hosannainexcelsis
Member
Might want to check out Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi if you haven't seen it already. It's not as Imaishi as the other shows, but it still has a little of that.
Winter 2012 Anime Thread 2.22: You Can (Not) Outpost Cajunator
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Might want to check out Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi if you haven't seen it already. It's not as Imaishi as the other shows, but it still has a little of that.
Jex
Member
Yes.
I suppose there's a few things here. Firstly, as I've said earlier, I haven't watched the show all the way through in a couple of years so I really can't speak for the series with as much confidence as I'd like. There are certainly a few episodes that go beyond that formula but I don't want to go deep into that in case I say something that's completely wrong.
Still, I don't think that striping a show down to it's formula necessarily tells you anything about the quality of a show. Many shows follow a formula of some kind, but you really can't use that a way to measure that a show is good or not because it's all the stuff on top of that structure which helps to determine a shows quality. Sailor Moon has a formula, as does Utena - but that doesn't tell you very much about the show itself. Heck, I can describe Mushi-Shi or Mononoke as "Incident -> Investigation -> Resolution" and that doesn't make them bad shows.
That's why I call this focus on formula reductionist. It's not necessary for a show to have a 'unique' formula before it becomes good.
Trojita
Rapid Response Threadmaker
The main bad guy of the series is this guy
He's like a bad JRPG Boss.
"Then I grew up" must have taken so much.
Fair enough, and 13 episodes? I'll add this to my backlog, waiting for further judgement. Thanks!
Since we're both on horses we might as well play Polo.
I'll second that, great show. Though the first episode is a bit slow so stick with it.
And here's that detailing that I promised from the Innocence scene I linked. I'm not going to strictly just detail parts that allow me to say "AND THIS IS WHY SAC SUX" (actually I don't mention SAC at all) nor only detail the original reason I linked it but rather I'll just go for a full breakdown of that part of the scene. (note that the link uses the dub and I'm going off the subtitles) ...
Things that I think are important (& use in my analysis) to note to help understand the visual coherency of the scene, due to their identifiable qualities: The Arch Entrance, The Funny Hat Guy, The Shirtless Tattoo Guy, The Blue Counters, The Doorway, Afro Man, The Railing
Oh and you have to click on the black bars to see the good stuff.
And that concludes my analysis. 10 bux says the "lol pizzaroll" people (you know who you are) ignore this and continue to think I'm some troll who don't know shit about shit.
Things that I think are important (& use in my analysis) to note to help understand the visual coherency of the scene, due to their identifiable qualities: The Arch Entrance, The Funny Hat Guy, The Shirtless Tattoo Guy, The Blue Counters, The Doorway, Afro Man, The Railing
Oh and you have to click on the black bars to see the good stuff.
To start off with my analysis of this scene, I'll start with the end of the last shot from the previous part of the scene. It's a first person shot -- this not only makes the carnage more intimate, but it also establishes where Batou is standing at this point in time. Note the arch entrance and the blue counters in front of the viewer's perspective.
Now we cut to a shot showing where Batou is standing, as well as Togusa. Note the door way. Togusa is mildly disturbed by the one-sided carnage and annoyed that it even came to this, bringing up that shooting was supposed to be avoided.
Batou tells him to get ready for the reinforcements, and his look of disgust is quickly changed to a ready, serious look. This is also an example of portraying the character through the visuals. We can see that he's emotionally effected by what he's seen, but doesn't let it get in the way of his job or his own life, by quickly snapping out of it.
The reinforcements arrive, in the same place as the previous guys were, going off the arch and the counter. Arrival of funny hat guy and shirtless tattoo guy. We can see that perhaps one or more of them have more passion than brains, perhaps a desire to avenge their fallen friends who just got wiped the fuck out before they arrived -- see charging sword guy.
Pan to the upper level of gang baddies. Afro Man arrival.
Batou opens fire.
Baddies return fire. We are given an idea as to where they are located and where they are firing going off previous visual clues such as the direction of the blue counter in front of the funny hat guy and that guy himself.
Now here's where things start to get [even more] interesting. The viewer is disconnected from Batou's current actions and locations by switching focus to Togusa who is now off doing his own thing without Batou visible to the viewer.
We are now disconnected even further with a cut to Togusa in a completely different room.
Hat guy and the blue counter return, and with this we can tell that they are still firing in the same direction as before. This begins a montage of the gang baddies shooting their guns.
Guys up top are firing there as well for further confirmation, note the railing.
A guy from up top has decided to go down a little but not all the way, standing on the stairs.
