Animu and Mango thread

[Lance Uppercut]

This thread is for the discussion of Japanese Animation ("Japanimation") and Japanese Graphic Novels ("Munga").

Rescued this link (http://randomc.animeblogger.net/2008/09/29/fall-2008-preview/) of the fall season from the other place. For sure I'll at least be following Gundam, and probably Tytania. Legend of Galactic Heroes was epic space opera goodness, and Tytania is written by the same guy.

As for the question of why there's no Haruhi season 2, it's probably because the studio that makes it was working of Clannad, which I probably won't be watching. The sad-girls-in-snow genre isn't particularly interesting to me.

[Sandman]

Animu? Does not compute.

[Stoke]

Haruhi season 2 is on canceled I believe. The rumor going around is that the novel writer wanted more money from the anime than he was getting so he wouldn't let it be made until they gave in. In response his publisher would not publish anymore books until he gave them the go ahead. Neither one backed down. The 10th novel is still unpublished and they are making a "retelling" of Haruhi season 1.

Also, the name for the anime and manga board at 4chan was named "Animu & Mango" a while ago.

I'll be watching Gundam 00 for sure and I'm interested in Hokuto no Ken, Ga-Rei, Shikabana Hime, Kurozuka, Mouryou no Hako, and Tytania. The trailer for Tytania was horrible though so I'm hoping it turns out ok.

[NoName]

I'll definitely be watching Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae with the GF. I'll continue to watch Soul eater and probably add Tytania too, that does look interesting.

It's amazing how many animes come out each season, and how few actually look good...

[TheSilentDeath]

Definitely going to be watching Gundam 00 and Tales of the Abyss since I'm a Gundam and Tales of fanboy. Other than that might have to watch Toradora, Casshern SINS, and Kurozuka. I was looking forward to Kurogane no Linebarrel but after seeing who the character designer is I decided to stay clear of it.

[Troggles]

That site is going to kill me. So much stuff I am anticipating now.

[Atepsflame]

That site is going to kill me. So much stuff I am anticipating now.
It's not the anticipation that kills me, its the immense backlog of shit I haven't seen yet.

[TheSilentDeath]

That site is going to kill me. So much stuff I am anticipating now.

I usually go there for spoilers since Omni (It's originally his blog if I'm not mistaken) puts up screen caps, summaries, and some really good impressions before the subs come out.

However he does a really stand out job for upcoming seasons and actually helps me decide on what shows I have time to watch.

[shunoshi]

The majority of anime I end up watching is relatively mainstream. Most recently I've been watching Death Note as the DVDs release here. The Japanese metal opening song surprised me a bit. :p It's actually a decent series.

*EDIT* Interesting enough, the last three posts have avatars from 3 of my favorite animes of all time. :D

[Lance Uppercut]

The majority of anime I end up watching is relatively mainstream. Most recently I've been watching Death Note as the DVDs release here. The Japanese metal opening song surprised me a bit. :p It's actually a decent series.

*EDIT* Interesting enough, the last three posts have avatars from 3 of my favorite animes of all time. :D

Protip: Hulu has all Death Note episodes for free. Take note that if you don't like subtitles, that's all they have.

[Wraith]

I'll watch Clannad After Story, as I enjoyed the series (and the bonus Tomoyo episode). Though a second season of Haruhi would trump pretty much anything else, if it were to materialize anytime soon.

I still need to watch Allison & Lillia and Library War. I've got a bunch of episodes downloaded, but have only watched a few.

I've got the ARIA the Animation DVD set to watch as well.

I watched the first season of School Rumble on DVD several weeks back, and I know the first half of the second season came out recently (though it was selling for more than I paid for the whole first season, which is a bit silly). I'll probably keep my eye out for a good price on that one.

And I'm still crossing my fingers that ADV will either finally release Yotsuba&! vol. 6, or else let a more competent publisher pick up this manga license. It was supposed to be released a long time ago, and has just been sitting in some kind of limbo ever since.

[Lance Uppercut]

School Rumble season 1 is awesome.

Season 2, not so much. Just remember to stop watching when the basketball arc starts.

[Mashidar]

I was wondering when a new thread like this would start up, and I figured Lance would of been the one to start one. Even held off making a thread because I knew Lance would create one sooner or later. :D

Overall I'm really looking forward to Clannad, I loved the 1st season to the point where I spoiled myself for this second season and hope that this season keeps the dark feel of the original material. I have no doubts though and in fact look forward towards this more than Gundam 00 season 2.

As for Gundam 00 season 2 I look forward to watching how things go, the first season started really slow, then midway it picked up and IMO saved the series for me to watch in the future. I just hope this one carries on the energy of the first season's ending and does not have too many slow parts.

Rosario to Vampire season 2 is another series I look forward to. The first one was interesting in a usual Harem style anime show but the main idea that a human is going to a school full of monsters is just funny to me.

[shunoshi]

Protip: Hulu has all Death Note episodes for free. Take note that if you don't like subtitles, that's all they have.

Wow, that makes things easy, thanks! Subtitles are fine.

[CES]

As a quick heads up, Gundam 00 S2 starts on the 5th and it looks like Conclave Mendoi will be one of the groups subbing it for the rest of us. Conclave deliver a HQ version but they take ages. I recommend hitting Shinsen if they sub it then getting all of S2 when it's done from Conclave.

[Atepsflame]

I'm looking forward to Gundam 00 season 2. That show really surprised me when it radically changed course about half-way through. It went in a direction I totally didn't see coming. Second season should be excellent.

[Abyssion]

Alright!! I've been waiting for a thread strictly about mangoes...
But seriously I can't wait for Gundam 00 season 2!

[TheSilentDeath]

As a quick heads up, Gundam 00 S2 starts on the 5th and it looks like Conclave Mendoi will be one of the groups subbing it for the rest of us. Conclave deliver a HQ version but they take ages. I recommend hitting Shinsen if they sub it then getting all of S2 when it's done from Conclave.
With Gundam I usually hit Nyoro~n Fansubs since they release a high def AVI which makes playing the show not a chore. Now don't get me wrong the .mkv format is alright but it can be finicky depending on which group uses it. Case in point the new GG sucks at using it and is one of the reasons I still have not watched the final episode of Macross.

[bryan]

So far the only show I'm definitely gonna watch is the new season of Gundam 00. I stopped the first after 13 eps, but since you guys have been raving about the latter half I'm gonna give the 2nd season a go.

I'm currently enjoying Xam'd Lost Memories.

[Lance Uppercut]

I nearly stopped watching 00 when the show introduced the Trinity Gundams and their pilots, but the final third of the show was fantastic. Don't let the middle part of the 1st season stop you.

[bryan]

I didn't even get to the Trinity Gundams part. The first half tried to be clever and heartfelt and failed miserably.

[CES]

With Gundam I usually hit Nyoro~n Fansubs since they release a high def AVI which makes playing the show not a chore. Now don't get me wrong the .mkv format is alright but it can be finicky depending on which group uses it. Case in point the new GG sucks at using it and is one of the reasons I still have not watched the final episode of Macross.

The main problem i have with Nyoro is that their subbing isnt the most accurate at times. Conclave put out a 1280x720 H264 as their alternative to the 704x400 MKV which works well enough for me.

And yes, the MKV format doesnt seem to be the most stable one around, does it? VLC utterly hates it.

Bryan: Watch the first series from episode 15 onwards since that's when they actually decide "hey, hang on, we're supposed to tell a story"

[Mashidar]

I suppose I don't need perfect subs, as long as they are close enough I tend to be able to fill in the rest. As for Macross Frontier's final episode I wonder what your folks general thoughts would be for it. I loved it and to me it felt very Macross, even paid respect to the older Macross series in some parts.

My friend on the other hand, hated it. He felt it was just a horrible ending and frankly that the series went downhill a few shows again.

[TheSilentDeath]

And yes, the MKV format doesnt seem to be the most stable one around, does it? VLC utterly hates it.

It's stable if the group using it knows how to use it. And also VLC sucks media player classic with the CCCP is much better.

Also from my experiences with Nyoro~n (mainly the first half of TTGL), I didn't find their translations to be bad. Hell I compared the DVD version of TTGL to their release of it and it wasn't off by much.

[Stoke]

It's stable if the group using it knows how to use it. And also VLC sucks media player classic with the CCCP is much better.

I have to second this, if you aren't using MPC and CCCP to watch all video on your computer you're doing it pretty wrong. Especially if you use VLC instead.

[Wraith]

Speaking of MKV and players and such, has anyone got a reliable method of converting MKV files with subtitles into video that will play on a PS3?

I've tried a few programs (mkv2vob seemed the most promising), but haven't had any success yet. Either it ends up video without subtitles, or the PS3 won't take the file at all.

Or am I just getting crappy MKV files that won't convert correctly? (The simple answer might be to just download HQ AVIs instead, but I kind of like not having the subtitles in the video itself, at least when I'm playing them on PC.)

[bryan]

The main problem i have with Nyoro is that their subbing isnt the most accurate at times. Conclave put out a 1280x720 H264 as their alternative to the 704x400 MKV which works well enough for me.

And yes, the MKV format doesnt seem to be the most stable one around, does it? VLC utterly hates it.

Bryan: Watch the first series from episode 15 onwards since that's when they actually decide "hey, hang on, we're supposed to tell a story"

Nah I figure I'll start fresh. I already regret wasting the time spent on watching the 13 eps. Usually I figure if the anime hasn't gotten me by 5 eps I give up on it. I only hung in there cause it's 1. Mecha and 2. It's fucking Gundam.

[Heretic Machine]

The generic crap factory is in full force once again. I read through the synopsis of these animes, and can think of a dozen clones from the past decade. TYTANIA might be watchable, but I expect the characters will be unrelatable and boring. I just can't take another "random high schooler thrown into wacky/dangerous supernatural situations" anime, and that's really all that is offered anymore.

[Stoke]

Speaking of MKV and players and such, has anyone got a reliable method of converting MKV files with subtitles into video that will play on a PS3?

In my experience no. There's not a single program that will do what you want reliably. You're going to need a program specifically for taking the soft subs and hard coding them into the video, and another program to convert that into a file usable by the PS3. I haven't tried in a while (and then only on a PSP and 360 - never a PS3) so there may be new programs that work out there that I don't know about, so take this with a grain of salt.

[NoName]

The generic crap factory is in full force once again. I read through the synopsis of these animes, and can think of a dozen clones from the past decade. TYTANIA might be watchable, but I expect the characters will be unrelatable and boring. I just can't take another "random high schooler thrown into wacky/dangerous supernatural situations" anime, and that's really all that is offered anymore.

I agree. I want more interesting anime's along the lines of Blood+ and Code Geass. Or even Mushishi! That anime was awsome.

[TheSilentDeath]

I agree. I want more interesting anime's along the lines of Blood+ and Code Gauss. Or even Mushishi! That anime was awsome.

I didn't really care for Blood+, but I don't think I've ever heard of a Code Gauss. :p

Code Geass was good and I think the ending was perfect for it.

[Cyrillus]

I had some mango dole whip (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dole_Whip) the other day, it was delicious.




...that is all.

[CES]

Speaking of MKV and players and such, has anyone got a reliable method of converting MKV files with subtitles into video that will play on a PS3?

I've tried a few programs (mkv2vob seemed the most promising), but haven't had any success yet. Either it ends up video without subtitles, or the PS3 won't take the file at all.

Or am I just getting crappy MKV files that won't convert correctly? (The simple answer might be to just download HQ AVIs instead, but I kind of like not having the subtitles in the video itself, at least when I'm playing them on PC.)

You could try Handbrake, it's designed for converting stuff for the PSP/PS3.


As for the MKV instability, anyone know why that is (and not just a "oh, VLC sucks")

[Wraith]

I've got Handbrake installed. I wonder if I need to try: MKV file -> mkv2vob -> ? file -> Handbrake -> working file for PS3.

[CES]

I've got Handbrake installed. I wonder if I need to try: MKV file -> mkv2vob -> ? file -> Handbrake -> working file for PS3.

Hmm, doesnt Handbrake support AVI as a format to convert? if it does, use All2AVI to convert it from the MKV then use Handbrake.

A shame more sub groups dont offer the H264 versions (they work with the PS3, right?)

[EWolfmanD]

I looked into trying to find a way to convert MKV files for the PS3 too, but I didn't really find anything. I think the one thing I did see was mkv2vob, but I never actually tried it out. I think for now I'll just have to watch MKV files on my computer and stream AVIs to the PS3 or 360. Thankfully, most shows seem to come out in AVI still so it hasn't been that big of a deal so far.

[TheSilentDeath]

As for the MKV instability, anyone know why that is (and not just a "oh, VLC sucks")

It's not that it's instable it's just that some people don't know how to use it correctly.

[CES]

It's not that it's instable it's just that some people don't know how to use it correctly.

You missed my point. How does "incorrect use" of the format (which is in itself a glorified shell) kill a media player?

[TheSilentDeath]

You missed my point. How does "incorrect use" of the format (which is in itself a glorified shell) kill a media player?

Ah didn't know that you meant the media player. I don't know why incorrect use would kill a media player. You know even after looking through stuff I still have no fucking clue how it could kill a media player. Maybe I'm just an idiot when it comes to this stuff.

[Mashidar]

So the first show of the Clannad: After Story aired and I must say I felt the same watching this show as I did watching Clannad's first season. I loved it and the opening song really fortells what may or may not come depending on what path they decide to take. Although from the opening I think I'm going to get what I expect and that's sad to see, but things might end well.

