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[Jex]

[Nisemonogatari 11/Finale]

Well, there's nothing really wrong with this, as a finale. It accomplishes it's goal of 'wrapping things up' and bringing the arc to a close.

However, I don't really understand what the point of this whole last arc was. For example, it was never really explained why

Spoiler

they were trying to kill the Phoenix, what she had done that warranted being killed, why it mattered that she was a supernatural being, or anything of the such. It just seemed like there needed to be a source of conflict for this arc. At least with Kaiki he had clear motivations for his actions and his character neatly tied into the back-story of Senjoughara.

More over, the whole false/real dichotomy was discussed extremely briefly, like a throwaway line in between all the pointless banter. I kind of assumed they'd unpack those complexities a bit more than they did.

Also, Araragi is a shameless pervert.

I suppose this just about covers it:

Real and fake are all intertwined in this snarl of a knot. But see, all this talk, all this sophistry – am I really supposed to take this seriously? As a form of moral lesson? Really?...How disappointed am I with Nisemonogatari? I can’t measure it right now. I took a lot of damage, and I’m no vampire with lots of hit points and regenerative powers.

Source (Spoilers)

 

[Narag]

Shin Mazinger 21

Nice little break in the action. I'm looking forward to this finish. Maybe I'll knock the rest out tonight.

This fellow looks familiar.

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

I really wanna watch new anime, but apart from Gintama (which I watch quite regularly), I've been out of the loop. What are the anime that you watch nowadays aniGAF ?

 

[cajunator]

I really wanna watch new anime, but apart from Gintama (which I watch quite regularly), I've been out of the loop. What are the anime that you watch nowadays aniGAF ?

Ano Natsu, SPace Pirates, Daily Lives of Highschool boys starring Literature girl, Another hnnng, Rinne no Maru

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I think I'll go with The Daily Lives of Highschool Boys for starters!

 

[cajunator]

You chose wisely.
Not that any of those choices would be bad ones.

 

[jman2050]

[Nisemonogatari 11/Finale]

Well, there's nothing really wrong with this, as a finale. It accomplishes it's goal of 'wrapping things up' and bringing the arc to a close.

However, I don't really understand what the point of this whole last arc was. For example, it was never really explained why

Spoiler

they were trying to kill the Phoenix, what she had done that warranted being killed, why it mattered that she was a supernatural being, or anything of the such. It just seemed like there needed to be a source of conflict for this arc. At least with Kaiki he had clear motivations for his actions and his character neatly tied into the back-story of Senjoughara.

Seriously? I thought they beat it over your head so much that it would be almost impossible to miss.

Spoiler

To Kagenui, the Phoenix was carrying out a deception by its very existence, taking on the form of a newborn human for the express purpose of self-preservation, an act which she considers "evil." To her that's all the reason she needs (see: pointing out the potential consequences of his sisters or his mother learning of Tsukihi's true nature). Araragi, of course, doesn't see it that way and sees Tsukihi as part of his family despite the fact that she technically isn't because that's how the dynamic has always been. He demonstrates this by his decision to perpetuate the deception and oppose the pair. It's the classic "theoretical vs practical" dichotomy. It's even plainly framed that way when Kagenui points out her's, Oshino's, and Kaiki's conflicting answers to Kaiki's question. If anything, the only potential problem is that the conflict here is TOO straightforward. That depends, of course, on how this newfound knowledge is used later in the story, if at all. That remains to be seen.

It's a pretty damn straightforward application of the show's main theme, all things considered.

 

[Dresden]

Ethnically Diverse Ranka is a miracle of the universe.

 

[Envelope]

Ethnically Diverse Ranka is a miracle of the universe.

Why can I see the remnants of MS paint's brush tool on one frame?

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

But it had so many great moments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fORH60LtOt4
and the reverse ED in the alternate ending are still my favorite laughs from any anime.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

[Nisemonogatari 11/Finale]

Also, Araragi is a shameless pervert.

....and possibly the most shameless anime MC of all time.

Never thought the day would arise when I could consider giving this title to someone other than Makoto Itou.

 

[jman2050]

Angel Beats needed about 47000% more TK to even start making up for its other numerous shortcomings.

