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[Firemind]

Are we talking post-Meiji Restoration here? Kenshin and Peacemaker Kurogane both take place around the restoration itself IIRC. Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto (I think it's called Intrigue in the Bakumatsu in English?) took place right at the end of the Bakumatsu era as well.

If we're going a bit later, as in pre world war II, there's things like Senkou no Night Raid or Taisho Baseball Girls, but we're probably getting a bit close to WWII for that.

You're right that the Meiji era doesn't seem to hold much attraction for anime - or manga, even. I wonder why? It's not like it was an insignificant period in history or anything. I guess it's not as "cool".

Yeah, exactly; the Meiji era and post-Meiji. Specifically the regional disputes of Manchuria and parts of Korea and the changes of Japanese society from feudal to modern Japan. Major historical events like the French and Russian revolution intrigue me to no end. It'd be interested to see a Japanese Les Misérables.

I remember there's an anime (film) called Showa Monogatari, but that's I think in post-WWII Japan, and has nothing to do with politics.

 

[Jex]

Black Jack 1

About halfway through the second part of this double-length episode I remembered that Osamu Tezuka actually got a medical degree before deciding to devote his career to manga. This series is evidently his outlet for a practice he never actually took up, but could live out in story form. So far so good in that respect. He's not exactly an anime House MD here, but being voiced by Batou's VA (Akio Ohtsuka) helps a lot.

[Story Details]

Holy shit is that metal.

There's a really hilarious contrast between the fact that the creator of Black Jack clearly has intimate knowledge of medicine and the complete insanity of some of the 'illnesses' Black Jack finds himself up against. It's really quite a lot of fun.

 

[R_thanatos]

You know, Ken Akamatsu found my unconditional respect after impulsing along his company J-Comi inc., a website for reading out-of-print graphical novels on DRM-free formats (http://www.zeppan.com/), while also harbouring the sentiment of many Japanese authors against censor laws proclaimed by their government.

On the recent topic of content availability on-line that is in vogue right now, and among all the initial stagnation of Japanese publishers & production companies, compared to all that Mr. Akamatsu was like a visionary... but not just in it to push a business market forward fighting against a profit harming movement, instead as a man with respect for the long-lost and forgotten creative work of many pals inside the industry he belongs to.

I won't even dare to criticise his works after doing so much for a good cause! :-D

I'm a ken akamatsu supporter , despite the misteps he did.

Spoiler

Tsundere mode on

It's not like i enjoyed "Itsudatte My Santa!" or the stuff he did before love hina or anything of the sort , don't get me wrong , ok ? b-b bbaka

Spoiler

Tsundere mode off

If it was just negima, where it's known he had massive interference from editors, I wouldn't be so quick to call him out... but Love Hina is still unforgivable!

I think that for Love hina he just didn't know where to stop( because of the sucess ) .love hina didn't end well because it didn't end when it should have ended !

 

[mankoto]

Nah, he doesn't do manga, only anime

I thought so. I remember coming across some forum a long time ago and I guess it turned into that site. I guess for manga one would have to track it themselves, and the source they'd have to go off of would be whenever MAL started making threads for them.

 

[Jex]

Can't wait to flood the thread with my essay posts on the Black Rose Arc of Utena.

Only reason for the delay is because I'm still not entirely sure what the fuck just happened.

Well now I've got something else to look forward to. Reading people experience the Black Rose Arc is always fun.

Which reminds me. firehawk12, where art thou and your Utena impressions? It would seem you've put far more effort into mocking SAO II as of late. Which, admittedly, is a worthy cause but not really as important.

 

[mankoto]

Kingdom 35
I figured Liao

Spoiler

was a woman. But his soon-to-be wife... I didn't think that far ahead.

 

[Jex]

The Big O, Episode 26

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POST CONTAINS OPEN SPOILERS FOR THE BIG O.

Now this is a really superb post about one of the more challenging anime titles around. I don't really have a whole lot to add to your theories regarding The Big O because I really haven't seen the show recently enough to offer any insight onto the title. All I will say about some of the dangling questions the show leaves open is to remember that Chiaki J. Konaka is, among other things, a writer of the Cthulhu Mythos. Those works feature a lot of unanswered questions and tend to feature "knowledge which man was not meant to know for it would drive him INSANE! ". This aspect of Konaka's works make me question whether or not some of the questions that are raised in The Big O actually have answers or not. This isn't to say I disagree with your interpretation because it seems to be very well reasoned, I just don't know how much I trust the writer!

