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[hosannainexcelsis]

So while everyone else was watching the cool stuff, I was making cosmic happy by watching

One Piece 11-15

This is pretty dull. The pacing is sluggish (the flashbacks get painfully dragged out), and the action storyboarding is uninteresting. Usopp is a pathetic character who I have no sympathy for, and the idiotic behavior of the other main cast members gets on my nerves as well. Some of Oda's more ... out-there character designs bother me, such as the rams-hair servant and the cat brothers. There were one or two moments of sudden badassery which I did like, but in general I'm still waiting for this to get good.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Kids on the Slope 01

This hit all the right notes for me where Tsuritama couldn't regarding the "anti-social angsty teenager meets a more vivacious and sporadic boy" element. It is essentially the same story told more subduedly: Haru's over-the-topness was obviously alienating (lol) in nature, whereas Sentaro seems like a dude I would meet somewhere and totally become bros with.

What can I say about Watanabe's direction that hasn't been pondered before? I hate to use the word, but the whole thing has a cinematic style missing from most anime today. It's nothing at all like Cowboy Bebop or Samurai Champloo, but it clearly is made by someone who knows what the fuck he is doing. I feel relieved.

 

[Risette]

Not really, unless we work with a very loose definition of 'everyone else' - I know plenty of people who find Howl's disappointing outside of this thread. Not that this has anything to do with what's being discussed e.g. people are stupid and will automatically like a show because it's made by a famous director.

I just happen to find that argument (or any variation of it) acceptable - it's a lazy stand-in for a real argument about why you don't like a particular aspect of the show.

You're ignoring other legitimate arguments that Lafiel presented against the show, though. It's just a remark he made among several other points in his post.

 

[iavi]

Kids on the Slope 1 - The first episode was extremely well-executed as expected from Watanabe, I'm also digging the characters and premise, but I'm definitely not feeling as excited about it as I should be. The material is very standard "noitamina" imo, which isn't a bad thing at all, but at the same time, it feels dunno a tad to safe for a Watanabe show, even the direction felt to restrained compared to the likes of Cowboy bebop and Samurai champloo, I think AnimeGAF is definitely over-selling it, I mean it is good sure, but if it wasn't for the Watanabe name, I doubt people here would be treating it like the second coming of jesus.

Can't really agree, on points. I agree that it's a very 'safe'--or not so safe, if you're to look at it from a market perspective--narrative, but the majority of Watanabe's works, and his biggest--Cowboy Bebop, were complete exercises in restraint. That's been his shtick, if you look back: Taking over-the-top concepts/scenarios and presenting them on a relatively classy/'tasteful' plate; Champloo being the utter outlier in concept, among his works, though it also drew it back at focal moments--like the end of episode 14, and the ED. Given the premise of Apollon, I really do feel as if it was done almost as good as it could have been; Almost, because I felt it a bit heavy-handed at moments, but they were but two isolated incidents, and given what what had to be condensed, I'm impressed it didn't feel completely so.

 

[Branduil]

So while everyone else was watching the cool stuff, I was making cosmic happy by watching

One Piece 11-15

This is pretty dull. The pacing is sluggish (the flashbacks get painfully dragged out), and the action storyboarding is uninteresting. Usopp is a pathetic character who I have no sympathy for, and the idiotic behavior of the other main cast members gets on my nerves as well. Some of Oda's more ... out-there character designs bother me, such as the rams-hair servant and the cat brothers. There were one or two moments of sudden badassery which I did like, but in general I'm still waiting for this to get good.

How much did he make you watch?

 

[Jintor]

Kimi no Todoke is the ghost-haired girl shoujo yeah? I'll add it to the pile. Manga or anime, which should I watch/read?

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

How much did he make you watch?

I'm supposed to watch until episode 42 or somewhere around there.

 

[zeroshiki]

You're ignoring other legitimate arguments that Lafiel presented against the show, though. It's just a remark he made among several other points in his post.

Jex specifically says that part was what he found issue with. So complaining that he ignores the other arguments when he said he has no problem with it is kinda odd.