 

[dakkumauji]

Ah My Goddess: The Adventures of the Mini-Goddess 37-42
Oh wow, we got a full minute of hearing Keiichi. Makes me miss the original show without the rats. At least, I got one chunk of the show left to go.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

I really wanna watch new anime, but apart from Gintama (which I watch quite regularly), I've been out of the loop. What are the anime that you watch nowadays aniGAF ?

Gintama is still the best show on television, so you're covered there. If you enjoy that, there's a high chance you'll enjoy Daily Lives of High School Boys, which has a similar style of humor in a more low-key setting. Other currently airing shows worth watching are

Ano Natsu de Matteru (excellent execution of a traditional romantic comedy)
Chihayafuru (quality has taken a dip since the recap episode, but still a good josei sports show)
Natsume's Book of Friends Season 4 (some episodes have been among the best of this moving series; also watch the recent short film from the same team Hotarubi no Mori e)
Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki (adorable cats well worth the 3 minutes per episode)

Most of all, if there are any shows on your backlog you've been wanting to get around to, I highly advise you to knock them out now as things are going to get pretty crazy come April.

 

[Dresden]

Why can I see the remnants of MS paint's brush tool on one frame?

get a lyfe

....and possibly the most shameless anime MC of all time.

Never thought the day would arise when I could consider giving this title to someone other than Makoto Itou.

uh . . . how do you give it to anyone other than makoto

that shit dont even make sense man

ararararararagi is a perv

makoto rapes little girls

 

[jman2050]

uh . . . how do you give it to anyone other than makoto

that shit dont even make sense man

ararararararagi is a perv

makoto rapes little girls

Put Ataru somewhere in there too.

 

[firehawk12]

Ethnically Diverse Ranka is a miracle of the universe.

Ranka as in MacF Ranka?

 

[7Th]

Ranka as in MacF Ranka?

Same VA.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

get a lyfe

uh . . . how do you give it to anyone other than makoto

that shit dont even make sense man

ararararararagi is a perv

makoto rapes little girls

Thanks, for reminding me to keep a huuuge distance between myself and the damn School Days VN.

Anime Makoto:.....

Spoiler

all the girls he fondled with were of a similar age as him and there wasn't any rape, IIRC.

(If this is not the case then please don't tell me as I've forgotten about it!!)

 

[cajunator]

Ethnically Diverse Ranka is a miracle of the universe.

What the hnnnng is this?

 

[Envelope]

Put Ataru somewhere in there too.

from the 2 episodes of Urusei Yatsura I've watched, he wasn't too bad...

 

[firehawk12]

Same VA.

Ahh. I thought someone recoloured Ranka or something.

What the hnnnng is this?

Looks like Aquarion... and yep, it is Aquarion.

 

[iavi]

http://fuse-anime.com/

Fuse - A girl gunslinger's detective story

Original Author: Sakuraba Kazuki (Gosick)
Director: Masayuki Miyaji (Xam'd)
Script: Ichiro Okouchi (Code Geass)

New theatrical anime for Fall 2012.

Looks like it could be something I'm into from the promo shot there. Will keep an eye out, despite the dream team.

 

[Milamber]

Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure. Just finished rewatching this for the nth time. This show saved me years ago after the horror that was BrainPowerd.

 

[cajunator]

Dual was pretty watchable. I remember enjoying that along with Gatekeepers at our anime club. I'd like to collect those series.

 

[Soma]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fORH60LtOt4
and the reverse ED in the alternate ending are still my favorite laughs from any anime.

I don't care how bad this show may objectively be, this scene had me in tears of laughter when I first watched it.

 

[Milamber]

Dual was pretty watchable. I remember enjoying that along with Gatekeepers at our anime club. I'd like to collect those series.

Oh god! The GateKeepers opening! <3

 

[dimb]

Seriously? I thought they beat it over your head so much that it would be almost impossible to miss.

Spoiler

To Kagenui, the Phoenix was carrying out a deception by its very existence, taking on the form of a newborn human for the express purpose of self-preservation, an act which she considers "evil." To her that's all the reason she needs (see: pointing out the potential consequences of his sisters or his mother learning of Tsukihi's true nature). Araragi, of course, doesn't see it that way and sees Tsukihi as part of his family despite the fact that she technically isn't because that's how the dynamic has always been. He demonstrates this by his decision to perpetuate the deception and oppose the pair. It's the classic "theoretical vs practical" dichotomy. It's even plainly framed that way when Kagenui points out her's, Oshino's, and Kaiki's conflicting answers to Kaiki's question. If anything, the only potential problem is that the conflict here is TOO straightforward. That depends, of course, on how this newfound knowledge is used later in the story, if at all. That remains to be seen.