Clannad: After Story opening
H3aa5zOVAwc

Also a friend had me watch the first few of Detroit Metal City and well I laughed a lot. The only thing that threw me off is that they are making a live action movie, and while it looks good I noticed that Gene Simmons is a Demon God of Rock in the live action movie so I wonder if anyone knows if Gene Simmons is popular due to Kiss in Japan?

[CES]

Ah didn't know that you meant the media player. I don't know why incorrect use would kill a media player. You know even after looking through stuff I still have no fucking clue how it could kill a media player. Maybe I'm just an idiot when it comes to this stuff.

If you're an idiot about this, then I am too since i've found nothing on it. I do like the MKV format when it works since you get multiple sub tracks and multiple audio tracks.

[Lance Uppercut]

Also a friend had me watch the first few of Detroit Metal City and well I laughed a lot. The only thing that threw me off is that they are making a live action movie, and while it looks good I noticed that Gene Simmons is a Demon God of Rock in the live action movie so I wonder if anyone knows if Gene Simmons is popular due to Kiss in Japan?

KISS has always been popular in Japan, they've got a decent metal scene there as well.

And yes, DMC is hilarious. Metalocalypse has the better songs, but DMC makes me laugh more. Try the manga!

[Troggles]

I've had Clannad for a while now. I suppose I should get around to actually watching it.

[EWolfmanD]

I've had Clannad for a while now. I suppose I should get around to actually watching it.

I need to finish both Clannad and Gundam 00. I should probably do that soon so I can watch the new seasons and avoid having anything spoiled.

[TheSilentDeath]

Gundam 00 started today and I'm in the process of downloading the first episode. I'll post some impressions after I watch it but everything that I've heard has it being really good.

Edit: Ok I've now watched the first episode and I have to say that it really was awesome.

So you find out what has happen to the majority of the characters in the past 4 years and with that you get some suprises.

Ok first off Lousie is now a member of the A-Laws who happen to be the Federation's Top mobile suit pilots. Actually if you compare this Gundam to past Gundams the A-Laws are like the Titans from Zeta Gundam. Next Saji has actually grown a pair of balls since he confronts Setsuna about things that happened last season, and it seems that he will play a larger role this season. Exia gets the shit beat out of it only to be rescued by a new Gundam, the Seravee, piloted by Tieria. Lasse is alive, so apparently he didn't die at the end of the first season. Allelujah is being held prisioner some where. Finally at the end of the episode Setsuna confronts Lyle Dylandy while introducing himself as a Gundam Meister and then finally calls Lyle Lockon Stratos. The ending shows some interesting things such as the return of Ali Al Sarshes. Also forgot to add that the Federation that was formed at the end of last season is more ruthless than benevolent.

[EWolfmanD]

I guess I should start catching up on the first season of Gundam 00 tonight. I was thinking about starting over from the beginning since I'm not sure how far into it I got, but I think I might just try to find the episode I left off on. I stopped in the first place since I found all the Gundam pilots annoying and was actually rooting against them. And I know some other people show up that are supposed to be even worse. But it seems like most people here said the last part of the season was good, and if the beginning of the new season is awesome, I should probably just get through the parts I didn't like.

[CES]

I guess I should start catching up on the first season of Gundam 00 tonight. I was thinking about starting over from the beginning since I'm not sure how far into it I got, but I think I might just try to find the episode I left off on. I stopped in the first place since I found all the Gundam pilots annoying and was actually rooting against them. And I know some other people show up that are supposed to be even worse. But it seems like most people here said the last part of the season was good, and if the beginning of the new season is awesome, I should probably just get through the parts I didn't like.

Well, this isnt SEED so the lead characters arent all equipped with bullet shields. They dont one punch mechs which suddenly explode either.

On the subject of the latter, anyone notice the lack of suits going boom in S1? They got sliced up, shot and thrown around yet very few exploded. A welcome change really.

[Lithium Flower]

The last couple of years of anime have been really disappointing for me. Every show is the same generic, cheesy, corn-laden stuff over and over again. I think the last truly good show was Death Note, then recently Code Geass has been somewhat better but damn it why do they have to have so much high-school cheesy bull shit in everything!

I really really wish the anime gods would hear my prayer and make an Appleseed Ex machine full series, that'll be awesome. It'll be like GITS SAC all over again. Bliss. *sigh*

[Deadend]

The last couple of years of anime have been really disappointing for me. Every show is the same generic, cheesy, corn-laden stuff over and over again. I think the last truly good show was Death Note, then recently Code Geass has been somewhat better but damn it why do they have to have so much high-school cheesy bull shit in everything!

I really really wish the anime gods would hear my prayer and make an Appleseed Ex machine full series, that'll be awesome. It'll be like GITS SAC all over again. Bliss. *sigh*

What do you mean? Gurren Lagaan is out there and it is the most awesome show ever made.

[Stoke]

What do you mean? Gurren Lagaan is out there and it is the most awesome show ever made.

Gurren Lagaan is entertaining, but I wouldn't say it was good.

The only show I've really liked recently was Shion no Ou, but I seem to like anime about board games way to much so that might just be me.

[EWolfmanD]

Well, this isnt SEED so the lead characters arent all equipped with bullet shields. They dont one punch mechs which suddenly explode either.


00 is actually the first Gundam that I watched at all, so I wasn't comparing it to any other series. I just didn't like the characters and their reasons for doing anything, but I've been told that it gets better later.



The last couple of years of anime have been really disappointing for me. Every show is the same generic, cheesy, corn-laden stuff over and over again. I think the last truly good show was Death Note, then recently Code Geass has been somewhat better but damn it why do they have to have so much high-school cheesy bull shit in everything!

I really really wish the anime gods would hear my prayer and make an Appleseed Ex machine full series, that'll be awesome. It'll be like GITS SAC all over again. Bliss. *sigh*


I'm assuming that you're watching Code Geass on Cartoon Network? Season 2 didn't really have much high school stuff in it. I thought most of the stuff that took place at the school was pretty funny or them making fun of the stereotypical situations. Also, high schoolers are probably a large part of their target audience, so it would make sense that there would be some of it in the show. After the beginning of Season 2, there wasn't much of that, and even if there was, you don't really think about it with everything else going on.

Regarding Appleseed, the last news I saw about that was that there was going to be a series for it, but that it's been cancelled.

[Atepsflame]

I really really wish the anime gods would hear my prayer and make an Appleseed Ex machine full series, that'll be awesome. It'll be like GITS SAC all over again. Bliss. *sigh*

yeah... except it would suck. The Appleseed movies have always has been nothing more than a pretty face. Sure there's great battles a mech designs, but that's about all it's got going for it. The story (if you can call it that) is little more than an excuse to move the characters from one dramatic battle scene to another. Comparing Appleseed to GitS is unfair at best, heretical at worst.

[CES]

00 is actually the first Gundam that I watched at all, so I wasn't comparing it to any other series. I just didn't like the characters and their reasons for doing anything, but I've been told that it gets better later.


It does get much better when they skip over the (i swear it's mandatory) whiny angst moments.

Incidentally, the Mendoi subbed version is done and they're uploading the torrent now (I think there's at least another group who have had theirs up for ages now. Quality is everything though.)

[TheSilentDeath]

So I finally got around to watching episode 25 of Macross and I have to say that I thought it ended well. Plus all the songs that were in the episode was like a sensory overload, not that I'm complaining.

[Mashidar]

Gurren Lagaan is entertaining, but I wouldn't say it was good.


Gurren Lagaan is this generations EVA I think. Both are series that everyone tends to praise but overall both are just "ok" series. Gurren Lagaan overall didn't really shock me that much and in the end it was just a meh ending overall to me. Much the same with EVA.

Gundam 00's opening was interesting but it's been awhile that I've seen the series so a lot of the folks I didn't know who they were until after the show was over and I looked up the series info.

Macross Frontier's ending was good IMO. Lots of different things were going on and some good things from older Macross series such as the Macross Attack were used. Overall I've said it before that Macross is about Romance, Music, and Mecha. If all three of those are involved in the series then it's a success.

I have a number of number 1's to watch tonight when I get home from my vacation, so i'll post my thoughts about those tommorow. Rosario no Vampire season 2's opening show has been interesting. More fanservice then I recall but the show seems to have moved on like it never stopped so that's a plus I think. :confused:

[Lithium Flower]

yeah... except it would suck. The Appleseed movies have always has been nothing more than a pretty face. Sure there's great battles a mech designs, but that's about all it's got going for it. The story (if you can call it that) is little more than an excuse to move the characters from one dramatic battle scene to another. Comparing Appleseed to GitS is unfair at best, heretical at worst.

Don't quite agree with you there. I never meant to say that it was as good as GITS SAC (nothing to date is as good as GITS) but it had many of the elements that I loved about GITS. And I thought the plot, story, characters, setting were at the very least better than the generic crap they keep churning out these days. Appleseed has not seen the level of story development that GITS has, but it has the potential. I believe it can be developed into a really good series given the proper team.

I'm assuming that you're watching Code Geass on Cartoon Network? Season 2 didn't really have much high school stuff in it. I thought most of the stuff that took place at the school was pretty funny or them making fun of the stereotypical situations. Also, high schoolers are probably a large part of their target audience, so it would make sense that there would be some of it in the show. After the beginning of Season 2, there wasn't much of that, and even if there was, you don't really think about it with everything else going on.

Regarding Appleseed, the last news I saw about that was that there was going to be a series for it, but that it's been cancelled.

Nope, watching subs. It's not been released where I'm at. And I'm about halfway through season I so far and hating the student cast, except Karen/Kallen (which probably doesn't count since she's something more too). I really hope I get to see them all crushed under a giant mech.

[Deadend]

Gurren Lagaan is this generations EVA I think. Both are series that everyone tends to praise but overall both are just "ok" series. Gurren Lagaan overall didn't really shock me that much and in the end it was just a meh ending overall to me. Much the same with EVA.

Gundam 00's opening was interesting but it's been awhile that I've seen the series so a lot of the folks I didn't know who they were until after the show was over and I looked up the series info.

Macross Frontier's ending was good IMO. Lots of different things were going on and some good things from older Macross series such as the Macross Attack were used. Overall I've said it before that Macross is about Romance, Music, and Mecha. If all three of those are involved in the series then it's a success.

I have a number of number 1's to watch tonight when I get home from my vacation, so i'll post my thoughts about those tommorow. Rosario no Vampire season 2's opening show has been interesting. More fanservice then I recall but the show seems to have moved on like it never stopped so that's a plus I think. :confused:

You like your anime with lots of wanky "high concept" bullshit, don't you?

[CES]

00 Thoughts.

Nice to get a recap of where everybody is after the timeskip. Exia gets crippled again (nice terminator eye though), Seravee shows up and brings 4 BFG's to the fight, because what that suit needed was more dakka.

Saji, the resident brainball victim gets yet another kick, they do love torturing him. Louise is part of the A-Laws, the new OverFlag. Allelujah is in what looks like a mental hospital and Soma is being called back into service.

00 Gundam is the anti-Gundam Gundam, just like Exia before it. I wonder which one it will kill first?

A good episode though, fast paced and with a fair bit of carnage (They seem to have stolen the Automatons from Star Wars, I think)

[muddi900]

WTF!!!!

Where are the mangoes?

[EWolfmanD]

Nope, watching subs. It's not been released where I'm at. And I'm about halfway through season I so far and hating the student cast, except Karen/Kallen (which probably doesn't count since she's something more too). I really hope I get to see them all crushed under a giant mech.



I don't think I spoiled anything, but I decided to hide the text just in case someone didn't want to see season 2 mentioned at all.


Season 2 doesn't really have much to do with the school. The school is involved in the beginning of the season, but it's mainly to do with the plot and not the students. There are a few school episodes of course, but by the halfway point of season 2, most of the school characters barely show up in the show.

Of course season 2 is also different for a lot of other reasons, and you may or may not like that.

[Mashidar]

You like your anime with lots of wanky "high concept" bullshit, don't you?

Heh I tend to watch whatever is suggested for the most part or something I might stumble upon. For awhile I would not watch Full Metal Alchemist because I felt it was just stupid in it's premise. Then a friend got me to watch the first few in a row and well I'm glad I didn't pass up that show. :D

[mightbe]

Anime came up in IRC a few nights ago and it was a bloody civil war.

Peace was finally reached when we all agreed that Bebop was good shit.

[bryan]

Peaaace and looove!

[Mashidar]

Anime came up in IRC a few nights ago and it was a bloody civil war.

Peace was finally reached when we all agreed that Bebop was good shit.

*laughs* Bebop was good shit. It's one of the few series I've went back to watch as of late and one of the few I enjoyed buying the DVD's for when they were released.

I think the only series I really hated in the end when I was buying was Ranma 1/2. My friends and I took turns buying the new VHS release when it was released and by the 6th season and a crate of VHS cassettes we decided that it was time to wait for a DVD release.

[CES]

Anime came up in IRC a few nights ago and it was a bloody civil war.

Peace was finally reached when we all agreed that Bebop was good shit.

Someone made the mistake of invoking EVA with an opinion and someone else made the mistake of voicing the exact opposite opinion about it.

Not smart.

[Wraith]

Well after seeing all this talk of Gundam 00, I'm going to try an episode and see if it sticks. I haven't really watched any Gundam since Wing (which I know isn't highly regarded), and a few eps of one of the Gundam series CN used to carry years ago. I don't really go out of my way to watch mecha series, but hey, a good show is a good show.

