He'll be riding the pony instead.
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Fall 2011 Anime Thread |OT2| The Tampire is Coming
- Thread starter Dresden
- Start date
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Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
K-ON! 13:
And so it ends, not with a bang, but with a kyun kyun. This episode is supposed to bring some memories of the previous Christmas adventure, but instead of having the girls join together for a nice holy night it drifts them apart. Even if momentarily, it is great to see them trying to grow up by themselves and become more independent. Of course, all Christmas stories end with the characters discovering the joys of friendship and the like, so we are reminded of the strong bonds these moéblobs have made through two years.
K-ON! Live!:
Had this been a, say, Disney Channel tween show, this episode would have pitted a rival group against Hokago Tea Time in order to win the "big contract" or whatever it is amateur rock bands compete for. Hokago Tea Time would have won after it were discovered that the rivals sabotaged the whole event, only for the moéblobs to selflessly deny the offer and strive to actually become better at rocking out.
It's nice that they didn't take this route. The show is very heartfelt and (dare I say), honest about human relationships. It may not have had much tension or conflict or whatever, but it makes up for it with simple messages of friendship and goodwill.
***
What am I to take from K-ON! thirteen episodes and an OVA later? It's slice-of-life to the core, with very little in the nature of outlandish to spice things up. In fact, the moments when it gets very animé-esque (
) feel out of tone with the rest of the cartoon. It presents a non-cynical view of teenage girls, possibly an idealisation of those years. It may be too innocent about its audience and real life, but at the same time it feels innocuous. I certainly don't understand the hate anymore -99.99999% of the fanservice is non-fetishistic. I would even say the show doesn't take enough risks. It would have been great to see these characters get into trouble a bit more beyond "oh Ritsu forgot something important again lol".
K-ON! was very enjoyable despite that. The animation is great and the gags (not jokes) were funny, the music catches you easily and, unless you totally believe nobody can look at fourteen year-old girls without some ulterior motive, extremely cute. K-ON! may not be the salvation animé wants, but it is the salvation animé needs if it wants to appeal to more people than stinky nerds. 4/5
And so it ends, not with a bang, but with a kyun kyun. This episode is supposed to bring some memories of the previous Christmas adventure, but instead of having the girls join together for a nice holy night it drifts them apart. Even if momentarily, it is great to see them trying to grow up by themselves and become more independent. Of course, all Christmas stories end with the characters discovering the joys of friendship and the like, so we are reminded of the strong bonds these moéblobs have made through two years.
K-ON! Live!:
Had this been a, say, Disney Channel tween show, this episode would have pitted a rival group against Hokago Tea Time in order to win the "big contract" or whatever it is amateur rock bands compete for. Hokago Tea Time would have won after it were discovered that the rivals sabotaged the whole event, only for the moéblobs to selflessly deny the offer and strive to actually become better at rocking out.
It's nice that they didn't take this route. The show is very heartfelt and (dare I say), honest about human relationships. It may not have had much tension or conflict or whatever, but it makes up for it with simple messages of friendship and goodwill.
***
What am I to take from K-ON! thirteen episodes and an OVA later? It's slice-of-life to the core, with very little in the nature of outlandish to spice things up. In fact, the moments when it gets very animé-esque (
blue-striped panties and beach episodes
K-ON! was very enjoyable despite that. The animation is great and the gags (not jokes) were funny, the music catches you easily and, unless you totally believe nobody can look at fourteen year-old girls without some ulterior motive, extremely cute. K-ON! may not be the salvation animé wants, but it is the salvation animé needs if it wants to appeal to more people than stinky nerds. 4/5
So true. All those k-on fans will feel terrible for having contributed to the death of anime.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Top animu of 2011 according to I don't fucking know I'm getting the news from that SC site:
1. Puella Magi Madoka Magica
2. Ano Hi Mita Hana
3. Working!!
4. Dog Days
5. Hanasaku Iroha
6. Nichijou
7. Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
8. Baka to Test II
9. Ro-Kyu-Bu!
10. YuruYuri
11. Tamayura -hitotose-
12. Ika Musume
13. Natsumes Book of Friends
14. Infinite Stratos
15. Hidan no Aria
16. GOSICK
17. Blue Exorcist
18. Ben-to [tied]
19. Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
20. Chihayafuru
21. Mashiroiro Symphony
22. Mayochiki!
23. The World Only God Knows
24. Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
25. Heavens Memo Pad
Penguindrum didn't even make the top 50. :| These fuckers don't deserve Ikuhara's salvation.
