Support NeoGAF

[Branduil]

We'll see in a year or two. Watanabe hasn't done anything for ages, before he came back with Kids on the Slope. Since he wants to regularly do a series a year now, it might be comparable if he actually does an action series or film again.

There's a lot of "competition" if we're talking about directors who do a lot of action (Kamiyama, Imaishi, Mizushima, Akane, etc) but they're just not very good competition. Before Ando came along, I'll definitely say Watanabe was the top of the game in terms of being an all round action director who really understands film making foundations and applies them in a classical way to create well thought out and very impressive action sequences. Kamiyama is probably the closest in the respect.

Kamiyama is only interested in crappy 3D now, lol. Mizushima hasn't done anything good in years. And I've always thought Imaishi was overrated as an action director.

Akane is pretty good competition though; Birdy Decode and Escaflowne have some of the best action sequences I've ever seen. Too bad Akito is all CGI mechs.

 

[BGBW]

Chihaya and Miki are clearly the best idols

Spoiler

(not counting secret best Kotori)

and they have the episodes to back it up.

Oh deary deary me.

Someone on /a/ noted that blond guys with earrings is a popular style this season.

I'm inclined to agree.

According to the character designer of adult Link in Ocarina of Time, earrings = bad ass.

TWGOK/Kaminomi - Tenri OVA Part 1

Was it tricky getting a screenshot of the one frame the GameGears were powered on?

 

[Branduil]

Was it tricky getting a screenshot of the one frame the GameGears were powered on?

I see what you did there.

 

[firehawk12]

One Off 3-4

Just in case you forgot! Actually, there wasn't much bike porn for this one... so it feels like SatoJun did the Honda stuff all in the first episode so that he could just do something else here.

Well, they did use a bike to do some :firehawk messaging, so hey, why not!

But episode 3 was about this:

And because this is a SatoJun joint, episode 4 was about this:

And I guess because I've been infected by the absurd yuri lovers here, but I couldn't help but noticed the plaid.

Of course, the yuri chicken dance.

But really, when a woman meets another woman and then decides to stay with that woman for a few weeks because they "connected" with each other, the yuri goggles start to come into play. lol

What caught me off guard was the fact that I actually felt sad at the end of this episode. I didn't know that there was even a second episode coming out, so I just assumed the last one was all we were going to get... and since that ended on a happy note, I was okay with it.

It's not that this one ends on a particularly sad note, since it's still pretty :firehawk, but I definitely felt sad because it ends in a way that basically makes more episodes of One Off impossible (or virtually impossible without compromising its integrity... or at least any integrity that an anime sponsored by Honda can have anyway) and it'll be a long wait until Tamayura comes back.

Sure, the :firehawk nature of a SatoJun show is so mechanical and perfunctory by this point, since I've seen him do it so many times. Heck, I still remember that Doremi episode with the girl who had cancer and that ended exactly like I thought a :firehawk show about a girl with cancer would end. But I'm still, I'm just a sucker for it. Even if I'm a cynical bastard who thinks everyone is fundamentally evil, it's just nice to find a little optimism in the world - especially in the small, sad moments that we face every day in our lives.

I hope another car company gives SatoJun money to make another one of these anyway. lol

(You know, if we're talking about selling out, it'd be hilariously awesome if they just merged the Tamayura and One Off universes and had an eight girl + 1 blonde Kobayashi show. I'd buy it! )

 

[Regulus Tera]

More One Off?

YESSSSSS

 

[cajunator]

Was it tricky getting a screenshot of the one frame the GameGears were powered on?

Ice cold.

 

[Dresden]

Oh, Berserk.

Just when it looked like they were finally going to

Spoiler

get off the boat

, it cuts to a scene where a loli fights off trolls. Among others. I wonder if there's another break coming.

Anyways I feel this odd urge to watch the movie.

 

[firehawk12]

More One Off?

YESSSSSS

 

[BluWacky]

Akane is pretty good competition though; Birdy Decode and Escaflowne have some of the best action sequences I've ever seen. Too bad Akito is all CGI mechs.

I would add to that the action sequences in Noein, which blew me away at the time and are still very impressive. It's impressive in a completely different way from Escaflowne - where Escaflowne impresses in its consistency, Noein impresses in how the action sequences are so different from each other.

The Karasu/Fukurou fight is the one that everyone remembers, but if I get time in the next couple of days I'll see about taking a clip of my other favourite, the Karasu/Kosagi fight later in the series.

