Support NeoGAF

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Shingeki no Bahamut 10

I still like this show, but just not feeling it as much as I did before. Amira's teacher is a villain I can appreciate. His dickish nature and voice are great.

In the preview when one of the demons started singing "MY DESTINYYYYYYYYYYYY" I lost it

 

[cajunator]

This Rightstuf Christmas sale, I don't have the money for this.

What did you all buy?

I honestly didnt buy anything because I already have all of it

Holy shit that's beautiful

Its gorgeous. Comes in Tuesday for me! Im so excited!
I considered the vinyl looking Funi version but ultimately the packaging and look of the amazon set won out. Go look on Ebay how much these are going for. Its astounding.

Sword Art Online is an easy target for people to take pot shots at but it's probably better than at least half of the other shows currently airing. Significantly less embarassing tham Log Horizon's faux idols and half hour Gamersgate speeches.

LOL.
Oh god you nearly had us there.

cajun be honest.




So they're aware of this, huh?

Guess those "Akame = Who?" jokes have even more credence.




When even DTL is with everyone when hating something, you know its bad.




Still being dead is not a better fate.

Nor is having one of your amigos crushed.

honest about what?

Inou Battle - 11

First half didn't do much for me. While I think Hatoko has the the heart in the right place, I just find her to be.. somewhat unstable/creepy, like when she yelled Ju-kun over and over. If anyone is gonna win the Andou-bowl it's evident in the later part.
Oh right there was another group, and the fairies. Well only one more left to go.

The fact that she is unhinged and willing to bring a reckoning on the idiot MC is what makes her the best girl!

Chocotto Sister Advent Calendar Day 15

This show is just covering every form of water-based diversions. There's been a bath episode, a hot springs episode and now a pool episode. Cute side story. I also like the wordplay they're doing with "Asiarai Makoto" becoming "Otokami Arisa" in her modeling career. Japanese as a language just lends itself to these things naturally.

Read or Die The TV 24-26 + Final Thoughts

The episode lengths for this show were all over the map. Some were regular length, and others, like the finale, were longer still, even with the English credits scroll removed. I'm sure some of it was DVD bonus scenes (TV time slots are a sure thing), but wow. I'm very satisfied with this finale. The sisters reaffirmed that nobody's going to stop them, everybody did their thing, there was a few setbacks, and it came to a happy ending after all.

I'm not sure where ROD ranks on my list of book-based anime. It's near the top, but I also really liked Kokoro Library. The original OVA and the TV series' mix of Japanese sensibilities and American cinema-style action was an interesting mix, and having a love of books - of reading them and writing them - at the center of it all made for something appealing. Truly a world where the pen is mightier than the sword. And the gun. And everything else. ROD the TV was really Anita's story. Awakening her love of reading and coming to terms with who she was, but the way it served as an epilogue for Nancy and Yomiko was equally satisfying. That makes it Nenene's story too. The parallels between her and Anita were happening pretty often.

Though it's a bit of an old series, it still holds up today. My anime book tour may have had a rough similarity in concept - books and the importance they hold to people - but all of them did something different with it. Books as a religion. Books as a community. Books as a personal expression. Books as memories. You can do so many different things.

ROD gets my approval.



The next series I'm watching is one where I've seen the sequel, and it's even older than ROD's TV series. Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit's space time! Kiddy Grade is next in my backlog.



I'm pretty certain those are bootlegs. The Japanese releases for both shows are singles only, and if they did have box sets released, they'd be way more expensive than that.

ROD TV is pretty underrated IMO. It baffles me that such an excellent series could be so overlooked. It had a little of everything and was utterly unique with the paper controlling powers and the american movie style of it. Man I love that series to death.

Also if you are watching Kiddy Grade then I must squee further because I loooooooooooooooove that series. Even Corvy somewhat enjoyed it.
You say youve seen the sequel though, which is Kiddy Girl And. That show is horrible and wrong. Kiddy Grade is on a completely different level and should not be associated with it.

 

[MikeHattsu]

I have a question for anyone who has experience with ordering DVDs from online retailers.