This montage of fire indicates overall that they are firing at Batou, and that he didn't move much. That, or, maybe he got fucked up and the gang is just emptying all they have to make sure he's down for good. He's dangerous -- wiping out their previous batch of fellow gang members with nary a scratch. Choosing a montage of fire in what is directed toward the last known location of Batou was a good creative decision. One could have a longer shot of Batou just standing there without any shot effecting him, but that would deflate the tension of the scene. The way it was done here was perfect. It keeps the viewer guessing, momentarily.
Now we're at a shot of Batou in that same doorway as image two and three -- note the patterned glass to the viewer's left, the tiled wall to the viewer's bottom right. Some of the banners with writing have been shot down or shot out of the glass. There are a lot of bullet holes. These baddies must have really bad ai-
Oh. That darn Batou.
The gang ceases fire and paints a look of astonishment on their faces. One of them says that it was a hologram, and our trusty hat guy brings up that their eyes have been hacked. Now the viewer knows that they were squeezin' they gats for extended periods not because they were stone cold killers making sure he was out for good, but because he [or, what they believed was him] just wouldn't go down. Now we know, that in this world your own eyes can not be trusted.
Their moment of peace and confusion is interrupted by death. Shots come from an unclear direction.
We cut to a first person shot again! We see what seems like the arch from where they entered. There is a little frame of Japanese writing on the wall to the viewer's left.
The first person shot continues. We can see the doorway from where Batou's original location was last established in the distance, which tells us that he is in front of it. We also see the back of tattoo guy. Also contrast this with the first person shot from the previous scene -- in that one, we saw the arch off in the distance from the doorway. Now we see the doorway off in the distance from behind the arch. He is firing on them from behind.
Now we cut to Batou still firing briefly, and then ceasing fire and turning. We still see the arch from where the second wave of baddies entered. This, along with the doorway in the distance and the back of tattoo guy in the previous shot, confirms again that he was firing on them from behind.
After his momentary pause from firing, he begins firing to what should be the viewer's right aimed a bit upwards (perhaps it's a long hall, maybe some guys from up top are coming down the stairs?), going by the Japanese writing pieces on the wall that were once to the left.
We cut to the baddies up top. We know they're up top by the presence of the railing and the afro man. Batou is shooting through the floor from below, as seen by the wood coming up, as well as the dulled sound effects which I cannot insert into the post. He was last seen aiming to the right in a slightly upward position, so this makes sense.
We see his gun in an upward position, as well as wood splinters and dust confirming that he was shooting up through the floor. Hat guy is dead (rip) and he is behind him as well as the counter, and the arch -- confirming again that he was shooting them from behind.
Batou walks away and makes a comment, saying that they should blame their cheap-ass cyberbrains. This not only elaborates further on the fact that he hacked their eyes, but it also gives the viewer an idea that, in the world of this story, even with "amazing" technology like a cyberbrain -- the poor are still, well, poor. Their money can only buy cyberbrains so outdated and shitty that someone with an expensive, military model can hack their vision and slaughter them right behind their backs and under their feet. This is indeed a cyberpunk movie.
And that concludes my analysis. 10 bux says the "lol pizzaroll" people (you know who you are) ignore this and continue to think I'm some troll who don't know shit about shit.
Splash Wave
Member
Much obliged. And does Galaxy Express 999 hold up? I remember really enjoying it when I was younger (and I know it's technically from 79).
That was an interesting read.
That's not how I'd characterize you. Arthouse fan who loves his movies arthouse and gets caught up over stuff.
Jex
Member
It depends which of the 113 episodes and/or movies you are referring to.
Oh don't get me wrong, we watch tons of old anime. It's the vast majority of what we watch. But eventually it gets hard to find stuff we are interested in / have not already watched.
Also Future Boy Conan which I didn't see on the list for whatever reason.
Dunno, as pizzaroll said once before, the direction is way to live-action-esque, and it comes off as way to awkward in a animation setting, it definitely isn't justified animation in the least, and thus stylistically boring.
Jex
Member
Dunno, as pizzaroll said once before, the direction is way to live-action-esque, and it comes off as way to awkward in a animation setting, it definitely isn't justified animation in the least, and thus stylistically boring.
If that is honestly, your one hundred percent opinion on the matter that's fine, but you'd pretty much need to stop watching most anime if that really bothers you. You could start with Crest of the Stars - the direction and animation is pretty average there.
It sounds like it's best to embrace Yuasa.
dakkumauji
Member
Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 4
Cause you can't look at Rin in any other way.
