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[cajunator]

I see I imagined lots of the minor items on CR have no disc version. Though I guess I'm a bit surprised that with multiple seasons like this none tried at least the first season.

Then again...is Minami-ke on disc anywhere? I know Funimation had some of it sub only on their streaming service.

while thats true, like you said, Dog Days is at its third series and with its apparent popularity you would expect a disc release of some sort right?

Koufuku Graffiti's ED is 2good. :>

Watching this show makes me want Shokugeki even more now.

i love this ED and the laid back feel of this show.
literally comfort food. Based Shaft.

Trucking right along with exterminating my backlog of anime on my portable HDD's I've arrived at Robotics Notes 01-07 Finally!

Having a hell of a time figuring out where this show is going exactly, but the animation is nice and smooth, colorful, and the lack of explosions and what not is very refreshing. Plus I'm a huge fan of rural island settings so that just is even better. Not bad so far.

Though I did notice how high the budget was on the first episode, compared to the rest. Its still high quality (though maybe its the 1080p talking.) Just noticed how many non-important characters there were walking around the school and in general, then from episode 2 on, its like the cast is the only people in the world haha. Nothing other shows have not done, guess I'm just more aware of it these days.

The show is nothing special but I love genki characters and Akiho is one of the better ones. The mech robot building stuff was neat.
Frau is cute too.

 

[Ranger Taffles]

So far I think I'm going to only follow Death Parade. Such a great blend of psychological drama in the hilarious context.

 

[Theonik]

while thats true, like you said, Dog Days is at its third series and with its apparent popularity you would expect a disc release of some sort right?

First Japanese Season got English subs in Japan.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

BH6 wishes it was that good.

 

[Turin Turambar]

BH6 wishes it was that good.

Is an official poster or fanart?

 

[MikeHattsu]

Is an official poster or fanart?

Fanart by Jin Kim who was the character design supervisor for Big Hero 6 it seems:
http://cosmoanimato.tumblr.com/post/101774246277/this-is-my-tribute-to-great-hayao-miyazaki-and

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Is an official poster or fanart?

as a movie

 

[firehawk12]

I also like the use of the thematic material, symbolism, and the relationships between those two things over the use of character drama to convey the story. It's the integration of those elements that's the important thing. I think it's interesting that the characters are represented by their concepts in the hierarchy of the material, not necessarily by who they are in relation to one another. It's really unique to see the characters take a back seat to the material, and honestly it's an approach that I like.

I mean, it's very Greek Tragedy (or Tragicomedy) but there's a reason why that's not enough anymore.

 

[73V3N]

Wow Parasyte is really good, i'm at episode 5 and every episode has been great.

is there any other anime currently airing that's as good as parasyte?

(I already started Mushishi)

 

[Pooya]

yuri bears 2

 

[javac]

A new Anime Distributor in the UK named Animatsu have released their press release today detailing their plans. PR can be found Here

The future of anime lives at Animatsu Entertainment Ltd a new specialist UK distribution and production company primarily focusing on Japanese anime films and TV series. Spearheaded by Jerome Mazandarani as COO and Andrew Hewson as Marketing Manager, they both bring considerable experience with them as the two key players behind the last 10 years of success at Manga Entertainment’s UK operation.

Animatsu will release its new titles from March 2015 on Digital, DVD and Bluray with the first home video launch of the highly anticipated liveaction film Halo: Nightfall the sequel to last year’s smash hit Halo: Forward Unto Dawn.

Halo: Nightfall will be released through a joint partnership between Animatsu and Anchor Bay Entertainment on March 16.

Animatsu has recently closed a UK license deal with Sentai Filmworks for 8 brand new anime licenses including Blade And Soul, Comic Artist and His Assistants and Coffin Princess and is in advanced negotiations on a number of other high profile licenses. Two more key titles acquired will be announced in forthcoming issues of Neo and MyM magazines both out on store shelves 22nd Jan.

