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Winter of Anime 2013 |OT -4| It's not my fault!
- Thread starter Dresden
- Start date
- Status
The OVA's after the TV series proves this.
darkside31337
Tomodachi wa Mahou
I agree with this.
Kirino is so fucking awful. The show would be so much more enjoyable if she didn't exist.
PorcellainThrill
Member
Kirino gifted us with delicious.gif and even more importantly nitpicking.jpg.
I see no such accomplishments from any of the other cast members.
Which is kind of a big problem.
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
Not the heroine we need, but the one we deserve?
If she was the heroine we deserved, she'd be a moeblob with high levels of genki.
That's heroin.
Theonik
Member
Kuroneko > Kirino etc
Dedication Through Light
Member
Cardfight!! Vanguard 17 (engDub)
Conclusion was so good great moments and strategies all around for Aichi and even for Kai. Kai has the best personality when in a cardfight as he gets so into it and is so forceful, his powerful dragon is just the best in its abilities too.
Conclusion was so good great moments and strategies all around for Aichi and even for Kai. Kai has the best personality when in a cardfight as he gets so into it and is so forceful, his powerful dragon is just the best in its abilities too.
that reveal when the black magicians were revealed to be sparkly bishies (litrally), wow
yn-neko hates a cat
Banned
Love is blind :|
yn-neko hates a cat
Banned
That's just a low blow ;_;
Joe Molotov
Member
Camoe. ^_^
Such is life! Think you are starting to know someone and... poof... changes of name overnight leaving you confused (although in the case of Haly its seems to be the same reference all along). Don't do this to me you too, Nafe! Please...
However, now that you mention it... maybe it is a good idea to make some kind of list of those who changed of username, right? So everyone here (including newcomers) could keep track and understand callbacks or similar. These are some whom I remember now of those posters that are, and were, habitual people here:
- Halycon -> Haly
- Aigis -> pizzaroll
- Miri -> Miizy F Baby
- Ulysses -> Mad Pierrot
- Dance In My Blood -> dimb
- slopeslider -> Jim E. Rossler
- ninj4junpei -> Femmeworth
- Billychu -> Billiechu -> Emitan
- Legendary Warrior -> tiff
- Mr. Hankey -> Lurky
- Azure Jericho -> Azure J
Is there anyone else I'm missing (sorry if I do)?
That illustration was made by onineko (おにねこ), and samples of a batch of drawings he did with a similar theme were once featured on a dedicated pixiv account (http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=3952), not anymore though.
Anyway, Hatsune Miku's popularity and attraction makes it the focus of many artists, and therefore the quantity of quality works (or what I think are quality works) is very, very big. Precisely, onineko was (and is still) one of the collaborators from a special event I liked that reunited a good amount of recognized illustrators; the SNOW MIKU for SAPPORO 2011 event, for the 62th Sapporo Snow Festival, and the Hatsune Miku pixiv×Kaikai Kiki Gallery (http://dev.pixiv.net/archives/1367357.html and http://weekly.ascii.jp/elem/000/000/033/33625/) showrooms that were presented there. Of course, I liked it because some other people I appreciate also contributed there, as are NaBaBa (http://bananabona.com/yukimiku.html) or JNT (http://meiblog.fullmecha.com/Entry/128/).
Bonus amazing illustration of Miku by JNT (JNTHED) to share here given this opportunity. Be advised; the following link could lead to slightly explicit content... careful!
GADGADGET / JNTHED, I Shall Break You In by JNTHED [Return to...
http://gadgadget.fullmecha.com/post/15917859063/i-shall-break-you-in-by-jnthed-return-to
Don't say that when the project recently went active once again! Suimin Chuudoku completed a couple of months ago volume 3 (http://www.suiminchuudoku.net/2012/12/22/zaregoto-volume-3-done/) and is currently working on volume 4...
... easy to find the actual translation's page with the information I've already given you! ;-)
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
The amount of amazing Miku fanart is utterly astounding! I need to work harder to catch up!
Dedication Through Light
Member
Are there genderbend miku?
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
Don't know. Probably, I mean this is the Internet. I'm sure someone's thought of it.