 

[Regulus Tera]

If you like Haru, you should watch Kimi to Boku. Same voice actor (I think) playing essentially the same character.

I didn't like Haru himself, I just appreciated the element of randomness he brought into a setting that was unfathomable dull in contrast to the radiance hinted at by the colourful art. I fear he is going to become very annoying soon if he doesn't get into the background more often.

 

[Risette]

Jex specifically says that part was what he found issue with. So complaining that he ignores the other arguments when he said he has no problem with it is kinda odd.

I'm talking about this:

I just happen to find that argument (or any variation of it) acceptable - it's a lazy stand-in for a real argument about why you don't like a particular aspect of the show.

It can't be a lazy stand in for a real argument because he presented other valid points against it.

 

[Crash Station]

I'm supposed to watch until episode 42 or somewhere around there.

Either 43 or 45. 6 eps of CB + 39 of Keaton would make 45, but that might not be necessary. 45 is when stuff actually changes in the world, but 43 is the point at which you'll know if you like it or not, so I guess you can pick.

 

[zeroshiki]

I'm talking about this:


It can't be a lazy stand in for a real argument because he presented other valid points against it.

These are his "other" arguments

The material is very standard "noitamina" imo, which isn't a bad thing at all, but at the same time, it feels dunno a tad to safe for a Watanabe show, even the direction felt to restrained compared to the likes of Cowboy bebop and Samurai champloo, I think AnimeGAF is definitely over-selling it

1. Standard noitamina - what?
2. Direction is restrained compared to Bebop and Champloo - how?
3. AnimeGAF is over-selling it - uh?

 

[iavi]

So while everyone else was watching the cool stuff, I was making cosmic happy by watching

One Piece 11-15

This is pretty dull. The pacing is sluggish (the flashbacks get painfully dragged out), and the action storyboarding is uninteresting. Usopp is a pathetic character who I have no sympathy for, and the idiotic behavior of the other main cast members gets on my nerves as well. Some of Oda's more ... out-there character designs bother me, such as the rams-hair servant and the cat brothers. There were one or two moments of sudden badassery which I did like, but in general I'm still waiting for this to get good.

Hmm, OP does get better, but if you find it grating at the moment, I don't think you'll find it getting better to the point of enjoyment. The silliness you find grating atm only gets stronger with the rest. Unless you've made a pact you can't escape from, I'd bail, personally.

 

[Jarmel]

Ao-1

I have this nasty feeling the writing is going to fall apart somewhere. They're definitely going to try something complicated like either a time jump backwards or an alternate dimension and I'm not sure how well that's going to hold up. Production-wise the anime is gorgeous, one of the better produced ones this season.

 

[firehawk12]

I didn't like Haru himself, I just appreciated the element of randomness he brought into a setting that was unfathomable dull in contrast to the radiance hinted at by the colourful at. I fear he is going to become very annoying soon if he doesn't get into the background more often.

Heh, the character in Kimi to Boku is basically a "realistic" version of the character in that he's easily excited and drags the rest of the boys along with him.

Ao-1

I have this nasty feeling the writing is going to fall apart somewhere. They're definitely going to try something complicated like either a time jump backwards or an alternate dimension and I'm not sure how well that's going to hold up.

[luke scream] Noooooooo!!!!!!!! [/luke scream]

 

[Kite]

heh I don't follow anime closely anymore and didn't know that Kids on the Slope was directed by Watanabe. I watched the first episode blind and really liked what I saw, enough with the bullshit Noitamina and overrated famous director caveats. The show looks genuinely promising, I like the characters, setting and premise. It didn't blow my mind like the first time I saw Cowboy Bebop but I doubt nothing will anymore. Nothing has in the past 12+ years, I'm no longer a wide-eyed newbie to the whole Japanese cartoon thing.

 

[Regulus Tera]

I wanna get a wallpaper of this scene. It was simply beautiful

Spoiler

and Rit-chan is a cutie.

 

[Lafiel]

1. Standard noitamina - what?
2. Direction is restrained compared to Bebop and Champloo - how?
3. AnimeGAF is over-selling it - uh?