 

[duckroll]

Kamiyama is only interested in crappy 3D now, lol. Mizushima hasn't done anything good in years. And I've always thought Imaishi was overrated as an action director.

Akane is pretty good competition though; Birdy Decode and Escaflowne have some of the best action sequences I've ever seen. Too bad Akito is all CGI mechs.

I don't really think it matters at all whether something is done in 3D or not. It's still anime, and it's still animation, and from the director's stand point he's still creating his vision by directing and storyboarding the animation. If the direction's choice of tools and staff fails to realize his vision, that's one matter, if it doesn't then who cares?

Ando's choice of working with PA Works on Canaan is a good example of what happens when the staff are unable to really execute the director's vision well. Can't blame CG there. On the other hand, Akito is a great example of how Akane's action storyboards were executed in a fantastic way using CG. The movement is elaborate, the framing is pretty great, and the fights are exciting to watch.

I'll reserve my comments on Re:Cyborg until I've actually seen it, but I think Kamiyama has some pretty good ideas in the set pieces shown in the trailers so far. I just wish he would work on more exciting material, because the movie itself doesn't really seem very interesting to me at all.


-----

Other action directors I forgot to mention would include people like Tensai Okamura and Shinji Ishihira. I guess Yasuhiro Irie counts too, since he's doing two shounen action series in a row now. Of these, I particularly like Ishihira's work on Tokyo Majin, but he doesn't really have a very prolific record when it comes to directing great shows.

 

[BluWacky]

Of these, I particularly like Ishihira's work on Tokyo Majin, but he doesn't really have a very prolific record when it comes to directing great shows.

Oh, wow, I forgot about Tokyo Majin! I only watched the first series but it had some really fantastic action animation, I was really impressed by it.

It's a shame he seems to be glued to Fairy Tail these days

 

[duckroll]

Oh, wow, I forgot about Tokyo Majin! I only watched the first series but it had some really fantastic action animation, I was really impressed by it.

It's a shame he seems to be glued to Fairy Tail these days

Ishihira is storyboarding episode 5 of Zetsuen no Tempest!

 

[Jarmel]

I would add to that the action sequences in Noein, which blew me away at the time and are still very impressive. It's impressive in a completely different way from Escaflowne - where Escaflowne impresses in its consistency, Noein impresses in how the action sequences are so different from each other.

The Karasu/Fukurou fight is the one that everyone remembers, but if I get time in the next couple of days I'll see about taking a clip of my other favourite, the Karasu/Kosagi fight later in the series.

I found the fight sequences in Noein much more impressive compared to Birdy Decode.

 

[Canis lupus]

Magical Magi Girl Madoka Magical 5-6


This show is pretty good! Dumb madoka, why did you do that!

 

[cajunator]

Magical Magi Girl Madoka Magical 5-6


This show is pretty good! Dumb madoka, why did you do that!

It gets better

 

[PorcellainThrill]

Top "Recent" Acquisitions by the AnimeGAF Jewish Illuminati:

0. Nafe
1. Tomat
2. chickdigger
3. Joe Molotov
4/100. Porcelain Thrill
5. that bundle of self-loathing we know & love (?) as Maedhros
6. ...wait, what?
...
∞. Novid

Top 5 Posters Who Should Read Grant Morrison's Run On Doom Patrol Since They Want To Be Coerced and/or Listed But Only If They Can Stand Dirty English Because It's Like The Best Comic Ever:

1. Dresden
2. Dresden
3. Dresden
4. Trejo
5. Dresden

I take from this list that I misspelled porcelain. It is Porzellan in german though.
If I weren't so happy on being on a list for the first time the shame would murder me - painfully.

 

[cajunator]

I take from this list that I misspelled porcelain. It is Porzellan in german though.
If I weren't so happy on being on a list for the first time the shame would murder me - painfully.

Yes, you misspelled it, but we still love you.

 

[Maedhros]

Nia is a pretty negative element in Gurren Lagann. Lol.

Thanks.

 

[Articalys]

(You know, if we're talking about selling out, it'd be hilariously awesome if they just merged the Tamayura and One Off universes and had an eight girl + 1 blonde Kobayashi show. I'd buy it! )

I don't know if the world would be able to handle the combined levels of Norie+Rie genki from Yuka Iguchi and Eri Kitamura.

 

[PorcellainThrill]

Yes, you misspelled it, but we still love you.

There was no nicer way of telling me. I might have chosen a different name if I knew about the lack of L in porcelain though. Somehow lackluster.

 

[Canis lupus]

It gets better

Magical Madoka 7

Yep, it indeed is! And I started disliking Madoka.