Is water wet? Of course there are:
「初音ミクオ」の人気イラスト・小説 | pixiv
http://www.pixiv.net/tags.php?tag=初音ミクオ
Going through the last few pages and I saw Zillion being mentioned so I think its fantastic OP should be linked.
I really should watch this show someday, has anyone here seen it?
I really should watch this show someday, has anyone here seen it?
That's the most sound answer I've received for a SAO question.
Theonik
Member
But did the blindness come after or before seeing SAO?
You just know it's going to be an ugly, insane meltdown.
Theonik
Member
Greek subs? Never expected to see that on AnimeGAF. lol
The video description made me lol as well he says "I hope you like the translation I did because English is not my strong point." in that passage he goes on misspelling translation in Greek seems that's not his strong-point either!
The author giveth and the author taketh away.
But DAO was a franchise that was already known as being a competent fighter, one which that wasn't entirely predicated on boobs (don't laugh), long before it became infamous.
Now that's just mean! A name change lets one wash away their sins, and here you are, shovel in hand!
I was starting to think that you watching K-ON!! was some sort of long-standing joke, but I'm glad you've finally got round to it.
If you care to look back through the thread, you can probably find my slow descent into madness, as I worked my way through the series.
You must never have seen the Last Exile franchise's interesting interpretation of Greek:
Yes, they copied the dictionary entries. Yes, it does look ridiculous. Yes, they have put Roman numerals on there too.
Not quite as ridiculous as the bits where they literally just transliterated Engrish into Greek lettering, though.
Haha, I just chose the video that had the best quality.
NHK's Top Heroine Poll
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-02/nhk-top-anime-heroine-vote-results-announced
Man, how did those Idolm@ster fans managed to vote stuffed.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-02/nhk-top-anime-heroine-vote-results-announced
Code:
1. Haruka Amami (The IDOLM@STER) - 44%
2. Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) - 14%
3. Fate Testarossa (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha) - 12%
4. Sakura Kinomoto (Card Captor Sakura) - 10%
5. Yui Hirasawa (K-ON!) - 5%
6. Mikoto Misaka (A Certain Scientific Railgun) - 4%
7. Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) - 4%
8. Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach) - 3%
9. Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) - 2%
10. Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion) - 1%Man, how did those Idolm@ster fans managed to vote stuffed.
Dedication Through Light
Member
All the votes Go Her Way.
Theonik
Member
Oh god... Though I guess it's to be expected. Gibberish Greek to look fancy is about as common as it being done with Latin.
The real problem here is they picked the wrong IM@S girl. Makoto would have been a better pick.
Being only old names now without a meaning, I did it with good intentions to show a little bit of additional information to help in understanding better previous posts, name references and quotes, for everyone to come... but, and although databases will still remember, it is true that I also thought this could be considered mean. Sorry if that's the case.
Anyway, if someone doesn't want his name mentioned, I will remove it quickly (and so should you now with your quoting, Watanabe Kazuma!).
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
Yes Acchi Kocchi was unbelievably cute at times. Watching it made me feel awesome. Like mana from heaven. Hopefully Shaft delivers with Sasami-san. What am I saying? Of course they will.
This is how I'd go about it too.
I like this a lot. Was wondering when they would do this actually!
First, I'd like to say good man (or lady)!
Second, I totally agree.
Third, this greed inside of me... This need to have it all; this negativity: This rot won't let my little petty soul not think that in some round-about way, you just called Hidamari Sketch a critical failure. I know this is my fault and my misunderstanding and I'll just have to deal with it.
No way in hell is Hidamari any kind of failure whatsoever. 3 series, OVAs, lots of merchandise. Its a big success. The show is very simple and well written in addition to being adorable. Its very good.
Shaft ARE gods. Not just because of Hidamari. They know what they are doing. Madoka even gave them some critical credibility. Plus PALUTENA HEAD TILT.
Yay.
This cover is stupidly busy. Way overdone. but I kind of really want to play this game now. It will never make it here
I wish little sis would have left. Then the show would be all about her friends, Bro, Manami's family and Otaku nonsense. Those are the best things about the show.
Stupid incest...
Kirino sucks. she sucks sucks sucks!