I'm currently looking at these;

Senki Zessho Symphogear Season 1 DVD (TV) Complete Box Set

1. Playtech-Asia
2. Shopanimedvd

Senki Zessho Symphogear G DVD Complete Season 2 Collection

1. Playtech-Asia
2. Shopanimedvd

There are a few questions I have about these sites in particular. Since no one has brought a home release of Symphogear (seasons one and two) to NA I don't have much of a choice beyond ordering the Japanese DVD's. Luckily I managed to find these links which list the collections as having English subtitles available and the region as 0/ALL.

However the season 1 set on both sites lists it as having episodes 1-12, but there are actually 13 episodes in the first season. So I'm not sure how to proceed here since I don't know why it's listed as 1-12 when there are in fact 13 episodes. Maybe they combined the last two episodes into one? I can't say for sure. Is it common to find errors (assuming it is one) like that?

My last concern is if anyone knows about the legitimacy of these sites since I've never seen/used them before. I figured it would be too much trouble to setup an illegitimate site like this but I just want to consult the posters here before I do anything else.

Avoid. Those are Malaysian bootlegs.

 

[cajunator]

Ive been interested in seeing Symphogear at some point. So if I havent picked it up yet at Rightstuf then it isnt available here yet. So yes definitely bootlegs.

 

[jbug617]

This Rightstuf Christmas sale, I don't have the money for this.

What did you all buy?

Durarara!! Blu-ray Complete Set (Hyb) Lunch Box Limited Edition
Ghost in the Shell Blu-ray (Hyb) 2.0 Edition
Rurouni Kenshin: The Movie Blu-ray Limited Edition (Aniplex)
Grave of the Fireflies Blu-ray (Hyb) Remastered Edition
Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc Blu-ray (Hyb)
Evangelion, Neon Genesis Directors Cut: Resurrection DVD (Hyb)
Medaka Box Abnormal Blu-ray Complete Collection (Hyb)
Medaka Box Blu-ray Complete Collection (Hyb)
Dan Doh!! The Super Shot DVD Complete Collection (Hyb) (Anime Legends)
Familiar of Zero, The Season 1 Blu-ray Complete Collection (Hyb)
La Storia della Arcana Famiglia Blu-ray Complete Collection (Hyb)
Samurai Gun DVD Complete Collection (Hyb) (Thinpak)
So, I Can't Play H Blu-ray Complete Collection (S)

 

[Tenumi]

Sword Art Online II: 23

This arc, for what it is, has been done really well. One more episode to go, I believe. Hopefully they don't mess up the ending somehow.

 

[TUSR]

Inou Battle 11

Hatoko is so healthy.

Oh hey, I recognize a few Gainax/Trigger characters and even Madoka... (Or is that someone else?)

Boota, Chuck, and the flame from LWA.

 

[VanillaCakeIsBurning]

I'm pretty certain those are bootlegs. The Japanese releases for both shows are singles only, and if they did have box sets released, they'd be way more expensive than that.

Yep, they're almost certainly bootlegs. Avoid them.

Avoid. Those are Malaysian bootlegs.

Really? I thought maybe it was just only blu rays were expensive or something like that. That's very disappointing to hear. I really just want to get my hands on some official home release discs even if they only have English subtitles (which may not ever happen with the silence regarding a NA home release).

Ive been interested in seeing Symphogear at some point. So if I havent picked it up yet at Rightstuf then it isnt available here yet. So yes definitely bootlegs.

It's a real shame since I found Symphogear to be an incredibly enjoyable ride. IMO it feels like a mix of Macross, TTGL and Nanoha.

As far as I know Funimation is sitting on the license right now. No news of a home release from them yet either. I think because of that CR was unable to simulcast season 2 last year as well despite showing interest from what I've read. I can't say that things are looking good for season 3 which is supposed to be airing next year.

 

[cajunator]

Really? I thought maybe it was just only blu rays were expensive or something like that. That's very disappointing to hear. I really just want to get my hands on some official home release discs even if they only have English subtitles (which may not ever happen with the silence regarding a NA home release).



It's a real shame since I found Symphogear to be an incredibly enjoyable ride. IMO it feels like a mix of Macross, TTGL and Nanoha.

As far as I know Funimation is sitting on the license right now. No news of a home release from them yet either. I think because of that CR was unable to simulcast season 2 last year as well despite showing interest from what I've read. I can't say that things are looking good for season 3 which is supposed to be airing next year.

Do you have Guilty Gear Xrd? I was playing online with Uraizen yesterday.