It's a pretty damn straightforward application of the show's main theme, all things considered.

Spoiler

I still don't get why Yozuru cares though. Look at her company. Kaiki and Oshino are both pretty clear cut in the way they exorcise demons and seem to get something back for what they do. You know, the way people operate in reality. Yozuru is just like...some cranky lady who shows up and wants to blow up a house and kill the person inside of it. There just isn't a lot of logic to it and the show keeps pointing back to "Oh, she is just a good person who does good things."

Yozuru and Yotsugi were painfully dull characters who just happen to show up for no reason and cause a great deal of unnecessary and drawn out conflict. Their motivations for arriving aren't every well justified and they don't even seem particularly convinced about what they're up to. The Tsukihi Phoenix in general is just kind of a sour experience because of them. They offer nothing of value, and as such simply serve as a poor foil to Araragi while around and offer no possibility of an adequate climax as the villains.

 

[frostbyte]

http://fuse-anime.com/

Fuse - A girl gunslinger's detective story

Original Author: Sakuraba Kazuki (Gosick)
Director: Masayuki Miyaji (Xam'd)
Script: Ichiro Okouchi (Code Geass)

New theatrical anime for Fall 2012.

Sounds like a recipe destined for greatness...

Will watch for possible Gunslinger Girl references. Not enough love for that series.

Nakama GET!

I knew I liked you, frostbyte! A man with an eye for excellence!

lol, bros for life!

Spoiler

Sometimes I don't get AnimeGAF...Their opinions are pretty unique. At least they elaborate and defend their opinions pretty well.

I've been meaning to ask, is Squid Girl good? I mean in the "fun to watch, entertaining" sorta good?

First season was pretty good partly because it felt so fresh. First time watching Squid Girl is the best time.

Has a fair bit of joke recycling which turns me off though so second season feels somewhat contrived. I still like it but I get bored of it easily.

I'd rather watch something like Working!. It actually gets better from first to second season due to it's strong character chemistry.

You still won't go wrong with Squid Girl.

Gundam SEED Destiny, no joke, great soundtrack. The score + trolling Shinn fans about Kira replacing him eventually when it was airing was the only redeeming things about Destiny.

OH THIS SO MUCH!

Yuki Kajiura brought something to the Destiny OST that was lacking in the original Gundam Seed OST. and the Orchestra album is godly all around.

Destiny was just such a huge disappointment all around and it was so unnecessary. Biggest waste of my life since Blood+.

Angel Beats needed about 47000% more TK to even start making up for its other numerous shortcomings.

+1

 

[jman2050]

Spoiler

I still don't get why Yozuru cares though. Look at her company. Kaiki and Oshino are both pretty clear cut in the way they exorcise demons and seem to get something back for what they do. You know, the way people operate in reality. Yozuru is just like...some cranky lady who shows up and wants to blow up a house and kill the person inside of it. There just isn't a lot of logic to it and the show keeps pointing back to "Oh, she is just a good person who does good things."

Spoiler

Well, she's portrayed as the sort of "absolute" good, you know, a character whose only motivated by what's technically "right" and "just" without any consideration for circumstance. I think it makes perfect sense really when aligned with the other two characters. Yozuru is excessively idealistic, Kaiki is excessively pragmatic, and Oshino is excessively neutral to the point of denying both of those traits at once (though for Oshino that's sort of going into Kizu territory to explain that).

Spoiler

Yozuru and Yotsugi were painfully dull characters who just happen to show up for no reason and cause a great deal of unnecessary and drawn out conflict. Their motivations for arriving aren't every well justified and they don't even seem particularly convinced about what they're up to. The Tsukihi Phoenix in general is just kind of a sour experience because of them. They offer nothing of value, and as such simply serve as a poor foil to Araragi while around and offer no possibility of an adequate climax as the villains.

If you want to argue that the villains are dull and boring, I'm not going to stop you there. I'm not a huge fan of them myself in that sense.

 

[cajunator]

Sounds like a recipe destined for greatness...

Will watch for possible Gunslinger Girl references. Not enough love for that series.



lol, bros for life!