Animatsu has entered into an exclusive sales and marketing partnership with Manga Entertainment. Manga will provide Animatsu with key backend services including sales and distribution while Animatsu will handle all marketing and brand management for both companies.

• Halo: Nightfall - March 16th
• Blade And Soul
• Comic Artist and His Assistants
• Coffin Princess
• Two more Titles announced on 22nd Jan

 

[NaDannMaGoGo]

Wow Parasyte is really good, i'm at episode 5 and every episode has been great.

is there any other anime currently airing that's as good as parasyte?

(I already started Mushishi)

Shirobako is great (more consistently so than Parasyte too).

From the new shows this winter season Yuri Kuma Arashi, Rolling Girls and Death Parade are currently holding my interest.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Wow Parasyte is really good, i'm at episode 5 and every episode has been great.

is there any other anime currently airing that's as good as parasyte?

(I already started Mushishi)

Well Parasyte was on the same quality/level for me as Rage of Bahamut. Give that a watch if you like the former.

 

[73V3N]

Shirobako is great (more consistently so than Parasyte too).

From the new shows this winter season Yuri Kuma Arashi, Rolling Girls and Death Parade are currently holding my interest.

Well Parasyte was on the same quality/level for me as Rage of Bahamut. Give that a watch if you like the former.

I will try to catch up on parasyte and then start some of those, thanks!

 

[BluWacky]

I mean, it's very Greek Tragedy (or Tragicomedy) but there's a reason why that's not enough anymore.

Ikuni operates in a heightened theatrical register- his love both of Takarazukan tropes and Shuji Terayama are well recorded - but there's nothing tragic or indeed tragicomic about Yuri Kuma Arashi. Greek tragedy relies on foreknowledge of the plot, on choral commentary, on ennobled figures with fatal hubristic flaws and reinforcement of a status quo. While Utena features a chorus in the form of the Shadow Girls, Yuri Kuma Arashi has no such creation and relies heavily on obfuscation and confusion; nothing is as it seems. If anything, Ikuni is presumably critiquing the status quo in Japan rather than reinforcing its social norms; I'm definitely leaning to the side of the show being in part a commentary on homosexuality itself (why else the choice between invisibility or openly "eating people"? Why are the bears surprised to find there are others of their kind out there?).

The show obviously wallows in heightened, mannered emotional expression as befits the Dezakian melodrama that Ikuni so loves. But there is very little tragic about it outside of the ritualistic element of the stock footage sequences being more pronounced than in most other shows. It's not that I disagree with your overall point that perhaps simply having a particularly stylised production cannot cover over the flaws of the show, but it's unfair to call it tragedy or tragicomedy.

 

[javac]

More UK news, Anime Limited have put out some more updates via their weekly Newswire. Some quotes below (full updated can be found here)

First of all our new releases this week are Giovanni’s Island on DVD, Blu-ray and Ultimate Edition DVD+Blu-ray and the Standard Edition Blu-ray set of Space Dandy Season 1 (eps 1-13.)

The standard edition Blu-ray of Perfect Blue will be arriving on 2nd February. It will include the Blu-ray disc that was originally in the Collector’s Edition. It will be packaged in a standard sized Blu-ray amaray case. For those of you who like to get in early with pre-ordering, you can find it on Amazon UK HERE.

The standard edition of Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning will also be arriving on 16th February. Both will be single disc releases using those originally included in the combo pack version. So the DVD version containing the DVD disc, the Blu-ray version containing the Blu-ray disc. Both will be packed in regular sized amaray cases. Again, if you like to get in early on pre-ordering you can find this on Amazon UK HERE.

Speaking of Tiger & Bunny, in response to the Newswire last week we saw some of you hoping for news relating to Tiger & Bunny – The Rising. While we can’t share concrete details right now, I can say that all going well we’re aiming for it to be available in the UK during the second quarter of this year. Stay tuned for more details on this soon.

