03:53:09 AM

Funny, I would have said Asellus' quest reminds me of Utena... but I'm not actually sure which one was created first.

That's an easy one...Rose of Versailles comes in first by about 20 years.

DjinnAndTonic · « **Reply #436 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:08:49 AM »

Quote from: NotMiki on November 20, 2008, 05:01:31 AM

Quote from: DjinnAndTonic on November 18, 2008, 03:53:09 AM
Funny, I would have said Asellus' quest reminds me of Utena... but I'm not actually sure which one was created first.

That's an easy one...Rose of Versailles comes in first by about 20 years.

Rose of Versailles does not have VAMPIRES! Actually, even though RoV and Utena are somewhat similar visually, they don't strike me the same in atmosphere at all. Utena is far more... abstract. Asellus' chapter is a bit (a lot) less abstract than Utena, but seems a bit more abstract than RoV. This could be because SaGa Frontier's script is just altogether sparse, giving an illusion of abstraction.

Rose of Versailles just seems less similar to both of them in a lot of ways that I wouldn't go so far as to call it a main influence on both of them. Well, it is REALLY visually similar to Utena, I suppose.

I want to say that Takarazuka theatre predates even Rose of Versailles if we're looking only for the inspiration of the visual style, though.

-Djinn

superaielman · « **Reply #437 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:12:18 AM »

Done with the first disk. I really liked that last duel. Saionji needs to have more brief cameos, he's been really funny in a 'oh god shut up you scrub' way.

Sierra · « **Reply #438 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:06:52 PM »

Quote from: superaielman on November 20, 2008, 04:06:13 AM

Episode 5 was solid good times. Miki's a good guy at heart but has a little self centeredness to him. And good fucking god is Nanami Strago. STOP HITTING ON THE YOUNG BOYS STRAGO, IT IS NOT RIGHT. Thanks Utena, you just shattered WNTGL and TWNTDLDS scales with Nanami's episode.

That's most Nanami episodes, really, though you might have found that out by now (has Dona Dona Dona happened yet?)

Also, to other people: is Rose of Versailles out on DVD like anywhere? I've never been able to find it and would like to watch it.

EDIT: Well, hey, I guess I could talk about what I'm actually watching. Still haven't got ahold of Red Garden's last couple episodes. Argh. Finished Simoun. It deserves more rambling than I have time for at present, so for now I will just say that it is good.

Grenadier: Ahahaha. Wild ARMs heroine + samurai and Gainax bounce (minus actual Gainax). It's total nonsense but has the decency to realize this fact. There are worse time wasters out there.

So, was poking around on TV Links to see which links weren't actually dead and came across Allison + Lillia. Someone recomended this to me but I can't recall who (Pyro? Soppy?) Only thirteen episodes, so I may as well give it a shot over the weekend.

Shale · « **Reply #439 on:** November 20, 2008, 05:27:54 PM »

There's a complete torrent of RoV out there, but no English DVDs that I know of (and there probably won't ever be, sadly).

Also, no Dona Dona Dona yet. Heck, he hasn't even seen Curried High Trip, so the Nanami weirdness has barely begun.

Sierra · « **Reply #440 on:** November 20, 2008, 06:03:03 PM »

Sadness. I suppose I'll have to ask again whenever I get a computer that wouldn't be crushed into powder by me trying to store the series on it.

Also, I must ask: Super, are you or are you not digging the crazy Japanese prog rock? Follow-up question if the answer is no: what is wrong with you?

Also also: hype for the egg episode goes here.

superaielman · « **Reply #441 on:** November 20, 2008, 10:54:11 PM »

Music's been good. I'm really looking forward to watching more of it, core cast is a lot of fun besides Anthy.

Pyro · « **Reply #442 on:** November 21, 2008, 01:52:16 AM »

Looking forward to Super's reaction to the movie!

ef: A Tale of Melodies - Trippiness continues. Artsiness continues. Drama continues. Great character work continues. Pyro happiness continues.

Kannagi: Someone suggested this to me. The execution is neat enough in some respects but the base concept of a harem with a loserish male lead is still unpalatable.

Ga-Rei Zero: Episode 5 dragged a lot (100% accurate bottle throwing aside). 6 brought back the action-packed well-animated show I enjoy.

Allison to Lillia: Really not my style right now, but I'll check it out.

Hunter Sopko · « **Reply #443 on:** November 21, 2008, 02:13:30 AM »

Quote from: El Cideon on November 20, 2008, 05:06:52 PM

So, was poking around on TV Links to see which links weren't actually dead and came across Allison + Lillia. Someone recomended this to me but I can't recall who (Pyro? Soppy?) Only thirteen episodes, so I may as well give it a shot over the weekend.

That'd be me. It's actually 26 eps.

Rose of Versailles is not out on DVD. Nearly every company's wanted to bring it over, but no one wanted to bite the bullet on the enormous losses that would ensue.

NotMiki · « **Reply #444 on:** November 21, 2008, 03:58:42 AM »

Utena music... the dude who does the instrumental music also did Nurse Angel Ririka SOS. That always throws me off when I watch the latter.

Like this:
http://media.putfile.com/Ririka

Sierra · « **Reply #445 on:** November 21, 2008, 02:29:03 PM »

Quote from: Hunter Sopko on November 21, 2008, 02:13:30 AM

Rose of Versailles is not out on DVD. Nearly every company's wanted to bring it over, but no one wanted to bite the bullet on the enormous losses that would ensue.

Damnable companies, with their fixation on "profits." How dare they deny me swordgirl anime! I mean, who do they think is the center of the universe here? Someone other than me? Poppycock!

EDIT: On a related note, I guess my only option for getting Utena these days is eBay stalking. Blah.

superaielman · « **Reply #446 on:** November 21, 2008, 03:51:31 PM »

Okay, I'm offically a fan of the show after the Curry episode. Saionji's bits were priceless, as was Nanami in general.

Nanami is so, so Strago. That kitten bit wasn't shocking but it fit the character pretty well.

Shale · « **Reply #447 on:** November 21, 2008, 05:08:41 PM »

Quote from: El Cideon on November 21, 2008, 02:29:03 PM

EDIT: On a related note, I guess my only option for getting Utena these days is eBay stalking. Blah.

There was a store at Otakon that had most of the discs, and they have an online presence. Lemme see if I can find the URL...

...there we go. http://sfcontinuum.com/dianpr.html

Sierra · « **Reply #448 on:** November 21, 2008, 05:42:28 PM »

Biiiitchin', thanks Shale. Looks like everything but the second volume of the opening arc is there. Will likely order stuff when I get home.

And Super: it says a lot about the show that I don't despise Nanami in spite of her drowning a kitten (cat-killing generally earns someone a permanent black mark in the Cid's revenge journal). She's just hypnotically dense.

Hunter Sopko · « **Reply #449 on:** November 21, 2008, 05:52:17 PM »

Bwhahahaha. Ohhhh Sci-Fi Continuum. I'll forever loathe that woman.

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Author Topic: Watching any anime? (Read 268669 times)

Pyro