So, time to talk about TPO, which was lost on me since I missed out on the split second screen that defines it. Then, about things that aren't meant to be celebrated and back to the beach where they literally reused two minutes from last week.
Cause you can't look at Rin in any other way.
So, time to talk about TPO, which was lost on me since I missed out on the split second screen that defines it. Then, about things that aren't meant to be celebrated and back to the beach where they literally reused two minutes from last week.
The 2nd part of the anime and the movies are all 80s.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Katsucon that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, and streaming rights to the complete anime series, Level E. The series was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, best known for writing and illustrating the Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter series. Studio Pierrot and David Production co-produced the project directed by Toshiyuki Kato.
Neat.
Funi also picked up the Senba movie but who really cares about that
Neat.
Funi also picked up the Senba movie but who really cares about that
Dedication Through Light
Member
Streaming only announcements are kind of boring, especially since it seems to be on crunchyroll already (level e), they need to start giving dates to the stuff they already have.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
Yes but they also got the DVD (and broadcast) rights as well.
To be fair, I enjoy Crest / Banner series for similar reasons that I enjoy GITS SAC, I mean the direction in both aren't really that stylistically interesting compared to say something by anno or oshii, but they are both sci-fic works with above-average writing, and I enjoy them for that regardless because I'm a sucker for the genre.
That said in GITS SAC case, I criticize it specifically, because I feel it really dosen't as good job in what it attempts to do, when I compare it directly to Oshii work on the franchise, especially since lol kamiyama admitted he was trying to imitate oshii when he made GITS SAC.
Well, Cameron movies may be many things, but they aren't boring.
Now for the first stage of my endurance run, the Arjuna/School Days/Blood-C tri-marathon. Apparently I already watched Arjuna 01 a few weeks ago and posted impressions in the last anime thread, but I'll just re-post here since I have this whole theme going.
Arjuna 01:
Madness begins innocently enough, though there was already a healthy dose of heavy-handed environmentalism and shit was certainly getting weird by the end of the episode.
I am not trusting Chris for a moment.
Moreso than the environmental themes, the sheer garishness of everything is already screaming amazing trainwreck to me. Horrid CG, surfaces and backgrounds that don't quite feel like they're on the same planes as the characters, use of actual photographs, hideous character design for Chris and his loli cohort, Juna's clothing magically becoming fanservice-tastic after she
, freakish
and her subsequent
. Everything after the first few minutes was an assault on the eyes.
Of the three shows I'm watching, this one feels like it has the potential to inflict the most suffering on me.
School Days 01:
I hate the character designs, I hate this genre, Sekai's voice is annoying, Kotonoha is a horribly boring character, and really, knowing what happens is the only thing compelling me to watch this. I'll watch a bad anime far more willingly than I'll watch a boring one.
Oh, and dat twist at the ending.
Blood-C 01:
Kyouuuuuu wa ii tenkiiiiiiiiiii♫
Saya is HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG. I mean absolutely, astronomically, thermonuclear weapons-grade HNNNNNNNG. The singing alone exploded my heart. I know that I'm
, but I can't help it.
The fact that half of the OP is dedicated to showcasing her clumsiness does not inspire confidence. I actually enjoyed the fight scene in this episode and thought it had fairly good animation, but there's no way that her tendency to fall flat on her face doesn't rear its head at the worst possible moment.
And what the hell kind of seifuku has a chain-fob-thing around the collar? It looks like a halloween costume from Hot Topic.
Arjuna 01:
Madness begins innocently enough, though there was already a healthy dose of heavy-handed environmentalism and shit was certainly getting weird by the end of the episode.
I am not trusting Chris for a moment.
Intentionally kill Juna with a magical rainbow aura thing just to revive her as the Avatar of Time? Offer her life back when it's established in the opening nature slideshow that human lives don't mean shit to the planet? Belonging to an organization that employs sinful modern technology and employing that tech to sustain his life? Fuckin' suspicious, man.
Moreso than the environmental themes, the sheer garishness of everything is already screaming amazing trainwreck to me. Horrid CG, surfaces and backgrounds that don't quite feel like they're on the same planes as the characters, use of actual photographs, hideous character design for Chris and his loli cohort, Juna's clothing magically becoming fanservice-tastic after she
revives
glowing magatama womb transformation sequence
neon alien-fish-rodent-WHATTHEFUCKISTHIS form
Of the three shows I'm watching, this one feels like it has the potential to inflict the most suffering on me.