Btw, this a Shaft show right? I guess so, because of the head tilts lol.

 

[darkside31337]

Haha! Can't say I would support that pairing

Spoiler

vocally

as darkside would kill me for even thinking about jumping off the AmixRei ship (they are indeed OTP).

It really is the best pairing. PGSM solidified that in my book. Not even a question!

 

[Maedhros]

Magical Madoka 7

Yep, it indeed is! And I started disliking Madoka.

Btw, this a Shaft show right? I guess so, because of the head tilts lol.

That's actually what happened to me.


Tonari 04

Hnnng, this show is so goooood @_@. Compared to Tsuritama's Haru, I don't even need to say who's the better one, huh? Their interactions were a bit worse than the last episodes, but they had their moments. I didn't get the sexual innuendo you guys talked about. The thing with watermelons. You are sick. >:

Like I've said, the rooster is fucking useless. Now, even Tapioca had more moments in Tsuritama.

Sakurajou no Pet lololol 01

Dat ass. No, not the cat one.

I didn't like the episode that much. I'm in for the cats, though.

 

[PdotMichael]

Magical Madoka 7

Yep, it indeed is! And I started disliking Madoka.

Btw, this a Shaft show right? I guess so, because of the head tilts lol.

you dislike Madoka? I dislike you from the bottom of my heart, you monster!

 

[Maedhros]

you dislike Madoka? I dislike you from the bottom of my heart, you monster!

What's to like about Madoka 'till a certain episode? Nothing.

 

[duckroll]

With regards to the discussion about action direction, I'll also like to add that when I look at the work of a director, I prefer to focus on the overall work rather than just select elements. In the case of Ando, I feel he is the best action director in animation today because while his strongest point is in consistently delivering exciting action in his works, the action sequences themselves are not just an isolated aspect. His sensibility in staging a scene, dictating the pace of scene, and controlling the flow of narrative to build up to a strong climax are very skills which show a very good understanding of film making in general. When he applies these skills to the action genre, it elevates the work into something which is not just exciting to watch, but something which also feels more intelligent because you can see the thought and attention which goes into establishing the flow of events.

I would say a good comparison to Ando's style of direction would be James Cameron. Even when his material is somewhat weak or generic, his visual sense carries with it solid momentum which is very exhilarating to watch.

Akane I feel is a much weaker overall director, who has a strong visual sense for animated action. His action sequences always feel disconnected from the rest of the narrative, but they're usually very competent as action scenes. I feel that Imaishi is not that different from Akane, although Imaishi takes it even further in the sense that he often doesn't care to ground his direction at all, and just goes wild with animation.

Kamiyama and Watanabe are much closer to Ando's sense of direction, because they can do really great action sequences which complement the rest of the work, and are natural highlights, rather than just cool action sequences. They are also more traditional directors like Ando, who place more emphasis on logical layouts and character acting, rather than going wild with the animation form.

 

[cajunator]

Magical Madoka 7

Yep, it indeed is! And I started disliking Madoka.

Btw, this a Shaft show right? I guess so, because of the head tilts lol.

There's more to Madoka. that's all I'm gonna say.
Yes, its a Shaft show, and one of their very best.

That's actually what happened to me.


Tonari 04

Hnnng, this show is so goooood @_@. Compared to Tsuritama's Haru, I don't even need to say who's the better one, huh? Their interactions were a bit worse than the last episodes, but they had their moments. I didn't get the sexual innuendo you guys talked about. The thing with watermelons. You are sick. >:

Like I've said, the rooster is fucking useless. Now, even Tapioca had more moments in Tsuritama.

Sakurajou no Pet lololol 01

Dat ass. No, not the cat one.

I didn't like the episode that much. I'm in for the cats, though.

You didn't see sexual innuendo? Smashing melons and then Shizuku just happens to be wearing the exact same patterned clothing. Its there, and its not really subtle.
Plus you already know Haru wants to tap that.

 

[wonzo]

Kamisama Kiss 1

If this show continues with the charming as hell reaction faces then I'll watch it to the very end.

 

[Maedhros]

You didn't see sexual innuendo? Smashing melons and then Shizuku just happens to be wearing the exact same patterned clothing. Its there, and its not really subtle.
Plus you already know Haru wants to tap that.

Wait, seriously? I didn't get that, will watch again.

 

[Regulus Tera]

People spoiling My Little Monster out of all things. :/ Jesus.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Hyouka 1(rewatch)



I enjoyed this substantially more the second time around. It's interesting all the little pieces of foreshadowing I noticed watching it now. Chitanda's and Satoshi's first meeting is really funny. Also, this show is ever more gorgeous than I remembered.