For those of you looking forward to the release of Kill La Kill Part 2, we’re yet still to confirm the release date but we’re aiming for March. We’ll hopefully have more details on this very soon for you, but if you want to get in early and pre-order it you can do so on Amazon UK HERE.

Other titles currently scheduled for a March release (but exact dates/contents are still to be confirmed at this time) are Wings Of Honneamise and the Makoto Shinkai Voices From A Distant Star/The Place Promised In Our Early Days Double Pack.

A quick reminder that you can sample a variety of our titles on Netflix UK. This includes our forthcoming title Blood Lad along with the likes of Kill La Kill, Space Dandy Season 1, Samurai Flamenco and more.

• OUT NOW: Giovanni’s Island (DVD, Blu-ray, Ultimate Edition DVD+Blu-ray)
• OUT NOW: Space Dandy Standard Edition (Blu-ray)
• 2nd February: Blood Lad (DVD, Collector’s Edition Blu-ray)
• 2nd February: Perfect Blue [Standard Edition] (Blu-ray)
• 16th February: Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning [Standard Edition] (DVD, Blu-ray)

Titles Tentatively Scheduled for March 2015 (Exact dates TBC)

• Kill La Kill Part 2 [Collector’s Edition] (DVD, Blu-ray)
• Wings Of Honneamise (DVD, Collector’s Edition DVD+Blu-ray)
• Makoto Shinkai Voices From A Distant Star/The Place Promised In Our Early Days Double Pack (DVD, Blu-ray)

 

[MikeHattsu]

More UK news, Anime Limited have put out some more updates via their weekly Newswire. Some quotes below (full updated can be found here)

• Makoto Shinkai Voices From A Distant Star/The Place Promised In Our Early Days Double Pack (DVD, Blu-ray)

This is a different thing from that Makoto Shinkai collection they were supposed to release soon, right?

 

[javac]

This is a different thing from that Makoto Shinkai collection they were supposed to release soon, right?

If I'm correct they've stated that they are planning to release something that has all of his works in one set but this is the only collection they've has anything concrete for thus far. In an update a month ago they stated:

Mai Mai Miracle is planned for Q2, along with a Blu-ray and DVD of Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (pictured right); a Blu-ray and DVD of Samurai Flamenco; A Letter to Momo; the Blu-ray edition of Baccano!; and a "Shinkai Collection," which Neo describes as 'the combined works of director Makoto Shinkai in one set.'

No idea besides that, I'll have a look into it.

 

[SDBurton]

Your thoughts basically reflect mine.

Same. I can't talk at the moment since I'm at work but while my post was spent entirely on trying to do an analysis, I had quite a few gripes about the episode itself, most things everyone else already touched on.

 

[firehawk12]

Ikuni operates in a heightened theatrical register- his love both of Takarazukan tropes and Shuji Terayama are well recorded - but there's nothing tragic or indeed tragicomic about Yuri Kuma Arashi. Greek tragedy relies on foreknowledge of the plot, on choral commentary, on ennobled figures with fatal hubristic flaws and reinforcement of a status quo. While Utena features a chorus in the form of the Shadow Girls, Yuri Kuma Arashi has no such creation and relies heavily on obfuscation and confusion; nothing is as it seems. If anything, Ikuni is presumably critiquing the status quo in Japan rather than reinforcing its social norms; I'm definitely leaning to the side of the show being in part a commentary on homosexuality itself (why else the choice between invisibility or openly "eating people"? Why are the bears surprised to find there are others of their kind out there?).

The show obviously wallows in heightened, mannered emotional expression as befits the Dezakian melodrama that Ikuni so loves. But there is very little tragic about it outside of the ritualistic element of the stock footage sequences being more pronounced than in most other shows. It's not that I disagree with your overall point that perhaps simply having a particularly stylised production cannot cover over the flaws of the show, but it's unfair to call it tragedy or tragicomedy.