Kuroneko <3 I welcome her triumphant return!
So true.
Oh no, I was only joking! Apologies for the misunderstanding!
I know, I know you were... just covering my bases in case it happens!
You're one of the good people, /XX/.
I never joke about anime. Its super serious.
Especially about K-on!
By the way I got about halfway through episode 3 then passed out so I will have to continue it at home but Ill finish that episode soon.
I'm ok with this list. Rei is so stupid but otherwise its a great list!
Typographenia
Member
HAH! My plan worked! I created a small amount of buzz to hype the people up for my forthcoming post! Mild rumblings achieved!
You thought it was over, but it's back again: Typographenia's overly long and self-indulgent post on some anime that he just watched!
You want links? I got 'em!
Otaku No Video
How long has it been since I initially wanted to watch this thing? Geez, I think I've known about this since at least 2004/2005, but I only picked it up some time over the last year. Honestly, I didn't know anything about it other than it was supposed to be poking fun at anime culture. I was afraid that this type of work would be highly referential and require knowing a lot of the anime industry from the 1970s/1980s to really appreciate it. While it remained true for some parts of it, Otaku No Video was still extremely approachable as a self-contained work that someone with very little knowledge of the culture or industry would likely find entertaining.
Story
I think it would be best to address the animated and liveaction parts of this work separately, rather than as it is presented in the show. I realize that is somewhat conflicting to the idea of many of the interviews being placed when they are, but I don't feel it will be critical to my thoughts.
The opening of the OVA displays a giant 1991 (the very year this was produced!) in front of a cold sky before going within a store where a loan man sleeps. He answers the phone begrudgingly and curses otaku (rightly so) before nodding back off. Then it cuts back to 1982 where we see the same guy, only much more energetic, happy, and playing tennis with a fellow tennis club member. The protagonist will hate otaku? What is this madness?!
The boy's name is Kubo, and he was apparently quite popular and successful in high school, but he is feeling rather aimless in his current university studies and none of his past activities are as fulfilling anymore. Leaving his circle of friends early from a night of drinking, he runs into an old acquaintance from high school named Tanaka. No longer bound by his obligations to societal education, Tanaka pals around with a small posse of passionate enthusiasts of an array of subjects sharing a central anime core. Kubo finds it amusing, and even mentions it to his girlfriend, Ueno Yoshiko, at lunch where he also encourages her to stop by the tennis club booth at his school festival. When she doesn't show up, Kubo wanders around and, once again, runs into Tanaka and his clique in cosplay. They attempt to recruit him before ending the scene. I know that feeling all too well, Kubo... Just run. Run as far away as you can!
Kubo speaks to Ueno on the phone about their missed rendezvous before heading over to Tanaka's apartment where he is amazed by the collection of assorted manga, anime, and memorabilia he has amassed in his living space. Tanaka decides to bring Kubo to the inner sanctum of his club's fanaticism where he properly introduces the members and their hobbies. They begin to
Ueno has noticed that Kubo is never at home anymore, he's put on weight, his face and hair are unkempt, and he has a rad shirt. Well, maybe not that last part, but she should have said something about the rockin' shirt. Kubo excuses his state as helping out Tanaka and wanting to just have some fun. However, the group begins to question the sustainability of their activities after they are harassed and criticized by a drunken man while waiting outside a theater for the premiere of Nausicaä. Kubo tries to call Ueno, but is greeted by another man on the other end. Devastated, Kubo joins Tanaka on a search for a legimitate job, but he becomes infuriated at the thought of otaku being perceived as weirdos and undesirables. I know, what's up with that? He swears to become the Otaking, change the world and make it okay for Otaku to be Otaku, with Tanaka vowing to join him in their moment of determination.
Time and events moved so quickly at this point, I assumed it had to all be a dream, but it wasn't. Tanaka and Kubo decide to go legit and start acquiring licenses, selling garage kit models, and open up their own shop. They even get a new friend, the lovely Miss Fukuhara, to help manage the shop as the business moves at lightspeed to become one of the most successful businesses in the world! Well, maybe just one of the most successful anime merchandising production companies- the GrandPrix (GP for short). It cracked me up to see the board being made up of the same knuckle-heads that were in Tanaka's circle. I wonder if the night owl guy decided to change his sleeping habits for work? Kubo is already looking to shoot even higher by building a theme park designed especially with Otaku in mind, to convert everyone to becoming an Otaku and making Ueno deeply regret ever leaving him. Geez... Kubo, you need to let that go, man. It's like the precursor to The Social Network.