 

[mankoto]

In short, the business is incredibly complicated and just looking at one piece of revenue to compare to imaginary number lines (like the Manabi line that often gets quoted) is a bit ridiculous. Keep a healthy dose of "this isn't the end-all-be-all" for those numbers.

Of course. But it's always nice to have one piece of the puzzle. Especially for older titles that have not been licensed (albeit weekly pre 2009 seems to be a difficult task)

 

[Principate]

Naw dude the best news is that Heavens Feel gets a movie adaption.

Heaven's is great and it's good it's getting hopefully multiple movies (One movie is a terrible idea as UBW shows).

But yes Shirou vs Gilgamesh proper adaptation. Archer at his best. Made my day.

 

[Vylash]

Sabagebu 04

This fucking show, Momoka is such an entertaining dirtbag, been wanting a character like her since Binbougami Ga, amazing episode and I haven't laughed that hard in a while

 

[mankoto]

Kingdom 36
This episode put quite a focus on Liao. Although it makes sense considering we know who Liao was. The battle between Wang Qi and Pang rages on. Although it looks like a new faction has shown up to ruin the Qin army's already bad day

 

[NaDannMaGoGo]

Kokoro Connect 11-13

And the regular season is finished. I wasn't the biggest fan of episode 12 because some stuff felt a bit too forced (

Spoiler

old karate friend showing up so aggressively, meh

) but again rather a minor complaint.

Spoiler

This third paranormal phenomena, temporarily reverting to a younger age, was put to good use. Liked how it messed up their feelings and thoughts a bit because they remembered things more vividly from that age even after turning to their normal age again.

It's not quite as interesting as the 'soul swapping' and 'forced desire', though. Because this simply wasn't something that could happen when surrounded by other people. After all, witnessing something that clearly paranormal would make things obvious to others, while it seemed fairly obvious that those 'spectator' characters didn't want that. The dilemma with the first two phenomenas is that nothing obviously paranormal occurs to outsiders. So it can occur while being in a crowded area and then our protagonists gotta figure out to avoid embarrassing situations, which can lead to a bit more interesting situations.

So overall I thought the last 3 episodes were perhaps a tad weaker. The epilogue with Iori wondering if she really actually loves Taichi seems a bit random though to be frank. Now I knew beforehand that Inabe would get together with Taichi in the end because no one can shut their effing mouth about that, so I was wondering when some indicator for that would appear. And apparently there it is... Seems just a bit weak. Well, there's still plenty time to explore that a bit more in depths in the OVAs.

I'm really fond of how this show dealt with the mystery aspects. I really wouldn't have wanted some bullshit explanation in the end. That spectator being and the paranormal phenomenas he causes were executed wonderfully,

Overall I had a wonderful viewing experience. It's a show I'd recommend to pretty much anyone.

Also I'm happy to dive into the OVAs \o/

 

[Jex]

Space bros is a real slow burn. Like I'm in the 40s and I have yet to go back. I will eventually I just have so much other shit to do.

The Chimera Ant Arc of Space Training Arcs.

 

[Vylash]

Kokoro Connect 11-13

And the regular season is finished. I wasn't the biggest fan of episode 12 because some stuff felt a bit too forced (

Spoiler

old karate friend showing up so aggressively, meh

) but again rather a minor complaint.

Spoiler

This third paranormal phenomena, temporarily reverting to a younger age, was put to good use. Liked how it messed up their feelings and thoughts a bit because they remembered things more vividly from that age even after turning to their normal age again.

It's not quite as interesting as the 'soul swapping' and 'forced desire', though. Because this simply wasn't something that could happen when surrounded by other people. After all, witnessing something that clearly paranormal would make things obvious to others, while it seemed fairly obvious that those 'spectator' characters didn't want that. The dilemma with the first two phenomenas is that nothing obviously paranormal occurs to outsiders. So it can occur while being in a crowded area and then our protagonists gotta figure out to avoid embarrassing situations, which can lead to a bit more interesting situations.