I assume that's what the purpose of the trials (which I assume will happen every week) serve, in terms of being a chorus. Although my point is that it doesn't really express anything deeper than what it's presenting on screen. At least, I don't see it, especially with regards to queer politics in Japan. The choice of otaku-bait lipstick lesbians, for one, doesn't help... but even then, the show feels as apolitical as the similarly lesbian-themed Sakura Trick.

 

[Ayumi]

Since JapanGAF doesn't have many anime fans, I'll just post here.
If any of you happen to be in Tokyo, let me know if you wanna come to this Satoshi Kon exhibition.

http://sam.or.jp/kikaku （´・ω・｀）

 

[Lain]

Tokyo Ghoul square A 1

This continues to be like the first season i.e. bad, especially pacing wise. After the way the first season ended, I expected at least a first episode with a bang, instead this episode ended up feeling sorta boring.

 

[amishpriest99]

The show is nothing special but I love genki characters and Akiho is one of the better ones. The mech robot building stuff was neat.
Frau is cute too.

She made the show for me...might not have stuck with it otherwise.

 

[FeenieVonKarma]

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders 25

Wow all that hate for the new OP. This is exactly what people said about Stand Proud and then after like two weeks they all went "Oh actually it's really awesome". Just give it a chance. It's pretty cool that they used all three of the artists that did the previous three OPs at least.

 

[MikeHattsu]

If I'm correct they've stated that they are planning to release something that has all of his works in one set but this is the only collection they've has anything concrete for thus far. In an update a month ago they stated:

No idea besides that, I'll have a look into it.

Hm... Not sure if I should get that double pack or wait... Already got 5cm (on DVD) and Garden of Words...

 

[Beefeater]

I think you're ascribing a convenient meaning to that word, beyond what it means in the original language (虚無 is not a Buddhist term), in order to contrive a way in which the game's outcome is fair. What if it isn't fair? Maybe the game's rules are that the winner (the one who inflicts more suffering on their partner) is sent to oblivion while the loser's soul is reincarnated. Machiko attempts to throw her final dart away, but her husband almost literally drags her into hell. Is this interpretation unreasonable?

Yes. You're sooo wrong. The games are a test of character, nothing more. Decim decides their souls' fate.

Now, the way the dart game played out was definitely strange. I think there's some symbolic meaning there. But that's all.

If the Noh masks are meaningless, then why flip their positions between when the players enter and when they leave? Surely they have some sort of significance. I took the time to look up the "demonic" Noh mask, and found this result. It's the Hannya mask.

The expression of this mask is a fusion of jealousy, grudge, sorrow, and grief of women.

While it's hard to tell exactly what this signifies here (there's certainly more than enough resentment to go around between the two characters), at the very least it contradicts any association with the placid departure from all worldly attachments associated with enlightenment and nirvana.

I never said the masks are meaningless, just that they don't judge who's good/evil, or who goes to heaven/hell. Judging by DP ep1 and DB, I think they have something to do with the strength of character of those who enter. The ones who went to the Deigan mask were more regretful, less responsible and less accepting of their fate.

It's safe to say the masks have multiple meanings in DP, though, which is why I bolded the part that fits with Machiko. Her villainous speech was an act, in order to ease Takashi's guilt. Clearly she felt more pity for him at that point than any bit of resentment. As well as previously harbored guilt for having cheated on him.

For what it's worth, here's the white Deigan mask. It belongs to the vengeful spirit masks.

The Deigan mask is used for a woman who has submerged her jealousy, but who is beginning to change into an evil creature

It hardly matters, considering next episode should (hopefully) make our speculation irrelevant as to what these outcomes actually are.

Fair point. I like the speculation though.

 

[cajunator]

First Japanese Season got English subs in Japan.

yeah I know. Ive discussed before why I havent bought that.

BH6 wishes it was that good.

It is.