However, their ambitions are too lofty, as Kubo insists on outsourcing their handmade model business to a tremendous construction facility in China and take out a giant loan from the bank. GrandPrix only needs a wholly original design that has mass international appeal to really ensure Kubo's plan will be fully realized, and the meek Fukuhara steps up to the plate with the design of Maki- a lady magician wearing a playboy bunny suit. Kubo leaves to oversee construction in China, and the bank president uses this opportunity to seize control over Kubo's friends and company. Even worse, the president's real motives are to make his wife, Ueno(!), happy for Kubo's sudden abandonment of their relationship years before. Seems to me like she was the one that jumped off the relationship boat long before Kubo, but I digress. Kubo is exiled to a small, remote GrandPrix shop to spend the rest of his days in miserable failure. Betrayed by your best friends! That's the worst, Kubo. : (
The story picks back up where the OVA initially began, and Kubo heads out of the store with plans of just quitting and accepting his utter defeat before spotting a familiar face in the crowd outside of a different GrandPrix shop- Tanaka! I love that, despite what was done to him, he still is willing to give them his business, hahaha. Turns out that he was also cut loose after the coup, and he begs forgiveness of Kubo who invites him to rise to the top once more with him!
The duo begin concocting schemes once more, this time in the realm of actual anime production. Tanaka even had the foresight to enlist the loyal Fukuhara's help for design and animation, since neither of them are able to illustrate at all. With the crew assembled, a new company is born... Giant-X! The trio work furiously to realize their vision, and, once again, they conquer the world with a "brand new" designDaicon Misty-May! Their true ace in the hole is the addition of mascot characters! BRILLIANT! They become so successful, in fact, that they essentially shift the direction of the consumer market and run GrandPrix into the ground, eventually acquiring them to rub salt in the wound. After many years, Kubo even manages to open up his dream land for otaku- Otakuland! I wasn't wild about the rides at Disney World, but I would totally go to a theme park that had a giant robot just sitting there in the middle of the entrance area.
Thirty-six years later (wait, what?!), the two elderly friends cross the floor of the underwater dwelling place of Otakuland, as Japan has apparently been devastated. They are surprised, as I would also be, when they lights begin to activate and the park reveals itself to be in working order. They enter a giant mecha statue and are greeted by their old group of friends, looking exactly like they did in their youth when they reach the command center. Kubo and Tanaka return to their youthful states and declare the next destination is to find the Otakuplanet. The giant mecha launches out of the water, transforms into a rocket, and zips off into the distance. I had to choke back tears. So beautiful!
However, their ambitions are too lofty, as Kubo insists on outsourcing their handmade model business to a tremendous construction facility in China and take out a giant loan from the bank. GrandPrix only needs a wholly original design that has mass international appeal to really ensure Kubo's plan will be fully realized, and the meek Fukuhara steps up to the plate with the design of Maki- a lady magician wearing a playboy bunny suit. Kubo leaves to oversee construction in China, and the bank president uses this opportunity to seize control over Kubo's friends and company. Even worse, the president's real motives are to make his wife, Ueno(!), happy for Kubo's sudden abandonment of their relationship years before. Seems to me like she was the one that jumped off the relationship boat long before Kubo, but I digress. Kubo is exiled to a small, remote GrandPrix shop to spend the rest of his days in miserable failure. Betrayed by your best friends! That's the worst, Kubo. : (
The story picks back up where the OVA initially began, and Kubo heads out of the store with plans of just quitting and accepting his utter defeat before spotting a familiar face in the crowd outside of a different GrandPrix shop- Tanaka! I love that, despite what was done to him, he still is willing to give them his business, hahaha. Turns out that he was also cut loose after the coup, and he begs forgiveness of Kubo who invites him to rise to the top once more with him!