[Atepsflame]

Well after seeing all this talk of Gundam 00, I'm going to try an episode and see if it sticks. I haven't really watched any Gundam since Wing (which I know isn't highly regarded), and a few eps of one of the Gundam series CN used to carry years ago. I don't really go out of my way to watch mecha series, but hey, a good show is a good show.

I'd suggest giving Gundam 00 a few episodes. It takes a few for everything to settle into place.

[Lance Uppercut]

I'd suggest giving Gundam 00 a few episodes. It takes a few for everything to settle into place.

Yeah, about 15 or so episodes. But the payoff in the second half of the show is worth it.

[CES]

Well after seeing all this talk of Gundam 00, I'm going to try an episode and see if it sticks. I haven't really watched any Gundam since Wing (which I know isn't highly regarded), and a few eps of one of the Gundam series CN used to carry years ago. I don't really go out of my way to watch mecha series, but hey, a good show is a good show.

You know, I dont think it's so much that Wing isnt highly regarded (it did bring Gundam to the western masses) but more that the fanbase for it tends to be shall we say batshit insane.

I may be wrong but I think CN only ever showed Wing and SEED. They skipped any one that wasnt very easy to censor (like Victory or Turn A)

[Lance Uppercut]

I may be wrong but I think CN only ever showed Wing and SEED. They skipped any one that wasnt very easy to censor (like Victory or Turn A)

They've aired Mobile Suit Gundam, 0080, 8th MS Team, G Gundam, SD Gundam, SEED, and Wing.

[Dread7x]

Anyone else watching Golgo 13? I'm trying to catch up on it now and it's pretty good. Its basically the Japanese version of James Bond on steroids.

Also watching Gundam Seed and I don't know why everyone hates it so much. It has some wtf? moments but its still okay. Fun series.

Anyone know any anime podcasts worth listening to out there? Maybe something that reviews new shows or anything anime related really. Now that GFW is gone I need a something new worth listening to.

[Stoke]

Also watching Gundam Seed and I don't know why everyone hates it so much. It has some wtf? moments but its still okay. Fun series.
Most of the hate is because it's pretty much a carbon copy of Zeta Gundam with a few ideas taken from some of the other Gundam series. If you've never seen Zeta Gundam I suggest you acquire the first episode and watch it, in fact listen to the audio of Seed's first while you watch the video of Zeta's first.

Also it's got a horrible and retarded protagonist and antagonist, invincible plot armor and Destiny (The second season of SEED) is the same in every way.

[Dread7x]

Most of the hate is because it's pretty much a carbon copy of Zeta Gundam with a few ideas taken from some of the other Gundam series.

I just saw the opening of Zeta and it does look creepily similar. This is my first Gundam series so I can forgive it for borrowing ideas from previous shows. And I guess the characters do cry a lot, but I find it funny so it doesn't bother me much.

I'll give the second season a try, if none of the new series that have premiered get any better, to see if I start hating it. If it's more of the same then I think I might. I can only take so much crying before I lose it.

[Atepsflame]

Yeah, about 15 or so episodes. But the payoff in the second half of the show is worth it.

It settles into a pattern in the early episodes, but yes, it does dramatically change its pace and ramps things up in the second half of the season, which comes out of absolutely no where. Loved it.

[CES]

They've aired Mobile Suit Gundam, 0080, 8th MS Team, G Gundam, SD Gundam, SEED, and Wing.

They sure as hell didnt show those on the Euro CN. Even when they were "Toonami" then CN Too.

[TheSilentDeath]

They've aired Mobile Suit Gundam, 0080, 8th MS Team, G Gundam, SD Gundam, SEED, and Wing.

Forgot about 0083 since they aired that too. 0080, 0083, and 8th MS Team all were on the Toonami midnight run, which now that I think back on it was fricken sweet.

[Wraith]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wraithakamrak/1223671674451.png

[Atepsflame]

Forgot about 0083 since they aired that too. 0080, 0083, and 8th MS Team all were on the Toonami midnight run, which now that I think back on it was fricken sweet.

It was an awesome block. It's a real shame it didn't last very long. Adult Swim seems to have given up on anime. Their saturday lineup is pretty woeful and they stopped replaying their back catalog most nights after 12:30/11:30. Which leaves the only anime block on basic cable that's really worth a damn as sci-fi's Ani-mondays, which is only two hours one night a week any way. *sigh*

[TheSilentDeath]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wraithakamrak/1223671674451.png

This picture is awesome.

[Heretic Machine]

I've looked into what's coming out this season, besides the preview that someone posted earlier, and I've found four series with some potential:

Casshern Sins (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=6032)
Chaos Head (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=6088)
Shikabane Hime: Aka (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=6036)
To Aru Majutsu no Index (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=5975)

They're all four being fansubbed currently, by several groups.

[Lance Uppercut]

Gundam 00 season 2 has been very entertaining so far.

[CES]

It has been fairly good so far. I like the pacing of it which is actually fairly speedy for once.

Good CG also helps.

[Wraith]

I'm working my way through the first season of Gundam 00 (watched through episode 13), and liking it so far. (The version I'm watching is only 704x400 avi, but it still looks great on the PS3.)

Anyone have any recommendations regarding these series?:


Higurashi
Shakugan no Shana
Fate/stay night


I haven't seen really anything of the above, apart from some artwork/box art.

[Atepsflame]

I'm working my way through the first season of Gundam 00 (watched through episode 13), and liking it so far. (The version I'm watching is only 704x400 avis, but it still looks great on the PS3.)

Anyone have any recommendations regarding these series?:


Higurashi
Shakugan no Shana
Fate/stay night


I haven't seen really anything of the above, apart from some artwork/box art.

My little brother seemed to like fate-stay night and its currently sitting on my hard drive but I haven't gotten a chance to watch it yet.

[evilgoodwin]

I'm working my way through the first season of Gundam 00 (watched through episode 13), and liking it so far. (The version I'm watching is only 704x400 avi, but it still looks great on the PS3.)

Anyone have any recommendations regarding these series?:


Higurashi
Shakugan no Shana
Fate/stay night


I haven't seen really anything of the above, apart from some artwork/box art.

Higurashi: Disturbing. Very different from most series. It's basically 5 different versions of a story, with all of the same characters involved with different outcomes. I loved it and found that once I started watching a chapter, I wouldn't stop until it was over.

Fate/stay Night: I thought it was an interesting concept, but it felt rushed at the end. I thought there was a bunch of stuff that they could have covered, but I still liked it anyway.

Is that good, or did you want a synopsis of them too?


I also just finished Macross Frontier and found it very enjoyable. Makes me want to go back and watch ALL of Macross. Almost.

[Variable Gear]

I'm reading The World God Only Knows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami_nomi_zo_Shiru_Sekai), which is fun. :)

You should read it too! Then we could chat about the story and the characters.

[ShivaX]

I love me some anime, but the format always kept me from even bothering (well to be accurate, I bothered once and, after screaming obscenities at my computer, never did again).

If a guy wanted to do it, whats the best method that actually makes things possible? I forget the format type (mkv or something?), but nothing I found ever worked at all. I think I managed to get sound once after a hour or more of screwing with things.

Since CN has evidently decided that old Family Guy reruns and reruns of shows they fucking cancelled because they weren't any good are more important than licenses they just recently acquired, I think I'm giving up on them as being a source. Which is kind of sad since they really got me back into anime after a long absense from it with things like Bebop.

[bryan]

I like k-lite
http://www.codecguide.com/download_mega.htm

Some people swear by CCCP, but my first try of it, it installed some spyware shit. Had to format after that.

[Mashidar]

-Shakugan no Shana: The first season was enjoyable, and the 2nd season kinda dragged on really, but overall it was a good series.

-Fate/stay night: A great series if you ask me. The ending did have a bit of a rushed feel but overall I think the series was a great watch. Lots of action and near the end I wished for the second arc in the series to start. In fact it still may.

[ShivaX]

I like k-lite
http://www.codecguide.com/download_mega.htm

Some people swear by CCCP, but my first try of it, it installed some spyware shit. Had to format after that.

I swear thats what I used and it was a nightmare. Maybe I just got a bad source file or two?

[Variable Gear]

Is no one willing to read that manga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami_nomi_zo_Shiru_Sekai) with alongside me? I'm in despair (http://www.concretebadger.net/images/blog/despair-motivational.jpg)! This lack of attention has left me in despair!

[bryan]

I swear thats what I used and it was a nightmare. Maybe I just got a bad source file or two?

You used K-lite? And you got it from codecguide? The only problem I've ever had with it was it getting outdated, and needing to grab the latest version. They update pretty quick.

If that doesn't do it for you, try CCCP.

[bryan]

Is no one willing to read that manga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami_nomi_zo_Shiru_Sekai) with alongside me? I'm in despair (http://www.concretebadger.net/images/blog/despair-motivational.jpg)! This lack of attention has left me in despair!

Back at the site of Extended Avarice, there was hardly ever any talk of manga. The previous iteration of this thread was just 'The Anime Thread.' Maybe you'd have better luck starting a new one just for manga?

[Stoke]

If a guy wanted to do it, whats the best method that actually makes things possible?

CCCP (http://www.cccp-project.net/)

I know K-Lite has been mentioned but it has caused me nothing but problems. Download and install the CCCP and watch all your media in Zoom Player or Media Player Classic. Both are included in the download. I have never had a media file that could not be played after this, the only time I had some stuttering was when I was using a computer that had the CCCP installed over a KLite install.

Either way you go, make sure you only install one codec pack. They don't like being installed on the same machine. ;)

[Variable Gear]

Back at the site of Extended Avarice, there was hardly ever any talk of manga. The previous iteration of this thread was just 'The Anime Thread.' Maybe you'd have better luck starting a new one just for manga?
I'd like to do that, but Manga is in the title of this thread... :(

[bryan]

CCCP (http://www.cccp-project.net/)

I know K-Lite has been mentioned but it has caused me nothing but problems. Download and install the CCCP and watch all your media in Zoom Player or Media Player Classic. Both are included in the download. I have never had a media file that could not be played after this, the only time I had some stuttering was when I was using a computer that had the CCCP installed over a KLite install.

Either way you go, make sure you only install one codec pack. They don't like being installed on the same machine. ;)

I see CCCP get a lot of recommendations on fansub group websites, so it's probably your best bet.

[Squidbot]

As part of her studying Japanese Mrs Squid has gotten hold of Death Note. HOLY CRAP! Why did nobody tell me that there was other good Anime, outside of Akira.

[Stoke]

As part of her studying Japanese Mrs Squid has gotten hold of Death Note. HOLY CRAP! Why did nobody tell me that there was other good Anime, outside of Akira.

Because you should be reading the manga. ;)

[Variable Gear]

I'm re-watching Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayonara_Zetsub%C5%8D_Sensei), and I still love it. Are there any other amazing self-referential anime that I should put on my "Watch List?"
Because you should be reading the manga. ;)
Yes, the manga is much better. I should know, because I'm one of the three CoG members that reads manga.

[Krispy]

I'm re-watching Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayonara_Zetsub%C5%8D_Sensei), and I still love it. Are there any other amazing self-referential anime that I should put on my "Watch List?"

Yes, the manga is much better. I should know, because I'm one of the three CoG members that reads manga.

I saw the movies which piqued my interest and I think Death Note will be the first (hopefully) among many manga I shall purchase. I don't even care to watch the anime, the movies covered the best parts from it anyways :P. I've just always been put off from manga and I don't know exactly why. Probably that most the manga I have seen uses that generic art style you always see from Japan (you know, the Sailor Moon syndrome) but I know this is a pretty limited point of view. I'll admit I am ignorant to manga. What do you suggest I buy beside Death Note? I watch a bit of anime so the transition probably isn't too steep.

[Talanvor]

Speaking of MKV and players and such, has anyone got a reliable method of converting MKV files with subtitles into video that will play on a PS3?

Wow I'm late to this thread, but how are you getting the files to your PS3, streaming over wireless or a thumb drive?

Right now I'm using TVersity copying the file over wireless from my PC to the PS3, and the only anime I've used with this method is the [DB] releases of Bleach and Naruto. Whatever they do to those files makes the transcoder kick in and that 170MB file all of a sudden is 1.3GB. Kind of irritating, but it still works. On the other hand, copying stuff like The Office and Heroes it doesn't transcode at all, just transfers the file.

[Variable Gear]

I saw the movies which piqued my interest and I think Death Note will be the first (hopefully) among many manga I shall purchase. I don't even care to watch the anime, the movies covered the best parts from it anyways :P. I've just always been put off from manga and I don't know exactly why. Probably that most the manga I have seen uses that generic art style you always see from Japan (you know, the Sailor Moon syndrome) but I know this is a pretty limited point of view. I'll admit I am ignorant to manga. What do you suggest I buy beside Death Note? I watch a bit of anime so the transition probably isn't too steep.
It is tough for me to suggest anything without any knowledge of anime that you have enjoyed, besides Death Note. Additionally, do you have any genre preferences? I will say, however, that you are right that certain manga tend to look quite similar. The thing is, though, this is true of all mediums, and even anime suffers from the same lack of creativity.

I'm happy that Death Note made you more appreciative of manga, and I'd be glad to suggest some titles for you to look into. Just let me know what you've liked in the past! ;)

[Wraith]

Wow I'm late to this thread, but how are you getting the files to your PS3, streaming over wireless or a thumb drive?