I should revisit it sometime, maybe if the Manga finishes up, though I was planning to rewatch it once it was licensed but well companies seem more concerned with getting other less good anime.

 

[cajunator]

People spoiling My Little Monster out of all things. :/ Jesus.

Thats not a spoiler.
Plus, Jex posted actual pictures of that scene in plain view:
http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=43502324&postcount=1955

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Sword Of The Stranger

The film was beautiful. I absolutely loved the water painted landscapes that provided the backdrop to many scenes. They really nailed that feeling of winter in feudal Japan. I noticed a few awkward CG stuff (that vertical panning of the tower in particular) that looked a bit weird in implementation but can't say it bothered me a whole lot. The fight scenes were great and the final fight just may be one of the best animated fight scenes I've seen in a long time. Excellent choreography with a rousing soundtrack that matched every important moment. There's not a whole lot more to say honestly. I liked it a lot and probably gonna re-watch a lot of those scenes in the near future.

Sword of the Stranger is a top-notch production all around. I think you could make a good argument for the final fight being the best animated one-on-one fight sequence of all time. I really hope Ando gets to make more action movies eventually.

Ando could well be the best action director in animation working in the industry today.

He is, no question about it.

On the general subject of action directors, I was particularly impressed recently by the action scenes in Masaya Fujimori's You Are Umasou - they were few in number, but very intelligently planned and strongly executed. It's along the lines of what you wrote about Ando's directing style above, as they were not just impressive stand-alone action scenes but worked really effectively in the context of the overall narrative and the general pacing of the film. I'm not familiar with Fujimori's other work, so I'm not sure how much general talent he has, but I'm very curious to see how his Fairy Tail film turned out.

 

[R_thanatos]

Dog Days

Dog Days
Final Rating: 9 out of 10 Fluffy Tails

Fluffy Tail Ranking: (from Fluffiest to Just Fluffy)
Yukikaze
Brioche
Vert
Ricotta
Millhiore
Eclair

So close !!!!

Milhiore should be obvious be higher than rico but at least you saw the amazing potential of yukikaze ..if you liked the first season you're in for a good time with the second ..

TWGOK/Kaminomi - Tenri OVA Part 1

Spoiler

HNNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

The voices for Tenri and Diana are like perfect. They fit each girl SO GOOD!

It's also just warming to see the cast back again. As an avid reader of the manga, I was very pleased, and man, they were pretty good about following the manga. Nora and her buddy were as hilarious as I expected them to be, and the

Spoiler

Yokkyun death scene is still hilarious,

but with Hiro Shimono's delivery of Keima's lines, the hilarity comes off even more.

So good all around, and I appreciated the teasing of Nanaka, Tsukiyo, and Minami in the game store.

Spoiler

PS: Dat Nora body.

Is this a 2 part oav , right ?..earing they did a good job with this arc makes me happy
(proud follower of the manga )

DAT TRIPLE GAMEGEAR combo ..

Kamisama Kiss 1

If this show continues with the charming as hell reaction faces then I'll watch it to the very end.

The reaction faces are still strong in this one you'll be forced to continue watching

Spoiler

Just like me

 

[Jex]

Oh, Berserk.

Just when it looked like they were finally going to

Spoiler

get off the boat

, it cuts to a scene where a loli fights off trolls. Among others. I wonder if there's another break coming.

Anyways I feel this odd urge to watch the movie.

Everything about your post is depressing.

 

[mAcOdIn]

Sure, once you put it this way, then, no, Tsundere doesn't exist even if the person is 5 years old or less. However, every notion of characterisation could be perceived like that.

I don't really think so. I guess it could if the only time you felt someone was a characterization was when they were an extreme, God how do I word this, caricature, uh, exaggerated archetype? What I'm trying to say is that if your show, or book, or film, whatever features nothing but characters who are all firmly defined by recognized character tropes, like the tsundere, or the bad kid, or whatever then that's kinda every kind of characterization but not every anime let alone movie, film or book so strictly follows such guidelines so I don't think you can really say that it's every kind of characterization.

The type of characterization that you find in this type of medium is what I consider lazy. I suppose it all has its purposes, when you're trying to hook people in 20 minutes in a show that will only have 12 episodes or whatever I guess it's easier to define the characters by their 5% personality and just run with it, you don't need to develop that character because it's out in the open exposed and you either like it or not but it lets you just jump into other things right off the bat.