 

[Envelope]

G-Reco 12

If you don't watch, you'll never understand anything!

 

[MikeHattsu]

Really? I thought maybe it was just only blu rays were expensive or something like that. That's very disappointing to hear. I really just want to get my hands on some official home release discs even if they only have English subtitles (which may not ever happen with the silence regarding a NA home release).

Yeah. Official stuff aren't usually region free with Malay subtitles and Engrish covers

 

[VanillaCakeIsBurning]

Do you have Guilty Gear Xrd? I was playing online with Uraizen yesterday.

Yeah, I imported the Japanese version (yay for English text option!). I don't play it too often though, mostly on request.

Yeah. Official stuff aren't usually region free with Malay subtitles and Engrish covers

I actually didn't look at the cover until you all pointed out it was a bootleg. Now I see your point.

I'm praying to the home release gods that they will make a miracle happen.

 

[Rainy]

Idolmaster 1

Damn this show is cute.

 

[Save 'N Quit]

I did not want to feel this bad on a Monday.

Rest easy, Arakita.

You were great.

 

[NaDannMaGoGo]

Shingeki no Bahamut - 10

Animation quality was a notch higher again this episode. I'm not sure what to think of the plot though. With only 2 episodes left it's not surprising that it has to ramp up massively and it did just that with main villains more or less appearing out of thin air and twists happening. But the overall narrative just feels cluttered at this point. There are angels, demons and dragons but I'm neither sure what the factions actually want nor who's actually leading each respectively. That's not necessarily because its complicated but mostly because I never cared much for all that in the first place.

Well let's see how it'll end. Hopefully the conclusion will be much more satisfying than Chaika's. Hard to imagine it won't though.

 

[cajunator]

Yeah, I imported the Japanese version (yay for English text option!). I don't play it too often though, mostly on request.



I actually didn't look at the cover until you all pointed out it was a bootleg. Now I see your point.

I'm praying to the home release gods that they will make a miracle happen.

Ill give you a shout if we play again.

 

[phoenix296]

IdolM@ster 01

I have to say the interview style didn't bother me that much. Some of the character intros were kind of sloppy but it was a decent first introduction. There are so many of them it's going to be hard to keep track of them all.

 

[Jarmel]

Sword Art Online is an easy target for people to take pot shots at but it's probably better than at least half of the other shows currently airing. Significantly less embarassing tham Log Horizon's faux idols and half hour Gamersgate speeches.

Dimb...

 

[TUSR]

Dimb...

in his defense. this arc of SAO isn't awful

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

in his defense. this arc of SAO isn't awful

High praise for SAO

 

[BassForever]

My Log Horizon P1 BR came from Right Stuf thanks to the Mega Deal! Now to wait for LH P2 BR to drop below $50 (ideally $40 or below) so I can have all of season 1 on br.

 

[darkblade77]

Sword Art Online is an easy target for people to take pot shots at but it's probably better than at least half of the other shows currently airing. Significantly less embarassing tham Log Horizon's faux idols and half hour Gamersgate speeches.

Edginess = Psycho-Pass S2/10

 

[cajunator]

IdolM@ster 01

I have to say the interview style didn't bother me that much. Some of the character intros were kind of sloppy but it was a decent first introduction. There are so many of them it's going to be hard to keep track of them all.

Luckily the show isnt actually like that. It focuses on one or two characters per episode.

 

[nintendoman58]

Maoyu Mao Yusha LN illustrater Keinojou Mizutama passed away
https://twitter.com/miztama1016/status/544501738384805889

RIP

Oh man, that's terrible.

RIP.

 

[TUSR]

Luckily the show isnt actually like that. It focuses on one or two characters per episode.

I remember watching the first episode, and 15 minutes or so into it I was thinking "wow this really isn't for me"

 

[cajunator]

I remember watching the first episode, and 15 minutes or so into it I was thinking "wow this really isn't for me"

the first episode was pretty experimental. It would have been an exhausting way for the show to be. Its more traditionally formatted from then on.

 

[TUSR]

the first episode was pretty experimental. It would have been an exhausting way for the show to be. Its more traditionally formatted from then on.

Mhm, I think im on episode 15 now,

Spoiler

second one after the big concert.