Right now I'm using TVersity copying the file over wireless from my PC to the PS3, and the only anime I've used with this method is the [DB] releases of Bleach and Naruto. Whatever they do to those files makes the transcoder kick in and that 170MB file all of a sudden is 1.3GB. Kind of irritating, but it still works. On the other hand, copying stuff like The Office and Heroes it doesn't transcode at all, just transfers the file.Well, I started downloading AVIs instead of MKVs, and have been doing streaming from my PC through a shared folder set up in Windows Media Player. I was doing the USB drive thing, but streaming works just as good as a local copy (though FF/RWD is a bit dodgy when you're streaming).

[5y1v4r]

I saw the movies which piqued my interest and I think Death Note will be the first (hopefully) among many manga I shall purchase. I don't even care to watch the anime, the movies covered the best parts from it anyways :P. I've just always been put off from manga and I don't know exactly why. Probably that most the manga I have seen uses that generic art style you always see from Japan (you know, the Sailor Moon syndrome) but I know this is a pretty limited point of view. I'll admit I am ignorant to manga. What do you suggest I buy beside Death Note? I watch a bit of anime so the transition probably isn't too steep.
I would highly recommend the manga for Mushishi and Soul Eater, both of which are excellent as shows as well. Mushishi is a beautifully drawn episodic set of stories involving a sort of wandering witch doctor in feudal Japan. Soul Eater is a newer series about a school for death gods. It feels something like a cross between Bleach and Nightmare Before Christmas and has a very unique and fun cartoony art style.

[5y1v4r]

So I'm the president of the anime club at my college and I'm looking for suggestions for a good spooky halloween show for next weekend. Anybody know of any good anime horror movies or series? Last year we showed Vampire Hunter D and Requiem from the Darkness and I'm trying to find something creepy.

[Krispy]

It is tough for me to suggest anything without any knowledge of anime that you have enjoyed, besides Death Note. Additionally, do you have any genre preferences? I will say, however, that you are right that certain manga tend to look quite similar. The thing is, though, this is true of all mediums, and even anime suffers from the same lack of creativity.

I'm happy that Death Note made you more appreciative of manga, and I'd be glad to suggest some titles for you to look into. Just let me know what you've liked in the past! ;)

Well to be frank I have steered clear of the Death Note anime, I hear the later half is pretty crummy ;). I'm just interested in good stories. I could list off the anime I have enjoyed but all you would be reading is a bunch of experimental anime like Cat Soup and DEAD LEAVES, a bunch of stuff you would expect everyone to have seen like Cowboy Bebop and FLCL, and of course anything by Satoshi Kon. I'm also a big fan of bizarre philosophical anime such as Serial Experiments Lain and both Ghost in the Shell movies (Evangelion not so much). I'll warn you right now if I open up the book and find giant "anime eyes" it is going to make it hard to keep reading ;).

So I'm the president of the anime club at my college and I'm looking for suggestions for a good spooky halloween show for next weekend. Anybody know of any good anime horror movies or series? Last year we showed Vampire Hunter D and Requiem from the Darkness and I'm trying to find something creepy.

Something by Satoshi Kon. Paranoia Agent will send shivers down your spine if you want to watch the whole series, but if you need just a movie watch Perfect Blue.

I would highly recommend the manga for Mushishi and Soul Eater, both of which are excellent as shows as well. Mushishi is a beautifully drawn episodic set of stories involving a sort of wandering witch doctor in feudal Japan. Soul Eater is a newer series about a school for death gods. It feels something like a cross between Bleach and Nightmare Before Christmas and has a very unique and fun cartoony art style.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into them. As long as "feudal Japan" doesn't mean "like Inyuasha" I should be fine.

[5y1v4r]

Ah yes, I haven't seen perfect blue but I've heard of it, I'll check that out, thanks. Have you see Paprika? It's by the same director I believe, strange mindfuck of a movie.

[Krispy]

Yes, but as much as I enjoyed the movie I felt it was one of his weaker projects. Then again I don't know that anything he does will ever top Paranoia Agent. Also, if you think that was a mind fuck I have some anime to point your way :D. Paprika was pretty tame as far as surrealism goes.

Ah, another suggestion came to mind. Angel's Egg is extremely dark and gothic but the whole film was made to be one giant rhetoric. There are maybe twenty lines of dialogue and just tons of metaphorical imagery. If you do want to show it, you better make sure the people watching have an open mind and a fore knowledge that it is about Christianity ;).

[5y1v4r]

Angel's Egg sounds like it'll be a bit deeper than I really want for the halloween show, I might have to check it out to watch on my own though, I'm always up for interesting new shows, and yes, Paranoia Agent is great. If you've got some good surreal ones to recommend, bring em on ^_^ The most unusual show I've watched recently was Broken Saints, have you heard of it? Very experimental artistically, also with a distinctly religious bent to the story.

[Krispy]

I have actually never heard of Broken Saints although a quick Wikipedia makes it look... unique. Here is a short list of random/surreal/experimental anime in no particular order:


Serial Experiments Lain
Noiseman Sound Insect
Mind Game
Eternal Family
Angel's Egg
DEAD LEAVES
Cat Soup (really recommended)
Robot Carnival
Boogiepop Phantom


Some of those are R3 only so, you know. Fansubs.

[5y1v4r]

Hmm, impressive, I have watched some of boogiepop and all of lain, but none of the other ones, I shall have to check them out, dead leaves and cat soup in particular. And yeah "...unique" is a pretty good description of Broken Saints. I watched through the whole of it and I still don't quite know what to think of it. Seriously, if you ever get a chance to watch it I would love to know your opinion since I've never found anyone else who's seen it.
Another interesting one I watched through recently was Requiem from the Darkness, which ended unsatisfactorily but was otherwise pretty good, rather gory but with a lot of Japanese folklore worked in that I enjoyed.

[Mashidar]

Wish I could suggest something in the horror end of things but it's never been my type of anime really. The titles that Krispy suggested though would work I think. I recall the one title that I did enjoy that had that spooky feel was Darkside Blues, but I can't remember much of it. It could of been good, then again it was ages ago that I saw it so it could of really been bad!

On another note anyone watching some of the fall series going on right now? There have been a number of title that I've enjoyed so far.

-To Aru Majutsu no Index
Plot Summary: In a world where science clarifies supernatural powers. In a huge college that has power development in its curriculum. To a resident high school student, Kamijou Touma, a pure white sister appears. She calls herself "Index" and says that sorcerers are chasing her. Thus, Kamijou Touma enters the world of the occult.

So far this series has impressed me not only with the art, but I've enjoyed the banter that's been shown so far between the characters in the show. Also having a series that has a world that deals with science vs magic is fun to watch. After the first two shows I was hooked. Right now they are up to the 5th show in the series and it's set for 24.

-Toradora!
Plot Summary: Despite Ryūji Takasu's gentle personality, his eyes make him look like an intimidating delinquent so he is utterly hopeless about his chances of getting a girlfriend anytime soon, and does not have many close friends either. After being greeted by his hungover mother in the morning, Ryūji goes to school and is happy to find that he gets to be in the same class as his best friend Yūsaku Kitamura and crush Minori Kushieda. However, it is then that he unexpectedly knocks into "the school's most dangerous animal of the highest risk level" — Taiga Aisaka — who just happens to also be in his class, and is a good friend of Minori.

Now I'm a sucker for these types of shows, the whole romantic/comdey/drama spin tends to just drag me in. This show happens to have it's up's and downs right now but overall it's just been enjoyable. The VA for Tiaga would be Rie Kugimiya who is well know for a number of different roles. From Shana (Shakugan no Shana), Fullmetal Alchemist as Alphonse Elric, and Zero no Tsukaima as Louise. If you have seen her as Shana or Louise she seems to channel both of these roles using both of there trademark phrases from time to time.

There are other titles that I won't list because they are just series that have started there second run. Such as Gundam 00 and I've enjoyed this series so far, as well as Clannad: After Story.

[Stoke]

So I'm the president of the anime club at my college and I'm looking for suggestions for a good spooky halloween show for next weekend. Anybody know of any good anime horror movies or series? Last year we showed Vampire Hunter D and Requiem from the Darkness and I'm trying to find something creepy.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni / When Cicadas Cry (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=3574) can be creepy. It's split up into small (4-5 episode) chunks so it's possible to get a whole plot into one night. Obviously you'd need to watch a little before the viewing to make sure it's the kind of creepy you're going for and pick out a sub plot to show so it might be a bit to much work on such a short timeline.

[Bad Buddha]

Costco has dried mango that is just delicious! Heaven on your tongue!

[5y1v4r]

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni / When Cicadas Cry (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=3574) can be creepy. It's split up into small (4-5 episode) chunks so it's possible to get a whole plot into one night. Obviously you'd need to watch a little before the viewing to make sure it's the kind of creepy you're going for and pick out a sub plot to show so it might be a bit to much work on such a short timeline.
Sounds interesting, thanks!

[5y1v4r]

Costco has dried mango that is just delicious! Heaven on your tongue!
I dunno, personally I'm all about the dried pineapple, mango just doesn't do it for me, it always feels vaguely fuzzy on my tongue. Now what is your opinion of candied ginger?

[CES]

For those watching 00, or those who have given the second series a bit of a wide berth, I bring fun news. Prince Ali the Supeme Bastard is back and seems to be bringing his anti-plot shield weapons again, hurrah.

[bryan]

I must say I'm enjoying the second season of 00 a heck of a lot more than the first.

Anti-plot shield weapons tho? I don't get it.

[CES]

In season 1 he had a 5 named character killing spree, no small feat. It looks like he's ready to start killing more named characters.

[NoName]

So, have any of the new series this season been any good? Anyone have a favorite?

Also, while I'm late to the game, Higurashi is pure win.

[OrangePulp]

I search this thread, and find no reference of Monster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_(manga))? Failure. It's not your typical manga (or anime) fare; It's about a Japanese (of course) doctor in Germany, who saves a kid that later grows up to be a sociopath and serial killer, and he has to stop him. It's better than most manga I've read, and from what I understand the anime is just as good.

If one of you reads/watches it, and you like it, be sure to check out the author's other stuff. Pluto, his current work, is a re-imagining of one of the early Astro Boy stories, as a noir murder mystery.

[Xydarc]

yeah... except it would suck. The Appleseed movies have always has been nothing more than a pretty face. Sure there's great battles a mech designs, but that's about all it's got going for it. The story (if you can call it that) is little more than an excuse to move the characters from one dramatic battle scene to another. Comparing Appleseed to GitS is unfair at best, heretical at worst.
Ironic, since they come from the same creator.

[5y1v4r]

I search this thread, and find no reference of Monster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_(manga))? Failure. It's not your typical manga (or anime) fair; It's about a Japanese (of course) doctor in Germany, who saves a kid that later grows up to be a sociopath and serial killer, and he has to stop him. It's better than most manga I've read, and from what I understand the anime is just as good.

If one of you reads/watches it, and you like it, be sure to check out the author's other stuff. Pluto, his current work, is a re-imagining of one of the early Astro Boy stories, as a noir murder mystery.
I've read bits of Monster and enjoyed it. Have you ever encountered the blog PoliteDissent.com? It's written by a doctor who is a huge comic book nerd and likes to analyze comic book medicine. He's done several features on Monster, it's really worth reading if you're interested in the medicine involved, fascinating stuff. He's currently going through the medicine for Dr. BlackJack, another excellent older show.

[5y1v4r]

Ironic, since they come from the same creator.
In all fairness though, Appleseed was one of his first big projects and Ghost is arguably his best work. There really is a lot of polish lacking in Appleseed that was made up in the Ghost in the Shell series.

[Heretic Machine]

So, have any of the new series this season been any good? Anyone have a favorite?

Also, while I'm late to the game, Higurashi is pure win.

I'm loving Chaos Head. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the sort of twisted mystery animes, like Death Note. I'm also watching Casshern Sins, but I'm still uncertain of it; the animation is beautiful, at least. I've been meaning to look at Tytania and Gai Rai Zero. I suspect that Tytania may have too much opera for my taste in Space Opera.

[Atepsflame]

Ironic, since they come from the same creator.

The manga, yes. The anime? Eh... not so much. I would honestly say we can attribute a lot of the Ghost in the Shell movies' brilliance to Oshii, which was what I was talking about. Maybe I somewhat overstated my case. Of course, I've not read the GitS manga, so what do I know?

[bryan]

In season 1 he had a 5 named character killing spree, no small feat. It looks like he's ready to start killing more named characters.

Ah thanks for the explanation, get it now.

[bryan]

I'm loving Chaos Head. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the sort of twisted mystery animes, like Death Note. I'm also watching Casshern Sins, but I'm still uncertain of it; the animation is beautiful, at least. I've been meaning to look at Tytania and Gai Rai Zero. I suspect that Tytania may have too much opera for my taste in Space Opera.


Gai Rai is excellent, well animated and interesting premise. I'm on the fence regarding Tytania myself.

[5y1v4r]

So for the belated Halloween show, I decided to go with Perfect Blue and Demon City Shinjuku. I'm also going to have Kakurenbo and the Petshop of Horrors OVA on hand for the people who want to hang around after the main show. Anybody seen any of these and want to tell me if they're good/terrible/whatever? I've seen Perfect Blue and read the manga of Petshop of Horrors, but I haven't watched the show and I haven't seen either of the others.