The duo begin concocting schemes once more, this time in the realm of actual anime production. Tanaka even had the foresight to enlist the loyal Fukuhara's help for design and animation, since neither of them are able to illustrate at all. With the crew assembled, a new company is born... Giant-X! The trio work furiously to realize their vision, and, once again, they conquer the world with a "brand new" design
Thirty-six years later (wait, what?!), the two elderly friends cross the floor of the underwater dwelling place of Otakuland, as Japan has apparently been devastated. They are surprised, as I would also be, when they lights begin to activate and the park reveals itself to be in working order. They enter a giant mecha statue and are greeted by their old group of friends, looking exactly like they did in their youth when they reach the command center. Kubo and Tanaka return to their youthful states and declare the next destination is to find the Otakuplanet. The giant mecha launches out of the water, transforms into a rocket, and zips off into the distance. I had to choke back tears. So beautiful!
--------------------------------------------------
This was a somewhat familiar experience, much like I had when I originally viewed Welcome to the NHK in that I found myself watching semi-biographical moments in the show. A lot of Kubo's experience really mirrored my experience with being roped into anime in high school beyond just watching what Toonami and Adult Swim showed. The people in my school's anime club were very similar to the personalities of Tanaka's group, and it was really amusing seeing his determination to absorb it all, since I had an equally ridiculous aspiration at the time. It was a little disappointing to see
Kubo so easily achieve what he was after in the beginning, but it was great they pulled the rug out from under him.
I'm not some huge buff on Gainax's history, but I had read enough back when I first got interested in the Royal Space Force film to recognize what they were doing with GrandPrix, Giant-X, and a lot of the visual throwbacks to their own work. Also, there's apparently a convenient list of things they referenced on AnimEigo's site I found while searching something for this. Most interesting one I didn't know was the mug they handed to Kubo being one of General Products' earliest pieces. I wanted one as soon as I saw it. Curses! In fact, the amount of patting themselves on the back in the OVA was really amusing, since they used Daicon every chance they could. At least they were willing to share the love with an innumerable other number of properties, though. So many costumes, posters, designs, and quotes both in the animation and the interviews.
Speaking of interviews, Portrait of an Otaku, I assumed this would be the low parts of the OVA for me, but I consistently found them to be rather hilarious, if not a little sad. Some were pretty bleh, but I think the majority were really good. My favorite would have to be the american that was clearly saying things not even remotely similar to what the original japanese "translation" was. I really got a kick out of the computer programmer that denied being in a cosplay group until they started busting out photos. His reluctant and subsequent dawning of his Char helmet was exceptionally executed. Creepiest one, hands down, had to be the guy who had built his own glasses to help remove the mosaic on the porn he was watching. I'm still not entirely sure what to think about the very last one they showed, since they claimed it was actually legitimate, but I don't think it truly matters. I'm still not entirely sure my thoughts on how they worked in the pacing of the show. Often times, I found myself frustrated that the animated portions did not run longer than they did, but many of the interviews lead into the next segment with an idea that would be present. However, those ideas didn't feel powerful enough to warrant some kind of introduction, so... I'm not sure. They were generally entertaining, but I think it functioned more as interference than a complimentary addition to the short anime narrative.
The only two characters worth mentioning are Kubo and Tanaka, as they were the only ones with any substantial dialogue or roles in the show that really left an impact. That's not to say others weren't enjoyable, but they were really just side parts that never really did much more than they were required for a scene. Kubo was perhaps too boring for the role of "the man who would be Otaking." He had some amusing moments, but none of what he did was particularly praiseworthy. The guy played the straight man surrounded by weirdos in the beginning, and later became everyone's favorite guy to kick while he was down before rising back to the top. His best parts were definitely earlier on at the start of his exposure to the sub-cultures, as it was quite similar to my own back in the day. I will say, my favorite thing for Kubo involved making light of anime protagonists' tendencies to excitedly point upwards or look up skyward in a moment of grandeur, leaving those around him wondering what he was seeing that they were not. Tanaka was fun, perhaps more for his design, but felt a little underutilized. When he was first showing Kubo the ropes, he seemed like he eventually be a little more out there than we ever really got, but he had some fun over-the-top stuff when Kubo finds him at his lowest of lows outside the GrandPrix. Also, his dressing up as Char was great every single time.