1. Puella Magi Madoka Magica
2. Ano Hi Mita Hana
3. Working!!
4. Dog Days
5. Hanasaku Iroha
6. Nichijou
7. Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai
8. Baka to Test II
9. Ro-Kyu-Bu!
10. YuruYuri
11. Tamayura -hitotose-
12. Ika Musume
13. Natsumes Book of Friends
14. Infinite Stratos
15. Hidan no Aria
16. GOSICK
17. Blue Exorcist
18. Ben-to [tied]
19. Ikoku Meiro no Croisée
20. Chihayafuru
21. Mashiroiro Symphony
22. Mayochiki!
23. The World Only God Knows
24. Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
25. Heavens Memo Pad
Penguindrum didn't even make the top 50. :| These fuckers don't deserve Ikuhara's salvation.
Basileus777
Member
I had no idea that Dog Days was that popular.
hosannainexcelsis
Member
The anime adaptation of josei manga Sakamichi no Apollo will air on Noitamina in Spring 2012.
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It's just another random meaningless Internet poll that people only care about because it gives them something to rage over.
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It's just another random meaningless Internet poll that people only care about because it gives them something to rage over.
Yeah that certainly sounds like the show I watched and then subsequently fell asleep on.
"Nishimi Kaoru has moved from city to city and school to school because of his fathers job. So the first day at his new school was just routine for him. Being intellectual and the new transfer student, he has always been seen as an outcast and all Kaoru had to do was bare it until the next time he moved. But things were slightly different this time. First, he started to get close to the class president, Mukae Ritsuko, and, secondly, unlikely as it seemed, grew closer to Kawabuchi Sentaro. Sentaro was infamous for getting into fights, skipping class and was an overall bad boy. Strangely enough, the three of them find common ground in music, namely jazz, and Kaoru finds himself actually enjoying the new town."
So much brolust waiting to happen.
I am ready for this.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Huh, April 2012 is when noitaminA is saved again?
----
Kimi to Boku 13:
Precocious lolis:
But really, this ended up being a fairly interesting slice of life show, mostly because bros being bros is rarely depicted in anime (at least recently). Even the last episode had two forever-alone bros helping each other out with their love interests.
Given what I know about the manga, I have a feeling the second cour will end up introducing a lot of the romance stuff, which means the show becomes Honey and Clover: High School years... but hey, I'm still in.
If I'm struck down, I will become more powerful than you can ever imagine.
I bet that's what Hitler said as the Russians closed in on Berlin.
Hopefully they'll actually show the honest music experience in this one: drugs and atmospheric bg music. They could even get meta and then use the music that they, the characters, produce as the shows actual bg music from then on, one track, every episode, nonstop. Which would work out especially fine with an episodic formatting as no song really written while blazed is shorter than 30 minutes anyway.
Unknown Soldier
Member
And he was right!
Ummm, but then I killed Mecha-Hitler in Wolfenstein 3D. So you still die.
You should see some pages bro.
And your inaugural ISML Male Tournament champion is:
2nd place -- Hideyoshi Kinoshita
3rd place -- Gintoki Sakata
4th place -- Keima Katsuragi
A bit disappointing overall in voter turnout, but okay for a first effort, I guess. Hopefully this also becomes a yearly thing. Or they find someway to bring back SaiGar without rampant corruption.
2nd place -- Hideyoshi Kinoshita
3rd place -- Gintoki Sakata
4th place -- Keima Katsuragi
A bit disappointing overall in voter turnout, but okay for a first effort, I guess. Hopefully this also becomes a yearly thing. Or they find someway to bring back SaiGar without rampant corruption.
Crash Station
Member
Ika Musume S2
Neat, octopus girl shows up again. Can't wait for her to reveal her evil legitimate invasion plan next season. Should be fun.
Just like the first one, this was a decent series. Very safe with nothing really noteworthy about it. The structure and content would make a good fit as a kid's show over here. With some minor edits, it could even be on the Disney channel alongside K-on.
Neat, octopus girl shows up again. Can't wait for her to reveal her evil legitimate invasion plan next season. Should be fun.
Just like the first one, this was a decent series. Very safe with nothing really noteworthy about it. The structure and content would make a good fit as a kid's show over here. With some minor edits, it could even be on the Disney channel alongside K-on.
hosannainexcelsis
Member
The Idolmaster 5
A beach episode already. Oh joy. The number of characters Idolmaster has to juggle doesn't do it any favors. Neither does Mr. Pathetic Harem Lead. At least there were a couple nice transitions.