[Atepsflame]

Perfect Blue is a good choice. That film is fucking nightmarishly sureal. As for the others, I have no idea, though Kakurenbo has a pretty good reputation from what I can tell and has been sitting on my netflix queue for quite a while. Good luck with the show!

[Krispy]

I already suggested Perfect Blue so no explanation needed there (on a side note I think it is rather annoying how Perfect Blue receives a much lower imdb score than similar or worst live action psychological thrillers). Demon City Shinjuku always struck me as generic so I never even bothered watching it.

Kakurenbo is a good indie anime if for the novelty of watching an anime made by one person (but were that your reasoning I would suggest the much superior inide anime "Pale Caccoon") but completely lacks in the "making sense" department. The plot itself is so self serving it makes it hard to understand the reasoning of the characters. It pretty much expects you to "go long for the ride" and as much can be pretty entertaining and beautiful but won't win any awards. If you have ever read the American comic Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth you would know what I mean. You get the feeling there is a story there, it just lacks a structure for which to make sense of it.

I have actually never seen or read Petshop of Horrors but a quick browse around shows it to be pretty neat :). I think I'll have to give it a watch some time.

[NoName]

I'm loving Chaos Head. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the sort of twisted mystery animes, like Death Note. I'm also watching Casshern Sins, but I'm still uncertain of it; the animation is beautiful, at least. I've been meaning to look at Tytania and Gai Rai Zero. I suspect that Tytania may have too much opera for my taste in Space Opera.

Thanks for the info. I'll look into Chaos Head. I might try an episode or two of Tytania streaming online to see if it's any good. It looked promising anyways.

[5y1v4r]

I already suggested Perfect Blue so no explanation needed there (on a side note I think it is rather annoying how Perfect Blue receives a much lower imdb score than similar or worst live action psychological thrillers). Demon City Shinjuku always struck me as generic so I never even bothered watching it.

Kakurenbo is a good indie anime if for the novelty of watching an anime made by one person (but were that your reasoning I would suggest the much superior inide anime "Pale Caccoon") but completely lacks in the "making sense" department. The plot itself is so self serving it makes it hard to understand the reasoning of the characters. It pretty much expects you to "go long for the ride" and as much can be pretty entertaining and beautiful but won't win any awards. If you have ever read the American comic Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth you would know what I mean. You get the feeling there is a story there, it just lacks a structure for which to make sense of it.

I have actually never seen or read Petshop of Horrors but a quick browse around shows it to be pretty neat :). I think I'll have to give it a watch some time.

I agree with you on Kakurenbo, too short for sure, the ending was a cool twist but everything leading up felt a little spare. I haven't read Arkham, it's on my to-read list though.
So we spent most of Demon City snarking, it is just cliche upon cliche, but it was fun to mock. Personally I think they could have taken out the two main characters entirely and just had the whole movie be Mephisto and that kid with the rocket skates and it would have been an immensely better movie. What is the deal with that Mephisto guy anyway? Were they just like "oh hey, we haven't filled our pretty and mysterious guy quota for this movie yet, let's just toss one in for looks and make him completely badass but not give him any backstory or reason for existing!" It felt like he had wandered in from a different show in the middle of filming. And yeah, I really enjoyed Petshop of Horrors, I wish there was more than just the OVA but the manga is great, I would recommend it, some yaoi overtones though, nothing explicit or anything just unrequited tension, I don't know if that bothers you in a series or not.

[Lance Uppercut]

I checked in on Hulu's anime channel (http://www.hulu.com/channels/Animation-and-Cartoons/Anime#kind=shows&sort=popularity), and found that they added a whole lot of shows, including classics like School Rumble and Slayers.

The bad side? School Rumble and Slayers have abysmal English voice acting. School Rumble in particular loses some of its charm and reverence to Japanese pop culture in the translation. I still recommend both shows, though. School Rumble (season 1, anyways) is a riot.

[Krispy]

Okay so I sat down and watched two more anime.

The first one the list was Pale Cocoon, an indie anime about a far distant future where humans are living underground due to some catastrophe that happened to surface so long ago no one can even remember what it was. In fact surface life was so long ago it has all but faded out of the collective memory and the only records are those which the Bureau of Record Excavation digs up ("old binary" digital stuff) and then gives to our protagonist, Ura to reconstruct. The thing is no one really wants to do this job, every picture, blog, or video file recovered is just a reminder of how shitty their life is now compared to how it used to be. All of his coworkers are continuously depressed and one by one they give up their job except Ura who is obsessed with discovering the past.

Sounds like a recipe for a good anime, right? I know I thought so, I even recommended it a few posts back based on some reviews I read. Well after watching it I'm not so sure anymore. One of its qualities is that it is a short film, only 24 minutes long and in some cases that may help but here it just hurts. None of Ura's character interactions are fleshed out and most of the movie relies on looking at cool computer generated anime, but I think what really hit it home was when he reconstructed a music video which then began to play as a montage of his taking action towards the climax plays. Yeah. Cooooooorny. Maybe I will like it better on a second viewing but it genuinely strikes me as a good idea executed poorly.


Second on the list was Midori, another indie anime of notorious reputation. This one is so controversial, however, it was quite literally banned from Japan. Yeah. It is extremely rare and everyone thought all copies were destroyed until a DVD popped up in France. Good thing too because despite its reputation this anime really is a work of art. One could very affirmatively call it advent garde. It follows a girl named Midori as she is tricked to join a traveling freak show in rural Japan after she finds that her mother whom she thought was sick in bed was a corpse being eaten by rats (father already dead). The movie then follows everything that happens to her at the traveling freak show and the way the carnies treat which is nothing but nice. However that all changes when a mysterious western dwarf magician joins the show in order to pick up sales (the Japanese love western magic apparently). This man takes a liking to young Midori (who can't be more than 13) and things seem to turn around her, but it soon becomes apparent that this no ordinary man and that his magic more than just parlor tricks. It doesn't help that he also fits the physical description for the blue-eyed devil...

I really suggest people try and get a copy of this lost movie to watch. It will be disturbing and it does have low quality animation throughout a lot of it (some parts might as well be story boards) but it isn't without substance and there is a real subtlety in this movie that is seldom seen anywhere else. The ending especially is artistic by the very meaning of the word and while fantastical and abstract will leave you with no question as to what actually happened.

[Wraith]

-Toradora!

Now I'm a sucker for these types of shows, the whole romantic/comdey/drama spin tends to just drag me in. This show happens to have it's up's and downs right now but overall it's just been enjoyable. The VA for Tiaga would be Rie Kugimiya who is well know for a number of different roles. From Shana (Shakugan no Shana), Fullmetal Alchemist as Alphonse Elric, and Zero no Tsukaima as Louise. If you have seen her as Shana or Louise she seems to channel both of these roles using both of there trademark phrases from time to time.I just watched the first two episodes of ToraDora tonight, and liking it so far. The main characters are great. And the animation by J.C. Staff doesn't hurt either.

[ClannerDelta]

I'm liking Tytania more than I thought I would. It's the only recent one that I've cared enough to watch past the first couple episodes.

It's pretentious, haughty, and definitely a Space Opera in every sense of the term.

[5y1v4r]

Okay so I sat down and watched two more anime.

Second on the list was Midori, another indie anime of notorious reputation. This one is so controversial, however, it was quite literally banned from Japan. Yeah. It is extremely rare and everyone thought all copies were destroyed until a DVD popped up in France. Good thing too because despite its reputation this anime really is a work of art. One could very affirmatively call it advent garde. It follows a girl named Midori as she is tricked to join a traveling freak show in rural Japan after she finds that her mother whom she thought was sick in bed was a corpse being eaten by rats (father already dead). The movie then follows everything that happens to her at the traveling freak show and the way the carnies treat which is nothing but nice. However that all changes when a mysterious western dwarf magician joins the show in order to pick up sales (the Japanese love western magic apparently). This man takes a liking to young Midori (who can't be more than 13) and things seem to turn around her, but it soon becomes apparent that this no ordinary man and that his magic more than just parlor tricks. It doesn't help that he also fits the physical description for the blue-eyed devil...

Sounds great, out of curiosity, what sort of disturbingness led to it being banned? Nothing in your review sounds that bad....

[Krispy]

Just really disturbing settings and activities. I'll list a few just to give you an idea 1) Midori finds her mother with rats chewing away her flesh in the vaginal area, 2) Midori gets raped by a man with no arms whom always wears a creepy ass mask, 3) at one point the dwarf causes everyone in the room to disfigure or rip themselves to pieces because he comes to loathe them so much. The art is very akin to feudal Japanese artwork at times with mosaics taking the place of actual scenes and I don't know about you, but the whole disproportional bodies with dragon faces thing always creeped me out a little. Also the ending is insane, not ban worthy, but pretty insane.

[Xydarc]

So for the belated Halloween show, I decided to go with Perfect Blue and Demon City Shinjuku. I'm also going to have Kakurenbo and the Petshop of Horrors OVA on hand for the people who want to hang around after the main show. Anybody seen any of these and want to tell me if they're good/terrible/whatever? I've seen Perfect Blue and read the manga of Petshop of Horrors, but I haven't watched the show and I haven't seen either of the others.
Just about anything by Satoshi Kon is win.

[Spigot]

I'm currently enjoying Xam'd Lost Memories.
Man, I wanted to watch that when I saw the trailer on the PSN but nooo... I live outside of the US so I don't get to watch anime. Stupid Sony/copyright laws.

I'm so behind on my anime right now. I've got the last DVD of FLCL sitting here waiting to be watched (probably tomorrow) and I've been watching Gantz and... hmm... I forget what else...

The last anime I followed religiously was Last Exile and it ruined me on being excited about watching new shows. I mean, how can you improve on perfection?

[Xydarc]

Just got episode 7 of Rosario+Vampire Capu2. This series makes me laugh. Out loud, even.

[Lance Uppercut]

I'm liking Tytania more than I thought I would. It's the only recent one that I've cared enough to watch past the first couple episodes.

It's pretentious, haughty, and definitely a Space Opera in every sense of the term.

Tytania is over the top space opera goodness. Even the opening credits are pretentious.

[ClannerDelta]

Tytania is over the top space opera goodness. Even the opening credits are pretentious.

I'll admit, I have to skip the opening credits. They are just corny on an entirely different level.

[Xydarc]

Tytania is over the top space opera goodness. Even the opening credits are pretentious.
When I first started watching, I was thinking that Tytania was gonna be about spoiled, arrogant pricks bringing the Empire 100 years of peace and happiness. I changed my mind after the first episode:

Now I see its going to be about that red-haired admiral bringing the pricks down a peg or two.

I'm not sure if I'm disappointed by that or not.

[ClannerDelta]

I'm not sure if I'm disappointed by that or not.

Actually, in the 6 episodes I've seen so far. Hyulick is almost a side character at this point. The show isn't moving how I predicted it would, which is one of the reasons I like it.

[Wraith]

B9jHhQGFMnc

Wouldn't blame you if you find this stupid and annoying, but I'm strangely addicted...

[ClannerDelta]

Yeah, Tora Dora and its kind of shows just aren't for me. Not really sure where the elementary school style of "Show your love by hating the person as hard as possible." got its popularity.

[5y1v4r]

Just really disturbing settings and activities. I'll list a few just to give you an idea 1) Midori finds her mother with rats chewing away her flesh in the vaginal area, 2) Midori gets raped by a man with no arms whom always wears a creepy ass mask, 3) at one point the dwarf causes everyone in the room to disfigure or rip themselves to pieces because he comes to loathe them so much. The art is very akin to feudal Japanese artwork at times with mosaics taking the place of actual scenes and I don't know about you, but the whole disproportional bodies with dragon faces thing always creeped me out a little. Also the ending is insane, not ban worthy, but pretty insane.
wow, yeah that does sound disturbing. I think I'll still hunt it down and watch it though, I'm a sucker for creepy circus stuff, for some reason circuses fascinate me, one of my favorite books as a kid was Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes.

[5y1v4r]

Man, I wanted to watch that when I saw the trailer on the PSN but nooo... I live outside of the US so I don't get to watch anime. Stupid Sony/copyright laws.

I'm so behind on my anime right now. I've got the last DVD of FLCL sitting here waiting to be watched (probably tomorrow) and I've been watching Gantz and... hmm... I forget what else...

The last anime I followed religiously was Last Exile and it ruined me on being excited about watching new shows. I mean, how can you improve on perfection?
I started Last Exile a while back and never got around to finishing it, I liked the premise and the characters but it seemed to get kinda confusing plotwise around the middle of the series. Do they explain things better as the series goes on?

[evilgoodwin]

I started Last Exile a while back and never got around to finishing it, I liked the premise and the characters but it seemed to get kinda confusing plotwise around the middle of the series. Do they explain things better as the series goes on?

I THINK I got the gist of it. But it really needs you to finish it to say if you'll get it too. Plus, it's just... wonderful :)

[Atepsflame]

I started Last Exile a while back and never got around to finishing it, I liked the premise and the characters but it seemed to get kinda confusing plotwise around the middle of the series. Do they explain things better as the series goes on?

Yes, its all explained one way or another by the end. The truth is... unexpected.

[ClannerDelta]

I started Last Exile a while back and never got around to finishing it, I liked the premise and the characters but it seemed to get kinda confusing plotwise around the middle of the series. Do they explain things better as the series goes on?

I... I am trying so hard not to hate you to death through my screen. :p

I'm one of those people that hates the "Wtf" turn lots of anime and JRPG's seem to require, so I can really understand what you mean. That said, Last Exile does it very well. You'll understand all of it by the time it's done, so don't worry about being left in the dark.