It was really fun seeing so much of the Daicon imagery work its way back both literally and referentially in the designs and animations for Maki and Misty-May. As soon as I saw her riding the broomstick I got giddy, hoping they'd perhaps go for another over-the-top animation like Daicon in this. I'm hoping that getting the permission to use all of the other sources in this work wasn't too headache inducing, since they just went all out with Daicon originally. As many properties as there were (everything from Gundam to Lupin to Captain Harlock to Urusei Yatsura to Dirty Pair and much more), I think I would have lost my mind. Hopefully, it fell under some kind of fair use / beneficially promoting the material thing or something.
Presentation
Overall, the animation was adequate. It wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but they never really did anything really spectacular, except for maybe one or two brief sequences. The show was largely dialogue driven and showcasing all of the things that Gainax had a fondness for. I can't really be too upset, though, as my beloved late 80s/early 90s style of anime hands were on full display here. Don't give me that look... Major props to the background artists, because a lot of those backgrounds and rooms were packed with lots of detailed anime memorabilia.
The character designs weren't really anything to write home about, but I liked seeing a design like Tanaka be featured in a prominent role. Not really one you see too often, if at all. The cosplay designs all felt appropriately silly, and the anime designs were pushed into a comfortable parody zone that didn't go too far or too short in reach, for me. My favorite was the B-ko looking squad in the Misty-May description and Misty-May's own mirroring of the Daicon content and animations (like the flexing of the arms/riding broom).
It was unfortunate that none of the music in the show ever managed to match the opening song for parts one and two. It was really empowering and got you excited to see a bunch of people be nerds about anime.
The interviews felt appropriately funny through how ridiculous many of these people were living and with the pitched voices, but they still touched on some sad beats once in a while. The people who were creepy had appropriately creepy settings, though, and the aforementioned porn glasses guy was set in that really dark, claustrophobic room of his... eww.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed Otaku No Video. It really felt like Gainax's love letter to the things that attracted them to the industry, the acknowledgement of what was wrong with the culture, the potential for passion and dreams, and their desires for what it could become in the future. It's a little bittersweet watching this in an age where Gainax has gone through so much, they have had such a strong influence on the culture, and have changed so much to watch this semi-autobiographical and semi-prophesying OVA. It could be pretty easy to say the passionate, almost naively ambitious Gainax that created such works as Daicon and Royal Space Force no longer exists, but the qualities that embody Kubo are still major sticking points in stuff like Gurren Lagann. It's easy to forget Gainax's humble beginnings, and it was really fun seeing their attempt to preserve a piece of their history and inspire others in similar situations over the course of this short work.
Blast off!
You are not! Where are those promised posts in Russian? >:-\
But I hope it never ends, man! Amazing post!
I have a figurine of the bunnygirl from Otaku no Video.
Recently finally bought the DVD too. Will have to rewatch it eventually. I cannot even remember the last time I saw it!
Damn, this looks impressive. I've just read the last paragraph, but I'm going to set this aside and read it later. My only prior knowledge of this is through osmosis, which is pretty much the ANN podcast, if I'm being honest. So I'll be curious to see what I make of it, especially after reading those quotes upfront. Sorry if I can't really add much other than that, but you have reminded me of its existence!
Give it a watch. Its a short OVa.
Jex
Member
Awful, but expectedly so.
Chet Rippo
Member
My favorite episode in a pretty awesome show. I love Joshirakujoshiraku - 11
Top ten 2012. Even the travelogue sections have been hitting it for the last few episodes.
So good.
Unrelated:
I learned more about school swimsuits than I ever wanted to know.
If you really love Sawako, you're going to love this season. She gets a lot of screen time.
I wish little sis would have left. Then the show would be all about her friends, Bro, Manami's family and Otaku nonsense. Those are the best things about the show.
Stupid incest...
The only good characters in the whole show are Manami and Saori. Kuroneko was ruined in the extra episodes.
RurouniZel
Asks questions so Ezalc doesn't have to
Watch it, it's only 2 episodes.
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