So overall I thought the last 3 episodes were perhaps a tad weaker. The epilogue with Iori wondering if she really actually loves Taichi seems a bit random though to be frank. Now I knew beforehand that Inabe would get together with Taichi in the end because no one can shut their effing mouth about that, so I was wondering when some indicator for that would appear. And apparently there it is... Seems just a bit weak. Well, there's still plenty time to explore that a bit more in depths in the OVAs.

I'm really fond of how this show dealt with the mystery aspects. I really wouldn't have wanted some bullshit explanation in the end. That spectator being and the paranormal phenomenas he causes were executed wonderfully,

Overall I had a wonderful viewing experience. It's a show I'd recommend to pretty much anyone.

Also I'm happy to dive into the OVAs \o/

So glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Admiral Woofington]

The Chimera Ant Arc of Space Training Arcs.

Not far off lol.

 

[Terareflection]

Princess Jellyfish 1

Cool, female shaggy. This is the female version of Welcome to the NHK but with legit friends rather than a talking fridge. The opening song was fantastic, all of those references touched my nerdy heart. Hell I got super excited to see someone other than KOEI recognize The Romance of the Three Kingdom.

I was also reminded last night that I need to continue Space Bros. I randomly stopped post-exam (mid 30s).

This needs a second season, why won't this get a second season?

 

[AquaWateria]

Kokoro Connect Episode 4

It was a good epsiode that gave us a few key information about Nagase and Inaban. With Nagase

Spoiler

we find out she has had about five dads. In which one of her dad was manipulative and wanted to control her life. And due to that trauma she couldn't understand who she truly is. Until Taichi came in to give her a reason.

Now onto Inaban

Spoiler

who has trusting problems which is even heightened through this body switching phenomenon. Which I can definitely relate to with having trusting problems. In the end though it was solved through a confession of masturbating to a picture. Such a nice solution.

The drama in this anime so far is not bad it's actually good. It's not forced down on the viewer like some other anime and hopefully it doesn't go haywire. And yeah it's confirmed Inaban is the best, especially how straightforward she was at the end.

 

[Jex]

Really? While the cod-classical song is perhaps an acquired taste (and a little pretentious, perhaps, given the content of the show itself), I've always admired the OP's visuals for the re-appropriation of Gustav Klimt artwork. That's my kind of reference porn

Elfin Lied really does have a superb OP. That's the only credit I'll give it.

 

[AquaWateria]

So glad you enjoyed it!

You better get on that watchbet. I really want to see your impressions.

 

[survivor]

This needs a second season, why won't this get a second season?

Well we are getting a live action film so that's something I guess. Will probably suck cause it won't look half as good as the anime.

 

[Crash Station]

If it was just negima, where it's known he had massive interference from editors, I wouldn't be so quick to call him out... but Love Hina is still unforgivable!

I feel like the very existence of Negima goes against the standard definition of "hack". You can still call him a bad writer/artist, but he fooled his editors and the publisher into doing a work he wanted to do rather than another Love Hina like they wanted.

Where UQ Holder comes into this might be a bit more murky.

 

[Vylash]

You better get on that watchbet. I really want to see your impressions.

Today for sure, in fact within a few hours

 

[Link Man]

Wow, played Antichamber for 6 hours straight last night. Not even gonna attempt to catch up on the thread now.

Clannad After Story 3

Even Mei has troubling believing that Sunohara could land a cutie. lol

Guitar hero...with a marlin?

They sure are trying their best to make Sunohara look like a jerk.

Okazaki's pranks are lasting through multiple episodes now. Awesome.

Well, if Okazaki marries Nagisa and Sunohara marries Sanae, at least Okazaki would talk to his father.

Damn. I'm really starting to despise Sunohara. Brushing aside his sister, who's crying for his attention, just for a false love?

Okazaki trying to steal the title of onii-chan. Best scene.

$20 parfait? Holy crap.

Fuck, that's not a happy face.

Wow, this is getting really serious all of a sudden. I must say, the drama is getting stronger this season compared to last.

 

[Snkfanatic]

Sword Art Online 2 1-2

Attempting to watch this again, I tried to watch the first season and couldn't do it. Something about the new season interests me very much (Sinon). So far I like it a lot more, I feel lost a bit when characters from the first season come back but nothing major. Very nice art though and the fight in episode 2 was pretty awesome. I keep going, gotta justify that Sinon figure preorder somehow.