Spoiler

Sometimes I don't get AnimeGAF...Their opinions are pretty unique. At least they elaborate and defend their opinions pretty well.

OH THIS SO MUCH!

Yuki Kajiura brought something to the Destiny OST that was lacking in the original Gundam Seed OST. and the Orchestra album is godly all around.

Destiny was just such a huge disappointment all around and it was so unnecessary. Biggest waste of my life since Blood+.



+1

I highly doubt that show will reference Gunslinger girl. It would be great but that show wasn't very popular. I'm expecting something more along the lines of Grenadier.
Actually, that would be pretty damned awesome.

 

[BluWacky]

Yuki Kajiura brought something to the Destiny OST that was lacking in the original Gundam Seed OST

I don't understand - Kajiura worked on both shows, and didn't do the soundtrack for either one, just the image songs and an OP or two. What do you mean?

 

[DiGiKerot]

I don't understand - Kajiura worked on both shows, and didn't do the soundtrack for either one, just the image songs and an OP or two. What do you mean?

Honestly, I don't really get it either. Personally, I think SEED actually has a slightly better soundtrack overall (in as much as there's more tracks from the SEED OSTs than the Destiny ones that I'd be inclined to listen to on a regular basis).

I did quite like Fields of Hope, though.

 

[Neko Mimi Mode]

Dual was pretty watchable.

Another opinion we share.

I picked it up way back when solely due to my (then) obsession with all things Tenchi Muyo! but it turned out quite good in it's own right.
What I expected: Harem like Tenchi Muyo, some technobabble, negligible action.
What I got: Evangelion on Prozac.

 

[frostbyte]

I highly doubt that show will reference Gunslinger girl. It would be great but that show wasn't very popular. I'm expecting something more along the lines of Grenadier.
Actually, that would be pretty damned awesome.

Gunslinger Girl is too underrated imo. Il Teatrino isn't as bad as people make it out to be although a bit disappointing mainly due to the animation. both OSTs was pretty good iirc.

What's Grenadier?

I don't understand - Kajiura worked on both shows, and didn't do the soundtrack for either one, just the image songs and an OP or two. What do you mean?

OH WHAT SHE WORKED ON BOTH?!?

My music artist tags lied to me ;_;

ok, screw that post then...

Spoiler

Originally I thought she contributed to the Destiny OST II which trumped the all of Toshihiko's usual stuff.

 

[cajunator]

Gunslinger Girl is too underrated imo. Il Teatrino isn't as bad as people make it out to be although a bit disappointing mainly due to the animation. both OSTs was pretty good iirc.

What's Grenadier?



OH WHAT SHE WORKED ON BOTH?!?

My music artist tags lied to me ;_;

ok, screw that post then...

Spoiler

Originally I thought she contributed to the Destiny OST II which trumped the all of Toshihiko's usual stuff.

Grenadier is a show about as female gunslinger who reloads her gun by reloading from her chest area.
This is demonstrated here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOxsYDHWGc

 

[Ice Lightning]

Elfen Lied 1-2

What did I just watch? I feel the need to watch more is a good thing.

 

[frostbyte]

Grenadier is a show about as female gunslinger who reloads her gun by reloading from her chest area.
This is demonstrated here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOxsYDHWGc

I love how CG bullets come out of their cleavage.

I would watch this no question if I was back in high school.

Elfen Lied 1-2

What did I just watch? I feel the need to watch more is a good thing.

Elfen Lied is that show with the magnificent OP that makes you want to drown yourself in a ditch, right?

 

[cajunator]

Elfen Lied 1-2

What did I just watch? I feel the need to watch more is a good thing.

Elfen Lied is moe + cruelty and gore. If that's your thing, you will like it.
Its a very polarizing show though, but seeing as you enjoyed episodes 1-2 I am fairly confident you will like the remainder.

 

[Ice Lightning]

Elfen Lied is moe + cruelty and gore. If that's your thing, you will like it.
Its a very polarizing show though, but seeing as you enjoyed episodes 1-2 I am fairly confident you will like the remainder.

Since I survived School Days, I think I can complete this too.

 

[Reknoc]

Elfen Lied has a scene that is crueler than all of blood-c combined.

 

[cajunator]

Its not as torturous as School Days so you will be fine.

You pretty much know exactly what you're getting with Elfen Lied.
They make it obvious within a minute of watching.

