dakkumauji
Member
Because once upon a time, watching a children's card game was actually interesting and fun.
Spring Anime 2013 l OT One l All roads lead to this
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Because once upon a time, watching a children's card game was actually interesting and fun.
Yuki Kaji, Hiro Shimono, and Yui Ishikawa try their damnedest to not completely butcher the Attack on Titan OP song. I'd say they fared okay.
I'll be really interested to see how well the full CD single fares once it goes on sale in a month.
I'll be really interested to see how well the full CD single fares once it goes on sale in a month.
Chet Rippo
Member
Minnesota actually ruled that as illegal. I remember this because my brother got a ticket from being caught on a camera like that and ended up getting his money back because of the ruling.
FelixOrion
Poet Centuriate
"Fetishes you don't get"
2 CDs plus the OVA
hosannainexcelsis
Member
It was a risky directorial decision - and one that, as you say, was no doubt in part designed to let the episode end on the moment it did. It ran the danger of alienating a large portion of its audience, and obviously did, as it alienated you, though Nagahama clearly doesn't care about that. It that sense, it reminds me of the driving sequence in Tarkovsky's Solaris, which just goes on and on in the depiction of a menial, seemingly meaningless event. And I would say that, if there's a general directing flaw I could attribute to Aku no Hana, it would be the tendency as part of its overall contemplative style to linger a bit too long on certain scenes. (Though at the same time, I respect it for being willing to do so, since it runs against the grain of the Internet culture's high-speed, multitasking, hyperlinked distraction.)
With that said, I think what made this sequence work for me, as opposed to, say, some of the walking during the date sequence in episode 5, is that it created an emotional mood that I wanted to linger in so powerfully. When I was living in Austin, and I wanted to be alone with my thoughts, I would cue up some ambient electronic music on my iPod and take to the deserted streets at nighttime, letting the calm sounds and the atmosphere of a city at rest seep into my soul. It was a meditative, even spiritual experience, and the beginning of this episode captured the essence of that for me. Even deeper than that was the bond between Kasuga and Nakamura that their walking hand-in-hand spoke louder of than words ever could. Unlike so many of the silences in this series, the silences in the final scene of this episode for instance, it was not awkward, it was not tense, it was souls communing in harmony with each other. It spoke of that desire to be together, that having each other by their side was enough for now. When they got to the end and Nakamura turned away towards her home, I felt the reluctance to part from what had just happened. I would have been happy if the sequence had been twice as long, honestly.
But whether something like this is effective or too exaggerated is an intensely subjective determination, of course. As someone who feels music intensely, I will admit that strong music can hold me engaged longer than it would most people.
Your framing analysis is excellent and thoughtful, as always. One comment:
There's a couple of other great Saeki close up's as well, especially this one:
which is only worth noting because Saeki has a very expressive face and is often smiling, something which clearly isn't happening here.
This shot is also noteworthy for how it cuts off half of Saeki's face. When you divide the frame like that, especially with all the empty space on the left side, you speak of someone who is psychologically disordered, who is not whole inside. Compare it to the earlier image you posted:
Where she appears in her entirety and centered in the frame, happy and psychologically whole. The contrast between the two shots, before and after her discovery of the classroom, shows how much her usual serenity has been thrown into turmoil. The camera breaks her apart just as she has been broken inside.
I think
Saeki and Nakamura symbolize for Kasuga two directions he can choose to go in. He can confess everything to Saeki, have an open and frank conversation with her about his feelings, and live a healthy life with her in the light. Or he can continue to run away and hide from himself and his actions and instead run into the cruel comfort Nakamura offers, confirming everything about himself that he loathes but affirming that it is not something to be loathed, living a perverted life with her in the darkness. Those are the two options that he has been caught between the entire series. He's been trying to leave both of them open, but now things have reached the point where that is becoming impossible and he must make a choice before it is made for him.
killer rin
Member
Hayate 7
Best episode thus far. Ruka FTW
Best episode thus far. Ruka FTW
KirbYuuYuu
Member
And then ZeXal happened and everyone died.
DigitalRicket
Member
Same here. First card battles in school, than motorcycles, and now in space? Yeah. Who thought a children's card game would have such influence that it would literally go out of this world.
It's been awhile.
dakkumauji
Member
If only. Then the show might be enjoyable!
KirbYuuYuu
Member
It was playing in my dream <3
You know what, I wouldn't mind if there was a Card Game anime where it was pretty much a tragic comedy. Although the Protagonist cheating habits might cause a problem, but then again that's where the comedy half comes from!