1. Do you really think the writing is any better than say nodame cantabile, usagi drop and wandering son? those are the three shows I think of when I think "standard" noitamina, which as I said isn't a BAD thing at all! but It's more of a personal quirk, since as I said I'd be far more excited about the series if it was a original project.

2. The direction lacks a certain "oomph" that Cowboy bebop and Samurai champloo did, I dunno how to describe it, but it's missing a stylistic trade-mark, and even that one fight scene while very watanabe in style felt lacking in terms of execution, actually one thing I'd say about the direction, and probably why people like pizzaroll aren't to impressed about it, is it's very pseudo live-action, it feels like it's directed like a live-action drama more than anything, down to the editing, character animation etc, it's very well-executed at what it's aiming for though, so I'm not complaining, but it's no-where near as stylistically interesting as his previous shows were for me.

3. Well as I said before, I'm not feeling like it's the best thing since sliced bread, anime is saved by Watanabe etc etc. Just my opinion really!

 

[Regulus Tera]

I get the impression you would like Kids on the Slope more if it were a J-Drama.

 

[zeroshiki]

1. I don't know how being written as well as Nodame, Usagi Drop or Wandering Son can ever be a bad thing, but to each his own.

2. Its slice of life. It having Bebop or Champloo direction would make it really weird. I admire Watanabe's restraint here and he did alot of things right for slice of life.

3. Hahahaha

I personally don't care about the slapfight going on but all this ivory tower bullshit needs to stop. Slagging something just because people like it is not cool.

 

[wonzo]

Kanon 10

Spoiler

so makoto's actually a reincarnation of a fox that yuuichi helped when he was a kid? and she's making miracles happen at the expense of her life?

aahhahahahahaaa are you fucking kidding me? this shit is so dumb it's giving me a fucking terrible headache. fuck fuck fuck

 

[Thoraxes]

Kanon 10

Spoiler

so makoto's actually a reincarnation of a fox that yuuichi helped when he was a kid? and she's making miracles happen at the expense of her life?

aahhahahahahaaa are you fucking kidding me? this shit is so dumb it's giving me a fucking terrible headache. fuck fuck fuck

Now you know why I always post that picture whenever someone says Kanon.

 

[Branduil]

Kanon 10

Spoiler

so makoto's actually a reincarnation of a fox that yuuichi helped when he was a kid? and she's making miracles happen at the expense of her life?

aahhahahahahaaa are you fucking kidding me? this shit is so dumb it's giving me a fucking terrible headache. fuck fuck fuck

I see you are finding your foray into KEY writing enlightening and educational. At least you have some better-looking shows ahead of you. And Angel Beats...

 

[Regulus Tera]

Kanon 10
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18780843/anime/kanon10.jpg

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream?

 

[Soma]

Kanon 10

That image has been 'shopped right?

...right?

 

[Ezalc]

I liked Tsuritama for some reason, if feels like a very light and fun show. It helps that there's a duck called Tapioca.

 

[Solune]

This episode proves once and for all YOU ARE WRONG.

Spoiler

Rarity is about to crash to her death.

SHE DOES NOTHING. She's probably eating some grapes while getting fanned by her servants or something. She is an evil dictator. I hope this series ends with Twilight overthrowing her and taking the throne herself.

Celestia is the best, that is all.

Kimi ni Todoke 13
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy256/The_Rumor/Kimi6.png
http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy256/The_Rumor/Kimi7.png

I love Yano so much. The recent change to her hairstyle gives off a motherly aura,

Spoiler

which is intensified by her desire to protect Sawako from Kurumi

.

Spoiler

Yano gets alot more attention in the manga atm, and her character is shown off even more, I like it

Also what happened to Aya? But Ruka is a nice avatar.

Kimi no Todoke is the ghost-haired girl shoujo yeah? I'll add it to the pile. Manga or anime, which should I watch/read?

Both.

 

[Jarmel]

Celestia is the best, that is all.

There's a reason she has the nickname Trollestia.

Spoiler

And I love her for it

 

[Risette]

I personally don't care about the slapfight going on but all this ivory tower bullshit needs to stop. Slagging something just because people like it is not cool.