I really enjoy the show, at first it was a lot to take in because of all the characters. Takane, Makoto, and Miki >>>

 

[SliceSabre]

Mhm, I think im on episode 15 now,

Spoiler

second one after the big concert.

I really enjoy the show, at first it was a lot to take in because of all the characters. Takane, Makoto, and Miki >>>

You mentioned my favorites.

I knew stalking you was a good idea.

~wan

 

[TUSR]

You mentioned my favorites.

I knew stalking you was a good idea.

~wan

Im almost at episode 17, which was done by TRIGGER the anime savers.

 

[ZachDeKoromaru]

Lumping in Makoto and Takane with street trash SMH.

 

[dimb]

Dimb...

Is it really so hard to believe that something worthwhile could exist in Sword Art Online, even if the series as a whole is a pretty big dud? There are talented people working on the action scenes and I feel like it's actually exceeded every other show airing this season when it comes to that, even if that isn't really the focus.

And yeah, the story is really heavy handed and we are in an arc about

Spoiler

a terminal kids with AIDS

, but at least there's some kind of emotional push here that's missing from all the other fantasy garbage ranging from Bahamut and Fate to Chaika and Log Horizon. SAO2 is significantly less convoluted than all of those shows in its world building and storytelling, with very deliberate arcs showcasing character's changing over time, and this all happens at a reasonable pace. SAO 2 is pretty boring a lot of the time, but it's honestly somehow less of a mess than its contemporaries. The snide whining about its success feels pretty hollow in the context of everything else people are watching this season.

 

[BassForever]

SAO is bad because it's a bad anime, the fact is popular is irrelevant to the fact for most of the people who dislike it. Yes I imagine there is a group who hates it because it's popular or hates it more because it's popular, but it's not like SAO doesn't have major flaws that can ruin it for a lot of viewers.

Speaking of things with major flaws

F/SN UBW 10

Actually this episode was pretty alright sans the out of nowhere power up for Shirou though while it may be kind of an ass pull anything that makes him feel like he actually have impact on the plot is welcome. Ufotable once again made amazing battle porn which I think is the only reason most of us are still watching it.

Edit: Did you just call Bahamut and Log Horizon garbage and then say how much better SAO is at character and world building? This is why most people who don't like SAO can't take it's fan base seriously. It's okay to like SAO (I enjoy it too despite it's flaws) but to say it's better then half the anime you listed especially in things like character or world building is just flat out wrong.

 

[TUSR]

Lumping in Makoto and Takane with street trash SMH.

why does everyone hate mikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimiki?

 

[Angry Grimace]

cajun be honest.




So they're aware of this, huh?

Guess those "Akame = Who?" jokes have even more credence.




When even DTL is with everyone when hating something, you know its bad.




Still being dead is not a better fate.

Nor is having one of your amigos crushed.

yeah but that Tatsumi body pillow

 

[Jarmel]

Miki is naturally gifted to be an idol unlike the rest of those try-hards.

 

[cajunator]

You mentioned my favorites.

I knew stalking you was a good idea.

~wan

*petpetpet

Lumping in Makoto and Takane with street trash SMH.

This

 

[SliceSabre]

The problem I've always had with SAO is that at no point has it ever really felt like trapped in an MMO story. It was always had more of a fantasy adventure feel to it.

Spoiler

Then it even loses that because after they beat the original game there are no longer any real stakes and it all ends up boiling down to watching a bunch of kids play an mmo.

why does everyone hate mikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimikimiki?

Those who follow the word of BGBW. Ignore them Miki is great.

~wan

 

[VanillaCakeIsBurning]

Ill give you a shout if we play again.

Sounds good.

And here's the first season (Symphogear) on Funi's site incase you wanted to take a look.

 

[Andrew J.]

Is it really so hard to believe that something worthwhile could exist in Sword Art Online, even if the series as a whole is a pretty big dud?

Yes.

 

[nintendoman58]

I wonder what the reception to SAO would be like if Season 1 never happened and it started with Season 2's plot. Could you imagine that?

Like, Kirito never had a harem to begin with and it all started with the whole Sinon thing.

People wouldn't go in with the disgust of what when down in the first one and it'd be a fresh and new thing. Okay, maybe not THAT fresh and new, but you know what I'm talking about.

 

[cajunator]

Saber is such a cute doggie. I cant handle it.