School Days 01:
I hate the character designs, I hate this genre, Sekai's voice is annoying, Kotonoha is a horribly boring character, and really, knowing what happens is the only thing compelling me to watch this. I'll watch a bad anime far more willingly than I'll watch a boring one.
Oh, and dat twist at the ending.
The seeds of disaster were planted earlier than I'd expected. Excellent, excellent.
Blood-C 01:
Kyouuuuuu wa ii tenkiiiiiiiiiii♫
Saya is HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG. I mean absolutely, astronomically, thermonuclear weapons-grade HNNNNNNNG. The singing alone exploded my heart. I know that I'm
probably setting myself up for something horrible by getting attached to her
The fact that half of the OP is dedicated to showcasing her clumsiness does not inspire confidence. I actually enjoyed the fight scene in this episode and thought it had fairly good animation, but there's no way that her tendency to fall flat on her face doesn't rear its head at the worst possible moment.
And what the hell kind of seifuku has a chain-fob-thing around the collar? It looks like a halloween costume from Hot Topic.
Splash Wave
Member
Err, I was only aware of one feature film.
Thanks for the very interesting analysis behind the sequence. I've not seen Innocence, or indeed most of the GitS franchise beyond an episode or so of SAC and about half an hour of the first film, so it was interesting to watch that clip and see how it's put together.
What I get out of that clip isn't anything to do with the obvious quality of the direction, unfortunately, but how uninteresting I find Batou as a character. Unfortunately, the reason I find him unengaging is kind of the point of Batou - he has no emotion.
Which Oshii though? Because it's not as if Oshii has been completely consistent in his style and SAC really doesn't come off like the movie, which is why pizzaroll criticizes it.That said in GITS SAC case, I criticize it specifically, because I feel it really dosen't as good job in what it attempts to do, when I compare it directly to Oshii work on the franchise, especially since lol kamiyama admitted he was trying to imitate oshii when he made GITS SAC.
You poor soul.
Kamisama Dolls SP 4-5
poor utao
it's always nice to see a good series get licensed for dvd/bd distribution.
IT BEGINS
poor utao
FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Katsucon that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, and streaming rights to the complete anime series, Level E. The series was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, best known for writing and illustrating the Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter series. Studio Pierrot and David Production co-produced the project directed by Toshiyuki Kato.
Neat.
Funi also picked up the Senba movie but who really cares about that
it's always nice to see a good series get licensed for dvd/bd distribution.
IT BEGINS
Jex
Member
Just wait till he directs anime.
dakkumauji
Member
I guess to add to the Katsucon (really? that's a con name, all I can think of is getting some katsudon now) announcements,
Well, I'm extremely looking forward to it. Of course, it was literally a matter of time before Funi gets it either way.
Well, I'm extremely looking forward to it. Of course, it was literally a matter of time before Funi gets it either way.
hosannainexcelsis
Member
The action scenes are perhaps the biggest highlight of Blood-C. Really good work there.
That's sort of missing the point. I criticize it for doing things wrong, not failing to be like the movies. The movies just did things right, so I compare them.
Batou is really fleshed out quite a bit in Innocence.
FUNimation Entertainment announced today at Katsucon that it has acquired the broadcast, home entertainment, and streaming rights to the complete anime series, Level E. The series was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, best known for writing and illustrating the Yu Yu Hakusho and Hunter × Hunter series. Studio Pierrot and David Production co-produced the project directed by Toshiyuki Kato.
Neat.
Funi also picked up the Senba movie but who really cares about that
Level E was still on Crunchyroll last I remember? I watched it all on there. I don't exactly see the point to this announcement.
Jex
Member
Now you can buy it? and it will be taken off Crunchyroll.
why wait, we can just watch any Miyazaki film for the same experience!
Comprehension fail. Skimming through I saw only 'streaming rights,' lol. Carry on.
Kamisama Dolls SP 4-5
poor utao
Utao was the moe-est character of 2011. No lie. I'm waiting to marathon the specials until they're all released, but I'll be mad if she gets underrepresented in favor of gigantic tits girl.
Only one episode in and I'm already prepared to take what I can get.
You poor soul.
You should skip to 4,5,6, then jump to 9.
I'm beginning to get the feeling that you pity me or something!
No way, I'm suffering through the whole thing. It just wouldn't feel right otherwise.
That's the spirit! Do what I never could! Heck, I wasn't even able to finish Angel Beats. Or Blood-C.
the chick with the big tits was pretty fuckin creepy in SP4
don't do this. blood-c must be experienced in its entirety!!
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