A beach episode already. Oh joy. The number of characters Idolmaster has to juggle doesn't do it any favors. Neither does Mr. Pathetic Harem Lead. At least there were a couple nice transitions.
Unknown Soldier
Member
You've gotten through the early introductions episodes now, and yes, there's a reason they did the beach episode so early. They were getting it out of the way so they could do other stuff.
Mirai Nikki 12:
No surprises here, this episode adapts the manga content directly with no significant changes. An important meeting in this episode makes much more sense now since they pulled the content out of Mirai Nikki Mosaic a few episodes back to show us how Nishijima and Minene originally met way back when.
The ending of this episode foreshadows the awesome next series of arcs to come. My favorite arc in the story is next, followed by another arc with some seriously awesome action sequences which should be really awesome when brought to animation.
If you're a fan of Akise Aru, you're in luck, because he's all over the next couple of arcs getting all up in Yuno's business and continuing to piss her off.
But don't worry, she kills his annoyingly nosy, interfering ass near the end in pretty spectacular fashion.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Squid Wars: Chizuru Strikes Back 11: First segment was forgettable even with the monkey/raven antics, the second segment was godlike (the only other Diomedea show I've watched before was Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu and that premise didn't lend itself to action), and the third could have been touching had they not ruined it with a gag joke.
Princess Tutu 03:
oh my god what is wrong with your face
Tutu is starting to feel like a play; that's a good thing! I can see it being abused by filler easily, so hopefully they don't drag the "random person has issues/Princess Tutu makes their life bright again" formula too much. Even so I'm having a lot of fun with the way Ahiru presents her thoughts to the audience. I normally would be annoyed by someone who cannot ever shut the fuck up, but her klutziness comes across as genuine for a girl starting to find her place in a world where she feels unfulfilled.
Mitho as a male-Rei, on the other hand, is more annoying than mysterious. I assume Ahiru's arc will have to involve getting over her fascination with the prince at some point, especially considering she will
. Hopefully his character becomes more active as Tutu keeps on helping him.
Princess Tutu 03:
oh my god what is wrong with your face
Tutu is starting to feel like a play; that's a good thing! I can see it being abused by filler easily, so hopefully they don't drag the "random person has issues/Princess Tutu makes their life bright again" formula too much. Even so I'm having a lot of fun with the way Ahiru presents her thoughts to the audience. I normally would be annoyed by someone who cannot ever shut the fuck up, but her klutziness comes across as genuine for a girl starting to find her place in a world where she feels unfulfilled.
Mitho as a male-Rei, on the other hand, is more annoying than mysterious. I assume Ahiru's arc will have to involve getting over her fascination with the prince at some point, especially considering she will
die by ever confessing to him
Pretty sure there was some Habanera in episode three, so it's not just Tchaikovsky.
jump_button
Banned
Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Ano Hi Mita Hana are my fav but the other are just wrong
Jex
Member
Sweet, another chart from VG Chartz.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Y U mad? K-ON is what is making money in Japan these days you know. K-ON is too busy saving anime to care about you.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Pendrum 24:
So now that all the hype is done and over with (and perhaps as my last obligation to Lafiel), I figure I'd seriously sit through the last episode and try to parse through the series as a whole. I still think that the show was full of rich ideas, both as a written text and as an animated/visual text, but I think tonal problems combined with some fundamental structural problems prevented me from being engaged with the text.
I'm fine with intellectual engagement and emotional engagement - and sometimes the two can meet, but a show needs to be very carefully balanced for me to both enjoy the mindfuck and the emotional core of the show at the same time.
For me, I think the show would have worked if all the Himari bits were
As it stands, the show tried to have its cake with her character by both trying to be metatextual/selfaware and emotional and really missing the mark on either.
The show certainly tilts towards the intellectual early on, with the many, many references to theatricality and artifice. Perhaps in hindsight all that was meant to set up the rest of the series, but to me, it signaled an approach to the show that was not necessarily fulfilled.
As I pointed out in my half-fake top 10 list in that other thread, this show ended up being disappointing to me because of the two tonal approaches constantly tugging at each other. I felt like I was being tugged in both directions without much care and in the end, all it did was make me frustrated and uncomfortable.
Oh, and yes, the diary was a
was a bit on the nose.
Maybe I'll revisit this show in 5-10 years and approach it purely as an intellectual text then. With some time and distance, I might be convinced that all the emotional stakes in the show were actually mindfucks and that this show is meant to be enjoyed purely on an intellectual level.