 

[Saiyar]

More UK news, Anime Limited have put out some more updates via their weekly Newswire. Some quotes below (full updated can be found here)

• OUT NOW: Giovanni’s Island (DVD, Blu-ray, Ultimate Edition DVD+Blu-ray)
• OUT NOW: Space Dandy Standard Edition (Blu-ray)
• 2nd February: Blood Lad (DVD, Collector’s Edition Blu-ray)
• 2nd February: Perfect Blue [Standard Edition] (Blu-ray)
• 16th February: Tiger & Bunny – The Beginning [Standard Edition] (DVD, Blu-ray)

Titles Tentatively Scheduled for March 2015 (Exact dates TBC)

• Kill La Kill Part 2 [Collector’s Edition] (DVD, Blu-ray)
• Wings Of Honneamise (DVD, Collector’s Edition DVD+Blu-ray)
• Makoto Shinkai Voices From A Distant Star/The Place Promised In Our Early Days Double Pack (DVD, Blu-ray)

No standard release of Kill la Kill part 1? Is going to be over £120 for the full series?

 

[striferser]

Yurikuma Arashi 2
Hmm....
Wakarimasen, Lol. I have no idea why the trial need to be done, and the fact that everyone is

Spoiler

bear

 

[DiGiKerot]

No standard release of Kill la Kill part 1? Is going to be over £120 for the full series?

This is most likely the result of Aniplex increasingly taking an interest in the pricing of their foreign distributors - my understand is that it was quite an effort just it get the release into three sets, rather than the four, as they increasing expect UK releases to mirror the release, and to a certain degree pricing, patterns of the US release. Blame cross-importation, I guess - not so much folks from Japan picking up cheap UK releases, more folks from the US grabbing them instead of the local AoA release.

 

[BGBW]

Well they had collector editions of Cowbot Bebop and then a standard complete edition later for the same price as just one of the parts, so maybe one can hold out for Kill la Kill without the extra titbits.

 

[Joe Molotov]

Barakobama 01 - 08

I only stopped watching this because I had to go to work. Dis is gud.

 

[javac]

No standard release of Kill la Kill part 1? Is going to be over £120 for the full series?

They've discussed releasing normal editions.

The committee are against them releasing a cheaper set consisting of 12-13 episodes in a set this year but they are considering this:

• 3 sets, BD & DVD separate
• £24.99 SRP for BD, £19.99 SRP for DVD
• Likely Amazon price for all 3 sets would be £49.99 - £54.99 for BD, £39.99 - £49.99 for DVD.
• Released over: June, August, October
• Doing a rigid box with Part 3 to store Parts 1, 2 & 3 or...
• Doing a bigger Amaray box with part 3 for people to put Parts 1 & 2 in (Amaray being like your regular DVD or BD box for a show.

They pitched a December 2015 release for Eps 1-12 but they weren't allowed.

 

[AquaWateria]

Tokyo Ghoul square A 1

This continues to be like the first season i.e. bad, especially pacing wise. After the way the first season ended, I expected at least a first episode with a bang, instead this episode ended up feeling sorta boring.

I guess they wanted to get the Aogiri arc done quickly and get on with their new content. I mean they only have 12 episodes to begin with.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Animegaf, does Crunchyroll suck? It seems completely random whether an episode is going to stream right or not. I've had streaming problems with them in the past, and haven't used them in about a year. I just renewed my account yesterday and my weekend starts tonight, I'm trying to watch Parasyte and it seems completely random whether and episode is going to stream smoothly or not. Sometimes changing the resolution helps, sometimes changing the browser helps, sometimes refreshing a bunch helps, but a lot of the time it will seem to be streaming smoothly for a couple minutes and then just suddenly stop for minutes to buffer, or it will buffer at a slower speed than the video plays (lots of starts and stops).

Is there any secret to using Crunchyroll I don't know about? I've got 20mbps down and can stream Netflix HD and Hulu fine, but I'd like to use Crunchyroll because I want to watch anime without commercials.