It seems really Zelda to me.
Now here's my ranks for this season:
1. Gargantia
2. Valvrave
3. MJP
Gargantia is the best of the three, far and away, and while I don't love Valvrave like Anime-GAF does, it entertains me more than MJP, and its action is more hindered by its clusterfuck mecha designs than that those mecha are CG, whereas MJP's action is hindered by being CG and having clusterfuck designs.
Ranking what I'm currently watching:
1. The Count of Monte Cristo- It's literature, bitch.
2. Gun x Sword- I'm all about revenge stories.
3. Kiddy Grade- Only because I never expected this much out of it.
4. Code Geass- My watercooler show.
5. Slayers- I can't tell if its because the first season doesn't hold up as much, or because I just have seen it a million times.
6. ZZ Gundam- UC Gundam is only better than AC Gundam because AC Gundam is weighed down by terrible shows like 00 and AGE.
Sailor Moon Stars 167:
shit is REALER THAN REAL right from the first episode. Somebody hold me, I'm scared. This whole season is just going to be one giant endgame arc, isn't it? I mean, man, I don't even know where to begin. everybody and everything is going to DIEEEEEEEEEEE.
sucks.
YO DAMN
oh, and ;______________________________;
5D's was good though.
shit is REALER THAN REAL right from the first episode. Somebody hold me, I'm scared. This whole season is just going to be one giant endgame arc, isn't it? I mean, man, I don't even know where to begin. everybody and everything is going to DIEEEEEEEEEEE.
new OP
generic 90s soft j-pop or whatever the hell it is, it's not distinctive or memorable at all. And Toei still isn't bringing back Moonlight Densetsu for Sailor Moon 201X? come oooooon
Kaoru and Michiru are BACK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS yes yes yes. This whole episode was basically a giant apology for how inconsequential everything in SuperS was. If it wasn't for Nehelenia being the antagonist again, it's like SuperS never even happened what with basically every major player from S being back. Their shock at seeing Pluto alive also retroactively makes Black Dream Hole even stupider :lol
Not thrilled by the copypasta MotWs but I'm guessing that this is temporary. I think I've also lost count of the number of times the show has trolled us with the fake prospect of Chibiusa leaving. The sorry individuals who never warm up to her must have had an aneurysm during that scene.
oh shit I don't think I'm ready for evil Mamoru. Please don't do anything that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth after a 200-episode investment, Mamoru.
Not thrilled by the copypasta MotWs but I'm guessing that this is temporary. I think I've also lost count of the number of times the show has trolled us with the fake prospect of Chibiusa leaving. The sorry individuals who never warm up to her must have had an aneurysm during that scene.
oh shit I don't think I'm ready for evil Mamoru. Please don't do anything that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth after a 200-episode investment, Mamoru.
YO DAMN
oh, and ;______________________________;
5D's was good though.
BassForever
Member
5ds, in particular the dark signers arc was better then any part of the original Ygo anime
An interesting question-answer pair from this morning's open Toonami Q&A:
There's some other good stuff in the rest of the responses too (including answering "What classic anime do you feel every anime fan should watch?" with "Ranma 1/2"); take a look through the rest of the page if you have time.
Duelist Kingdom and Battle City are so damned iconic but you're probably still right if we're just talking narrative.
BassForever
Member
Honestly most of the bad rep Ygo gx and Ygo 5ds get is thanks to the English dubs being a complete joke (thanks 4kids)
KirbYuuYuu
Member
The first one being nonsensical as fuck basically when comparing rules, but it sort've gave things more life as a result.
dakkumauji
Member
I liked GX's silly dub since the show didn't really take itself seriously anyway.
Well until it did and not like 4kids fully dubbed that anyway~
WHEN THE HELL AM I FINALLY GOING TO CONVINCE SOMEONE TO WATCH YUGIOH SEASON 0. WHEN?!?!?!?
Honestly I actually find the 4kids dub for Duel Monsters to be pretty endearing. It's only bad if you take the show seriously; otherwise it's basically pitch-perfect ham.
Honestly I actually find the 4kids dub for Duel Monsters to be pretty endearing. It's only bad if you take the show seriously; otherwise it's basically pitch-perfect ham.
Too bad the anime looked like ass. It even got cancelled :lol
But yeah, early YGO was dope.
KirbYuuYuu
Member
Is this the part where I contemplate it as a thought for a few seconds and then throw it on a list like I always do?