Yeah, we're just slagging it because people like it. Hurr. It's not like we absolutely fucking adore Watanabe's other shows which even more people like or anything. Having genuine complaints and being actually disappointed? Impossible!

This argument is just as bad as the one Jex complained about.

 

[flawfuls]

Eureka Seven AO

Well I really really enjoyed the first episode and the show honestly seems very promising at this point. Shit now that I actually care about this show Bones can disappoint me again. Well played.

 

[Jex]

Eureka Seven AO

Well I really really enjoyed the first episode and the show honestly seems very promising at this point. Shit now that I actually care about this show Bones can disappoint me again. Well played.

The Sonic BONES cycle strikes again. Let us not forget the opening's of Star Driver. X'amd etc.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Bones' shows are doomed to disappoint upon continuation because duckroll keeps on hyping them as Bones' revival.

 

[chickdigger802]

Eureka 7 01

A promising first eps... except they literally blew up all the 'slice of life'... and we gonna get a sunrise mecha show?

So lame that even though I literally finished up E7 like a week or 2 ago... and I have zero clue how this ties to the first show.

Did they retcon Eureka from moeurder machine?

Meh, I'll keep watching though. Looks great... but the lack of air surfing needs to be rectified.

 

[InfiniteNine]

The Sonic BONES cycle strikes again. Let us not forget the opening's of Star Driver. X'amd etc.

I thought the first episode of Star Driver sucked.

 

[zeroshiki]

Yeah, we're just slagging it because people like it. Hurr. It's not like we absolutely fucking adore Watanabe's other shows which even more people like or anything. Having genuine complaints and being actually disappointed? Impossible!

This argument is just as bad as the one Jex complained about.

What? If you didn't notice, Lafiel had NOTHING to say in his initial post. That's where this entire argument comes from. If you're complaining for the sake of complaining then whats the point. Just because his side aligns with yours this particular argument doesn't automatically give his complaints merit.

 

[Jarmel]

The Sonic BONES cycle strikes again. Let us not forget the opening's of Star Driver. X'amd etc.

Oh god. The opening of Xam'd was so good. Jesus, I'm going to want to slit my wrists in six months won't I?

 

[MotionBlue]

The Sonic BONES cycle strikes again. Let us not forget the opening's of Star Driver. X'amd etc.

You're a cruel man Jex.

 

[zeroshiki]

Star Driver opened pretty crappily, I thought. I hated Takuto and didn't feel any connection nor any desire to find out what happens to him.

 

[Risette]

If you're complaining for the sake of complaining then whats the point. Just because his side aligns with yours this particular argument doesn't automatically give his complaints merit.

I'm complaining because you made an offensive argument. Also I've talked with Lafiel about the episode in IRC PM so I know exactly what his thoughts on it are and what you said is wrong -- me and him do not align on the episode. He liked it pretty well. I do not like it at all.

Also his post is not slagging it because people like it. It was just an observation. Mountains out of molehills, etc. I get the feeling that you aren't even reading his posts. For example:

You said -

1. I don't know how being written as well as Nodame, Usagi Drop or Wandering Son can ever be a bad thing, but to each his own.

Yet he said before that -

1. Do you really think the writing is any better than say nodame cantabile, usagi drop and wandering son? those are the three shows I think of when I think "standard" noitamina, which as I said isn't a BAD thing at all! but It's more of a personal quirk, since as I said I'd be far more excited about the series if it was a original project.

 

[Kettch]

Hmm, OP does get better, but if you find it grating at the moment, I don't think you'll find it getting better to the point of enjoyment. The silliness you find grating atm only gets stronger with the rest. Unless you've made a pact you can't escape from, I'd bail, personally.

I disagree. When I tried OP ages ago I got through about 12 episodes before dropping it for several years (the powers being too ridiculous was probably the main reason), then picked up the manga and slowly struggled through several arcs before it started to click. Now it's probably one of my 3 favorite currently running series.

 

[flawfuls]

The Sonic BONES cycle strikes again. Let us not forget the opening's of Star Driver. X'amd etc.