I guess I'm trying to compromise in a rambling sort of way. I agree you could ay that about all characterizations but only if we're talking about works that use that specific type of characterization and as such disagree that it's used everywhere so in a way, whatever, I can't word any of this right. Easier to just say it's shitty writing.

Shiina is cute but unrealistically deadpan stupid. I really don't like this kind of character in a show outside of maybe Chobits. However, Sakurasou does have the characters I mentioned earlier and they easily make up for the deficiencies of the main character.

There is a lot to like in the show otherwise. Its not awful.

I hate the character, it's like she was born yesterday. Oh well, at least the show has cats.

 

[Articalys]

Hobby Japan, Orchid Seed's The 7 Deadly Sins Project Gets Anime

The official website for Hobby Japan and Orchid Seed's The 7 Deadly Sins (Nanatsu no Taizai) multimedia project announced on Wednesday that an anime adaptation has been green-lit. The first arc will have two episodes. The project revolves around seven beautiful female demons who embody the seven sins. The project already has figures in development by Orchid Seed.

Niθ (Blassreiter, Samurai Girls) created the original character designs that Hiraku Kaneko (Qwaser of Stigmata) is adapting for anime, which Kaneko is also directing. Makoto Uezu (Humanity Has Declined, Is This a Zombie?, School Days, Qwaser of Stigmata) is writing and overseeing the series scripts, and REMIC (Dojin Work, Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Pokahn) is producing the anime.

The website emphasizes that the anime will not be adults-only.

Not to be confused with the Seven Sins from Umineko, I suppose.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Oh, Berserk.

Just when it looked like they were finally going to

Spoiler

get off the boat

, it cuts to a scene where a loli fights off trolls. Among others. I wonder if there's another break coming.

Anyways I feel this odd urge to watch the movie.

Those faces are faintly disturbing.

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

The official website for Hobby Japan and Orchid Seed's The 7 Deadly Sins (Nanatsu no Taizai) multimedia project announced on Wednesday that an anime adaptation has been green-lit. The first arc will have two episodes. The project revolves around seven beautiful female demons who embody the seven sins. The project already has figures in development by Orchid Seed.

Niθ (Blassreiter, Samurai Girls) created the original character designs that Hiraku Kaneko (Qwaser of Stigmata) is adapting for anime, which Kaneko is also directing. Makoto Uezu (Humanity Has Declined, Is This a Zombie?, School Days, Qwaser of Stigmata) is writing and overseeing the series scripts, and REMIC (Dojin Work, Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Pokahn) is producing the anime.

jacknicholsonnodding.gif

The website emphasizes that the anime will not be adults-only.

Boooo.

 

[Regulus Tera]

One Off 3-4

K-ON for babbiez.

One Off fin

The best thing about this were the Round Table songs. What exactly was Honda hoping to accomplish by financing a cute girls doing cute things cartoon*? 2 lolibikes out of 5

 

[Extollere]

We are not good enough for Erio

Good fucking god, what is this? It's making my heart rate increase rapidly... is this a show I should watch?

 

[mAcOdIn]

Good fucking god, what is this? It's making my heart rate increase rapidly... is this a show I should watch?

Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko

It's not bad, it has its funny moments but it's not a must watch either.

 

[7Th]

Yamauchi is clearly the best action director in anime; expressionistically depicting the psychological state of the characters takes a lot more talent and skill than just creating entretaining set-pieces to satisfy the masses.

 

[Hellsing321]

The Pet Girl of Sakurasou 1-2

I think they took the term retard moe a bit too literally. I can't see the appeal of taking care of someone who can't dress themselves.

 

[madp]

Yamauchi is clearly the best action director in anime; expressionistically depicting the psychological state of the characters takes a lot more talent and skill than just creating entretaining set-pieces to satisfy the masses.

I'm seeing wheat. Is that something from Yumekui Merry?

 

[PdotMichael]

without any context

I see just a girl playing air trumpet

 

[7Th]

I'm seeing wheat. Is that something from Yumekui Merry?

Episode 13 of Yumekui Merry; greatest action episode of all time.

 

[mAcOdIn]

It's clearly a fighting stance and a poor one at that, I bet she's about to get jacked up.

 

[Emitan]

Yamauchi is clearly the best action director in anime; expressionistically depicting the psychological state of the characters takes a lot more talent and skill than just creating entretaining set-pieces to satisfy the masses.

Trombone?

 

[Syrinx]

So now my brain is playing the YuruYuri theme song in my head, but for some reason it has the melody of "Alouette"

My brain is weird.