 

[PshycoNinja]

Wow, played Antichamber for 6 hours straight last night. Not even gonna attempt to catch up on the thread now.

Clannad After Story 3

Even Mei has troubling believing that Sunohara could land a cutie. lol

Guitar hero...with a marlin?

They sure are trying their best to make Sunohara look like a jerk.

Okazaki's pranks are lasting through multiple episodes now. Awesome.

Well, if Okazaki marries Nagisa and Sunohara marries Sanae, at least Okazaki would talk to his father.

Damn. I'm really starting to despise Sunohara. Brushing aside his sister, who's crying for his attention, just for a false love?

Okazaki trying to steal the title of onii-chan. Best scene.

$20 parfait? Holy crap.

Fuck, that's not a happy face.

Wow, this is getting really serious all of a sudden. I must say, the drama is getting stronger this season compared to last.

That's totally After Story's and even S1's pacing is all about in each arc. Lightheartedness/comedy -> serious issue -> drama -> melancholy

Of course when you enter the second half of After Story that all changes. :3

 

[amishpriest99]

Wow, this is getting really serious all of a sudden. I must say, the drama is getting stronger this season compared to last.

Yep. That's part of why I actually liked it better than the 1st season. Could stand to rewatch the whole thing sometime, especially after having seen Kanon recently.

 

[PshycoNinja]

Yep. That's part of why I actually liked it better than the 1st season. Could stand to rewatch the whole thing sometime, especially after having seen Kanon recently.

I am actually planning to do a whole Key Rewatch marathon soonish. It'll be something like...

Monday: Air
Tuesday: Kanon (2006)
Wednesday: Clannad/After Story
Thursday: Angel Beats!
Friday: Little Busters/Refrain
Saturday: Clannad/After Story
Sunday: Little Busters/Refrain

(Little Busters and Clannad naturally get two days because they're both longer than the other three shows)

 

[Midonin]

Prisma Illya 2wei 04

Dodgeball! That was an exciting little match, with the only magical girl antics being similar to the school festival OVA - ie. Illya using Ruby's power for a bit of extra throwing power. That ending, though, hints at much bigger things to come. And Koshimizu's voice is so quiet that even with CR at full volume, she can still barely be made out. Tatsuko remains my favorite of Illya's friends, and I'm enjoying the somewhat more relaxed tone of this season. Still wanting a little bit more magical girl action, but with all the Class Cards gathered, what is there to fight?

 

[Tenumi]

Senki Zesshou Symphogear: 03

So much for the cliffhanger :\

Anyway, our duo still has problems working together. They better learn soon because it looks like we've potentially got a villain now.

 

[Narag]

Senki Zesshou Symphogear: 03

So much for the cliffhanger :\

Anyway, our duo still has problems working together. They better learn soon because it looks like we've potentially got a villain now.

Yeah, that was the encounter I remembered them not bothering with. It gets worse for a few episodes but ends surprisingly strong for what it is.

 

[Link Man]

That's totally After Story's and even S1's pacing is all about in each arc. Lightheartedness/comedy -> serious issue -> drama -> melancholy

Of course when you enter the second half of After Story that all changes. :3

The thing is, in the first season, a lot of the drama felt forced and over-dramatic. Here, at least with this arc, the drama feels a lot more natural.

 

[TUSR]

Sword Art Online 2 1-2

Attempting to watch this again, I tried to watch the first season and couldn't do it. Something about the new season interests me very much (Sinon). So far I like it a lot more, I feel lost a bit when characters from the first season come back but nothing major. Very nice art though and the fight in episode 2 was pretty awesome. I keep going, gotta justify that Sinon figure preorder somehow.

There are a few of us here that are watching it specifically for Sinon. Can you link me the figure or point me in the direction of it?

 

[AquaWateria]

kokoro Connect Episode 5

What a

Spoiler

straight up troll Ballon Vine is. I seriously thought Nagase was gonna die, but it was all a joke being played out. Still though it's nice knowing he doesn't harm humans. And that this situation was a good experience for them even if it did cross the line. We also get to see Inaban get her first kiss even if wasn't actually her.