[Spigot]

Yes. Last Exile is the example I hold up of how to finish off an anime properly without just going "WTF?" and throwing logic to the wind. It has a proper ending that ties everything up well. There are some episodes near the middle where things are a little up in the air, but by the time it is over, you'll just be grinning and going, "Ah...."

[NoName]

So I watched the first 6 episodes of Tytania last night. It was like Code Geass and Gintama (with a splash of Dune) became crammed together... in a good way!

It was weird
During the battle in episode 6 I found myself rooting for the Duke. I also like the red headed Duke guy. Yet they're the "bad guys".

[EWolfmanD]

Hmm. I watched the first episode of Tytania a few weeks ago and didn't really like it at all. But Code Geass and Gintama are two of my favorite shows, so perhaps I should check out a few more episodes to see if I like it any better.

[NoName]

Hmm. I watched the first episode of Tytania a few weeks ago and didn't really like it at all. But Code Geass and Gintama are two of my favorite shows, so perhaps I should check out a few more episodes to see if I like it any better.

It's similar to Code Geass due to the struggle of power against a super strong foe that rules everyone.

I relate it to Gintama because the (so far) main protagonist reminds me a lot of Gintama. Sort of laid back and airy, but in reality is very cunning. I'm hoping he ends up playing a larger roll (which I think he will).

[Heretic Machine]

Dominion Tank Police is available to stream on Netflix... everyone here must watch it.

[ClannerDelta]

Dominion Tank Police is available to stream on Netflix... everyone here must watch it.

I watched it a long time ago when I was a kid and recently I couldn't even finish the first movie. Nostalgia was tainted. :(

[NoName]

Dominion Tank Police is available to stream on Netflix... everyone here must watch it.

Does this require having a Netflix account...? :p

[Krispy]

B9jHhQGFMnc

Wouldn't blame you if you find this stupid and annoying, but I'm strangely addicted...

I hate you.

[Wraith]

I hate you.Listen to it again.

And again.

And again!

[Wraith]

Yeah, Tora Dora and its kind of shows just aren't for me. Not really sure where the elementary school style of "Show your love by hating the person as hard as possible." got its popularity.Just to clarify, I don't find the show stupid and/or annoying, I just figured most people would get that from that video.

I really like ToraDora, for the eight episodes that have aired so far. It's not the most original premise ever, to be sure, but it's funny, well animated, and the characters & humor click with me. I realize not everyone's a fan of this genre.

[ClannerDelta]

I really like ToraDora, for the eight episodes that have aired so far. It's not the most original premise ever, to be sure, but it's funny, well animated, and the characters & humor click with me. I realize not everyone's a fan of this genre.

No I figured you liked it. Read the "Yeah" in my response like it's coming from the Boss in Office Space. And I'll need those TPS reports.

I'm not dissing the genre or anything, it's just... well, there just aren't enough explosions for me. :p

[Xydarc]

So I watched the first 6 episodes of Tytania last night. It was like Code Geass and Gintama (with a splash of Dune) became crammed together... in a good way!

It was weird
During the battle in episode 6 I found myself rooting for the Duke. I also like the red headed Duke guy. Yet they're the "bad guys".
Subversive anime? Sweet!

Actually, in the 6 episodes I've seen so far. Hyulick is almost a side character at this point. The show isn't moving how I predicted it would, which is one of the reasons I like it.
I just finished episode 4 and it seems like Hyulick is a central character. The frakin' end credits are all aboot him and Lira.

[Xydarc]

B9jHhQGFMnc

Wouldn't blame you if you find this stupid and annoying, but I'm strangely addicted...
:eek:
I just...wow. I think my brain melted.

What's this show called again?

[Wraith]

Toradora! (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10050).

[Krispy]

I believe it is Toradora! which basically encapsulates every cliche known to manga and anime.

[ClannerDelta]

I just finished episode 4 and it seems like Hyulick is a central character. The frakin' end credits are all aboot him and Lira.

While I understand that, I'm only pointing out that he sits out almost entire episodes. 5 and 6 specifically barely show him.

On the other hand, they have tiny 10 second clips showing characters that you haven't seen yet in the storyline or you only saw a glimpse of earlier in the story. So I have high hopes that they will have a pretty robust cast with a lot of diverging plotlines. This brings with it the risk of getting incredibly convoluted though.

[NoName]

So, thanks to Perigon's suggestion I watched Chaos Head over the weekend (well, the 6 episodes that are out so far).

Wow. Never before have I been so drawn into an anime where I haven't the slightest idea of what's going on. Then again, it's going pretty deep into the concept of what is reality so...

Chaos Head is highly recommended if you like mystery type shows. Or good anime in general :).

[EWolfmanD]

I've been enjoying it a lot too, NoName. I've been really tempted to look up information about the game, but so far I've been able to resist. I really like that I have no idea what is going on or what is going to happen next. I don't even know what is real or if anything at all is real. :p

[NoName]

I've been enjoying it a lot too, NoName. I've been really tempted to look up information about the game, but so far I've been able to resist. I really like that I have no idea what is going on or what is going to happen next. I don't even know what is real or if anything at all is real. :p

Yea, I've resisted the urge to go read the manga (well, I'm assuming there's a manga). It's hard to wait to see what's revealed but I don't want to spoil anything.

Edit: A quick glance at Wikipedia shows that it started out as a visual novel game, interesting. And since it has spawned not one but three mangas?? I wonder how they relate if at all...

Edit Edit: Hmm... there seems to be a group doing subs for the game here. (http://www.tsukuru.info/tlwiki/index.php?title=Chaos%3BHead) At least I'll be able to play it one day :).

[Goronmon]

Went on a recent anime kick recently, finally finishing up Code Geass R2, and Gurren Lagann, as well as watching Elfen Lied. Though Gurren Lagann alittle less so than the others, all of them had some pretty emotional sections towards the end. I found watching them fairly exhausting from that perspective. Awesome shows all around though.

Still fairly early in my anime watching career though, as evidence by my fairly short watched list. (http://myanimelist.net/animelist/Goronmon)So much stuff I want to watch.

[Goronmon]

Also, I'm not sure why the OP made this thread to be harder to search for than it needs to be.

[NoName]

So, has anyone heard of Zone-00? Any opinions on it?

I've never heard of it but in my search for cosplay I think half of Japan's cosplayers are dressing up as

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee240/noname4444/Cosplay/fate2212116780170.jpg

this character. I mean really, everyone's gallery has the person wearing a costume similar to this.

[Variable Gear]

The World God Only Knows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami_nomi_zo_Shiru_Sekai) has amazed me once again!

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=46&pictureid=287 (http://www.onemanga.com/The_World_God_Only_Knows/1/01/)

[Krispy]

The Wikipedia plot synopsis makes it sound like a corny romance novel. Please tell me there is more to it than him trying to swoon "2D girls."

[TheSilentDeath]

The World God Only Knows (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami_nomi_zo_Shiru_Sekai) has amazed me once again!


I'm glad I started reading this today, it is genuinely funny and interesting. Also seeing the Xbox 360 in chapter 6 was surprising, makes me wonder if the Mangaka is a 360 fan.

[evilgoodwin]

Personally, I'm a fan of Welcome to the NHK! I got started through the anime and have been reading the manga, but I went broke and haven't been able to keep up with buying any after the 5th volume (soon, I'll save money and resume my manga-spending and buy the rest. I think there's 3 left), but i think it's a decently entertaining series. It's about a shut-in who alternates between getting his life together, and ultimately doing the exact opposite and becoming more of a shut-in.

...it's hard to explain. Someone else can probably do a better job.

[Mashidar]

Well so far this season I've only watched a few shows, Toradora is one of those shows and I enjoy it even if I've skipped ahead and read some of the novel spoilers to see how things go. I do hope the show grows and gets more than one season.

The whole thing with her being abusive to him tends to get annoying, but due to the fact that the same VA does Shana (Shakugan no Shana), Nagi (Hayate no Gotoku!), and Louise (Zero no Tsukaima) from other series that all seem to treat the main male persona the same way it's fitting I suppose.

Bleach is enjoyable even if I already know what's to come due to the manga, but to see things animated makes things great. Gundam 00 is as always enjoyable and I look forward to where they plan on taking the series from this point out. Some of the things feel abit rushed I suppose, but I guess that's ok and helps to move things forward to focus on other matters for the season.

For me though I suppose the best show I've looked forward to watching every week would be Clannad: After Story. I loved the first season of the series, and so far the second series has yet to disappoint me. Even knowing that the show will take a steep dark road starting now I still feel that it will pan out for a great overall tale and I look forward to the ride.

With all these anime titles that have come out that were set from a dating sim/adventure PC game Clannad is the only title out of the bunch that has made me want to pick up the game for the PC and wait for the group to finish the translation patch. Hell even in Japan they got a 360 version of Clannad, now if only people would translate that and bring it over here. Never will happen I'm sure, but one can dream.

[NoName]

So I've started playing the Chaos Head game. It's almost exactly like the anime, the only difference is a slower pacing and more online interaction. (I guess a guy talking on the computer doesn't make for good anime scenes :)).

Wow, I'm almost caught up to the anime in terms of gameplay, and a new plot just emerged that came out of right field. It's fairly.... gruesome, so I'm guessing they're skipping it in the anime. Definately took me by surprise.

Anyways, unless you're wanting to see what comes next in the anime and don't feel like waiting for the series to finish, I wouldn't recommend playing the game. The anime is an incredibly true adaptation to the game.

[Variable Gear]

The Wikipedia plot synopsis makes it sound like a corny romance novel. Please tell me there is more to it than him trying to swoon "2D girls."
Well, Keima does love 2D girls. He prefers them to real-life girls. However, due to his amazing dating sim abilities, for which he is known as "The Capturing God," he is contracted to fall in love with real-world girls in order to remove evil spirits from their bodies. There is a lot of video game, anime, and manga references, and the characters grow with time. The World God Only Knows is better than any romance novel, that's for sure! :)

[bryan]

Could you guys recommend some good anime blogs? I only read Random Curiosity but since Divine stopped blogging it doesn't cover all the shows I follow.

[Krispy]

Wait, does he have to fall in love with the girls or do they have to fall in love with him? Perhaps my prejudice is just showing, but when I think of plots that involve a socially awkward individual charming pretty girls I think of Oh My Goddess! or the loads of harem animes that I just can't stand to watch. But then again I am trying to broaden my literature medium horizons so maybe I'll give it a preview on the intarwebz. I keep telling myself I'll buy my first manga when I finish Preacher, but we will see. :D

---

So, continuing my trek through excellent anime unseen I watched Now and Then, Here and There. I'll go ahead and say right now, don't judge this anime by the first episode. The show really develops a momentum and by the third episode will you know if you are going to like it or not. Now, keeping in step with my usual tastes, this is a deeply tragic show that the subjects of human nature and morality directly. It goes places normal animation just doesn't including rape, child abduction, and torture but don't let that put you off, all of it is for the most part off screen or toned down. Anyhow, now that I am a paragraph in let me actually explain what Now and Then, Here and There is about.

This story is about Shu. He is not what you would expect in a character that undergoes any sort of development and first impressions are "oh great, another one of these stereotypes." Shu is teenager (I wager around 15 but animation is 80's style so age is hard to judge) living in modern Japan who has an insurmountable sense of justice and morality. He is a character of great courage and fortitude, but doesn't do a lot of planning or even thinking, he just acts and it shows when you see him loose his kendo match by continuously charging his opponent completely disregarding tact and strategy. On the way home from the match he sees a girl sitting on some smoke stacks hundreds of feet in the air and rushes to meet her but finds that the ladder to that particular smoke stack is broken so he climbs the adjacent stack. He continuously tries to get her attention but she just ignores him staring at the sunset but eventually he gets her to mouth her name to him from a distance. Right about then time literally stops and mechanized serpents come out of no where with a woman yelling "capture her!" The girl (Lala Ru) mouths to Shu "help me" and he tries his best to do just that but only ends up getting himself transported back with them.

From there, Shu's adventure begins and the tragedies just stack on themselves. He finds a totalitarian worlds where the sun has grown so large that water is extremely scarce and a batshit insane king runs a military state from inside a landlocked aerial fortress that is slowly loosing its foothold from attrition. Let me stop right here to iterate how insane this man is. He steals every scene he is in. You can feel his insanity every time he speaks and having him just enter a room makes you uncomfortable. I should also mention he is sadistic. Anyways, Shu soon finds out that these people have been hopping worlds searching for Lala Ru and her very special pendant and now they finally have her...

The characters are all excellently written. I think the one thing this anime does beyond many others is that it addresses very mature themes with real vividness and subtlety. Many characters you never learn their history or have very few lines and yet just from their actions and quirks you still understand exactly where they came from. I doubt I'll ever see another piece of cinema where child rape was intelligently integrated into the main plot line ;).

Now for my criticism (because it just wouldn't be me without it). Things can get slow. Not that it feels dragged on, the show is only 13 episodes long and it feels like you got an entire 26 episode season's worth of story but then there are those episodes that could have been compressed into half their time. This anime also uses the notorious still frame dramatic pauses way too much. I don't mind a dramatic pause or two, but when you are blatantly holding a single frame someone drew I almost feel like you are trying to pull a fast one on me. Like I don't notice he hasn't blinked for a minute straight. That isn't to say that the animation is bad. When it is there, it is really good and you can tell it was all hand made. The action sequences in particular are excellently animated, but I think that better editing could have been managed. The music was also hit and miss, granted I realize this wasn't a big production but the composition often just felt out of place.