Also, how is Funimation's streaming? I tried to use it once, but I couldn't even get the video player to load after trying chrome/firefox/IE and refreshing a bunch of times. I know that they did a huge site revamp that they worked on for like 3 years though, so is their streaming any better? Is it worth a subscription if I have Hulu Plus and Crunchyroll?

CR seemed to have problems for the start of this year, but otherwise I dont have issues using it playing on PS4 app at least. Though there is always the issue of new episodes coming delayed by 20+ minutes to the app which is weird.

Its alright player.

Funimation is great for me. I never have buffering issues, the hd and sd work great, and since theres no other video ads when it plays it goes along swimmingly. It also loads up so much of the video as Im watching. Their site is great for video watching, I wouldnt use it for nothing else.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Need this art as a file. Australian fashion is so interesting for them on this travel trip. Nagisa as usual is best dressed (though dont like those shoes :/), sometimes Rin is...but those pants...

 

[AquaWateria]

Barakobama 01 - 08



I only stopped watching this because I had to go to work. Dis is gud.

Pretty much my AOTY for 2014, it's just that good. All of the characters are just so enjoyable and likeable.

 

[Valkerionseven]

BH6 wishes it was that good.

Japan certainly fell in love with Baymax, sick of seeing it all over TV.

 

[Dedication Through Light]

Majinbone Episode 41

Glorified recap.

New ED song is alright, visuals, GIilbert dressed up looks nice.

 

[fertygo]

Yurikuma - 02

Finally can watch it in peace. Eh, didn't understand the pacing complaint. I thought that's the very thing to can be said its good, felt very brisk, some development, and manage to put twist in the end. The narrative still nonsense, but the packaging still helping a lot to made it easy watch.

 

[BGBW]

Who is this committee and who do we have who has the balls to stand up to them?

 

[ThreePiMatt]

Funimation gives me way more problems than Crunchyroll. Some times the stream straight up freezes. I don't think its buffering because it never starts up again, so I force close the app and restart it. Plus CR handles queues and marking things as "watched" a lot better.

 

[Puruzi]

Barakobama 01 - 08



I only stopped watching this because I had to go to work. Dis is gud.

Mandom

 

[Joe Molotov]

Who is this committee and who do we have who has the balls to stand up to them?

The Itty Bitty Titty Committee? They're too strong, man.

 

[ThreePiMatt]

I didn't find Barakamon all that good. It seemed like there were directions they could have gone that would have made it so much better, but the last couple of episodes were kind of lame.

 

[Blusby]

Wow Parasyte is really good, i'm at episode 5 and every episode has been great.

is there any other anime currently airing that's as good as parasyte?

(I already started Mushishi)

Yoru no Yatterman, Junketsu no Maria, Yuri Kuma Arashi, Death Parade, Rolling Girls, Shirobako, and Garo the animation. All of which are even better than Parasyte!

 

[striferser]

Yoru no Yatterman 1
Yo, this show hit hard right in the kokoro T_T
Lot of potential with this one. I never watch the original Yatterman, so i have no idea what the show going to be, but this show deliver as far as pacing and direction goes. Cool OP animation too!

Junketsu no Maria 1
So far so good. I like the adaptation, and seeing completed manga get adaptation always fill me with hope that someday. SOMEDAY, Lucifer and the biscuit hammer get the anime adaptation it desever with soundtrack by the pillow.

 

[javac]

Who is this committee and who do we have who has the balls to stand up to them?

In this scenario, that would be Aniplex.

 

[Theonik]

The Itty Bitty Titty Committee? They're too strong, man.

Not to mention anything to do with balls and standing up is a potential jail sentence.
NOT EVEN ONCE.

 

[Tenumi]

Lily Bear Storm: 02

Lesbians. Bears. Lesbian Bears. Lesbian bears eating lesbians.

This is so weird, and yet, I can't wait to see the next episode.