Half of the problem is that it's only available on VHS. Even so, it might rival Max Heart for the most consistently-QUALITY Toei show of all time.
Considering how extraordinarily insane everything about the show is, though, the really terrible character designs and loads of jank help to sell the whole thing.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
Yugioh was the shit during the god cards series. Everything went downhill when they replaced the characters. Number 1 rule of Shounen, don't replace the main characters.
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
I enjoy making them. Now I just need to think of new things to talk about. >>;
Its called hate watching.
A common practice round these parts.
One plus for Minnesota then. Louisiana gotta get that cheddar. The sad part is meanwhile road construction and other govt services get neglected. So all this money is just going into politician pockets. thats the main reason Im pissed off about it. It wont even help the city.
Dedication Through Light
Member
I dont know. Battle City ought to have closed the series off and such it was so good.
The cast of Yugioh GX was far stronger and memorable, Chazz and Jaden unforgettable, and Cyrus Truesdale had the best deck of all.
hosannainexcelsis
Member
Maybe when we're able to convince someone else to watch Jewelpet.
dakkumauji
Member
Better to close off their story and start afresh than dragging it and making sure everyone hates it by the end.
I love this kind of naming convention. Sounds very steampunkish.
Ohh. 2 CDs? Shit I should order it now. I have been ordering things more separately lately to keep them from getting hung up by delays and stuff. That kind of thing nnoys me.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
This image sums up why I like the original cast:
It was such a diverse set of characters who acted differently with each other and had their own intentions.
nintendoman58
Member
Yugioh (first series, not season 0) was one of 4kids better dubs IMO. And when I say better I mean not abysmal like their other dubs. Good in some areas, but others....
"BE VERY CAREFUL JOEY!"
"What a digital dummy!"
Speaking of 4kids, I should probably get around to watching the Japanese dubs of the shows they tainted sometime. I probably won't do Yugioh for a long time however, since I can't imagine anyone other than Dan Green playing Yugi.
But still, I have learned of good things about the Japanese Sonic X. That is, back when it finished a few years ago.
I don't know what the general opinion is today, now that I've taken a looong break from Sonic things. But maybe I should give the Japanese version a shot and see how it goes.
"BE VERY CAREFUL JOEY!"
"What a digital dummy!"
Speaking of 4kids, I should probably get around to watching the Japanese dubs of the shows they tainted sometime. I probably won't do Yugioh for a long time however, since I can't imagine anyone other than Dan Green playing Yugi.
But still, I have learned of good things about the Japanese Sonic X. That is, back when it finished a few years ago.
I don't know what the general opinion is today, now that I've taken a looong break from Sonic things. But maybe I should give the Japanese version a shot and see how it goes.
Sailor Moon Stars 168:
aka
"
damn, poor
It's pretty impressive just how much more subdued and mature Usagi is this season. They're really nailing the sense that everyone is growing up. Her character design is even subtly more mature; slightly smaller eyes, less extreme expressions. She's serious about being a good future waifu for Mamoru. My only worry is that since this seems to be a plot-heavy season that the other senshi are going to have fewer fun moments, but this is likely entirely unfounded.
aka
"Hotaru Has Three Mommies
damn, poor
Tomoe. Gets his life back only to have the pleasure of watching his child grow up robbed from him.
It's pretty impressive just how much more subdued and mature Usagi is this season. They're really nailing the sense that everyone is growing up. Her character design is even subtly more mature; slightly smaller eyes, less extreme expressions. She's serious about being a good future waifu for Mamoru. My only worry is that since this seems to be a plot-heavy season that the other senshi are going to have fewer fun moments, but this is likely entirely unfounded.
KirbYuuYuu
Member
Although we've established that even hatewatching has its limits.
I don't know how I'll follow through with this now.
dakkumauji
Member
That you can give each character a generic phrase to generalize them and fill them up in a matrix till all the spots are filled?
I look forward to watching more of these. wish I could make one.
This image sums up why I like the original cast:
It was such a diverse set of characters who acted differently with each other and had their own intentions.
DAT FACEBOOKCRAZE
(what the hell is facebookcraze anyway?)
Never underestimate animegaffers tolerance to bad anime.
Chet Rippo
Member
I watched the first episode, does that count?
Anime by the numbers!
dakkumauji
Member
Funny enough Duke Devlin is introduced in between Duelist Kingdom and Battle City.
But I guess The Jerk, The Rich One, The Hottie, The Bully, The Know-It-All, The Schemer, The Punk and The Flirt were all taken, they just couldn't add him in.
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