 

[frostbyte]

Elfen Lied is moe + cruelty and gore. If that's your thing, you will like it.
Its a very polarizing show though, but seeing as you enjoyed episodes 1-2 I am fairly confident you will like the remainder.

I felt it had too much gore. Although that's one of its defining factors so I dunno. I don't feel like you need gore to tell the story.

I still liked it though. The ending was underwhelming though. Apparently, I should read the manga for the 'true' ending or whatever, according to my friend.

 

[Thoraxes]

Elfen Lied 1-2

What did I just watch? I feel the need to watch more is a good thing.

Too bad it's practically all 100000% downhill from there. If you're just watching it for gore, just skip to those parts.

There's lots of people who like it, but for me it's practically the worst thing i've ever watched (and I love shows with that kind of graphic content). Different strokes for different folks.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

With the discussion of Gundam soundtracks, has there ever really been a Gundam series with an actively bad soundtrack? Obviously, the older ones like 0079 and Zeta are pretty reflective of their eras, so you can take that for what it is, and I haven't seen G or V yet, but I can't think of any off-hand.

Unicorn is probably my favorite, but there might be a little recency bias involved there. It certainly has a few tracks that just bleed "epic".

 

[cajunator]

I was actually pretty shocked when

Spoiler

asshole marine guy punched the bloody shit out of that poor girl

. I was pretty thrilled later in the series seeing what happens to him.

 

[firehawk12]

Nisemonogatari 10/11: I suppose I'll be the contrarian and say that I liked how this arc, and really this show, ended.

I mean, of course the climax wasn't going to be about

Spoiler

his sister, any more than the bee arc was about Karen. Making it about Araragi, tying it all up with Senjougahara right at the end, you see what the title - Nisemonogatari - actually alludes to.

It all comes down to the fact that

Spoiler

Araragi was the biggest fake of them all,

which really has been something that was building and building for a while now.

It's interesting because this is the first anime in a while where I actually felt the novel-like structure. I say that I wouldn't mind if they just did radio dramas for the rest of the series, but when I think about it, this is as close as I've ever been to listening to an audio book in about 10 years. It has such a great thematic arc that I simply haven't seen in an anime in a while and while I have no idea what nisioisin is like as an actual author, at least I know he can structure a novel pretty damn well.

Is it as "good" as Bakemono? It's been so long since I've watched it that I can't really remember. But Nisemono was very rich and textured - so that even with the fanservice - I'm comfortable saying that it's my "other" favourite show of the season (Boob Alien being the guiltiest of guilty pleasures).

While Bakemono is trapped in licensing weirdness and will probably never come here, I think I'd be willing to pull a cajunator and pay stupid Aniplex prices if they bring Nisemono (with the commentaries subbed) over here.

Also, funny enough, because of Arata from Chihayafuru, I can totally make out that Kyoto accent. In fact, I can't "unhear" the "twanginess" of that accent now. More proof that Arata is better than Taichi.

 

[Crash Station]

I was actually pretty shocked when

Spoiler

asshole marine guy punched the bloody shit out of that poor girl

. I was pretty thrilled later in the series seeing what happens to him.

He's a much cooler guy in the manga. Dude becomes a full on bro later.

 

[NewFresh]

Elfen Lied 1-2

What did I just watch? I feel the need to watch more is a good thing.

It's one of those shows that relies entirely on the violence and gore. The story is paper thin, to say the least, and the characters are pretty flat. I don't remember liking it as much as I watched it to see what all the fuss was about.

I can see how it's portrayal of children/teens in these violent/gruesome/adult situations interests people, but really it never amounts to more than just that. I know a lot of people like it so it has a high standing among anime viewers, so there is something in there for some people to enjoy. Then again, that's just my take.

 

[cajunator]

It's one of those shows that relies entirely on the violence and gore. The story is paper thin, to say the least, and the characters are pretty flat. I don't remember liking it as much as I watched it to see what all the fuss was about.

I can see how it's portrayal of children/teens in these violent/gruesome/adult situations interests people, but really it never amounts to more than just that. I know a lot of people like it so it has a high standing among anime viewers, so there is something in there for some people to enjoy. Then again, that's just my take.

In terms of applying the moe/hnnng aesthetic to violence, I think Higurashi did a much better job overall.