Honestly if this ends up as good as X'amd I would be satisfied. I mean X'amd was disappointing, but that was because I was expecting Eureka seven. I didn't think it was bad and Bones hasn't made anything as good since then.

 

[zeroshiki]

I'm complaining because you made an offensive argument. Also I've talked with Lafiel about the episode in IRC PM so I know exactly what his thoughts on it are and what you said is wrong -- me and him do not align on the episode. He liked it pretty well. I do not like it at all.

Also his post is not slagging it because people like it. It was just an observation. Mountains out of molehills, etc. I get the feeling that you aren't even reading his posts. For example:

You said -


Yet he said before that -

What? Read it again. He complains about it but says its not a bad thing! What the hell? And even then, I actually said I had no issue with that particular point and let it go.

I'm sorry I'm not psychic and have superior internet powers so as to eavesdrop on your IRC conversations. I'm going by what he posted WHICH WAS NOTHING AT ALL. Lafiel admittedly trolls the thread repeatedly and randomly so don't tell me what he does or doesn't do.

Also, its not like this is the first time you come in troll something and then refuse to back it up so don't be offended when someone calls you out on it.

 

[Jex]

[Eureka Seven AO - 1]

This episode was genuinely enjoyable but it had a few problems with regards to writing and the tone which are hard for me to forgive.

As this covers what actually happened ocurred in the episode I am going to tag it all up:

Spoiler

Just after the initial 'picking up Naru in my sweet ride' segment Ao mentions to Naru that perhaps the strange dreams she's been having are due to her spiritual powers. This feels like some lazy exposition for a topic that the episode doesn't even bother to go into. It's kind of heavy handed.

However, that's not nearly as heavy-handed as the conversation between Ao and his Guardian that occurs when Ao returns home after witnessing the Scrub phenomenon and G-monster appearance. As a viewer, I don't know what it means when a weird Object starts growing out of a car, of when a giant beam of light appears allowing a strange object to appear. It seems to be pretty serious, perhaps potentially dangerous. Should people be afraid? Should they be evacuating? One of the Delivery Men mentions that everyone at school learns about this event - but I don't know anything about it. As far as I know Ao should be telling everyone he knows and fleeing the Island. Has he seen this kind of thing several times before?

All these thoughts are in my head when Ao returns to his house - none of those issues are touched upon, however, because the writer feels that Ao and his Guardian need to have some expository dialogue about the relationship between these two characters which has absolutely zero connections to the events we're witnessing on screen. I don't care if Ao has to go school tomorrow, shouldn't he be remotely interested in the bizarre things he just witnessed? Should he mention to his guardian what the heck he just saw? Apparently not, because they have to hamfistedly fill in the relationship between these two characters rather than the more interesting events that are occurring.

As a viewer who isn't privy to the knowledge of what the Scrub Coral phenomenon is I don't know whether this is a banal event, an unusual but harmless occurrence or something very dangerous. The show does have some characters say that they 'happen frequently' but that doesn't really let me gauge whether the characters are being blasé about it for a good reason or not. I'd certainly be concerned if I started seeing huge pillars of light like that.

Those complaints aside, I really enjoyed the look of the show (especially the first sequence in the ruins) and the overall pacing, but it doesn't seem to be that noteworthy yet.

 

[iavi]

I disagree. When I tried OP ages ago I got through about 12 episodes before dropping it for several years (the powers being too ridiculous was probably the main reason), then picked up the manga and slowly struggled through several arcs before it started to click. Now it's probably one of my 3 favorite currently running series.

Yeah, that's true. I concede. It actually took me two tries to get into OP, myself, but my first run in with OP was the 4kids abomination, so I had written it off.

 

[dimb]

Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Of The Dead 01
Projectile rainbow vomiting and crossdressing has never been so uninteresting. Only good thing was the post credits thing where Imaginary Eu was in front of Fantasy Eu while having a conversation with Original Eu.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Kids on the Slope 1:
That was incredible. Unlike other anime out there, and I felt the characters were set up very well. There are layers there already, and the show doesn't feel the need to go on and on about everyone. You can get to know the characters just as well through some well written dialogue, and there's some telling stuff in the way that the characters talk, as well as the way they move. It's directed expertly, and the music does a fantastic job of setting the scene.