Anyways, there is my quasi-blog review. I whole heatedly suggest people who haven't seen go experience this overlooked treasure.

[Variable Gear]

Could you guys recommend some good anime blogs? I only read Random Curiosity but since Divine stopped blogging it doesn't cover all the shows I follow.
My recommendations include: THAT Anime Blog (http://that.animeblogger.net/), Cruel Angel Theses (http://omaemo.dasaku.net/) (even though Owen hasn't updated very much lately) and Miao on My Min (http://not.dotq.org/)d (Like CAT, this doesn't update very much either, but lolkit is awesome, so you should add it to your feed list.).

[Krispy]

For all you Chaos Head fans, I thought you might find this interesting. Basically, for the anime they photoshoped pictures of actual places for background images modified to fit whatever scene they want. Here is a website (http://gerokaerun.web.fc2.com/chaoshead/) that shows some before and after. Pretty cool what you can do with a tablet and some talent these days. I bet this saves a ton of time.

[Variable Gear]

Wait, does he have to fall in love with the girls or do they have to fall in love with him? Perhaps my prejudice is just showing, but when I think of plots that involve a socially awkward individual charming pretty girls I think of Oh My Goddess! or the loads of harem animes that I just can't stand to watch. But then again I am trying to broaden my literature medium horizons so maybe I'll give it a preview on the intarwebz. I keep telling myself I'll buy my first manga when I finish Preacher, but we will see. :D
The girls have to fall in love with him. Once he shares a love-filled kiss with a possessed girl *poof* the spirit disappears. It's a good manga, but I don't know if it's anywhere close to being ready to be purchased in the US.

[Kielaran]

I started watching the Death Note subs on Hulu a few days ago, but for some reason the video player won't load today. Any guess why or some place where I can DL the subs?

[Spigot]

For all you Chaos Head fans, I thought you might finds this interesting. Basically, for the anime they photoshoped pictures of actual places for background images modified to fit whatever scene they want. Here is a website (http://gerokaerun.web.fc2.com/chaoshead/) that shows some before and after. Pretty cool what you can do with a tablet and some talent these days. I bet this saves a ton of time.That's pretty cool. I have no idea what this Chaos Head is, but I'm finding my taste starting to skew towards the more mundane anime as opposed to crazy stuff right now.

[ClannerDelta]

That's pretty cool. I have no idea what this Chaos Head is, but I'm finding my taste starting to skew towards the more mundane anime as opposed to crazy stuff right now.

I wonder why that is, I've been the same. I used to love headfuck anime... now, not so much.

[Spigot]

I wonder why that is, I've been the same. I used to love headfuck anime... now, not so much.Between my insane kids and the nutty stuff happening at work, I need mundanity.

[Lance Uppercut]

I started watching the Death Note subs on Hulu a few days ago, but for some reason the video player won't load today. Any guess why or some place where I can DL the subs?

I'm sure they're floating around in pirate waters somewhere. ;)

[Variable Gear]

Between my insane kids and the nutty stuff happening at work, I need mundanity.
That makes sense. However, I still have a hard-on for the crazier crop of shows. :o

[Goronmon]

That's pretty cool. I have no idea what this Chaos Head is, but I'm finding my taste starting to skew towards the more mundane anime as opposed to crazy stuff right now.You want mundane? Try Aria the Animation. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but there is little plot or even conflict at all really. Definitely a gorgeous anime to watch. I think "serene" would be the best way to describe it.

[Variable Gear]

Here's another hit from The World God Only Knows.

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=46&pictureid=292 (http://www.onemanga.com/The_World_God_Only_Knows/13/04/)

[Krispy]

I don't get it. She gave opium to Japan?

[Variable Gear]

I don't get it. She gave opium to Japan?
Elsee claimed that she knew everything about Japan, but the last thing she studied was from 400 years ago. Obviously, she has a lot more to learn. ;)

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=46&pictureid=294

[Krispy]

Elsee claimed that she knew everything about Japan, but the last thing she studied was from 400 years ago. Obviously, she has a lot more to learn. ;)

Hah, my neophyte is showing. I was reading the text backwards and getting all sorts of confused. :D

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

So more anime impressions. This weekend I watched Noiseman Sound Insect and Open the Door, DEAD LEAVES, and began a rewatching Serial Experiments Lain but I'll leave that one for next week.

First up is Noiseman Sound Insect. Before I begin you should know two things, this was made by Studio 4C and it is about 12 minutes long. If you know who Studio 4C is then you already know to expect amazingly animated, vibrant, hyper active, and imaginative movies. If you don't know who Studio 4C is, well you know what to expect now :D. Many regard them as one of the few animation studios continually doing new and interesting things with in the industry today. Now about the plot...

Noiseman Sound Insect is about a mad scientist who thinks his fellow villages are fools for throwing out the noise seeds and harvesting the music fruit so he uses the noise seeds to create Noiseman. However, Noiseman accidentally knocks the old man into his separation chamber which separates his soul (a floating fish that sings) from his body (a crystal that makes noise) and Noiseman, terrified of the singing, decides he is going to expunge it from the world. Flash forward and you find some youngsters chasing the soul fish around a pastel village in hover vehicles trying to capture them for Noiseman so that they can be put into a silence chamber; however, some fish are able to slingshot a song fruit into one of the kid's face making him retake his senses (eating noise seeds makes them slaves of Noiseman) and a revolution is born.

The OVA just gushes of quality. The color pallet, for one, is unique in that it is completely consis of pastel colors. The world is (as is famously done by Studio 4C) computer generated and painted over in such a way that it looks like an animated oil painting. The result is twelve minutes of amazing animation sequences that really pull you into this world of cliff side villages, flying fish, and auditory struggles. The other unique feature is that Yoko Kano's electronic score is weaved right into the animation with characters speech and actions accentuated by the rhythm. Highly recommended, although extremely rare. As far as I know the OVA was only released on a promotional DVD for which I was lucky to even come across.


On the same DVD was Open the Door, an often overlooked short also done by 4C. This one is very simple but still beautiful in conception. A girl, who acts indifferent towards her cat is put to bed by her mother who is asked to leave the door to her room open just in case her cat wanders home. As she looks around she notices the silhouette of a figure through the open door which transforms into a faerie and takes the girl on an adventure to find her cat. Where they travel could only be described as an acid trip. Imagine flying through Dr. Sues's world which shifts into objects drawn straight out Yellow Submarine played to music from The Nutcracker. Just another excuse for them to play around with computers I suppose, but it was fun nonetheless.


Finally I watched DEAD LEAVES... twice. DEAD LEAVES was written and drawn by I.G. Studios (FLCL, Ghost in the Shell, ect.) and is the most visually stimulating, hyperactive movie you will ever see. There isn't a single scene that sits for more than five seconds. Seriously. The first five minutes would make a normal 24 minute episode for any other anime. Essentially, it is about two people who wake up naked near each other with no memory of who they are or what they are doing there. One is a woman with gray hear and pink eye (called "Pandy" because it makes her look like a Panda), the other is a guy with a television for a head (called Retro). So what do they do? Rob a store, get some clothes, and then embark one of the craziest car chase scenes you will ever see. Many bodies, explosions, and robots later, Pandy crashes the car and they are captured then sent to prison on the moon where genetic freaks are imprisoned. And then the fun really starts.

Let me get this out there right away. DEAD LEAVES is crude and I love it. There is a man with a drill for a dick, and yes, he uses it. There are more explosions than a 4th of July extravaganza and more scene cuts than a Guy Ritchie film. This film is ridiculous, but more to the point it is just pure entertainment and combined with this Earthworm Jim 90's cartoon aesthetics makes for a pretty interesting viewing. Check it out, but be warned, the English dubs wouldn't be worth wiping your ass with and your eyes will find out if you are seizure prone or not.

That about wraps things up.

[Xydarc]

I second Chaos;Head, it is a fun mindfuck. I've also been enjoying Casshern: Sins and Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae.

GLEE! Rosario+Vampire Capu2 ep 10 is out!

[Variable Gear]

I've recently started watching Kameko Deluxe! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemeko_Deluxe!), and I'm loving it. What a random/awesome show! :)

http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/picture.php?albumid=46&pictureid=309 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRoQ10ODl-c)

[pomeroy]

*Checks thread title*

Mango?

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/pomeroy_bucket/Mango.jpg

[5y1v4r]

...B]Open the Door[/B]...DEAD LEAVES...


Oh man, Dead Leaves sounds Awesome! I'm gonna have to look that up and watch it. Where do you usually get your anime from out of curiosity?
Have you seen The Cat Returns? One of Studio Ghibli's earlier movies, sort of a sequel to Whispers of the Heart. That movie Open the Door sounds very similar to it.

[Krispy]

I have been playing anime by ear so I have not watched any Ghibli except Howl's Moving Castle (and only because it was released on HD and I'm a sucker for HD material). I really need to eventually but I'm kind of hoping the big ones will hit HD broadcast or Bluray before long (which is why I still haven't seen Akira... anticipating the January Bluray).

As far as where I get my DVD's? Well imports cost a testicle and some change most of the time and do not include English subs and Netflix doesn't exactly carry R2's so I get them from places that I don't think I am allowed to mention on the forum. Shoot me a PM if you want to know more.

[nnanji]

I was at the Barnes and Noble last night doing some Christmas shopping and I noticed that the new Battle Angel Alita Last Order is out. I had been waiting for it for so long that I think I squealed like a little girl. For those who have never heard of it, it is a (quoted from the back of the book) post-apocalyptic cyber-punk manga.

[5y1v4r]

Did you know they're theoretically coming out with a live action movie of Alita? Supposed to happen sometime in the nearish future. I don't know if I'm excited about that or not, more worried they'll screw it over, but I too squealed like a little girl when Last Order came out ^_^

[astranoir]

but I too squealed like a little girl when Last Order came out ^_^

but you are a little girl ;)

[5y1v4r]

but you are a little girl ;)


*grins * this is true, at least I have an excuse. I would argue the "little" though... seeing as how my 22nd birthday is in a week :p

[astranoir]

I would argue the "little" though... seeing as how my 22nd birthday is in a week :p

Hence the winky face. :)

[nnanji]

Did you know they're theoretically coming out with a live action movie of Alita? Supposed to happen sometime in the nearish future. I don't know if I'm excited about that or not, more worried they'll screw it over, but I too squealed like a little girl when Last Order came out ^_^

Yeah, IMDB still has 2011 listed as the year for the movie. James Cameron is directing it, and he from what I've heard he appears to have a genuine love and respect for the source material. *Keeps fingers crossed*

[Krispy]

Here is an interesting bit of news I just stumbled upon (and yes I know it is old). Apparently, they are doing a second season of Full Metal Alchemist and is rumored to be a complete remake of the first 51 episode season. Sounds good to me because as much as I wanted to like FMA, it had so many short comings in the beginning that it took a while to really get into it. Here is hoping they do it better than before.

[Lance Uppercut]

Here is an interesting bit of news I just stumbled upon (and yes I know it is old). Apparently, they are doing a second season of Full Metal Alchemist and is rumored to be a complete remake of the first 51 episode season. Sounds good to me because as much as I wanted to like FMA, it had so many short comings in the beginning that it took a while to really get into it. Here is hoping they do it better than before.

I saw the same promo during this week's Gundam 00 episode. However, there's no official word that it's going to be a remake (and I'll be very disappointed if it is). There should me more information on it this Friday, though.

[Wraith]

The only reason I could see to do a remake is to do something that follows the manga. The anime (first two seasons) starts out following the manga, but then it sort of...meanders into its own story.

[evilgoodwin]

That's a pretty common trend among series that they start but don't have enough source material to finish. That's why some series have awful filler episodes that should be beaten to death. Or they just pulled something out of their ass. Trigun. And Hellsing (Hellsing is rectifying this with their "Ultimate" OVA's.)

Pisses me off. But I still liked FMA.

[Spigot]

Woah there Nelly. Trigun? That didn't get pulled out of anyone's ass. Yes, the last half of the series is a marked change in tone from the first part, but the progression from the first part to the second makes sense.

[Talanvor]

Anyone else still waiting for the next Hellsing Ultimate? Wikipedia lists the 5th episode has been released as of Nov 21st, but I don't even see a raw anywhere, much less a subbed version.

[Xydarc]

I'm totally confused with Casshern: Sins. I vaguely remember the original anime, and I kinda dug the live-action version. But this new version...I'm lost.

[evilgoodwin]

Woah there Nelly. Trigun? That didn't get pulled out of anyone's ass. Yes, the last half of the series is a marked change in tone from the first part, but the progression from the first part to the second makes sense.

I didn't mean to come off that it was bad or anything, there's just a very dramatic change between the 2nd half of the show and the 2nd half of the manga. I LOVE Trigun, in both forms. I just saw the manga's way of doing things and would've liked it to be how the anime had progressed, that's all. It still remains in my top 10 anime of all time.

[ShivaX]

I'll come to the experts for what I should check out next. I just finished Gurren Lagen a while ago (it was alright, had some great cheesy moments) and Elfen Lied very recently (which was pretty damn good overall). Now I'm looking for something else. I'll toss out a list of stuff I've seen and my overall impression to give people a gauge of what sort of stuff I like.