So now that all the hype is done and over with (and perhaps as my last obligation to Lafiel), I figure I'd seriously sit through the last episode and try to parse through the series as a whole. I still think that the show was full of rich ideas, both as a written text and as an animated/visual text, but I think tonal problems combined with some fundamental structural problems prevented me from being engaged with the text.
I'm fine with intellectual engagement and emotional engagement - and sometimes the two can meet, but a show needs to be very carefully balanced for me to both enjoy the mindfuck and the emotional core of the show at the same time.
For me, I think the show would have worked if all the Himari bits were
played up much more than they were. Which means maybe having her die every other episode.
The show certainly tilts towards the intellectual early on, with the many, many references to theatricality and artifice. Perhaps in hindsight all that was meant to set up the rest of the series, but to me, it signaled an approach to the show that was not necessarily fulfilled.
As I pointed out in my half-fake top 10 list in that other thread, this show ended up being disappointing to me because of the two tonal approaches constantly tugging at each other. I felt like I was being tugged in both directions without much care and in the end, all it did was make me frustrated and uncomfortable.
Oh, and yes, the diary was a
red herring... although, having them name the "penguin drum"
Maybe I'll revisit this show in 5-10 years and approach it purely as an intellectual text then. With some time and distance, I might be convinced that all the emotional stakes in the show were actually mindfucks and that this show is meant to be enjoyed purely on an intellectual level.
This is obviously a good way to view works. Who needs middle acts?
I've heard a number of ideas for making the series better and this is honestly one of the worst ones I have ever heard.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
I'm breaking my no-reply/no-view rule only to clarify that I've seen the entire series and that I only dreaded watching the last episode because, well, I didn't really need to see how this show ended.
Jex
Member
After seeing this crop up in a few posters lists in the main voting thread I thought it was about time I revisited this short:
Kizuna Ichigeki
This piece is a joy to watch. It's essentially a light hearted martial arts piece, but as it's only one take there's no fluff. They do an amazing job fitting excellent fight scenes, character development, foreshadowing, comedy routines, mecha-parody and a family piece all into one tight, brilliant little film. I can't really ask for then that, unless I wanted to see a dear fight a dude.
Oh wait.
Kizuna Ichigeki
This piece is a joy to watch. It's essentially a light hearted martial arts piece, but as it's only one take there's no fluff. They do an amazing job fitting excellent fight scenes, character development, foreshadowing, comedy routines, mecha-parody and a family piece all into one tight, brilliant little film. I can't really ask for then that, unless I wanted to see a dear fight a dude.
Oh wait.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Hey, it's Stephen Fry in the British TV adaptation of Arrietty.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
Clearly anime is dead and everyone should quit anime next spring.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
Nope. Mahjong sistahs!
No-reply/no-view rule?
You guys ready for motherfucking SPRING?
Art by HJL will be the show of the season.
Regulus Tera
Romanes Eunt Domus
When's the new Fabulous Geass airing anyway?
Jex
Member
[Kakurenbo] - 2004
The title of this short CG film roughly means 'hide and seek', which as they quickly explain in the introduction is a game that kids in Tokyo play at night. Unfortunately in this variant kids are kidnapped by demons. Which all the kids seem to be well aware of - makes you wonder why anyone would want to play it. Never the less, the movie starts with a group of kids who set out to play the game. Surprisingly enough, things start to go wrong pretty quickly...
Anyhow, for being a CG work produced in Japan it isn't the ugliest thing I've seen, although the animation in motion doesn't look particularly good, but the get around the biggest problem, facial animation, by having all the kids wear masks. This is very convenient, but it does tie-back into the actually story, so I guess I'll let it pass.
As a moody little horror piece I guess it does a reasonable job at constructing a gloomy atmosphere, but it's nothing outstanding. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone, but I enjoyed watching it.
The title of this short CG film roughly means 'hide and seek', which as they quickly explain in the introduction is a game that kids in Tokyo play at night. Unfortunately in this variant kids are kidnapped by demons. Which all the kids seem to be well aware of - makes you wonder why anyone would want to play it. Never the less, the movie starts with a group of kids who set out to play the game. Surprisingly enough, things start to go wrong pretty quickly...
Anyhow, for being a CG work produced in Japan it isn't the ugliest thing I've seen, although the animation in motion doesn't look particularly good, but the get around the biggest problem, facial animation, by having all the kids wear masks. This is very convenient, but it does tie-back into the actually story, so I guess I'll let it pass.
As a moody little horror piece I guess it does a reasonable job at constructing a gloomy atmosphere, but it's nothing outstanding. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone, but I enjoyed watching it.
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