Thanks for saving anime, Watanabe.

1. I don't know how being written as well as Nodame, Usagi Drop or Wandering Son can ever be a bad thing, but to each his own.

Seriously. I would consider that pretty high praise.

Star Driver opened pretty crappily, I thought. I hated Takuto and didn't feel any connection nor any desire to find out what happens to him.

I thought it was an enjoyable first episode, but then it turned out that each of the next 15 plus episodes (or more, I stopped watching at a certain point) was the exact same episode with almost nothing changing.

 

[Risette]

I'm sorry I'm not psychic and have superior internet powers so as to eavesdrop on your IRC conversations. I'm going by what he posted WHICH WAS NOTHING AT ALL.

I'm glad you're sorry, because if you don't have said powers you really should not be making statements like this:

If you're complaining for the sake of complaining then whats the point. Just because his side aligns with yours this particular argument doesn't automatically give his complaints merit.

Also, its not like this is the first time you come in troll something and then refuse to back it up so don't be offended when someone calls you out on it.

I'm not trolling. Christ. I'm getting really tired of being called a troll just because I have polarizing opinions that people have trouble accepting.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy most of what I want to see that aired recently, so I decided to check out the one thing whose quality I was actually curious about:

Sankarea 2

If you thought zombies were creepy, this episode goes into even more disturbing and unsettling territory. Shockingly, it's handled pretty well. The direction isn't as snappy as the first episode, and the animation is limited, but it actually works with the tone this is aiming for.

Spoiler

The tragedy of Rea's situation, caged by her exploitative father, is effectively portrayed. The way he is shot - and those gloves - makes him intensely menacing.

I'm not sure if it's as good as the first episode, but it's still a promising showing.

One minor detail I really liked: after the OP of the first episode, we cut to a shot of a zombie movie and then to Chihiro watching it; after the OP of this episode, we cut to a shot of a different zombie movie and then to Rea watching it. It's a nice parallelism that establishes the different perspectives the two episodes showcase.

It's interesting to see that, after storyboarding and directing the OP, ED, and first episode, the overall director is still hard at work storyboarding this episode. It's clear that he doesn't have many underlings he can trust, but he's determined to see his vision through anyway. I wish him well.

 

[Crash Station]

Hmm, OP does get better, but if you find it grating at the moment, I don't think you'll find it getting better to the point of enjoyment. The silliness you find grating atm only gets stronger with the rest. Unless you've made a pact you can't escape from, I'd bail, personally.

I'm kind of betting on him liking the drama. If you end up liking that, the gags are at least tolerable. I mean I thought it was all very childish until Sanji's flashback, at which point I was actually impressed with the series' ability to create effective scenarios the audience can empathize with.

If he doesn't like that, well the only things left are the fights and lore, the latter not really able to carry the series alone and the former not exactly being what Hosanna looks for, so...

 

[Lafiel]

Lafiel admittedly trolls the thread repeatedly and randomly so don't tell me what he does or doesn't do.

In this thread? nah, I generally express my honest opinions on subjects 100%.

Also, its not like this is the first time you come in troll something and then refuse to back it up so don't be offended when someone calls you out on it.

How is expressing our opinions trolling? and really my basic point is actually a sentiment I've been talking about since the day it was announced! and I thought it would be a interesting thing to discuss, I mean a good question is what really differentiates this show from the likes of nodame, wandering son, usagi drop, other then the fact it's directed by Watanabe, I mean I honestly feel it's better directed than all of those, but not really by that much y'know.

Going give the episode a re-watch and see if my opinion changes, I think my main qualm is that it's Watanabe first show since Samurai champloo in like 7 years, and it's somewhat disappointing how standard it feels in comparison to his previous work, it's like if Ikuhara first show since Utena was just a straight adaptation of a award-winning shoujo manga instead of a new original work like we got with MPD!