Cowboy Bebop - Awesome incarnate
Code Geass - Watching it on Adult Swim, mostly cause I'm used to the voices
Death Note- Fricken Great
Trigun - Solid, though the wacky antics and sometimes serious stuff clashed for me
Some Gundam - forget which one, it was on Adult Swim a long time ago, pretty decent
FLCL - actually liked it more than I should have

Right now I'm looking at Gundam 00 since everyone talks about it so much, but I'm kind of looking for something I might have overlooked thats a "great" series. I prefer it to be somewhat serious, or even entirely so, but I can look past that if its really good. I definately am not interested in dating sims converted into animes or anything like that.

Any feedback is appreciated.

[Goronmon]

You've hit a lot of my favorites already, and I have a listing of what I've watched linked in my sig.

As far as specific recommendations?

Samurai Champloo - Weird combination of sword fighting and rap
Ghost in the Shell - Really good sci-fi
Mushishi - More fantasy, but fairly serious. Episodes are fairly standalone, so not much of an overarching plot.

I tend lean towards the less serious stuff as far as anime goes though, so I haven't seen too much of what you'd be looking for.

[Goronmon]

Gurren Lagaan is entertaining, but I wouldn't say it was good.It's funny, I finished the series somewhat recently and near the end I thought my general impression was that it was alright, but nothing amazing. Then by the last few episodes I realized that the anime is awesome and now it's one of favorites. I started watching it again and I'm enjoying it even more.

[ShivaX]

You've hit a lot of my favorites already, and I have a listing of what I've watched linked in my sig.

As far as specific recommendations?

Samurai Champloo - Weird combination of sword fighting and rap
Ghost in the Shell - Really good sci-fi
Mushishi - More fantasy, but fairly serious. Episodes are fairly standalone, so not much of an overarching plot.

I tend lean towards the less serious stuff as far as anime goes though, so I haven't seen too much of what you'd be looking for.

I've seen the first two (I had a brain fart and forgot everything I've seen). Liked them both quite a bit. Mushishi I'll have to look into.

I mean I'm pretty open minded about stuff, but I'm not going to be excited about a high school drama or anything. If at some point a mech doesn't start blow shit up or someone isn't dismembering people, odds are I'm going to stop watching.

[Goronmon]

Hmm...well...if you want mechs, Eureka Seven is one of my favorites, though definitely less serious tone throughout the series. Macross Frontier is solid though less standout, IMO.

The Meloncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is easily one of my favorite animes, but no mechs and it's more slice of life type stuff. I'd compare it to FLCL, but definitely not as insane.

Last Exile if you want something more steampunk.

[ShivaX]

Hmm...well...if you want mechs, Eureka Seven is one of my favorites, though definitely less serious tone throughout the series. Macross Frontier is solid though less standout, IMO.

The Meloncholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is easily one of my favorite animes, but no mechs and it's more slice of life type stuff. I'd compare it to FLCL, but definitely not as insane.

Saw Eureka Seven as well. Really anything thats been on Cartoon Network I've probably seen. It was decent, but it didn't really fire me up too much. Macross is really hit and miss for me, but maybe thats from watching the older movies a while back. I blame the cheesy 80's music as a weapon (or whatever the hell the plot was).

I'm not sure anything can really be as insane as FLCL, which is probably why I ended up liking it. Reading the wikipedia entry for MoHS, it doesn't sound like its up my alley, but I could be wrong. I'll add it to my list of things to check out an episode of if nothing else.

[Talanvor]

Any feedback is appreciated.

Well, I'll throw some out there that I've enjoyed.

Blood+ - I know some people hate on it, but I thought it was a pretty good series. It is kind of long though, 50 episodes.
Ergo Proxy - I haven't finished this yet, but everything I've watched has been good.
Gantz - This one is just lots of insane fun.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - Speaking of insane, this one has lots and lots of killing and dead people and girls losing their minds. It's great.
BPS or Battle Programmer Shirase - It's pretty funny, and likes to poke fun at the more silly conventions of the genre. The episodes are pretty short, so they're an easy watch.

[Wraith]

I've seen the first two (I had a brain fart and forgot everything I've seen). Liked them both quite a bit. Mushishi I'll have to look into.

I mean I'm pretty open minded about stuff, but I'm not going to be excited about a high school drama or anything. If at some point a mech doesn't start blow shit up or someone isn't dismembering people, odds are I'm going to stop watching.For Ghost in the Shell, have you seen all of it?

Ghost in the Shell (movie)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (movie)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (series)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: 2nd Gig (season 2 of the series)
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society (movie)

At least I think that's everything on the anime side.

A few others to consider:

Full Metal Panic!
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid
Gungrave
Read or Die (movie)
Serial Experiments Lain
Paranoia Agent

[Talanvor]

Read or Die is pretty funny, at least the movie. I haven't seen the series.

[NoName]

I've seen the first two (I had a brain fart and forgot everything I've seen). Liked them both quite a bit. Mushishi I'll have to look into.

Mushishi is a great anime! It was sad that it ended.

I'm guessing you've already seen Blood+ since it was on CN, but I'll throw in another vote for Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (which Talanvor suggested)

[Goronmon]

Reading the wikipedia entry for MoHS, it doesn't sound like its up my alley, but I could be wrong. I'll add it to my list of things to check out an episode of if nothing else.It is only 14 episodes at this point, so it doesn't require too much of a time investment.

I do recommend watching the series in the order the episodes aired as opposed to the order of the actual storyline. It's more confusing, but makes things interesting. Word of warning though, the first aired episode isn't a good representation of the rest, but does make a lot more sense later on.

[Wraith]

Read or Die is pretty funny, at least the movie. I haven't seen the series.I love the series and the movie (OVA). I just figured the movie fit a bit better with what ShivaX was looking for.

[nnanji]

I'll come to the experts for what I should check out next. I just finished Gurren Lagen a while ago (it was alright, had some great cheesy moments) and Elfen Lied very recently (which was pretty damn good overall). Now I'm looking for something else. I'll toss out a list of stuff I've seen and my overall impression to give people a gauge of what sort of stuff I like.

Cowboy Bebop - Awesome incarnate
Code Geass - Watching it on Adult Swim, mostly cause I'm used to the voices
Death Note- Fricken Great
Trigun - Solid, though the wacky antics and sometimes serious stuff clashed for me
Some Gundam - forget which one, it was on Adult Swim a long time ago, pretty decent
FLCL - actually liked it more than I should have

Right now I'm looking at Gundam 00 since everyone talks about it so much, but I'm kind of looking for something I might have overlooked thats a "great" series. I prefer it to be somewhat serious, or even entirely so, but I can look past that if its really good. I definately am not interested in dating sims converted into animes or anything like that.

Any feedback is appreciated.


A couple of great movies that I've seen semi-recently were the two Karas movies and Vexille. Both have serious themes and big robots. They aren't series though, so they'll only do you for an evening.

Karas is about a boy who transforms into a cyber-samarai to save the city from demonic invasion.

V5V2qwYOiNo

Vexille is a more traditional scifi story by the people that did Appleseed. It's awesome.

5Xboe4cH8Ls

[Talanvor]

Which Appleseed? I didn't like Ex Machina as much as I thought I would have. Sort of like GitS: Innocence. I did like the first Appleseed movie more, though.

[Spigot]

I didn't mean to come off that it was bad or anything, there's just a very dramatic change between the 2nd half of the show and the 2nd half of the manga. I LOVE Trigun, in both forms. I just saw the manga's way of doing things and would've liked it to be how the anime had progressed, that's all. It still remains in my top 10 anime of all time.Ah, I see what you mean. I haven't read the manga so I'm just going by the anime, which I adored.

Hmm... I'm looking at the lists you guys are putting up over the past few posts and my heart breaks to see the sheer lack of Last Exile.

Sob.

I mean, it's got a coherent storyline, likeable characters and a lot of airships. AIRSHIPS!

I don't understand the hate :)

[Krispy]

Why does everyone like Samurai Champloo? I thought I was going to love it based on the first episode and it just degenerated quickly into hackneyed material.

If you want to watch something not mainstream try Here and There, Then and Now. I wrote a quasi review of it a few pages back if you want to know what it is like.

[Goronmon]

Hmm... I'm looking at the lists you guys are putting up over the past few posts and my heart breaks to see the sheer lack of Last Exile.*cough* (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showpost.php?p=102945&postcount=222)too short

[Wraith]

Hmm... I'm looking at the lists you guys are putting up over the past few posts and my heart breaks to see the sheer lack of Last Exile.Well, someone already mentioned it, so... I didn't put it in my list.

If I was just listing all the anime I like, it would be in there.

[Spigot]

*cough*too short
Bah. I missed that. Crap. A thousand apologies.

[Variable Gear]

Some Gundam - forget which one, it was on Adult Swim a long time ago, pretty decent
Was it 08th MS Team or Gundam Wing?
Any feedback is appreciated.
You should watch Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZY1lbCuwo8), because it is hilarious. :)

[Lance Uppercut]

I'll come to the experts for what I should check out next. I just finished Gurren Lagen a while ago (it was alright, had some great cheesy moments) and Elfen Lied very recently (which was pretty damn good overall). Now I'm looking for something else. I'll toss out a list of stuff I've seen and my overall impression to give people a gauge of what sort of stuff I like.

Cowboy Bebop - Awesome incarnate
Code Geass - Watching it on Adult Swim, mostly cause I'm used to the voices
Death Note- Fricken Great
Trigun - Solid, though the wacky antics and sometimes serious stuff clashed for me
Some Gundam - forget which one, it was on Adult Swim a long time ago, pretty decent
FLCL - actually liked it more than I should have

Right now I'm looking at Gundam 00 since everyone talks about it so much, but I'm kind of looking for something I might have overlooked thats a "great" series. I prefer it to be somewhat serious, or even entirely so, but I can look past that if its really good. I definately am not interested in dating sims converted into animes or anything like that.

Any feedback is appreciated.

You've probably not watched some of the recent shows, or even some older classics:

GaoGaiGar
Eureka Seven (Watch It)
Higurashi
Basilisk
School Rumble (Watch It)
Haruhi (Watch It)
GTO
Evangelion
Escaflowne

[ClannerDelta]

Any feedback is appreciated.

Last Exile. Good story, not any of the wacky anime stuff, story seems to meander a bit in the middle but wraps up extremely well. Some happy stuff, some sad stuff.

Mushishi. I enjoyed this one even though I thought I wouldn't. It's slow, laid back, delves into superstitions and the like. Very compartmentalized story, with each episode playing out like a short story with the main Character and a few side characters being the only links back. Has some happy moment, but most of the stories are incredibly sad at the heart of them. Also the Dub on Hulu.com is actually pretty good.

Evangelion... I suppose. It's kind of like a right of passage for anime. Shinji alone makes the show less awesome than it could have been.

Planetes is good. It's something you should look into at the very least.

[Talanvor]

Has anyone seen Claymore? I've been reading the manga, was wondering if the anime is any good.

[Aggort]

Man this thread makes me miss watching anime like I used to.

[Goronmon]

Evangelion... I suppose. It's kind of like a right of passage for anime. Shinji alone makes the show less awesome than it could have been.

Planetes is good. It's something you should look into at the very least.Planetes is on my "Plan to Watch" list. Evangelion was pretty good, then the last couple episodes actually made my dislike the show quite a bit.

[Lance Uppercut]

Planetes is on my "Plan to Watch" list. Evangelion was pretty good, then the last couple episodes actually made my dislike the show quite a bit.

You can easily substitute those last two episodes for End of Evangelion.

[nnanji]

Which Appleseed? I didn't like Ex Machina as much as I thought I would have. Sort of like GitS: Innocence. I did like the first Appleseed movie more, though.

I believe it's the people who did Ex Machina, which I guess I probably liked a bit more than you did. Never-the-less, Vexille is seriously kick ass, including the giant scrap-metal sand worms. Imagine if the worms from Dune were made up of cyclones of swirling, jagged scrap metal and they were coming to eat your ass.

[ClannerDelta]

I believe it's the people who did Ex Machina, which I guess I probably liked a bit more than you did. Never-the-less, Vexille is seriously kick ass, including the giant scrap-metal sand worms. Imagine if the worms from Dune were made up of cyclones of swirling, jagged scrap metal and they were coming to eat your ass.

Sounds like a typical Friday night.

[JRR1285]

Was it 08th MS Team or Gundam Wing?

Same question I was planning on asking.

Both are quite good but 08th MS Team is one of my all time favorites. I really enjoyed how it was a little more gritty and realistic (as far as Anime is concerned) I picked up the box set about a year or so ago.

[ClannerDelta]

Same question I was planning on asking.

Both are quite good but 08th MS Team is one of my all time favorites. I really enjoyed how it was a little more gritty and realistic (as far as Anime is concerned) I picked up the box set about a year or so ago.

Eh, I watched Wing when I was younger and remember liking it. It didn't age well at all though. I couldn't finish the first episode.

08th MS team is good though. Starts to get a bit too lovey dovey at the end.

[Goronmon]

So, I've started watching Fate/stay night. It's pretty annoying so far. I swear the main character is retarded and for battles that are all about killing people, everyone seems to be pretty terrible at it.

[evilgoodwin]

So, I've started watching Fate/stay night. It's pretty annoying so far. I swear the main character is retarded and for battles that are all about killing people, everyone seems to be pretty terrible at it.

They get better at it. Trust me.

[Goronmon]

They get better at it. Trust me.Oh, I'm sure they do. Doesn't make the first 6 episodes any less frustrating to watch.