 

[BassForever]

SAO S2 E 23

This episode leaves me feel very odd, as I watched it I felt this should be it's own short story or movie as it's actually really strong and competent which are two words I don't connect with SAO. It's hard for me to connect with Asuna when she's showing her mom the sight out of her virtual world house to prove to her mom why staying at SAO survivor school and playing VRMMOs is so important to her when she was nearly killed and raped because of them.

I would love to see the Summer Wars version of this story, a short story/series or film about a girl who hides from reality in a VRMMO and the girl who's essentially trapped in the VRMMO because she's dying of disease and is extremely frail. Handle this right and it could be amazing, especially without being tied into the SAO world.

I wonder what the reception to SAO would be like if Season 1 never happened and it started with Season 2's plot. Could you imagine that?

Like, Kirito never had a harem to begin with and it all started with the whole Sinon thing.

People wouldn't go in with the disgust of what when down in the first one and it'd be a fresh and new thing. Okay, maybe not THAT fresh and new, but you know what I'm talking about.

They either needed to make the Aincard arc a death game where it was Kirito and the harem trying to survive or completely cut out the side stories/harem as they were hilariously half baked. I think the reason Caliber and Mother's Rosario arcs have worked so well is because they both accepted what SAO was and what it wasn't and really ran with those concepts.

 

[TUSR]

I wonder what the reception to SAO would be like if Season 1 never happened and it started with Season 2's plot. Could you imagine that?

Like, Kirito never had a harem to begin with and it all started with the whole Sinon thing.

People wouldn't go in with the disgust of what when down in the first one and it'd be a fresh and new thing. Okay, maybe not THAT fresh and new, but you know what I'm talking about.

S1 arc 1 + S2 full

Forget about incest faeries

 

[UltraGunner]

Sword Art Online is an easy target for people to take pot shots at but it's probably better than at least half of the other shows currently airing. Significantly less embarassing tham Log Horizon's faux idols and half hour Gamersgate speeches.

Log Horizon ha its problems but SAO is worse because is worse because it indulges in Otaku pandering

 

[Branduil]

I wonder what the reception to SAO would be like if Season 1 never happened and it started with Season 2's plot. Could you imagine that?

Like, Kirito never had a harem to begin with and it all started with the whole Sinon thing.

People wouldn't go in with the disgust of what when down in the first one and it'd be a fresh and new thing. Okay, maybe not THAT fresh and new, but you know what I'm talking about.

Kawahara's attempt to depict deep-seated trauma would still be hilarious garbage.

 

[nintendoman58]

Oh, and before I forget.

CR Pass in here. Quote to reveal.

 

[cajunator]

I wonder what the reception to SAO would be like if Season 1 never happened and it started with Season 2's plot. Could you imagine that?

Like, Kirito never had a harem to begin with and it all started with the whole Sinon thing.

People wouldn't go in with the disgust of what when down in the first one and it'd be a fresh and new thing. Okay, maybe not THAT fresh and new, but you know what I'm talking about.

Season two has been way better than the first at least. If that was all there was I might even buy the series. I might buy s2 just because.

 

[Firemind]

Log Horizon ha its problems but SAO is worse because is worse because it indulges in Otaku pandering

are you drunk

Spoiler

i am

 

[dimb]

Log Horizon ha its problems but SAO is worse because is worse because it indulges in Otaku pandering

zzz

 

[BassForever]

S1 arc 1 + S2 full

Forget about incest faeries

I disagree, you don't need to completely cut the arc or completely cut the incest angle. Suguha and Kirito should have realized who each other were near the very beginning so the arc so the story could focus more on Suguha and Kirito regaining their lost time and creating a relationship appropriate of their situation. I think what kills the arc for most people is that we know episode 1 that Suguha is in love with Kirito both IRL and in the game and the audience is made to suffer though all this build up to when Suguha discovers the double whammy truth and it's just cruel for everyone involved.

Also if you're saying "keep SAO arc 1 as a 13 episode series and make the finale they escape" people would still be down on SAO for all the go nowhere harem/short story stuff that bogs down the middle of the series and the resolution would still be bull crap. Plus you kind of new the second arc to at least justify why after the death game that was SAO why 1- another vrmmo was allowed to be made 2- when rumors of people dying in the game and irl popped up why the game wasn't shut down immediately.