That bit of dire drama that was in this episode was nice. It was played out well and wasn't forced.

 

[Tenumi]

Yeah, that was the encounter I remembered them not bothering with. It gets worse for a few episodes but ends surprisingly strong for what it is.

I hear the second season is better, but with some of the things the first season has done, I'm finding it hard to think about watching that. Kinda annoying to see a plotline dropped so casually like that.

 

[AquaWateria]

Could you guys name me some series where the best girl actually wins. I'd appreciate it because I've been burnt on by some shows.

 

[astrogamer]

Love Lab 6
That guy showed up really conveniently and a fun little story. Maki getting confused by Jan was adorable. Looks like the newspaper club in now getting involved despite their earlier tease.

 

[PshycoNinja]

The thing is, in the first season, a lot of the drama felt forced and over-dramatic. Here, at least with this arc, the drama feels a lot more natural.

I agree. Fuko and Kotomi arcs were a bit over dramatic and slightly forced. The Furukawa arc in S1 I thought felt pretty natural and was were you started to see the show pace itself better and not feel too over-dramatic. (I thank Akio mostly for that one though)

 

[Snkfanatic]

There are a few of us here that are watching it specifically for Sinon. Can you link me the figure or point me in the direction of it?

I sure can...heheh /enable

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=FIGURE-006936&page=top%2Fsearch%2Flist%3Fs_keywords%3Dsinon+figure%24pagemax%3D20%24getcnt%3D0%24pagecnt%3D1

 

[PshycoNinja]

Could you guys name me some series where the best girl actually wins. I'd appreciate it because I've been burnt on by some shows.

I actually hesitate to say this but Shuffle actually has the best girl win out.

And although most disagree with me, I really felt Clannad's best girl won out. Had anyone else won out, After Story wouldn't have turned out as great as it did.

 

[Basileus777]

Could you guys name me some series where the best girl actually wins. I'd appreciate it because I've been burnt on by some shows.

True Tears

 

[Firemind]

True Tears

Nope.

 

[SliceSabre]

Could you guys name me some series where the best girl actually wins. I'd appreciate it because I've been burnt on by some shows.

Gundam AGE

 

[PshycoNinja]

Blue Spring Ride 4

I remember a few days ago people saying nothing happened this episode but quite a few things did. We now understand this love triangle thing a little better now. Relationships are developing now. People are getting closer and further apart. Everything in this show is meant to serve as a spring board to what the two main MC's need to do to become closer. Everything else is side plot.

Anyways I really enjoyed this episode. The scene shown above was especially good. Like I said, I think this is my guilty pleasure of the season.

 

[Dynedom]

Well now I've got something else to look forward to. Reading people experience the Black Rose Arc is always fun.

I feel like I should actually do an initial impression and then a re-watch impression.

 

[PshycoNinja]

And if Nisekoi ever ends and Onodera wins out then that series will have the best girl win out.

 

[BGBW]

I sure can...heheh /enable

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/det...%24pagecnt%3D1

Uuuuuurgh.... already...? And I have to wait ages for a fig for the shows I like (if it's lucky enough to even get one...)

Still waiting for my KMB fig... wait it's up for preorder! BUY BUY BUY! Wait... January 2015! That's ages away! Boo hoo hoo.

 

[AquaWateria]

And if Nisekoi ever ends and Onodera wins out then that series will have the best girl win out.

She ain't even the best and a lot of people don't like her. Now I want Marika to win cause she's the best. But I know from the back of my head that Shitoge is gonna win, it's inevitable and I hate it.

 

[SliceSabre]

She ain't even the best and a lot of people don't like her. Now I want Marika to win cause she's the best. But I know from the back of my head that Shitoge is gonna win, it's inevitable and I hate it.

The Rules book for harems:
-Is the first girl a tsundere?
-If yes she will win.

 

[Firemind]

The Rules book for harems:
-Is the first girl?
-If yes she will win.

ftfy

 

[AquaWateria]

The Rules book for harems:
-Is the first girl a tsundere?
-If yes she will win.

Pretty much but then again that didn't happen in The World God Only Knows, it was a bit of a suprise. Though Nisekoi is a different beast altogether and it probably won't be a suprise.